Major League Soccer 2008 Season thread

gr000000vy

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

i think you could.. just look at the Championship and league 1 and 2... i think the reason single tables haven't worked in USA is because there would be so much travel and the east would have an unfair advantage because there tends to be more teams playing in the east.. usually....
 
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Zeno

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

You can have a playoff but it just wouldn't be east vs west or conference versus conference. Everyone would just get seeded for a post season tourney based on their finish.
 
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Zeno

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"Walter Smith the Rangers boss also said that he hopes Rangers and La Galaxy could form a partnership were Rangers would send promsing youngsters to the American side, if in return Rangers would get first option on any players they wanted to buy. I hope This can turn out to be true as Football is growing vastly in America."

Thats the Rangers of the SPL.

To me personally that would be a great deal for MLS and its players. It would give MLS teams a chance to get young players on loans (quite possibly for free) and the only condition being you give your partner club first option on players. That would save money, help develop talent and put players on a path to furthering their careers.

It'll be interesting to see if such a deal can get done.

For the Galaxy imagine getting the best Rangers reserve or youth players for a season or 2. These players can make an impact for cheap playing while you don't have to run out the Alan Gordon's etc because you can't afford anyone with the salaries you pay to Beckham, Donovan & Ruiz.
 
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Zeno

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From the Long Beach Press Telegram...

Galaxy coach Ruud Gullit expressed his own displeasure that international matches take place without regard for the MLS season.

"It's strange you don't stop the competition for international competition," Gullit said. "It would be good if players have a little bit of a breather."


I don't think he is questioning the International matches as much as questioning the stupidity of MLS not to observe Int'l dates. Welcome to the stupidity that is MLS, he probably would have blown a gasket had he had to coach the Galaxy in that fiasco of a schedule last year.
 
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Zeno

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Did anyone see the highlight of New Englands second goal against Houston? It honestly looked like the Dynamo goalkeeper was trying to get out of the way rather than trying to stop the shot...he didn't even put his hands up just turned away from the ball.

Also if anyone deserves a call up to the Nat'l team its Matt Reis he has looked awesome all season...not sure his age. No I don't expect him to take Howards place but he can have his place with the team.
 
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Zeno

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The DC LA match is actually a pretty good one especially when you consider how hot and humid it is here right now. I had considered going to the game but the combo of the heat and the fact I didn't buy tickets weeks ago (and I didn't want to sit in the nosebleeds) has me watching on TV.
 

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Did anyone see the highlight of New Englands second goal against Houston? It honestly looked like the Dynamo goalkeeper was trying to get out of the way rather than trying to stop the shot...he didn't even put his hands up just turned away from the ball.

Also if anyone deserves a call up to the Nat'l team its Matt Reis he has looked awesome all season...not sure his age. No I don't expect him to take Howards place but he can have his place with the team.
He's already 33, but I'm still a little surprised that he has only had two caps for the US.
 

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The DC LA match is actually a pretty good one especially when you consider how hot and humid it is here right now. I had considered going to the game but the combo of the heat and the fact I didn't buy tickets weeks ago (and I didn't want to sit in the nosebleeds) has me watching on TV.

The Galaxy SUCKED in that game. They were too passive and the center of their midfield was awful (Alvaro Pires, Ely Allen and Josh Tudela).
 
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Zeno

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The Galaxy SUCKED in that game. They were too passive and the center of their midfield was awful (Alvaro Pires, Ely Allen and Josh Tudela).

Pires stood out to be as being particularly awful.

In other news I hear Carlos Ruiz is on the trading block and Chivas USA really wants him, no idea what LA will get for him though. Ruiz didn't even make the trip to DC, the emergence of Buddle has made him expendable.
 

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Pires stood out to be as being particularly awful.

In other news I hear Carlos Ruiz is on the trading block and Chivas USA really wants him, no idea what LA will get for him though. Ruiz didn't even make the trip to DC, the emergence of Buddle has made him expendable.

If they do trade him, it better be for a defender (preferably a center defender) or a defensive midfielder. I'm sick of seeing Pires running all over the place and not doing anything to help the team.
 

gr000000vy

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anyone see Donovan's pre match interview? nothing earth shatterring was said.. "why on you on such a roll" blah blah blah....

But then one of his answers was about the team and it sounded like he really didn't care if LA won the conf, but as long as they get in the playoffs they will be fine...

Not blaming him, but this is just one reason the MLS is a joke... they got torched by DC Utd and in the grand scheme of things, it means absolutely nothing......
 

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anyone see Donovan's pre match interview? nothing earth shatterring was said.. "why on you on such a roll" blah blah blah....

But then one of his answers was about the team and it sounded like he really didn't care if LA won the conf, but as long as they get in the playoffs they will be fine...

Not blaming him, but this is just one reason the MLS is a joke... they got torched by DC Utd and in the grand scheme of things, it means absolutely nothing......

Basketball is the exact same way--when you have a large number of games to play, one blowout doesn't affect the bottom line most of the time. In fact, it's like that for ALL American sports except football.
 

gr000000vy

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Basketball is the exact same way--when you have a large number of games to play, one blowout doesn't affect the bottom line most of the time. In fact, it's like that for ALL American sports except football.

sure i don't disagree with that and again that is why the MLS will continue to be a joke in it's present format as long as you can make the playoffs who cares?....
 

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sure i don't disagree with that and again that is why the MLS will continue to be a joke in it's present format as long as you can make the playoffs who cares?....

