MLS notebook: Borchers takes aim at Bradley

Michael Bradley (right) in action for Toronto FC. (Chris Young/CP)

Here’s some random news and notes from around Major League Soccer…

Nate Borchers is stoking the fires ahead of Saturday’s Toronto FC-Real Salt Lake match in Utah.

The game will feature a battle of two of the best central midfielders in MLS, pitting TFC’s Michael Bradley versus Salt Lake captain Kyle Beckerman, who also happen to be teammates on the U.S. national team.

In a radio interview with ESPN 700, Borchers, a Salt Lake defender, let it be known who he thought was the better player.

“I think Bradley is a very similar player to Kyle Beckerman, except I think Kyle’s a better player,” Borchers said.

Uh, okay, Nate.

Speaking of Bradley, both he and Beckerman were named to Jurgen Klinsmann’s 22-man roster for a friendly match against Mexico on April 2 in Glendale, Arizona

Nigel Reo-Coker did not train with the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday and is doubtful for Saturday’s home game against the Houston Dynamo following an off-field accident.

If Reo-Coker can’t play, look for Gershon Koffie to get the start in central midfield alongside Matias Laba. Koffie was a regular starter last season, but only made his season debut last week as a second-half substitute.

If Koffie does well, he could give coach Carl Robinson to think about in the long-term with regards to his starting lineup, as Reo-Coker has looked far from impressive in Vancouver’s three games this season.

The Montreal Impact are off to their worst start in MLS history, coming out on the losing end of their first three games of the season.

But coach Frank Klopas doesn’t seem too worried.

“You are going to have difficult moments and setbacks in a game. For me, as long as the attitude and mentality are good, these tough moments will pass. The work rate has been fantastic leads me to believe that this will pass,” he said.

The Impact, who visit the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, will be buoyed by the return of Italian striker Marco Di Vaio. The club’s top scorer in 2013, Di Vaio sat out the first three games of this season due to suspension.

The Impact could use the Italian after being shut out in their last two games. It’ll be interesting to see how Di Vaio performs after his lengthy layoff, though.

Matt Pickens’ career has taken an interesting turn after the New England Revolution sold him to the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the NASL.

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