2015 Preview: Union Southern California

The one consistency in Union SC history has been slow starts. The club usually bounces back, but those slow starts have cost the club playoff seeds. This year the owner is determined dominate from the start. Wondolowski, Romero and Pappa are back. The club signed Kaka last season and he is ready to lace up. Also added are the young guns of Octavio Rivero and Fernando Aristeguieta. Last years weak link position has been fixed with the signing of Jaime Penedo as Goal Keeper. Depth concerns were answered with the additions of Roger Espinoza and Kyle Beckman. Is this the year the Southlanders get back into the playoffs? Club highlights: 2010 BSL Cup Champions, 2014 Majors Cup runner-up.

2015 Preview: Spartans 1612

The pressure will be on the Spartans in 2015 as every club in the BSL will want a shot at the reigning BSL Champions. The Spartans seems to be getting better with age as every year the club amasses more wins than the previous season. It will be hard to duplicate the 14 wins from 2014, but the Champions have the players to try it. DP's Clint Dempsey, Jermaine Jones, and Graham Zusi are of course back. The loss of Bradley Wright-Phillips might hurt, but the club picked up the young DeShorn Brown. Cuba Torres is expected to arrive in the Summer to help as well. No club has been able to win the BSL Cup back to back yet. Can the Spartans make history? Club highlights: 2014 BSL Cup Champions

2015 Preview: Second City SC

The Stars most successful BSL season was its inaugural year in 2011 when the club won 13 games (2nd place) and qualified for the playoffs and Majors Cup. The seasons that have followed have not been as successful although Second City did have a winning record in 2013, good for a 6th place finish. Overall the Stars have a 37-38-11 all-time record. Last year, the club hung around in the middle of the table with different levels of success week to week. For 2015, Second City will once again have Brad Davis, Teal Bunbury, Baggio Hasidic and Mike Magee wearing the clubs colors. New signings like Blas Perez and Fabian Espindola are proven scorers. Will that be enough to help Second City reach post-season action?

2015 Preview: SC Canada

The Toronto based side will look to build a winning reputation in year one. SC Canada was a bit conservative in the offseason making no early pick trades and opting to wait for the expansion draft. Besides it's 2 DP'S in Wright-Phillips and LeToux, the Mounties have signed a talented player in Juan Agudelo. Also signed in the late rounds was Eddie Johnson, who if returns to his old form could be a real asset to the club. Like their expansion counter-part, SC Canada signed quite a few defenders. Liam Ridgewell is one of those defenders who has performed well since arriving to Portland in mid-season last year.

2015 Preview: Rose City Flyers

The Flyers are the kings of the post-season once the club get's in. The Flyers have never lost a post-season match.(7-0-0 all-time). Qualifying hasn't always been pretty, but once the Flyers do get in, you best watch out! The issue with Rose City year after year has been the draft. The club has not drafted well. Each season its high draft picks have been horrible. In 2012, the club drafted Alejandro Moreno in the first round and he did nothing. Last year the Flyers traded away a 1st round draft pick and signed Diego Fagundez to a DP contract and he stank. What saves Rose City is the owner is historically the best at the free agent market. More than any other club, the Flyers pick up mid-season maniacs that completely change the clubs fortunes. . Club highlights: 2-time champions (2012 BSL Cup, 2014 Majors Cup)

2015 Preview: Orange County Zodiac

The Zodiac came real close. Very close. Penalty kicks close to winning "the double" in 2014. Instead, the club would have to settle with just one trophy last year. Returning are the staples of the clubs success like Dom Dwyer, Joao Plata and Gyasi Zardes. Even defender Josh Williams is back for a third straight year. Added to the core are names like Diskerud, Fabian Castillo, and Will Bruin. The club looks deep, maybe the deepest in the league. Its a credit to a great draft. The question remains, can the Zodiac win the big one? 2 times the BSL Cup runner-up. Maybe Steven Gerrard's arrival in July will be the right flavor for a postseason push? Club highlights: 2014 Honors Trophy Champions, 2013 and 2014 BSL Cup runner-up.

2015 Preview: Gold Coast FC

The Gold Coast Football Club didn't have much luck last season with the injury bug and it cost the club in the standings. The Suns have missed the playoffs 3 straight years and the Majors Cup for 4 straight years. In response, the owner began buying up Designated Players as early as last August to rebuild. The clubs first plan of attack was paying big bucks for Matias Perez Garcia in the transfer market. Then followed it up paying big bucks for Frank Lampard who later was announced he would not even be playing until July. The Suns opted to get rid of Lampard choosing to build on players who will be available opening week like Nagbe. Looking at the Gold Coast roster for 2015, the club put a lot of stock in current and former USMNT players. Club highlights: 2010 Majors Cup Champions, 2011 BSL Cup runner-up.

