FC Dallas landed in Toronto to begin preparations for Sunday’s 2010 MLS Cup Final.  The team seems to be soaring after their 3-0 throttling of LA last week en route to earning their first ever Western Conference crown, and today the team also learned of the official announcement that named David Ferreira as the 2010 MLS MVP.

Dallas is a team that seems to have won over nearly every skeptic, and in reality, there is little reason for anything other than optimism going into this weekend’s final.  The team has already dispatched both of the 2009 MLS Cup finalists from this year’s playoffs.  They were able to take care of Salt Lake, who many had penciled in as this year’s favorites, and they completely dismantled the star-studded LA Galaxy.

Despite having a good feeling about Dallas’s chances of winning their first MLS championship on Sunday, I have several concerns about this particular matchup.

First, Dallas is playing Colorado, and the history between these two clubs is not a pretty one from Dallas’s perspective.  Most recently, Colorado booted Dallas from the 2005 and 2006 MLS Cup championship race... 

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The 2010 World Cup in Africa was where every professional soccer player wanted to be this summer. Colorado Rapids’ forward Conor Casey and FC Dallas’ defender Heath Pearce had both featured prominently for the United States National Team during the four-year cycle, but both were left off the squad.

Pearce was one of the final seven players cut from the squad, while Casey didn’t even make the final 30.

Both players took the news hard, but they worked even harder to propel their club teams to new heights. Now, four months after the tournament ended and the Americans were ousted in the Round of 16, Casey and Pearce have led their teams to the MLS Cup.

 “It was tough when it all went down at the beginning of the season and it took me a while to get back to pace,” Casey recently told the media.

Pearce was not only disappointed in getting cut, but he had an issue with the way he was cut, saying in an interview with The Dallas Morning News in late-June, “… To have your hand shook and be told, at 2 o'clock in the morning, ‘We know you've been working hard, but we're releasing you,’ isn’t the easiest way to understand and embrace why you’re not going to the World Cup.”

Both were snubbed from the team, but they let their play in MLS do the talking as to why they were deserving of spots on the roster.

Following the World Cup preliminary roster announcement, Casey has scored 10 goals in 20 games, finishing sixth in MLS with 13 goals for the season. He also added six assists.

Pearce helped transform the FC Dallas defense. In 2009 the team allowed a league-worst 47 goals, but in 2010 they surrendered only 28. Not only was Pearce an important piece to the defense, but he also finished second on the team with six assists, showcasing his abilities to defend and also get forward into the attack.

Their production exemplifies their talent, resiliency and professionalism. It would have been easy for each to hang his head, but they took getting overlooked in stride and gave their clubs the best they had to offer.

No player from the U.S. team that plays in MLS, including defender Jonathan Bornstein and forwards Edson Buddle and Robbie Findley—Pearce and Casey’s direct competition—is playing in Sunday’s championship game.

It may not be the World Cup, but these two players can be proud of their contributions to their teams in guiding them to the MLS Cup final.

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Last year, FC Dallas scored the most goals in Major League Soccer (50), yet they also gave up the most goals in the league (47). All that offensive firepower couldn’t save them as they finished a point shy of the playoffs.

The team realized its awful weakness, and credit to them, they addressed the problem.

In 2010, Dallas gave up 28 goals, as only two teams conceded fewer in MLS. (Los Angeles and Real Salt Lake, fittingly the two teams that finished ahead of them in the Western Conference standings). What a difference having a defense has made, as Dallas shut out the offensively-potent Galaxy en route to reaching the MLS Cup.

The pieces to fixing the defense were put in place last season, as all four starters on the backline were all 2009 acquisitions. So what was different in 2010?

Well, for starters, they all were actually available for the full season.

Left-fullback Jair Benitez wasn’t signed until July 22 and made his debut July 24. He played and started in 13 games the rest of the season. Center-back Ugo Ihemelu was traded for on August 31 and made his debut September 5.

The biggest acquisition was U.S. international Heath Pearce, who the team brought in on September 11.  Pearce is known not only for his defensive abilities, but also because he does a very good job of pushing up in the attack and serving a good cross (he was second on the team in assists in 2010 with six).

