MLS

Portland Timbers expect to play first 12 games on the road in 2019 due to construction at Providence Park | oregonlive.com

Orlando Parts Ways with GM Niki Budalic - The Mane Land
The franchise and the general manager parted ways after OCSC's worst-ever MLS campaign and another underachieving NWSL season for the Pride.

Report: Columbus Crew Sale Price to be $150M - Soccer Stadium Digest
A final agreement has not been reached, but a new report indicates that the Columbus Crew sale price could be $150 million.

MLS Allowing More Charter Flights Seems Overdue, but Would Teams Actually Use Them?
Eagle-eyed readers who read my story on the tentative changes to the MLS schedule, noticed a little tidbit related to the implications from additional midweek games. The long and short of it was: Additional mid-week games will put additional stresses on players, which may require MLS loosening rules on charter flights.

Zack Steffen moving from Columbus Crew SC to Manchester City - Massive Report
The Black & Gold goalkeeper is getting a big move to the English Premier League.

Atlanta United fans’ stadium-wide tifo in Eastern Conference Championship | MLSsoccer.com

Fire negotiating with out-of-contract Schweinsteiger, Kappelhof, Polster | MLSsoccer.com

Veteran defender Seth Sinovic signs new contract with Sporting Kansas City | MLSsoccer.com

MLS Roster Cuts

Columbus Crew SC announces 2019 roster decisions - Massive Report
Eight players had their options picked up while five were declined.

The 2018 Chicago Fire Rosterpocalypse Has Begun - Hot Time In Old Town
The rebuild— such as it is— starts now

FC Dallas announced roster moves to end 2018 season - Big D Soccer
FC Dallas now has 26 players under contract for next season.

LA Galaxy announce contract options for 2019 - LAG Confidential
Sebastian Lletget, Daniel Steres, BJIV and Justin Vom Steeg to return

Minnesota United cuts ties with 11 players to begin offseason - E Pluribus Loonum
The Loons shed two goalkeepers and an NASL holdover in the first activity of the offseason.

Philadelphia Union roster moves signal shift in player acquisition philosophy - Brotherly Game
The bulk of minutes played in 2018 for the Philadelphia Union still went to players who first entered the league via the SuperDraft, but the number is trending downward.

Marc Dos Santos maintains Vancouver Whitecaps roster flexibility, exercising 7 player options and declining 9 - Eighty Six Forever
The Vancouver Whitecaps made their player option decisions for 2019. There were a few expected moves and possibly a few unexpected moves. We break it all down for you.

USA

Former FC Cincinnati midfielder Kenney Walker set to continue USL career at Indy Eleven
Kenney Walker told The Enquirer he’ll play the 2019 United Soccer League season with Indy Eleven.

Virginia Beach City FC Launches Professional Team in 2019 – Nexus Street Sports, LLC
VBCFC will upgrade its current semi-professional men’s soccer team to field a professional men’s soccer team in the NPSL in 2019.

World

Liverpool Back in England’s Top Four by Wage Table - The Liverpool Offside
Just a reminder that even the most overpaid MLS player is probably not making much in comparison to worldly counterparts.

Gunnersarus, meet the Energizer Bunny: The Emirates becomes (sorta) battery powered - The Short Fuse
This is pretty cool.

Barcelona become first sports team to average £10m a year in wages | Football | The Guardian
The new Global Sports Salary Survey has Barcelona as the first sports team in history to pay its first-team players an average yearly salary in excess of £10m.

Cartilage Free Captain interviews Fox & Turner Sports host Kate Abdo - Cartilage Free Captain
The face of Turner’s Champions League coverage talks Tottenham and her career.

Arsenal Europa League game in Ukraine will go ahead despite martial law call - UEFA
Ukraine's navy said six of its sailors were wounded when Russian coastguards opened fire on three ships in waters off Crimea.

Andres Iniesta reveals depression battle in summer after Barcelona Treble win
Andres Iniesta, now at Vissel Kobe, said he had struggled in the months following Barcelona's 2008-09 success.

Copa Libertadores blame game; Spurs surge past Chelsea; Man Utd, Madrid, Bayern woe
River Plate vs. Boca Juniors was eagerly anticipated but what unfolded was shameful. Plus, some of Europe's biggest clubs had a poor weekend.