Giles Barnes aye.
Giles Barnes aye.
Billy big bollocks gobshite.
Sigh.
Well, let's go Jamaica, I guess.
Because FUCK MEXICO.
No reason to lose to Jamaica. For fucks sake.
And who the fuck are Mexico paying off to get those late penalties? The one against Costa Rica was not a penalty. The first one last night to tie the game should not have been called either. I hope Jamaica wins because I would rather get revenge against them in the playoff for the Confederations Cup spot than deal with fucking cheating Mexico.
So we have to play Mexico in Oct. for the Confederations Cup spot. Ugh.
Lost to Panama in the third place game. Really?
We have some work today.
On a bright note. The first World Cup qualifier will be here in St. Louis. Awaiting the official announcement so I can find out how much tickets and such will be. I plan on going even if the team is pissing me off lately.
Drogba to the Montreal Impact
Hey the MLS All-Stars won.
Moving on...
Waiting for an email for a code to get American Outlaw tickets for the qualifier in St. Louis. If they are too pricey though I am going to try to find a Cardinals season ticket holder who will share the password for the presale in order to get cheaper tickets.
They won Spurs who had a good team out 2-1, that's always a reason to be happy. Why what's with all the stuff with the all starts game?Originally Posted by MTR
Gerrard will crunch him in LA.
I am not a fan of the All-Stars playing another team. All Star formats in the major sports over here just involved conference vs conference, league vs league, etc. That is what I want to see. Some of the MLS teams play friendlies against the touring European teams so don't feel the need to see a European team in the All Star game.
Feel like it is a damn if you do and damn if you don't. Since it is an All Star game you can argue that if they win well they had the best players from the league so they should but if they lose well they don't play together so how can they win. Meh. Just rather see conference vs conference like it used to be.
No American Outlaw tickets for me for the qualifier. Can't swing it. Hopefully I can grab cheaper tickets later.
I see what you mean.
What happened to Gerrard on this game? I thought he got picked.
Who do you play?
I read he sat out due to injury.
I see what you mean.
What happened to Gerrard on this game? I thought he got picked.
Not sure yet. Winner of a playoff. Forgot which two teams. Our group is USA, Trindad and Tobago, and winners of two playoffs that will be played later this fall.
The Cardinals jacked up the prices for this game. So stupid. This game will be a cakewalk and there won't be a lot of people from the other country. I wouldn't complain so much if this was the home game against Trindad but for fuck sakes.
Last edited by MTR; July 30th, 2015 at 12:30 PM.
Who's your team again MTR?
In MLS I am a DC United supporter since the league started.
So we play Aruba or St. Vincent and the Grendines in the game in St. Louis.
That's right I thought it was them or New York Red Bulls.
Yeah I can't support any team in New York. Hatred for the Mets and Yankees just transfer over to Red Bulls and the NYCFC. Only the NY Giants get a little support for me because of Eli Manning. Same goes for Chicago and KC. I can't support the Fire or Sporting KC because of hatred for Cubs and Royals and all things KC and Chicago.
Man I just need a team here in St. Louis. We have a USL team so at least that is something.
I was going to say you need a team St. Louis MLS team but DC sitting pretty at the top.
NYC games are mad. Every game looks like having a dozen goals at either end, they don't bother at all with defending.
Yeah because the game against Jamaica sure was a cakewalk.
Caught up on the Galaxy/Rapids game before and really shocked that's LA first away win in a year.
I wasn't able to watch it but I my phone was going crazy during that 10 goal game that DC United one over the weekend. Wow. When RSL scored two minutes in I thought it was going to be a bad day for the good guys but it worked out.
Never expected that game to be a cakewalk but they should have won. Jamaica is one of the better teams in the region.
DC have recovered 25 points from losing positions this season.
We need Hamid back though. I just watched highlights and despite some spotty defending leading to goals that keeper should have had a couple of those.
Two games in a row they won after going down 2-0
Looking at his stats I see Connor Doyle has been banging them in since leaving us to join you
Give to to DC for finding ways to win. So after two straight wins of coming back from being down 2-0 then win a game 1-0 where they only take one shot. It counted and they won. First MLS team win a game where they only take one shot. Other team took 25 I think. Something like that.
Apparently this was before the New York Derby yesterday and they said Americans haven't embraced football yet.
http://youtu.be/f4K-dFllf1U
Yup.
The last match in the Bronx, Third Rail came up with a Jersey Boys playbill:
South Ward replied with these:
Last edited by Judas Iscariot; August 10th, 2015 at 3:47 PM.
Hahaha funny that flag, I like that.
