Of the five home teams in desperate need of a victory last weekend, three of them not only failed to win, they failed to score a goal.

It's not one of the major points of negotiation while MLS and the players' union discuss a new collective bargaining agreement, but something has to be done about the financial strictures placed on international competitions.

As blame cascades down and those in Red Bull land scurry for cover, glaring among the many things the franchise couldn't do was rebuild from within MLS.

Whether or not he makes his return to RFK Stadium Saturday a winning excursion against the team he led to three MLS titles and other crowns in four seasons, Galaxy coach Bruce Arena has no serious rivals for Coach of the Year honors.

With most of the summer of soccer over, even if the real summer isn't, it's back to basics for MLS.

If a modest two-game unbeaten streak had San Jose fans harboring even a smidgen of hope their team could get near the fringe of the playoff race, Saturday night at Candlestick Park snuffed those beliefs.

There's big news from the world of football, as in American indoor, as well as football played across the pond, as in the English Premier League.

The recent deals involving goalscorers Yura Movsisyan and Kenny Cooper illustrate how valuable such players are in the world market, and how treacherous it can be to deal.