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Soccer By Ives: Your Questions Answered

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April 26, 2007

Your Questions Answered

Hello folks. It took a little while but I have finally finished answering your questions. I will be looking to put a cap on the next Q&A so I can get it done sooner so keep that in mind then next time I do one so you can get your questions in quickly.

Here they are, your questions answered:

TIM- 1. Could the Red Bulls have traded Taylor Graham or Mike Magee instead of Marvell Wynne or did the Red Bulls have to offload Wynne's salary to remain under the cap with the signing of Juan Pablo Angel?

2. Do you think the Red Bulls will actively go after a S-I central defender either using spot by VDB's green card (once issued) or releasing Schopp if he can not contribute within a month or so?

IVES- Bruce Arena has stated repeatedly that the cap space issue is what drove the Wynne trade but I think Hunter Freeman's emergence and Wynne's slower than expected development made it an easier pill to swallow. From what I heard lately Toronto wasn't interested in Taylor Graham.

JOE IN ND- 1. Who would you like to see in the European Cup Final?

2. Once the transfer window reopens do you think that all the teams with remaining DP slots will trade or fill them up?

IVES- I would like to see Man U and Chelsea in the final. Nothing against Liverpool, I actually prefer Liverpool to Chelsea but the Man U-Chelsea rivalry is at an all-time high right now so I wouldn't mind seeing them play in the Champions League Final, FA Cup final and the last game of the EPL season.

I don't think ALL teams will fill their slots. You'll see at least one or two remain unused.

DAN- Can you confirm for sure that the JPA deal is for the 2007 season, and ends after the 2008 season? Several British sources have called it a 3 year deal (including the Premiership website, The Guardian, and others). Just hoping for some clarity.

Also, Does Arena like Schopp? I would have rather sent him back to Salzburg than lose Wynne, I really don't get it.

IVES- I can't get a straight answer on this one but the info I have is three years, so through the 2009 season.

JONATHAN G- Any chance at all that the Red Bulls get Mark Lisi back? i really like him.

IVES- Lisi is happily retired and embarking on a career in the sports marketing field with adidas.

TO HELL U RIDE- What's up with how the name is written on the back of Kovalenko & VanDenBurgh's jerseys? Other MLS players with longer names have them written out straight accross the back, but these to look busch league.

IVES- I asked Red Bulls team manager Craig Chmiel about this one and he told me it has to do with the jerseys and lettering. The letters only come in the one size and because of the stitching on the back of the jerseys if they are placed in a row directly across they can be in danger of ripping when washed. To prevent this, Chmiel has been forced to drop the first and last letters in Kovalenko below the stitching. This probably won't change this year unless adidas or whoever provides the lettering steps up and gives the teams new jersey and more lettering options. They definitely need to because some of those names look bad.

DANNY- what is up with lee nguyen? are there any indications that he will be fighting for a place at PSV or will he go the Robbie Rogers route and head home? Personally i'd like to see him play here in MLS if he doesn't have a good option in Europe other than reserve team soccer.

IVES- It's safe to say that Nguyen is more highly regarded by PSV than Rogers was by Heerenveen. The only problem is Nguyen's shoulder problems. If he can stay healthy then Nguyen is good enough to see first-team minutes next season. If he can't stay healthy then PSV may grow impatient and consider unloading him. It would be nice seeing him in MLS but with his talent he can certainly stick it out in Europe, assuming he can get his should situation under control.

A DIDDY- When Bruce says they not finished making trades, what positions do you think he's most eager to add to? Any bright ideas about whom he may add?

Thanks, Ives!

IVES- Arena made the comment BEFORE the Marvell Wynne trade so the team could be done maneuvering. That said, depth in central defense and at forward are top needs. I'm not sure how much confidence Arena has in the center back options beyond Mendes, Parke and Stammler. Also, with Altidore's summer commitments (and Juan Pablo Angel's potential Copa America call-up) Arena might be interested in adding one more experienced forward. Even if the team doesn't add another player the depth on the squad right now is pretty impressive.

NATHANHJ- Okay, now that we are 3 weeks into the season, any new word on John O'Brien? He's not on the C-USA roster, but I don't see/hear from him anywhere else, nor do I see a retirement announcement. Any news at all? Does it all end with a whimper for JOB?

