Photo by ISIphotos.com
By JOEY SAMUEL
Wells Thompson has seen his playing time dwindle in a big way this season, and now he's looking to move on to greener pastures.
The Colorado Rapids announced on Sunday that the midfielder has requested to be traded to another team in Major League Soccer. Thompson has appeared in only 17 of the Rapids' 28 games this year, and only five of those appearances have come as starts.
Last season, as the Rapids looked to defend their 2010 MLS Cup championship, Thompson started in a career-high 22 games, notching three goals and three assists, both also career highs. But this year, his playing time has decreased significantly, and he has drifted between a number of positions on the field.
Before joining Colorado and winning the championship with the Rapids in 2010, Thompson also spent three seasons with the New England Revolution from 2007 to 2009.
Here are some other stories from around MLS:
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES CLINCH PLAYOFF SPOT
While the Seattle Sounders were certainly pleased with their victory over Chivas USA on Saturday, they weren't the only team that gained something from that result.
The loss by Chivas meant that the San Jose Earthquakes, currently in first place in the Western Conference, had clinched the first playoff berth of the 2012 campaign. It's no longer possible that five teams in the West could end up with more points than San Jose, meaning they clinch one of the West's five playoff berths.
Since re-entering the league as an expansion side in 2008, San Jose has only qualified for the postseason on one other occasion. The club made it to the Eastern Conference Final in 2010, losing to eventual champions Colorado.
FIRE, FCD DRAW WITH MEXICAN SIDES IN FRIENDLIES
With Major League Soccer currently on hold due to an international break, Saturday's matchup between Seattle and Chivas was the only league game this weekend. But they weren't the only MLS teams in action.
The Chicago Fire battled back from a two-goal deficit to draw with defending Mexican champions Santos Laguna in a friendly match on Saturday. After going down by a pair of goals when Santos' Benji Joya and Daniel Luduena each scored, Chicago managed to answer with goals of their own. Michael Videira and Corben Bone each scored second-half goals to rescue a 2-2 draw for Chicago at Toyota Park.
Meanwhile, in another MLS-Liga MX matchup, FC Dallas drew 3-3 in a wild contest with Leon on Sunday, only for the Mexican side to win a penalty shootout to decide the winner. George John, Jackson, and Bobby Warshaw all got their names on the scoresheet in a back-and-forth contest between Dallas and the newest team in Mexico's top division.
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What do you think of these developments? Do you foresee Thompson performing at a higher level with another club? How will San Jose fare in the playoffs? And should MLS teams play more late-season friendlies like Chicago and Dallas did?
Share your thoughts below.