Major Link Soccer: Club Tijuana friendly

Sounders

Another player from the Sounders U23s has signed a professional contract. Zev Taublieb signed with Sacramento Republic FC.

The Sounders play against Club Tijuana today at 7:00 pm. Check out our guide to Club Tijuana here. If you aren't able to make the game, the only outside coverage will be via radio.

Also on tomorrow night's match v Tijuana at CenturyLink: No TV coverage nor a live stream, club confirms

— Matt Pentz (@mattpentz) March 23, 2015

MLS

There's a case to be made that Toronto FC is in fact one large spoiled child: always wanting shiny new toys (Bradley, Gilberto, Defoe, Laba), forgetting about shiny old toys as soon as they come (Gilberto, Defoe, Laba), and so on. If this is true they're certainly not going to be happy about the new rumor that they're going to have to *share* BMO Field with the Toronto Argonauts.

In case you missed it, the Colorado Rapids had a gorgeous tifo for their home opener. You can read about the artistry and symbolism behind it here.

The Rapids are among the many teams losing a player (or more) during the upcoming international break that is not respected by MLS. Orlando City SC had seven players called up for international duty. Yes, you read that right, Orlando City had the equivalent of a full band of dwarfs called up. Does that mean it's time for MLS to put on its big kid pants and schedule bye weeks for international breaks?

It looks like we're getting very close to MLS's next expansion announcement: MLS and Minnesota United FC will be holding a press conference tomorrow. Along with this expansion news comes the assumption that Minnesota United will be able to build a soccer specific stadium. It's unclear now whether they'll be helped by any public funds.

United States Things

According to reports from Empire of Soccer, the NASL is set to sign a TV deal with ESPN which would have every single NASL match broadcasted on ESPN 3. Way to go NASL.

Julian Green has spent much of the Bundesliga season on loan at Hamburger SV, and it has not gone well. Not surprisingly, Bayern Munich's chariman said that Green needs to go out on loan at least another year before making the jump to Bayern's first team.

The San Antonio Scorpions' owner is looking to sell the team, and he's turned to Citigroup for help. More than that, he's selling on the possibility of a possible future in MLS.

The US Soccer Development Academy announced four new clubs (at varying age groups) yesterday. The clubs included Sacramento Republic and New York City FC.

World

FA chairman Greg Dyke has put in motion a plan to tighten up rules on foreign players in the Premier League. Among new restrictions is a rule that teams must now field twelve or more homegrown players.

After receiving a full and whole-hearted booing from his home fans, Fenerbahce's Emmanuel Emenike tried to sub himself off before being talked back into the game by coaching staff. Players are people too!

You probably saw last week, but FIFA has officially changed the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to a winter schedule. That could mean some big long term changes though (including a long term decline in World Cup TV revenue).

Yes, Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo are good at soccer, but could they be even better if they switched teams?

Aston Villa has been through a rough few years, which is at least in part tied to their poor finances. Things have been looking up for their wallets recently though. You can take a tour through their updated financial picture and what that could mean for the team here.

Not-Soccer

Check out this handy dandy map showing each state's largest craft brewery.

Sure the Sounders' uniforms are okay, but are they Game of Thrones themed? No, no they are not. And now thanks to the Triple A Durham Bulls, we have that to be sad about.