Oh, Becks, you’re so pretty…  Nice bag!

I’m not much of a video gamer, but I’m having a great time playing FIFA 08 on my XBox 360.  There’s a new mode — known as “Be a Pro”, which allows you to control an individual player while the CPU controls your other 10 teammates on the pitch.  It’s a blast:  for the first time, marking and positioning becomes vital in the video game, as does your “field vision” (i.e. your ability to find others on the field).  There’s even an “online” version, which allows you to team up with up to 4 other players to take on another 5-person team.  I want to play the Hoops vs. the Dynamo, if only to see how much damage Serioux and our dear departed Badson can cause on their forwards.

If you’re interested in playing with me, drop me a line at andy.hickl at gmail dot com or look for me online — I’m DFWHoopsFan.

Date: December 17th at the Verizon Wireless Club 

Who: FCD Supporter’s Groups, Hitch, Coaches

We received an invite from the FO to attend a bit of a gathering.  I believe they are providing pizza and drinks.  We have reservations for 15 so first preference will be given to those who are currently signed up for 2008 Season Tickets and plan to sit with the group (wherever we end up).  This gives us 4 available spots.  If you have either the full or half season as part of the group and are not able to attend let us know.  If you are going to attend let us know.  No details yet on the time of the event.  Post your comments, questions, and reservations in the comments section. 

Free food and booze soda…sounds like a plan! 

Another way Serioux can contribute…

I’m not advocating violence, but I can’t help but wonder if Serioux could help us out next year doing something like this to ‘disorient’ defenders once in a while…

FRISCO, Texas (Monday, Nov. 19, 2007) – FC Dallas announced today the list of players that will be available for selection in the 2007 MLS Expansion Draft. The San Jose Earthquakes will return to MLS in 2008 as the League’s 14^th team and will begin to shape their roster on Wednesday, November 21 with the 10-round Expansion Draft (12 p.m. CT).  

The 11 FC Dallas protected players are:

Goalkeeper: Ray Burse

Defender: Drew Moor, Adrian Serioux

Midfielders: Arturo Alvarez, Marcelo Saragosa, Pablo Ricchetti, Juan Toja, Dax McCarty

Forwards: Kenny Cooper, Carlos Ruiz, Ricardinho

San Jose may select a maximum of ONE player from each of the 13 MLS team’s unprotected player list during the 10-round draft (three teams will not have a player selected). The following FCD players are available for selection:

Goalkeeper: Dario Sala

Defenders: Andrew Daniels, Michael Dello-Russo, Chris Gbandi, Clarence Goodson, Bobby Rhine, David Wagenfuhr, Alex Yi.

Midfielders: Sebastian Botero, Denilson, Sandy Gbandi, Scott Jones, Aaron Pitchkolan, Chase Wileman

Forwards: Roberto Mina, Dominic Oduro, Abe Thompson

Each team could only protect 11 players, and could only make one Senior International player available for the Expansion Draft. FCD protected Senior International’s Ruiz (Guatemala), Saragosa (Brazil), Ricchetti (Argentina), and Serioux (Canada).

Forward Abdus Ibrahim, defender Blake Wagner, and midfielder Anthony Wallace are currently classified as Generation adidas players and thus not eligible to be selected. Midfielder Dax McCarty graduated from the program at the end of the 2007 season will count as Senior Roster players moving forward.

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I for one am surprised to see that Abe is not protected.  It is a shock to me that Ricardinho is protected but it may very well be that you have to protect those on loan.  Don’t get me wrong, I think Ricardinho has tremendous upside but I can not see San Jose taking a gamble with him.  I can definately see San Jose taking either Oduro or Abe.  This list also makes me think that we feel we have a good shot at bringing back Arturo.  If you feel that he is going South or across the pond then you do not protect him…because he is out of contract.  Goodson is also out of contract and he could very well be appealing to San Jose if they think they can sign him.  Unless there is a trade in the works I have the bad feeling we might loose someone I like! 

Who do you think San Jose will snag?  If I am Yallop I take Abe. 

From MLS Commissioner Don Garber’s State of the League address on Friday: 

“We are very excited in Chicago about Juan Toja.”  (WTF, he was traded!)  “A guy that we believe in and is very committed to our league.  I had a conversation with him in Ch…Dallas after their last game and he is really enjoying it here and [is] a guy who we believe can have a very good future in Major League Soccer.” - around the 10:45 mark of the league address.  

 Well, I am glad that the people in Chicago are excited about Juan but he is not going anywhere, especially Chicago!  The only way I see him leaving Dallas is on a plane to Europe with a massive cash present left behind with the club.  From what we have heard throughout the year the loan agreement we have for Toja has a clause that allows up to buy his contract after this year if we opt to secure his rights.  This should be the biggest no brainer involved in constructing our squad for 2008.  Buy it, give him a raise, keep him for another year or two, cash in when the right European club comes along.  As much as I’d love to see Juan around for the life of his career the money involved from a possible European transfer could do wonders.  Remember the 4-5 players that New England was able to resign and provide with well-deserved raises with the large amount of allocation money left in the wake of Dempsey’s transfer fee?

While there has been discussion on the boards among fans concerning Juan returning next season I have not seen anyone post the following indicator/confirmation.  I have an email sent this week from an FCD sales rep that says the following,

2008 FC DALLAS HOLIDAY PROMOTION - JUAN TOJA!

4 Seats for the 2008 FC Dallas Home Opener (April date to be determined at a later point; schedule probably released in January)
1 autographed Juan Toja Poster
2 Passes to a Private Autograph Session with Juan Toja to take place
after the Home Opener (limited to first 150 buyers)

Say it’s so!  If they are marketing a Juan Toja package for the home opener it seems safe to say the odds of him returning are extremely high, if not certain. 

What are your thoughts?