2) I keep hearing that the RSL front office can't make a deal for a sandwich let alone run a franchise, but I don't understand enough about front office goings-on to know why people say that. Can you point out a couple of choice examples of ineptness? Or maybe some generic examples, if we don't want to be so pointed, so I can learn how to distinguish competance from incompetance?

Thanks, as always.

IVES- What I've heard about JOB is that he is rehabbing to get to full fitness in order to land a contract. Who will take a chance on him? I'm not sure who wouldn't. If he has given up on a comeback I haven't heard that.

Compiling a list of RSL front-office mistakes could take a while, and ideally you would have a writer in Salt Lake City doing that, but the best example I can think of took place last season. Going into the Toronto FC expansion draft RSL decided that there would be no way Toronto would take Jason Kreis so they left him exposed in the expansion draft, even though Kreis was a team leader and one of their most marketable players. They leave Kreis exposed and protect, among others, Willis Forko. Toronto FC pounced on Kreis and forced RSL to give up an allocation to get him back. In short, RSL spent a six-figure allocation to keep Willis Forko.

I have heard some other great ones but I've beaten the RSL horse enough times. I'm waiting to see when someone else, anyone else, calls that team out for the mess of a franchise it is.

SHAJ- hey ives do you know anything about vikash Dhorasoo after he was sacked by psg..i haven't heard anything about him since and he appears to be a free agent. do you think he would come to mls?

IVES- Haven't heard a peep and I can't see him drawing much interest from MLS teams because he's not the type of player MLS teams will be looking to spend big money on.

RYAN- What is the average salary of a rookie in the MLS? From what I have heard, it is somewhere in the 12K range. How do these players live on that amount of money? That's enough for an empty apartment, and nothing else. Do they work other jobs? And what expenses do the teams cover for the players?

IVES- Rookie salaries range from as little as 12-13K to as high as $75 for the high-level youth national team prospects (though I'm not sure any of this year's Generation Adidas players signed deals this big.

WARREN WANNAMAKER- Ives, the (I think we'd call them bogus) rumors on LA trying to land Zidane have me thinking of LA's DP situation. They need another for next year to cover Donovan. Where do you think they could/will obtain one? Do they have enough to trade for one, based on the price RBNY set by dealing Guevara? Or do you think Lalas could pull a stunt and deal Donovan?

IVES- The popular rumor involves Houston dealing its DP slot to LA. For what? I have no idea, which makes the rumor a bit weak.

OOO- 1)When Schopp is healthy do you think he will start over Richards?

2)What do you think is Bruce's preferred central back pairing? Will the line up be mostly Stammler/Mendes or Parke/Mendes?

Thanks Ives.

IVES- That's a tough one. Bruce Arena stated recently that he wouldn't rule out some sort of lineup rotation system to get all his best players games. I know it's a foreign idea because there haven't been many MLS teams in the past that had the sort of depth the Red Bull will have when Schopp returns and Juan Pablo Angel starts playing. There will effectively be 13 start-worthy players for 10 slots so things will certainly be interesting. As for Richards and Schopp specifically, I think it will depend on whose in better form. I didn't see enough of Schopp last season to have a judgment on him. Richards looks like he could be a special player.

As for Arena's favorite center back pairing, it will be Mendes-Parke but he won't hesitate to bench one of them if they're not training well.

ED- What is your over/under for JP Angel goals this season? In your opinion, which team should sign the next DP?

IVES- Assuming he has about 24 games to work with I say the over/under is 12 goals in the regular season. Next DP needs to be New England. I know the team has signed all of its top players to new deals but how does that team not sign a high-profile player by now? Here's a thought. How about DC United sign a defender with its DP slot? That's probably wishful thinking because I can't imagine that they have enough cap room left.

MIKE- Who, if anyone, do you see being the next MLS player (or players) to make the jump to one of the top leagues overseas?

