mister d wrote:Given that match and how Pirlo came on to wave goodbye and fire a few passes into the lower deck, is it realistic to say that maybe the big names (including Viera) don't really care all that much about a title?
Villa was trying. I don't know much about NYCFC's bench options but bringing in Pirlo as your "hail mary" is a big wtf.
Rex wrote:That was completely gross from Toronto, but a compelling game nonetheless. Now we could really use an early goal from NYC here.
I watch about an hour of MLS every year at this point. Just so happened that 45 of those allotted minutes included the Red Bulls TFC game... What the ever loving fuck was that about last night. Altidore should've been out of the game before half time, so I guess he figured he'd get his bitch on in the tunnel and clear that off his to do list. And Giavinco's yellow was just stupid. Calm the fuck down. You are trying to salt away a game at home, why are you lighting a fire under the opposition.
I mean, it was compelling, but in a "what the fuck is wrong with these guys?" kind of way.
I'm probably guilty of viewing too many things through the prism of the USMNT failures, but I couldn't help but notice that RBNY's biggest agitators were a guy who was one of the bigger snubs during the last cycle (Kljestan) and a kid who is pushing for a spot (Adams), and clearly Jozy is carrying over some issues that have been festering over the last month. None of that explains Giovinco's performance, which was flat out bizarre.
Villa is excepted forever, he works every game. But Pirlo had no place subbing on if not to say goodbye and all the cards in the first game just feel like Rony Seikaly logic.
Johnnie wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 8:13 pmOh shit, you just reminded me about toilet paper.
Rex wrote:That was completely gross from Toronto, but a compelling game nonetheless. Now we could really use an early goal from NYC here.
I watch about an hour of MLS every year at this point. Just so happened that 45 of those allotted minutes included the Red Bulls TFC game... What the ever loving fuck was that about last night. Altidore should've been out of the game before half time, so I guess he figured he'd get his bitch on in the tunnel and clear that off his to do list. And Giavinco's yellow was just stupid. Calm the fuck down. You are trying to salt away a game at home, why are you lighting a fire under the opposition.
I mean, it was compelling, but in a "what the fuck is wrong with these guys?" kind of way.
I'm probably guilty of viewing too many things through the prism of the USMNT failures, but I couldn't help but notice that RBNY's biggest agitators were a guy who was one of the bigger snubs during the last cycle (Kljestan) and a kid who is pushing for a spot (Adams), and clearly Jozy is carrying over some issues that have been festering over the last month. None of that explains Giovinco's performance, which was flat out bizarre.
Well, Adams did VERY little to warrant that response. Bc Giovinco's fould was complete bullshit and totally against the run of play. Maybe I missed something from earlier in the half, but I tuned in about 10 minutes before that foul and to that point it was kind of desultory affair the RBs holding a lot of possession amounting to very little in terms of danger.
That's why the whole thing was so fucking bizarre (and unprofessional.) The game was exactly what TFC would've wanted at that point. Until they poured gasoline and lit the match.
And I agree with you about the dynamics with Klejstan and Altidore. That was very weird (to me, as I'm with you on the MNT filter.) Altidore's antics are pretty unforgivable between players. Essentially trying to get a guy thrown out of the game is some high level bullshit.
You can lead a horse to fish, but you can't fish out a horse.
I do, too. And having the real playoffs start in mid-November might give the league more flexibility to start later or add more rest days.
Of course, a simpler solution to the issue of ties, and of top teams not getting enough of a break, is to give the higher seed the tiebreaker, as they do in Mexico and some other Western Hemisphere leagues.
i thought about this watching some of the games over the weekend. I don't think 2-legged matches work. North Americans want do or die games. 120 minutes plus penalties. Or the MLS can be innovative and keep adding 30 minute overtime periods with extra subs.
Why not just set it up like the NFL.
Top 6 get in, 3 plays 6, 4 plays 5 one game Then the conference semis, one game. Then the conference finals, one game Then MLS Cup!
Kung Fu movies are like porn. There's 1 on 1, then 2 on 1, then a group scene..
degenerasian wrote:North Americans want do or die games.
Why do you think this.
They love Super Bowls and Game 7s. I'm North American, I like this too. I don't like two-legged ties and the away goals rule compounds this stupidity. Imagine the NFL playoffs as two games total points. It would be weird.
Kung Fu movies are like porn. There's 1 on 1, then 2 on 1, then a group scene..
People that watch soccer are not going to be put off by 2 legs, nor will they be put off by that excellent proposal to do a round-robin. That is a terrifica proposal and I hope the league considers it.
Because, while I think (north) Americans can handle the concept of the 2 leg playoff, I think the away goals rule fucks up the dynamics of the games too much. And I really don't like how the regular season is so devalued. There's really no big advantage for having played a great 34 game season right now. Going to that RR format would be a significant step in the right direction.
You can lead a horse to fish, but you can't fish out a horse.
Nonlinear FC wrote:Well, everyone seemed to care a bit TOO much in the game I watched. Like, how about being a fucking professional? And that really went all the way to the coaches, who apparently got into it at HT, as well.
Vieira has previous doesn't he, part of the Battle of the Buffet
degenerasian wrote:North Americans want do or die games.
Why do you think this.
They love Super Bowls and Game 7s. I'm North American, I like this too. I don't like two-legged ties and the away goals rule compounds this stupidity. Imagine the NFL playoffs as two games total points. It would be weird.
I'm North American also and understand that different sports require different competition formats.
