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Morning Ticker: MLS All-Star notes, Teves backs Ronaldo and Bare’s big move

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Good morning folks. Apologies for the late posting but it was a late night for me here in Toronto. The MLS Player’s Party was a memorable event. David Beckham didn’t make it out to the party but Steve Nash helped fill the superstar quota.

There weren’t that many actual MLS all-stars at the party too long (they have a game today after all), but there were plenty of MLS players in attendance (including All-Star snub Gonzalo Segares, Chicago teammate Chris Rolfe and New England midfielder Jeff Larentowicz. And no Rolfe, wasn’t in town to complete a trade to Toronto to settle the Brian McBride allocation mess). There were plenty of MLS power brokers in attendence as well, including D.C. United’s Will Chang, Seattle’s Adrian Hanauer and Chicago Fire owner Andrew Hauptman.

Tonight’s All-Star game is shaping up to be a pretty good event. I know I ripped the format, as well as the opponent, in the past but looking at West Ham’s roster and hearing the MLS players talk about how badly they want to win tells me we could be in for an entertaining match.

Now, onto some news and notes from here at All-Star week and from around the soccer world:

Here is a good story from MLSnet’s Dylan Butler on LA Galaxy forward Edson Buddle. Does anyone find it ironic that two of the teams in MLS that are most in need of a forward (New York Red Bulls and Toronto FC) both got rid of Buddle two years ago?

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Canadians awaiting an announcement on a second Canadian team in MLS are still waiting. There were rumors that MLS commish Don Garber would make that revelation on Wednesday at his state of the league address but that didn’t happen. I would say that I don’t see a second Canadian team for at least five years, and if it happens then it will be Montreal and not Vancouver. That’s just my opinion. You are free to disagree.

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Real Salt Lake doesn’t have any players at the All-Star Game but RSL did get stronger this week by adding midfielder Robbie Russell.

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One player RSL won’t be adding is Clint Mathis, who has departed for Europe to begin a trial with IK Start. Yes, that’s the same Norwegian second division club that employs former FC Dallas defender Clarence Goodson. I also hear that Mathis may not be the last American to join the Norwegian club, which is a favorite to earn promotion to the first division.

And here are some notes from outside MLS:

Tevez backs Ronaldo move

You can add Manchester United forward Carlos Tevez to the long list of people who believe Manchester United should allow Cristiano Ronaldo to leave Man U for Real Madrid. The Argentine striker stated that the club should let the Portuguese winger leave if his desire is to go to Spain. I have a feeling Sir Alex Ferguson isn’t going to be too happy, but Tevez doesn’t strike me as someone who is going to be afraid of the consequences of his words.

Bare set for $9 million move

Remember Gamba Osaka striker Bare (pronounced bahr-ay), the forward who absolutely torched MLS teams in the Pan Pacific Championships? He is set for a $9.2 million move from Gamba to UAE club Al Ahli.

The large transfer illustrates just what sort of competition MLS is dealing with on the international transfer market. Bare is hardly a marketing dream, just a goal-scoring machine. MLS would never pay close to that amount of money for a player like Bare, and will therefore lose out by a wide margin for lesser-known talents who could easily produce in MLS.

Liverpool signs PSG striker

Rafa Benitez continued his summer bargain shopping by adding young French striker David Ngog from Paris St. Germain for a $3 million fee. The 19-year-old striker managed just one goal for PSG last season and isn’t likely to be an instant impact player. His signing is unlikely to slow Liverpool’s hunt for Tottenham striker Robbie Keane.

So what do you think of Tevez speaking out? Are you disappointed not to see MLS land a player like Bare? Are you upset (or happy) that MLS isn’t adding a second Canadian team yet? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Bare is getting close to the equivalent of $4.5 million in wages. That’s either for the remainder of the contract or per anum. Either way, that is a level MLS teams can’t compete with.

    In addition, Japanese clubs let players go if they want to leave and there is an appropriate offer. It makes the league more appealing than say the MLS which puts up way too many barriers and has bear grip on players

    http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=556886&cc=5901

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  2. Chris – your idea isn’t hair brained. I think a lot of people would love to see that. It’s just simply not going to happen. The promotion/relegation system stems from a completely different philosophy. Out leagues are purely based on money making. The other system was born out of local sport clubs competing against each other and grew throughout the years to a nation wide thing. I don’t think it will ever come to pass in the US.

