Soccer By Ives

MLS Notes: McBride has shoulder surgery, Harris traded to Dallas and more (UPDATED)

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The Chicago Fire is considered one of the deepest teams in Major League Soccer and will now have that depth tested as the Easter Conference power is forced to deal with the loss of star striker Brian McBride.

McBride is set to miss four to six weeks three to four months after undergoing shoulder surgery. Second-year forward Patrick Nyarko is expected to pick up the slack in McBride's absence. (UPDATE- McBride's initial prognosis was four to six weeks but the Fire announced on Friday evening that the damage to McBride's shoulder was worse than first thought.)

McBride leads the Fire in goals scored with six. He may now be out of action until September.

Here are some other MLS news items heading into the weekend:

Donovan and Beckham hug it out, Galaxy roll to 3-1 victory

 

                                                      Photo by ISIphotos.com

When Landon Donovan and David Beckham embraced before Thursday night's match between the Los Angeles Galaxy and New York Red Bulls, the gesture suggested that the two had put aside any issues that may have arisen from Donovan's comments about Beckham in the recent book, "The Beckham Experiment." After helping the Galaxy beat the Red Bulls, 3-1, it was clear that any issues between the two had been resolved and the pair are ready to play some soccer.

Play is what they did. Donovan scored a goal and set up another while Beckham played an effective but not overly flashy game as the Galaxy rattled off three first-half goals to down the hopeless Red Bulls, 3-1, at Giants Stadium on Thursday night.

A crowd of 23,238, a good size for a mid-week game, watched Donovan and Beckham control the midfield and help the Galaxy to a fourth consecutive victory. Alecko Eskandarian opened the scoring with a beautiful left-footed blast, while Donovan made it 2-0 with a right-footed shot from 30 yards out. By the time Eddie Lewis converted a Donovan pass to make the score 3-0, the Red Bulls were already finished.

Here are some observations, notes and quotes from Thursday night's match:

Red Bulls vs. Galaxy (Match Night Commentary)

 

The New York Red Bulls take on David Beckham and the Los Angeles Galaxy tonight at Giants Stadium. The English superstar is set to play his first game for the Galaxy this season, which might explain the larger than usual crowd tonight (though not the usual crowd for a Beckham game).

The Red Bulls will be looking to end their own miserable winless streak and has the strongest lineup they've fielded in months. Mac Kandji is back in the lineup, as are Albert Celades and Alfredo Pacheco.

Will that be enough to stop a streaking Galaxy team that is welcoming back Beckham and Landon Donovan.

I will be providing commentary throughout the night so please feel free to follow along here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action.

No firings imminent as Red Bulls stand pat

When Red Bulls sporting director Erik Stover and technical director Jeff Agoos went to Austria last week to meet with Red Bull management about the struggles of the worst team in MLS, it was thought that the meeting would result in the firing of one or both of them, and the firing of head coach Juan Carlos Osorio.

It appears all three are safe (for now).

Sources have told SBI that none of the three members of the Red Bulls front office will be let go, a decision that comes as the team is in the midst of one of the worst seasons in MLS history.

It was believed that the club might be tempted to make a coaching change during the team's bye week, and ahead of Thursday's high-profile match vs. the Los Angeles Galaxy (and David Beckham), but it now looks as though Osorio will stay on as head coach for the foreseeable future.

Mid-Day Musings (Gold Cup thoughts, Davies' Transfer and more)

 

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How wild was last night?

If you watched Mexico-Panama last night hoping to get some insight into the U.S. national team's biggest rival you were treated to a night filled with ugliness, absurdity and unintentional comedy. It was okay to laugh, but also okay to be angry.

Why angry when it was Mexico, and its fans, who were left looking silly? Anytime fan violence takes place at soccer games in this country it just adds more ammo to the soccer haters who love any chance they get to ridicule the sport. As much as you may have wanted to laugh at the mayhem at Reliant Stadium, that amusement came at the cost of some respectability for the sport of soccer.

