Major League Soccer 2008 Season thread

[Chaplin]

The Galaxy obliterated FC Dallas yesterday, with Edson Buddle getting a hat trick in place of Alan Gordan. They pretty much dominated the entire first half and did just enough to hold off FC Dallas in the 2nd.

Crazy season with the Galaxy alone in 2nd place in the West, but that Eastern Conference is a beast in MLS.

 

[Zeno]

and DC United again looks like garbage. By some strange schedule quirk they play Toronto FC twice this week (Weds & Saturday). I'll be at the game Saturday, I've been to 3 United games so far and I haven't seen them lose...that might come to an end this weekend/

 

[gr000000vy]

and DC United again looks like garbage.

i think DC United looks pretty good... if your getting a sponsor that's the best one to get.. logo looks real clean... nice colors....

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oh wait you meant on the pitch? ahhhh ok

 

[Zeno]

More Henry rumors...

Galaxy joining chase for Henry?
Posted: Thursday May 22, 2008 10:10AM ET
The L.A. Galaxy are rivaling the new Seattle MLS franchise in the race to land Barcelona striker Thierry Henry. The Galaxy, which already boast former Real Madrid star David Beckham, have already tabled a lucrative offer to the Frenchman, who is also wanted by the backers of expansion club Seattle for next season's MLS. The Galaxy are turning to Henry after Luis Figo chose to commit to Inter Milan for another 12 months.

tribalfootball.com

The only way I see this happening is if Donovan leaves to Europe and they trade Ruiz. Otherwise how could they afford him under MLS's salary rules?

I am sure it would make Beckham happy, a world class finisher for all those crosses.

 

[Chaplin]

Galaxy joining chase for Henry?
Posted: Thursday May 22, 2008 10:10AM ET
The L.A. Galaxy are rivaling the new Seattle MLS franchise in the race to land Barcelona striker Thierry Henry. The Galaxy, which already boast former Real Madrid star David Beckham, have already tabled a lucrative offer to the Frenchman, who is also wanted by the backers of expansion club Seattle for next season's MLS. The Galaxy are turning to Henry after Luis Figo chose to commit to Inter Milan for another 12 months.

tribalfootball.com

The only way I see this happening is if Donovan leaves to Europe and they trade Ruiz. Otherwise how could they afford him under MLS's salary rules?

I am sure it would make Beckham happy, a world class finisher for all those crosses.

I would love it, but you're right--how can the team do this? I don't think it would be hard to lose Carlos Ruiz, but I wonder at the repercussions if Donovan leaves.

 

[gr000000vy]

The only way I see this happening is if Donovan leaves to Europe and they trade Ruiz. Otherwise how could they afford him under MLS's salary rules?

The only way this happens is if the MLS makes yet another LA Galaxy rule and let's them have what 3-4 DP slots now?

having said that doesn't seem too far fetched now....

 

[Zeno]

What a great weekend in MLS...DC comes back and wins(down 2-1 & win 3-2), LA comes back and wins(down 1-0 win 3-1), Dallas comes back and wins(down 1-0 scores in injury time to win 2-1) and New England wins in the 89th minute on a follow up goal from a saved penalty.

I was able to see the whole LA game, they really played well, Beckhams 60 yd goal was just the icing on the cake.

 

[Chaplin]

What a great weekend in MLS...DC comes back and wins(down 2-1 & win 3-2), LA comes back and wins(down 1-0 win 3-1), Dallas comes back and wins(down 1-0 scores in injury time to win 2-1) and New England wins in the 89th minute on a follow up goal from a saved penalty.

I was able to see the whole LA game, they really played well, Beckhams 60 yd goal was just the icing on the cake.

I don't have HDNet, so this is the first Galaxy game this season that I missed seeing on television.

Sounds like we played really well in the 2nd half and not so great in the 1st. Like usual. And thanks to our rival, Chivas USA, we are in sole possession of 1st place in the West! Who would have thought?

 

[azsouthendzone]

I don't have HDNet, so this is the first Galaxy game this season that I missed seeing on television.

Sounds like we played really well in the 2nd half and not so great in the 1st. Like usual. And thanks to our rival, Chivas USA, we are in sole possession of 1st place in the West! Who would have thought?

That was the most entertaining MLS game of the year IMO. David Beckham is unbelievable. In the 2nd half they put Donovan in the midfield and the Galaxy dominated. It will be interesting to see Ruiz back in the lineup. Buddle has been playing well. If Ethan Allen would have buried his two point blank shots it would have been ugly. Great win. The Galaxy have a legit shot at winning it all this year which is great for the league. Beckham's 60 yarder was unreal.

 

[azsouthendzone]

i think DC United looks pretty good... if your getting a sponsor that's the best one to get.. logo looks real clean... nice colors....

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

oh wait you meant on the pitch? ahhhh ok

No way man...Herbalife is as good as it gets

 

[Chaplin]

That was the most entertaining MLS game of the year IMO. David Beckham is unbelievable. In the 2nd half they put Donovan in the midfield and the Galaxy dominated. It will be interesting to see Ruiz back in the lineup. Buddle has been playing well. If Ethan Allen would have buried his two point blank shots it would have been ugly. Great win. The Galaxy have a legit shot at winning it all this year which is great for the league. Beckham's 60 yarder was unreal.

It's ELY Allen, but I give it an "8" on the unintentional comedy scale!

 

[azsouthendzone]

It's ELY Allen, but I give it an "8" on the unintentional comedy scale!

Ely, Ethan.....whatever his name is the guy was brutal. I thought Beckham was going to kill him.

 

[Chaplin]

Ely, Ethan.....whatever his name is the guy was brutal. I thought Beckham was going to kill him.

