2015 MLS

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Apr 06, 2015 7:35 am

Ibrahimovic applying for a Visa (which Swedish tourists don't need)
http://www.espnfc.us/story/2382554/psg- ... nks-report" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 4:06 pm

Sooo ... MLS is kind of a joke, huh? NYCFC game is heading into the 2nd half, but just about to start on local television.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Sat Apr 11, 2015 6:30 pm

mister d wrote:Sooo ... MLS is kind of a joke, huh? NYCFC game is heading into the 2nd half, but just about to start on local television.

Unfortunately, yes. Try as they might, it's a bit of a joke.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Sun Apr 12, 2015 8:10 am

Toronto FC in the middle of a season-opening 7 game road trip while stadium is upgraded.

1-3 with fan interest non-existent at this point and the stadium just might not be ready on schedule.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/s ... e23887242/

MaxWebster · Post by **MaxWebster** » Sun Apr 12, 2015 3:26 pm

when the cbc first televised hockey they didn't pick it up until after the 2nd periods of games.

so what i'm saying is that in 50 years, MLS will be *ENORMOUS* in Canada.

in all seriousness tho, the 'Caps are a pretty big deal up here, as is this Cascadia Cup (Van, Portland, Seattle). It's definitely gotten me into the league since i moved here - going to the games is great; i'd watch a lot more if i had cable :)

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 4:31 pm

SKC's Ike Opara ruptured his achilles' on Saturday. Been the best defender in the league this season. Ugh.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 5:00 pm

Sounds like the fat lady has sung on his 2015.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Mon Apr 13, 2015 11:18 pm

The Sounders mid-field is atrocious.

My GF would probably smack Marco Pappa in the head if she saw him on the street. She seethes with hatred every time he touches the ball.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Tue Apr 14, 2015 11:44 am

Smart woman.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 3:17 pm

Allstars will play Tottenham. Considering how serious the EPL takes this matchup, I can only hope Ted Lasso will be there.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 5:59 pm

Pretty sure the NYCFC head coach has diarrhea ...

@NYCFC: #NYCFC Head Coach @JasonKreis is not on the sideline tonight due to illness. He is watching the match from inside Yankee Stadium.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 6:38 pm

Ouch Ballouchy.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Thu Apr 16, 2015 10:02 pm

wlu_lax6 wrote:Allstars will play Tottenham. Considering how serious the EPL takes this matchup, I can only hope Ted Lasso will be there.

I saw Spurs play Toronto FC last summer and Tottenham ran out some players who most of the members of Spurs Canada (and these guys are pretty hardcore) didn;t know.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Mon May 04, 2015 11:35 am

How the hell can MLS let the NYCFC play at Yankee Stadium? The game last night (vs Sounders FC) was a joke. That field is so compressed...not even close to being the right size. There were multiple crosses that just sailed out of bounds. And, there's the bad grass transition where they lay turf over the infield cut out.

Are there plans to build NYCFC a "soccer-only" type stadium?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon May 04, 2015 11:44 am

They've said (on the team broadcast, so not quite unbiased) its just inside regulation for width, which I guess has a range. I forget who, maybe KC, actually scored on a set play throw-in into the box, which seemed embarrassing.

As far as I know, there's no set spot for the NYCFC stadium, just a general "there will be a stadium" proposal. I've seen both near Yankee and new-Shea to use the existing infrastructure and I've seen along the Hudson (which would be awesome). I do know everyone hates it how it is now.

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon May 04, 2015 12:44 pm

They floated a proposal in the paper last week to partner with Columbia University, tear down the existing stadium and build a new one for MLS and Columbia football. Won't fly, CU would be foolish to do it, neighborhood can't handle the traffic. I figured they would just jack some of the playfields adjacent to Yankee Stadium, like on the site of the old stadium.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/29/sport ... mplex.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon May 04, 2015 12:53 pm

They should just build a natural grass field on the roof of Penn Station.

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon May 04, 2015 12:56 pm

There's a hockey rink on the roof of Penn Station.

(Not on Madison. Not square. And not a garden.)

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:22 pm

So, Pirlo to NYCFC.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:33 pm

Pros: There were some cool free kick videos.

Cons: He's the most stereotypical looking Italian ever.

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:37 pm

mister d wrote:Pros: There were some cool free kick videos.

Cons: He's the most stereotypical looking Italian ever.

Go read his biography. It's great.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:42 pm

If I had just seen his present day picture, I would have assumed he was some hero of the 1988 World Cup or something, not a guy younger than me.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:46 pm

mister d wrote:If I had just seen his present day picture, I would have assumed he was some hero of the 1988 World Cup or something, not a guy younger than me.

It's the dichotomy of Italians. Either they look like homeless middle-age men or models. (The women also, ammmirite?)

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 6:36 pm

So the league that decides each star's destination put Michael Bradley on a Canadian team?

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 9:08 pm

mister d wrote:So the league that decides each star's destination put Michael Bradley on a Canadian team?

