According to multiple English and MLS sources, Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan has agreed a deal with Premiership side Aston Villa for $1.5 Million. The 23 year old keeper gave what sounded like a goodbye to Chivas USA fans after last nights 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy. According to our sources Guzan has agreed a deal and the deal should be announced very soon, which could see yet another successful American goalkeeper make the move to England. Guzan was close to a move earlier this season but did not have the required percentage of senior international caps to secure a work permit. Guzan had also attracted interest from Scottish giants Celtic, through strong performances with Chivas USA and the Mens National Team. We should be getting some more information on the transfer details and the details of Guzan’s contract, make sure to check back often. What do you think of the move? Good for Brad? What’s next for Chivas USA?

UPDATE: Our tips turned out to be true, Soccer By Ives is now reporting $3 Million transfer fee, bargain for Villa.

UPDATE 2: Looks like the transfer fee is now reported at being only $1.5 Million, mainly because Guzan is in his last year under contract, but Villa just got a major steal.  

CONCACAF drew the prelimary round of this years CONCACAF Champions League. This will be the first edition of the CONCACAF Champions League which will replace the CONCACAF Champions Cup. Preliminary round opens on August 26, the rest of the schedule is below:

Two teams, two conference champions, Both are struggling to find form after a rocky start.

Chivas USA have six people on this weeks injury list, five out and one questionable. The out includes Alecko Eskandarian, Raphael Wicky, Alex Zotinca, Lawson Vaughn and Jonathan Bornstein. Carey Talley is questionable.

Mentality is key and defense is the issue. If Chivas USA wants to see success, then the team has to defend as a unit. The midfield has to track back and pressure the squad. The burden will fall on Pancho Mendoza and Sacha Kljestan. Both players will need to play both defense and offense all game.

I anticipate the usual starters in the offense and midfield. The defense is anyone’s guess. Both Shavar Thomas and Claudio Suarez will start in the midfield. I would give Bobby Burling the nod for right back. I thought he put together a decent performance. On the left, I would like to see Gerson Mayen get the start. If not, Mayen, maybe go after a 3-5-2 with Thomas wide. Have Talley (if healthy) or Marsch as the defensive mid. Something like this.

——Razov————-Galindo——-

Mendoza————————-Kljestan
——–Paladini-Marsch-Nagamura——

—-Thomas—–Suarez—–Burling—–

Play what you have.

I guess the only thing that could save the team is that DC is almost as injured as Chivas USA. DC is not expecting Olson, Peralta, McTavish or Fred. Emilio may be benched due to poor performance.

The Chivas USA were introduced to Los Angeles as an expansion team in 2005. With historic ties and a winning pedigree inherited from sister Club Deportivo Guadalajara, Chivas USA have been taking MLS by storm. In three short years the team went from bottom to top, winning the Western Conference and qualifying for several prestigious tournaments. However, perhaps the most passionate trophy attained last year was the SuperClasico. The Chivas USA defeated their neighbor, the Los Angeles Galaxy, and won bragging rights in the City of Los Angeles.

In those three years, the Chivas USA have grown with the league. The team currently caters to the Mexican-American market, but is starting to attract interest from everyone with the style of play displayed by the club. The team plays a possession and passing game, not often seen in the MLS. It’s this beautiful style that attracts fans that follow different leagues and international teams.

With the quality of soccer contained by the two clubs in Los Angeles, the biggest rivalry in the league has formed. Historically, the match up has not been pretty. Last year we saw on the field match-ups as England International David Beckham and MLS original Jesse Marsch battled in the midfield. Shoulder charges from Beckham and an irrational challenge from Marsch generated a yellow card. The ejections of both Galaxy defender Kevin Harmse and Chivas USA defender Alex Zotinca due to a confrontation added fuel to the flame.

However, this year is a fresh start and both teams are looking for a win. It hasn’t been easy for either club. Chivas USA have suffered from injury and suspension, missing up to five starting players at times. The LA Galaxy has been trying to find their form, with inconsistent results the past few matches. However, all lights are green for the game this Saturday. Slowly, Chivas USA are getting healthy and stronger while the Galaxy has been finding their form. This should be the most exciting game yet.

Chivas USA are starting to take the shape of the team that was the Western Conference Champion last year. Suspensions and injuries are slowly subsiding. Upcoming MLS star Sacha Kljestan is back in the lineup after a one game suspension. The midfielder is the catalyst for the Chivas USA offense. World Cup veteran Claudio Suarez is training again after a rocky start to the season. Suarez spent the first two weeks of the season in Mexico with family after his father passed away. He then came back to training and a teammate accidentally broke his nose. Claudio will need surgery after the season ends, but is currently training with the team and should make an appearance Saturday night.

Other Chivas USA stars should be back, including midfielder Pancho Mendoza, defender Lawson Vaughn and striker Ante Razov. Razov looks to capture the record for all time MLS goals this season. He is currently in second place, four goals behind DC United veteran Jaime Moreno. Swiss International Raphael Wicky has been dealing with a few injuries but has been training with the team as of late. This new addition in the midfield is one of the strongest acquisitions of the winter. Wicky has played for several European giants, including Hamburg SV, Werder Breman, FC Scion and Athletico Madrid.