What did I think of Aguirre's Rockette impression? I think it was foolish but not vicious or really intentional. I know U.S. fans want to pile on but I think Aguirre was just guilty of a clumsy late challenge that even Pablo Mastroeni would have considered poor (okay, so not everyone got this joke. Listen, Aguirre thought the ball was dead and put his leg in, Phillips ran into him and that's pretty much it. Aguirre was dumb for being so close to the field and the referee was dumber for giving Ricardo Phillips a red card).

So what else is going on? Here are some other news tidbits, observations and notes to consider as we get through Friday:

Nightmare season leads to Red Bulls summit in Austria

 

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The New York Red Bulls are enduring one of the worst seasons in Major League Soccer history, a season so bad that the normally uninvolved Red Bull ownership in Salzburg, Austria has taken notice.

In fact, Red Bulls owners are so concerned with the club's disaster of a season that they have called on the team's decision makers to explain themselves. Sources have told SBI that Red Bulls managing director Erik Stover (pictured) and technical director Jeff Agoos are in Austria, having been summoned there to explain the team's horrendous season in meetings that could lead to a major shake-up as soon as the end of this week (a bye week for the club).

Mid-Day Musings (on MLS roster moves, Gold Cup roster slots and more)

 

As we grind our way from the post-Confederations Cup glow to the CONCACAF Gold Cup, things in the American soccer world have slowed down quite a bit. There was the rash of U.S. Open Cup upsets last night, tonight's much-anticipated Seattle SOunders-Portland Timbers Open Cup match, but not much else going on really.

There are still plenty of topics to address, so here are some notes, thoughts and topics to discuss this Wednesday:

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Wondering why that player is still on your MLS team's roster even though it seemed by all accounts that the player would be cut today, July 1st, when MLS contracts become guaranteed? You probably forgot that MLS teams are allowed to designate two players into a non-guaranteed mode after July 1st. Of course, the players have to agree to make that switch.

So why would a player agree to have that guaranteed protectection removed from their roster? They could be faced with either agreeing to that or being waived immediately. On rare occasions, such as with John Wolyniec last season, players survive that and stay the whole season. In cases such as Khano Smith, who sources tell me is one of the Red Bulls players to agree to that this season, it just means his departure from the team will come later. In Smith's case, it will probably come once Ernst Obster is eligible to join the Red Bulls on July 15th.

Red Bulls sign Bouna Coundoul, waive Conway

 

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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.

Red Bulls part ways with Pietravallo (other moves looming)

 

New York Red Bulls fans haven't had much to cheer about during the team's horrendous 2009 season, but they are about to finally get at least some good news.

Argentine midfielder Juan Pietravallo has left the team and has parted ways with the Red Bulls after reaching an agreement to terminate the remainder of his guaranteed $205,000 contract, sources told SBI on Friday. The agreement frees up a roster spot for the Red Bulls and puts an end to one of the more disappointing signings in club history.

The move is the first of what should be several for a club in desperate need of a roster shake-up.

New York Red Bulls at Toronto FC: Match Night Commentary

The New York Red Bulls are in Toronto (again) to take on Toronto FC and will be looking to finally put a halt to a winless streak that has turned the 2009 season into a complete nightmare.

TFC, riding high from its Canadian Championship victory last week, will look to make up some ground in the Eastern Conference playoff race with another win against the struggling Red Bulls.

I will be providing commentary throughout the match so please feel free to follow along here. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions below.

Enjoy the action.

MLS Ticker: Gerba signs with TFC, Petke suspension extended and more

Toronto FC has completed the signing of Canadian national team striker Ali Gerba, the club announced on Monday. Gerba joins TFC after parting ways with English club MK Dons.

Toronto acquired Gerba's rights in a deal with San Jose earlier this month that also brought veteran defender Nick Garcia to Toronto. Gerba is expected to challenge for a starting forward role in a crowded group that already includes Danny Dichio, Chad Barrett, Pablo Vitti and Fuad Ibrahim.

