Unlike previous MLS expansions, Los Angeles FC isn’t just looking to become an American success, but instead the club wants to make a global impact. The MLS expansion team will join the league at the start of the 2018 season, and already has 10 players targeted as they look to make the most of the league’s three designated player allowances.
As international football heaves its bloated corpse over the horizon of our collective attentions, trying to find any kernel of interest becomes increasingly tough. Because of this, we have the British Isles wrestling with the political absurdity of trying to cram as many poppies as possible into one fixture, Lionel Messi hoping that colouring in his tattoos will help Argentina win in Brazil, someone called Radamel Falcao starting to scoring goals again and a certain section of North London declaring war on the sovereign state of Chile due to the possibility of one man’s muscle tear.
The difference in quality between the Premier League and Major League Soccer is there for all to see. There is an extreme gulf in the type of players associated with both divisions, but that doesn't mean there aren't some promising stars playing in America that would be able to transition over to England.
Sometimes all you need is a chance to be noticed, and the MLS is packed full of talent that all deserve the chance to show their quality in front of a larger audience. In particular, these are five of the best.
Sebastian Giovinco - Toronto FC
Having represented Spain 100 times and having appeared for Barcelona in almost 600 matches, center back Carles Puyol squared off against some of the world’s greatest players in a senior career that ran from 1999 to 2014.
The three-time UEFA Champions League winner and 2010 FIFA World Cup champion was himself on UEFA’s Team of the Year on six different occasions, so there’s probably no better judge of talent than Puyol himself.
According to ESPNFC, Tim Howard's muscle injury sustained against Mexico Friday is worse than first thought, and the Rapids' goalkeeper is in danger of missing the rest of the MLS playoffs.
Kick off in Columbus, Ohio was greeted with resounding chants of “Dos a Cero!” from the pro-American crowd. However, the jinx has been resoundingly ended by Miguel Layun, and Mexico are desperately unlucky not to have a couple more.
Only 10 minutes into the United States versus Mexico in Columbus, Ohio, and it looked as though El Tri would break their scoreless jinx at the ground. Jesus ‘Tecatito’ Corona somehow made his way through three American defenders before sending a curling effort on frame.
The wicked shot rebounded off the frame of goal, and replays show that American goalkeeper Tim Howard played a massive role in that Mexican misfortune. A finger-tip save from the Colorado Rapids keeper pushed it onto the post, narrowly avoiding a fantastic opener for the visiting team.
Jurgen Klinsmann has named a vastly experienced starting eleven for Friday night’s World Cup qualifying match against Mexico in Columbus, Ohio. The only real deviance from that formula is the inclusion of 18-year-old Christian Pulisic, but the Borussia Dortmund starlet was widely tipped to start tonight.
In the absence of Geoff Cameron, John Brooks and Omar Gonzalez will anchor the center of defense for the Americans. Fabian Johnson has been pushed into midfield, and DeAndre Yedlin will have to accept a place on the bench as Timmy Chandler will start on the outside of defense.