There Is Only One Sinnacle

Raul set to join New York Red Bulls – report

The Madrid-based newspaper, that has close ties with Real, claims Raul is eager to play in America and will be paid the same wage he receives at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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New York Red Bull needs a big name player to go along with their new stadium. This team needs a buzz surrounding it. Juan Pablo Ángel is a classy player but he is able to walk around unnoticed in New York City. While Raul billboards wouldn’t be put up in Times square he is still a household name and more importantly can still score against MLS defenders.

Landon Donovan must be feeling better after his penalty miss in the MLS Cup final. Not only did he sign a new four year deal worth close to nine million but Donovan gets another kick at European football, this time trying his luck with Everton after failed stints previously in German football.

This is the part I can’t get excited about, which is why I waited a couple of days to post this. It’s hard to make an impression when you are on loan for only three months. Even with Everton struggles and injuries David Moyes will be hard pressed to throw Donovan into anything more than the spot start or appearance off the bench. After all Donovan won’t even see the season out as it’s back to Hollywood come March. Unless Tim Cahill goes down with another injury just don’t see Donovan making a big splash in English football.

The newest MLS franchise the Philadelphia Union held their expansion draft today. Smooth move by MLS to hold it right in the middle of today’s Champions League matches. This couldn’t wait til Friday? Below are the players selected by MLS newest franchise.

MF Andrew Jacobson (D.C. United)
F Alejandro Moreno (Columbus)
D Shavar Thomas (Chivas USA)
GK Brad Knighton (New England)
F Nick Zimmerman (New York)
F Sebastien Le Toux (Seattle)
MF Shea Salinas (San Jose)
MF Stefani Miglioranzi (Los Angeles)
D Dave Myrie (Chicago)
D Jordan Harvey (Colorado)

In a game typically of most MLS matches the MLS Cup was full of honest effort and grit but less on any moments of brilliance aside from Landon Donvan’s cross to set up Mike Magee goal. A fitting way to end this back and forth contest was to decide it on penalties where Andy Williams had a chance to win the cup for Real Salt Lake only to have it saved by Galaxy backup keeper Josh Saunders. Once Edson Buddle missed for the Galaxy, Robbie Russell then stepped up with a chance to be a hero and he made no mistake coolly sliding it inside the post.

Thanks to penalty misses by the likes of Landon Donovan it was in the stars for Real Salt Lake to end their Cinderella run by winning the MLS Cup after making it as an 8th seed on the final day of the season. Along the way they took out Cuauhtémoc Blanco and the Chicago Fire then prevented David Beckham from lifting the MLS Cup.

Congrats to Real Salt Lake who have gone from MLS expansion team to MLS Champions in five years.

Los Angeles Galaxy vs Real Salt Lake in the MLS Cup Final. In other words it’s the team Freddy Adu left against the team David Beckham wanted to leave.

Credit to Grant Wahl of SI who twitted this yesterday but the link below details a team by team breakdown of MLS Salaries. Some salaries which caught my eye were Houston’s Stuart Holden who only makes 34k a year. Talk about being due for a big raise in his next contract. Toronto FC’s Gabe Gala who scored against Real Madrid in their friendly makes a grand total of 20k this year. Talk about playing for the love of the game.

MLS Salaries

Part One

Part Two

Part Three