Filling out the backline is center-back George John, a rookie in 2009. He stands tall at 6’3”, but missed a handful of games last season because of a hamstring injury.

With those players coming on at the end of the season, the team won five of its last seven games and only allowed nine goals, including two clean sheets.

This year, John was healthy and Benitez, Ihemelu, and Pearce were around for the entirety of the season. And while Pearce was disappointed at being passed over for the U.S. World Cup team, it meant he spent more time with Dallas.

Pearce and Benitez each played in 28 games, tied for third-most on the team, and John played in 25 games.

Contributions from rookie defender/midfielder Zach Loyd and defensive midfielder and captain Daniel Hernandez also bolstered the unit.

The final piece to the puzzle was bringing in Kevin Hartman, one of the best goalkeepers in the league’s history. MLS' record-holder for most career saves, most career victories, and most career shutouts was not brought back by the Kansas City Wizards for 2010, and Dallas salivated at the chance to bring him in.

All Hartman did was lead the league in goals against average (0.62) and save percentage (.0789 %). He also only lost one game the entire season while in net, finishing with a record of 10-1-8.

It all added up to FC Dallas going from the worst defensive unit and missing out on the playoffs to one of the best defensive teams and a league finalist for the MLS Cup.

There is a reason why the cliché is, “Defense wins championships.” Count FC Dallas as a believer of that reasoning.

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This was certainly an interesting week for MLS and US Soccer. We are gearing up for MLS Cup 2010. We saw a 17-year-old score his first goal—a game winner no less—for the US National Team against South Africa. And Don Garber delivered his “State of the League” address.

I was already feeling vindicated that my 2010 Most Valuable Country award for Colombia was pushed further from reproach as David Ferreira won the 2010 Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player award. With Jamison Olave’s already announced MLS 2010 Visa Defender of the Year award, my pick was looking pretty solid.

Little did I know that during the 2010 MLS State of the League address MLS commissioner Don Garber would offer up some tidbits to help my burgeoning soccer blogger ego by hitting key points that Soccer Soap Box has been focused on for some time.

I thought Mr. Garber touched on critical areas during his address that many fans knew were necessary: an improved and re-launched Reserve League, increased roster capacity that focuses on younger players, help for teams competing in the CONCACAF Champions League and a re-examination of the playoff format that saw two Western Conference teams compete for the Eastern Conference championship in 2010.

Mr. Garber also discussed the fact that MLS is at least considering a way its clubs could make good on an invitation from CONMEBOL to participate in Copa Libertadores. This is both a blessing and curse, as it would provide a higher profile experience for MLS teams in international competition, but would stretch MLS teams further than they can realistically go. Having a run-down MLS club get embarrassed in South America helps nobody.

It was already clear the MLS brass like the idea of a second MLS club in the greater New York area, so the fact that this issue got some focus isn’t really news.

Aside from all of that great information though, I was transfixed on something that was at the very end of the transcript. To me it was a direct correlation to our local New England Revolution.

Earlier in the year the Revolution offered a gesture to fans by having its Chief Operating Officer, Brian Bilello, and VP of Player Personnel, Michael Burns, take questions directly from fans on the team website. If the wound that was inflicted on them by a base of very frustrated fans had mostly healed over, some comments by Mr. Garber ripped off that scab and poured in the salt. At least for me.

Why?

Well, as I sleepily read through the transcript of Mr. Garber’s comments, there was a passage at the end that grabbed my attention in the way that news of the Revolution signing Ronaldihno would do to the Foxboro faithful. It was about how each of the MLS teams presents a business plan to the league, and his commentary about what he hoped to see left me slack jawed.

You see, I took the offer to lob questions at the Revolution, both on the official Revolution pages and then a longer version with my questions explained on Soccer Soap Box.

I expected most wouldn’t be answered, and let’s just say that belief was met. As the frustration of fans started pouring out based on what felt like boiler-plate answers, I simply sulked back into the dark corner where we bloggers so carefully grow our deep seated negativity and snickered (please note, sarcasm is welcome here).

