Major Link Soccer: CBA preview edition

Seattle

The Sounders year-end press conference offered many informational nuggets yesterday, all of which were covered here. But in case you've been away for a day or two, let's recap.

Marcus Hahnemann has officially retired (again).  I should clarify: he has retired from soccer, but not from defending his treehouse man cave bar from interlopers in full chain mail and plate armor while sipping bourbon from a silver goblet. Just follow him on Instagram.

Before the new year, DeAndre Yedlin will almost definitely be with Tottenham.

Sigi is in.

It looks likely that Djimi Traore will be teaching the kids on S2 his patented brand of Tae Kwon Defense.

The Sounders declined contract year options for eight players. Keep in mind this doesn't mean they won't remain in the organization, there is S2 and a long way to go before next season.

Obafemi Martins won goal of the year in a bit of a landslide, and in an effort to be involved in any possible award-winning situation, Marco Pappa and Clint Dempsey helped out Luis Robles with his winning save of the year.

Major League Soccer

Fact: When you grow a beard as orange and gnarly as Nat Borchers', you have to move to Portland. Made up fact: Borchers was quoted as saying he is also interested in purchasing an old-timey bicycle and getting into artisan mustache waxes.

I had the pleasure of visiting PPL park during a certain special game this year, and despite its surroundings it's a nice place with a very cool view. Expect that view to get worse,  as the Commodore Barry Bridge goes under the knife.

Could the Krafts be getting really, actually serious about a stadium just for the Revs?

Here's a great interview with Don Garber, focussing mostly on financials and the upcoming CBA battle.

For more on that, see this great Brian Strauss preview of that negotiation, which certainly looks like it will have it's sticking points.

You can check out the new look of The MLS Next beta site.

Report: D.C. United forward Fabian Espindola will be suspended for the first six games of the 2015 season.

Cubo wants to stay in LA. Will Cubo get what Cubo wants? I don't even want to consider the combination of the two worst goal celebrations in the league.

US Soccer

Brad Friedel is very upset with Tim Howard, and it's not hard to see why.  The PFA backs up Friedel's version of the story.

USWNT to play friendlies vs. France and England.

World

Spanish clubs have some pretty hefty tax bills.

Harry Redknapp really hates fun.  And Christmas.