Do you love Saturdays as much as I do? Sleeping in, getting some brunch, and then a full slate of MLS and international friendlies to kick back and watch. Right now I’m watching Red Bulls-Union, with the big headline being Sebastian Le Toux’s first match against his old club. MLSSoccer.com has the story on how Union players feel about their old teammate playing for their biggest Eastern Conference rival.

It may be taking the influx of international clubs and national teams on U.S. soil for summer friendlies, but the media’s ears are finally starting to perk up and realize that soccer is actually pretty popular on this side of the pond and bringing in profits. More news on that from NBC’s ProSoccer Talk below.

Plus, more on Brek Shea’s troubles, and why keeping Shea off the field right now might be the best thing for his future.

International Friendlies

From the World Football Challenge to international friendlies on U.S. soil between top clubs abroad and even national teams “the high season of highly profitable friendlies is upon us,” writes NBC’s Pro Soccer Talk, and the media is – finally – all over it.

As a case-study in the increasing media interest in these games, tonight’s passing and trapping from Toyota Park will be live-blogged, and how about that?

A few years ago, a team like Aston Villa could have come over to the United States, and the only media mention would be the maddeningly cliché “Fans like them some soccer” story in the local paper.

Washington Post’s Soccer Insider has a list of all of this summer’s friendlies on North American soil.

Major League Soccer

Sebastian Le Toux takes the field for the Red Bulls this afternoon for the first time against his former club, Philadelphia Union. And his old teammates say that Le Toux’s presence on their Eastern Conference rival’s squad will add even greater motivation to win.

“I think it will be a little more intense,” center back Amobi Okugo said. “I know some fans are still upset with the way he left and everything. But we forgot about that. And now that he’s a New York Red Bull, we’re not going to play him lightly or anything just because he’s our old friend.”

The Red Bulls aren’t done wheeling and dealing since the Le Toux trade. Today they traded forward Quincy Amarikwa to Toronto for a conditional draft pick.

Le Toux’s not the only Frenchman switching clubs:

Toronto FC have acquired French forward Eric Hassli from the Vancouver Whitecaps in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft and an international roster slot, the clubs announced Friday.

“Adding a player of Eric’s ability gives an immediate improvement to our club,” said Toronto FC head coach and director of soccer operations Paul Mariner in conference call. “He has had a lot of success in this league and we are pleased to bring him to Toronto.”

With the addition of Scottish DP forward Kenny Miller and the emergence of rookie Darren Mattocks, Hassli found himself increasingly relegated to the bench in Vancouver, though Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie admitted the decision to trade the player was not an easy one.

Yesterday we reported on Brek Shea’s recent struggles, and it looks even more like Shea may need some more time away from the field before he can control his emotional outbursts. ProSoccerTalk reported this morning that Shea was dismissed from practice on Friday and could be held out of Dallas’s match with Portland this evening. Manager Schellas Hyndman is no stranger to this type of situation, having dealt with a similar issue with now New York Red Bull Dax McCarty a few years back:

McCarty was benched for his attitude and for general grousing about. Hyndman was still new as FC Dallas’ manager, and he was giving minutes to players who were clearly lesser talented.

The coach was taking a lot of public criticism for it, too. People wondered if the longtime college coach simply didn’t recognize the kind of talent it took to perform professionally.

But Hyndman told me privately at the time that McCarty’s attitude was awful. The coach told me that he could “deal with the problem right now, or that he’d be dealing with it later.”

Long story short, McCarty shaped up, and look at that guy now; he’s having a sensational season for the Red Bulls. McCarty has told me since that he was young and being a brat and needed to be benched.

English Premier League

The rumors about Clint Dempsey to Liverpool continue to heat up, as the Daily Mail today reported that Liverpool could be looking to sweeten the pot for Fulham with midfielder Charlie Adam in exchange for Dempsey’s services. Think we’ll see Dempsey in a Liverpool kit back in the States this summer?

Follow @AerysSoccer on Twitter for more commentary on this weekend’s MLS matchups, international friendlies, and of course, transfer rumors!

What a wild and crazy Friday! Surprise trades in MLS and a verdict on the John Terry trail! We’ve got those headlines and more in your Friday Daily Kick Around.

EPL

Not Guilty! These are the two words that John Terry and spectators at his trial heard earlier today. Terry, Chelsea defender,  had been accused of  racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, a QPR player. Terry and his family waited five days to hear those words. There were a lot of poeple who were very upset with this decision. They believed he was guilty and should be punished. The FA will review his case and decide if he will be punished by them.

LA Liga

Hamit Altintop is no longer a Real Madrid player. He signed with Galatasaray. He joined Real Madrid last seaosn on a free transfer. However, with his injuries, he wasn’t able to get much playing time.

MLS

LA Galaxy has traded Bill Gaudette to New York Red Bulls for a 2014 second round supplemental draft pick.  Gaudette was the 3rd choice keeper for LA, although he did start in a few games while Brian Perk was injured and Josh Saunders was in rehab.

Another trade involving LA, they added a 3rd choice goalkeeper, Brian Rowe. He’s a former UCLA player and was part of MLS’ League Pool Goalkeeper.

One of the biggest trades probably of the season so far? That belongs to New York Red Bulls and Vancouver Whitecaps.  They traded Dane Richards and allocation money for Sebastien Le Toux.

