Squabble? No. Quibble? Yes.

First off, any soccer blog that uses lyrics from XTC's "Senses Working Overtime" (which, you'll remember, is the best powerpop band ever) for its title deserves blogrolling.

Now.

United's announced the eleven they'll protect in the expansion draft tomorrow:

Perkins, Boswell, Namoff, McTavish, Burch, Fred, Simms, Gomez, Olsen, Moreno, Emilio

Meaning, left exposed are

Addlery, Brian Carroll, Jeff Carroll, Crowe, DeRoux, Dyachenko, Gros, Kpene, Mediate, Monteiro, Moose, Mupier, Nolly, North, Vanney, Walker

There's good here: contract negotiations with Gomez must be better than dead if they protect him, and United must not be expecting a huge offer from overseas for Emilio.

And if I can't squabble, I can quibble.

I realize United had to protect either Boswell or Vanney, and at their respective salaries Boswell's suckitude vis a vis Vanney's suckitude is the better bargain.

And while I'd be disappointed to lose Kpene and slightly bothered if they lost Dyachenko, what really IS astonishing is how shallow the talent pool really is. Next year's results won't hinge on the loss of any of them.

UPDATE: D's take. Galarcep predictions (BC from DC).

Here's the list of the other teams' unprotected, with some surprising names, but by and large dreck.

Consider this. Sunday you're Pat Onstad and Craig Waibel, dependable starters on two-time silly-ass tournament winning Houston; Monday, you're called into the office and told you're not wanted enough to not risk being lost. Ouchy.