You know that Ethan Allen is a famous furniture maker, right? That's why I thought it was funny.

But you're right about Allen--he's a rookie making rookie mistakes. The funny thing is that Alan Gordon makes the same freaking mistakes and he's no rookie.

 

[azsouthendzone]

You know that Ethan Allen is a famous furniture maker, right? That's why I thought it was funny.

But you're right about Allen--he's a rookie making rookie mistakes. The funny thing is that Alan Gordon makes the same freaking mistakes and he's no rookie.

Yeah, Ethan Allen furniture. I actually thought I messed up his name when I first posted that but said F it and hit submit. No kidding about Gordon. Gordon is either decent or brutal. He's never great. His bicycle last year in Superliga was pretty badass though. All things considered I am actually really impressed with the kids in LA. What a difference a year makes.

 

[Chaplin]

Yeah, Ethan Allen furniture. I actually thought I messed up his name when I first posted that but said F it and hit submit. No kidding about Gordon. Gordon is either decent or brutal. He's never great. His bicycle last year in Superliga was pretty badass though. All things considered I am actually really impressed with the kids in LA. What a difference a year makes.

Amen to that. Sean Franklin and Brandon McDonald are quietly having 2 of the best rookie years in MLS right now.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I got to go to the LA/KC game the other night, way cool to see Beckham score from the opposite field, as well as see Donovan get a goal as well.

 

[Zeno]

MLS named 2008 League of the Year

Major League Soccer was recognized as part of the inaugural Sports Business Awards program, presented by Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily, the two leading publications on the business of sports. The Sports Business Awards recognize excellence and outstanding achievement in the sports industry for 2007.

MLS was chosen from five nominees for Professional Sports League of the Year including, in alphabetical order, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, National Football League and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20080530&content_id=162104&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp

No surprise it beat out the NBA & WTA but MLB & the NFL?
I know it doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things but I guess their business plan is working and it is getting recognition.

 

[Stout]

Major League Soccer was recognized as part of the inaugural Sports Business Awards program, presented by Street & Smith's SportsBusiness Journal and SportsBusiness Daily, the two leading publications on the business of sports. The Sports Business Awards recognize excellence and outstanding achievement in the sports industry for 2007.

MLS was chosen from five nominees for Professional Sports League of the Year including, in alphabetical order, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer, National Basketball Association, National Football League and the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour.

http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20080530&content_id=162104&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp

No surprise it beat out the NBA & WTA but MLB & the NFL?
I know it doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things but I guess their business plan is working and it is getting recognition.

Yeah, any organization that names MLS the league of the year loses all credibility on the spot. Has it improved, and do I hope it will continue to do so? Yes. Is it even in the same ballpark as the NFL? That's like saying Laurel High School (my H.S.) is a tougher team than the Steelers.

 

[Chaplin]

Yeah, any organization that names MLS the league of the year loses all credibility on the spot. Has it improved, and do I hope it will continue to do so? Yes. Is it even in the same ballpark as the NFL? That's like saying Laurel High School (my H.S.) is a tougher team than the Steelers.

You make it sound like they are basing it on size, rather than quality. A small company can easily be run better than a large one. And it has nothing whatsoever to do with "toughness".

 

[Stout]

You make it sound like they are basing it on size, rather than quality. A small company can easily be run better than a large one. And it has nothing whatsoever to do with "toughness".

The toughness comparison wasn't between leagues--it's simply a comparison based on two organizations on completely different wave lengths. Certainly a small company can be run better than a large company; that's a given. It's also a given that the NFL is run better on every single level than the MLS. I'm not sure how an argument can really be made against that.

 

[Chaplin]

The toughness comparison wasn't between leagues--it's simply a comparison based on two organizations on completely different wave lengths. Certainly a small company can be run better than a large company; that's a given. It's also a given that the NFL is run better on every single level than the MLS. I'm not sure how an argument can really be made against that.

I'm curious as to how you consider yourself more knowledgeable than an organization that claims to be in the business of doing these sorts of things.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I just find it a little easier to put more credence in the organization versus your opinion. That sounds bad, I know, but honestly, I'm just wondering at your justification, if any, beyond just being a bigger fan of the NFL fan versus MLS.

 

[Stout]

I'm curious as to how you consider yourself more knowledgeable than an organization that claims to be in the business of doing these sorts of things.

I'm not saying you're wrong, I just find it a little easier to put more credence in the organization versus your opinion. That sounds bad, I know, but honestly, I'm just wondering at your justification, if any, beyond just being a bigger fan of the NFL fan versus MLS.

Becaus IMO, and probably in the opinion of most rational people involved with both leagues, the NFL is run better from top to bottom. Do the low-end players in the NFL live below the poverty level? Which is the better marketed league? About the only thing the MLS has on the NFL is a lack of legal troubles from its stars. Sure, that organization can say whatever they want, but I'm not buying it.

 

[gr000000vy]

LOL it's a friggin joke that MLS won league of the year.. maybe they won because of there ability to screw the lower end players and save a couple of bucks?

one good thing about this season with the West sucking it up so bad, maybe they will finally go to a single table......

 

[Chaplin]

Then again, I don't think it's inconceivable that this organization took into consideration steroids, gambling referees and spying on other team's calls. Whether that mattered or not, we'll never know.

 

[Mulli]

LOL it's a friggin joke that MLS won league of the year.. maybe they won because of there ability to screw the lower end players and save a couple of bucks?

one good thing about this season with the West sucking it up so bad, maybe they will finally go to a single table......

Single table? Interesting? Would the American public buy into that? Can you have "playoffs" with a single table?