New England Revolution midfielder Andy Dorman is set to finish his stint in Major League Soccer and link up with St. Mirren of the Scottish Premier League.

 

Dorman made $30,870 with the Revs last season but should make around four times that figure in Scotland.

 

According to reports from across the pond, he is poised to put pen to paper on an 18-month contract as soon as the transfer window reopens on January 1.

 

The 25-year-old was the only outfield player to take part in all 30 of New England's regular-season games in 2007, chipping in with seven goals and two assists.

 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

 

"Our game has to constantly reinvent itself so that it can survive. I intend to tackle these new challenges from the top" – FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

It was a pretty rough Saturday for two of the English Premier League's American goalkeepers, Reading's Marcus Hahnemann and Everton's Tim Howard.

 

Hahnemann, who conceded seven goals against Portsmouth earlier this season, let in six more as the Royals went down to Tottenham in a 10-goal thriller at White Hart Lane. But it was even worse for Howard, whose Everton side collapsed after taking an early lead to lose 4-1 at home to title-chasing Arsenal.

 

Arsenal's Brazilian-turned-Croatian star Eduardo was the class act of the match, chipping in with two impressive goals. However, it is an awful mix-up between Howard and Joseph Yobo that the U.S. national team member will be most angry about (it's Arsenal's third goal in the following clip):

 

 

The starting jobs of Hahnemann and Howard aren't in jeopardy, but for both of them – and anyone who has them in their fantasy team – it was a day to forget.

 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

 

"I would have liked him to hit the target because I think I would have saved it anyway" – West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green after his side were handed a 2-1 victory over Manchester United thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's horrendous penalty miss.

Major League Soccer may need to move quickly if they want to ensure that one of this year's most promising college stars remains in North America.

 

Andy Iro, a powerful centerback from UC Santa Barbara, is attracting significant attention in the United Kingdom, with up to five Championship clubs understood to be interested in his services.
 

 

Despite early estimates that he would likely be selected in the top 10 picks of next month's MLS SuperDraft, Iro, who originally hails from Liverpool, may be tempted by the possibility of a lucrative return to his homeland.

 

Iro's biggest assets are his size and strength, and he has also developed into a force on attacking set plays.

 

THOUGHT OF THE NIGHT

 

"In my grandmother's eyes, I will always be an angel. I will always be a great kid because she knows the person I am" – Newcastle United midfielder Joey Barton in a recent interview. Barton attracted yet more negative headlines this week after being arrested on suspicion of assault following a night out.

The debate regarding the value of imported players coming to Major League Soccer will continue to rage, but one thing is certain: interest in North American soccer in foreign lands is increasing.

 

Over the Christmas period, I spoke to an old friend who is a U.K.-based soccer agent and he indicated that several of his clients were hopeful of playing in the U.S. at some point in their careers.

 

This agent has 14 Premiership players – seven of them English, four European and three African – on his books, and he indicated that five of them had expressed clear interest in a move to the United States.

 

The players in question are ages 32, 30, 27, 26 and 25. That would appear to fly in the face of criticisms that MLS is a little more than a retirement home for washed-up journeymen looking for a final payday.

 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

 

"The arrival of Ronaldo would be a gift and a blessing. We know he is interested in coming to Flamengo." – Flamengo coach Joel Santana on the possibility of signing Ronaldo from AC Milan.

A look at the big questions surrounding the Houston Dynamo for the 2007 season and looking ahead to the 2008 campaign.

Houston reeled off an 11-game unbeaten streak and set a new MLS record shutout streak, sparking what would eventually be another run to the MLS Cup title -- just the second time in league history that has been accomplished.

Veteran goalkeeper Santiago Canizares is looking towards Major League Soccer after being told he has no long-term future at Valencia.

 

Canizares is one of the most respected senior figures in Spanish soccer thanks to his long career in La Liga and his efforts for the national team. However, he might struggle to receive the sort of offer he is looking for in the United States.

 

Goalkeeping is one area where North America is not short of talent. Also, Canizares is dreaming if he thinks he could command the same sort of salary as imported midfielders and strikers.

 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

 

"Slowly I am starting to ask myself if another Champions League final is going to happen again for me" – Arsenal's out-of-favor goalkeeper Jens Lehmann. (Here's a hint, Jens: probably not.)

Let us hope that legendary Brazilian striker Romario finally has the sense to end his career after being banned for a doping infringement.

 

For the past few years, the man who at his peak was arguably the world's finest player has strung out his career in a desperate attempt to reach a total of 1,000 goals.

 

His decline has been sad and ungraceful and has tarnished memories of the brilliant play that helped Brazil lift the 1994 World Cup.

 

Now is the time for Romario to say enough is enough and preserve what is left of his legacy to the game.

 

After all, when the substance you get banned for is a key ingredient in an anti-balding medication, it is a fair indicator that your best days are behind you.

 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

 

"Are we still one Scudetto short? I would say more than one" – Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti while claiming that Juventus should be stripped of the 2001-02 Italian championship due to Juve's track record of match-fixing.

 

The New York Red Bulls proudly announce that the Soccer Club of Ridgefield has become a" Student of the Game" partner for the 2008 season.

The life of a professional soccer player is filled with ups and downs on an almost daily basis. For FC Dallas defender Drew Moor, 2007 was maybe filled with more highs and lows than he would care to repeat.