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MLS All-Star Game Roundup

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                                                                                         Photo by ISIphotos.com

Good afternoon folks. I’m at BMO Field, where the MLS All-Star team went through its final training preparations. All the players were in attendance today except for Houston’s Dwayne DeRosario and Pat Onstad, who are playing for Houston against D.C. United tonight.

There are plenty of tidbits to get into so let’s get started:

When informed that the Galaxy had received a $1 million bid for him, Edson Buddle expressed some surprise, admitting that he didn’t know anything about it. Another source confirmed for me today that an offer has been made by a Scandanavian team (Norwegian club Rosenborg is the leading suspect) and there is definite interest in Buddle from European clubs.

Will the Galaxy actually sell Buddle? A source tells me the club has no interest in moving Buddle this season, so no, don’t expect Buddle to go anywhere. When asked about possibly leaving MLS soon, Buddle said he was interested in going to Europe one day but that now may not be the time.

"I feel like I still have someting to prove here," Buddle said.

When asked about how tough it was bouncing around from New York to Toronto to Los Angeles two years ago, Buddle’s response was one that should help generate some strong responses from opposing fans in a few markets.

"The good thing is that they were all good franchises," Buddle said about the New York Red Bulls, Toronto FC and the Los Angeles Galaxy. "If it was a team like Kansas City or Colorado or (Real Salt Lake) I would have been a little nervous."

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When told about rumors of a potential move to West Ham United on Tuesday, Galaxy forward Landon Donovan laughed off the suggestion, saying it was news to him.

———————

When asked if he would consider returning to Argentina to play for River Plate, Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel said he would love to. Could it be his next destination? His current Red Bulls contract is up after this season so a move back to River next year shouldn’t be completely ruled out.

———————-

One interesting rumor someone here passed along surrounds Toronto FC forward and John Carver doghouse resident Jeff Cunningham. Apparently Toronto FC has two connected locker rooms with one side for senior team members and another side for reserve team players. Apparently Cunningham has been moved to the reserve team locker room. Yes folks, Cunningham is officially the Milton Waddams of TFC.

———————-

David Beckham answered the usual stale questions about MLS and life in the states. Someone really should just print up his answers to these questions and hand them out so we don’t keep hearing them over and over.

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If you’re curious about a potential starting lineup for the MLS All-Star team, here is a best guess for what the squad will look like:

————Angel————Donovan—————-

———————–Blanco————————–

Cooper—————————————Beckham

———————–Joseph————————-

Bornstein——Conrad—-Brennan———-Hejduk

————————Reis—————————-

It may seem crazy to start Cooper on the left but I seem to recall him seeing time in a left forward role for FC Dallas last year (and he and Donovan could certainly flip-flop). I think it’s a safe bet that Dwayne DeRosario would have been in the starting lineup if not for the whole Houston-DC weather cancellation debacle, but if the Houston-DC game is cancelled again tonight (would you be surprised?) then I think DeRosario starts on the left.

That’s all for now. Please feel free to share your thoughts on these news tidbits, as well as on the lineup you would like to see, in the comments section below.

Comments

  1. @papa bear | July 23, 2008 at 07:07 PM re: Buddle “it seems a forgone conclusion that he is going to get national team looks.”

    i’m not so sure. i think he’s deserving and would like to see him get called up, but i have a sick feeling inside that bradley would choose wolff, et al over buddle.

    Reply
  2. I see Angel signing for another year. I don’t think he is killing his knees and back to not play in Red Bull Park in the opening season.

    Reply
  3. Buddle moving now would be a mistake. Gullit is FINALLY getting him to play like a professional and I don’t think he has learned all he can from the master. Next year though I could see him moving for more money especially since it seems a forgone conclusion that he is going to get national team looks.

    As long as Donovan’s wife is on that sitcom they aren’t moving. The thing is on CBS and she is no doubt making more money than he makes or will make.

    @Posted by: RSLhomem | July 23, 2008 at 05:45 PM

    No kidding. RSL is better than either one of them this year.

    Angel wanting to go back to River is no real shocker. I mean the RBNY gameday experience leaves a LOT to be desired (on non-Beckham, non-Blanco dates that is) compared to River Plate.

    Reply
  4. Real Salt Lake signed versatile midfielder Robbie Russell from Viborg in Denmark today, fortifying its depth in the midfield for its Major League Soccer playoff run.

    Yes, RSL has fans. Rabid fans so don’t fuc@#$% with us.

    Reply
  5. What I find funny is that Buddle called both NY and Toronto good franchises. RBNY didn’t amount to much when he was there, and Toronto outright sucked.

    Reply
  6. OK with rumors of Lando and Buddle going to Yurp and Xavier slagging off Gullit in the press, does anyone else sense a house of cards about to fall in LA?

    Reply
  7. Why isn’t Robbie Rogers starting on the left side of midfield?

    That’s his natural spot and I think he could make some great runs down that side with service from Blanco and some of the other guys. Nicol should pick 2 forwards from Donovan, Angel and Cooper, and bring the other in to provide offense. It really should be Donovan and Cooper, let Angel analyze the West Ham defense, and then sub him in later on and he can take advantage of anything he sees.

    Reply
  8. “Yes folks, Cunningham is officially the Milton Waddams of TFC.”

    Ives, i love the OFFICE SPACE reference. whenever i have a bad day at work, i just think about this movie.

    excuse me, but i believe you have my stapler…..

    Reply
  9. Edson Buddle is a fantastic player. Love his quotes. He seems to be a very humble guy who is having a great time now with L.A. I hope to see him in this game. I am sure he has his sights set higher with EPL , Italy, Spain or France. He is getting a lot of interest I am sure.

    Reply
  10. I’ll have to admit, as an RSL fan, I was kind of upset when we got rid of Cunnigham. Boy did that turn out to be one of the best moves Kreis made.

