Major League Soccer

Discussion in 'General Football & Other Sport' started by Fitz, Feb 12, 2011.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. sonofben

    sonofben Reservist

    We can't stop drawling... but at least we are not the Redbulls
     
  2. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Indeed, winning the double is not a given.
     
  3. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    San Jose for us tonight. 3 points needed to kickstart (hopefully) a play off run.
     
  4. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Watching Jay and the Whitecaps now...G's up, Caps down 1-0 start of the 2nd.
     
  5. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Its final now... 3-0 Galaxy, 1 goal from Ro
    bbie Keane and 2 goals from Mike Magee...
     
  6. Timbers

    Timbers Apeman

    Caps are really crap aren't they? Jay must be wondering what he let himself in for. I know he has been injured a lot this season but surely playing for Vancouver and not impressing is going to seriously hamper his international chances now isn't it?
     
  7. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    The 'Caps are dreadful. They have a few good pieces to work with (Hassli, Chumiento and Camilo are quality attackers), but the depth of talent on the team is very poor.

    As for Jay's International chances, Klinsmann is very astute about American soccer and the players in it. Bradley before him fell into using Jay for the 2009 Confederations Cup run and the World Cup when Onyewu and Bocanegra got hurt. It was never about his overwhelming dominance as a center back (though he did squelch Rooney well in the World Cup), it was about the fight in the dog, if you catch my drift. I don't know for certain, but I expect Klinsmann knows everything he needs to know about Jay's game and likely has a respect for it. On the other hand, he also knows Jay isn't young anymore and to me, that's the most significant thing working against him. Klinsy is building a team for the future, and needs to develop pieces for 2014 and beyond. Jay will certainly not be a part of those teams, though he may make the odd appearance for the US now and again.

    For the US centerback of the future, look no further than the Galaxy's own 6'5" destroyer Omar Gonzalez and probably New York Red Bull's Tim Ream.
     
  8. Timbers

    Timbers Apeman

    This for that Fitz. I watch Vancouver quite a lot and their attack is good but I am sure they will have to trade Hassli or Camillo to get in some decent players for next year. I also keep an eye out for Toronto's results and they are not much better. I am hoping when the 'caps return to BC Place that the crowd will give them a lift but their home record is not too bad, it's the appalling away record. They need a whole new back line, wasted a DP slot on Jay obviously hasn't worked are too many players from their pre MLS days are getting game time, no Canadians players (Cannon is sort of but choose US didn't he? and is at the end of his career now anyway) and Jarju has been a waste of time as well.

    One thing for certain, I reckon a new coaching team will be there for the start of next season.
     
  9. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    They tried to make a go of it with a core of USL players and a sprinkling of creators and names, which would have worked in 2001 but not now. Tommy Soehn is there as manager, right? He is a quality guy. I don't know if this is the ownership's strategy he is saddled with or if the building of the team is his responsibility, but by now they gotta know it didn't work.

    Incidentally, I am very familiar with a couple 'Caps players. Peter Vagenas will go into the MLS hall of fame as a Galaxy player. Joe Cannon was a G for a couple years, too, brought in by Watford born Canadian Frank Yallop in one of the worst trades in Galaxy history. G's lost MLS legend Kevin Hartman and the then young strong Ugo Ihemelu for Cannon, who was a net even keeper compared to Hartman, but the Defense line was so weakened, the Galaxy didn't recover until Bruce Arena was brought in.

    With the G's, the misfortunately named Vagenas was known as "Passback Pete" because any opportunity to go forward and press the attack almost ALWAYS resulted in a back pass. He is so smart and a devastating midfield defender, but the G's crap coaching staff tried to make him an attacker. He only seemed to score against arch rival Chivas USA regularly, so I still love him for that. It was weird seeing him last night, and he barely passed back at all...
     
  10. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Some tidbits:
    Robbie Keane makes $3.4 million per year, of which, approximately $300,000 counts toward the salary cap for the Galaxy.

    Also, it appears as if Nicolas Anelka is headed to MLS. If I had to guess, I'd say he'll go to the Seattle Sounders. Seattle fans think they invented soccer and invented everything fun and interesting about being a supporter, yet the team fails to make any headway winning in the league. Anelka will make them either put up or shut up, so I am all for it.
     
