2012 MLS Banter

Ever hour a different player is rumored to be leaving the Union, and now we have lost the Dragon

 

That's MLS for you...

Here is the future home of Lukey's Dynamo, due to be completed in May.

 

Portland signs Kris Boyd - late of some club in Turkey but mostly late of Rangers.

Houston had chased him hard, and Portland had to trade their #1 draft pick for his discovery rights, but Boyd just didn't want to go to the Lone Star State.

Sez Ives Galarcep: "Boyd had been in talks with the Houston Dynamo, but concerns about the heat in Texas, which can be brutal in the summer, ultimately led Boyd to pass on a move there before he eventually reached a deal with the Timbers."

I guess a man should know his limits.

 

Might have helped him lose a few vital pounds though.

The new stadium is starting to come together now. I think it will be an excellent venue and great for the the Dynamo to finally have their own home. Funnily enough, it wouldn't surprise me to see a reversal of the deal with University of Houston after this season, and find the Cougars sharing the venue for a while. Robertson Stadium is due to be demolished December 2012 and rebuilt over the following year, leaving the UH Football team without a home. Although I think Rice are supposed to be playing Football games at the new Dynamo stadium, so perhaps not.

It's exciting times for the Orange.

 

We sold LeToux for nothing....:doh::rant::doom:

 

The 'caps just love strikers it seems! I can only assume it will be an OAP in goal in Cannon, Demerit and the ex Spurs bloke Lee playing across the back four and then 8 strikers. Le Toux, Hassli, Tan, Harris, Salgado and co. The 'caps squad seems to be massive now, one of the problems last season was an unsettled regular team. Also, where are all the Canadian players at the 'caps, hardly any now?

I feel another long season unless out potentially explosive strike force really do fire and we win 4-3 each match.

 

Defense wins championships.
Exciting but fruitless season in Vancouver, I would think, Matt...

I think the Caps picked up Lee Nguyen, too. Interesting American player... Untried in MLS, but could do big things.

Cannon is still potentially very good, if he can stay fit. Age doesn't seem to affect keepers as much as other spots. I would think another significant injury will end his career though.

 

Rumors of Edson Buddle coming back to the Galaxy have the US soccer blogosphere shouting rude things about the G's getting favorable treatment from the league again. My comment is this, don't build your team in a city no one gets excited about!

Also, looks like the Galaxy picked up from Philly Kyle Nakazawa, former UCLA standout, and local kid.

 

Thanks for the second round pick and the International spot. I hope all this wheeling and dealing means someone big is in the works.

 

Whitecaps FC sign Brazilian striker Camilo Sanvezzo to new contract - Just what we need, another striker back on the books. Only the 10 now!

 

Next week on Horders, a Scottish soccer coach, with an obsession with strikers

 

G's had an extra when they sent Donovan Ricketts to Toronto. No problemo!

He was on the team last year...a bright spot, too.

He's building a team that will lose despite scoring 8 goals a game. God bless Spencer...such an awesome dude.

 

I am starting a conspiracy theory about Buddle and the Galaxy.. and his "time" in Germany

 

...and that would be?

I mean aside from "all true, of course".

My thought was the G's staff, MLS and he all knew it was his last crack at making a go of a spot in Europe and MLS gave him the year to try, knowing full well he'd either hit success or go back to the G's who own his rights all along.

 

Donovan needs to **** off back to MLS. I'm sick and tired of every Everton game being played on TV now. Nobody in their right mind wants to watch Wigan v Everton on a Saturday morning. He's a great player though, the other part of me would love him to stay because he's too good for MLS.

Watch this game go and be a thriller now.

 

Details of Landon Donovan's new contract.

 

On Galaxy players missing games for extra-curricular events:
Olympic Tournament: July 26-August 11 - Assuming Beckham stays for the whole thing, he misses seven matches - five in July and the first two in August.

Int'l Match Days - Sept 7-11: No matches

Int'l Match Days - Oct 12-16: No matches


Wow! So we loose Keane for a max of four matches and Beckham for seven - plus the days off via card accumulation for Victoria's birthday and movie previews, and royal weddings and testimonial matches and underwear appearances.

We lose Landon and Buddle for... zero!

And there are no conflicts with the CCL quarters, semis or finals!

 

Juninho.. you guys are going to be really good again

 

Aww yeah! Very excited about that! If only Omar was right... Swapping Leonardo for Omar is like swapping the Phillies with the Pirates.

 

Yea.. meanwhile we are becoming a Central American Team

 

Did you know a Guatemalan scored the game winner in virtually all the Galaxy Championsips except last season? Most long term superstitious type G's fans had no confidence they could win a championship last season because the G's had no Guatemalan on the roster. So don't knock it!

 

Sorry Fitz, I was not aware that you has such an Guatemalan connection

 

LA-galaxy-test-mls-limits-on-american-soccer
Interesting read on Bruce Arena's mastery of the salary cap in MLS.
This will only make those who feel the MLS overlords favor the Galaxy madder, since their conspiracy theories won't hold water...

PS: page 2 of the article mentions the Dynamo are interested in Fulham striker Andrew Johnson, who is soon to be out of contract and 30 years old...

 

He would be a ridiculously good signing. So I can't see it happening. He's like Luke Rodgers, but with talent beyond ******* people off. Johnson would ruin defenses out here.

 

Like Donovan and Henry are doing in England?

 

Ruining defenses is a bit of an overstatement.

Donovan has played well, and proven that he belongs at a higher level. Henry scored a goal against a knackered Leeds side and got a decent goal late on Saturday. He's not exactly set the league on fire in the 40 odd minutes he's played.

I'd love Donovan to see the season out with Everton really.

Also, Houston will be on the road for the opening couple of months this season due to construction of the new home. Could make for a strong push at the end of the season.

 

I hope he goes to Houston. That hasn't been the Dynamo's MO though. They need to go to the next level now though and to get there, they will need to do something different. This could be it.

 

Ching is back, having negotiated a pay cut and a position at the club after he retires. I'm happy about this. He's proven quality and lifts the team just by being on the field. His experience will be crucial during the tough run of away games at the start of the season. Hopefully we'll pick up a few decent wins on the road and then use the momentum created by the opening of our new home to make a run at a championship again.

 

New Rumor around the MLS is Carlos Bocanegra to the White Caps, making a Boca-DeMerit pairing in the back.

 

'Caps in signing defender shocker! Heard rumours they are looking to play him as a forward though

Barry Robson is leaving Middlesbrough and joining the caps in the summer. Wand of a left foot but about as fast as Iwelumo.

 

Iwelumo would probably do well in MLS, it's a physical league, and that's about all he has

 

Guardian article on supporters in MLS and away support.

Here

 

I don't think I've ever heard of the Galaxy Academy actually searching the world for young talent, nor have I read of young players interested in using the Galaxy as a place to start their careers, until I read this link.

http://www.wyndhamweekly.com.au/news/national/national/sport/jennings-battle-with-beckham-jnr-opens-up-a-galaxy-of-opportunities-in-los-angeles/2466319.aspx?storypage=0

This is all happening so fast!

 

Thanks for the link Fitz. Interesting story, sounds like an exciting talent to have coming through.

What's the word on Beckham's offspring? Any good, or just living off his old man's name?

 

Away games would be epic although I doubt my work, bank balance and liver would agree.