The New York Red Bulls are a team loaded with talent but no head coach. It is the perfect blueprint for yet another disappointing, trophy-less season.

(Update: Mike Petke officially named head coach) 

On-the-field preparations are already being made for the 2013 campaign.

Cleats are laced. Fitness is being tested. Cohesion and team unity are carefully nurtured.

Just not in New York. At least not in the traditional sense.

The enigma that is New York's head coaching position has overshadowed what is—at least on paper—a championship roster.

But games are not played on paper. They are played on the field.

And there’s usually a head coach there, or so I’ve heard.

Since the firing of Hans Backe last November, the Red Bulls have done a better job of being linked to potential head coaches than actually hiring one.

Potential suitor No. 1 was Scotland’s own Gary McAllister.

Following the appointment of Andy Roxburgh as Sporting Director, McAllister’s hire seemed inevitable.

It fit the European model that New York has been synonymous with, and his connection with Roxburgh dated back to his days on the Scottish national team.

But the hire never came to fruition. The Red Bulls never extended an offer to McAllister.

Potential suitor No. 2 was Portuguese manager Paulo Sousa.

Rumors swirled earlier this month following Sousa’s departure from Hungarian club Videoton FC. On an episode of his podcast, The Shot, Alexi Lalas cited his sources, calling Sousa “a good bet” to be the next coach of New York.

An American assistant for Sousa was also in line.

Former Red Bulls star and current US Soccer youth technical director Claudio Reyna was offered a position as Sousa’s top assistant.

But in the past week, New York has been rejected more times than Ty Lawson in the paint.

Reyna has declined the Red Bulls’ offer (via soccerbyives.net).

And now, reports out of Portugal have forced New York back to the drawing board.

According to reports from Portugal, Paulo Sousa turns down the Red Bull coaching job. Drama continues. #RBNY #MLS bit.ly/10FitnP

Reyna’s decision to turn down the opportunity to be an assistant for the Red Bulls is surmountable. But Sousa’s decision is not.

Not in the short term.

New York does not benefit from rejection or hearsay. Those two appear to be the only options at this point.

The latest rumor has named Eric Wynalda, Paul Lambert and Teitur Thordarson as the next batch of potential suitors.

Red Bull linked with Lambert, Eric Wynalda & ex-Vancouver boss Thordarson, dysfunction hurting their search. #RBNY #MLS bit.ly/Um2Rl5

At the moment, that is mere speculation. When it comes to New York, what isn’t at this point?

Whatever the scuttlebutt may be, Roxburgh is in no rush to officially name the 12th head coach in franchise history.

We’ve been talking to a number of people, a lot with really interesting backgrounds and we’re still in discussions. We appreciate the fans’ patience, but we don’t want to rush to judgement here. There will be an announcement soon about it.

The front office is not rushing to judgement, but it did not refrain from overhauling its roster.

Roxburgh and Gérard Houllier spent the offseason conducting an intemperate number of transactions. But they forgot the one with the most consequence: naming a new head coach.

The 2013 version of the Red Bulls is essentially a hand-picked team with no regard to tactics, formation or style of play.

Whoever New York selects as its next head coach will be greeted with this message on day one: "Welcome. This is your team. Now go win with it."

It is in direct contrast to what the Los Angeles Galaxy—another big-market team with money to spend—have done since Bruce Arena’s arrival.

It is a blueprint that is doomed to fail in MLS.

Many have forgotten the turmoil that surrounded LA before Arena’s arrival. The Galaxy were a team without a playoff berth since 2005.

All the money and talent could not keep LA from finishing next-to-last in the league in 2008.

But in the four years that followed, Arena led the Galaxy to three MLS Cup Finals. Two titles have been lifted in the process.

Those championships were not “bought” as some have alluded to. Vital pieces to LA's championship form were drafted and acquired to mirror Arena’s vision.

Omar Gonzalez, AJ DeLaGarza and Mike Magee were not the lavish additions the Galaxy are typically lambasted over.

