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Welcome to the final Monday of 2013! It was a long, strange, disappointing, historically-bad, championship-winning, allocation-money-getting, first-in-every-player-acquisition-method year. Let's hope the lows in 2014 aren't quite as dramatic or historic, and that the highs are much more consistent and continue to reach championship levels.
Now, on with the links for today.
Thumbs up? Here are the 13 best GIFs from the 2013 MLS season | SIDELINE | MLSsoccer.com
D.C. United is represented on this list of the "best" MLS GIFs of the year. "Best" is a funny word with many different meanings. I like Daniel Woolard and am a fan, but he deserves his spot on this list. Also, check out Sean Franklin who deserves his spot in another way!
Best of 2013: Drumbeat of MLS expansion is No. 2 Story of the Year | MLSsoccer.com
Two expansion teams were announced in 2013, New York City FC (#20) and Orlando City SC (#21). MLS also announced that it would expand to 24 teams by 2020. With Miami and Atlanta appearing to have the inside track on teams #22 and #23, who will be team #24? Also, has the definitive article been written yet on whether Miami and Atlanta will work for MLS? As a southerner myself, I don't know the answer, but I know there are lots of questions (and having rich and famous owners, along with downtown stadiums, aren't the only factors).
Juan Agudelo's European move back on? Ex-New England Revolution striker drops hint | SIDELINE | MLSsoccer.com
He really doesn't want to re-sign with MLS, does he?
ASN article: 10 U.S. Soccer Players Who Lifted Their Games in 2013
Which American soccer players did the most to improve their stock during 2013? American Soccer Now takes a stab at answering that question, and an Icelandic-American leads the list.
ASN Infographics: How Will Clint Dempsey's Loan to Fulham Play Out?
I'm a sucker for Infographics, and this one is interactive. Cast your vote on your opinion of Dempsey's 2-month long move to Fulham.
José Mourinho calls Luis Suárez fall ‘an acrobatic swimming pool jump’ | ProSoccerTalk
What do you think about Suarez's diving? Mourinho wasn't impressed after watching his Chelsea side defeat Liverpool on Sunday, but he does claim to be a fan.
As always, use the comments section below to discuss these articles or any other soccer topics on your mind today. And, Happy New Year!
