Kick Off: Kreis feeling “nauseous” about RSL's form

For some, it's maggots, or the wrong sorts of foods.

For Jason Kreis, the thing making him queasy just now is the thought of Real Salt Lake's three-match losing streak. "It makes me a bit nauseous," Kreis said. RSL will look to reverse the trend tonight against the Vancovuer Whitecaps (9:30 pm ET, watch online). It will mark the third game of Javier Morales' return, and Kreis is eager to get his playmaker fully fit for the playoffs. "It's another match that Javier can gain some match fitness," said Kreis.

The match will also mark the second in the newly renovated BC Place. The field is three yards wider and two yards longer than Empire Field. “I was a little lost," Shea Salinas said of the first half he played in BC Place.

Bob Lenarduzzi helped oversee the renovations. The Whitecaps general manager previously played 300 NASL matches with the club. He admits his goal, as it is now, “was to never get a real job.”

Lenarduzzi might not consider it a real job, but potential future employers continue lining up for David Beckham, who is the last year of this contract with the LA Galaxy. The Englishman could still re-sign; however, if he decides to pursue a new challenge, he could be persuaded to head to Brazil, according to a report from England.

Other offers include a player-coach role under former England boss Sven-Göran Eriksson at Leicester City. But whatever decision Beckham makes, it'll come with his family as the priority. The 36-year-old now has four children.

Galaxy teammate Robbie Keane is just getting settled in Los Angeles. It didn't take long before Hollywood noticed his supermodel wife; E! Entertainment is in discussion with the Keanes over a reality TV show featuring the couple.

Rio Ferdinand has had his share of time on the small screen in England. Rumors yesterday suggested the Manchester United central defender might join the Chicago Fire, but the club moved today to squash those reports, a spokesperson saying they have “no substance.”

Last year, Chicago was named Sporting News' Best Sports City. Fast-forward 12 months and the gong has gone to Dallas. FCD captain Daniel Hernandez chatted with the publication about how soccer plays into the sporting landscape of the city.

The MLS MVP award is still very much up in the air. One player making a desperate lunge at it is Dwayne De Rosario. The D.C. United attacker is the only player in the league with double-digits in both goals and assists. "I am not even surprised anymore with some of the stuff he does," coach Ben Olsen said.

No surprise about the celebrations in Seattle, where a 3,000-square-foot Sounders FC scarf flew over the city and Bellevue for two hours. Seattle's three-peat, while wholly impressive, didn't come without some grumbling about all the home matches the Sounders have in the tournament, inclduing this cheeky tweet from the FC Dallas captain.

The location of Open Cup games are awarded based on a blind bidding system, so the Sounders have played at home for the past seven matches in the competition. According to Sporting News,that system could be revamped in 2012 to force teams to play away.

Also with an eye on next year, Dynamo president Chris Canetti is in London, attending the World Leaders in Football Conference to recruit teams to play friendlies at Houston's new soccer-specific Dynamo Stadium, among other reasons.

There's still plenty of action in the 2011 season, of course. Frank Yallop is trying to figure out how to balance an injury-plagued side for the San Jose Earthquakes. “[I] might give some young guys a start here and there, but we'll see.”

If those young players have the work ethic of Omar Bravo, they just may pan out. The Mexican striker has impressed Sporting Kansas City with his tenacity and willingness to track back. Furthermore, when Peter Vermes explained the defensive responsibilities he had in mind for the former Guadalajara forward, "I was elated," Bravo said.

Bravo added a touch of European experience in KC. Expansion club Montreal are looking for something similar. The latest sighting in training with the Impact: former Tottenham fullback Pascal Chimbonda. (FRENCH)

The roster is far from complete, but Jesse Marsch is quickly putting together his coaching staff. After adding Preston Burpo as the goalkeeping coach, Marsch recruited Mike Sorber as his assistant. The two worked together under Bob Bradley with the US national team.

The USA team is now manned by Jurgen Klinsmann, of course. The German is holding a training camp in Florida this week, with Sporting KC's Teal Bunbury among the attacking options for a friendly against Honduras. "He wants us to have a style and a sort of swagger,” Bunbury said.

Nick Rimando will join up with the camp after tonight's match, but teammate Kyle Beckerman is in Florida already. The 29-year-old has been given a second lease on international life under Klinsmann as a deep midfielder. "It was a dream that died and all of sudden it is back," he said.

Another RSL international, Arturo Alvarez, is also expressing some big dreams, saying he is confident El Salvador can qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1982. “There’s certainly no shortage of talent.”

Meanwhile, Kei Kamara finds himself in a bit of international confusion. The Sporting KC forward thought he was suspended for Sierra Leone's next African Cup of Nations qualifier. However, he was still invited to join the team in South Africa, so he jetted off after practice Wednesday.

With international soccer dominating the European headlines, Jamie Carragher made waves with a few of his comments. The Liverpool defender doesn't believe national teams should hire foreign coaches, likening it to poaching another country's goalkeeper.

With domestic coaches, at least the issue of translation is avoided. In the latest installment of the Carlos Tévez controversy, there are now claims that Tévez was mistranslated when he supposedly said he wasn't mentally ready to play for Manchester City against Bayern Munich.

Women's soccer continues to steal the hearts and minds of the US sports world, led by US national team goalkeeper Hope Solo, who clearly is willing to expose more than just her dancing skills. And on TV, catch the women's college game between Brigham Young and Portland (9 pm ET, FOX Soccer).

Lastly, an unemployed man found one job he certainly doesn't want to do: become a referee. Gianluca Rocchi, who shares the name with the referee, says he receives telephone threats whenever the referee has a poor performance. Time for an unlisted number, it would seem.

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