Rating: 3(Likely)

According to several reports out of Norway, IK Start are close to capturing New York Red Bulls defender Hunter Freeman. According to reports, Freeman would join the Norwegian side in January, after his 4 year contract with NYRB is up. Freeman has been capped at the U-23 level, and has made 11 appearances so far this season. IK Start are currently in 2nd place in Norway’s 2nd Division after being relegated last season. The 23 year old joined New York from Colorado in 2006, and has since been one of New York most consistent performers. What do you think? Would this be a good move for New York? Hunter?

Popularity: 10%

Commissioner Don Garber revealed that MLS has reached an agreement with Brian McBride, during Thursday nights All Star game. The details will be announced tomorrow afternoon by MLS. The deal took longer than expected because Toronto FC had the first claim to McBride’s rights and negotiations with Chicago Fire, who McBride wants to join, had stalled. It appears MLS have successfully stepped in and reached an agreement and the details will be released tomorrow. McBride returns to Major League Soccer after successful four year tenure with English Premier League club FulhamCheck back tomorrow for all the details on McBride contract with MLS, and the details of the deal between Chicago Fire and Toronto FC.

Popularity: 7%

According to SBI, Norwegian powerhouse Rosenborg have made a $1 Million dolalr bid for Galaxy forward Edson Buddle. The 27 year old has been red hot so far this season, scoring 11 goals in 14 appearances. Rosenborg has been actively scouting several American players recently, as they are also currently targeting Brek Shea and Kenny Cooper. It’s unlikely LA will want to part with a red hot Buddle, but we will keep you updated. Do you think a move to Norway would be good for Buddle? 

Popularity: 33%

At a press conference at Qwest Field, the Seattle Sounders FC announced their three year television deal for the clubs upcoming inaugural season in Major League Soccer. The deal will see King-5(or Kong 6/16), broadcast every Seattle Sounders FC match, both home and away. Seattle also announced that Kevin Calabro will be the clubs play-by-play announced. Calabro was the former “voice of the Seattle Sonics”, winning several Emmy awards during 21 years broadcasting. Calabro is a well known announcer, throughout Seattle and although he admitted he had to learn a bit more about Soccer, but was excited about the opportunity. This seems like yet another great decision by the Seattle Sounder FC front office, making the clubs games available on a free television channel, with a well known voice calling each game. 

Popularity: 19%

3rd Degree is reporting that FC Dallas are trailing River Plate Attacking midfielder Ariel Ortega. The 34 year old has 86 caps for Argentina, and has stated he would consider playing in MLS for $1 million dollars a year. If FC Dallas were to approach Ortega, it would have to be as a Designated Player, which head coach Schellas Hyndman has stated he is willing to do. Ortega has made 44 appearances for Riverplate since joining in 2006, scoring 13 goals. What do you think? Would this be a good move for FC Dallas? Is he a good DP choice? 

Popularity: 17%

3rd Degree is reporting that FC Dallas have completed a trade with Columbus Crew and Kansas City Wizards, seeing them acquire two international roster spots. FC Dallas sent their 2009 MLS SuperDraft 4th round pick to Kansas City for an international spot, and sent their 2009 first round Supplemental Draft pick to Columbus in exchange for another international spot. The trades will give new head coach Schellas Hyndman the necessary roster spots to acquire the two south american based players he is currently scouting.

Popularity: 24%

Curt Onalfo, like several coaches before, rolled the dice when he brought Carlos Marinelli to Kansas City.  Part and parcel to Onalfo’s plan for an “attacking” team is a skillful, ball carrying central midfielder.  Carlos Marinelli can be such a player when he’s healthy physically and psychologically focused, a balance he has not exhibited with consistency in his professional career so far.  His tenure in Kansas City seems to be going the way of his many previous stops as he finds himself outside of the Wizards line up more and more.

Marinelli is a special talent, one that has been noticed since he played as a teenager for the storied Boca Juniors in Argentina.  Argentina boasts some of the greatest footballers to ever play the game, none more prominent and noteworthy than Diego Maradona.  Carlos Marinelli showed such promise as a teen, he was labeled the “New Maradona” by the Argentinean media.  You can’t blame Curt Onalfo for taking a chance on a guy with that kind of scouting report.  Imagine even half of Maradona’s talent possessed in one person playing in the MLS.  Maybe the label was a curse.  At any rate, his reputation coming from Boca as a youngster landed him in the EPL with Middlesbrough (who paid a hefty sum for him) in 2000 at age 18.    The New Maradona never could establish a rhythm suffering various nagging  and sometimes puzzling injuries managing to play only 46 games in four seasons with Middlesbrough.  He did a short stint with Torino on loan from Middlesbrough, but ultimately was forced back to Argentina in 2004 in an attempt to re-establish himself.  Flashes of his predicted potential showed again as he bounced from Boca to Racing, then to Torino in Argentina.  The previous hype surrounding Marinelli could not have been empty as Portuguese scouts signed him to SC Braga in 2006.  Marinelli has a lure about him.  He has tremendous vision in the offensive half of the field and can do special things with the ball.  His accurate left foot makes him especially valuable as an attacking midfieler.  Marinelli has a way of impressing teams, lifting expectations, and making each coach think he’s about to break through.  Unfortunately he played just 4 games in the Portuguese first division with Braga before suffering another injury.  In 2007, even with a track record of puzzling injuries and seeming mental frailty (maybe these are related),  another coach decided to take a chance on the enigmatic halfback and he became a Kansas City Wizard.

