By Niall Malone/whitecapsfc.com
This Wednesday's Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas, sees English Premier League giants Manchester United take on some of the finest players in MLS.
The game, which will be broadcast live on GOL TV Canada and ESPN2 in the United States, is your chance to see United's new signing and former MLS star Javier Hernandez in action, as well as Red Devils legends Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle are two MLS All-Stars that are sure to give the 11-time English champions a run for their money.
For Whitecaps fans, however, there is no doubting what the most eagerly anticipated part of the evening will be - halftime. The interval will play host to the "Expansion Priority Coin Toss", where 'Caps director of professional teams Greg Anderson, and Portland Timbers head coach and general manager Gavin Wilkinson, will join MLS executive vice president Todd Durbin for the coin toss.
The outcome of the coin toss will play a significant role in Vancouver's preparations for their inaugural MLS season in 2011. The club that wins Wednesday's coin toss will then declare their first priority in one of the following mechanisms listed below on August 11. The Whitecaps and Timbers will then alternate choices through the priority list.
PRIORITY LIST
First pick in the MLS Expansion Draft
First pick of those players left unprotected by existing MLS clubs.
First pick in the MLS SuperDraft
First pick in the college and Generation Adidas entry draft.
USSF D-2 Player Priority on opening of signing period
The Whitecaps and Timbers will be given priority over other MLS teams, if they wish to sign a player out of the USSF D-2 Pro League.
Allocation Ranking
Priority on any MLS or USA international players returning to the league.
Designated Player Ranking
If two MLS clubs wish to negotiate with a Designated Player (DP), the club with the higher DP ranking slot will receive priority.
Discovery Ranking
If two MLS clubs wish to discover the same player, the club with the higher ranking slot has priority to negotiate with the player. Whitecaps and Portland will occupy either 17th or 18th slot in priority.
Lottery Ranking & Waiver
Whitecaps FC will occupy either the 17th or 18th slot in priority.
