He apologized, so maybe just a yellow!

Describe this for me...

I think he'd be lucky to escape some jail time!

MLS build-up - goal to remember from 2013

The MLS gets back under way on March 8 - will be sharing a few highlights from last season in our build up to the 2014 season.

Monday night football - Good or Bad? Discuss...

It's hard to argue that Manchester City v Chelsea is the game of the weekend. Well, you could argue that it's not actually at the weekend.

We have to wait until Monday night for the clash, which won't decide the title, but could give one team a huge psychological advantage - especially if Chelsea manage to win.

But should these games be delayed until the Monday so that everyone can watch them on TV? It's great for the neutral after a boring day at work, and even better for those in the US who get to break up the work day for 90 minutes, but fans going to the game can't be happy.

The atmosphere at night games is usually really good, but travelling to Manchester from London on a Monday probably means taking a day off work, getting home at 2am on the Tuesday, feeling rough after a few beers on the train back. And it's all fine if you've won, or seen a great game. But then there's Sunderland v West Ham getting moved to a Monday night. That's a monster journey to watch an average game - Sunderland fans rarely even fill half the stadium on a Saturday afternoon.

But realistically, the Premier League is a TV league now. The execs don't care about the fans who go to the games, just the ones who are on the sofa, or in a bar. Ticket prices are ridiculous, match day times are constantly shifting and soon enough we'll be having time-outs for adverts.

Yes, the best games are becoming easier to watch for everyone, but the league needs to remember the actual match-day experience. Because a game with no fans in attendance is a real possibility one day - and once the atmosphere goes, so does the Premier League.

South America's top competition kicks off tonight

Quietly and under the radar, the 55th edition of the Copa Libertadores kicks off tonight as 38 clubs fight to raise the continent's top trophy and succeed Brazil's Atletico Mineiro as champions. The competition is as pure as it gets but the glitz and glamour of Europe's Champions League is notably not as comparable in Libertadores. But trying convincing the press and the participating teams' fervent supporters that the Copa is not as relevant.

The preliminary phase, which involves 12 teams paired up for a home-and-away series, will begin tonight (6pm ET) in Bolivia as Oriente Petrolero hosts one of South America's traditional giants in Uruguay's Nacional, which should have been favorites to move on. Petrolero's fans, on the other hand, have reason to be ignited with confidence instead: some of Nacional's first-team regulars will be unable to partake in the competition as they were banned by Uruguay's civil court after a massive brawl in a friendly derby last week against rivals Penarol.

The Bolivians, which are already a couple of rounds into their domestic season, just hired 39-year-old Uruguayan Tabare Silva as their manager, and who better to tactically figure out countrymen than he. Look for Bolivian veteran centerback Ronaldo Raldes to guide his side as he returns to his country after a decade abroad.

In Mexico (8:15pm ET), Morelia welcomes Colombia's Independiente Santa Fe. The Mexicans named a new manager last night after kicking out their previous one via Twitter last week. Morelia has a tight schedule over the next week, with the two-legged Copa series and a league match against reigning Mexican champs Leon this weekend. Will they survive? The Mexicans have a nice quartet of South Americans in their books, including Ecuador national-team winger Jefferson Montero who will face off against his compatriot Edison Mendez.

Mendez is part of a major overhaul in Sante Fe, who made it all the way to the Copa semifinals last year. Fans are also happy that striker Jonathan Copete is back in Colombia after seven years abroad along with veteran Wilder Medina. 

Keep checking back for more updates and reviews for Copa Libertadores news.

-TioPelotas

@TioPelotas74

Does anyone love Ronaldo more than his Real Madrid teammates ?

It seems Alvaro Arbeloa seems to be pretty interested in grabbing a piece of Cristiano. Saying that, both Luka Modric and Karim Benzema weren't slow to bend down in front of him!

Can't blame them, he's the King of the World and Greatest of All-Time - according to the most recent Ballon D'Or, which tells the complete history of the game in one trophy.

The transfer window - time for a change?