Gerba, 26, will be eligible to play for Toronto FC once the transfer window opens on July 15.

Petke suspended two more games

New York Red Bulls defender Mike Petke has had his red card suspension for an altercation with a match official following the Red Bulls loss to Toronto FC on June 13. He was also fined an additional $500.

Petke's suspension, coupled with Kevin Goldthwaite's suspension for yellow card accumulation, could mean the Red Bulls are forced to start Carlos Mendes and Andrew Boyens in central defense vs. Toronto FC on Wednesday night. Boyens is back from the Confederations Cup and traveling to Toronto.

CONCACAF releases Champions League schedule

D.C. United will host its first CONCACAF Champions League match of the year on July 28 (vs. Chalatenango of El Salvador) while the New York Red Bulls will host its first Champions League match on Aug. 5. (vs. W Connection of Trinidad & Tobago), a week after traveling for its first competitive international match on July 30.

As for Toronto FC fans? You can start booking your trip to Puerto Rico around Aug. 4th, when TFC travels to take on the USL Islanders.

Those matches were two of the ones whose dates and times were announced by CONCACAF on Tuesday. The full schedule for the two-leg preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League is now set, meaning you can begin making your travel plans.

Here is the full schedule:

Seattle Sounders at New York Red Bulls: Match Night Commentary

Good evening folks. We are at Giants Stadium for tonight's Red Bulls-Sounders match. It is must-win time for the Red Bulls, who are losers of five straight. The Sounders are coming off a disappointing mid-week tie vs. D.C. United.

I will be providing commentary throughout the match so please feel free to follow along her, and as always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Let's get started:

New York Red Bulls at Toronto FC: Your Running Commentary

The New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC are both in the midst of terrible skids and each will be hoping for the victory that can turn things around when they meet tonight at BMO Field (8pm, MSG+).

If the Red Bulls season is on life-support, then a loss tonight would essentially pull the plug on any faint playoff hopes the team might have. Meanwhile, Toronto FC is still trying to recover from a surprise home loss to Los Angeles last week that dropped TFC to three losses in its past four MLS matches.

The good news for the Red Bulls is that Mac Kandji, Jorge Rojas, and Alfred Pacheco are back in the starting lineup tonight (yes, Pacheco's return is questionably good news). The bad news is that Toronto FC has Amado Guevara back. Also, Danny Cepero is back in the starting lineup after Jon Conway's recent misadventures.

If you will be watching tonight's match please feel free to share your own thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match (lineups are after the jump):

Taking stock of the Red Bulls mess

 

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Red Bulls fans want blood, and you can't really blame them.

Sunday's 4-0 loss to New England, the team's fourth straight (fifth counting the U.S. Open Cup loss to D.C. United), dropped the Red Bulls even deeper in the East basement and increased the pressure on head coach Juan Carlos Osorio to start producing results. Now the chorus of "Fire Osorio" chants grows louder among fans, even as the club attempts to stand by the head coach who guided the team to an MLS Cup final seven months ago.

Is Osorio being fired? If you believe the breathless rumors and flimsy reports that have made the rounds in the past few weeks, Osorio's fate was already set in motion weeks ago, or about to be decided this week. The reality is that the Red Bulls aren't in a hurry to dump their coach, but a continued string of losing will very likely be enough to lead Red Bull ownership in Salzburg to step in and ask for a change to be made.

What needs to be realized is that the team's problems aren't ones that will simply be solved by replacing the head coach. There are issues that need to be addressed, no matter who is in charge. Here is a closer look at some issues facing the team, and some of the steps that can be taken to help turn things around:

Revolution 4, Red Bulls 0: A Look Back

By CARL SETTERLUND

It was a historic day for the New England Revolution and a forgettable one for the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.

Taylor Twellman (100 goals), Jay Heaps (300 appearances) and Matt Reis all reached major career milestones in a game where it really seemed like a healthy Revs squad could recapture that magic of yesteryear that’s helped them to so many memorable seasons.