Happy Thanksgiving and some Wizards stuff

Happy Thanksgiving to all today.

For a little fun you can go read about the First Thanksgiving Proclamation.  There is even an image of the original proclamation from the Massachusetts Sentinel.

So, yesterday was the MLS Expansion Draft for Seattle.  The Sounders drafted Tyson Wahl from KC.  Sad to see Tyson go but thankful it wasn’t Hohlbein who I think more upside.  I am sure some would have like to see Seattle pick Kurt Morsink but I am glad he wasn’t chosen.

After the draft all the teams could waive players and KC waived Ryan Pore, Carlos Marinelli and Ivan Trujillo.  I don’t know that anyone is too heartbroken to see these three players leave.

So, KC is now at 24 players on the roster.  The loss of the roster spots from the closing of the Reserve League would have to make KC change how they want to build the Wizards.  They’d previously stated that they wanted to build through the draft.  With a loss of 4 spots that makes some of the draft picks that the Wizards acquired almost worthless.

Right now KC has, I believe, 13 Senior roster spots(Zavagnin gone too).  A team can have up to 20 and then 4 other Development spots (GA can count toward that).

OG

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Adam Cristman and the Protected Eleven

Today KC acquired 23 yr old striker Adam Cristman from New England for a 3rd round draft pick and some allocation money.  This is a player that I’d have loved to see in KC via trade during the season (even if he did go on to get hurt).   He should be the target player we really need up top.

With the roster size reduction, due to the closing of the Reserve League, the Wizards had plenty of draft picks available to trade away.  Better to use one Cristman than to let it go to waste.

Also today MLS teams announced their protected list.  KC protected 11 players.  Three of them had to be Internationals.  And with the acquisition of Cristman the unprotected player was forward Ivan Trujillo.  Yes, KC protected Carlos Marinelli.  I wonder if they feel he has trade value or mabye a renegotiated contract and we see him on the bench … who knows.

The entire protected list is: Cristman, Marinelli, Lopez, Gomez, Souter, Arnaud, Conrad, Jewsbury, Harrington, Leathers and Wolff.  GA players Espinoza and Myers are exempt from the draft.  Notables that were left unprotected are: Hartman, Hohlbein, Wahl and Morsink.  I think that if Seattle takes anyone from KC it will be either Hohlbein or Wahl.

The Expansion Draft is Wednesday.

Both stories can be found on KC Wizards website and MLS site.

OG

24 Nov. News and Blogs

Columbus Crew win MLS Cup.  Good for them.  Very nice 3-1 victory. Last time the SS winner also won MLS Cup was in 2002 by Los Angeles.  Congrats to former Wizards GK Will Hesmer.

Few more Crew stuff:  Crew finish great season(WVHooligan), Crew win MLS Cup(Ives), Post Game Thoughts(more Ives), Columubs Crew complete job, Win MLS Cup(Fanhouse)

MLS Friday Press Release.  Don Garber talks getting rid of the reserve league and that Senior roster can now be up to 20 players.  Also there can be up to 4 development players outside of the team salary.   The MLS schedule got a sneak peek of sorts.  MLS will work at either eliminating or going to a “light” schedule on up to 4 International weekends.  We might see more weekday games then.  Still 30 games in the season.  For the 2009 Playoffs we will see the 2007 format again, which I very much like.  The MLS CCL teams were also announced and I think it’s a total copout on the part of MLS that just making the finals that NYRB get to go to the CCL.  They should only get to go if they’d won MLS Cup.   Oh well.  SuperLiqa was announced and the Wizards are in it.  Real Salt Lake is the only playoff team to be left out of SL or CCL.

Passing along a Backpost.net Random Shots from Friday.

USA

US to open final qualifying round for 2010 World Cup vs. Mexico. Ah yes, Mexico in February in the US, I love it.  Also the Confederations Cup draw: USA get Italy, Brazil and Egypt.

Jimmy Conrad named to MLS Best XI

Today MLS announced the Best XI and Wizards captain and central defender Jimmy Conrad was named to the team.  This is the fourth time Jimmy has been named to MLS Best XI.

The Columbus Crew had three players named to the team:  Robbie Rogers, Chad Marshall and the MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto.  The Golden Boot winner Landon Donovan of course made the team.   Kenny Cooper, runner up in Golden Boot, and also Comeback player of the year is the other striker on the Best XI.  Among this year’s Bext XI, JImmy has been named the most times, but Shalrie Joseph is second most.  The rest of the team are another trio from the Chicago Fire: Jon Busch, Blanco and Bakary Soumare.  Then finally Sacha Kljestan from Chivas USA.

Seven of the players are on the team for the first time.

OG

20 Nov. News and Blogs you might have missed.

Adu scores for Team USA USA won 2-0.  Davy Arnaud played for about 7 minutes, replacing Freddy Adu.

Jewsbury, Arnaud sign extensions Within a Rusert article about the end of the season for KC we find out that Davy and Jack signed 4 year extensions.  Very nice for both.  Other good stuff in that article too.

Today is the MO finance meeting about the Trails project(and Wizards stadium).

Since I missed yesterday’s post: NL MVP Pujols joins effort to bring expansion MLS team to St. Louis.  I hope this helps St Louis get their team.

Happy Birthday Rauwshawn McKenzie.  He turned 22 yesterday.  McKenzie did not play any senior minutes this season, but the rookie defender was in all but 33 minutes of the Reserve games.

Sorry I missed yesterday.  I was aked to cover for a few days but am also caught for time.    Trying to get some of my news feeds/searches set back up to get the information out.

18 Nov. News and blogs you might have missed.

End of Season interviews DownTheByline and Back Post with interviews from Chance Myers, Micheal Kraus, Micheal Harrington, Kevin Souter and Jimmy Conrad

KC may be out of the playoffs but the UMKC Kangaroos are Summit League Champions and will now play in the NCAA tournament.  Here is the draw for the NCAA’s.  UMKC will play Tulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma on November 21st.  If they win they will play in Creighton.

The Three Trails/Trails/Bannister/Hillcrest Road project is finally on the agenda for the November Missouri Development Finace Board meeting.  This of course is part and parcel to the Wizards(and the fans) getting their stadium.

Check out the Best of US Soccer awards.

US Soccer has final 20 announced for Guatemala on November 19th.  Game will be on ESPN Classic.

More with US Soccer – Video of training and some pictures.

OG

17 Nov. News and Blogs you might have Missed

Two Former Wizards in MLS Cup

Garber, Kraft among Hall of Fame finalists

New Hurling & Gaelic

STADIUMS: Kansas City Stadium Moves Closer To Reality

Top Ten All-Time Chicago Fire Players

MLS Shootout

MLS: Now That the Season is Almost Over…

Saturday editorial: Be careful using tax money for risky KC projects

The buzz: Curlin headed to pasture

AG

14 Nov. News and Blogs you might have Missed

Thank You for Everything Kerry

Lacing up the boots 2008: an encore

Hartman combines two passions in new book

Chance Myers interview 11/12/2008

Insider: Lagerway’s Words Lift Real

What if the Premier League was American?

AG