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  3. I have to say that I’d like to see the MLS and USL gain a closer relationship and see more movement between the leagues, promotion and relegation style. Of course, this might require the abolition of the East/West divide in favor of a unified table. This way, we wouldn’t necessarily have to see teams started from scratch, instead lower tier teams could secure investors and backers to provide more money that they can invest in gaining promotion.

    Lots of new issues to iron out with that, of course, but you could eventually see better grassroots participation, as well as some clubs investing more money in the youth teams so that they can be assured of talent in the pipeline, keeping their teams in the higher league, or advancing.

    Of course, I could just be harebrained.

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  4. Ives, I’m curious why you reported the news about Bare with such despondency. Sure it would be great to get a proven ‘MLS level’ goal scorer on an MLS side, but MLS has never been able to compete with the oil sheiks for MLS level talent. Sure for some nearly retired players the “American Dream” wins out, but for an MLS star level player-if the sheiks want the player they’ll usually get the player. Maybe I’m reading too much into it, but was there an MLS team that was seriously engaged in negotiations for Bare?

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  5. Johnny- i disagree with the idea of allowing a few more imports….. we already have 8 roster spots designated for foreign talent… and thats not including the ones who’ve been naturalized…. honestly i want this to remain a league where US and Canada can develope local talent… what good does the league do if there are 11 starting players all of which are foreign???

    8 is enough for me…. inc. the pay rate, make use of our academies… show the youth that we are in fact interested in bringing them up and they will develope better….

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  6. In regards to Bare, the big problem is we can’t outbid other clubs/leagues. The players in this league have arrived via a free transfer or a relatively cheap transfer fee. What’s the most an MLS club has paid for a player? Maybe $250,000 at the most (and that player is already gone because the Rapids waived him, as Ives reported a few weeks back).

    I agree with Betinho, the pay structure needs to improve, but like Ives said, we are still FAR AWAY from having the bidding power of other clubs worldwide.

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  7. I hope he caps it at 20 teams just like the rest of the leagues around the world, and as a Metro fan I hope there is not a NYC2 team. It would be terrible for ESC and NYC2 would end up having good support and good fans if they kept ticket prices reasonable.

    But that’s just looking out for my personal interests, I think it would be good for the league.

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  8. This is one of several pieces I’ve read stating that Garber will raise the ceiling to 24 teams by 2014 http://www.tsn.ca/ctvnews/?id=244189

    I think this makes sense. Home and home within your conference with one game against the other conference makes for a doable 34 game schedule. Raise the cap a bit and allow a few more imports to avoid watering down the talent and you’re set.

    At that rate all of Portland, Atlanta, St. Louis, Las Vegas, NY2, Miami, Montreal and Vancouver could all get in.

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  9. The Miami Fusion was poorly managed and located in the wrong city (not even Miami) which alienated the core of it’s would be audience – I don’t know what they were thinking. I would love to have a hometowm MLS team to root for again. We do deserve another shot – soccer is huge down here. Having said that….I don’t think that’s going to happen and the 4 cities mentioned above are definitely ahead of us on the list. Our USL team is finally getting properly promoted but is slow to pick up an audience. Check back in a few years and we’ll be out drawing the Marlins.

    Until the league is able to change it’s insane pay rules players like Bare will be out of reach. Hopefully the league will get to that point soon. I think that horizon is in sight.

    Uh oh…Tevez is already looking for an exit strategy. I’m sure he’s sitting there thinking,”I’d rather play for Real too. This weather, food and these women suck, che!”

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  10. Definitely upset that an MLS team didn’t sign Bare. I don’t agree with the idea that a team needs to sign a big marketing name for their DP slots — I would rather teams just focus on signing high impact players.

    I wouldn’t say that Angel is a big marketing name, but he’s a big name in MLS because he’s an impact player. I think Bare could have been that guy for another team (like Houston) in need of a top-notch forward.

    And in regards to Edson Buddle, I thank my lucky stars everyday that NY got rid of that guy. I don’t care if he’s having a good season this year (largely predicated on two games where he had hat-tricks), I’ve seen that guy play and he’s got to be one of the dumbest forwards in MLS. Poor insticts, waits too long on the ball, poor accuracy. The list goes on and on. I would much rather have a younger, faster guy partner Angel than invite Buddle the bozo back to NY.

