2012 MLS Banter

They are totally epic. Yes, at times, too epic. One incredible night in NYC a couple years back led to a very difficult train ride the next day to Baltimore to visit my dad... Sort of like the train ride I shared with Theivam and TVOR back from Newcastle a few months before. I have no regrets!

Lukey, no I haven't heard a bit about the skills of Davey's sons. We G's fans heard nothing about this Jennings kid except the article posted which comes from New South Wales or something... As you probably know by now, soccer just doesn't get any coverage here in the US... Sucks to be us.

 

I think the best way to some up soccer coverage In the US is, the best soccer show on TV, The Fox soccer report is filmed in Canada.

 

Big win for U.S. Soccer yesterday, especially away from home!

Read a really good article on Stuart Holden earlier on. Hopefully he'll be back soon.

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/7618659/profile-us-bolton-midfielder-stuart-holden-leander-schaerlaeckens

 

Besides the Win over Italy, the Women beat Denmark 5-0, and the U-23's beat Mexico 2-0, quality day yesterday

 

How does your team look?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/mar/01/mls-2012-season-preview-eastern-conference

Don't forget Mexico's Dos Acero loss to Colombia!

 

Nice link. 7 game road trip to start the season looks tough, but hopefully it'll help later on when we have the boost of a new stadium and lots of games in it.

Playing wise, not much change really. Brad Davies will be vital again.

 

5th place.. What do Brits know about soccer any way, they call the game football..

 

Forgot to include this.. Looks like we are ready for the season [video=youtube;Xc9yHaPz7No]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Xc9yHaPz7No[/video]

 

I was reading a Dynamo board about some fan punishments over throwing things and doing other banned actions at MLS Cup 2011 and had a good laugh at Beckham being described there as "the right footed Brad Davis". He's a great player.

 

Who is #7?

 

Wow! What a battle. Love the guy chucking the ball and then casually walking away.

How's that for some pre-season team bonding. To echo the eternal words of Jackie Moon, "I'm not a tactician. I'm a motivator in the classic sense of the word. You know, Lombardi, Charles Lindbergh, that nun over in India, like those people. I get people to do great things! And we just had an incredible, team-unifying moment by punching other guys in the face. And it felt good and now we're gonna continue that on the court in the second half... with baskets, though."

 

Turns out that guy is a friend of a friend, Michael Farfan.

 

Here is the Western Conference preview...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/mar/02/mls-2012-season-preview-western-conference

 

7 days to First Kick in MLS...

 

Looking forward to beating the French lot on the 10th. Another tough season beckons but we are better than the Mexicans and I reckon we will push Colarado as well this year.

If we sort the defence out we should be OK as the 'caps will always score goals with their 21 man strike force that they have.

 

I'm actually really looking forward to observing the Caps this year. I know defense wins championships, but how can you not love watching a team built like this?

 

ANy news on Boconegra? I would imagine he will be one of the ones let go by Rangers on Monday. Would be ideal for the 'caps and give the defence a real boost.

 

As was mentioned earlier in the thread, that kind of soccer info is next to unobtainable here. If he was interested in heading back to MLS, he would go into what is called a Re-entry draft. The team next on the list has the right to negotiate with him. That can result in the team passing on the player which lets the next team in line have a crack at it, or with a signing, and occasionally with a sign-and-trade deal, if the team has made arrangements with another team lower on the list.

That said, I have no idea who is next up for the returning USA players now...let me see if I can find out.

EDIT: this link says Montreal has the first crack at him, then Vancouver. With only one other team in contention, it would be much easier to negotiate for him if they really wanted him. They have an abundance of forwards to use as trade bait...
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/02/16/scottish-sun-caps-have-interest-in-u-s-captain-bocanegra/

 

I read somewhere that Jay was taking to Boca, and Boca said he wasn't ready to return to MLS yet.

 

Also, when Eddie 'Grown Ass Man' Johnson came back to MLS, I think Montreal got him, then swapped him to Seattle for two other players. Vancouver may be next, if Bocanegra wants to return. Mind you, any Euro contract is likely to pay minimum 3x what an MLS contract will pay. If he CAN get a European deal, he will. If he can't, in all likelihood, he'll go to the 'Couve.