David Moyes has added Juan Mata, Chelsea have Mohamed Salah, Newcastle may lose Yohan Cabaye - and all in January when teams are desperate to improve, to challenge for trophies or simply to stay in the top division.

Why can teams only strengthen in January or the summer? Imagine someone in your job said that you can only move jobs at certain periods in the year? It won't wash - especially if you were being frozen out of doing what you wanted to and were forced to sit there and watch other people do it.

It seems to contradict everything that the Bosman ruling established. Free movement when contracts expire, chances to move on, no restriction on trade. This was put in place in 1995, but 20 years on, the transfer window seems to make less sense than ever.

Yes, clubs can get better prices for their players in the window, but you're also held to ransom for someone you don't really want, but may desperately need.

Managers don't get to keep their jobs until January, club physios, GMs, tea boys etc. aren't promised that they will be employed until the New Year and then shipped out because they're not deemed necessary anymore.

I can understand that clubs don't want to deal with agents, fees, unhappy players and speculation all year round, but they should be able to stand up and say no, or yes, whenever they want.

There has to be a better way. Because once January passes, it's back to emergency loans and picking up free agents.

MLS offseason excites fans as training camp opens

World Cup year, top league signings making headlines

The 2013-2014 offseason in Major Leage Soccer was no ordinary trip for football fans that usually kick back and wait out the longest break in between campaigns for any domestic league in the world. In fact, we'd have to point out that this was--and continues to be--one of the more exciting offseasons in league history.

As preseason training kicked off this past weekend, supporters furiously are trying to keep up with any latest signings or rumors of potential signings before the domestic championship kicks off in early March. Next year, the league welcomes two more teams to its format--New York City FC and Orlando SC.

So ahead of what should be a pivotal year before the expansion teams join the fray, we take a look at some of the top signings and trades that will make for an electric season for MLS this year in the midst of the World Cup in Brazil.

* Toronto FC's double-capture of England international Jermain Defoe and U.S. national-team stalwart Michael Bradley set a precedent not only to other sides but to the league in itself and marks an important chapter in the book of U.S. soccer. The signings represent a new era whereby MLS is announcing to the world that it will seek some of the better players it's strived to obtain earlier in its history, whether that means paying out a larger transfer fee or splashing cash in a hefty contract. Despite a dropoff in attendance, supporters of the Reds are some of the more loyal in the league and BMO Field should be rocking come March.

* While Philadelphia Union's acquisition of U.S. international Maurice Edu hasn't been made official yet, the signing would represent yet another coup for the league if Edu can reignite his form that gave him 45 appearances in the national team kit. The Union is looking to build a foundation in its midfield as Edu is only 27 and the team is already on the hunt for others to upgrade its unit and complement Edu. Philadelphia looks like a good bet to get back into the playoffs and keep PPL Park loud and boisterous.

* Eddie Johnson has had a roller coaster ride in his stint with Seattle Sounders but after the Washington side grabbed Kenny Cooper, EJ's days were numbered. DC United now hope his goal-scoring threats can help United climb out of a disastrous 2013 season in which they finished dead last. 

* Before a car crash that claimed the life of a friend and caused major injuries to him, Charlie Davies had a successful season in France and was riding high. After slowly recuperating, he is now back on the pitch and seeks to seize on the opportunity bestowed on him with New England Revolution, who made his loan from last year into a permanent deal.

* Seven years ago, legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto put MLS on the map in Argentina and his Columbus Crew jersey was seen at Boca Juniors games. Today, Argentine players look at MLS as a viable option as current Crew forward Federico Higuain--brother of Napoli's Gonzalo--noted to a publication in his home country. Case in point, Portland Timbers. The fanatical support, the beauty of the city and its surroundings and the professionalism displayed in training and overall regime have given its four Argentines currently on its roster a new love for the game in the U.S. The Oregon side have brought in Gaston Fernandez from Estudiantes and Norberto Paparatto from Tigre.

Of course, we still have the silly season upon us where players like Xavi, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole continue to be linked with the league. But unlike its early days, MLS is now in a position to capture these and other players, who it seems more and more are looking at America's top flight as a serious competition.

-Tio Pelotas
@TioPelotas74