2015 Preview: Gateway United

No owner wants to win as bad as Gateway United does. One of the founding clubs in the BSL, the Saints passion is undeniable. The owner is vocal about results. Even though Gateway United has been very successful winning 62 regular season matches all-time, the runner-up in the 2009 Majors Cup Final, and winning the Honors Trophy in 2012, the club is best known for its postseason playoff flounders. Still, 4 years of playoff qualification is very impressive. This year, Gateway United is stacked once again with strikers and big names. Adi, Higuain, Piatti are back. Maloney, Emeghara and many more were added. Is this the year of the Saints? Club highlights: 2012 Honors Trophy Champions, 2009 Majors Cup runner-up.

2015 Preview: Cumberland Athletic Club

Some expansion teams have done quite well and even won hardware in their first seasons. Cumberland A.C. could be another such club after an impressive offseason and steady draft. The club made the most of its resources and obtained the maximum of 4 players before the draft including landing some All-Star players like Keane, Nyugen, and Bradley. The Wildmarys also drafted the very versatile Michel who has been a key contributor in previous BSL seasons. The owner signed a dependable keeper in Bill Hamid. Cumberland went heavy on defenders in the draft. A solid shooting defender does posses great value historically, but finding them is not always so easy.

2015 Preview: Capital District Gunners

Capital District has played in 19 Majors Cup matches (more than any other BSL club) and been in 5 of 6 Majors Cup tournaments.  The owner has had only 1 losing regular season record since the inaugural 2009 campaign. The Gunners are another club with lots of hardware and were the first to 4 titles thanks to being the only BSL club to win the "trifecta" in a magical 2011 season. This seasons Gunners will still have the dependable Alvaro Saborio. Also coming back is last years game changer in Diego Valeri, and oh some new guy named David Villa will suit up too. Adding more depth to the club is the return of Kei Kamara who was a Gunner before he left for Europe. Club highlights: 4-time champions (2011 BSL Cup, 2009 and 2011 Honors Trophy, 2011 Majors Cup), 2009 BSL Cup runner-up.

2015 Preview: Burud Town SC

The Stags addition of Sebastian Giovinco will no doubt get a lot of attention each and every game day from it's opponents, which is what a #1 draft pick should do, but it's the clubs Morales duo of Pedro and Javier that could do the most damage in 2015. There are a few other notable names on the squad for 2015 like Lamar Neagle, Lloyd Sam, and Chris Rolfe, but they all have reputations of going through hot and cold spells. The key to a successful season for Burud Town in 2015 will be having roll players produce on a consistent basis. This is the 6th season for the Stags and the club has never qualified for the Majors Cup. Will this be the year? Club highlights: 2013 BSL Cup Champions

2015 Preview: Alamo City Battle

The Battle have the most regular season wins of any club in the BSL with 69 and have finished no lower than 2nd place in the BSL standings the last 3 seasons. The club has reached the playoffs in 4 of 6 seasons including the last 3 years straight. Even though Alamo City has lost in the playoff Semi-Finals in those last 3 years, it has still been an amazing postseason run. Retired is Thierry Henry who was a constant threat for the club for many years, but Obafemi Martins and Mauro Diaz were signed to DP contracts. The club drafted heavy with 9 players from NYC, POR, DAL, SKC. Club highlights: 4-time champions. (2009 BSL Cup, 2013 Honors Trophy, 2012 and 2013 Majors Cup)

Adding Depth to the Roster?

A player that might have gone under the radar in this years draft might be Dominic Oduro. The Midfielder is best known for his changing hair styles and the fact that he has played for 7 MLS clubs in 9 years, but he does have 48 goals and 26 assists during that time. He's fast and get's opportunities. If he can learn to get the bulk of those shot on frame, he might really make some noise this season. An interesting fact, Oduro was ranked the 5th fastest player by the FIFA15 game. The BSL club to draft him is Orange County, the defending Honors Trophy winners. The Zodiac's history of going deep into the playoffs might have something to do with their ability to have deep rosters. Will this move give the Zodiac the depth its looking for?