The Galaxy have proven it takes more than money and household names to win an MLS Cup. Stability at the top is a characteristic of a championship team.

As of now, it is not a characteristic New York has in spades.

That’s what separates the four-time champions in LA from the empty trophy case in New York. (No, the Emirates Cup does not count as a legitimate trophy.)

True, the Red Bulls are not the only team entering the preseason with no head coach. Toronto FC bears the distinct "honor” of joining the Red Bulls in that regard.

But even Kevin Payne has an exact timetable for Ryan Nelsen’s arrival.

Ryan Nelsen to leave QPR and join Toronto FC permanently on Feb. 1: bit.ly/USr7KC

Toronto FC has answers New York does not. 

But for every report written on the Red Bulls' inability to hire a head coach, there is always one consistent caveat: Mike Petke is still the interim head coach.

Many have argued that it is in New York’s best interest to remove Petke’s interim tag. New York's bitter rival DC United can attest to the success of having a former MLS veteran lead your team.

But as Ives Galarcep points out, that move may soon be one of necessity rather than innovation.

Still think Petke is very much still better as an assistant than head coach, but RBNY's inability to land a HC could leave them w/no choice

The MLS season is 36 days away, New York.

Whether it's Petke, a European commodity or your local AYSO volunteer, the time to make a hire is now.

Better late than never.

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC

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On January 16, the newly reincarnated New York Cosmos announced plans for a $400 million, privately financed stadium project, including retail, restaurants and a hotel. I've seen the artist renditions of what the project would look like, and while it's visually stimulating, it's also something else.

A mistake.

I'm already on record as saying that MLS shouldn't place a second team in New York. I think they should make sure there's demand for a second team, and I don't think there is. For justification, let's look at the attendance figures.

Red Bull Arena seats 25,000, and yet it's rarely full. Of their 17 regular-season home games in 2012, 11 had an announced attendance of under 20,000.

In fact, just for giggles, I used the attendance figures available in the match reports on MLSsoccer.com to figure the total attendance for the Red Bulls and Sporting KC, the team I'm most familiar with.

I figured a team in New York would outdraw a team in Kansas City, considering the difference in population of the two cities and stadium size. Sporting Park has a seating capacity of 18,467. To be fair, I only counted league games, since Sporting KC hosted all but one of their Open Cup games and New York didn't host any before getting knocked out.

Well, I was wrong. While the Red Bulls drew a respectable average of 18,281 fans to each of their games in 2012, Sporting KC drew an average of 19,404.

To put this in perspective, the Red Bulls averaged 72.6 percent of capacity. Sporting KC, on the other hand, averaged 105.1 percent of capacity.

Stadium age isn't an issue here, as Red Bull Arena is only one year older than Sporting Park.

MLS Isn't The Goal

Not only is there a lack of demand for another team in New York, but the Cosmos aren't necessarily interested in becoming MLS team No. 20.

In an article by Grant Wahl on SI.com, Cosmos chairman Seamus O'Brien is quoted as saying:

I think soccer from the facilities point of view has probably been undeserved in the area. I think Red Bull Arena is a fantastic development. If we can complement that on the other side of town, terrific. If somebody else [read: MLS] wants to build one down the road, I'm not scared of competition. It isn't going to stop us building our home for the Cosmos.

See, MLS already has a stadium proposal for a second team in New York City, located in the Flushing Meadows-Corona Park section of Queens, only 10 miles away. That proposal has the backing of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, among others.

The Cosmos will begin play in the North American Soccer League fall championship season. They are seriously proposing building a 25,000-seat stadium (which can be expanded) to play in the second division, the only path to international success being the U.S. Open Cup.

Still don't believe me when I say the Cosmos aren't really aiming at MLS (other than as a rival)? Maybe this will change your mind.

The club sent out a tweet after announcing their stadium plans, telling fans they'd answer them on the team site later in the week. One of the questions they received was from a Michael Heinz:

Q: Can you give us a DEFINITIVE answer on what the Belmont stadium means for the Cosmos' MLS prospects? And what sort of role the NASL (and by extension the Cosmos) is going to have in the American soccer pyramid going forward? Do you really expect 20,000 people a game for NASL soccer in the current system, w/ no promotion and the Open Cup the only path to int'l success?