Tim Leiweke

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Jul 17, 2015 12:16 pm

Timbers beat out a handful of Mexican and La Liga clubs to sign 22 y/o striker/winger from Argentina for $5 mil. Lucas Melano. This kid has the tools to blow up.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Fri Jul 17, 2015 1:20 pm

DC United made a trade for Álvaro Saborío for Luis Silva. Saborio was very good a few years ago and has been trouble for the USMNT when playing Costa Rica.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Sat Jul 18, 2015 7:44 pm

MLS All Star team has no members of DC United....which is leading the supporters shield. I guess Hamid would have been picked if he was not out for surgery...but this is the same game where Lampard and Gerrard were selected before stepping on the field for their team.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 11:06 am

Yesterday was a really good day if you liked exciting games, goals, and sub par defending. Orlando v. NYC was a 5-3 game. Kaka, And about 35 minutes for Pirlo. His game reminded me of Valderama in the MLS. Get a ball near the center circle, nifty dribble, and then dangerous outlet without breaking a sweat.

DC went down 2-0 to Philly before 3 minutes had been played. DC United then played all out for the next 88 minutes and pulled a 3-2 win despite a missed PK and chip off the post against them.

Dallas 4-1 over Portland
Houston 3-0 of L.A.
2-2 Chicago v. New England
3-3 Crew v. Toronto.

Only pitchers duel was Montreal 1-0 over Sounders.

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 2:00 pm

Saw the end of the Toronto FC game and it was a lot of fun.

This team never comes from behind, so maybe there's some promise here. Will have to watch them more closely as the season continues.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:30 pm

The Sounders have completely fallen apart as of late. Racked with injuries (Martins, Frei) and with Dempsey off with the USMNT, they've just sucked lately. Pretty much unwatchable.

Oh, and my GF's favorite player, Marco Pappa, got busted for a DUI...

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 9:10 pm

They've lost their wheels to age. But Pirlo and Villa at NYFC should at least make for some moments that illustrate how the game should be played. Pirlo in particular will demonstrate a deft touch on the ball and preturnatural passing vision and execution. In a metaphor dating back when there were such things, he is a prototypical "sliderule passer."

MLS is often painful to watch. But one advantage to having a third-rate soccer league is that great players who cannot run well enough to do well in a top league can come to North America and continue to display classic soccer skills, perhaps even bending team tactics in their more sophisticated direction. Pirlo has a chance to be the ideal case.

Today I was searching for an example of what his situation is comparable to, for a friend who doesn't know much of soccer. The closest I can come is if Steve Nash could regain his health and return to basketball by playing in the Big 10. Even healthy, he's too old to be able to physically stay with the guards in that league. But his advanced skills and knowledge of the game would keep him on the court and even starring.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Sun Aug 02, 2015 12:50 pm

The Sounders have reached "DumpsterFire/TrainWreck" status. We went to the game last night and watched them lose 3-0 to Vancouver. Ouch...

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Sun Aug 02, 2015 2:08 pm

Dc and salt lake scored a few last night. 6-4 final with some really nice goals from Beckerman and Kemp.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sun Aug 02, 2015 3:26 pm

DC47 wrote:They've lost their wheels to age. But Pirlo and Villa at NYFC should at least make for some moments that illustrate how the game should be played. Pirlo in particular will demonstrate a deft touch on the ball and preturnatural passing vision and execution. In a metaphor dating back when there were such things, he is a prototypical "sliderule passer."

MLS is often painful to watch. But one advantage to having a third-rate soccer league is that great players who cannot run well enough to do well in a top league can come to North America and continue to display classic soccer skills, perhaps even bending team tactics in their more sophisticated direction. Pirlo has a chance to be the ideal case.

Today I was searching for an example of what his situation is comparable to, for a friend who doesn't know much of soccer. The closest I can come is if Steve Nash could regain his health and return to basketball by playing in the Big 10. Even healthy, he's too old to be able to physically stay with the guards in that league. But his advanced skills and knowledge of the game would keep him on the court and even starring.

You undersell MLS

Pruitt · Post by **Pruitt** » Mon Aug 03, 2015 9:07 am

Pruitt wrote:Saw the end of the Toronto FC game and it was a lot of fun.

This team never comes from behind, so maybe there's some promise here. Will have to watch them more closely as the season continues.

Or maybe not...

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 6:38 am

So DC United wins 1-0 with 1 shot during the game. For a team with no real big name DPs they continue to find a way to get results. Also Chris Rolfe is having a crazy good year for someone who can only be described as an above-average MLS player.

Also, last nights New York v. New York match was really enjoyable. Hard nose soccer. Up and down, mostly skillful play. Stadium atmosphere looked/sounded great. It may not be EPL, but when you step back a bit it is clear the level of play is going up each half season.

Also Toronto's pickup of former USMNT H. Gomez is a good short term improvement, but the problem with that team is not going toward the goal, it is keeping other teams from scoring.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 10:13 am

DaveInSeattle wrote:The Sounders have reached "DumpsterFire/TrainWreck" status. We went to the game last night and watched them lose 3-0 to Vancouver. Ouch...

And the dumpster fire rages on!

In case you missed it...Chad Barrett scores in the first minute yesterday against the Galaxy...then blows out his hammy as he's running after the goal (he wasn't really celebrating...just wheeling back towards midfield). Then the Sounders go on to lose 3-1.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 11:31 am

As impressive as SSFC's loss streak is, even if healthy they probably would've been dogs in that match. LAG is pretty much unbeatable at home.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Thu Aug 13, 2015 7:05 am

Union v. KC for the US Open Cup and the Concacaf Champions League slot.