IVES- Shalrie Joseph, Ricardo Clark and, believe it or not, Danny Szetela. Yes, Szetela has endured an injury-riddled MLS career and has fallen well short of expectaqtions because of it, but he is in the last year of his MLS deal and he will have the US Under-20 World Championships to show what he can do. If he has a good tournament in Canada then he will jump on a European deal. Joseph should go because after 2007 he will have just one year left on his MLS deal and MLS will be looking to unload him while they can still score a transfer fee. Clark is someone I think would have gone to Europe last year if not for the serious ankle injury he suffered last winter/spring. I'm sure I forgot somebody but those three come to mind right now.

NATHAN3E- Do you believe there is any reason to pass along rumors that are obviously fiction? Frank Dell’Apa wrote that Juan Veron has named a (ludicrously high) price that would bring him to MLS. Veron left Inter to go back to Argentina and play for Estudiantes for 1/10 of what he was making in Italy. Dell’Apa also indicated that Chivas USA is going to use the designated player slot they don’t have to go after Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Pavel Nedved, Raul, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos, or Ronaldo. Dell’Apa is usually pretty good, but I can’t help but notice that none of these stories have popped up in your blog.

IVES- I heard about this new desire by Chivas USA to land a designated player slot in order to supposedly sign a big-name player. Regardless of how valid the rumors are if they are circulating then people are going to report them, especially if they're appearing in other places. Sometimes, as a writer, you want to inform your readers of rumors that are out there, even if they might be false. I wrote a pretty lengthy post last week on the rumored Galaxy-Zidane talks even though I didn't believe that story for one second. Why? Because some readers will find that stuff interesting. Frank Dell'Apa is one of the best in the business so you can't knock the guy.

PATRICK from NC - First of all, nice run so far in the SBI League. Now on to my question, which is what does Bob Bradley have to do in order to get the full four years, besides rename himself Jurgen? The man beat a full Mexico side with a less the full strength lineup. He has not lost, and he seems to have the perfect character to run the U.S. Team. All about business and you would never see him sounding silly commentating MLS games. Thanks

IVES- I wish I knew what Bradley had to do to get the job. All he can do is wait and see if Sunil Gulati fails in his mission to find some high profile coach to suit his top-secret list of requirements. At this point I'm not sure if Gulati could find a coach who wouldn't feel like a disappointing choice other than Bradley. I know the lovers of non-US soccer coaches will disagree and say Bradley still isn't ready to take the national team program to "the next level" but the only way we'll find out is if he gets the chance. He has earned it.

RANDY- I know it's early, but this just seems like the best MLS season ever. I bought the Direct Kick package and everything. Do you think it all stems from the Beckham rule? Or has enough of the young talent (often rushed into the league) finally started to collectively mature into a broad pool of nice players? What are your general thoughts on the quality of play so far this year?

Thanks so much for all the postings!

IVES- I think it's a combination of several things, from better coaching, better development of young talent and better decisions on signing foreign talent.

UNCLE DAVE- 1st off, great start in SBI league. Thats why your you, and we aint

#1 - Martin Palermo has been rumored since last year to be coming to this side of the continent - rumors once again surfaced with the Schelotto transaction - what is your take? I know he would be great, but how feasible is this?

#2 - No chance at Fowler entering the league, or did that die like a Cheney Quaill?

#3 - Your the GM - Blanco, Schelotto, Angel, Emilio or Reyna - who is your pick? Theoretically, and also if you were Red Bulls GM

IVES- I don't know who Palermo would sign with at this point. Chivas USA? Fowler has moved on to other opportunities and I've seen him linked with a move to Australia. It's a shame that New England couldn't bring him in. As for No. 3, depends on the circumstances. If I'm building for the long term I probably go Angel, Reyna, Schelotto, Emilio and Blanco. If it's a one-year situation then probably Angel, Reyna, Schelotto, Emilio and Blanco. Hey, it's the same list. You can disagree with the list, it's my list.

KEVIN- What is your feeling on Poland and Ukraine getting the 2012 European Championship?

IVES- I think it's huge for those countries and for my newspaper's coverage area, where large Polish and Ukrainian communities exist. It's only fair that some nations other than the traditional powers get a chance to host the tournament. Why should the rich keep getting richer?

