Real Salt Lake's 2008 campaign is underway in earnest, as the squad headed off to Oxnard, Calif. on Wednesday to begin 11 days of practices and exhibition matches in the sunnier and warmer climate of Southern California.

D.C. United announced today plans for a preseason exhibition in Richmond, VA with the USL-2 Richmond Kickers, Saturday, March 22. Kick-off for the game is set for 7:00 p.m. at the University of Richmond Stadium.

Twenty-six players gathered in Bradenton, FL Thursday morning for the first day of preseason training at IMG Academy. With near-perfect weather the players and coaching staff took the field for a number of possession-oriented drills.

THE TOP THREE

 

1. Manchester United – With Cristiano Ronaldo in such ridiculous form, even a PR trip (for one million pounds of appearance money) to Saudi Arabia cannot stop the rampant Red Devils.

 

2. Chelsea – Nine straight wins. Who said Avram Grant was a joke appointment? Not us. (Actually, we did!)

 

3. Arsenal – With the Gunners top of the table for 24 hours on Tuesday, there is still no change in the three-horse race.

 

THE BOTTOM THREE

 

18. Newcastle – Our previous "team rising" is now plummeting as the Kevin Keegan effect brings one draw and two defeats in three games. Oh, and no goals in 270 minutes from the great entertainer.

 

19. Fulham – Still winners of just two games this season and none on the road since September 2006.

 

20. Derby – Still bottom of the Premiership, but there is hope. Well, there isn't, but at least they came away with a point against slumping Manchester City.

 

TEAM RISING

 

Tottenham – We like what Juande Ramos is doing at White Hart Lane after Spurs reached the Carling Cup final and scored a respectable draw at Everton over the past week.

 

TEAM FALLING

 

Liverpool – With just one win in the league since December 26, the Reds were stunned by Havant & Waterlooville in the FA Cup and are immersed in an ownership crisis. Falling and falling fast.

 

Read about how Cristiano Ronaldo's blue-chip stock has Manchester United rising toward a second treble in Ian Edwards' EPL Extra Time. 

In its final match of the Copa Chivas 2008, the Chivas USA U-18's earned a 2-2 draw with Tigres U.A.N.L. on Wednesday.

CARSON, Calif. – Taylor Twellman's disappointment at the collapse of his potential move to English Championship club Preston North End is still simmering.

 

The New England Revolution striker spoke to Yahoo! Sports after the U.S. national team's training on Wednesday morning and made it clear who he feels is responsible for the breakdown of his transfer, which would have been worth up to $3.5 million.

 

"It was pretty much Steve Nicol," Twellman said of the Revolution's head coach. "From the information I have gathered, it was pretty much him and the Revolution. They didn't want to transfer me, so hopefully they do me right and compensate me in the right way.

 

"Obviously, it is encouraging that a team like Preston wants you enough to put an offer in – that is kind of nice. (However) it is extremely disappointing knowing that something is not going to happen. But what are you going to do? It is out of my hands. It is in the Revolution's hands. Let's see what they do.

 

Added Twellman: "You say your prayers and hope that the Revolution do right. It is like anything. If a college football coach gets recruited by another team and he stays, he is usually compensated fairly and I hope I am compensated fairly as well."

 

Twellman shouldn't get his hopes of extra cash too high. The Revs feel they have done right by him, signing Twellman last February to the league maximum for a non-designated player with a contract that could pay him over $1 million the next three years. Angry words are unlikely to alter their stance.

 

Twellman's annoyance stems primarily from the fact that he has finally achieved his dream of being awarded a UK work permit, having racked up enough national team appearances to be given British employment eligibility.

 

"It is just one of those things where I have been trying to get a permit for seven years," Twellman said. "I finally got one and I got an offer. It is encouraging and now it is a matter of keeping that permit and keeping my options open to get to England."

 

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

 

"Martin Vasquez has been a member of Chivas USA since the very beginning, and I would like to thank him for his service to our club. He will be sorely missed." – Chivas USA head coach Preki after assistant coach Vasquez landed a dream role working under Jurgen Klinsmann at Bayern Munich.

Chivas USA of Major League Soccer on Wednesday announced that assistant coach Martín Vásquez will be leaving the club, effective immediately.

Dwayne De Rosario didn't have a long off-season. Shortly after De Rosario helped the Dynamo win MLS Cup 2007, De Rosario and his wife traveled with other MLS stars to Mali on behalf of MLS W.O.R.K.S and the United Nations Nothing But Nets campaign.

Midfielder Matt Kassel from Bridgewater, NJ, moved up through the ranks of the Red Bulls Academy and while he is only 18 years old, he has a bright future ahead of him. Newyorkredbulls.com sat down with Kassel as he spoke about the Academy, mini-camp and "Lamps."

Kansas City Wizards head coach Curt Onalfo is feeling good about his team as it heads into its second year under his guidance.