Photo by Earl Gardner

Union

Amobi Okugo will join The Goaltender today for a live Q&A session. Make sure to tune in and ask Amobi if Michael Essien can save Chelsea’s season.

Speaking of Amobi Okugo, he’s joining 22 other players – including F’Adu and Mac Attack – who have been called up ahead of a February 29 friendly against Mexico. Here is the full roster:

Goalkeepers: Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire).

Defenders: Greg Garza (Club Tijuana), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United), Alfredo Morales (Hertha Berlin), Ike Opara (San Jose Earthquakes), Kofi Sarkodie (Houston Dynamo), Zarek Valentin (Montreal Impact), Jorge Villafaña (Chivas USA).

Midfielders: Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Mikkel Diskerud (KAA Gent), Dilly Duka (Columbus Crew), Jared Jeffrey (FSV Mainz), Amobi Okugo (Philadelphia Union) and Michael Stephens (L.A. Galaxy).

Forwards: Freddy Adu (Philadelphia Union), Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Joe Gyau (TSG Hoffenheim), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Tony Taylor (Estoril Praia).

Danny Mwanga talks about how the Union will put balls in the back of the net without Seba Le Toux in the ranks: “I’m pretty confident I’m going to be one of the guys out there that will bring danger to the opposing team, but I know for sure it’s not going to be a one-man show.”  You can officially count me among those who will be screaming BRING DANGER! whenever Mwanga gets the ball. That is such an awesome catchphrase.

Although he is only signed for a year, Gabriel Gomez has options through 2015. He says he hopes to stick around a while.

MLS

MLS released new designated player rules and revealed that the 2012 transfer window will be moved up to June 27-July 27. The minimum salary for rostered players (excluding “young players” below the age of 25) was bumped up to $45,000.

Can it be that MLS really did something not specifically designed to make LA and NYRB succeed? Apparently the league is forcing Luis Robles to go through the allocation process. NY was attempting to claim the goalie as a “discovery player.”

MLSSoccer’s Simon Borg names 10 players the Montreal Impact should have selected instead of Brian Ching. Of course, Borg ignores that the Impact could select a maximum of one player off of each MLS team, possibly because that would require him to do research. Kyle Nakazawa is number 7 on Borg’s list because the Galaxy thought highly enough of Naka to trade for him. Or did the Union think highly enough of an international spot to trade away a non-international, Simon? Did I just blow your mind??

Insidemnsoccer continues their series on the issues with MLS’s reserve league and possible approaches to fixing it. This installment discusses the idea of integrating the reserve league with other US soccer leagues. You can read part 1 here.

The Vancouver Whitecaps continue their strong offseason by signing Barry Robson from Middlesbrough. The 33-year old midfielder will bring a veteran presence to a midfield that needs to be very good at defending and getting the ball up top to their 473 strikers quickly. Vancouver is becoming the action movie of MLS teams. From now on, they will be “Michael Bay presents the Vancouver Whitecaps.”

US

ESPN throws some questions at Michael Bradley, who is enjoying a strong season with a weak Serie A side.

Eddie Johnson, everybody’s favorite US striker cautionary tale, is set to return to MLS. SBI says the team he returns to will be revealed today.

Don’t forget to mark you calendars for the US/Brazil USWNT friendly ahead of the 2012 Olympics. It’s a meaningless match, but Brazil miiiiight just have a chip on their shoulder.

Jay Demerit says he is not Jeremy Lin. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read Demerit’s blog.

Corruption

Four referees in China have been jailed for their roles in a domestic match-fixing scandal. One referee worked the 2000 Olympics and 2002 World Cup.

Other

Didn’t read Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s biography yet? Just get the iPad app!