MLS Insider Blog

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

The All Star break has come and gone but that certainly doesn’t mean that that all the stars are gone. Far from it. As MLS teams return to league play this weekend there is the potential for league debuts from three Designated Players: Nery Castillo for Chicago, Thierry Henry for New York and Alvaro Fernandez for Seattle. In today’s edition of The Daily Jason & Simon break down each possible debut plus the rest of this weekend’s action.

For more MLS video visit MLSsoccer.com.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

The summer transfer window, also known as “the silly season”, opened on July 15th and is now in full swing worldwide. And in America the window has swung open wider than usual. On the heels of Red Bull New York’s signing of Thierry Henry the Chicago Fire announced tonight the acquisition of Mexican international Nery Castillo. Castillo, who has played for European powers Olympiacos, Shakhtar Donetsk and Manchester City, will be Chicago’s Designated Player.

While he’s had a few setbacks due to injury & personality clashes, Castillo is major catch for Chicago. Remember this is a player who in 2007 was sold for €20 million to Shakhtar Donetsk and is only 26 years old. To get a guy with his skill and pedigree at such a young age is pretty impressive. If coach Carlos de los Cobos can connect with the mercurial striker/midfielder the Fire may have found their heir-apparent to Cuahuatemoc Blanco in more ways than one.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

While Thierry Henry has announced his retirement from international soccer, one Designated Player who is expected to continue playing for his country while playing in MLS is Montenegrin captain Branko Bošković. The creative midfielder is a linchpin of his national team and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, which could be interesting for D.C. United come the fall.

Lumped into a Euro 12 qualifying group with England, Wales, Switzerland and Bulgaria, Montenegro has matches scheduled for Sept. 3rd & 7th and Oct. 8th & 12th. While most MLS teams are more than flattered to have European internationals on their squad, having a new player that is expected to run the attack go missing for 8-10 days twice during a period of time that could prove crucial to D.C.’s playoff hopes isn’t the most convenient thing in the world; another reason why United needs to start grabbing points now rather than later if it is going to make a run at the post-season.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

There are only a handful of topics surrounding Major League Soccer that garner Congressional Inquiry-levels of scrutiny and debate from both the fans and the media every time they come to the surface. Things like expansion, incoming & outgoing player transfers and stadium development get tongues wagging from message board to blog to Boston Globe and often deliver wildly varying opinions & views from all observers.

The Designated Player rule is another one of those topics that people can’t help but talk about and with the transfer window set to open on July 15th it’s going to be a major talking point in MLS circles for the remainder of the summer. Today The Debate Team take on the relative merits of the rule and ask the question “is it worth it?”

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Could Red Bull New York’s Juan Pablo Angel be the next high-profile MLS player to head south of the border? If Veracruz have their way he may be. According to reports out of Mexico, the ambitious Second-Division side –whose roster currently boasts former Fire DP Cuauhtemoc Blanco– has Angel on it’s lists of targets behind Brazilian forward Kleber Boas. Would Angel really consider exchanging his marquee status in New York for being someone’s second choice in the Second-Division?

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Apparently some EPL players find the prospect of playing in MLS too daunting due to fears that “too much pressure would be put on them.” According to The Sun, several players who have spent time with Arsenal are apprehensive about coming to the States for fear of having too great an expectation put upon them despite consultation from former teammate and current Seattle Sounder Freddie Ljungberg.

Could players whose every move is documented and debated by both the tabloid press & the sports media really be frightened at the prospect of playing in a league where one of it’s most storied clubs, D.C. United, has yet to secure a point 5 weeks into the season and there has been little to no outcry for a coaching or player change? Or is this more a case of aging players showing a lack of confidence in possibly diminishing skills?

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

In Tuesday’s The Daily, Greg Lalas and Simon Borg today’s UEFA Champions League matches –including a massive meeting between Arsenal & Barcelona. They also discuss the pressure facing Houston’s Designated Player Luis Angel Landin now that Brian Ching is injured and their DP wish list; Zlatan Ibrahimovich anyone?

Red Bull New York Designated Player Juan Pablo Angel is the club's all-time leading scorer.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Following up on our previous post, MLS Insider can now reveal further details pertaining to changes in the structure of Major League Soccer’s Designated Player program. Under the new rules, a club’s salary budget will be charged $335,000 for its first Designated Player under contract, $335,000 for its second Designated Player under contract and $335,000 if it signs a third Designated Player. If a Designated Player joins a club’s roster in the middle of the season, that club’s salary budget for the year will be charged $167,500.

The previous budget charge for a club’s first Designated Player was $415,000.

Additionally, clubs will have the option of using allocation funds to “buy down” the budget charge of a designated player. The reduced charge may not be less than $150,000. These changes to the Designated Player rule are effective immediately.

Designated Player Freddie Ljundberg has been a success for the Seattle Sounders.

BY SHAWN FRANCIS

Today Major League Soccer announced that all 16 clubs will be awarded a second Designated Player slot effective immediately. Under it’s new parameters, the Designated Player Rule also gives clubs the option of “purchasing” a third Designated Player slot for $250,000; this payment will be dispersed in the form of allocation money to all clubs that do not have three Designated Players. Furthermore Designated Player slots may be used to sign and retain players currently under contract, but they can no longer be traded.

“Expanding the Designated Player Rule is another example of MLS’s commitment to providing top-level soccer for our fans,” MLS EVP of Player Relations and Competition Todd Durbin said. “After three seasons, we have seen that the Designated Player Rule improves the quality of play, creates intrigue and discussion, and enhances our clubs’ distinct on-field identities. We will continue to see varied approaches from our clubs in assembling their rosters, and these changes will give them increased flexibility.”

For more information on this new policy, visit MLSsoccer.com.