Thursday Kicks: MLS Expansion Draft details unveiled & more

*MLS holds the 2010 Expansion Draft 2 p.m. Nov. 24 when the league’s 17th and 18th teams, the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Portland Timbers, each select 10 players during the 10-round draft.

Portland has the first pick.

From the MLS press release:

Each current MLS club will have the opportunity to protect 11 players from their 2010 roster. Generation adidas players (who will not graduate at the end of the 2010 season) and Home Grown players are automatically protected and do not count against a team’s 11 protected roster spots. Designated Players do not have to be protected unless the player has a no trade clause in his contract.

Complete draft rules are here.

Given the number of veterans on the Galaxy roster and fringe players on a Chivas USA squad that should see a massive overhaul next season, the exercise in deciding what players to protect should be relatively easy for both clubs, no?

*Incidentally, if you plan to attend Saturday’s Chivas USA-Chicago game in Carson largely to see veteran Brian McBride play in his last-ever MLS game, you might want to think again.

MLSsoccer.com reports McBride missed Wednesday’s practice with a stomach ailment and isn’t expected to start and it’s only a “possiblility” he will get off the bench this weekend.

Designated Players Freddie Ljungberg and Nery Castillo are expected to start up front for the Fire.

*Armchair fans hoping to run the rule over Thierry Henry and the New York Red Bulls in the event the Galaxy faces them in the playoffs should know the Frenchman is out of tonight’s nationally televised 4:30 p.m. contest on ESPN2 against the New England Revolution.

The Red Bulls don’t want Henry to worsen the knee injury suffered last week in practice. That forced him to miss Saturday’s 2-1 loss in Philadelphia.

The Red Bulls (14-9-6) can clinch the Eastern Conference title and home-field advantage for the playoffs tonight with a win over already eliminated New England.

*By the way, are you excited by the start of the Premier Arena Soccer League season? No, me neither.

*Lastly, I neglected to mention that San Diego Boca FC drew 1-1 with Cuauhtmoc Blanco and second division Mexican team CD Irapuato Tuesday night in a steady drizzle before 1,339 at San Diego’s Balboa Stadium. Blanco lasted until the 71st minute before he was subbed out.

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About Nick Green

South Bay-based Los Angeles News Group soccer columnist and blogger Nick Green writes at the 100 Percent Soccer blog at www.insidesocal.com/soccer and craft beer at the Beer Goggles blog at www.insidesocal.com/beer. Cheers!