In response, Cosmos COO Erik Stover said on NYCosmos.com (emphasis mine):

We are completely focused on being successful in the NASL. We are already seeing the NASL growing rapidly with new investors and new clubs. Further, we expect to field a team that will feature comparable talent as MLS franchises in a few short years. So yes, we do expect to draw well.

As we've said in the past, our goal has always remained to play soccer at the highest levels in this country.

This makes me think the Cosmos don't really care what MLS does or doesn't do in regards to their 20th team.

Conclusion

The Cosmos stadium proposal is in the hands of the Empire State Development Council (ESDC), which, according to nytimes.com, is expected to take several months to decide on a winning bid. The stadium project was just one of the proposals received for the land in response to a state request.

If the ESDC are as shortsighted as I expect them to be, what with the dollar signs flashing in their eyes from a development they don't have to put money into, they will approve this project.

That approval will set up a showdown between MLS and the NASL, and I'm not sure anyone knows how that will turn out exactly. At this time, it appears rather counterproductive, because the Cosmos would be pulling potential talent from a still-growing (both in reputation and level of competition) MLS and possibly taking fans from a Red Bulls team that fails to consistently fill its own seats.

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The Los Angeles Galaxy may have lost the face of Major League Soccer with David Beckham's departure, but they will not be losing the face of their franchise. According to the Los Angeles Times' Jim Peltz, longtime Galaxy and Team USA star Landon Donovan will return for his ninth season with the outfit.

Donovan had been considering retirement following a fantastic season that culminated in Los Angeles' second straight MLS Cup. It's unclear when Donovan will report to Galaxy camp, according to coach Bruce Arena, as he's still recovering from a grueling 2012 season. 

"He just needs a little bit more time off," Arena said (per the Los Angeles Times). "He's had a couple of years that have taken their toll."

Obviously, this is a huge development for the Galaxy. Though most assumed that Donovan would ultimately return, his flirtation with retirement put the team's three-peat in big-time jeopardy. By returning, Donovan should help keep the worries about a post-championship nosedive to a minimum. 

But returning to the Galaxy will likely prove to be a great move for Donovan as well. 

First of all, Donovan still has a ton left in his 30-year-old tank. Even though he played through just about the entire 2012 calendar year, Donovan scored 11 goals and dished out an MLS-high 16 assists.

He won't be nearly as exhausted this season. Unlike 2012, Donovan did not go on loan to the English Premier League, meaning he should have fresh legs by the time the MLS season starts. And with Beckham departing, Donovan will likely get the chance to be the unquestioned face of a championship contender again.

Beckham's departure may keep the Galaxy from getting as many headlines, but they should survive his loss just fine on the pitch. The 37-year-old Englishman was mostly a secondary player in Los Angeles, serving more as a token of the MLS' relevance than the player who was once (arguably) the best in the world.

The Galaxy are also working on adding a notable replacement. Frank Lampard reportedly has a deal "all but done" to head to Southern California, and he would provide no less than Beckham did last season, without the fuss. 

That would put Los Angeles squarely in three-peat territory—something that has to be intriguing for Donovan.  

The only (relatively) logical reason for Donovan to retire would be if he no longer felt challenged by the MLS. He has spent multiple stints with Everton of the Premier League in the past, and it's wholly possible that playing stateside is no longer satiating his legendary competitiveness.

"I've struggled with motivation at many points in my career," Donovan told ESPN last October. "I've had times where it all came easily but there have been stretches where I have questioned it." 

Even if that's true, retiring wouldn't suddenly make Donovan a regular in the Premiership. Transfer rules still apply, and the Galaxy have made it very clear they want their star to honor his commitment through 2013. Meanwhile, Premier League teams haven't exactly lined up to make Los Angeles an offer it couldn't refuse.