My questions were probably too harsh, too unrealistic, too hopeful. Here, you can see for yourself: Bilello Questions and Burns Questions.

But then Mr. Garber spoke and I reconsidered.

My first question to Mr. Bilello: Do the New England Revolution have a “mission statement”—from an overall perspective? (not specifically on the field)

Unrealistic?

Well, Mr. Garber proclaimed that “Every team creates their brand vision and their mission as to how they want to go about achieving it. These visions or missions are things that they should be sharing publicly.”

Wow.

A key question I lobbed at Mr. Burns: I would imagine that it helps to have a specific “style” of soccer in mind when scouting players. I wondered, is there a “shared vision” of how the New England Revolution believe soccer should be played? What is it? Does it affect the choice of players we sign? Does this vision extend to your burgeoning efforts in youth development?

Mr. Garber added that “All of the clubs talk about what kind of team they want to be on the field. They discuss the style of play and the commitment to that style of play as it is part of their brand and part of what they’re trying to do in connecting to their audiences.”

Really Don, they do?

It’s too bad there wasn’t a platform for the team to answer such questions that were publicly lobbed at them and remove the doubt that the team is running on autopilot. If only there was a publicly posted question and answer session online where these questions came in...

Oh, never mind.

I do take some solace though that there’s a league office somewhere where the team does need to answer these questions.

Oh, to be a fly on that wall…

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One of five promising American talents which USA boss Bob Bradley handed debuts to, Juan Agudelo, shone in the 30 minutes of playing time he was given against South Africa after coming on for Robbie Rogers.

The New York Red Bulls striker became the youngest player ever to score for the USA national team with his dramatic 85th minute winner in the international friendly.

Agudelo will turn 18 on November 23, and has only appeared three times in a Red Bulls shirt. But there were no signs of inexperience, as his clever run into the box and neat finish off the crossbar handed the USA a last-gasp, 1-0 victory at Green Point Stadium.

The young striker has been in sensational form for the USA U-17 team, which he represented at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup, scoring a total of 12 goals in 16 games before he went on to notch an additional three goals in seven appearances for the U-20 side.

After moving from Colombia to the US at the age of eight, he started his career with New York Red Bulls in 2007, but did not officially join the club's senior ranks until March 2010.

Agudelo has recently begun to receive more playing time for the New York outfit, who lost in the recent Eastern Conference semifinals due to an injury to veteran French striker Thierry Henry.

He only made his MLS debut last month, on October 9, 2010, as he came on for five minutes in a goal-less draw against Real Salt Lake.

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There is no question that the season-ending 3-0 defeat to FC Dallas will leave a very bitter taste in the mouths of the Los Angeles Galaxy for weeks on end, at least until next season starts.

"It would have been nice if we were leaving from Toronto," Galaxy forward Mike Magee said with a grin.

But it can also be seen as a blessing in some ways, since the loss gave Bruce Arena's men about two weeks to rest and prepare for the final match on their calendar, the 2010 Qantas Challenge against the Newcastle United Jets.

"A few years ago when (former Galaxy coach) Ruud (Gullit) was here, it was almost like preseason at the end of the season," Donovan recalled. "He put guys through really difficult training sessions and it was a really difficult trip."

"This time I think its going to be a lot of fun. (Current Galaxy head coach) Bruce (Arena) obviously understands what the trip is about. We want to go and be entertaining and enjoy the game."

"I'm actually excited about it. It will be a fun game to play in. We're going to go over, have fun and put on a good show, hopefully."

The Galaxy will be making a flight on Tuesday to Newcastle for this match, which will take place on Saturday, November 27 at 7:30 p.m. AEST/12:30 a.m. PT/3:30 a.m. ET.

Saturday will mark Los Angeles' second trip to Australia in the last four years, with the club also playing Sydney FC in front of more than 80,000 fans at Etihad Stadium (formerly Telstra Dome) in November 2007.

"I think it will be good for an MLS team to go to Australia and play an exhibition game," defender Gregg Berhalter said. "On the other side of the coin, it's nice for us to unwind, recap the season and get ready to go on vacation."

"You'd rather have it be a celebratory trip," defender Todd Dunivant said, "but at the end of the day it's not the worst trip in the world going to Australia and going for a game."

