MLS 2010 seasons opens with Philadelphia Union visiting Seattle Sounders FC

The 2010 schedule for Major League Soccer was recently announced. The season will open with the expansion Philadelphia Union visiting last season’s newcomers Seattle Sounders FC. Last year the Sounders started off the season on a high note – giving a good beating to MLS Cup runners up New York Red Bulls. The season gets underway on Thursday, March 25th and can be seen on ESPN2 & Deportes at 8:30pm CST.

Philadelphia Unionvs

Thursday, March 25th
8:30pm CST
ESPN2 / ESPN Deportes

You can see the full 2010 Major League Soccer schedule right here.

New Shoes – The Adidas Samba Nua II

About a week ago I receive a new pair of indoor shoes – the Adidas Samba Nua II Germany edition.  I was told these were very nice shoes but I was a little bit skeptical at first.  If you look at the collection of Adidas Samba shoes they have, you’ll notice several different countries are represented in the Samba Nua II shoes.  I choose these because the yellow matches both of the indoor teams I’m currently playing with, but mostly because I am half German.

I wore the shoes around the house for a little bit right away to get a feel for them.  Initially I felt like my heel was going to slip out of them but that wasn’t an issue when I got them out on the turf.  I had been wearing a pair of Adidas Samba Milleniums for the past 3 years before picking up the Nua II.  Those shoes served me well but they were really starting to show their wear and tear, so it was time for something new.

The Nua II was a nice treat when I finally was able to wear them in their first game.  Even without having time to break them in they felt very good.  They were like glue when I wanted to keep the ball close, and when it was time to blast a shot they knew exactly where to send the ball.  That night they were good for a hat trick and they haven’t slowed down yet!

I’ve worn a lot of different soccer shoes over many years and I do think these are the nicest indoor shoes I’ve ever had.  I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a new indoor shoe.  My only complaint is the lack of a wider variety of country editions.  Most notably there is no US version of the shoe. I guess black and yellow probably works better than red, white, and blue anyway.

Does Landon Donovan have a weakness?

As I was going to dig to see what I could find out about Landon Donovan’s loan to Everton I read something interesting.  What would you say Landon Donovan’s weakness is?

Donovan has been a beast for the United States throughout his career.  He’s set records and won numerous awards.  His MLS career isn’t too shabby either.  He had spent some time playing in Germany on multiple occasions.  According to ESPNsoccernet’s profile of Donovan:

Weaknesses: Perhaps playing on German soil.

So how do you think Donovan will do for Everton?  I hope that every EPL team wants him before his short loan is over.  I know it is only a loan – but a team with Donovan and Tim Howard is a team I will always be cheering for.

MLS Best XI

How does this look for a best XI lineup.  This is the group that was named to the MLS best XI for this 2009 season.  Only a single player from the best XI will be represented in the MLS Cup this Sunday.  That is of course Landon Donovan – US player of the decade.

Conor Casey – Jeff Cunningham

Dwayne De Rosario – Landon Donovan – Stuart Holden – Shalrie Joseph – Freddie Ljungberg

Geoff Cameron – Wilman Conde – Chad Marshall

Zach Thornton

So what do you think, is this a good lineup?  Is there anyone more deserving of a spot here?

Shakeup on the single table standings!

31 Houston
28 Seattle
27 Los Angeles
27 Chivas USA
25 Chicago
25 Toronto FC
24 Colorado
24 D.C. United
24 Columbus
20 Kansas City
20 Real Salt Lake
17 New England
17 FC Dallas
13 San Jose
10 New York

Social networking for football fans

footbo.comI just got my profile set up at www.footbo.com – social networking for football fans by football fans.  Something between my cable modem and my computer is going really slow this evening so I haven’t been able to get around the site as much as I would like yet, but I look forward to exploring it soon.

After registering I was able to get a profile image uploaded, select some of my favorite teams and players, and write my first blog post there!

I don’t have any friends yet – so go register an account and the look me up and add me as a friend.  Treasure chests full of gold for my first friend on Footbo.com!

http://www.footbo.com/Users/kidpurple

Getting set up on Twitter

I’ve finally got a Twitter account set up for MLS Fan Blog. Now you can follow and contact the MLS Fan Blog at your favorite micro-blogging site – unless it happens to be something other than Twitter. If there are others I should have an account at let me know.

Twitter

http://www.twitter.com/mlsfanblog

Adidas Teamgeist II MLS Finals Match Ball

Adidas Teamgeist II MLS Finals Match BallDuring the winter I get to play more soccer than I get to watch MLS. Who doesn’t – unless you are watching old matches. Anyway – this past Christmas I was lucky enough to get an Adidas Teamgeist II MLS Finals Match Ball. This ball is amazing!

The Teamgeist balls were developed by Adidas for the 2006 World Cup. The Teamgeist balls have 14 panels rather than the more standard 32 panels which are bonded together rather than stitched together. This is supposed to keep the ball rounder and more waterproof – making it perform more consistent than the older balls.

One thing I know for sure is that this is the nicest soccer ball I’ve ever owned. My first impression of the ball was that it was too light. There were some professionals that also voiced this criticism of the ball. Once I got the ball to my feet and was able to kick it around for a while it just felt good. I really had a feeling that the ball was more willing to do what I wanted it to do when it left my foot than older balls.

If you are looking for a new ball I highly recommend the Adidas Teamgeist II MLS Finals Match Ball. If you don’t want to spend quite that much money go look at other soccer balls.

Hopefully I’ll be able to pick up some new soccer shoes soon. Which ones should I get?

Best Sports Blog of 2008

What is the best sports blog of 2008? If it isn’t the MLS Fan Blog it has to be SBI – Soccer By Ives. Is there any better?

Well anyway there are some weblog awards where SBI is up for best sports blog of 2008. Go give SBI a vote if you think it is deserving (and it is).

At the moment SBI is pretty close to a tie for 2nd place out of 15.  The leader has over double the votes that SBI has right now – so tell all your friends to go give a vote too.

Dario Sala represents MLS vs Mexico well in Keeper Kombat

Dario Sala was the lone representative from MLS in a goal keeper challenge called Keeper Kombat.  The event took place in Mexico where he competed against 11 keepers that play for Mexican teams.  Sala came out victorious over each of his opponents to claim probably nothing for winning the Keeper Kombat.

The event was put on by a company that makes keeper gloves called Rinat.

Read more details at the official FC Dallas blog.