Lets start off Monday's edition of Major Link Soccer with a local flavor.
The North Sound SeaWolves FC have moved from their Everett home to new digs in Edmonds. The club plans to make it official this week. As you may know, the SeaWolves play in the PDL North Division. This is the same division that is home to PDL champs Kitsap Pumas and formerly the Tacoma Tide -- now Seattle Sounders FC U23 -- just to name a few. The Pumas are the reigning PDL champs.
"The PDL is the best place for young players to showcase for Major League Soccer and other leagues"
The newly minted Montreal Impact are still hunting for their first designated player. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, their search has been mostly aimed at aging European stars. So far the Impact haven't had any luck; even the 'younger' aging stars are shunning the newest entry into Major League Soccer. They've lost out on Nicolas Anelka, Alessandro Del Peiro (of Juventus fame) -- who said he'd only come to the MLS if it was LA or New York who came calling.
Never mind the fact he's way on the wrong side of 30.
"It has to be the right player," Saputo said this week. "He has to be a leader on and off the field, not one who comes here to end his career, to play for a year or two and then leave. "He has to do more than play on the field and sell jerseys."
Joey Saputo, the Impact's President, also noted that Major League Soccer doesn't want a bunch of 38-39 year-olds coming in to play one or two seasons and retire. They're looking for the 'younger' set of European players.
Former FC Barcelona and current AC Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic might look to the States after his run at AC Milan is over with, according to his agent.
"Ibrahimovic will end his career at AC Milan - at least his career playing at the highest level. "AC Milan will be his last top European club. "In the future I don't know. He could go to America. I don't see him in China and Russia would be difficult."
And now from the "He's Never Going To Hear The End Of It" Files: former New York Red Bull and current Bolton defender Tim Ream wasn't married very long before he got the call from Europe.
"I was married for all of 24 hours when I got the phone call," Ream said. "The manager asked if I'd be willing to cancel the honeymoon and come to Bolton and honeymoon here. As much as we were disappointed that we had to pass up the trip, I think we both knew it was in our best interests. Hopefully, it shows my commitment to being here and doing well here."
While Tim was all for the move and ready to cancel their honeymoon to Tahiti, his wife wasn't as receptive as he would have hoped for.
"I can't really repeat what she said," Ream said. "But her and I have talked, and as long as we're together in whatever we do I think both of us will be happy. She wants the best for me, and I just want her to be happy.
"If she says tomorrow that she wants something, then I guess I'll have to give it to her."
He is so doomed.
So you know Charlie Davies right? Had a great comeback story, learned to dive, and netted 11 goals for DC United last season? Yeah, that one. It seems there are a lot of European clubs that would like to take him on loan since he isn't getting much first team time with Ligue 1 side Sochaux. It was Sochaux who loaned Davies to United last season, but Sochaux is now in danger of becoming relegated to Ligue 2 for the first time since 1999.
Here's what Charlie's rep had to say about the situation.
"We should know this week whether he will play at Sochaux or go out on a loan," Davies' rep, Lyle Yorks, told MLSsoccer.com on Monday. "But they are happy with him and he's come back a different player than when he left here. The time in Major League Soccer really helped him."
Toronto FC has gone ahead and signed 22 year-old defender Richard Eckersley. You may recall that Eckersley was loaned to TFC from Burnley. He's a former Manchester United youth, who also had stops at Plymouth Argyle, Bradford City and Bury.