This match marks the curtain call for Eddie Lewis and Chris Klein, who will call it a career after the match.

"It's just an added bonus to spend time with those guys," defender Omar Gonzalez said.

"We're getting a chance to go to Australia and celebrate a couple of guys' careers," Magee said, "and we're celebrating a good season even though it didn't end the way we wanted to.

"It's going to be fun. This is a great group of guys and I enjoy being around them."

The Newcastle Jets won 2008 Hyundai A-League Grand Final championship. Newcastle, who are led by former England international forwards Michael Bridges and Francis Jeffers, currently sit in ninth place in the A-League with a 2-5-6 record for 12 points from their first 13 games of the season.

The Jets currently sit five points out of the sixth and final playoff spot in the A-League, currently held by Melbourne Victory FC. However, they have played the second fewest games in the league and have as many as three games in hand on the teams that they are chasing.

Under the leadership of head coach Branko Culina, Newcastle has allowed just 11 goals in their 13 league games and have taken four points from their last two games, both against the top two teams in the league while claiming their best result of the season on Saturday, a 3-1 win over second place Adelaide, which saw Australian forward Marko Jesic score his first two goals of the season, with Jeffers setting up one in his debut for the club. On Wednesday, the Jets held first place Brisbane Roar to a 1-1 draw at home.

The Galaxy can win this game, but it will be a matter of whether or not they want to win this match. Obviously, it's never a nice feeling to come up short in your quest to win the MLS Cup. But I think Los Angeles will be ready and win this contest and finish their season on the right note.

The match will be covered by Fox Soccer Channel and via tape delay on Fox Sports en Español.

US bid sends the House...literally


In a last ditch attempt to convince FIFA that the United States' bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup was strong as steel, the House of Representatives passed a resolution expressing its full commitment to hosting a successful World Cup.

Representatives Chris Van Hollen (MD), Dave Reichert (WA), George Miller (CA) and Mary Bono Mack (CA) first introduced the bill, which was co-sponsored by more than 40 members of Congress, in late September.

“We welcome today’s House resolution as another example of the overwhelming endorsement our bid effort has received from all levels of government throughout the process,” Sunil Gulati, Chairman of the USA Bid Committee and President of U.S. Soccer, said in a statement announcing the news. “This resolution further reinforces our country’s commitment to FIFA that we will meet all requirements for a World Cup hosted in the United States.”

Too little, too late? Stay tuned...


Donovan impressed by the new order

Galaxy team captain Landon Donovan was impressed by the USA men's national team, composed of young players, in their 1-0 victory over South Africa earlier this week.

“Given the travel that everybody had to endure, the lack of familiarity not only the players but with the coaching staff and then guys who just don’t have a lot of experience,” Donovan said, “I thought it was a great result.”

Juan Agudelo of the New York Red Bulls, via Mikkel Diskerud, earned his first-ever goal for the Stars and Stripes in the 85th minute. At 17 years old, he is the youngest player to ever score for the States.

“They played well,” Donovan said. “It’s difficult when you have a few new players in a team, much less… 12, 13, 14 and a lot playing on the field at the same time.”

Diskerud, Gale Agbossoumonde, New York's Tim Ream and Teal Bunbury of the Kansas City Wizards also earned their first caps, along with Agudelo.

“I was very impressed with a lot of different players,” Donovan said. “The kid (Eric) Lichaj has done very well in the two games I’ve seen him. I though Diskerud in his few minutes did well. I thought Agudelo did well, great goal, really good goal. For a kid that age to score a goal like that, I was very impressed. As a whole our backline did real well and (Brad) Guzan did good. I was encouraged.”

The future looks bright for the States. Let's see if we will see them make a splash in, perhaps, Brazil not too far down the road.

Midnight train to Georgia for Tristan

Young Galaxy forward Tristan Bowen was called up to the U.S. Under-20 National Team, and will b e participating in the Torneo de las Americas at the Atlanta Beat-KSU Soccer Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia.

