BY ADAM SERRANO
The Vancouver Whitecaps roster just a got a bit more of an international flavor.
The Whitecaps signed central defender Mouloud Akloul to an MLS deal on Thursday. The French defender signed a Division 2 deal with the Whitecaps last season before breaking his ankle, an injury that ended his season. Terms of the deal were not released.
Akloul has already caused some buzz in Vancouver by demanding the retired Number 5 shirt, which belonged to current Whitecaps President Bob Lenarduzzi. Lenarduzzi has stated that it will be up to the Whitecaps executives to decide the fate of the retired number 5.
More news from around the West after the jump.
CHIVAS USA
The Rojiblancos will be without Jimmy Conrad this weekend, who was ruled out of the Toronto FC match with a mild concussion.
COLORADO RAPIDS
Danny Earls is back with the Colorado Rapids after signing with the club on Wednesday. Earls has been training with the club since being released from the Seattle Sounders in preseason. In addition to the signing of Earls, the Rapids reached an agreement with midfielder Josh Janniere, who was acquired from Toronto FC.
FC DALLAS
FC Dallas is nearing a deal for former Chivas USA forward Maykel Galindo. The Cuban forward has been with FCD since being released by the Rojiblancos at the start of preseason. Before a deal can be reached, Dallas will need to come to an agreement with Chivas USA, who still hold Galindo's rights. FC Dallas will need to trade for his rights or hope that the Rojilancos pass on his rights, which would allow FCD to sign without any compensation.
LA GALAXY
Despite starting two matches for the USMNT over the last ten days, LA Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena expects Landon Donovan to be in the starting line up for the Galaxy when they take on the Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
PORTLAND TIMBERS
As reported earlier on SBI, Darlington Nagbe is nearing his return to the line up after sports hernia surgery. Nagbe was an unused substitute during the Timbers U.S. Open Cup victory on Tuesday over Chivas USA.
REAL SALT LAKE
RSL made a roster bolstering signing earlier in the week signing former New York Red Bulls forward Connor Chinn. The forward made his debut with Real Salt Lake playing in the club's defeat to FC Dallas in reserve league action.
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The Earthquakes will take on the Portland Timbers in the second qualifying round of the U.S. Open Cup at Buck Shaw stadium in late April. The Timbers earned the right to play San Jose after defeating Chivas USA during the first round of qualification in mid week.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
As reported early on SBI, Fredy Montero has undergone wrist surgery, which has made him doubtful for Saturday's match against the San Jose Earthquakes. Montero suffered the injury several weeks ago against the New York Red Bulls and has been wearing a brace on his wrist during the last several weeks.
I second that. Why does Chivas still hold Galindo’s rights and has to be compensated when Pat Onstad went through the Waiver draft process also and was able to be signed by DC United without having to send compensation back to Houston?
Nope…they didn’t.
Why is Chivas entitled to compensation when they released Galindo? I thought MLS had stopped those silly rights rules.
“Demanding” a retired number seems aggressive to me.
Exactly lol, 83 3/4 next up to bat in blizz ball.
There is NO crying in baseball and there is NO number retiring in soccer.
Does this sound like a demand? “Bob, give me No. 5, please! Please, Bob!”
reminds me of that Futurama joke where all the players are wearing fractions because “all the whole numbers were retired”
It is actually better tradition not to retire It creates a sort of mystique. Like the greats that have worn the #10 or #9’s. You grow up dreaming of someday waring that number. Leave retiring numbers in the NBA.
Yeah I actually think the number tradition in soccer is something cool that the proverbial “casual American sports fan” could easily find interesting and respect.
Liking one tradition of the English game doesn’t mean we’re all Eurosnobs! We can have both cheerleaders and the respected no. 10 shirt if we want (not that I especially do…)!
Chinn’s got some steep competition up top haha.
Retiring numbers is a bad practice. Where does it stop? “Retiring” a jersey is good though. You just put the players jersey up on a big wall with the other honorees and keep the number in circulation.