NED'S FC- I always wondered what the story was behind the sale of Michael Bradley to Heerenveen. As far as I can tell, the Metrostars got absolutely nothing out of that. Seems like this franchise has a history of giving away promising talent for next to nothing. In fact, with the way the league's salary cap works, it seems like the main reward for spotting and developing good players is being forced to trade them for future draft picks and allocations. Is there any chance the league will change its policy to address this problem? (I think I know the answer...)

IVES- Where are all these examples? Bradley was a unique situation because you had a young kid who was wanted by a quality European club. MLS and the MetroStars agreed it was in the best interests of the player to sell him. Ricardo Clark is the one legit one you can bring up but it was the team's choice at the time to sacrifice him in order to sign Youri Djorkaeff. That's not the league's fault, it was the team's decision and I'm not sure can say the team got "next to nothing" for Clark. Djorkaeff practically carried the Red Bulls to the 2005 playoffs and who knows what he would have done in 2006 if Bob Bradley had stayed as coach? Marvell Wynne? The team dealt him for cap purposes but also because he still needs too much work for the money he's making. Tim Ward? He still hasn't developed since that trade and once again, it was the team's decision to deal him for Chris Henderson, not the league's.

BEN- I know he will most likely be too old for the 2010 world cup, but do you see Jeff Cunningham getting a shot at a call up to the national team in the near future? With the two tournaments this summer (and with him coming off a golden boot season), it seems like it would serve the US well to give him a shot. Or do you think the US will go the youth route and try to get younger guys experience leading into qualifying for 2010?

IVES- Here's the deal with Cunningham, and I think I've said this before. The guy isn't a great finisher, doesn't do much work defensively and can't pass all that well. He scores goals because his speed and strength helps him create numerous chances against slower and more suspect MLS defenders. On the international level you only get one or two real chances in a game and Cunningham's inconsistent finishing makes it difficult to overlook his other flaws. So to sum up, I can't see him getting a real look at the national team again.

HYBRID+E85- How many season ticket holders do the Red Bulls have?

What's the latest scoop on the stadium opening date?

Does MLS get any TV rights fees in Canada?

IVES- I will try to find out the answers to the first two questions and have no idea about the third.

HYBRID+E85- What do you know about the re-launch of the women's soccer Div I league?

IVES- I don't know a thing.

KAREN- 1. I know you spent only "three minutes" thinking about it, but is your "gut feel" that on average the play in MLS is better than in the top divisions in Turkey, Scotland and Greece?

2. Which country is the best (i.e., in terms of training) and easiest (i.e., in terms of securing a work permit) for a young US professional soccer player to play in among the following 9 countries: Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Portugal, Holland, Mexico, Argentina and Brazil? Assume an American has the language and soccer skills but only a US passport and no work permit.

IVES- My gut feeling is that when you get past the top two or three teams in each of those three leagues you get some pretty mediocre teams. I know you think you can say that about MLS but I dont think the disparity from teams 1-3 in MLS to teams 8-11 is all that great. This is all subjective and I'm sure fans of those leagues will disagree strongly (though I doubt Scottish fans could really argue much). In my opinion, if you took the fourth best team in Turkey or Greece and swapped it with the fourth best team in MLS I think the fourth best team in MLS would do better in Turkey or Greece than the fourth-best Turkish or Greek team would do in MLS. That's just my opinion.

CRAIG- How close is Juan Pablo Angel to actually suiting up? Is his visa close to being done?

IVES- Nobody knows. Best guess is two to three weeks at most.

JOHN- This game is always fun, it has been an annual for Q and A's...

What star players are comming to MLS in the future.

I say in probably four or five years the Red Bulls DP's will be Henry and Ronaldinho.

IVES- I agree and have said that before on the blog.

LARRY- How many more years do the Red Bulls have from Josmer Altidore before he goes over seas?

IVES- At least three more years. I see him playing through the 2009 season at the very least.

LARRY- Can we get a Red Bull youth team update. I know they have been in some tournament recentley...what's the latest on Exantus and the rest of the prospects. Who do you think we will see make a jump to the first team when we are allowed?

IVES- That's coming soon.

ANTHONY BOUTS- 1.why, or is it true that jeff parke isnt one of the bruces favorites?

