wolf stansson

He's said that even if he doesn't make it for the World Cup, he'd still like to play for us. That was at the Holland game. Seitz has been a disaster so far. Zakuani would be eligible as he has lived here for more than two years and has a clear connection to the country (attended college).

What do you guys think Steve Zakuani in terms of the national team? I don't even know if he's eligible, but I think he could figure for 14 if we capped him.

That was a holy [expletive] moment. I don't disagree. I'm not voting for those guys. I'm voting against anything involving that donkey, Buddle. Complete garbage. I'd rather have Eddie Johnson. The maniacal laughter when Bradley hits the crossbar in that youtube is hilarious.

Conor Casey, Jeff Cunningham and Kenny Cooper can all do what he's doing in MLS. Bribe McBride to come. Herculez Gomez is tearing up Mexico. Play Clint up top. This is a good article on Mikey Bradley: http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/story?id=5077789

Chicago Fire's own Marco Pappa with the howitzer: http://www.mlssoccer.com/content/pappas-blast-equalizes-chicago If people start talking about Edson Buddle for the MNT, I'm taking away their supporter's card.

Ironically one goes in to a huge club and I think one is going out. Carlos Vela is on his last legs at Arsenal.

United has signed Javier Hernandez from Chivas. I'm biased, but I've never been blown away by Chicarito. Mexican strikers don't inspire a ton of confidence anyway.

I'd love to see Fulham win it. How great would that be.

Maybe fat Ronaldo back in between 96-98. Maybe the most physically dominating forward ever. Zidane was better. I'm sure you could find a quick slice of time where Ronaldo was the guy, maybe even a segment of a couple seasons, but if you look back on his era and have to take one player, it's got to be Zidane. I think Messi is the best player in the world. I don't know how big the gap is to the next player though. What makes him worthy of the praise he's been getting this year is his youth, consistency and brilliance. His youth because obviously to be this good at 22 means we could have 10 more years of this, which is exciting. Consistency because if you look at his main competition, Rooney and Ronaldo, they haven't had it. 3 years ago Messi was in the conversations as best in the world. At that time I thought Rooney was the most overrated player in the world. This year, Ronaldo has lost a lot of his luster. Mainly because of injuries, a somewhat distasteful transfer saga and the fact that Messi's teams have been more successful. Teams are a key word there, though. Messi plays on the most talented club team in the world (yes that's mainly because he's on it, but still) and not only that, but the team plays a system with personnel that specifically caters to his strengths. He also has the best club manager in the world. Pep's strategy, man-management and in-game adjustments are so far, above reproach. He is one of the great leaders from a coaching standpoint, in all of sport. So I guess what I'm saying is that in soccer, memory is short. Messi is the best, but the gap is hard to measure. Marc Stein had an interesting question on twitter yesterday. Where is the gap bigger? Messi v his contemporaries or LeBron vs his? He answered Messi and that seems to be the consensus, but I disagree. I think it's LeBron and I think you look no further than Messi's form with Argentina to prove it. He doesn't have the space that Daniel Alves provides. He doesn't have the maestro's in the midfield like Xavi and Iniesta. Veron is great but a poor facsimile of those two geniuses. He doesn't have the manager that caters to his strengths like Pep. If you switched Rooney and Messi, would the outcome of their respective club our country's be any different? I'm not so sure.

I love Argentina. I think they're arguably the most talented team in the tournament, but unfortunately they have a moron at the helm. Maybe in 4 and 8 years they'll have a decent keeper and back line. A manager who knows how to fit superstars around him and not one who's trying to fit him with other superstars is the difference between Barca and the underachieving Albiceleste. One team wins trophies, one barely qualifies. That doesn't mean I'm ruling out Argentina completely. It just means I think the manager and the team are too bipolar to trust.

He processes the game at a different speed than anyone else and has the agility to translate what he dreams up to reality. I never saw Maradona or Pele play. I saw Zidane, Ronaldo, handsome Ronaldo and all the other world class players of this generation. I'm not saying Messi is better than Zidane, but I am saying he probably will be. He just plays two gears higher than everyone else.

Trezeguet to the Galaxy is the latest confirmed rumor.

The only solid rumor is Thierry Henry. Everything else is a wish list. Also, they'd come here to make a ton of money in a much more relaxed atmosphere. I don't really understand the rest of your post. The only way a big name comes to MLS is like this: 1- Designated player slot. They'll make as much money as they could if not more than in Europe. 2 - Free Transfer. They'd have to be out of contract or buy out their own contract because MLS doesn't pay transfer fees unless it's a ridiculous deal like Freddy Montero who they know they can sell on for much more than they paid. This would not be the case with an aging star. 3 - The player is formally or informally retired from international play.

Check out Kenny Mansally for the Revs vs DC: http://theoffsiderules.blogspot.com/2010/04/baddest-man-in-mls-today-kenny-mansally.html

I'm excited to see what NY and Seattle do with it. Seattle could use another attacking mid. Or someone other than Levesque. Seattle and RBNY might be the two best teams to watch in the league. Great passing and flow, no route one, the ball on the deck most of the time. Tim Ream is pretty good. RBNY only gets linked with strikers, which is fine, but I really like Mac Kandji. It'd be a shame to see him relegated to the bench. On the other hand, if they could make a 4-3-3 work with Angel leading the line, Henry on the left and Kandji on the right with Ubiparipovic-Lindpere-Richards in the midfield, that'd be ridiculous. Backe seems like a pretty straightforward 4-4-2 guy though. They also need a keeper and Jens Lehmann is the rumor, but wasting a DP slot on a goalkeeper would be moronic. I'd love to see Seattle get somebody like Michael Ballack for the midfield, buy the third DP slot and then get somebody like Alessandro Del Piero up top.

I'm excited to see what NY and Seattle do with it.

I think it's just that most of his attacking teammates in LA suck. Name one that doesn't. That is a sad sack attack without him. Fortunately that back line is probably the best in MLS.

A Brazilian named Maicon just made the most heinous miss I've ever seen. Would have tied it in the 82nd. The color man, Kyle Martino said it was harder to miss that shot than make it, and he's dead on. Good lord that was gross. Wrong Maicon, Chivas. Wrong Maicon.

Watching Donovan play in MLS is kind of depressing. The decision making and exchanges are just so slow compared to that Everton side firing on all cylinders.

Huh. God's a Chelsea fan. Didn't see that coming.

Kaka is a weird dude, man.

Rooney out 2-4 weeks. That sound you hear could be the door slamming on United's title/cup hopes.

I see him in Madrid. Maybe City. Liverpool only if they sell to someone rich as hell. As an Arsenal fan, I think it'd be for the best if you just forget there's a game tomorrow.

Bold prediction: If Robben is there next week, United are done.

Seeing Max working the post game with Alexei was genuinely enjoyable. His replacement at FSC is Mark Rogandino and good god is he the worst. There were some awesome goals in match day 1. The league is quickly getting more technical.