Bowen and the rest of Thomas Rongen’s team is scheduled to report to camp starting on Sunday, November 21 before opening the three-team, round robin tournament against Colombia on Friday, November, 26 and then facing Mexico on Sunday, November 28.

Bowen, who has also played for the U.S. Under-18 National Team, played in 17 regular season games for the Galaxy in 2010 while also playing in both of the club’s CONCACAF Champions League games and the U.S. Open Cup Third Round win over AC St. Louis. Bowen had two goals and two assists in the regular season while also adding a goal in the friendly win over Boca Juniors.

He last appeared in a game with the U.S. U-20’s in November 2008 when the team played three games in Spain against Real Madrid, Athletico Madrid and Rayo Vallencano. Bowen started all three of those games and scored in the friendly against Real Madrid.

Bowen is one of seven current MLS players included on the roster.

The Los Angeles Galaxy Youth Academy Under-14 squads qualified for the post season in their first season of play. They tied with Cosmos Academy West 96s in terms of record (8-1-0), but the Cosmos won the regular season title due to goal difference.

In the semifinals, the Galaxy Under-14 A and B squads faced each other, and the A squad prevailed 5-2. They will take on the Cosmos for the 2010 L.A. Futbol Circuit league crown.

As for the Under-16 and Under-18 sides, they will be back in action on Saturday, Nov. 20 when they face off against the California Development Academy. This will be the only match this month for the Under-16s and Under-18s.

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This "club" however, will no longer be regarded as the Wizards. Instead, they will known as Sporting Kansas City. Presumably a solute to Portugal's Sporting Lisbon.

Throughout the latter half of the Major League Soccer season, the Kansas City Wizards kept hinting a change in the club's appearance to come in 2011.

Fans were anticipating a change in their club's name to compliment their new era in their new stadium, tentatively named KC Soccer Stadium.

My only worry about this, is the same as yours: the reception. Although, Heinemann claims the name alludes to the "sporting culture" of the Kansas City area, it just does not seem to reflect on the area well; even if the club has plans to add a lacrosse and rugby team to SKC, making it a true 'sporting club'.

Amid likely criticism, the new name will probably receive the same types of criticism that Real Salt Lake suffered in their early years; however, there seems to be less attention to the club's name, possibly due to their recent success in MLS and CONCACAF Champions League play.

Perhaps if Sporting KC achieves just that (like Heinemann promises), it may just grow on them.

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New York Cosmos fans have another reason to believe that their beloved team will eventually join Major League Soccer.

During his annual State of the League address, MLS Commissioner Don Garber made it clear it that he wants the New York Cosmos to be the 20th team in Major League Soccer.

"As I said before, we're very focused on our 20th team in New York," Garber said. "We've been meeting with the city, we've been meeting with the Wilpon family, the owners of the Cosmos name and brand. We've also been meeting with other investors who have expressed interest.

"We are very, very focused on this entire process and hope to be able to get something done for 2013."

Anyone who is deluded enough to believe that the New York Cosmos' possible return will save the MLS obviously doesn't follow the league. The money of the Krafts, Hunts and Phil Anschutz—along with MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Major League Soccer's loyal fans—were responsible for saving the league.

That said, the New York Cosmos would be a marvelous addition. They would be valuable without being seen as an MLS "savior." While former NASL clubs like the San Jose Earthquakes and Seattle Sounders have joined the MLS and been successful, none of them carry the legacy of the New York Cosmos.

If and when the New York Cosmos join Major League Soccer, I believe every Supporters Club in the league will be salivating and hoping their team humiliates them. Whether you support the New York Red Bulls, D.C. United or the Los Angeles Galaxy, I am quite positive someone has told you that your club will never be as great as the New York Cosmos.

While your club may not be competing against Pelé, Beckenbauer and Chinaglia, they will have the opportunity to tarnish the Cosmos legacy to the point that the older fanbase wishes their beloved team had never returned.

Now if you're a fan of MLS who's tired of hearing about how your team will never measure up to the New York Cosmos, wouldn't you want them to return so that your team can stomp on their legacy with a win?

Cesar Diaz covers soccer for Latino Sports. Please e-mail him your questions and comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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In spite of their 3-0 season-ending defeat to FC Dallas, Bruce Arena's Los Angeles Galaxy saw four of its players named to the MLS Best XI this season.

