Red Bulls Set to Swoop on Midfielders

Just a day after adding a quality defender in the MLS Draft in Eric Brunner, the Red Bulls look set to address their concerns about the midfield.

The Red Bulls have targeted a pair of South American midfielders, one a left winger and another an attacking midfielder, in a double-swoop that could help address the team's need for more offensive productivity from the midfield.

Red Bulls head coach Juan Carlos Osorio told media on Friday that the team was close to adding a left winger, but a team source has confirmed that an attacking midfielder is in the team's sights as well and both players could join the squad by the end of the month.

What does this mean for left winger/fullback Dave Van Den Bergh? His future with the Red Bulls remains uncertain and he could be on his way out if Osorio can find a suitable option at left back. Van Den Bergh's lack of pace makes him an unsuitable option on the left wing for Osorio, who prefers speed on the flanks.

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USL Sounders Roster Gets Full Promotion to MLS

...there are six to eight current Sounders who could be on the MLS team.

He also scouted two former Washington players at the combine he said have MLS potential — forwards Ely Allen, drafted in the second round by the Los Angeles Galaxy on Friday, and Kevin Forrest.

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Armas and Klopas join Fire staff

One week after being named the Fire's new head coach, Denis Hamlett has hired Chris Armas and Mike Jeffries as his assistant coaches. Daryl Shore will stay on as the team's goalkeepers coach. Frank Klopas, a member of the 1998 team that won the MLS Cup, has been named the Fire's technical director.

Armas has no previous coaching experience but showed he was a natural born leader during his 12-year career in MLS. After announcing his retirement following the 2007 season, Armas was approached by a handful of MLS teams interested in his services.

Jeffries was an assistant coach with the Fire for three seasons between 1998-2000 before taking the Dallas head coaching job. He spent last year as an assistant coach with Duke.

Klopas most recently was a head coach with the Chicago Storm. Even though he interviewed for the Fire's head coaching job last month, he has always had his eye on a technical director position with the team.

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Report: Noonan to Rapids, Maestroeni to San Jose

Just because the draft is over doesn't mean the trade rumors stop.

Luis Arroyave is reporting on his blog that New England Revolution's Pat Noonan may be headed to Colorado. What New England gets in return remains to be seen.

And it appears we now know Pablo Mastroeni's destination: San Jose according to Arroyave.

Moreno Re-signs With DC

According to DCU General Manager Dave Kasper, team captain Jaime Moreno will sign a new contract next week that is guaranteed for the 2008 and '09 seasons, but at a lower salary than he had been making.

"Where he is in his career, he wanted security. It's important to him. He had some good offers out there from Mexico, the Middle East. He's an important player that goes well beyond the playing field."

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Revolution add Albright

The Revolution took steps toward bolstering their back line yesterday, acquiring former United States national team member Chris Albright from the Los Angeles Galaxy for an undisclosed amount of allocation money, and selecting Rob Valentino of the University of San Francisco in the first round of the MLS draft.

Albright (hamstring tear) and Valentino (knee) are recovering from surgery but are expected to join the Revolution for training Jan. 29 in Foxborough.

Albright, 29, has been among the MLS's most productive right backs, effective defending and contributing to the offense, since being converted from forward in 2004. Albright was a member of the US team but did not play in the 2006 World Cup in Germany. He was injured in the fifth game of the 2007 MLS season.

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Philadelphia: 'A step ahead' in MLS race?

The victor in the highly competitive contest to secure a soccer expansion team will be either Philadelphia or St. Louis, Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber said yesterday, eliminating the immediate prospects of cities such as Miami.

"Both Philadelphia and St. Louis are making progress in their plans, and one of them will be our 16th team," Garber said during a break from the league's SuperDraft, being held at the convention center here.

As for which it would be, Garber first said he did not think either was ahead of the other, then appeared to tilt toward Philadelphia, saying, "If Philadelphia is able to finalize their plan, they have been leading the charge and have a step ahead of St. Louis."

What was clear was that months of preparation, discussion and negotiations have boiled down to a two-city race. In addition to Miami, there was interest from Canada for a second MLS team, and a group was seeking a second New York City franchise.

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Johnston loads up on defence

We get the message, Mo.

Defence is a priority.

Last season Toronto FC surrendered a league-high 49 goals, so in yesterday's MLS draft, head coach Mo Johnston and his staff went after defence, defence and a little more defence.

Toronto headed into the MLS SuperDraft with four picks, and spent the first two on UConn defender and two-time All-American Julius James (ninth pick), and Pat Phelan (10th), a defensive midfielder from Wake Forest. Phelan, 23, was also an All-American in 2007.

Before taking yet another defender with the 30th pick (UCLA's Mike Zaher), Toronto traded up to the 28th spot to take Wake Forest goalkeeper Brian Edwards.

The only help for Toronto's often-injured front line came with the team's final selection – striker Joseph Lapira, who scored 41 goals in his career at Notre Dame.

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FieldTurf Announces 2007 Soccer Awards

* MLS Coach of the Year - Preki Radosavljevic (Chivas USA)

* USL Division 1 Coach of the Year - Gavin Wilkinson (Portland Timbers)

* USL Division 2 Coach of the Year - Bill Becher (Harrisburg City Islanders)

* USL W-League Coach of the Year - Keith Jones (Atlanta Silverbacks)

* NCAA Division 1 Coach of the Year (Men's Soccer) - Ed Kelly (Boston College)

* NCAA Division 1 Coach of the Year (Women's Soccer) - Garrett Smith (University of Portland)

* MLS Team of the Year - Houston Dynamo

* USL Team of the Year - Seattle Sounders

* NCAA Team of the Year - Wake Forest Demon Deacons

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'08 Superdraft Recap - First Round

Kansas City was toying with the idea of trading the top pick, and still might deal Myers, but the UCLA left back is one of the most coveted players in the draft.

1) KC Wizards - D Chance Myers

2) FC Dallas - M/D Brek Shea

3) RSL - M/D Anthony Beltran

4) LA Galaxy - M/D Sean Franklin

5) Colorado Rapids - M Ciaran O'Brien

6) Columbus Crew - D Andy Iro

7) Chicago Fire - F Patrick Nyarko

8) FC Dallas - GK Josh Lambo

9) TFC - D Julius James

10) TFC - M Pat Phelan

11) KC Wizards - Roger Espinosa

12) Chicago Fire - GK Dominic Cervi

13) NE Revolution - D Rob Valentino

14) RSL - D David Horst