Good stuff
Our USL team and support section got a little bit of recognition yesterday. The team tweeted a short video showing the players running over to the supporter section after a come from behind win and celebrating. Donovan retweeted it. The supporters our or team are awesome and that section is always rocking during the games. Great experience.
I understand that Howard needs to work his way back into the starting lineup and take the job back. But at the same time I wish he was in net against Mexico in that playoff....
Finally they are talking about changing the schedule for the CONCACAF Champions League. That is a frustrating schedule for MLS so nice to see it change to match more their season. Doesn't look like it will affect the other teams as much because there will be a break during the time they are taking a break. Should give MLS a better shot at doing well. Right now the knockout rounds are during preseason time frame for MLS.
*sigh*
I don't care that we made it interesting late, that was abysmal. We play as unaesthetically pleasing a brand of this game as imaginable.
Don't challenge guys one on one defensively because we're too scared to get beat on the dribble. When we do get the ball we make no kind of imaginative motion off the ball to create space. Which doesn't really matter because minus two guys no one can see anything happening on the field farther than a few feet from their own feet. We rely too much on being stronger/faster in terms of counters and balls in the air. Which has been a plus for us for years, but it's not a sustainable attack to even begin to threaten better teams consistently. But even that athletic plus is contradicted when it looks like we're in a constant state of conditioning issues as much as we're standing around and hoping to capitalize on others mistakes moreso than looking to aggresively cause them. Fuck.
I wish we had anyone in mainstream media here who would find it important to make a stink about the sport here. Someone who would rant like a lunatic as a voice for those who've been watching as dedicated fans for years and also as a voice to tell anyone watching anew that this is not worth a flip. We've wasted talent on national teams for years and years. From the bottom up development needs to be streamlined and reevaluated. We have too many youth here who care about the game and dedicate a legitimate effort to wanting to be good to field also ran squads out competition after competition after competition.
Fuck.
Not a surprise but not it is official that Eddie Johnson has retired for soccer due to medical reasons. Hoping that DC makes a comeback in the second leg of the conference semifinal so they can go on to win the MLS Cup so he can get a ring since he never won that during his career.
Qualifier in town tonight and I was never able to get tickets.
Will you be paying lots of attention this year MTR?
to MLS? I always keep tabs on what is going on. My team DC not off to a good start and all 4 MLS clubs that were left in the champions league go knocked out in the quarterfinals. Now that I have cable I will be able to watch some games as well.
Aye, I've just started a new job as an analyst for the MLS so I'm watching every match this season. I've found a site called USAsoccerarchive which has downloads of each match. Superb resource if you want to download DC games. I have you down as finishing 15th at the moment which would be awful for you but I haven't seen many sides which are worse at the moment and I think it could be very tight across the whole league. Your goalkeeping situation really hasn't helped to be fair.
I saw clips of the US version of Man City play at the weekend. They didn't look all that. If Villa just put the ball in the net instead of fucking around with it they could've won.
Haha, yes. New York City. They went 1-0 down after 8 minutes then spent the rest of the game just doing everything and nothing with the ball. Did you notice their pitch too? They play at Yankee Stadium, so they have to change the pitch from baseball to football and back constantly and its just small and shit and awful in almost everyway. The pitching mound is just off the pitch too which is going to cause an injury one day soon. They really shouldn't have been given MLS club status without a soccer specific stadium but money talks.
The standard is (on the whole) awful, especially in defence with there being just over 3 goals a game on average and a red card every three games, mostly from awful tackles. There were 5 this week and three of them were lunges that professional footballers just shouldn't be making.
The entertainment value is superb though. Seattle have flamethrowers when they score, Montreal have a giant fuck off bell (for obvious reasons) but the best is probably Portland Timbers who have a full on lumberjack cutting a ring off a tree behind the goal each time they score then holding it aloft like a trophy.
The biggest surprise for me though is the attendances. I think we've got a misconception in this country that the US doesn't really give a fuck about 'soccer' but the average attendance hovers around 22,000 with teams like Seattle averaging just under 45,000. I think Orlando had the 6th biggest football attendance in the world on opening day with over 60,000. They've just signed Julio Baptista too so will have him, Kaka and Antonio Nocerino in a few weeks once Kaka is fit.
I noticed that the pitch looked weird. I thought it was artificial - is that not the case for most of the teams in the MLS?
I do love the passion for it though, and the complete over the top celebrations. As you said, there are some incredible individual efforts by certain teams. I thought it was bad in the Indian Super League, but this is taken to a whole new level.
