North American Soccer 2008

[$teauA]

john, that was fantastic man. I pretty much agree with every single thing you said. I noticed this problem very early on when I started following the MLS and sadly I haven't seen any efforts from the league to change this in the last 7-8 years since I've followed it. Having played my share of middle school and high school soccer, I was often frustrated by the coaching "tactics." As you said, most of the time was spent on conditioning and simple passing and shooting drills, while actual coaching sessions about tactical alignment and/or style of play were pretty much non-existent. It was one of the main reasons why I quit playing organized soccer in the US.

As for the thing Bobby posted, that is absolutely ridiculous. I usually agree with the decisions that MLS makes (usually cautious decisions that will protect this young league and help it grow the right way) but that is just ridiculous and downright dictatorial.

 

[johncmcleod]

http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_8060929.html

Here's a start. The problem is I bet playing at one of these clubs costs thousands of dollars, excluding lots of potentially great players. The other thing is that I don't know if the MLS teams get exclusive rights to the players on their youth teams. If they just go to the draft, there will be no incentive for the teams to improve their youth systems.

 

[Avalanche]

We just got our asses handed to us by a bunch of third-rate amatuers from the Caribbean. I am deeply disappointed with the "performance" that we put in over the two legs, and I am fed up with the ineptitude of MLS clubs in CONCACAF competition in general. There are three things we can blame for this latest meltdown:

-The 18 man senior roster, which pretty much means the cracks are papered over by the players on the 10 man developmental/poverty roster.
-Fixture pileup caused by participation in up to four competitions in a season (MLS, Dewar's Scotch Trophy, Copa Mickey Mouse, Carlos Warner's Half-Assed Answer to the UEFA/CAF/AFC/OFC Champions League).
-The general apathy by certain MLS clubs (cough)New England(cough).

Unfortunately, I can't see any of these problems solved anytime soon, because we're still a "growing" league. Yes, I know that slow and steady wins the race, but we need to take a good, long look at points 1 and 2. However, my final point will never change; if it isn't for three points in the league table, the Revs just won't give a f*ck.

 

[Bobby]

**** promotion to MLS.

Marcos should make MLS his third division, and make Garber clean his bathroom.

Ok, in the Champions Cup MLS used the excuse "We're in pre-season", but now they're in mid-season form and Joe ******* Public is in early-season form. Good God.

I could understand if this was Cruz Azul, but these guys have a cartoon lion as a badge.

Chivas USA just scored against Tauro, it's 2-1 on agg now. Chivas didn't score in Panama.

Edit: You know where Joe Public finished in the TT Pro League last year? Third. Right now, they're sixth (of ten).

Edit 2: Tauro goal, good night MLS.

 

[$teauA]

I really can't find an explanation other than the MLS clubs really just don't give a s*it about this competition. I wasn't assed to watch the games b/c I expected these sort of performances and I knew there would be 10 people there so I don't really know how they played out but you can't argue with Revs 0 Joe 4, that's just retarded. The Revs are one of best teams in the league year in and year out and they just got raped 6-1 over two legs by the third best TT team. MLS is a joke apparently.

edit: even the Impact made it! bahahahaha

 

[Run DMB]

I'm speechless.

I could not have imagined MLS teams getting off to a worse start in the CONCACAF Champions League.

I didn't watch the New England game, and thank God I didn't. I don't even want to know the details. Absolute rock bottom.

With regards to the Chivas USA game I have two things to say. First, Jonathan Bornstein is a dumbass. Second, and perhaps most importantly, Jonathan Bornstein is a DUMBASS. I knew he was half-Mexican, half-American and half-Jewish, but I didn't know he was also half-retarded. What is it with American players and idiotic red cards lately? First Orozco in the Olympics, now this.

The Goats had this game. Forget about the missed penalty, the crossbar, the infinite missed scoring opportunities - if Bornstein doesn't get sent off, I'm convinced that Chivas (despite the overwhelming evidence that God hates them) would have gone through.

This is just embarrassing for MLS. For the love of God, the Puerto Rico Islanders got out of Costa Rica with a draw (on a goal by Osei Telesford, who recently got cut by the Chicago Fire), which is more than any MLS team has ever managed in the 13 years of the league's existence (as far as I know). I just don't know what to say.

