Backheel Breakfast: The MLS CBA negotiations are still going

We begin Backheel Breakfast with a shout out to ESPN FC’s Jeff Carlisle, who is doing incredible work covering the MLS collective bargaining agreement negotiations. The updates were flying fast and furious Tuesday night, as the players and owners negotiated well into the morning.

However, there wasn’t a lot coming out from the players’ side, just owners and neutral parties. There’s a good reason for that, apparently.

That’s probably a good sign that they’re getting somewhere, or trying to get somewhere. Here are some more good signs -- talks continued until 6 a.m. without anyone walking away, they’re going to resume Wednesday, and the Chicago Fire will travel ahead of their scheduled game against the L.A. Galaxy.

So, that’s all good stuff. The major hang-ups are free agency, the length of the CBA and player compensation. It seems like they’re having a harder time arriving on something agreeable on the former two issues than the latter. As Carlisle noted, the current offer on the table from owners is free agency after 28 years old and eight years of service, plus an eight-year CBA. Players probably want that ‘and’ to become an ‘or’ and a five-year, or shorter, CBA.

The Hillsborough inquests continue to bring terrible details about the tragedy to light that people always suspected, but never knew for sure. Today’s revelation? That police officers were told by their superiors to blame fans for the disaster. (BBC)

Marco Reus limped off in Dortmund’s Pokal match Tuesday, but he’s suspected to only have a bruised knee, not ligament damage. (ESPN FC)

Expect to see Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric return for El Clasico. (AS)

Manchester City’s manager search continues to look embarrassing. They’re linked to Carlo Ancelotti now. (Mirror)

In other manager news, Brendan Rodgers thought he might get sacked early in the winter. (Telegraph)

Vincenzo Montella has been linked to the AC Milan job, but says he’ll be staying at Fiorentina. (Football Italia)

Arsene Wenger said Francis Coquelin could be a permanent DM solution. That sound you hear is Arsenal fans throwing their computers out the window. (Guardian)

Steve Bruce and Gus Poyet went at it on Tuesday, and Bruce said they acted ‘like children’. (BBC)

Jose Mourinho sounds resigned to losing Petr Cech. (The Times)

Richard Farley on the questions surrounding the USWNT ahead of the Algarve Cup. (Soccer Gods)

11tegen11’s attempt at using statistical analysis to construct European club rankings. (11tegen11)

Luca Hodges-Ramon comparing a potential Russia 2018 boycott to the 1980 Olympics boycott. (Futbolgrad)

The section in which nothing should be taken seriously.

Diego Simeone wants Edinson Cavani, and Diego Godin apparently put the two in touch. (L’Equipe)

Liverpool will need a midfielder when Steven Gerrard goes. How about William Carvalho? They’re not comparable, but he’s a better fit than Gerrard for the holding role the Liverpool captain played before a formation change and his injury. (Metro)

Dani Alves’ agent said he’s close to agreeing a deal to leave Barcelona. Alves is out of contract in the summer and currently free to negotiate with foreign clubs. (AS)

Montreal Impact are in the CCL semifinals thanks to a stunning 94th-minute winner. (SB Nation)

Aston Villa sunk West Brom with a last-minute penalty. (7500 to Holte)

Surprise, Hull and Sunderland drew. (Roker Report)

Southampton’s top four chase is still alive thanks to Sadio Mane. (Guardian)

Dortmund advanced in the DFB-Pokal, as did Bayer Leverkusen, Hoffenheim and Freiburg. (Bundesliga.com)

Check out the highlights of the three Copa Libertadores matches on Tuesday. (FutbolManiaChannel)

There are a lot of good games on today.

PSG vs. Monaco (1 p.m.) - With both teams focused on the league and Champions League, you can expect to see both show off their depth in this Coupe de France match.

RB Leipzig vs. Wolfsburg (1 p.m.) - ENERGY DRINKS VS. CARS!

Villarreal vs. Barcelona (2 p.m.) - The Yellow Submarine are probably screwed, down two goals, but they did get an away goal at Camp Nou to make a comeback possible.

Bayern Munich vs. Eintracht Braunschweig (2:30 p.m.) - In which Bayern’s kids will probably have a lot of fun.

West Ham United vs. Chelsea (2:45 p.m.) - There are seven EPL games on, and this is the one that makes American TV. For good reason as it’s probably the best one.

Tottenham Hotspur vs. Swansea City (2:45 p.m.) - Also potentially the best PL game of the day.

Manchester City vs. Leicester City (2:45 p.m.) - After this game, the losing team could become totally irrelevant.

Stoke City vs. Everton (2:45 p.m.) - Comparatively, these teams are already irrelevant, so don’t watch this game.

Newcastle United vs. Manchester United (2:45 p.m.) - United will play poorly and win by one goal.

QPR vs. Arsenal (2:45 p.m.) - It’s just the type of game where Arsenal draws 0-0 or 1-1 for no reason.

Liverpool vs. Burnley (2:45 p.m.) - You think the Liverpool love is annoying now? Wait until they win this game 3-0.

Lazio vs. Napoli (2:45 p.m.) - We’re finally into the somewhat watchable stages of Coppa Italia!

Colo-Colo vs. Atlas (5:45 p.m.) - With both teams on 3 points, tied for second in Group 1 of Copa Lib, this is a huge game.

Internacional vs. Emelec (8 p.m.) - The Ecuadorians have been a surprise team so far, and it’ll be time to take them seriously as Copa Lib contenders if they can get an away draw.

San Lorenzo vs. Corinthians (8 p.m.) - Like Colo-Colo and Atlas, they’re both on 3 points, behind a leader on 6.

D.C. United vs. Alajuelense (8 p.m.) - DC lost by three goals in Costa Rica, but they did get two away goals, so 3-0 or 4-1 sees them through in CCL.

America vs. Saprissa (10 p.m.) - The Mexican giants should coast.