2.I know people on the RBNY under 16 (or is it 15?) team. if they stay on that team until they are older than the highest youth team RB has ( i think it is u-17) do they join the team given they are good enough?

thanks Ives. killer fantasy team b.t.w.

IVES- I think Arena was frustrated by Parke's mistakes last season and was ready to unload him but the more I hear the it sounds like injuries led to Parke playing less than his best. I don't know this for sure but the vibe I get is that Parke has played his way back into Arena's good graces.

JHJG89- I've done research on this, but I still haven't found out, and I feel very stupid asking this, but since it wont really delay you (because it's a one-word answer), I'm gonna ask you:

Are Darren Bent and Marcus Bent brothers?

IVES- No

JHJG89- Why does it seem like everybody seems to have DVDB, Mapp, and Kelly Gray on their fantasy roster? Can't anyone be original??? (myself guilty of this too, btw)

IVES- For the record I had all three of them were in my week one lineup. But seriously, all three are good bargains so it makes sense that they're so popular.

PW- I am very excited about the signing of Juan Pablo Angel but had a question about the process. Bruce Arena said that "In November, we started this process. And ... I would always say, 'until we get a no from Juan Pablo, I don't want to hear anybody else.' However Juan Pablo said during the press conference said that he had only been contacted "a couple of weeks ago" by the Red Bulls.

Is this descrepancy because Aston Villa had continually said no to a potential deal but finally allowed contact with Juan Pablo?

IVES- It sounds like the Red Bulls inquired about Angel to Aston Villa and Aston Villa didn't get serious about responding and notifying Angel of the interest until he fell out of favor. That's how it should work since the Red Bulls aren't supposed to contact a player under contract without permission from that player's club. Villa probably didn't take the MLS offer seriously until after the European window closed, leaving Villa with few options to unload Angel.

DIEGO R- What's Tony Sanneh up to these days? I know that he was getting paid handsomely the past few years, but if was willing to take a major pay cut I'm sure there would be teams interested.

IVES- Sanneh and John O'Brien are apparently in the same World Cup 2002 protection program. I'm not sure how eager Sanneh is to move to some new part of the country to play for peanuts (by his standards). He'll be 36 in June so it's probably time to hang them up.

DIEGO R- In terms of coaching accolades how remarkable is it that Roy Keane brought Sunderland from last place in the Championship to first place and almost definite promotion to the Premiership?

IVES- It's nothing new for a young coach who was a strong-willed player to have success as a manager and I always pictured Keane being a stellar coach. He will be Alex Ferguson's replacement at Man U. Book it.

AUTOX- Is Pierre Barrieu still the team's fitness coach. I did not note any significant improvement in the team's conditioning.

Wanna bet you won't finish in the top 500 overall in the MLS Fantasy League?

IVES- If you can't tell a difference in the team's conditioning then I don't know what to tell you. As for me not finishing in the top 500 I think you need to stop hating. Reveal your real name and your team's name and maybe we'll talk about where I could finish.

DOMINGHOSA- Beasley has been playing very well lately (although his finishing is the only thing of note, double although, finishing isn't easy). Anyway, my question: why not just leave Beasley at the left back position on the USMNT as his permanent spot (I know it's been done before)? With his defensive prowess and offensive skills, should be a good move. Although his crosses aren't all that great. But wouldn't that be better to know from a left back than a winger?

IVES- He's a better left midfielder than left back. I don't know why people assume he would be an unquestioned starter at left back if moved to the position. He has nice defensive qualities for a winger but saying he should be starting at left back is a bit of a stretch.

STEVE- For those teams with a DP slot and a good offense, what defenders or D-mids would be smart and realistic targets for the summer window? Will an MLS side offer Kasey Keller a respectable deal?

IVES- I said it in another response, I can't see MLS teams using DP slots on defenders. A D-Mid is another subject. Edgar Davids would have been a nice addition for FC Dallas but that didn't work out. I haven't looked at what European players could be available in the summer so i can't offer any good candidates for DP slots this summer.

PW- 1. A "Lee Zarzecki" suited up for the Red Bull reserves. How is the guest player rule primarily used by squads: to give promising older youth team players a different experience -- assuming this is allowed --, a way to periodically give undrafted players trials or otherwise? Do you know anything about Zarzecki.