I totally agree with you. As Americans we're sort of like sheep when it comes to sports. Sports teams have no problem mailing it in as long as they are "hot at the right time". Tell that to the family of 4 that spends hundreds of dollars to see their team lay an egg early in the season. It's all about the money that is spent in the playoffs. The journey is no longer important. That's part of the reason that baseball is so unbearable nowadays.
 

gr000000vy

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LOL too funny.. i'm sure most of you have seen this but i just caught it....

Cards' Rackers to practice with Red Bulls

Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers will practice with Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls on Tuesday at University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Red Bulls are in the Valley to play Chivas De Guadalajara at University of Phoenix Stadium at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Rackers also will attend the match to participate in the opening coin toss and present the MVP trophy afterward.

Rackers played soccer through high school at Aquinas-Mercy High School in St. Louis, leading the school to consecutive state titles.

The game between the Red Bulls and Chivas, Mexico's most popular team, is part of Chivas' preseason schedule. It will be Chivas De Guadalajara's second trip to University of Phoenix Stadium and the first for the Red Bulls.
 
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Zeno

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LOL too funny.. i'm sure most of you have seen this but i just caught it....

There was actually a short video of him on the AZCentral website, I'm too lazy to look to see if its still there. The Red Bulls probably could use him, they lost 2-0 to a USL Division 2 team despite being up a man for the entire second half in US Open Cup play. Houston & NY were the only 2 MLS teams eliminated so far (that I know of).

Hey is anyone excited about the MLS All Star game versus West Ham??? No?? Didn't think so....me either. What a joke.

I'll be in the middle of the Baltic Sea that day so it'll be the furthest thing from my mind otherwise I might have tuned in for a minute or 2--or not.
 

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There was actually a short video of him on the AZCentral website, I'm too lazy to look to see if its still there. The Red Bulls probably could use him, they lost 2-0 to a USL Division 2 team despite being up a man for the entire second half in US Open Cup play. Houston & NY were the only 2 MLS teams eliminated so far (that I know of).

Hey is anyone excited about the MLS All Star game versus West Ham??? No?? Didn't think so....me either. What a joke.

I'll be in the middle of the Baltic Sea that day so it'll be the furthest thing from my mind otherwise I might have tuned in for a minute or 2--or not.

For someone that seems to hate the MLS so much, you talk an awful lot about it. There are a ton of leagues out there, why torture yourself with the MLS if it's so bad? Just curious.
 
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Zeno

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For someone that seems to hate the MLS so much, you talk an awful lot about it. There are a ton of leagues out there, why torture yourself with the MLS if it's so bad? Just curious.

I hardly hate MLS I've been to about 5 United games this year. I like the league, United is my favorite team. I just think Red Bulls are a joke for losing to a USL-2 team despite being a man up for most of the match and the MLS All Star game is absolutely stupid and a waste of time...and to schedule the game against WEST HAM?? They couldn't do better than that?

MLS does need to do some work...fix the salary cap and go to a single table are my 2 biggest beefs. Its a work in progress though but I think its getting better.

Chivas lost tonight too--to the Seattle Sounders (USL-1) 2-0...so 3 MLS teams out of Open Cup play on their first night in the competition(Hou, NY are the others).
 

gr000000vy

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The Rapids lost to the Sounder last season like 9- nil... ouch.....

I think until they really throw money at teh US Open, teams won;t take it serious...

Would be great for a single table... a lot of money at the US Open so teams WANTED to win and then hold some sort of playoffs to ease all the casual fans....
 
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Zeno

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Oh and MLS needs to start observing Int'l dates too. Already Gullitt and Carver have bitched about that...someone needs to start listening to these players, fans and coaches.

little things...like groovy said you can have a playoff format with a single table just seed the teams based on their standings and forget about conference affiliation.
 
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Zeno

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Chivas De Guadalajara 2 DC United ...Moreno had his PK attempt saved late that would have tied it. I think Gallardo would have made a difference in this game for DC but he was out.

Good start to the tournament though...fairly entertaining game.
 

gr000000vy

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i think it would be GREAT if he actually decided to move to the prem... I'll believe it when i see it though...

What surprised me about that link you posted though was what the Toronto coach had to say about some of his players cunningham and wynne... I hope he gets fired because you NEVER throw your players under the bus like that...

Carver blasts Cunningham, Wynne

Toronto FC head coach John Carver had to believe his club had found a miracle when a loose ball sat near the goal-line just waiting to be kicked in. Forward Jeff Cunningham was right near the ball but couldn't put it in, which forced TFC to settle for a 1-1 tie against Montreal on Tuesday night. The tie cost Toronto a berth in the CONCACAF Champions Cup.

"I'm thinking How has he scored 99 goals?'," Carver said of Cunningham's failure to find the game-winning goal in that late scramble. "That's what I thought. How has he scored 99 goals in this league, because, if you're a poacher and you've got desire, no matter how you put the ball over the line you put the ball over the line."

Carver repeatedly stated TFC's desperate need for help at forward, saying the team needs two new forwards to get out of its current funk.

"When we're having to depend on a 16-year-old boy to be our lead striker I think that tells you everything," said Carver, referring to Abdus Ibrahim, who started as the lone striker in Toronto's 4-5-1.

Carver didn't just bash Cunningham. He saved some venom for U.S. Olympic team defender Marvell Wynne, who played his last game before joining U.S. Olympic training camp in California.

"I had to try and get my fullbacks involved in the game to try and create something," Carver said. "Unfortunately, when the fullbacks did get into the final third the lack of quality, certainly down the right-hand side, was disappointing.

"This is a guy who's going away to play in the Olympics."
 

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