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  11. Oss. Mental Youth- i wouldnt object to the next 4 teams being Montreal, Vancouver, STL and Portland (not in any specific order)… while i agree that NY and Miami shouldnt get another team within our small team plans (i think 20 was the marker) its hard to think of such huge markets we couldnt house a successful team(s)….

    as far as the expansions go, i hope Garber doesnt expand to quickly… 1 a year is tough enough on the quality of teams…

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  12. If its a canadian team, i hope its Montreal (GOD I HATE THEM, I HATE THEM LIKEI HATE COLUMBUS). They currently have a great set up with fans and a stadium and would make for an incredible rival/derby against Toronto. Only prob with Vancouver is the fact theyd play at BC place whihc is in the middle of nowhere, this could be alleviated when and if htey build that stadium downtown (Bloody politics). That being said, i do think that St Louis and Portland need to join. Id rather see these 4 ahead of Miami whos had a chance, New York (whos had a chance) and Atlanta (doomed for failure). They argument that two more canadian teams will dull the american talent is nonsense as look at TFC, we have drained what little canadian talent is around, we will HAVE to play american players, especially with the draft n all. EVentually once their academys are up, itll be Canadian players who will contribute and help American players develop as well (in the sense that talent plays talent etc). Regardless, i do hope all 4 of these teams make it in.

    Ottawa needs to stay out, MLS needs to stay away from that place. Its a disaster waiting to happen.

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  13. MLS players might badly want to win, but whatever foreign opponent the trot out for the match is 1) trying to avoid injury, and 2) working out the hangover. They got bigger fish to fry …

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  14. i agree with KCO, STL needs the team… one of the largest US markets… all they need is an owner… some billionaire please step up 😛

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  15. chad- vancouver would be an instant rival with Toronto?? that would be quite the road trip for rival fans…. thats like saying LA and DC have a massive rivalry… at best you’ll see only an online rivalry…

    AND if Portland gets the team instead of Vancouver, they’d be more of a rival…. not only is it within the US, they already have a quality rivalry from the USL….

    im not saying Vancouver shouldnt get a team, im saying those arent quite quality reasons for picking them over an US city…

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  16. Montreal and Vancouver but please no Ottawa, i hope hes only humoring Melnyk, Ottawa would be another KC/Columbus…

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  17. Vancouver would provide an instant rival for Seattle and Toronto. Is there any reason not to expand there, assuming that an appropriate stadium and ownership group are in place?

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  18. I just don’t see it. I know there are plenty of things in Vancouver’s favor, and I’m not saying it’s impossible or a long shot. I just don’t see it happening as soon as some people are saying it will happen.

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  19. id rather see markets inside the US be tapped before we go into canada again… i understand the success that TFC has but id much rather see STL and Portland get their team first…. US sides see more US players advancing their game and possibly reaching to higher levels….

    the US is too large and has too many markets that should house teams… STL, Portland, Miami, Pheonix, NY2

    if canada gets another team, i think 1 would suffice….. bring in Montreal… Vancouver and Ottawa are going to find it difficult to get a team what with the MLS expanding only so far…..

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  20. Ives, have you seen the renderings for Vancouver’s proposed stadium? Combined with their new temp home at the soon to be renovated BC Place, I think Vancouver will get the next Canadian expansion. Not to mention Steve Nash’s possible ownership involvement. Don’t forget that when Vancouver won the Soccer Bowl in 79 they had 120,000 people in the streets for the victory parade.

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  21. Cant say i regret seeing the back of Buddle.

    Still not convinced that hes the striker his current form shows. He was completely useless here in Toronto and i believe if we still had him, he would be much like Cunny.

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  22. Again today with the Buddle hate, give him some credit. Buddle is better than what we have now w Woly and Oscar E… I would rather much have Buddle now than those 2. I like Woly thou for his hustle, dont get me wrong, but I would have like to see Buddle next to Angel better.

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  23. Ignore my previous email Ives, you got the story online as soon as I sent it. Like I said, someone needs to giver Carlos his pacifier back quickly before Fergie runs him down and chokes him!

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  24. I am GLAD RBNY got rid of Buddle. He scored all of his goals in what, two games for us? He was useless, immobile, a poor finisher and a terrible passer. Again I’ll probably end up eating my words, but after watching him for literally his entire career I’m more inclined to congratulate his teammates for his goals than himself.

    If West Ham aren’t absolutely routed tonight I’ll be embarrassed for the league.

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