  11. Timbers

    Timbers Apeman

    Montreal are joining next year Fitz aren't they? Perhaps being part of the smelly side of Canada they might go for a big name Frenchman as their DP?

    Anymore expansion franchises after that? Must be about time to consider Hawaii soon! Puerto Rica have teams in the NASL/USL don't they?
     
  12. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Yes, Montreal Impact are the next and possibly the last MLS team for a while. Yes, there is a PR team, and they've done quite well in our version of the FA Cup. I think all the obvious cities for MLS expansion are all selected, and any other addition would be a big gamble. Still, there needs to be a non-Texas Southern team, like Atlanta or Nashville or something. DC doesn't count... Florida has killed a brace of MLS teams already so that is really turning the expansion efforts off there. St Louis or Rochester NY are outside possibilities, or even Las Vegas or Phoenix.

    There is a term we MLS fans use for the typically failing attempts to match demographics with players here: "Ethnic Pandering". It has been done since the dawn of MLS and almost never works out. Chivas USA is a team based on Mexican ethnic pandering and they are the single worst sports franchise in American pro sports. Montreal will probably attempt to bring a frenchy over. He will suck, the team will lose a lot, the fans will blame him, and then he will be gone and the team will succeed by finding a young Latin American and some wily (North) American vets and then the team will advance. I've seen this movie so many times... The last time the Galaxy tried it was hiring Korean legend from the 2002 World Cup Hong Myung Bo to come in and attract the energized LA Korean community hungry for nationalistic zeal on the soccer pitch. A sizable Korean contingent showed up for a few games. He sucked ass and got cut at the end of the season, and the Korean fans never came back. The Galaxy also tried with Mexican legend Hermosillo in the late 90's. He was as glib and cynical as Beckham was when he first got here. Hermosillo lasted about 18 months. In the end, the Galaxy prospered the way teams do all over the planet. They spotted an undersized #10 in Mauricio Cienfuegos playing in Central America and got lucky enough to get Cobi Jones during the MLS startup draft and Kevin Hartman came in a year later, and throughout all the crappy player signings intended to help, those three got it done.
     
  13. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    Doesn't Becks get some kind of dibs or opportunity to invest in/own a franchise as part of his deal? Btw, he better make the cut for LA's visit to Houston in a couple of weeks.

    Also, do we have the Cosmos coming in next year? Or did I dream it?
     
  14. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Yes, I'd forgotten them...it appears to be a done deal so I don't even think of them as an expansion team anymore.

    Incidentally, Cobi Jones left the Galaxy organization to work with Cosmos. There will be a lot of dislocation and bitterness when they move in to their Manhattan stadium and all the disgruntled MeteoStars/Red Bull fans start defecting. Should be interesting...

    You are right about Beckham. I'm really not sure how he will fit in once he leaves the G's mortal coil, but I can't wait to hate him with unbridled passion.
     
  15. sonofben

    sonofben Reservist

    Well if Becks leaves, Nicolas Anelka would play for an un named MLS team on the West coast apperently
     
  16. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Beckham leaving and Anelka coming are not related, in my opinion. As I noted 5 posts up, I think he will go to the Sounders, aka gods gift to football and supporters. (w8nkers)

    Hey Ben! Are you pictured in this article? I am!
    ESPN: move over soccer-moms, league hard core fan groups here to stay
    For the less narcissistic, it is about the demographic target market of MLS franchises realigning from kids and their parents to young alcoholics and their role models like me.
     
  17. krisvad

    krisvad Forum Viking

    Are you wearing a cap? Because I tried looking for the shine of your bald head and couldn't see it - hence the theory you're wearing a hat of some sort ;)
     
  18. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    I am indeed. It was chilly that night. The photo is rather small, but I am in the centerish, I think.
     
  19. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Well done Houston!
    Winning 1-0 against FC Dallas really helps the Galaxy's chance of getting the Supporter's Shield, aka "winning the league".


    This is the third consecutive season (2009, 2010, 2011) in which LA will finish in the top 3.
    LA's regular season record in that time: 46 wins, 27 draws and 12 losses.

    For reference, LA lost 13 games in 2008 alone.
     