Loyalty in the Southland

Marco Pappa will remain with Union Southern California for another season. Pappa was the driving force for the Southlanders in last years Majors Cup matches. "He was the difference in so many of those results and helped us reach the MC Final." said the clubs owner.  Marco was able to stay with Union SC thanks to being available in the 5th round of the BSL draft. "There was interest in keeping him all along. Everything works out in the end." Union SC will be looking to qualify for the Majors Cup for a third straight year in the hopes of winning the whole thing this time. On the league side, Union SC has not made the playoffs since its championship year in 2010. "Hopefully, that drought will be over! The goal is to make the playoffs! Then the focus can be squarely on becoming the first club to win the BSL Cup twice." said the owner.

Get the Ball to the Italian

With the top pick in the BSL draft, Burud Town selected the Italian playmaker Sebastian Giovinco. The 5 foot 4 international is only 28 years old and is expected to be paid 7 million a year. He has lofty expectations ahead of him and is saying all the right things so far in press conferences. Sebastian says he is currently fit and ready to go having only missed 1 week of training in the transition from Juventus. After winning the BSL Cup in 2013, Burud Town won only 6 matches last season finishing in 10th place in the league standings. It was the worst finish in the club's history. Giovinco will be joining Pedro Morales, Javier Morales, and Marcelo Sarvas who were protected on the Stags roster.

This Could Be A Bloody Big Deal

A couple of veterans will be heading up to the great white north in 2015. SC Canada used the clubs 2 rounds to acquire Bradley Wright-Philips and Sebastian LeToux. Philips is coming off an amazing season scoring 27 goals and 2 assist and is one of the reasons Spartans 1612 won the BSL Cup last year. After he was left unprotected by the Spartans, he was a smart choice to get grabbed up in the expansion draft. Meanwhile, Sebastian LeToux has a history of being a steady contributor in the BSL. His solid numbers went wasted on the lame duck owner of the Ohio Toffees in 2014. A new club is just what LeToux ordered to get back into the limelight.

The BSL draft starts this Friday.

Keane Moving to Cumberland

It should come to no surprise to anyone that Robbie Keane was the first player grabbed in the 2015 expansion draft. He is arguably the best International signing to come to play in the league. His numbers speak for themselves and was the main attraction for the Pennsylvania Stoners from 2011-2014 in the BSL. With the Stoners disbanding, this left Robbie a chance to find a new BSL club and maybe a chance at some BSL hardware. Keane will be joined up with Michael Bradley and Charlie Davies, who were already signed by the Wildmary's in offseason trades.

Next up:
SC Canada will be announcing the club's first ever player. Who will it be?

Building Out Their Rosters

The time is very near! The deadline to sign Designated Players, Retention Players, and make offseason trades will soon be finished.

The 2015 expansion draft will be 2 rounds and will help stock the leagues new clubs with Designated Players of their own before the BSL draft on February 20. Cumberland A.C. and S.C. Canada will be allowed to sign any unprotected players left behind from the 2014 BSL rosters. After the completion of the expansion draft an updated list of BSL rosters will be displayed in the "rosters tab" for the 2015 season.
REMINDER: The draft is the only time of year BSL owners can email their player picks to the Commish without posting on club websites. The "transparency rule" does not apply during drafts.

The Offseason is Coming to a Close

The BSL Draft is 2 weeks away! Even sooner is the deadline for BSL clubs to protect up to 4 players from their current rosters. After 7am (PST) on 2/18, returning BSL clubs will forfeit their remaining rosters. Only announced Designated Players and Retention Players by that time will be held. No exceptions! Expansion clubs also have until 7am (PST) on 2/18 to make any pre-draft trades. After this time the expansion draft will begin.

Expansion Draft Order
1. Cumberland AC  2. SC Canada  3. Cumberland AC  4. SC Canada

The club rosters tab will be updated once the expansion draft is completed. The Draft will begin Friday February 20th, with Burud Town owning the first pick. You can view the draft order in "Transactions". As usual the clock starts when you get an email telling you its "your pick and what round is it" and you have 2 hours max to reply. If you are skipped you can fill in your pick as soon as you can. We will draft through the weekend as well so please check your emails. If you are going to be busy, just send a list of players in the order you would want them to the Commish. Email updates will be sent out to inform who has been picked in mid-rounds. Each night the "transactions tab" will be updated as well. Historically 2 rounds are done a day with several clubs taking the full 2 hours to make a pick.