ΒΕΤΤΙΝG NEWSLETTERS: Kick Off: Dominic Kinnear aims for victory on Houston homecoming

Kick Off: Dominic Kinnear aims for victory on Houston homecoming | Are the Seattle Sounders built for CCL?

Here are the top 15 stories everyone's talking about this morning:

1. KINNEAR RETURNS TO HOUSTON

The Houston Dynamo host the San Jose Earthquakes tonight (8:30 pm ET, MLS LIVE) in a game that marks Quakes head coach Dominic Kinnear’s first trip back to Houston. Yet despite having spent nine years in Texas coaching the Dynamo, Kinnear says he has put his emotions to the side and is purely focused on beating his old team.

2. CAN THE SOUNDERS GO ALL THE WAY?

With the Montreal Impact coming up just short in the final, the question remains as to when an MLS side will finally win the CONCACAF Champions League. Looking at the 2015/16 competitors, the Seattle Sounders could be the league’s next great hope. It seems they’re certainly fired up to give it their best shot.

3. TFC ON COURSE FOR NEW RECORD

Despite a somewhat shaky start to the season, Toronto FC are on course to set a new franchise record for points earned at this stage, and they're set to make their long-awaited return to the refurbished BMO Field this weekend. A fair amount of that success is due to the efforts of Sebastian Giovinco, who is quickly proving himself to be the impact player everyone expected.

4. NICHT GETS WAIVED

Having been brought in as an emergency signing ahead of the Champions League final, it may not come as a surprise to learn that Kristian Nicht’s short time with the Montreal Impact has come to an end. Moving the other way, Ambroise Oyongo will soon be on his way to Quebec. But what convinced him to finally join the Impact?

5. UNITED ARE LEGIT

With D.C. United now sitting level on points for first place in the Eastern Conference, it’s starting to look like last season’s success was not the one-off some claimed it would be. Where does this season’s fast start rank compared to some of their other opening runs?

6. OPARE SETS HIS SIGHTS ON CANADA

Kofi Opare has emerged as a big part of D.C. United’s early season success this year. While the 24-year-old defender is looking to keep that going, he also has his sights set on another goal: representing the Canadian national team.

7. ORLANDO’S NEW ADDITION

There was some good news for Orlando City on Monday, as Pedro Ribeiro claims he’s ahead of schedule in his injury rehab. Yet as the Lions attempt to deal with Kevin Molino’s long-term injury, could that see Brek Shea move back up to the left wing? City also had an announcement to make on the business side of things.

8. DON’T PANIC

Having now gone seven games without a win, perhaps the most important thing for New York City FC to do is not to panic. The Seattle Sounders, who defeated the expansion side over the weekend, are one of the models the club is looking to emulate as they try and turn things around. Meanwhile, NYCFC are also finding themselves linked with more transfer rumors.

9. TIERNEY'S NEXT TARGET

Playing for the team he loves in a city he loves: In Chris Tierney’s own words, “I’m doing exactly what I wanted to be doing.” Though few could argue with the results Tierney is helping the New England Revolution produce, the 29-year-old has his sights set on accomplishing a lot more.

10. VALERI'S HEALTH AND WASTON’S WINNINGS

While Saturday's Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps match was fairly unremarkable on the field, it did mark Diego Valeri’s return to action, with the Argentine maestro now looking to build up his fitness and secure more minutes. The game also made the Whitecaps’ Kendall Waston $100 richer.

11. UNION BOLSTERING BACKLINE?

Following a troubled start to the season that has seen them win just one of their first 10 games, could the Philadelphia Union be looking to bring in a new defender?

12. MUSIC CITY, HERE WE COME

While U.S. Soccer Federation president Sunil Gulati was giving a speech that left one student crying on Monday, U.S. Soccer confirmed that the US national team will indeed take on Guatemala in Nashville on July 3, the final "tune-up" match ahead of this summer’s Gold Cup.

13. BIG AMBITION

Could Brian Kleiban one day coach an MLS first team? It seems that’s his ultimate goal, but for now the well-respected Chivas USA Academy coach still has work to do at the youth level, including preparing for his upcoming move to the LA Galaxy.

14. TALES FROM THE FRONT LINES

The New York Red Bulls and New York City FC will face off for the first time on Sunday (7 pm ET, FOX Sports 1 and FOX Deportes). Ahead of the inaugural New York City "derby," the Red Bulls have fired the first shots on Twitter. Keep up with what everyone else is saying this week by checking out the #NYCSoccerWarz hashtag on social media.

15. ANOTHER MILESTONE FOR LANDON

So, what did you do at the weekend? Because Landon Donovan has probably got you beat.

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