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Kick Off: FC Dallas, Vancouver Whitecaps set to kick off MLS Cup Playoffs
Here are the top 15 stories we're talking about this morning:
1. FCD & WHITECAPS READY FOR A BATTLE
The first game of the MLS Cup Playoffs, presented by AT&T, is Wednesday night, with FC Dallas hosting the Vancouver Whitecaps (9 pm ET, TSN1 in Canada, TWC-SC Texas, MLS LIVE in US) in the Western Conference Knockout Round. The Whitecaps are embracing their underdog role and preparing for whatever style FCD throw at them. The home side, meanwhile, hope to bring plenty to the table, but could a former Texas resident help ruin their party?
2. WHEREFORE ART THOU, FABIAN CASTILLO?
As we prepare for the first Knockout Round match, we can't help but wonder about speedy Dallas attacker Fabián Castillo, who hasn't seemed like himself since returning from a recent injury spell, but FCD head coach Oscar Pareja tells MLSsoccer.com that "he is getting back in the rhythm. ... Fabián is getting back to his best. ... I hope Fabián will show us what he can do."
3. HALL HEADING TO ORLANDO
Orlando City continue to build out their MLS roster ahead of 2015. On Tuesday, we learned that the Lions are set to trade for Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall when the trade window opens in December. As Hall remenisces about his time in Houston, he says he's "absolutely honored to be the goalkeeper for Orlando, and I look forward to having a lot of good years for them."
4. MARTINS RE-SIGNS
Following an MVP-caliber season, the Seattle Sounders have rewarded forward Obafemi Martins with a contract extension. Meanwhile, with Seattle heading into the postseason once again, head coach Sigi Schmid reflects on the club's history. The only manager the club has had in MLS, is Schmid in line for a contract extension, as well?
5. VALERI SET FOR SURGERY
Their fans' worst worries were confirmed on Tuesday, as the Portland Timbers revealed that playmaker Diego Valeri has torn his ACL and is set to undergo surgery, which will likely keep the midfielder out for at least five months.
6. JOHNSON HEADS TO HULL ... FOR TRAINING
Chicago Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson, fresh from cleaning up at the team's end-of-year awards, is heading to England for a 10-day training stint with Premier League side Hull City.
7. DEFOE: PLEASE DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD
In a revealing interview with The Guardian, Toronto FC forward Jermain Defoe addressed many of the questions from what he admits has been an "up and down" first year in MLS. Among other things, he says he was "hurt" by some of the comments from his bosses, he's in the dark about all the transfer speculation, and he's still disappointed about being left off England's World Cup squad.
8. THIERRY HENRY FIT FOR THE PLAYOFFS
The biggest name in the New York Red Bulls squad list, Thierry Henry, is likely to be fit for Thursday's playoff game. But after this season, could the club's future be more focused on young stars rather than big names? "If it was up to me... let's take our lumps perhaps for a year or two and build something," head coach Mike Petke says.
9. SACRAMENTO OFFICIALS MEET WITH MLS
Executives from USL PRO club Sacramento Republic and the city's mayor, Kevin Johnson, were in New York on Tuesday to meet with MLS officials about the team's progress toward a potential MLS franchise. Republic President Warren Smith believes the meeting went well, and MLS Commissioner Don Garber said, "We look forward to continuing our discussions with Sacramento and other markets regarding future Major League Soccer expansion."
10. DAN KENNEDY'S NEXT STEPS
Former Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy will be one of the most coveted players in the upcoming dispersal draft. Where does he hope to land?
11. THANK YOU, CARLOS BOCANEGRA
Carlos Bocanegra was one of the many names to officially hang up his cleats after this season. His announcement was lost amid the din of the higher-profile departures of Landon Donovan, Marco Di Vaio, Jay DeMerit and even Logan Pause, but the former US international said goodbye in his own way: quietly.
12. PLANS FOR THE OFFSEASON?
What do the majority of MLS players do now that the offseason is upon them? Allow Philadelphia's Zac MacMath to guide you through the typical routine.
13. VELA'S RETURN?
Will November's international friendlies finally mark Carlos Vela's return to the Mexican national side? The 25-year-old has been called up by Miguel Herrera for their upcoming games in Europe; now the forward just needs to decide if he'll accept.
14. VOTE FOR LIAM
"I'm not ready to be mayor or governor or anything, that's for sure." Not a statement you'd expect a pro soccer player to have to make, and yet that's the situation Liam Ridgewell finds himself in after a group of Portland Timbers fans have started writing his name on their ballots for the upcoming elections.
15. NEW WORLD CUP LOGO IS "OUT THERE"
You can't accuse Russia of being provincial with their announcement of the logo for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as they got a little help from deep space to unveil the insignia.
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