Soccer By Ives

Red Bulls sign Bouna Coundoul, waive Conway

 

                                                                            Photo by ISIphotos.com

The New York Red Bulls have completed the signing of goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul to a contract through 2012, sources confirmed to SBI on Monday. To make room for Coundoul, the Red Bulls have waived goalkeeper Jon Conway.

The Red Bulls acquired the rights to Coundoul from the Colorado Rapids for an undisclosed allocation fee before reaching a contract agreement with Coundoul on Monday. Coundoul's agent, New York-based agent Ron Waxman, confirmed the agreement.

Coundoul started for the Rapids in 2007 and 2008, compiling a 17-22-12 record with an impressive 1.16 goals-against average (the second-best career average in league history). He left the Rapids after last season when he failed to reach an agreement on a new contract.

Raised in New York, the Senegal native and Senegalese national team goalkeeper enjoyed a solid 2008, including an appearance for Senegal in the 2008 African Cup of Nations.

Coundoul, 27, is expected to eventually take over as the Red Bulls starting goalkeeper, replacing the talented but erratic Danny Cepero.

USA Confederations Cup roster revealed

The U.S. men's national team's Confederations Cup 23-man roster has been selected and it has no surprises but a few injury absences that had to be expected.

Sources have told SBI that Brian Ching and Frankie Hejduk will not be making the trip to South Africa, but Conor Casey will be. Another somewhat surprising omission is midfielder Pablo Mastroeni (though you wonder if he was left off because of the inclusion of club teammate Conor Casey). Benny Feilhaber did make the squad.

Here is the U.S. team's 23-man roster, as told to SBI:

GOALKEEPERS- Tim Howard, Brad Guzan, Luis Robles

DEFENDERS- Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Jonathan Spector, Jonathan Bornstein, Marvell Wynne, Jay DeMerit, Danny Califf, Heath Pearce.

MIDFIELDERS-Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, Sacha Kljestan, Jose Francisco Torres, Benny Feilhaber, Ricardo Clark, DaMarcus Beasley, Freddy Adu

FORWARDS- Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore, Conor Casey, Charlie Davies.

Hejduk's absence from the roster would suggest that he will not play for the U.S. team on Saturday against Honduras. That should open the door for Jonathan Spector to start.

What do you think of this roster? Happy to see Conor Casey get the call? Can you see the U.S. team getting out of its Group of Death (which includes Brazil, Italy and Egypt)? Does Wednesday's loss have you fearing an 0-for-3 in South Africa?

Share your thoughts below.

Nowak to be named Philadelphia Union's first head coach

 

                                                                          Photo by ISIphotos.com

The MLS expansion Philadelphia Union has selected its first head coach and it has chosen a man with championship experience and a gritty style perfectly-suited for his new home.

Philadelphia will introduce Peter Nowak as its first head coach at a press conference on Friday, sources with knowledge of the hire told Soccer By Ives on Wednesday. Nowak, the only man to ever win an MLS Cup as a player and head coach, is leaving his post as U.S. national team assistant coach to take over as head coach for the Union, which is set to begin play in 2010.

Philadelphia Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz would not confirm the hire when contacted on Wednesday. Nowak, 44, was not with the U.S. national team in Miami on Wednesday at its first training session ahead of its upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Honduras.

Leitch suspended for knee to Ching's face

 

                                                                     Photo by ISIPhotos.com

As if things couldn't get any worse for the last-place San Jose Earthquakes, now comes word that defender Chris Leitch has been suspended for the Earthquakes' match vs. Columbus on Wednesday night for striking Houston's Brian Ching in the face with a knee during San Jose's 3-1 loss to Houston on Saturday.

The MLS Disciplinary Committee ruled quickly late on Tuesday with the Wednesday match looming, and chose to suspend Leitch on a play that didn't even draw a yellow card from referee Alex Prus. Leitch has been one of the few bright spots for the Earthquakes this season, having recorded a team-high and career-best four assists since joining the Earthquakes from New York in the off-season. The suspension is the first in Leitch's eight-year MLS career. He has never been issued a red card in MLS.

Here is a replay of the incident in question:

What do you think of the decision? Was the league right to suspend Leitch for a game, or do you think MLS overreacted on this one?

Share your thoughts below.

New York Red Bulls waive Dufty

BY DYLAN BUTLER

Alec Dufty acquitted himself well, making two saves and earning a clean sheet after coming on for injured Danny Cepero in his Major League Soccer debut at hostile Robertson Stadium on Saturday night.

The rookie keeper's reward? On Monday he was waived by the New York Red Bulls. According to sources, Dufty was released to make room for El Salvadorian Alfredo Pacheco, whose signing is expected to be announced  as early as Tuesday. 

With Jon Conway sitting out the final game of his 10-game ban, Dufty came through in a pinch after Cepero was knocked out of the game after suffering a Grade One concussion on a collision with Kei Kamara. The free agent out of the University of Evansville will not be out of work too long, though. According to sources, Dufty is off to Seattle where the Sounders are desperate for goalkeeping help for this weekend's game against Chivas USA. 