IVES- As far as I know guest reserve team players are players who are out of college and not under a professional contract. Youth team players can't play because that would violate NCAA rules. As for Zarzecki, I haven't heard a thing about him, but then again we don't hear much about these players. The ones I have written about are players I have known for years.

KEVIN- What have the TV ratings for the first couple weeks been? Improved from last year?

IVES- I heard the stats for the MLS Thursday night games are up 50 percent from last year but that's a 50 percent improvment on almost nothing so the stats still aren't hitting anywhere near they need to for soccer folks to really be happy.

GO SABRES- Do other leagues (such as the EPL, Serie A, La Liga) have limits as to how many internationals can be on a specific team's roster? What is the current structure of what MLS teams can have? Thanks.

IVES- The existence of the European Union has made this less of a problem since you have to treat players from other EU countries s equal citizens. I know Spain has a limit, not so sure about Italy and England, though it would be interesting to know how a team like Arsenal could possibly exist if there are international player limits in the EPL.

TREX- I'd be interested in seeing your projected WC2010 lineup. Obviously it's all guessing but it'd be interesting to see every few months and who moves up into the first XI and who moves out.

IVES- I posted it in a Q&A months ago. I'll see about posting one next week. I can't think straight right now so I won't even try.

DAVEBRETT- The new women's league wants to start in eight cities. Half of those cities do not (yet) have soccer-specific stadiums. Wouldn't it be smarter for the new league to wait a few years until the new soccer stadiums in New York and DC are built? Are they too impatient for that?

IVES- I agree that it would be more ideal for teams to wait but there must be a reason they want to start so soon. And for future reference I really don't cover women's soccer at all. My newspaper has a women's sports writer who handles the women's soccer. I haven't covered a women's soccer match since the 1999 Women's World Cup.

LUKE SKYWALKER- Have you ever heard details about negotiations between MLS and FSC? I am wondering if FSC would ever put on two games a week. They put on 3-4 EPL games! Will we see RSL games on GolTV? Thanks.

IVES- I'm not sure if FSC can negotiate that with MLS during the year.It would be nice if you could see multiple games on FSC, not sure how ESPN would feel about that though since they pay good money for their TV deal.

JOHNNY- Any info on Jose Angulo?

IVES- That's coming soon.

CT- What are your thoughts on the ESPN2 coverage of MLS so far? What suggestions do you have for improvement?

IVES- I'll leave the TV to the TV folks. One thing I will say is that some of the less than desireable camera angles we get are a product of less than ideal camera set-ups at some MLS stadiums.

AUTOX- Stuart Pearce has given DaMarcus Beasley five games to prove he is worth a long-term contract at Manchester City.

What are his chances of signing a long term contract?

IVES- I think they are good but who knows if Pearce will even be the manager next year. Beasley has already shown that he can produce in the EPL but he still may not have done enough to secure permanent move.

AUTOX- What's your take on Tommy Smyth's ESPN2 coverage of the Crew game?

IVES- I don't know if folks have noticed but I stay away from commenting on ESPN TV folks because of my status as an ESPN.com columnist but I don't mind saying that I actually enjoyed Tommy's work in that game. I know some people expected him to be awful but I thought he was okay.

SAL- Do you think that barcelona might be willing to let ronaldinho go to milan with messi playing so well for the team?

also, there was a report from houston that the agents of cannavaro, del piero, and materazzi contacted mls about playing here. is this type of thing common and have you heard anything about it?

IVES- How do you let the best player in the world go? As for the contact from the agent for Italy's players, should anyone really be surprised? If you don't think that every agent with an A-List client didn't call MLS after hearing the money thrown at Beckham then you've got another thing coming. Does that mean they'll be coming here? Del Piero is a possibility I have mentioned repeatedly. The others, not so much. You won't be seeing DP slots used on defenders any time soon, at least you shouldn't.

ANDREW- Why are the Dynamos wearing VTU tribute jerseys next week? Is someone in the organization an alum? The money will be welcome, but it just seems random. Why wasn't it DC United that stepped up?

