As our long-time readers know, MLS Talk likes to provide serious, well-thought out news analysis mixed with offbeat and laughable soccer-related thoughts.  This is the latter type of post. Prior to First Kick 2011, the MLS Talk writers got together to give some predictions for the upcoming season.  At the time, we promised we'd resurrect […]

With their 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo yesterday, the Galaxy reached their season-long goal of winning an MLS Cup and certain high-profile players notched their first North American championship.  Anytime a team wins a championship, writers and bloggers take to the keyboard to assess where that team or franchise fits in the pantheon of […]

Los Angeles v. Houston.  Galaxy v. Dynamo.  Western Conference v. Eastern Conference. Game on. Join Earl Reed and I here beginning at 9 PM for our live chat of the MLS Cup 2011.  We're looking forward to it!

The annual MLS State of the League audio conference, held prior to the MLS Cup, is usually good for some news and gossip from the MLS league office.  This year's conference was no different, as The Commish touched on the hot topics of expansion and relocation, as well as more nuts and bolts like life […]

The 2011 MLS Cup will truly be a David v. Goliath affair.  In this corner, you have the regular season's best team with the most star power and biggest names who, by the way, will be playing at home.  In this corner, you have a team that fought all season for a playoff spot then […]

Tonight MLS shifts from the regular season to the postseason as two teams that could have entries in the DSM-IV face off on Fox Soccer Channel at 9 PM ET.  The New York Red Bulls will try to advance to face the Los Angeles Galaxy this weekend but standing in their way are the fourth place […]

In the long history between these two teams (winners of the first five MLS Cups), there has never been an ending quite like this.  The Chicago Fired dealt DC United's playoff chances a major blow while keeping themselves alive for a late playoff run by scoring two second half stoppage time goals to stun DCU […]

The talking point since First Kick has been the same: the Western Conference is vastly superior to the Eastern Conference.  For the past six months or so, we've heard about the top teams in the West and their chances of winning the MLS Cup.  Recently, with the playoffs looming, the talk has focused on how […]

Often I view the end of the European soccer season as a silly time, because every player with any talent (and some without) are rumored to be acquired by one club or another.  This speculation extends to MLS because the league has shown that it is capable of developing talent and playing a high level […]

In his short but impressive coaching career, Jason Kreis may be approaching heights unseen by an MLS coach.  This weekend he essentially fielded a backup squad that handled an undefeated Revolution squad.  RSL is in the CONCACAF Champions League final and is the prohibitive favorite to win a second MLS Cup in three years.  Also […]

Team: New England Revolution Coach: Steve Nicol Last Year's Finish: 9-5-16, 32 points.  Eastern Conference: 6th The big news this offseason was the recent arrest and suspension of Shalrie Joseph and Kevin Alston.  While the situation is still under investigation, both players just returned to the team but face possible disciplinary action from the league. […]

Just weeks before the beginning of the season, MLS yesterday finally released its playoff format for the 2011 season.  As dreaded, it will include 10 of the 18 MLS teams, and officials acknowledged the number could change as more teams join MLS.  As for the current structure, the playoffs will go as such: The top […]

All of us have had friends who are in a complicated relationship.  It may even have been us: the guy recently began dating a much more attractive woman who, while not a young bombshell, is still a gorgeous woman.  This woman recently ended an intense relationship but does not treat your friend like a rebound […]

The cold days of winter have gotten a little sunlight – MLS today unveiled their schedule for "First Kick 2011", the first home games for every MLS team in the upcoming season.  The week will be the first week of the new balanced scheduling and offers some tantalizing match-ups for American soccer fans. First up […]

Beginning at 8:30 Eastern, MLS Talk will be live blogging the 2010 MLS Cup.  Join us here to discuss the players, coaches, BMO Field, ESPN, and everything else around the fifteenth MLS Cup.  Insightful analysis will be welcome, as well as humor and pop culture references. I look forward to chatting with you at 8:30 […]