Donovan is a solid-enough player over in England, but the Premier League will go on just fine without him. Even when his contract ends after the 2013 season, Donovan will be 31, and any possible deal would likely be a short one. 

The MLS provides an opportunity for Donovan to be a superstar well into his mid-30s if he chooses—even if it's in a second-tier league.

If Donovan still loves lining up at the pitch, he's better off staying in the MLS where he's revered. He will likely go down as the best player in league history and has established himself as arguably the most decorated star in United States soccer history as well.

The Premier League is the best in the world and retirement may be relaxing, but Los Angeles (and MLS) is where Donovan belongs. 

Follow @tylerconway22

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Landon Donovan looks increasingly likely to spend 2013 with the Los Angeles Galaxy. Whether or not you agree with Donovan's decision, he's earned the right to do what he wants.

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena on Monday said Donovan will "definitely" play for Los Angeles this season, seemingly ending months of speculation about the 30-year-old's future.

"We’ve given him a little more time off,” Arena said (via LAGalaxy.com). “He’s definitely playing this year, but we’re just working out a return date that makes sense for all of us—we’re working that out soon.”

Donovan spoke about retirement in a May 2012 interview with Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl. At the time he spoke of being "excited to pass the torch" to the younger generation of American soccer players.

In October, he told ESPN FC that he has "struggled with motivation" at times. In August, he spoke with Goal.com about his MLS contract expiring after the 2013 season. He spoke about his options after that, including retirement or a move abroad.

"Why wouldn't I (consider retirement)?" he said.

To answer Donovan's question, he shouldn't consider retirement because he can still perform on the pitch. In 2012 he led the Galaxy as captain to their second straight MLS Cup title and earned a spot in the MLS Best XI.

That being said, Donovan has already done enough to warrant an early retirement—if he chose to do so.

During a sparkling MLS career, Donovan has won five MLS Cups (three with the Galaxy and two more with the San Jose Earthquakes) and one U.S. Open Cup.

He also impressed with English Premier League side Everton in two loan spells, first in 2010 and again in 2012.

At the international level, Donovan is a veteran of three World Cups with the United States and a seven-time winner of the Honda Player of the Year award given to the national team's best player.

At age 20, he played a starring role in the Americans' run to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup (a team coached by Arena). Eight years later he led the U.S. comeback against Slovenia and scored the famous game-winning goal against Algeria in the group stage of the 2010 World Cup.

In other words, he has built a glittering resume in a long professional career that began with Bayer Leverkusen way back in 1999. He has also earned the respect of those who would replace him.

“He is arguably the greatest national team player we’ve ever had," American international midfielder Graham Zusi said last October (via New York Times).

At this point in his career, Donovan has earned the right to do whatever he wants, whether that means retirement, another season in MLS or a move abroad. The U.S. national team is now the domain of Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey. But Donovan—and this will make any of us feel old—is its living, playing legend, an elder statesman who deservedly draws immense respect.

For those of us who would like to watch him play a full season against English Premier League competition, seeing Donovan spend another year in Southern California is at least better than the alternative.

Follow @MikeCummings37

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For some, the match pitting the US Men's National Team against Canada may be a "mere" friendly. But for the MLS talent featured in January’s camp, it's a potential stepping stone for 2014.

Twenty-one of the 25 players selected for January’s camp call MLS their home. As many as eight may be selected to join the USMNT in Honduras on Feb. 6.

By now, Klinsmann and the American faithful recognize the team’s glaring holes and need for added depth. That presents each player at California's camp with the opportunity to leave their mark ahead of the final round of qualifying. 

As Klinsmann told ussoccer.com in a recent sit down, “This isn’t a preseason camp, it’s a preparation camp.”

That first step toward preparation and precision will take place on Jan. 29 against our neighbors from the North. 

The formation and starting XI that will take the field at BBVA Compass Stadium is not yet known.

But one thing is certain: The majority of the starting XI is sure to be comprised of MLS players. 