After seeing LA beat Real Salt Lake at Rio Tinto Wednesday, I wasn’t so worried for this game. I knew I shouldn’t underestimate the Vancouver Whitecaps, but I had a feeling the LA of 2011 would be playing, and not the LA of early 2012.

LA were currently on a 2 game winning streak and were playing their 3rd game in one week. There were two players I was worried about in Vancouver Whitecaps- Sebastian Le Toux and Eric Hassli. Both of these players are great goal scorers and I knew our defenders would have a tough time with them. Whitecaps also has a really good keeper, Joe Cannon, who is a former LA Galaxy player.

LA got off to a good start. Early on in the game, David Beckham took a corner kick, and Juninho tried to head the ball in. His shot was blocked.  Landon Donovan and David Junior Lopes both tried scoring, but their shorts were also blocked.  Finally, Mike Magee took advantage of the chaos near the box and scored LA’s first goal in the 16th minute.  LA was in control for the rest of the first half.. Robbie Keane, who was back from playing in the Euro with his national team Ireland, doubled LA’s lead in the 30th minute. Keane celebrated his goal with a classy gesture, he held up a jersey that read ” RIP James Nolan” in honor of the Irish fan who went missing in Poland.

LA was now up 2-0. It was almost HT, when Keane, who was running towards the goal, kicked the ball and the ball ended up hitting Whitecaps’ defender Jay DeMerit hand/arm and LA was awarded a penalty. The captain stepped up to take it, sent Cannon the wrong way, and he scored. It was 3-0 at HT. The second half was more quiet for LA, although they did have a few chances. Vancouver started attacking more and Josh Saunders made his best saves of the night. But the score would remain 3-0 at the whistle.

LA is now on a 3 game winning streak. Nine points in 3 games within 1 week. This has helped LA move up to the fifth spot.  Next week is the California Clasico, the game against their northern California rivals, San Jose Earthquakes. This is a game LA will definitely want to win. Not only because it’s against their biggest rivals, but also because of the last time these two played. It took place at the Home Depot Center last month, and LA led 2 goals to nil with 20 minutes left in the game. However, SJ scored 3  goals and to the disappointment of LA fans, went on to win the match and take all 3 points.

Photo courtesy of LA Galaxy’s official Web site.

With today full of EPL matches and the transfer deadline closing, we knew it would be a wild ride. But the results of those games and the transfers that did (and didn’t) happen have our heads spinning! Plus, rumors are flying in hard and fast that Edson Buddle will be making a return to MLS. And in the wackiest story we’ve heard in a while, a pitch invader tried out something a little different from the usual “run around on the field like an idiot” routine…all that and more, here’s your Daily Kick Around!

Deadline Day

This is just about the only thing the footy world is talking about today. The January transfer window closed today, and plenty of last minute wheeling and dealing went down. Most recent big name moves, Louis Saha was sent to Tottenham Hotspur and Bobby Zamora has signed on at QPR. For a full look at the deals made today, go here!

Major League Soccer

While all the chatter today is focused on overseas signings, transfers and loans, there has been plenty to talk about here in MLS. It was revealed earlier today that Sebastian Le Toux was traded from the Philadelphia Union to the Vancouver Whitecaps. The fact that Le Toux is leaving the Union wasn’t surprising, but many expected him to go overseas, instead of across the border to Canada.

The other big MLS news of the day isn’t exactly official news. What we can tell you is this: Edson Buddle’s contract has been terminated by Ingolstadt of Germany’s second division, therefore he is on the market. Across the Twitterverse today, rumors were running rampant that the former LA Galaxy striker might be returning to MLS. Should Buddle return to MLS, the Galaxy has the first right of refusal, so should they decide to take him, LA would have an insanely stacked offensive lineup with him, Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Robbie Keane. And it seems that move back to the Galaxy is all but official.

And finally, another new acquisition in MLS today: the Portland Timbers claimed US U-20 player Charles Renken off of waivers. The 18 year old has been in the youth system since 2005 and is a fantastic pick up for the Timbers.

 English Premier League

Transfers, signings and loans aside, there was actually some soccer played today! Hard to focus, I know, but these were important games. Both Manchester United and Manchester City played, and going into the day, United sat three points behind City in the league table. By the end of the day, however, that would change.

Manchester United defeated Stoke City 2-0, with both goals coming from penalty kicks. The first was scored by Chicharito, and the second by Dimitar Berbatov. United dominated the match, and surprisingly weren’t able to put any more goals on the board. But a win is a win, and the Red Devils gladly claimed all three points.

Manchester City on the other hand, took on Everton. The league leaders were stunned by the Toffees at Goodison Park, as American Landon Donovan–on loan from the LA Galaxy–assisted former United player Darron Gibson. Gibson scored the game-winning goal in the second half, and Everton keeper Tim Howard managed to keep the Blues off the score sheet. A 1-0 Toffees win helped United pull even with City in the EPL table.

If you missed any of the other EPL action today, head here for full match recaps!

And finally, in the wildest moment of a day full of madness, we bring you this: a crazed fan handcuffed himself to City keeper Joe Hart’s left goal post during the match today. I can’t say I’ve ever heard of a pitch invader doing that before. It took a few minutes to cut the handcuffs off and detach the man from the post. While his act was certainly bizarre, I will say this: at least he didn’t decide to go streaking and THEN attach himself to the post. That would have been a real nightmare.