Reis late scratch vs. Red Bulls

                                                   Photo by ISIphotos.com

BY DYLAN BUTLER

Good evening from Giants Stadium. Both the New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution are on the field warming up and there is one rather large surprise.

Brad Knighton is starting in goal for the Revs. Matt Reis is a late scratch, suffering "pain and swelling in his right knee," according to a Revs official and is scheduled to have a scan on Monday. Brad Knighton will be making his Major League Soccer debut.

With that one very big exception, Stevie Nicol sends out the same XI that stepped on the field in a 1-0 win at San Jose last week. They are: Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes, Chris Tierney, Jay Heaps' Wells Thompson, Jeff Larentowicz, Shalrie Joseph, Sainey Nyassi; Kenny Mansally, Kelli Dube.

Here is the Red Bulls starting XI: Danny Cepero; Danleigh Borman, Carlos Mendes, Kevin Goldthwaite, Jeremy Hall; Khano Smith, Sinisa Ubiparipovic, Luke Sassano, Dane Richards; Mac Kandji, Juan Pablo Angel.

We'll have more about Reis as the information comes in.

USL-1 club coming to NYC in 2010

BY DYLAN BUTLER

New York City will be getting a professional soccer team to call its own and it has nothing to do with Major League Soccer's possible expansion to the five boroughs or the New York Mets.

FC New York LLC, a New York City-based ownership group, has purchased a United Soccer Leagues First Division franchise and the club will make its debut for the 2010 season, according to numerous sources.

An official announcement to bring "the world's greatest sport to the world's greatest city" is expected in early April.

For the 2010 season, the club will call Hofstra University home, as was the case for the Long Island Rough Riders during its heyday in the 1990s. There are also plans to play games at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island and Baker Field at Columbia University, according to sources. 

After that, sources say, the organization is looking to build a soccer-specific stadium in Queens, the most ethnically diverse county in the country. The stadium would seat 9,000, but could be expanded to house another 9,000 if the situation dictated. A possible site would be the area by John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Bernardo raises doubt over USMNT future

 

by GIANFRANCO PANIZO

Vincenzo Bernardo has a decision to make.

Despite comments earlier in his career about wanting to suit up for the U.S., and contrary to some reports, Bernardo has yet to decide if he wants to play for the United States or Italy at the senior level.

In an exclusive interview with SBI, Bernardo revealed that his decision is far from made.

"I wouldn't say that I declared anything really," Bernardo said, referring to comments he made in 2007 on choosing the U.S. over Italy. "I was asked an important question that came when I was very young in my career. However, I do not regret anything I said regarding wanting to represent USA."

Bernardo's latest comments are sure to worry some American fans, who are all too familiar with drawing the short end of the stick when it comes to talented young players with dual citizenship. In 2008 alone, the U.S. lost two talented prospects, Giuseppe Rossi (Italy) and Neven Subotic (Serbia), to European countries.

Rapids deal for Richardson

 

The Colorado Rapids have spent a good portion of the off-season trying to find another forward to complement strikers Conor Casey and Omar Cummings and the Rapids may have finally found their man.

The Rapids struck a deal with Toronto FC, sending an undisclosed 2010 draft pick (believed to be in the first two rounds) to Toronto in exchange for the rights to Guyanese forward Gregory Richardson, sources with knowledge of the deal told SBI on Thursday. Richardson had been on trial with Toronto FC, which held the top Discovery Claim on the him, but TFC ultimately decided to deal the MLS rights to Richardson to the Rapids.

A striker who most recently played for Trinidad & Tobago club Joe Public, Richardson first rose to prominence in MLS circles when he scored an impressive hat-trick against New England in Joe Public's 4-0 CONCACAF Champions League win at Gillette Stadium last September. His combination of speed and skill had a long list of teams interested in his services, but Toronto ultimately landed his rights and dealt them to the Rapids after choosing not to keep him following an extended trial.

There is no word yet on whether Richardson has agreed to a contract with the Rapids, but the fact that a deal was completed suggests that a deal has either already been reached, or should be reached soon.

What do you think of Colorado landing Richardson? Can he help a Rapids team that many experts are pegging to miss the playoffs in 2009? Surprised that Toronto didn't keep him?

Share your thoughts below.

No Celtic for Kljestan

 

                                                                   Photo by ISIphotos.com

Sacha Kljestan will not be heading to Celtic, at least not yet, and a winter transfer move is looking unlikely.

Kljestan's potential January move to the Scottish champions has been scrapped after Celtic decided that it could not afford the asking price for the U.S. national team midfielder, a package worth up to $3.5 million along with a sell-on clause, sources with knowledge of the negotiations told SBI on Friday.

The looming European transfer deadline is also making a move elsewhere in Europe unlikely for Kljestan despite interest from a handful of other clubs.