I'd say it was around 60/40 in terms of artificial/real grass. The artificial turf comes under a lot of criticism in the US though as it seems to cause quite a few injuries. for example, Drogba isn't playing on any artificial turf this season, only real grass, as his knee injury is aggravated by the fake stuff so he missed the first two games of the season.
The celebrations are mental and there is a real fan focus at most clubs. There are designated pubs for fan events and interaction with the players is quite a big thing there too. Most grounds also have little platforms for a couple of fans to stand on and lead the chants etc. They spend the entire time with their back to the game it seems but it makes the atmosphere pretty good. Just an utterly alien concept for us though.
Very cool. Thanks for the info. I will definitely check it out. We have one of the best keepers around but sadly he is hurt.
That's the same in Polish and German leagues though, maybe others. I went and saw Cracovia vs Lech Poznan, and the Cracovia fans had their own chanting section with 3 drums, a platform and a megaphone. They instructed the entire crowd when and what to chant. Same when I saw Dresden vs West Ham.
St. Louis has a USL team (lower division team) and supporter section has gone from one section to I think 3 now in the corner. There are drums, chanting, etc. It is a blast to go to and be a part of. They travel as much as possible as well to away games. Very involved with the team and great interaction. If we ever get a MLS side here it would just carry over to there.
Maybe the time has come for a MLS2 league below MLS which would expand the number of teams and bring in promotion/relegation. As things stand wheres the 'punishment' for finishing bottom?
I seriously doubt you will ever see relegation and promotion here. Not that some die hard fans would not love to see it but I just don't think it is going to happen.
We have USL and other lower level divisions and some of the teams from there have basically become some of the newer expansion teams the last few years. MLS teams have affiliations with teams in the lower divisions. Some of them basically have a reserve side in USL. The St. Louis side is affiliated with the Chicago Fire and we get some players on loan from time to time.
So yeah there is no punishment for finishing at the bottom really.
Another thing that sucks about Bill Hamid being out for DC is that it would have been nice to see him get some international action with Howard and Guzan both in and out of favor with their various clubs and not playing regularly.
Yeah going to be a long season for DC without their strong goal keeper.
Yeah relegation and promotion won't ever be a thing in the MLS. There are more expansion teams joining in the next few year though so teams will move around again and as the leagues expands more there will probably be a move into a 3/4 conference system. That's probably 10 years off though.
Following North American sport mentality. I wouldn't be surprised to see it remain two conferences but divide the conferences into two divisions each or something like that once they get the other teams in that they are adding. All the other major sports leagues in North America basically do that.
Yeah, it's something that will definitely happen once the number are up. There will be 24 teams in 2018 but I think there will need to be a couple more to split the league further. 4 'divisions' of 7 teams each is probably where it'll go I imagine.
I'll have a check of that, nice one.
I'm still a big fan of MLS and it gets better each season I think. 3 games in and the quality of games have been quite good. My team LA not doing to bad with plenty of room for improvement.
Tip of the week:
Houston Dynamo are 7/2 to beat Vancouver this weekend. Houston top the goal scoring and goals conceded charts, averaging almost 4 goals a game but conceding over 2 a game. Vancouver only have won 1 and lost 2 so far this season but international call ups have robbed of both their first choice central defenders, first choice right midfielder and first choice striker leaving them depleted and struggling to name 7 subs on the bench. Houston have been the much better side so far this season and 7/2 is a great price.
Over 3.5 goals is 15/8 and over 4.5 is 4/1. Both are pretty good shouts with the results of the sides so far this season being 2-1, 2-1, 3-2, 3-3, 5-0 and 4-3. There should be plenty of goals and a personal favourite would be Houston to win and there to over 2.5 match goals at 13/2.
USA vs. Guatemala today. They have to do way better than they did the other day or we might as well kiss the World Cup good bye. I was happy with Klinsman at first but we seem to not be going anywhere now or if anything backwards.
People are complaining it is the player pool but meh I think we have worse player pools and did better than this. Maybe they are not looking in the right places for new talent. Starting to think a change needs to be made. I know they hate to change coaches during the cycle but may not make it to the cup if we don't make a change...
Get John Harkes in as manager
If they lose tonight they have a less than 10% chance of making the World Cup, win and it's a 95% chance. If they can't beat Guatemala they don't deserve to be at the World Cup.
Exactly. Should not have lost to them at all the other night and should not lose to them or draw tonight. Should win. Need to win.
4-0 should have been 5. Finley was onside. Not sure how this team lost to the same team a few days ago. Capped a new young player that holds dual citizenship to seal him for the US. Now we just need the U-23 team to qualify for the Olympics tonight.