There is ample opportunity for MLS stars to put their skills on display. There is no telling what a solid performance in Houston could produce.

With the match just one week away, here are the five MLS players that will have an impact for the USMNT on Jan. 29 and beyond. 

Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez

By now, the USMNT’s ineptitude at central defense has been well documented. It is the No. 1 cause for concern heading into the final round of qualifying. 

Carlos Bocanegra’s age and attrition was glaringly put on display during a World Cup qualifier against Guatemala last October. 

Miscommunication or not, that’s too much space to give a 33-year-old Carlos Ruiz, let alone a Chicharito or Álvaro Saborío. 

Clarence Goodson’s catastrophic performance in a friendly against Russia last November sounded the alarms. His poor marking of Russian forward Artem Dzyuba was bad enough:

But the subsequent awkward tackle was worse. 

If the USMNT expects to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, they must find Geoff Cameron a suitable partner in defense. At 33, there is no telling how much of a liability Bocanegra can be. 

Enter Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler. 

Both defenders entered January’s camp as potential favorites to solidify a roster spot for the opening match of the Hexagonal.

Besler, the 2012 MLS Defender of the Year, hopes to make his first senior cap at BBVA Compass Stadium.  

Gonzalez, named the defining MLS player of 2012 by yours truly, is looking to build on the momentous 2012 season that saw him capture the 2012 MLS Cup MVP. 

Productivity breeds optimism. A solid performance by Gonzalez or Besler next week will help soothe the nerves of American soccer fans everywhere.   

But given the recent calamity at central defense, it wouldn’t hurt if both staked their claim for a trip to Honduras. 

Graham Zusi

News broke yesterday that Landon Donovan is set to return to the Los Angeles Galaxy later this year. An exact return date is yet to be determined:

Bruce Arena on @lagalaxy capt. @landondonovan : "He's definitely playing this year...We're just working out the return date." #LAGalaxy #MLS

Donovan’s return to the Galaxy, however, doesn’t ensure his return to the USMNT. In an interview with Galaxy insider Adam Serrano, Klinsmann even affirmed that Donovan will not be taking part in the opening match of the Hexagonal: 

"Landon decided to take a break at the moment and he wanted to consider all his options and what is next in his life, so we said that he can take all the time in the world to decide what is next for him personally. That’s why he hasn’t been invited to this camp; we don’t have him in our sheet for Honduras because if you’re not part of this camp then you basically have no preparation for a World Cup qualifier."

Undoubtedly, if and when Donovan is willing and ready, he is an automatic start for Klinsmann. His 144 caps and 49 goals makes him the most decorated soccer player in American history.

But Donovan’s prolonged absence has opened the door for Sporting Kansas City midfielder Graham Zusi. 

Zusi was a solid contributor for the USMNT in the third round of qualifying—the most notable performance coming in front of his home crowd at the stadium formerly known as “Livestrong Sporting Park.”

His 78 minutes of unshakable play were vital to a 3-1 victory over Guatemala. His name did not appear on the stat sheet, but Zusi’s play was crucial to each of the three goals scored.

Klinsmann’s inclination to lean on the 26-year-old attacking midfielder in Donovan’s absence leaves Zusi as a virtual certainty for the USMNT’s starting XI on Jan. 29 and beyond.

Brad Davis

For Brad Davis, this is the last chance to leave a mark on the international level. 

Outside of the 2005 Gold Cup, Davis has been practically absent from the USMNT’s radar. It has been a full three years since his last cap.

For reasons unbeknownst to him, the 2011 MLS MVP finalist has been repeatedly overlooked for the national team. But his technical ability on set pieces and recent progression at the club level makes him a dangerous addition.

After only recording double-digit assists once in his first seven seasons, Davis has done so in the last four. 

Klinsmann may not have previously taken notice, but he has definitely taken notice as of late: 

"He has excellent technique. His vision on the field is really special. And then he can hit set pieces really well. He has weapons others don't have. As a coach you try to put your puzzle together and supplement it everywhere in every position. We're happy to have him now in this group. He's very, very hungry to show his strengths."  