If you have watched Marinelli this past MLS season and a half, he has moments of brilliance.  The moments just aren’t long enough to establish any kind of role for him.  At $115,000 per year, a talent like Marinelli could establish himself as a second half, off the bench spark for his team, much like he was against Real Salt Lake in Kansas City a couple weeks ago.  While the Wizards won the game on an own goal, Marinelli was the offensive catalyst that pushed KC over the edge in game they had to win.  Maybe Carlos will never be a 90-minute player, a solid offensive spark-type player is a legitimate role for a player in this league.  The problem with Marinelli is as local KC blogger Thad Bell wrote- “Carlos can play fantastic attacking mid for an average of 30 minutes every 4 games.”  It seems this has been Marinelli’s tendency his entire career, there are no signs it will change in Kansas City.

The Wizards pre-season line up was largely shaped around Marinelli’s attacking ability and creativity.  He had a very strong pre-season in his homeland, I am sure Onalfo and Vermes were salivating.  The Wizards charged out of the gates in the early games of the season and Marinelli had three pretty assists to Jimmy Conrad and many other solid serves and shots.  It really seemed after 3 games that Marinelli may have shaken his old demons.  Then came the Houston game.  Marinelli started the game, then seemed to tweak his groin.  He’s been spotty ever since.  After 16 league games for the Wizards, Marinelli has played in only 11 and has logged just 635 minutes.  Much of the Wizards floundering on the road after those opening games can be attributed to the absence of Marinelli.  Much stock was put in his being the main ball carrying midfielder, when he stopped playing regularly after the fourth game, it marked a clear change in the KC Midfield.  The few times he has played have yielded some good moments, but still more times when he disappears.  Maybe it’s a nagging groin pull or hamstring strain, perhaps it’s a psychological flaw, most likely it’s a combination.  He was mysteriously absent from practice earlier in the week prompting another local KC blogger, Mike Kuhn, to ask “Where in the world is Carlos Marinelli?”

Since 2000 Marinelli has played for 8 different clubs.  The first seven stints started with high expectations, contained flashes of virtuosity, then ended with injury and lack of production.  There are no signs that his current stay with the Wizards will be different.

Popularity: 25%

 Rating; 3(Likely)

According to goal.com, Romanian giants Steaua Bucharest are expressing interest in FC Dallas playmaker Juan Toja. The 23 year old Columbian joined FC Dallas after spending the year on loan from River Plate. Toja has been capped at the U20 level for Columbia, and has been named to the MLS All Star team each year since his arrival.  Toja is said to be interested in the move as it could see him playing in either the Uefa Cup or Champions League tournaments. What do you think? How much should FC Dallas be asking for? Would it be a good move for Juan?

Popularity: 24%

According to multiple sources, LA Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz could be on his way to New York. The Galaxy have been looking to unload Ruiz, for some time, in an effort to free up salary cap space and New York are one of few MLS sides capable of taking on Ruiz’s salary. Juan Carlos Osorio has been quoted as saying that he is interested in a striker abroad, and one striker that is currently MLS based. Ruiz has shown to be a goal scorer in MLS although he hasn’t been able to achieve previous seasons form so far this season. The LA Galaxy are in New York to play the Red Bulls on Saturday, and could negotiate a trade. I think this could be a good short team answer for the Red Bulls, the main question is whether or not Ruiz can stay healthy for the remainder of the season and find his past form. What do you think?

Popularity: 28%

LA Galaxy announced Friday that they have waived 35 year old defender Abel Xavier. Xavier joined the club in 2007 after being released by Premier League side Middlesbrough. Xavier started 19 games in just over a year with the LA based club, making his debut on June 16th 2007. The 35 year old is well traveled, having played for Liverpool, Benfica, PSV Eindhoven, AS Roma and Galatasaray among others. He has also earned 20 caps for the Portuguese national team. This move seems to indicate that the Galaxy are lining up for another transfer and needed to free up the cap space. What do you think?

Popularity: 23%