And the U-23 side failed to qualify so that is two Olympics in a row we will miss....
Not good that.
Nope. Not at all.
Anyway MLS back this week, look forward to it, been some good games in the 3 weeks so far.
Can't wait until Hamid is back. DC is going to keep struggling until he is back.
My LA battered RLS last weekend, some boss goals too including Gerrard scoring the 5th one.
Galaxy are still bogged down in the standard MLS way of thinking of 'big names = win' but it's consistently the side without a huge name that invariably do better. Galaxy have 3 of the quickest and most creative attacking midfielders in Zardes, dos Santos and Boateng but having De Jong and Gerrard behind them means the play is quite often slowed down.
It all kicked off last night. Last year's beaten finalist Columbus have been shocking so far this season and there have been lots of rumours of discontent in the dressing room. They went 3-1 up last night and won a penalty. Their main striker, Kei Kamara (played for Norwich and Boro for a bit) was on a hat trick but the other star player in the side, Federico Higuain (Gonzalo's brother) refused to give him the ball for the kick and took it himself. He scored but following the pen the side looked TOXIC. I've never seen a side look so, so full of hatred and disdain for each other. Ridiculous viewing.
Oh and this happened....
https://gfycat.com/NauticalMetallicBustard
Watched highlights of the first Atlantic Cup game of the season from last night. Some nice saves by the DC keeper(forget his name since I am still waiting for Hamid to come back). Nice win for DC. Need to get some more wins though. Not a great season so far.
Local team St Louis FC is doing well in the USL. They have their opening game in the US Open Cup second round this coming week. Kind of wish I had time to go out there and catch the game. Last year they won a couple rounds in the Cup before playing MLS side Sporting KC and losing out.
Last week one of their goals was in the goals of the week for USL. He bent in a free kick. Was pretty sweet.
Jozy out of Copa America after hamstring injury.
Another case of "what could have been."
He's been fairly shite for Toronto so far this season. They'd be so awful without Gio.
St. Louis continues to try to look good for a MLS expansion club. The USL side just took over a PDL side to use as a U23 side for their college players. That is great and all. I think at the end of the day MLS wants a team here. Just need owners to step up that MLS will approve.
What would you have them called ... the Stars ... AC St. Louis ... the Spirits of ... ?
The USL team is Saint Louis FC. I would assume that if we got an expansion team that it would also be called Saint Louis FC. The NASL side we used to have was AC St. Louis and a star in the logo which I thought was cool.
Thought there was a connection to the past. Plus there are so many FC teams now, something different would be nice.
From my understanding the next four teams to be added (taking the league to 28 in around 2024), most likely in are most likely to be Sacramento, St Louis, Detroit and San Antonio although San Diego or Austin could well jump the queue.
Atlanta, Miami, LA and Minnesota will all be MLS clubs by 2020 but Sacramento could jump in if any of the latter 3 there fail to secure a stadium in time.
Detroit seems odd.
So close yet no quite there. I think it would be easy enough to get a stadium done if some owners came in.
Yeah the original NASL side back in the day was the Stars which is why AC St. Louis when it was around had a star in the logo. I would like to see something besides FC as well honestly.
Massive TV market there (3rd biggest in the country without an MLS club I think) and DCFC already gets crowds in the thousands so an expansion should be fairly easy.
Ya, I guess 20+ teams in already and Detroit being next up isn't so peculiar. Just never thought soccer city and then thought Detroit.
Saint Louis FC moves on in the US Open Cup. Play NASL side MN United in the next round. Last year they won two rounds before losing to MLS side Sporting KC. Always fun to see which MLS side will lose to a lower division when MLS joins the Cup later on. Almost always one upset.
So winner of the Saint Louis FC/MN United game will host Sporting KC in the next round. So there is a chance we get a US Open Cup rematch and it would be in St. Louis this time. Cool. Got to beat MN United first though.
New York Derby, 7-0 to Red Bulls. Shocking stuff by NYFC.
Hamid is back for DC. That should help out some. Still work to do.
St. Louis FC plays in the next round of the US Open Cup. Wish I was there tonight. If they win I will do what I can to get tickets to the next round against Sporting KC.
Just announced this morning that Liverpool will play Roma here in St. Louis at Busch Stadium in August Going to see what I can do to go t that game.
Just got tickets to the Liverpool/Roma game. Should be fun even though I don't support either side.
AMERICAAAAA
Amazing how much better we look against CONCACAF squads.
Where was that side the other night?
Not playing Costa Rica.
You best watch what you say about Costa Rica pal or my mate Wanchope will slap the taste out of your mouth.
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