The crowded talent pool at the midfield position, however, brings question to Davis’ inclusion moving forward. 

At 31, Davis has the experience. But he lacks the speed and pace of his younger counterparts Joshua Gatt and Mix Diskerud, among others.

That said, there is no denying the importance of his aforementioned set-piece ability. 

Forty-six of his of his 96 career assists have come on corners. If the USMNT's 2-1 loss at the hands of Jamaica last September taught us anything, it's that you can't undervalue the momentousness of a free kick. 

The Houston Dynamo faithful can attest to this: If the USMNT's life depended on a well-executed set piece, you want Brad Davis taking it, period. 

Eddie Johnson

Eddie Johnson made the most of his opportunities last October. There is no doubt he will look to make the most of them once more in next week’s friendly.

Jozy Altidore’s exclusion from the final two qualifiers against Antigua & Barbuda and Guatemala gave pause to American soccer fans everywhere. 

That quickly subsided after Johnson’s staggering performance. 

Johnson netted two goals and an assist last October, including a game-winner in the 90th minute against Antigua & Barbuda that absolved Klinsmann of any intense scrutiny. There’s no telling what pressures a draw against a lowly Antigua & Barbuda side could’ve generated for the USMNT heading into its final match against Guatemala.

After a disappointing spell in Europe, Johnson appears to have revitalized his career.

His resurgence and return to MLS concluded with 14 goals and three assists. That was enough to give the 28-year-old striker a shiny 2012 MLS Comeback Player of the Year Award to polish.

Johnson’s performance in meaningful qualifiers gives credence to his continued involvement with the USMNT, not only for the upcoming friendly, but for the ensuing qualifiers as well.

After being left off the 2010 World Cup roster, Johnson looks determined to ensure his inclusion for 2014 is a foregone conclusion.  

Follow Eduardo on Twitter for more insight on a variety of sports topics. Follow @Mendez_FC 

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Landon Donovan will be back in the MLS fold next season as his Los Angeles Galaxy look to defend their MLS Cup trophy and add more hardware. According to Goal.com, Donovan will not retire and will re-join his Galaxy teammates following an extended break.

With Donovan returning to the club, the Galaxy will be favorites to win the MLS Cup once again this season. 

Bruce Arena confirmed the news in the report from Goal.com: "We've given him a little bit more time off. He's definitely playing this year, just working out a return date that makes sense for all of us.” 

The extended break will give Donovan time to get healthy and mentally prepare himself for another MLS season. 

The loss of David Beckham will be hard for the club to deal with both on and off the pitch. Adding a Donovan retirement announcement to that mix would have been a big blow. Instead, the club will look to re-load using Beckham's designated player slot either now or in the summer transfer window. 

Without Donovan, the team would still be considered one of the top clubs in the league heading into next season. With Donovan returning, they are clearly the favorite to win the MLS Cup for the third straight year.

Last year's emergence of Robbie Keane revitalized the franchise, as he was the main contributor in the Galaxy's postseason run. He plays extremely well with Donovan as the partnership makes for one of the best in the league. 

Donovan's ability to do whatever the club needs to win sets him and the team apart from the rest of the league. 

In 2010, Donovan played the role of facilitator and took advantage of opportunities in front of goal as they came to him. He finished that season with seven goals and 16 assists. In 2011, he was more of a marksmen and goal-scoring threat for the club. He scored 12 goals and finished with three assists.

Last season, he was back to playing facilitator and providing Keane with numerous opportunities to score. He finished the year with nine goals and 14 assists. 

With Keane as the primary goal scorer, Donovan will once again be asked to control the attacking midfield and navigate his way through defenders. Without Beckham, Donovan may need to do more scoring, but he has proved in the past to be capable of the task.

Not only does Donovan make the Galaxy a better team on the pitch, but he also makes them more marketable and attractive as a club. 

Rumors are circulating that the Galaxy are set to bring in Chelsea's Frank Lampard upon the expiration of his contract in the summer. A player of Lampard's status would be more likely inclined to join the squad with Donovan as part of it. 

