| Kick Off: New LA club announcement | New York-Sporting KC tonight | FCD down Caps on late PK Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning: 1. LA GETS A NEW CLUB Earlier this week, Major League Soccer announced a new strategy for the LA market and today we'll see that vision come closer to fruition with the unveiling of the ownership group for the new club that will take the field in 2017. You can watch the press conference on MLSsoccer.com beginning at 2 pm ET / 11 am PT. 2. FC DALLAS MARCHING ON FC Dallas survived a dramatic Western Conference Knockout Round match on Wednesday night, as a controversial late penalty kick was enough to see them through, 2-1 (HIGHLIGHTS). FCD manager Oscar Pareja believes the return of playmaker Mauro Diaz that made the difference for his side, while the Vancouver Whitecaps, who mounted a valiant road comeback, were left to bemoan the PK decision by referee Mark Geiger. 3. ALL EYES ON THE EAST The New York Red Bulls host Sporting Kansas City in the other Knockout Round match (8 pm ET, ESPN2 in the US, TSN1 in Canada) and the good news is that RBNY star Thierry Henry is expected to start. Defending champions Sporting Kansas City not only have to deal with MLS leading scorer Bradley Wright-Phillips, but starters Igor Juliao and Benny Feilhaber are still a question mark. 4. RETIRING YOUNG There was some sad news on Wednesday as former No.1 SuperDraft pick Steve Zakuani announced his retirement at just 26, stating via his own website that "It's gotten to the point where I have to be honest with myself and listen to my body." 5. CREW SC FUTURE PLANNING The Columbus Crew may be busy with preparations for the MLS Cup Playoffs, presented by AT&T, but they're still thinking about next year with the signing Swedish midfielder Mohammed Saeid. Crew head coach Gregg Berhalter was aware of the 23-year-old midfielder from his time in Sweden, but insists the signing is a result of the Crew's scouting network. 6. PALMER RE-UPS The last offseason was a tough one for fullback Lovel Palmer, who missed the crucial penalty in an MLS Cup shootout and then also found himself traded to the Chicago Fire. Things are different heading into 2015 after the Fire re-signed the 30-year-old Jamaican international to a new deal. 7. IMPROVING THE TIMBERS The Portland Timbers just missed out on this year's MLS Cup Playoffs, but you shouldn't expect an overhaul at Providence Park. According to head coach Caleb Porter, the squad doesn't need wholesale changes next year, although he acknowledges "it would be a bigger mistake not to look at every position and try to get better." 8. TURNING AROUND TORONTO Another club that's not expecting major squad turnover is Toronto FC. The club's general manager, Tim Bezbatchenko believes that "we now have a core group of players that can be a team we want to build around." But will Jermain Defoe be part of that core? Bezbatchenko addressed that as well. 9. BRADLEY'S BEST POSITION Toronto's other major DP, Michael Bradley, has successfully undergone surgery on the nerve issue in his foot and should be fit again in time for the start of the new season, at which point TFC fans might want to get used to seeing him in a slightly deeper position. That's because head coach Greg Vanney doesn't see the DP as a playmaker. 10. NEW AWAY GOALS RULE As top seeds in the Eastern Conference, D.C. United will begin their playoff campaign on the road against tonight's East Knockout Round winner. The team certainly has a number of playoff veterans they can call upon and one of them, Davy Arnaud, had some thoughts on the new away-goals rule implemented for the 2014 postseason. 11. VOLKSWAGEN MLS MVP UP FOR GRABS The Volkswagen MLS MVP race is likely to come down to the wire and the five leading candidates are all still in the hunt for MLS Cup. Wondering who has the edge? Here's a great breakdown of the main contenders and their qualifications as candidates. 12. NGUYEN GETS A BOOST Don't look now, but New England Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen is making a strong late push in that MVP tussle. It helps that he was voted the Etihad Airways Player of the Month for October after leading his team to the No. 2 seed in the East. 13. AMERICANS AT ODDS ABROAD Things haven't gone so well in recent weeks for Americans based abroad and now Alejandro Bedoya is apparently on his way out of French side Nantes after failing to agree to a new deal, while Bobby Wood has reportedly been sent to train with the 1860 Munich reserves after frustrating his coaches. 14. KEANE VS. USA? The Republic of Ireland have named their provisional roster for their upcoming friendy against the United States in November, and it includes LA Galaxy captain Robbie Keane. While a number of MLS players still involved in the playoffs are likely to be absent from the US squad, will the same be said for Kean-o? 15. THE DARK SIDE Now, you probably have your own ideas about who will win MLS Cup this year, and you've probably made your picks official in the MLSsoccer.com Pick 'Em game. But here's a new, creative way to analyze the 2014 MLS playoff field: as villains from Star Wars. MLSsoccer.com Musts Armchair Analyst: FC Dallas gamble pays off American Exports: Terrence Boyd scores first goal for Red Bull Leipzig TV LISTINGS: Where you can watch all the MLS Playoff games | 
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