Union

ESPN looks at the MVP race and says that, while Le Toux is unlikely to win the title largely due to the Union not making it to the postseason, he wins the MOT, or Most Outstanding Player award. (ESPN tips Dallas FC’s David Ferreira to win the MVP. San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski kept his iron in the fire with a hat trick on Wednesday against Chivas USA. He didn’t even start the game, coming in at the 40th minute.)

You can read the transcript of yesterday’s live chat with Le Toux on the Union Website. A live chat with Danny Mwanga will be available from 1:30pm today here.

We will know after 10am today whether Fred has won the NAPA Save of the Week for his dramatic goal line clearance of Juan Agudelo’s header in the final minute of stoppage time.

Soccer America takes a look at the Union’s first season and concludes it was a rough start, but a good finish. Here’s hoping the result of Sunday’s match means an even gooderer finish. (Yes, I just made that word up.)

Friend of the PSP and WYSP DJ Gordon’s Union Sound podcast has its season finale with guest Chris Seitz, Nick Zimmerman and Jordan Harvey.

The Columbus Dispatch looks at the heavy schedule the Crew have had to endure ahead of their match against the Union on Sunday.

Four Energy Drinks supporters (Energy Drinkers?) were arrested at last Saturday’s match, two for making an obscene gesture (flipping the middle finger at some SoBs) and two for throwing the same bottle on to the pitch. On Wednesday, the Energy Drinks announced they had banned three of those arrested. (The length of the ban is unclear.) Two of those who were banned had been, according to this story, involved in an earlier incident at Energy Drink Arena. Apparently, as far as the Energy Drinks are concerned, you act like a knucklehead, you are treated like a knucklehead. The author of the article, who is apparently friends with three of those arrested and, it seems, was not at Saturday’s game because he now lives in Austin, says we have not heard the full facts of the story.

Remember that Robert Pires guy? You know, the one who said that he wouldn’t play in Philly because it isn’t beautiful? Apparently, some place in England called Crawley is beautiful, as reports have emerged that Blue Square Bet Premier League club Crawley Town are in talks with the former Arsenal player. According to Crawley’s Wikipedia page, the town boast “a large pedestrianised shopping area in the town centre,” “The Boulevard, a main east–west road separating the civic and retail areas of Crawley,” churches, a town hall and much, much more.

Independence

With the WPS expansion draft only two weeks away, the Independence announced its list of protected and unprotected players on Wednesday (free agents cannot be taken in the draft). The big surprise? Heather Mitts is left unprotected.
Protected: Danesha Adams, Jen Buczkowski, Allison Falk, Val Henderson, Nikki Krzysik, Lori Lindsey, Joanna Lohman, Holmfridur Magnusdottir, Amy Rodriguez, Caroline Seger
Unprotected: Heather Mitts, Lyndsey Patterson, Sarah Senty

The dangers of concussions to one’s health and career are not limited to the men’s game, as the case of Atlanta Beat midfielder and one-time USWNT regular Lori Chalupny makes clear.

MLS

I’ve said it before and now I will say it again: When the capitalists are backing you, then you know you are on to something. Looking at MLS attendance figures, The Wall Street Journal says, “Please stop saying nobody in the U.S. cares about soccer.” Ka-ching!

Eddie Lewis, the former US international who played in England for Fulham, Preston North End, Leeds United and Derby County and is currently with LA Galaxy, announced last month that he will retire at the end of the season. When the the official announcement was made by the team on Wednesday, it was also announced that Chris Klein will be retiring. With the retiring of Clint Mathis earlier in the season, it is beginning to look like LA Galaxy is the place were US players choose to end their days.

US

Maurice Edu scored a goal for Rangers against Valencia in the first half of their Champions League match on Wednesday, the first goal by an American in the Champions League since DaMarcus Beasley ‘s scored one (also for Rangers) three years ago. Unfortunately, he also scored one for Valencia with an own goal in the second half.

Elsewhere

FIFA has suspended six officials “from all soccer related duty” until the ethics probe into the ongoing bribery scandal concludes. No word yet on who are the two countries under investigation for allegedly colluding in their 2018 and 2022 bids.

Rooney confirms he won’t be signing a new contract. He also says that United can’t match his ambitions. Sir Alex Ferguson disagrees. Nemanja Vidic is unhappy with Rooney’s comments. Robbie Fowler, now playing for Perth Glory in the A-League, claims he has spoken to Rooney and that he is “very, very interested” in playing in Australia. Is this shite awesome, or what? United are to hold emergency talks today over whether the club should cash in on Rooney.

Video technology could be coming to soccer sooner then was previously thought. The International Football Association Board says that only goalline technology will be considered and must be able to convey an accurate decision to match officials within one second.

The use of artificial turf is growing (get it?) in the world of soccer.

In Liverpool news, Christian Purslow, the managing director who oversaw the sale of Liverpool, has stepped down. Bruce Dickinson, who divides his time between being the singer for Iron Maiden and being a pilot, flew the Liverpool squad to Naples for today’s Europa League match against Napoli. Meanwhile, at least two Liverpool fans who traveled to Naples for tonight’s match have been hospitalized after being stabbed. Napoli police say that ultras went hunting for Liverpool fans.

Former World Cup ref Bryon Moreno, recently arrested at Kennedy Airport with bags of heroin attached to his body, has pleaded not guilty.

Pele turns 70 today. Here are 70 facts about him.