ΒΕΤΤΙΝG NEWSLETTERS: Kick Off: MLS preseason tourneys start l Red Bulls sign local kid

Kick Off: MLS preseason tourneys start l Red Bulls sign local kid | PRO announces 2015 refs

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

1. DESERT DIAMOND CUP KICKS OFF

A total of 12 MLS sides will hit the field for preseason friendlies on Wednesday. This includes the start of the Desert Diamond Cup -- and you can watch every match from that tournament on MLSsoccer.com -- and the first matches of the IMG Suncoast Pro Classic -- some of which also will be streamed.

2. IMPACT KEEPING CARDS CLOSE TO THEIR CHEST

The Montreal Impact are one of the MLS clubs in action on Wednesday, one day after they came away with a 1-0 win over Cruz Azul in their second preseason game against the Liga MX side. The Impact take on Cuautla FC on Wednesday, one final preparation before their CONCACAF Champions League first-leg clash with Pachuca next week. With less than a week to go, Frank Klopas isn’t giving anything away just yet.

3. RED BULLS ROSTER MOVES

The New York Red Bulls were busy making roster moves on Tuesday. The club waived midfielder Ian Christianson and signed New York native Mike Grella after the former Toronto FC SuperDraft selection impressed on trial. Also impressing these days, it seems, is new defender Ronald Zubar.

4. COACH TITI

We know that former Red Bull forward Thierry Henry is contracted to be a TV pundit, but now it appears Titi is taking the first steps toward becoming a coach.

5. NYCFC'S INAUGURAL ACADEMY CLASS

Expansion club New York City FC announced the launch of their own youth academy, set to start with a U-13/14 team this year. Meanwhile, over in Manchester, England, here's what happens when NYCFC striker David Villa takes on Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero in a blind-folded PK competition.

6. UNION CHASE NEW STRIKER?

The Philadelphia Union expect CJ Sapong and Andrew Wenger to man the frontline in 2015, but the club has have reported snagged a young Venezuelan international to bolster the attack. Meanwhile, defender Austin Berry, who recently ended a tiral with the New York Cosmos, is still on the way out of PPL Park, as he has been since the middle of last season, he says.

7. COLLIN RETURNS

Orlando City SC received a boost on Tuesday: Not only is Carlos Rivas working his way back to fitness, but Aurelien Collin has also returned to training after a slight muscle strain. While there’s no doubt that Collin is a starter for the Lions, SuperDraft pick Conor Donovan has apparently impressed during Collin's absence.

8. SELLING OUT STARFIRE

This week saw Seattle Sounders 2 -- the Sounders' USL club -- begin training ahead of their inaugural season, and the first task for head coach Ezra Hendrickson is trimming the roster down. Sounders general manager Garth Lagerwey has set another goal, though: he wants S2 games to sell out Starfire Sports Stadium.

9. TOMORROW’S TIMBERS TODAY

The Portland Timbers continue their preparations for the upcoming season, which apparently includes taking these fantastic photos. Meanwhile, Timbers 2 have begun their own training camp ahead of the USL campaign. What are head coach Jay Viduvich’s goals for the season?

10. CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL IN KC?

It's been a good week for Canadians plying their trade abroad, and it looks like one Canadian international could be on his way to MLS. News emerged on Tuesday that winger/fullback Marcel De Jong is currently on trial with Sporting Kansas City.

11. YOUTH IS SERVED IN CANADA

Staying with Canada, Toronto FC’s U-16 academy side is enjoying success in the Generation adidas Cup, and Canada has released its 20-man roster for the upcoming CONCACAF U-17 Championships. The side includes 15 players from the Toronto FC and Vancouver Whitecaps academies.

12. PRO ANNOUNCE 2015 MLS REFEREE POOL

The Professional Referees Organization (PRO) released the list of its officials for the 2015 MLS season, while also announcing that dissent and persistent infringement will be targeted more heavily this year.

13. COBI JONES TOP 5

There have been plenty of important moments in the history of the US national team. But as someone who was there to take part in a great many of them, former USMNT and LA Galaxy star Cobi Jones has selected the five he feels were the most pivotal.

14. USL STILL GROWING

What are the goals for the newly rebranded USL? Well, the league will feature an unprecendented 24 teams this season, to start. But league president Tim Holt has set an ambition number of teams he'd like to see by the end of the decade.

15. MAJOR LEAGUE LOVIN’

Jimmy Conrad + Soccer Gods + MLS = 2:28 of sheer brilliance

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