Tears Caused By Onion Chopping News

So, if some foreign players really are set to sign with MLS teams right now, then what happened to the April 15 league mandated transfer deadline?

New York have actually signed a striker, using the Designated Players rule. It's Colombian forward Juan Pablo Angel, who was released from his contract at Aston Villa in England. The deal was done on Friday according to NYRB coach Bruce Arena. Angel will need to get a work visa before he can join the team, and that usually takes a week or two.
-One thing that will help Angel is that he speaks perfect English.
-Here is the official press release.
-There are already photos of him wearing team gear.
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The Guillermo Barros Schelotto to Columbus rumor has continued with Gregory Sica of Sports Illustrated quoting an Argentine agent as saying the deal is done. Shawn Mitchell of the Columbus Dispatch cannot get the team to confirm or deny any of the reports. There is supposedly a press conference to be held at some time today in Buenos Aires. (Note: It was called off.) Will it happen? All signs say yes. But Schelotto himself has not come out and said it's a done deal.
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Boca Juniors forward Martin Palermo's name has rejoined the MLS rumor mound. Columbus as well?
-Daniel Osorno of Mexico's Atlas has had his name bandied about too.
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Andrea Canales at LA Soccer News talks to LA Galaxy Pres Alexi Lalas about the Zidane rumors.
-Luis Bueno at the Press Enterprise with more on the topic including the fact that Chivas USA want in on the action too.
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From a somewhat related rumor mill - Red Bull are said to be interested in buying the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team. The traditionalists will be biting their nails over this one.
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My MLS notes:
-Burn defender Clarence Goodson left the NY v Dallas game on Saturday with hypothermia, like Ronald Wattereus of NYRB.
-Chicago plays a man up for 84 minutes and gets a draw on the road. You would think they could win that one, but it's probably about right.
-Roberto Brown who got red carded for Colorado had no reason to complain. It was a lousy foul from the side, to the defenders knee, studs up all the way. Ouch.
-Colorado should have had a second red card when keeper Bouna Coundoul brought down Justin Mapp who was in alone. Condoul got a yellow. I think he would have seen red had the sides been at even strength.
-Chad Barrett of Chicago got a yellow card for a dive at the top of the D. It was no dive. Sure it wasn't a hard foul. But he was tripped.
-Late in the game when Barrett scored the tying goal he ran to the corner to celebrate with some Chicago fans which was really cool, but as he jogged away he raised his left hand to the side of his head and gave the Colorado fans the finger all the way to midfield. That is so frickin lame. Grow up kid. You scored, that is the only statement you need to make. What a punk.
-Make sure you go to the MLS website and check out the goal scored by Herculez Gomez. It was a great one, and a nice effort from teammates Coundoul and Hernandez to set him up. Nice celebration too. Should win Goal Of The Week.
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MLS has named Kansas City forward Eddie Johnson as Player Of The Week.
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The Rapids website has a Q & A with keeper Bouna Coundoul.
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Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle talks to Dynamo star Dwayne De Rosario who is having a hard time dealing with his "small salary" contract, and "inadequate" raise that was offered. He wants to get paid like the big boys. The question DDR forgets to ask himself is, just how many people come to see HIM play. Yes, he is part of a great team, but Beckham and Blanco are gonna sell tickets just by showing up. Can DDR claim that. No, not really. End of story. (the quote marks are mine, not Fallas's or DDR's)
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Steven Goff of the Washington Post with a story on the DC United defensive struggles.
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Frank Dell'apa of the Boston Globe talks to New England captain Steve Ralston about the Designated Player rule and how it might affect the league overall.
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Nick Green of the Daily Breeze with an article on the "Saints" who have funded MLS since the start, along with guys like new cash king Stan Kroenke in Denver.
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I was dead wrong yesterday about LA & Beckham going to Vancouver for an exhibition game this fall. I said it wouldn't happen. They say it will, and they oughta know. So that makes me a loser with a bad attitude toward Canada. The deal is set for October 3. Excellent for them. From the Vancouver Sun.
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The KC Star with an article on the Kansas City Wizards organization's new attempts at fan marketing. It's certainly a step up from "the Zardmeister"! But the best marketing I have ever seen is WINNING CONSISTENTLY AND WITH STYLE!
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Toronto FC have made the signing of forward Danny Dichio from Preston official.
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The Toronto Star says TFC coach Mo Johnston is working the phones hard looking for defensive help, fast. Any MLS teams looking to dish off crappy defenders and get a great deal in return should contact Johnston now.
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TFC has a street car! Very cool.
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Greg Lalas at Sports Illustrated with an article on the all-new foreign influx to MLS.
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US Open Cup - MLS qualifiers. (The 4 teams who did not make the playoffs last year get underway first.) Here are those two games:
Wednesday April 18
-Real Salt Lake v Kansas City Wizards (winner takes on Colorado Rapids)
Tuesday April 24
-Columbus Crew v Los Angeles Galaxy (winner takes on New York Red Bulls)
-Next round dates still to be determined.
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The great blog From College To The Pros has a story on new Minnesota Thunder striker Rodrigo Hidalgo. He has been part of the USA residency school and the U17 & U20 national teams. (thanks to Scott for the story)
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The US Players Assoc looks at brand new USL First Division team the California Victory - based in San Fran.
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The USA U17 ’91 team will once again partake in the Ballymena International Tournament in Northern Ireland next week. Brian Maisonnueve will coach the team. The roster will be announced soon. Team USA is in Group B along with Scotland, Czech Rep & Ireland. Group A is Canada, Finland, Northern Ireland and Switzerland. Here is the USA group rounds schedule:
April 23 Scotland
April 24 Czech Republic
April 25 Republic of Ireland
-Trophy rounds to follow.
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CONCACAF Champions Cup final round matches:
Wed Apr 18 - FIRST LEG
-Guadalajara v Pachuca
-Second leg is 7 days later at Pachuca.
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Football 365 is reporting that USA midfielder DaMarcus Beasley is inching closer to finding a permanent home at Manchester City. He has been there all season on loan from PSV, but only recently has he started to become the DMB we all know and love. Let's hope it happens for him.
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Man City play at Arsenal in EPL action today.
-And tomorrow Jay DeMerit's Watford travel to Brad Friedel's Blackburn , while Jonathan Spector's West Ham are at home v Chelsea.
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Copa Libertadores - here are the week's matches:
Apr 18
Flamengo - Real Potosi
Parana - Maracaibo
Banfield - Libertad
Alianza Lima - Sao Paulo
America - El Nacional
Apr 19
Internacional - Nacional
Velez Sarsfield - Emelec
Gimnasia - Defensor Sporting
Santos - Deportivo Pasto
-It looks like many of the groups are going to go right down to the last games to decide the top 2 spots for elimination rounds.
-Flamengo, Santos, Colo Colo & Caracas have already qualified for the next round with all teams still having at least one more round of the group stage to play and some others have two.
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FIFA.com has a Q & A with PSG & Portugal forward Pauleta, who is having "The worst season of my career".
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Former Italy & Inter star Christian Vieri is going to attempt another comeback tomorrow when he suits up for Atalanta in Serie A.
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Who will UEFA choose to host Euro 2012? The decision is expected today. From the International Herald Tribune.