    Reply
  11. Ok, I agree. Trash talking is always lame. I have previously bytched that we took Aleko Eskicantfindhisassdarian over

    Buddle, who was traded to the Gals a couple of weeks after the Cunny-Aleko Eskicantfindhisassdarian SNAFU.

    Reply
  12. Sin2R – it is certainly impressive. But to start talking trash is something different altogether. Good for RSL 🙂

    Reply
  13. Betinho – RSL = 3 allowed goals (including one own goal) and only 1 loss in last 9 games. BTW – 2 weeks is a bit longer to be in 1st in the west compared to the other teams in the west. Look for it to continue for 3 weeks. Being in 1st for 3 weeks would be impressive for RSL. Don’t you think?

    Reply
  14. Love him or hate him, there’s no denying at least two things about Landon Donovan: he scores goals, and he has game-breaking speed.

    Because of this, I think Donovan would be wanted (and needed) on more teams – teams in the highest level leagues – than most would want to admit.

    Reply
  15. I didn’t finish my thought. Do you think he’s worth more or less than Alitodore? He got $10mill for a transfer fee. Which team in England would ante up that much for…gasp…an American stiker. On the other hand that’s only about 4.5mill pds. Would that be a bargain for a team like Spurs?

    Reply
  16. Dream Team, I’ve been asking that for 2 days. The usual answer seems to be that Spurs would fit, especially if Keane and Berbatov bolt. I don’t think he leaves the comforts of home for just any team. It’s going to have to be a team that has a good standing. It also doesn’t sound like he wants to go anywhere but England.

    The move would be a tough one. The MLS/Galaxy are going to value him higher than a upper half of the table team are going to want to pay him – IMO.

    Reply
  17. I read somewhere that JPA is a devout family man and also read elsewhere (Hispanic press) that his family loves it here. I really believe JPA will stick around and extend his contract because A) he could potentially see bigger bucks B) the idea and vision of a new DP for the new stadium C) although very high-profil league-wise, Argentina’s economy looks like it will go thru some turbulence in the near-term future….again.

    And please, PLEASE, stay away from Ariel Ortega, RB!

    Reply
  18. Can’t say I’m happy with the starting line ups. Its an All Star game which means those with the most votes made the starting 11, now why not start them. Steve Nicol is an idiot for doing this, he completely went against what all the fans voted and put out his line up of players that didn’t even make the vote.

    Reply
  19. I’m curious about Buddle saying he didn’t know anything about the Norwegian interest. When inquiries/offers are made for MLS players, when do they learn of it and who is responsible for telling them – MLS FO or their agent or what? Seems unfair that they wouldn’t be let in on it.

    Reply
  20. What team in Europe would really want Landycakes? It won’t be one of the top 4 leagues (EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga) or would it? Thoughts?

    Reply
  21. It’s official, Edson Buddle is the first person to ever declare the Red Bulls / Metrostars a good franchise… …and that Edson Buddle is an idiot.

    Reply
  22. Buddle, LMAO! Open mouth, insert boot.

    If anything it’ll stir up a little interest in him from KC, CO, SLC supporters. Now there’s a 4th players to boo, a keeper to heckle, and a couple central midfielders to laugh at. Gotta make the token LAG match more interesting somehow.

    Reply
  23. I think MLS should sell Buddle, I don’t see him repeating next year what he is doing now.

    If Angel leaves, there goes my only reason for watching the Red Bulls. Except of course when United plays them.

    Reply
  24. Awesome Milton Waddams reference.

    Good luck to Buddle. I personally believe this is a temporary streak for him, sparked on mostly by good passing from his teammates. I think he’s basically useless. Having said that, if it works out well for him I wouldn’t mind being proved wrong. I have to pull for Yanks in Europe, regardless of how awful I think they might be.

    If Angel leaves, I’ll cry. Just give us one or two more years Juan Pablo. Please?

    Reply
  25. Funny…RSL fans talking trash after being in Frist place for 3 seconds. Enoy it Trent! The wayt he West is you might be looking down at only SJ in no time.

    Reply
  26. CPTKevin – you stole all my comments…

    I don’t think Donavan makes the move unless it’s a solid 2nd tier EPL team. I wish I could see the video to see his body language as he “laughed” it off. I wouldn’t doubt if it would have been like “(West Ham, are you kidding?) I haven’t heard anything”.

    It would be a bummer to lose JPA but the drama that is the Red Bull organization might too much if River Plate is knocking on the door. Hmmmm…River Plate/Red Bull…River Plate/Red Bull…..

    Reply
  27. thats funny that buddle said he would “be a little nervous” if he came to RSL, I would be nervous too going to a first place team….

    Reply
  28. Seems like Fredrikstad (Brian West’s club) is the more likely bidder – they had him on trial over a year ago and liked him then. I doubt all these MLS goals turned them off, and they just sold their top striker to Heerenveen.

    Reply
  29. Thanks for asking about the West Ham link, Ives. I mean I expect that answer really means nothing at this point either way, but appreciate the effort on your part!

    Reply
  30. Do you think Cunningham will have to fill out a TPS report? Guess he won’t be showing his “O” face to that new girl in logistics either! Maybe Carver will let him keep his red stapler?!

    Reply
  31. Red Bulls need to keep JPA for the new stadium next season and pair him up with another DP, no? That kind of situation is too good to pass up.

    Here’s hoping LD starts up front. Would like to see how he would do against an EPL side. Given it’s their preseason. But still.

    And unless the Galaxy has another DP signing in mind at forward before the new season comes around, Buddle will be sticking around for a while. But it’s safe to say he’ll find it rough against KC, RSL and Colorado defenders throughout his time in MLS from here on out.

    Reply

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