IVES- I'm not really sure what the Houston/Va. Tech connection is but I've seen several MLS teams do something to help. DC United its doing its part by wearing special Virginia Tech jerseys for its game against Columbus.

KEVIN- After reading the YA article about Watford v. Man City where Beasley talked about his hamstring problems do you think he will have surgery after the season? Will he be available even if he doesn't have surgery? Does he get a contract offer from Pearce?

IVES- Whether he plays in the US national team's two tournaments this summer will depend on his health and contract status. If he can't land a deal with City then he's looking at a rather uncomfortable return to PSV. If he's healthy he enough he has to play in the summer tournaments to showcase himself. I see him resting the hamstring during the Gold Cup and playing in Copa America as a showcase event. I know it's just three games but scouts will certainly be watching.

SHAJ- Donovan will only be grandfathered one more year and the galaxy have already used their DP slot. Do you think if they trade for another it will be to keep donovan or to persure someone like Del Piero...

If you think donovan leaves, when and to where?

IVES- Does Donovan stay? That's the big question. I know he kept telling anyone who would listen that he's happy in MLS but at some point I have to believe he wants to go back to Europe to test himself. Where will he go? I think Spain is a great fit for him, better than England. Another question is where would his Hollywood wife be willing to live? I can't imagine her wanting to go to Germany. That leaves Spain, Italy or England. I would put them in that order. Whether he stays or goes I see LA getting a second DP slot. Where from? Who knows.

TIM- Since you haven't cut this off yet ... It seems to me as if the Red Bulls play much more up the right side of the field than the left side (Is this correct?). I know Dane Richards has been impressive so far but I thought that van Den Bergh was supposed to have had an equally impressive off-season. If I am correct, why is van Den Bergh getting so few opportunities so far and do you think we will see more left field play in the next couple of games?

IVES- I think this is a bit of a misleading question. For me, Van Den Bergh has been excellent for the RB this year. Yes, Richards has been the more exciting player but Van Den Bergh has created just as many chances and what gets lost sometimes is how well Van Den Bergh floats all over the field in search of open space. He doesn't stay on the wing like Richards does. You can find Van Den Bergh sliding into central midfield to attack and if his finishing were a little better early on he could easily have three goals right now. Both wingers are playing well and I can't say one is playing better than the other right now.

CT- When will Angel make his debut? Any chance he's on the field this Thursday (4/26) to help minimize Clint Mathis' suspension?

IVES- No, he won't play tonight. There's no way of knowing exactly when he gets his work permit but it's a safe bet he'll be in uniform for one of the Red Bulls' next two home games.

ATMJETSFAN- ives, why does nearly every epl team use a 4-4-2 formation? why not a 4-3-3?

IVES- You've got me on that one. You need some serious talent to play a 4-3-3 and players who can play very distinct roles, such as the anchor defensive midfield role. Chelsea prefers it and does well with it but I think the fact that British countries have played 4-4-2 as their preferred formation for decades, and a majority of coaches in the EPL are English or Scottish, makes it the formation young players are brought up on and develop their skills in. A team with a foreign coach and the money to field a deep roster of internationals still has to deal with playing a steady diet of 4-4-2 formations. If you have the talent of a Chelsea then you can force opponents to adjust to you but not many teams have that luxury.

Any hardcore EPL fans can offer their own opinions on this. I would love to hear some.

JERRY- I know your tired of hearing this, but I want your opinion. Do you think that a relegation/promotion system with the USL could work with MLS? Don't you think that even at the bottom of the MLS table, it would give teams a reason to fight, thus increasing attendance and tv ratings for games. I think 1 USL team should be promoted/one MLS demoted. This would open up markets like Rochester/Portland/Seattle to MLS and if the teams succeded, they would have momemtum to get SSS built. MLS teams that won't compete and cities that won't support would be relegated. MLS will never be a rating league, it will be an attendance/advertising league.

IVES- It would be nice if relegation/promotion existed in MLS but it won't happen. I covered this topic in this ESPN column (Related) . My position on this subject hasn't changed much and I doubt MLS' stance on promotion/relegation has changed much either.

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Thursday, April 26, 2007

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