The Swamp

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Wed Aug 09, 2023 10:16 am Welp... I'm the mark, apparently. Messi pulled me into watching/following these League's Cup matches and it has been WILD. Beyond Messi, the round of 16 produced 5 of 8 games going to PKs. And, for the most part (at least what I caught) the games were pretty well played.

I'll have to dig a bit or maybe somebody knows? Why are all of these games on US soil? Does it switch next year?

It's nice that of the remaining 8 teams, 6 are MLS sides. But I'd have to think with so many of these games coming down to the wire, playing on home soil is a bit of an advantage.

Eh, if it’s interesting, you aren’t a mark. Happy for MLS that their plan is working, at least in the short term, to bring in viewers.

Messi doesnt move me but the soccer sure does. Havent stopped to watch a match but a few of those assists have been really pretty soccer. Expect it from the Barca mid but even Josef Martinez setting up messi and the finnish guys clip behind the backs into the goalie box for messi to chest and volley was just plain fun

Messi might just have a future in soccer...

tennbengal wrote: ↑Tue Aug 15, 2023 6:44 pm Messi might just have a future in soccer...

Feel like the keeper has some fault there?

I’ve wondered for a while what keeps Andre Blake in MLS. I didn’t suspect the answer might be European club scouts.

From the mouth of the kid wet carpet

If only Messi had gone to Saudi Arabia for a half billion.

I'm enjoying this Messi stuff, but Blake was horrible in that game. There was another goal where was similarly just lost in his box. You can't be swimming around like that at any level. The fact that Messi picked it out is still pretty impressive, but...

That's like a QB seeing a slot receiver completely uncovered by a safety and throwing a post. Nice call, but... what are you doing Defense?

Been irrationally mad at Blake all day. And yeah, the one he gave up to Josef was even worse.

Rex wrote: ↑Wed Aug 16, 2023 5:45 pm Been irrationally mad at Blake all day. And yeah, the one he gave up to Josef was even worse.

Damn it was the last piece of pizza and I’d already had three.

Holy duck what a goal by Messi.

that’s fuckin crazy

This is like Teen Wolf if it just ended with the part where the Wolf gets the team on a winning streak

That was a fun game.

I guess it wasn't just Leagues Cup magic. These games continue to be must watch (if you can find them)

Well, at least RSL didn’t embarrass themselves … hang on …

Messi playing 120 minutes in a USOC game and seemingly enjoying every bit of it makes for quite a contrast with all of the teams and players who are reluctant to play in that tournament. And Miami already has its ticket to CCC so it's not that.

Rex wrote: ↑Wed Aug 23, 2023 8:41 pm I guess it wasn't just Leagues Cup magic. These games continue to be must watch (if you can find them)

what a fucking banger of a game. Absolute joyful soccer from both teams.

I'm ready for the Rapids to be burned to the ground. Really starting to regret renewing our season tickets for next season. They're just comically bad at this point.

There are people at a game at Red Bull Arena, I’ve seen it all now

The view from the “safe standing” supporters’ section last night. Including a bonus three-second closeup of my finger.



Unfortunately that pregame song was the high point of the match. Another thrashing by Houston. Luckily the lightning delay gave us an excuse to leave.

Rex wrote: ↑Sat Aug 26, 2023 8:07 pm There are people at a game at Red Bull Arena, I’ve seen it all now

Ha! Got a text from a HS friend, he was there with his son's soccer team. They chartered a bus from Albany. Bought the tix before Messi signed for $30 each. Could have sold for $2,000 each but his wife wouldn't let him sell. He was texting from the stadium, pissed that Messi wasn't even playing. Then another friend in the chat sent a picture of his nephew on the field before the game.

If you really want to see an empty Red Bull Arena, go to a Gotham FC game. Game we went to had 1,500 in the stands. 25,000 seat stadium. But it made it easy to see Zach Ertz in the Red Star supporter section, going apeshit most of the game, leading the cheers.

Messi did not score (neither did Miami or Nashville). That guy may not make it in this league.

This is from a couple of weeks ago. Rapids have played twice since, losing those combined 7-0.

Rooney is not excited DC has not sat down to talk about the future with him.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2 ... dc-united/

What a strange, unceremonious ending to his career if that’s where this is going. And Richie Williams turning him in?

Well Bradley won't be the coach. He just went back to Norway to coach the team he did 10 years ago

Bruce is officially the man out of the arena

Is anyone reporting on what Arena actually did? I've read a couple of articles, but there were no details. It's odd that the complaints seem to be coming from Richie Williams and Curt Onalfo who've known and worked with Arena for decades. They both played for him at UVA.

wlu_lax6 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 10, 2023 3:00 am Well Bradley won't be the coach. He just went back to Norway to coach the team he did 10 years ago

At first, I misread your post and thought you were saying he went to Norway to coach their national team. To which I was going to wittily reply, “Finally, someone to teach Haaland how to score!”

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 4:02 pm Is anyone reporting on what Arena actually did? I've read a couple of articles, but there were no details. It's odd that the complaints seem to be coming from Richie Williams and Curt Onalfo who've known and worked with Arena for decades. They both played for him at UVA.

Yeah, it's a really weird, very slow developing story. This has been going on for many weeks if not more than a month and there's been very little in the way of details.

Like you said, he's known these two guys for decades.

Matko Miljevic story is wild.

And people complain that athletes are just in it for the money.

Wouldn't playing in outside competition like that allow MLS/Montreal to terminate the contract?

I mean, most contracts have those types of clauses, yes.

I guess the punitive thing would be to not terminate but send him to train on his own or with the U13 academy. He probably would love to have his contract terminated if he is not getting playing time.

Nonlinear FC wrote: ↑Tue Sep 12, 2023 10:07 am

Shirley wrote: ↑Mon Sep 11, 2023 4:02 pm Is anyone reporting on what Arena actually did? I've read a couple of articles, but there were no details. It's odd that the complaints seem to be coming from Richie Williams and Curt Onalfo who've known and worked with Arena for decades. They both played for him at UVA.

Yeah, it's a really weird, very slow developing story. This has been going on for many weeks if not more than a month and there's been very little in the way of details.

Like you said, he's known these two guys for decades.

OK, so now Richie Williams is out as interim coach and it's now Clint Peay. Huh. I'll give you one guess where Clint Peay played college soccer. This is wild and confusing. Everyone involved in this story has known and played or worked together for decades.