Donovan's return isn't just big for the Galaxy, but for the league as a whole. As a respected player around the country and parts of the world, Donovan's presence in MLS brings more credibility and familiarity to the league. 

With their talented roster and the re-addition of Donovan, the Galaxy will be favorites this MLS season, and it's hard to imagine any team in the league knocking them off. 

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American soccer star Landon Donovan will return to the field for the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS in 2013 according to team insider Adam Serrano (via Twitter) on Monday: 

Bruce Arena on @lagalaxy capt. @landondonovan : "He's definitely playing this year...We're just working out the return date." #LAGalaxy #MLS

The 30-year-old Donovan had openly discussed the possibility of retiring from soccer altogether recently, but it seems he isn't quite finished with the game just yet.

This was Donovan on the subject of his goals moving forward back in May 2012 (via Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl):

From a career standpoint, ideally, I'd like to play a couple more years and hopefully get to the World Cup, assuming I'm still enjoying it and passionate about it, and then sort of reevaluate from there and see where I want to go.

He, along with David Beckham, helped lead the Galaxy to another MLS Cup championship last November, the third during Donovan's time with the club.

Donovan scored 11 goals and tallied 16 assists in 31 MLS appearances for L.A. in 2012.

A California native, Donovan has been playing at a high level for a decade-plus now, excelling for various clubs as well as the United States men's national team—leading the squad to multiple World Cup appearances and impressive victories around the globe.

Donovan is both the United States' all-time leading goal scorer with 49, as well as the UNMNT's all-time assist leader with 48 over the course of his lengthy international career. 

The Galaxy's 2013 season will begin on March 4 at home against the Chicago Fire.

Follow Bleacher Report Featured Columnist Patrick Clarke on Twitter. 

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The Frank Lampard transfer saga seems to be over as the Chelsea midfielder is reported to have a done deal in place to move to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer.

Goal.com reported on Thursday night that the 34-year-old midfielder has a tentative agreement in place to join the Galaxy this summer. 

Lampard has been the topic of transfer speculation over the past month with Chelsea willing to let the club legend leave this summer. 

The England international would replace David Beckham as a big-name England international playing in the Galaxy midfield.

Lampard would be the latest club legend to leave Stamford Bridge with Didier Drogba leaving for Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua this past summer. 

The Blues have installed a transfer policy focused on bringing in young players over the past few transfer windows, a policy that has seen Lampard being placed on the bench more often than he is used to this season. 

With young talent that includes Ramires, Oscar, Eden Hazard and others in the Chelsea midfield, the Blues have sought midfielders that will be roaming the pitch at Stamford Bridge for years to come as replacements for Lampard. 

For Major League Soccer, this is a huge capture for a league that was looking to replace Beckham with a star that was not only a big name, but a player that could thrive in Los Angeles under manager Bruce Arena.

The two-time defending MLS Cup champions add Lampard to a roster that is full of international superstars like Robbie Keane and Landon Donovan.

Lampard has seen a boost in his form of late with five goals in his last six EPL matches, two of those goals came against Everton on December 30. 

When Lampard enters the league this summer, he will take the place of Beckham not only as the club's third designated player, but as the club's midfield ace. 

For more transfer updates throughout January, stay tuned to Bleacher Report and follow me on Twitter, @JTansey90.

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The New England Revolution traded up with Toronto for the No. 1 pick in the MLS SuperDraft. It gave up the fourth pick and allocation money, but the move was well worth the price.

The Revolution selected Andrew Farrell with the pick, who saw action as a midfielder and defender during his senior season at the University of Louisville.

Farrell is one of the most complete college players in the nation, and his versatility, speed and pure talent make the 20-year-old the perfect selection for a club already talented at the midfielder position, but needs help at defender.

According to mlssoccer.com, scouts believe Farrell is still getting better. He has “all the tools” and, when he finds a position, will mature into that position with some tuning. He’s fast, athletic and “extremely gifted.”