 

47,000 fans in Toronto watch the Galaxy come back from two goals down to finish with a 2-2 result in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League matchup against TFC. Next week Wednesday is the home leg...

Goals by Magee and Donovan.
Per Wiki: "CONCACAF has a different rule for its CONCACAF Champions League, employing away goals at the end of full time of the second leg, but not applying the rule at the end of extra time."

As I understand it, then, it's like this:

• Tie 0-0 or 1-1, Galaxy go through
• Tie 2-2 at the end of regulation, it goes to extra — and then, because the away goals rule goes away, it goes to penalties for any tie at 120', even if it ends 7-7.
• Tie 3-3 and the G's are out
• Win the game and the G's go through.

 

Link: Looks like Lekic went to your team, Krisvad...let me know how he works out there.

Edit: looks like Caleb Folan got cut by the Colorado Rapids and is now at Birmingham. I thought he would do well for the Rapids, especially given how well they did the year before they got him.

 

The season opens today! It will be great to be back in the stadium again. Galaxy are 1:1 to win the MLS Cup in 2012 right now. Expectations are stratospheric. May it come to pass.

Have a great season Matt, Ben and Luke!

I'm off early to enjoy some free beer the Galaxy front office will be dropping off to our supporters group tailgate party today. Injured Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez is rumored to be stopping by for pint as well.

 

Hey! Guess who's in last place already! That was fast.
The game was ridiculous in many ways...the G's struck the crossbar twice early on but couldn't get one in, 0-0 at half, a beautiful goal for Buddle just after the break that seemed a long time coming, then a Galaxy own goal, then some dodgy reffing, then some more dodgy reffing that got Beckham so incensed he argued instead of playing allowing a cross to develop that got knocked in, and then it was a rout. Not happy, but I did get a nifty little 2011 championship banner giveaway that I can console myself with.

 

21,000 sell out see us beat the French lot 2-0, come on!! Le Toux scored the first goal of the MLS season as well (the fastest in history apparently, got to love those stats, haha). Lets hope Le Toux doesn't go on the non-scoring run like last season after his first. Not sure how many clean sheets we got last year but a great start

I missed the game but just seen highlights, seemed a fantastic atmosphere there, I wonder if they will think about opening up the stadium more in future for the Canadian 'derby' games.

By the way, cheers for all the pre-season reports Fitz. I will keep updated on the Carlos Boc rumours but if Bonjour keeps up his performances next to Jay, perhaps we will have a solid partnership for once at the back, if they stay fit that is!

 

Chivas for us tonight. Not a bad team to face in the opener and beginning of a long road trip. It's important that we try and notch a few points early on to leave us in a decent position ahead of the ground being completed and a few games at home.

Haven't really seen much build-up to the season, which is a shame. Now it's here though, I'm excited.

Good luck guys.

 

Having to watch on Spanish TV. Hoping they don't plan on showing all the matches in Spanish.

0-0 at the half. Houston have been under some pressure and haven't really created much. Better is needed.

 

Leaving it a little late eh Luke? Good job on the 3 points though

 

Yeah, we deserved it in the end! Much better second half and created a few chances that should have been taken. Great way to start the season.

Good luck against the wood chippers tonight!

 

Thank you for not letting Chivas get a point!

And then Arena comes out with his Mea Culpa:

 

Well good thing I didn't make any jokes about your game Fitz. Though on the plus side Pajoy looked like he could play in the league.

 

I hate seeing Portland score in front of the Timbers Army. I saw it in person during the Galaxy's 3-0 loss up there last year.

 

Galaxy go down again then?

Anybody else doing the MLS Fantasy Soccer on ESPN?

 

Yes, all is not well in Carson...there is an Omar Gonzalez sized hole in the team...

 

Sketchy first half, but the Galaxy came into form for the 2nd half. Victory!
Congrats to Jay Demerit for his game winner against the horrible Chivas!

Oh yeah, the 2011 Galaxy players got these before kickoff!



They look ridiculous, and I would wear it everyday.