MLS news
To satisfy requirements in the new collective bargaining agreement, MLS has named seven additional "all-stars." None will be in uniform for Wednesday's match against Manchester United at Reliant Stadium in Houston but will receive all-star bonuses. They are goalkeepers Kasey Keller (Seattle) and Jimmy Nielsen (Kansas City), midfielders Joel Lindpere (New York), Robbie Rogers (Columbus) and Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle), and forwards Freddy Montero (Seattle) and Conor Casey (Colorado).
According to the league, those seven were the "next highest in the combined weighted voting at their positions for a 32-man roster with the same breakdown by position as last year" (four goalkeepers, seven defenders, 14 midfielders and seven forwards).
Midfielder Kyle Beckerman and defender Jonathan Bornstein, named to the initial squad but unavailable because of injury, are also inactive and among the 32.
*At halftime Wednesday, the league will conduct a coin toss to determine the first pick in the expansion draft and other player-dispersal procedures as they pertain to the 2011 newcomers Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers. The winner of the coin flip will choose first priority in one of the following mechanisms, with the teams then alternating choices through the priority list:
1. First pick in the expansion draft
2. First pick in the MLS draft
3. USL player priority on opening of signing period
4. Allocation ranking
5. Designated Player ranking
6. Discovery player ranking
7. Lottery ranking
8. Waiver/re-entry draft ranking
*With Vancouver and Portland entering the league next year and, for obvious geographical purposes, joining the Western Conference, two current clubs from that division will shift to the Eastern, Commissioner Don Garber said.
To satisfy requirements in the new collective bargaining agreement, MLS has named seven additional "all-stars." None will be in uniform for Wednesday's match against Manchester United at Reliant Stadium in Houston but will receive all-star bonuses. They are goalkeepers Kasey Keller (Seattle) and Jimmy Nielsen (Kansas City), midfielders Joel Lindpere (New York), Robbie Rogers (Columbus) and Freddie Ljungberg (Seattle), and forwards Freddy Montero (Seattle) and Conor Casey (Colorado).
According to the league, those seven were the "next highest in the combined weighted voting at their positions for a 32-man roster with the same breakdown by position as last year" (four goalkeepers, seven defenders, 14 midfielders and seven forwards).
Midfielder Kyle Beckerman and defender Jonathan Bornstein, named to the initial squad but unavailable because of injury, are also inactive and among the 32.
*At halftime Wednesday, the league will conduct a coin toss to determine the first pick in the expansion draft and other player-dispersal procedures as they pertain to the 2011 newcomers Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers. The winner of the coin flip will choose first priority in one of the following mechanisms, with the teams then alternating choices through the priority list:
1. First pick in the expansion draft
2. First pick in the MLS draft
3. USL player priority on opening of signing period
4. Allocation ranking
5. Designated Player ranking
6. Discovery player ranking
7. Lottery ranking
8. Waiver/re-entry draft ranking
*With Vancouver and Portland entering the league next year and, for obvious geographical purposes, joining the Western Conference, two current clubs from that division will shift to the Eastern, Commissioner Don Garber said.