  20. Timbers

    Timbers Apeman

    And it's all down to Beckham! ;)
     
  21. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    There are a lot of 7 year old boys and 13 year old girls who would buy that, too.

    DC whips RSL 4-0... Very good result for the G's Shield effort.
     
  22. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    93' goal for Chad Barrett means the G's win...closing in on that Supporter's Shield!
     
  23. luke_golden

    luke_golden Space Cadet

    Yyyeeeeeeaaaaahhhhhhhh Geoff Cameron. Get In there.
     
  24. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Long time USMNT defender Frankie Hejduk returned to Columbus last night for the first time as a G since he left Columbus during the off season, and was given the armband prior to the game, while all the other captains were out after the Midweek loss in the Champions League down in Costa Rica.

     
  25. fan

    fan slow toaster

    i must say, i was very impressed with the sounders/seatle-ites when we saw the play off final. they packed up a stadium when they had no stake in either of the teams and decked the place out. although i might just be getting all misty eyed thinking about the free drinks
     
  26. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    They are participators, for sure, buying up jerseys and flair, etc. They do love their team. But what else is there to do in Seattle? They lost their NBA team, the NFL team is weak and the baseball team has been eliminated for months.

    My jab at them is more about their attitude that the sun never rose until they joined MLS. Talk to a few supporters and you'll see what I mean.
     
  27. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Supporters Shield update:
    Dallas was eliminated with their loss no matter of any other results.

    -LA has 61 points with 4 games left (RSL, NY, Chivas, Houston)
    -LA can get a maximum 73 points

    -Seattle has 54 points with 4 games left (Revs, Union, SJ, Chivas)
    -Seattle can get a maximum 66 points

    -RSL has 51 points with 5 games left (Chicago, LA, Vancouver, Rapids, Portland)
    -RSL can get a maximum 66 points


    So the Magic number is 5 points. That means LA can clinch the supporters shield before the last home game.
     
  28. sonofben

    sonofben Reservist

    Sadly no, haven't been able to get to Union games since the move back to college. Only soccer I get is is the Penn State games, they are quite good though, Top 25 in the nation.
     
  29. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    HUUUUGE win tonight for the Galaxy against Real Salt Lake, one of the better bets for winning MLS Cup at the end...

    With the 2-1 win, The Galaxy onLy need 2 points across 3 remaining games to win the league and claim the Supporter's Shield. Seattle is in 2nd place and will have to win three straight, no draws, to have a chance.
    [​IMG]
     
  30. Timbers

    Timbers Apeman

    BC Place opens today with the Whitecaps against Portland. I am going to predict a 'caps win for once in the hope playing in front of a big crowd will help them.

    This is what the 'new' stadium looks like
    [​IMG]

    Shame the turf is not proper grass but other than that they say it's the best artificial surface you can get.
     
  31. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Nice! I saw it on the way out to the train station when I was up the in late July. It looks complicated and really interesting in real life. I really don't understand the need to put turf in either. The usual explanation is that the soccer field will be shared with a football team, in this case Canadian rules of course, but I heard that the B.C. Lions were not moving in there... Weird.

    The other explanation is cold weather or dry weather, but Vancouver could not be greener and wetter.
     
  32. Timbers

    Timbers Apeman

    Certainly I have not been to too many places where I have gone Skiing in the morning and then had a lazy afternoon at the beach! I thought the reason for the retractable roof was the fact that they were going to have grass there. It does seem though that BC Lions are going to play there now so it could be the reason, especially as both CFL and MLS seasons run at the same time.
     
  33. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Football is terribly destructive to grass, worse than rugby. The Caps would be playing on a moonscape half the time if it were grass.

    Still though, the trend in the US and Canada is towards grass fields and soccer specific stadiums where football is only an infrequent and random visitor, like local high school championships. This is an interesting development and even a step back in my opinion.

    At this point only a few other MLS teams like New England and Seattle have shared NFL turf fields and the rest have their own grass pitches.
     
  34. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    Vancouver keeper says:
     
  35. Fitz

    Fitz Squad Player

    "Define heart?"

    Jay Demerit does in this link about the loss to rivals Portland Timbers upon the opening of BC Place.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page