An attempt to acquire Colorado Rapids midfielder Pablo Mastroeni has, at least for now, been quashed by MLS. Italian Serie B club Brescia has inquired about taking Mastroeni on loan for the upcoming season, but Rapids coach Fernando Clavijo says the terms, as he understands them, are unacceptable. "The deal, as it is now, makes no sense for anybody," said Clavijo Saturday prior to the Rapids' 4-1 loss to Dallas. "Not for Pablo, not for the league, not for Colorado. We would never stand in a player's way if he had the opportunity to go somewhere, but Pablo, perhaps more …

"No-Brainer." That's how former U.S. international John Harkes describes his decision to leave the D.C. United Director of Youth Development post to take an assistant coaching position with Red Bull New York. The specifics of his role under Head Coach Bruce Arena have yet to be finalized, yet he's looking forward to working with former D.C. United teammate Richie Williams, who has served as interim head coach following the dismissal of Mo Johnston, and probably ex-U.S. defender Jeff Agoos as well. Harkes, Williams and Agoos all played under Arena at D.C. United and the University of Virginia. "We're just hammering …

Striker Jean-Philippe Peguero, held out of last week's MLS action due to an impending move to Danish club Broendby, was in Copenhagen Tuesday to undergo a medical exam and finalize personal terms. The league has agreed to an undisclosed transfer fee. Peguero, 24, has two option years left on his MLS contract. His salary for the 2006 season is listed at $70,000 and he reportedly will earn about $200,000 per season with Broendby, which is tied for first place with a 2-0 record in the Danish season that began last week. Broendby finished second last season and did not qualify …

How long will it take Bruce Arena to make New York Red Bull into a semblance of a competitive MLS team? In the short term, he'll have to rely on his tactical knowledge and motivational methods, since the team is tight up against the salary cap, it has no allocations, and the rumors of a "secret meeting" by which the MLS Board of Governors "approved" a mega-player acquisition for Red Bull New York appear to be nothing more than rumors. The return of Youri Djorkaeff can help, assuming Arena can sort out the wants and needs of Djorkaeff and Amado …

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