The Los Angeles Galaxy is no stranger to stardom. English International David Beckham and all time leading US goal scorer Landon Donovan have paired up this season for a strong partnership. If the Chivas USA can keep this partnership in check, the Chivas USA has a strong chance of success. This responsibility could fall on the shoulders of fan favorite Pancho Mendoza. This speedy midfielder could be responsible for applying pressure to Becks in conjunction with defender Jonathan Bornstein. Thomas will largely be marking Donovan.

Big players show up at big games. And this is no exception. Will this be an easy game for either team? No. Who will win? Probably the fans. These derby’s usually end up exciting and suspenseful.

The three game series starts Saturday at the Home Depot Center in Carson and should be exciting. If you are in the mood for excellent soccer, great company and the biggest feud in MLS, I will see you at the Home Depot Center Saturday at 7:30.

So come over to the Chivas USA!

This may be the shortest roster ever to step on the field. Players not available include Lawson Vaughn, Alex Zotinca, Raphael Wicky, Sacha Kljestan, Pancho Mendoza and Alecko Eskandarian. Maykel Galindo and Ante Razov are still not 100%. Both Jorge Flores and Gerson Mayen are playing in Portugal with the US U-20s.

Sideline Views has an excellent interview with Preki about the situation.

I’ll throw out a possible line up, but Preki has stated that the next few training days will determine who plays on Sunday.

———Razov-Galindo————

-Braun-Nagamura-Marsch-Savage-

-Bornstein-Suarez-Thomas-Pozniak-

———–Guzan—————

Bench. Atiba Harris, Anthony Hamilton, Dan Kennedy, Daniel Paladini, Eric Ebert, and Jim Curtin

The only outfielder not on my roster is Kraig Chiles. For having eight guys out, the side does not look half bad.

The team will have a decent chance of taking three points. The play on the wings will be different, and could affect the flow of the game. Jesse Marsch and Paulo Nagamura will have to step up, and I think they have it in them. Both midfielders have looked exceptionally strong this year. The leadership of Marsch brought the team back into the game against the Crew and Paulo always impresses me. Paulo has a touch with the ball… not too far from Wicky’s.

Other than that expect the play to be raw. The midfield will not be able to dominate in usual fashion. Marsch and Nagamura will have their hands full controlling the game without the play of Kljestan and the pace of Mendoza. Savage and Flores if played will do OK… Flores plays a style very similar to Mendoza and has a very strong work ethic. Savage has surprised the team with his intelligence in the game.

Both teams are promoting the veteran Mexican defenders and their associated rivalry. I think the real fight will be between Kenny Cooper and the back line. The defense will have their hands full dealing with the strong striker. However, with Suarez and Pozniac in the line combining with Bornstein and Thomas, the lone striker should be contained.

Galindo, Razov and Atiba will do fine up front if they get the ball from the midfield. I expect all three to see time. No word on Alecko’s status/surgery.

Dallas have a few people in the injured list, including Alvarez and Toja. However, the team looks pretty strong. Should be a good match.

Always rooting for positive results and the team has the potential to produce, but it will be hard fought. I’ll go along with a 2-1 win for the Red and White.

Leave your prediction!!!

Will Chivas USA get healthy? This may be the biggest question. Chivas USA have been playing short handed and stealing results. The team is not healthy.

The key to any team performing is health. Preki has been forced to put together interesting line ups. The biggest issue has been in the back. Chivas USA played without several starters in the rear and this left a hole. The team has a great starting four in Bornstein, Thomas, Suarez and Vaughn, and even Zotinca. However, Curtin has had trouble adjusting and Pozniak does not seem to be at 100%. These players make great substitutes, but nothing can replace the starting line up.

We’ve been found out. Chivas USA are not a surprise this year. Everyone in the league knows who Chivas USA is, the Western Conference Champions. They all know how we play, possession football. The last three game have shown that other teams will no longer allow the Red and White to control the game. The midfield have a steep task ahead of them.

Officiating? The match was spectacular, and had potential to be even more exciting. However, no better way to kill a match like a red card. I’m going on the record and saying “Chivas USA had AT LEAST one more goal in them” I’m not saying either player didn’t deserve a card. Pancho Mendoza probably didn’t deserve his first yellow, but he did deserve his second. He went into the tackle knowing he had a yellow, so in that regard, he deserved a yellow. Where on earth would Sacha Kljestan get a red card for that? Where was the intent? Maybe he deserved a card, but that? Wow.

What good came out of this match? The answer in short… A lot. First off, the strikers on the team, even as injured as they are, are scoring. And the goals are coming from everywhere. Three of the four midfielders have scored, and the same goes for the strikers. HUGE step in the development of the Chivas USA squad. Jesse Marsch is another bright point. The co-captain is pushing his squad as hard as he can. The midfield belongs to him, and it is strong. Lastly, Shavar Thomas is looking better than ever. He has been adjusting to different players and picking up slack in the back. He looks solid.

Did the Chivas USA deserve to lose? Let me know wat you think.