The Galaxy are the first team to send four players to the Best XI since DC United in 2006, and are the fifth team in league history to achieve this honor.

Edson Buddle enjoyed the best season of his 10-year MLS career in 2010, scoring a career-high 17 goals, including nine of the Galaxy’s first 10 of the season. His 17 goals were the second most in MLS and came despite missing six weeks of action while with the U.S. National Team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Including the postseason, the Galaxy were 13-1-1 when Buddle scored a goal, while his seven game-winning goals were the second most in MLS and the most by a Galaxy player since 2005.

Buddle added two goals in the Galaxy’s Western Conference Semifinal Series win over Seattle, giving him a total of 19 in all competitions for the Galaxy in 2010.

One of seven players in league history with 90 career goals, Buddle showed the ability to score with both feet and his head this year, tallying 10 of his 19 goals with his right foot, six with his head and three with his left foot.

On October 3 against Chivas USA, Buddle became the first player in MLS history to score 40 or more goals with two different teams, also doing so with his first club, the Columbus Crew.

Landon Donovan has been selected to the MLS Best XI, earning his fourth appearance on the team. The MLS leader in assists with a career-high 16 this season, Donovan helped the Galaxy win the Supporters’ Shield for the first time in his time with the club.

In addition to his 16 assists, which were the second most in Galaxy history, LA's No. 10 added seven goals, meaning that he had a hand in 23 of the 44 goals that the club scored during the regular season, despite missing six weeks of action while with the U.S. National Team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

The Galaxy were 11-2-2 this season when Donovan had a goal or an assist in a game this season, including a 3-0-0 record when he had more than one assist. On August 1 against Chicago, he became the sixth player in MLS history to score 100 career goals and then became the all-time leading scorer in Galaxy history with his 71st career regular season goal for the club on September 18.

Only three players have been named to the MLS Best XI more times: Chris Armas, Dwayne DeRosario and Robin Fraser, all with five appearances.

2009 Rookie of the Year Omar Gonzalez made his first appearance of the MLS Best XI. A finalist for the MLS Defender of the Year award and the recipient of the Galaxy’s Defender of the Year award this season, Gonzalez appeared in and started 28 of the Galaxy’s 30 games this season, helping the club record an 18-5-4 record in games that he played. His 28 games started and 2,520 minutes played were the most for any outfield player on the club, playing the full 90 minutes in each of those games.

The 22-year-old center back was also active at the attacking end of the field, scoring twice with headers off corner kicks, one of which came in second half stoppage time at Chicago on September 4, earning LA a 1-1 draw, snapping a two-game losing streak. Gonzalez added the game-winning goal in the Galaxy’s 2-1 win over Seattle in the second leg of their Western Conference Semifinal Series on November 7, heading home a David Beckham freekick.

Finally, Galaxy goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts was named to the MLS Best XI. This is his first appearance. Ricketts set a club record with a 0.90 goals against average, allowing 26 goals in the 29 games that he played this season. He had a league-best record of 18-7-4 on the season and kept 11 clean sheets, tying a club record that was set in 1999, while the 26 goals allowed by the club were the second fewest in MLS this season and the fewest in club history.
A two-time MLS All-Star and the starting goalkeeper in this year’s All-Star Game against Manchester United, his 0.96 career goals against average is the lowest in MLS history amongst goalkeepers that have played 500 minutes or more. In the two seasons in which Ricketts has played for the Galaxy, the club has allowed 57 goals in 60 regular season games after surrendering 62 in 30 regular season games during the 2008 campaign.

The Jamaican international is the first Galaxy goalkeeper since Kevin Hartman in 1999 to be named to the MLS Best XI.

Others named to the MLS Best XI include Real Salt Lake defenders Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave, Toronto FC midfielder Dwayne De Rosario, FC Dallas midfielder David Ferreira, Philadelphia midfielder Sebastien Le Toux, Real Salt Lake midfielder Javier Morales and San Jose forward Chris Wondolowski.