Farrell was named a First-team NCSAA All-American in 2012 and was also the 2012 Big East Defensive Player of the Year. He led a Louisville defense that allowed just .62 goals per game that season, and added four goals and nine points on the year.

New England made the right selection in Farrell, both because of his talent level and readiness to start immediately for a club needing some excitement. Farrell is also a Generation adidas player, so his salary will not count against the team’s salary budget.

As with any 20-year-old college player, Farrell is still a little raw in some areas, but he is constantly improving and molding his game. Scouts feel he plays a little too “fast and erratic” at times, though they also feel he’s making improvements in that area (via mlssoccer.com).

According to Steve Davis of NBCSports, Farrell moved to Peru at the age of five. He played football in Peru, but already had experience in the sport prior to moving. Farrell continued to play when he returned to the U.S., and talks about his playing experience in this video:

At Louisville, Farrell was willing to play multiple spots to help his team, and gained valuable experience from playing multiple positions. He also feels it may have been detrimental in a sense because he was unable to develop at one particular spot, but Farrell will have the opportunity to do just that with New England.

The Revolution got its man, and he’ll make an immediate impact with the club. With massive potential and pure skills, Farrell will make a name for himself in the MLS.

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The New England Revolution provided the first surprise of the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by making a trade with Toronto FC on Wednesday to acquire the top pick. It sets the tone for what should be an exciting draft day around the league. 

This season's class is highlighted by defenders Andrew Farrell and Walker Zimmerman along with midfielder Carlos Alvarez. All three players possess terrific upside and should hear their names called early in the draft.

The draft is now complete. Below are the full results.

Round 1 Results

Round 2 Results

Analysis

Andrew Farrell (No. 1 to New England)

The Revolution back line needs an overhaul and they clearly felt Farrell was the player who could lead the resurgence. The Louisville product is a terrific athlete that can play multiple positions at the back, which will give the club flexibility.

There will be a lot of pressure on Farrell to come in and make an instant impact, making the transition a little more difficult. That said, his wide-ranging ability and success at the college level makes him the right fit for New England.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC take Kekuta Manneh (No. 4) and Erik Hurtado (No. 5)

Vancouver made a trade with Toronto to secure the No. 4 pick and proceeded to select Manneh. Although the forward is still very much a raw talent, his combination of tremendous pace and finishing ability make him one of the draft's most intriguing prospects.

The Whitecaps followed up with another striker in Hurtado. He's got the potential to become a prototypical attacking presence on the wing. The club is hoping Manneh and Hurtado eventually develop into an extremely dangerous one-two punch atop the formation.

Seattle Sounders FC trade up to select Eriq Zavaleta (No. 10)

Seattle made a deal with Toronto FC for the 10th pick, which Toronto had previously acquired from Vancouver. With it they took Zavaleta, who's served as both a defender and a striker, but should fill a forward role in the MLS.

The Sounders also brought Zavaleta's slide to an end. He was considered a potential top-five pick leading up to the draft, but had to wait a little longer to hear his name get called. That said, he's got the talent to eventually excel at the next level and should have a chip on his shoulder.

Los Angeles Galaxy pick Charlie Rugg (No. 19)

The two-time defending MLS Cup champions face a lot of questions after the departure of David Beckham, who finished up a successful Galaxy run with another title, and continued uncertainty about the future of Landon Donovan.

They opted to select Rugg with the final pick of Round 1. The powerful forward has a long way to go in terms of technical skill, but his physical tools made him well worth a flier at No. 19. He should learn a lot from veteran striker Robbie Keane.

Ian Christianson (No. 22) goes to the New York Red Bulls

The Red Bulls didn't have a pick in the opening round, but used the third pick of the second to take Christianson. He's midfielder from Georgetown with playmaking upside that's also excelled tracking back to help the back line.

Even though Christianson doesn't possess the same type of potential that was seen throughout the first round, he's a well-rounded player that should be able to help New York sooner rather than later. It's a safe, smart pick by the Red Bulls.

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