Major Link Soccer: Eddie Up, Ratings Down

Sounders

Eddie Johnson has been doing something of a media tour this week, talking at length to the Tacoma News Tribune and taking time with fans in a live chat for The Seattle Times. Both pieces have excellent insight into the player and his current state of mind.

Creative and honorific names are so confusing. "Pioneer Square", "SoDo", so unnecessary Wouldn't it be easier if we just called each area what it really was? You'll never get lost in Seattle proper with this handy map.

Issaquah FC has partnered up with the North Sound Seawolves, meaning the eastside town will start hosting games (presumably at Issaquah High School's stadium).

MLS

Bad news on the TV front. ESPN's average MLS ratings dropped 20% from last year, and NBC saw an 8% drop. Univision is inexplicably up. The President of Programming for NBCSN is urging the league to institute flex scheduling. You an help boost those numbers back up by tuning into the other playoff games this week.

Alessandro Nesta has confirmed that he won't be the next coach of the Montreal Impact, leading Grant Wahl to offer a rare retraction.

Maybe he'd rather take a look at the Philadelphia Union job, where John Hackworth is on the hot seat. The Brotherly Game defends his position for the time being.

Juan Agudelo could be headed to Stoke if he can pick up a work permit.

Minnesota is still a possible expansion location, though take this news how you will: management at Minnesota United FC has elected to drop season ticket prices by chunks all around their stadium for next year. Meanwhile, Orlando is moving to Disney's sports complex while their old arena is redone in expectation of "promotion" in 2015. That could make Orlando an ESPN favorite. All the while, St Louis (perhaps my favorite potential expansion site) is packing Busch Stadium for international friendlies and wondering why they haven't been invited to the party yet.

World

The USMNT has poached a fair few late goals under Jurgen Klinsmann's tenure as manager, but now it looks like he may be the target of the poaching. Switzerland is said to be interested in the man.