The weird thing about the two-legged tie is that people always say it is designed to encourage attacking play, but it seems to me like a team like Houston had every incentive to play for 0-0, and indeed the second game turned completely around when they were able to poke in a goal from nowhere. And while I’m not accusing Houston of anything here, there is also an incentive for clubs playing on grass to exercise something less than standard diligence in maintaining the grounds before the match.
Nonlinear FC wrote:People that watch soccer are not going to be put off by 2 legs, nor will they be put off by that excellent proposal to do a round-robin. That is a terrifica proposal and I hope the league considers it.
Because, while I think (north) Americans can handle the concept of the 2 leg playoff, I think the away goals rule fucks up the dynamics of the games too much. And I really don't like how the regular season is so devalued. There's really no big advantage for having played a great 34 game season right now. Going to that RR format would be a significant step in the right direction.
Away goals hurts MLS because of home teams' rate of success. I've wondered if having the higher seeded team play at home first would encourage that more open play because the (theoretically) better team wouldn't have incentive to bunker as much.
"We're not the smartest people in the world. We go down the straightaway and turn left. That's literally what we do." -- Clint Bowyer
Rex wrote:The weird thing about the two-legged tie is that people always say it is designed to encourage attacking play, but it seems to me like a team like Houston had every incentive to play for 0-0, and indeed the second game turned completely around when they were able to poke in a goal from nowhere. And while I’m not accusing Houston of anything here, there is also an incentive for clubs playing on grass to exercise something less than standard diligence in maintaining the grounds before the match.
That's why my strongest preference is to give the higher seed the tiebreaker. Then the lower seeded team has to attack.
I read a stats paper last year suggesting that the penalty shootout should be done at the start. That would accomplish the same thing.
And his one problem is he didn’t go to Russia that night because he had extracurricular activities, and they froze to death.
mister d wrote:Just play a single game, higher seed hosts, winner moves on.
IMHO, soccer is too random for that. You'd have too many low seeds getting to the championship. I'd prefer more games to give the better team a better chance of winning.
(Such as, say, Real Salt Lake winning the title in 2009 after a losing record in the regular season. Though they did finish only 9 points behind the Supporter's Shield winner.)
And his one problem is he didn’t go to Russia that night because he had extracurricular activities, and they froze to death.
5th place Columbus took out a 4th seed with a +26 better goal diff and the 2nd seed (in large part because of an idiotic red). Random chance isn't being mitigated in this format either.
Johnnie wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 8:13 pmOh shit, you just reminded me about toilet paper.
You can't do a single table without pro-rel. It's just a gut feeling, but I think without the drama of the bottom 2-3-4 teams going down, the single table model just loses too many fans when their team dips into the bottom half of the table.
The other issue with trying to do single table is that in most parts of the world, but particularly in Europe, is that beyond winning the championship (or not being in the bottom 3) there are a decent # of spots for regional club tournaments (CL, Europa). So even if your sitting in the 7-14 position midway through the season, you still have a fighting chance of making a run and getting into one of those by the end.
And, obviously, even if you did a major push here, there's just not the same cache to making the CONCACAF Club Championship. I mean, a big part of that is because MLS teams have rarely made a serious run at the thing. So, I'm open to the argument that this could change as more money/better players come into existence.
You can lead a horse to fish, but you can't fish out a horse.
Silly Season starting Robbie Rodgers retires...again. I saw him play as a freshman at Maryland. Just tenacious. Up and down the field and hacking people as the ball came back against them. Really enjoyed his career for what he did on the field and off the field. LA also dropping Jack McBean, Nathan Smith, Jaime Villarreal, Jose Villarreal, and Raul Mendiola. David Ousted leaving Vancouver Julian Buescher (1st round draft pick 2 years ago) is getting cut from DC United
Also, it kinda feels like we blew our window here. Harrison is getting PL interest, Matarrita and Ring should both be playing in a better league. Callens and Chanot might too just because CB is such a shit position.
Johnnie wrote: ↑Sat Sep 10, 2022 8:13 pmOh shit, you just reminded me about toilet paper.
mister d wrote:I'd be very curious to see it as a 5 year trend. I'm betting plenty of people are still wearing their Villa shirts from '15 or '16.
I think so too. A lot of Atlanta purchases are folks buying for the first time. Once they have the jersey, they'll be less likely to spend $100 for the next one.
I'm still wearing my RSL shirt from 2005. At this point I have to keep wearing it to games so I can display my hipster superiority over everyone else.
And his one problem is he didn’t go to Russia that night because he had extracurricular activities, and they froze to death.
Caleb Porter.....Out as Portland's coach....The move was reportedly his decision. Wow.. Guess he really wants that DC United Job (which will happen in the early to middle of next season) or Colorado gig (which the rumors have going to New Zealand's/Seattle-born National Team Coach). Maybe back to college (Maryland had a disappointing season and went down on PKs last night to Albany)? Or dare I say it.....USMNT (but he was at the helm of a bad Olympic qualification run a few years back).
wlu_lax6 wrote:Caleb Porter.....Out as Portland's coach....The move was reportedly his decision. Wow.. Guess he really wants that DC United Job (which will happen in the early to middle of next season) or Colorado gig (which the rumors have going to New Zealand's/Seattle-born National Team Coach). Maybe back to college (Maryland had a disappointing season and went down on PKs last night to Albany)? Or dare I say it.....USMNT (but he was at the helm of a bad Olympic qualification run a few years back).
Yeah. This one stings. My gut is telling me he's not going back to college or MLS. Maybe a position on USMNT staff or abroad.