Houston Dynamo signs U.S. Under-20 striker Felix Garcia

 

The Houston Dynamo didn't have a high pick in the 2009 MLS Draft but the Western Conference power still might boast one of the most exciting young players coming into MLS this season.

The Dynamo has completed the signing of U.S. Under-20 star Felix Garcia, acquiring his rights from the PDL Laredo Heat for an undisclosed fee, sources confirmed to SBI on Tuesday night. Houston is set to introduce the 18-year-old striker as its newest signing at a press conference on Thursday. Garcia will join the Dynamo as a member of the MLS Generation adidas program.

(UPDATE- Garcia was acquired by Houston through the MLS Allocation process. The Dynamo completed a trade with Toronto FC to move up from No. 10 to No. 3 in the allocation order, where it was able to land Garcia.)

Red Bull Arena won't open until 2010

   

If you are a New York Red Bulls fan who was already thinking of attending home games at Red Bull Arena later this year, you are going to have to wait a while longer for that experience.

Red Bull Arena will not be completed in time to open during the 2009 MLS season, meaning the Harrison stadium will now open in 2010.

Red Bulls managing director Erik Stover confirmed that the club will have to wait until the start of the 2010 season to open Red Bull Arena.

"We have dealt with a number of obstacles throughout 2008 that led to delays in construction, thus Red Bull Arena will not be completed until after the 2009 season," Stover said. "When we started erecting steel last August, we said that we had been hit with delays out of our control but were hoping that we would (be completed during the 2009 season).

"With all this in mind, the best decision for us is to prepare for the 2010 season," Stover said. "Our goal has always been to create a first-class experience for our fans. Opening before we are 100% ready would do a disservice to our fans that have waited for our new stadium."

According to multiple sources, multiple issues led to delays in construction and development, from government red tape to delays in the development of the area.

D.C. United re-signs Namoff

 

                                                 Photo by ISIphotos.com

D.C. United will head into Thursday's MLS Draft with one less need to address after signing one of its top defenders.

D.C. has signed right back Bryan Namoff to a new contract, sources told SBI on Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not available.

The signing, coupled with the signing of left back Mark Burch, will allow D.C. to focus on other areas with its two first-round picks, No. 6 and No. 7. Central defense is the club's biggest area of need and the club could move up in the draft in order to try and take Maryland's Omar Gonzalez, the top central defender in the draft.

What do you think of the news? Are you starting to feel better about D.C.'s chances of fielding a better defense in 2009? Can you see D.C. going after Gonzalez?

Share your thoughts below.

Lopez re-signs with KC, won't be a DP in 2009

 

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The Kansas City Wizards have pulled off one of the better moves off the MLS off-season,re-signing Argentine winger Claudio Lopez to a new contract that will remove Lopez from the team's Designated Player slot.

I wasn't able to get details on Lopez's new deal, but a source told me his new salary cap figure is MUCH lower. It could be less than half as much as the $400,000 Lopez counted against the Wizards' salary cap in 2008. Between that savings, the savings from not having to pay a portion of Dave Van Den Bergh's salary AND the suddenly wide-open DP slot, Kansas City has put itself in position to sign a big-ticket international forward, something the club definitely needs.

What do you think of the news? Happy to know Lopez is returning? Impressed that KC was able to bring him back and a cut-rate price? Think KC could put itself in position to do in 2009 what Columbus did in 2008?

Share your thoughts below.

DeRo heading home to Toronto FC in blockbuster trade

                                           By ISIphotos.com

By IVES GALARCEP and DYLAN BUTLER

Toronto's prodigal son is heading home.

Pulling off the biggest trade in its young history, Toronto FC has landed Canadian national team star and four-time MLS Cup champion Dwayne DeRosario in a trade from the Houston Dynamo. TFC acquired DeRosario from Houston for defender Julius James and an allocation sources are putting at between the $150K and $175K range (slightly more than I first reported). The teams finalized the deal on Friday.

The trade brings DeRosario back to Canada as a professional player for the first time since he played for the Toronto Lynx in 1997. In the 11 years since, DeRosario has established himself as one of the best big-game players in MLS, winning four league titles and earning MLS Cup MVP honors two times with San Jose (2001) and the Dynamo (2007).

According to sources with knowledge of the deal, DeRosario will not take up Toronto FC's designated player slot but is expected to sign a new contract which will make him a maximum non-DP salary of around $400K a season.

The Generation adidas targets

 

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While the list of MLS Combine invitees has been released, you cannot get a real sense of how the 2009 MLS Draft might shake out until you see the Generation adidas players that will be in the mix. All indications are that the upcoming Generation adidas class could be one of the strongest in league history.

SBI has learned the names of several top college underclassmen that have been targeted and approached about signing Generation adidas contracts. Among the players are standout defenders Ike Opara (Wake Forest) and Omar Gonzalez of Maryland (pictured), two players considered high-first round draft pick prospects and two players who will be on display this weekend at College Cup in Frisco, Texas.

Here is a list of names of players who have been approached and are considering signing Generation adidas contracts, which would make them eligible for the 2009 MLS Draft: