- Keith Hickey

So an American kid has joined FC Barcelona's famed youth academy, La Masia. Honestly, that he has done so isn't a story for me. Granted, along with France's Clairefontaine, and the youth system at Ajax (which for me, is the best production line of any club ever), Barcelona is probably the best producer and developer of talent in the world, but there are plenty of talented kids who join youth programs every year, and only a tiny fraction of them become top-level pros. While we would be thrilled if Ben Lederman becomes an American Messi (or even just an American Gai Assulin or Giovanni Dos Santos), it's not really a story until he becomes so.

No, what interests and bothers me is why young Lederman had to go to Spain to find a world-class youth program.

- Jason Davis

There's an American at Barcelona. Included in the ranks of the club's famed academy based on the grounds of La Masia, is a player born and raised in the United States of America. Let us celebrate, because this is a landmark happening for American soccer.

- John Carlton

This week's Gordon Jago Super Group featured some exciting matches, a lot of goals, and the seperation of the wheat from the chaff. On Wednesday, two Super Group matches took place simultaneously on Field 6, where FC Barcelona took on Costa Rican side Club Sport Cartagines, while German outfit Eintract Frankfurt took on the Brazilians from Coritiba FC on Field 7. Because I missed Barcelona's first match I decided to live tweet their match against Cartagines.

- John Carlton

For the uninitiated, Dallas Cup is the premier showcase for the best youth soccer talent on the planet. The Dallas Cup tournament is now in its 32nd year. A brief checklist of players who have participated in Dallas Cup: Raul, Robinho, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Landon Donovan, Giuseppe Rossi, Rafael Garcia, Giovanni Dos Santos, Rafa Marquez, Michael Carrick, Chicharito, Claudio Reyna, Jonathan Woodgate, Peter Crouch, and the list goes on. And, of course, Dallas itself is a hotbed of youth soccer. Dallas Texans, Andromeda SC., and FC Dallas Juniors are now well known. Meanwhile, new youth clubs are continually popping up in the area to meet the demand for top level youth soccer.

Barcelona could be moving their MLS investment dollars to Philadelphia. The Spanish club sent an envoy to the City of Brotherly Love at the end of February, and while both the Philly group and Barca are declining to comment on any discussions that might have taken place, it seems that the death of the Miami expansion bid wasn't the last we'll hear about Barcelona and MLS.

It's just such an odd pairing. I can't think of two major cities that have less in common than Philadelphia and Barcelona.

I'm fine with Barca looking for another way into the league as long as it doesn't mean we'll have a Barca-branded team. I was against "Barca-Miami" from the start, and I would certainly vomit repeatedly if Phildelphia ends up as "Barca Philadelphia" or some such nonsense. It's no secret that the Philly ownership group needs an infusion of cash, and I certainly can't fault them is Barca come calling with checkbook in hand.

SF at The Offside Rules brings up the disconcerting possibility that FCB's involvment could be the reason we haven't heard a name and colors announcement our of Philly. I sure as hell hope that's not the case.

Thoughts?