INS & OUTS

On the MLS Reserve Division

“It’s their strong view [of the MLS Technical Committee] that we need to have a Reserve Division that’s a central part of the player development ladder in the United States,” Major League Soccer commissioner Garber said on teleconference call earlier this week.

So what is this all about?

The Reserve Division season will consist of a 10-game regular season. Clubs will be split into three regions consisting of six teams each. Teams will play opponents in their region twice a season. Matches will take place the day after the first teams or during midweek.

The best eight teams in the Reserve Division regular season will advance to the playoffs, which will determine a champion.

In addition to participating in the Reserve Division, MLS reserve squads may also schedule matches against other teams, including NASL or USL-Pro clubs.

Eligibility rules will also be strict as to which players can participate in these matches.

“These matches can only have players who are on the club’s roster or are on trial with the club or are members of the club’s academy,” Garber said.

MLS Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski and MLS Cup finalists Jeff Larentowicz and Omar Cummings of the Colorado Rapids are products of the previous incarnation of the Reserve Division from 2005 to 2008.

“Their paths to success illustrate the value of this initiative," Garber said.

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Los Angeles Galaxy captain and American international Landon Donovan has reiterated that he will not leave the MLS club and will be back next season.

Donovan's Galaxy fell at home 3-0 to FC Dallas in the Western Conference Final of the MLS Cup Playoffs on Sunday night, ending Los Angeles' hopes of a third title.

It has been a busy year for the 28 year old: He went on loan to English side Everton from January to March. In that time, Donovan became the biggest American sensation in soccer, if he was not already.

He scored twice in ten matches for the Toffees and was a critical part of the squad as they defeated Chelsea and Manchester United and drew Arsenal in his time there.

After returning in time for MLS, Donovan helped the Galaxy get off to a start of 7-0-1. During that time, Donovan recorded a goal and eight assists.

We all know what followed when he went to South Africa: Donovan recorded three goals in the World Cup, including the winner against Algeria in stoppage time of the second half.

The Algeria goal landed the Yanks in the knockout stage, where despite a Donovan penalty, the United States crashed out to Ghana.

Having been so worn out over the first seven months of 2010, Donovan should have needed a few matches to get going again when he returned to the Galaxy, but he immediately scored in consecutive games against San Jose and D.C. United.

Though his side were embarrassingly eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions League by the Puerto Rico Islanders, he continued to play well, helping the Galaxy to the Supporters' Shield and a semifinal finish in the MLS Cup Playoff.

However, it was obvious that the months of nonstop football got to him in the end.

After such an incredible year, several clubs in Europe have shown interest in Donovan. Chief among these is obviously Everton, who fell in love with America's number 10 in the winter. Manchester City, Aston Villa and AC Milan are also clubs that expressed interest, among several others.

Donovan though made a statement on Sunday that is hard to misinterpret.

During his post-match interview with Rob Stone on ESPN, Donovan praised FC Dallas and what an incredibly exciting year he had. When Stone asked if he will be back, Donovan gave a definitive "oh yeah."

Now, players have made this statement before. Kaka said that he turned down Manchester City in 2009 to remain at Milan long term; that summer, he leaves for Real Madrid.

Johnny Damon said he would end his career at the Red Sox, only to turn his back on Fenway Park and cross the borders of a horrible rivalry and join the Yankees. Two different sports, same idea.

However, despite this statement, Donovan said a couple weeks ago that a loan to Everton is very possible. Again, like last year, he would be back for the start of MLS.

Everton was a big time in Donovan's career. After failing to impress during spells at Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, he proved his worth on the big stage.

What the future holds for Donovan is yet to be seen, but it seems likely he will be in Los Angeles next season. It may help his decision if Los Angeles makes a heavily rumored move and bring Milan winger Ronaldinho to the Home Depot Center.

Donovan is a class player. He will do what is best for him while hurting as few people as possible. People are always sad when a star leaves their club, but whatever is best for the player and club is most important.

Los Angeles have the talent to win without Landon; his loss would not be detrimental.

The transfer window does not open until New Years' Day. A decision will not be rushed.

However, Galaxy fans seem as if they do not need to worry at the moment.

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