 

[Bobby]

http://www.oleole.com/blogs/girafinha/posts/mls-floored-by-heart

/shameless self promotion.

Jay Heaps is classless by the way, that was dirty.

You know, if the Battery pull off the upset tomorrow, it's entirely possible the USL could have more teams in the CL proper than MLS next season...

 

[Bobby]

1-1 in the Open Cup final midway through the first half.

Puerto Rico - CDA postponed due to Hurricane Hanna.

Christopher Sullivan is the best American commentator.

 

[Bobby]

2-1 DC

Max Bretos is so annoying sometimes.

 

[Bobby]

FT 2-1 DC.

They should count themselves lucky, linesman crapped himself at the end, Charleston had a fair goal disallowed for offside.

 

[#1 Stunna]

First Orozco in the Olympics, now this.

What do you guys think of Orozco btw? Does he have a future with you guys?

Also, I was at the Revs v. Atlante game at Gillette stadium over the summer. I must say I was impressed with the atmosphere at the game. I was by the Revs followers and aside from the "adios amigo" and "go back to mexico" chants... I really enjoyed it.

 

[Bobby]

Puerto Rico won, awesome.

 

[Bobby]

Group A
DC United (USA)
Deportivo Saprissa (CRC)
C.D.S.C. Cruz Azul (MEX)
Club Deportivo Marathón (HON)

Group B
Houston Dynamo (USA)
C.D. Luis Angel Firpo (SAL)
San Francisco F.C. (PAN)
Club Universidad Nacional "Pumas" (MEX)

Group C
Atlante F.C. (MEX)
Club Deportivo Olimpia (HON)
Joe Public F.C. (TRI)
Impact de Montréal F.C. (CAN)

Group D
Club Santos Laguna (MEX)
CSD Municipal (GUA)
Puerto Rico Islanders (PUR)
Tauro F.C. (PAN)

Group A is a monster, poor Marathon. On the surface you'd say DC and Cruz Azul, but it's so hard to go down to Saprissa and get something. They're a tough, tough team.

Houston and Pumas should have an easy time in Group B.

Group C should be won easily by Atlante, the second spot is a toss up.

Santos will win Group D, I expect Puerto Rico to come second but it's not easy.

 

[$teauA]

Do the 3rd place clubs advance to the UEFA Cup?

 

[Bobby]

Haha.

This is actually a nice little comp with a lot of potential. It's had me entertained.

Hats off to FSC and Galavision too, 13 of the 15 matches were on TV.

 

[CarlosDanger]

I'm so pissed that Montreal is there...

 

[Bobby]

I'm so pissed that Montreal is there...

In fairness to them, they were Canadian soccer for a long time, man.

If they pull this off it'd be huge for soccer in Canada.

 

[Bobby]

Look at Mexico today, I know Canada is getting better, but Mexico needs to beat them by a bigger margin in Mexico.

 

[CarlosDanger]

Well, we have a pretty solid midfield and we went out to defend, which we did.

Unfortunately we couldn't soak up all the pressure and Mexico's skill showed through.

We managed to make a game of it with the late goal, though.

I mean, no question Mexico is the better team, but we have got some pretty good players now.

De Guzman - Starts for Deportivo la Coruna
De Rosario - Top 4-5 in MLS
Friend - Starting striker in Bundesliga
Stalteri - Has no legs anymore, but played forever in the Prem
Hutchinson - Up and coming star with FC Copenhagen who almost moved to the Prem last summer
Ian Hume - Now playing in the Championship


That said, definitely Mexico looks dangerous. A lot of their best players are young and playing in Europe now and Marquez is a great captain for them. I think that they might hit a good stride by 2010 and finally realize some of their potential, especially with Dos Santos and Vela up front.

 

[Bobby]

I agree, Canada is getting better and that's good for CONCACAF (particularly with Jamaica's recent collapse), but Mexico really needs to be putting smaller teams away. USA or Costa Rica would have made them pay for that.

That said, Canada could well be in South Africa come 2010.