No MLS Contract, No Problem

Ronnie O'Brien is the latest in a string of players who will likely end up outside the MLS this season. The Irish winger has been in the league since 2002 and has played with Dallas, Toronto, and San Jose. Having failed to come to terms with San Jose and having failed to secure a trade, MLS fans will have to do without this regular All-Star.

O"Brien isn't the only European player who will be missing from the league this year. Tom McManus and Kenny Deuchar will be leaving the league as well. Scottish striker, Deuchar, returned to Scotland to join Hamilton in the Scottish Premier League. Deuchar spent 2008 with Real Salt Lake, having previously played for Gretna in Scotland. McManus will be departing from Colorado. Reports from the United Kingdom suggest that McManus may end up with Kilmarnock.

Perhaps, Ronnie O'Brien who grew up in Bray, Ireland and spent some time at Dundee in Scotland will follow his fellow MLS-ers to Scotland. Despite rejecting a call-up from the Irish National Team, he may change his mind if he heads back across the Atlantic and little close home to home.

However Toronto FC has released a bunch of its players of which the United Soccer Leagues would be smart to pick up three. Joey Melo and Derek Gaudet are each members of Canada's U-20 National Team. Despite not making the grade at Toronto FC, they are young talents in need of playing time. The Montreal Impact or Vancouver Whitecaps would due well to sign either of these players.

Also on the list of cut Toronto players is Killian Elkinson of Bermuda. A move to the USL would do him well. He could join the USL-2's Bermuda Hogges, but a better fit might be the Puerto Rico Islanders. Elkinson has decent pace and could provide decent striking for any USL side.

Nik Besagno and Kenny Cutler seem like sure bets for the United Soccer Leagues. Besagno in particular should be able to find a USL team, as he spent part of 2008 on loan to the USL Seattle Sounders. However, Besagno has been offered the chance to trial with new Sounders in the MLS.

Quavas Kirk of D.C. United did not have his contract renewed, but after spending a couple years in the MLS, it would seem that he'd make excellent addition to any USL team. The Cleveland City Stars might make a good home for Kirk. Having just moved up from the USL-2, the Stars will need to add some experienced talent.

Tim Ward who was once a stalwart part of the U.S. U-20 National Team defense. Tim Ward once played regularly for the New York-New Jersey Metrostars and the Columbus Crew. Having recently been waived by the Colorado Rapids, the defender from Waukesha, Wisconsin may look to return to the Midwest. Both the Minnesota Thunder and the Cleveland City Stars would be an excellent fit.

The Kansas City Wizards waived Carlos Marinelli and Ivan Trujillo. Like many other Colombians before, it seemed clear that these two would end up back in South America once their stays in the MLS were over. Marinelli has already reached an agreement with Millonarios. Another player who may leave the U.S. for south of the border is Andy Herron of Costa Rica. Although he's been in the league for awhile bouncing between Chicago and Columbus, but after two dismal seasons, he just head back to Costa Rica.

In the coming weeks, more MLS teams will waive players. This will provide a fresh talent pool for the teams in the USL who wish to add talent. After the success of Puerto Rico and Montreal in the CONCACAF Champions League, other USL teams will certainly look to bolster their rosters. This league's stock is on the rise and the American based teams will need to keep up with their foreign competition in Puerto Rico and Canada. The USL season kicks off in April and promises to better than last year.