MLS Latest
Previewing the 1st Leg of the MLS Conference Finals
Monday, 21 November 2016 05:38

After a long layoff of 16 days, the Major League Soccer playoffs will resume on Tuesday with the first leg of the Eastern and Western Conference finals. 

The opening match of the doubleheader will be played inside the Olympic Stadium in Montreal between Canadian rivals Montreal Impact and Toronto FC. 

The second contest features the best defensive team in MLS, the Colorado Rapids, against the dynamic Seattle Sounders led by attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro.

The major plot twist in the Western Conference final is the appearance of Zac MacMath in the Colorado net after Tim Howard suffered an injury on duty with the United States men's national team. 

Below is a preview of both of Tuesday's contests in the MLS Cup play-offs. 

           

Toronto FC at Montreal Impact (Tuesday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN) 

The Eastern Conference final is the biggest moment to date for Canadian soccer in MLS.

Toronto and Montreal are heated rivals in every other sport, and the two-legged showdown with a spot in the MLS Cup final on the line will bring a new element to the clash of prominent sports towns. 

"Each time we play these games they're more meaningful than the last," Toronto FC manager Greg Vanney said. "This rivalry continues to grow and become more exciting and more interesting for the fans." 

Instead of playing at Montreal's regular home field, Stade Saputo, the first leg was changed to the Olympic Stadium, where close to 60,000 fans are expected to be in attendance. 

"This is going to be special," Montreal midfielder Patrice Bernier said. "It’s great to see the crowd has responded and we’re able to fill the Big O with 60,000 people." 

“Soccer is the most beautiful and popular sport in the world and it deserves huge attendance, and we can only be more inspired by more people, so the more people, the better for us," Toronto forward Sebastian Giovinco said through a translator.  "It’s more exciting for everybody." 

The Reds are looking for revenge from last year's knockout-round game in which the Impact blitzed Toronto by a 3-0 score at Stade Saputo. 

"We have enough guys on the roster who remember last year, and we were embarrassed on that day," Vanney said. "Our mindset and mentality will be different than it was last year." 

In order to keep the hosts at bay inside the packed house in Montreal, the Reds have to keep Ignacio Piatti from creating a good amount of attacking opportunities. 

The goal for the Reds isn't just to stop Piatti when he's on the ball, it's also to have an eye on the Argentine a few steps before he makes his first touch. 

"For me, what sets him apart is his recognition in his craft to anticipate when transitions are going to happen and to be one step ahead of the opposition when those moments happen," Vanney said.

"For us, we have to be aware of him at all times, especially when we have possession of the ball, making sure that in those moments when he separates, we have a keen awareness of where he is. We have to be organized and aware of his surroundings." 

The same can be said for how the Impact have to mark Giovinco and Jozy Altidore in Toronto's quest for an away goal. The pair of forwards have been tremendous throughout the postseason for the Reds, who are looking to cash in on all their big investments from the last few years with an MLS Cup. 

One of the biggest battles will be waged in midfield between Toronto's Michael Bradley and Bernier. How the power struggle in midfield goes may depend on what formation the Reds utilize. Vanney has brought out the 3-5-2 in recent matches, but he also deploys a 4-4-2 diamond as well.

The Impact's tactics are pretty straightforward. Because of Piatti's technical ability, the Impact are a quick-strike team on the counter. They've also found a consistent scorer in Italian Matteo Mancosu, who bagged a brace in the knockout-round win over D.C. United. 

"He’s given us a different look up front in terms of his profile and quality," Montreal boss Mauro Biello said. "He’s been able to get in behind and constantly be in movement. These are all things that have benefited our team." 

There's a good chance this match won't end scoreless, which means the first goal could be critical in determining the pace of play. 

           

Colorado Rapids at Seattle Sounders (Tuesday, 10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1) 

MacMath has received a ton of attention since he was thrust into the starting role following Howard's injury against Mexico in CONCACAF World Cup qualifying. 

The Colorado netminder is no stranger to thriving between the pipes, as he earned six clean sheets in 17 matches before Howard arrived from Everton in July. 

"I think he’s proved that he’s a first-choice keeper in this league," Colorado head coach Pablo Mastroeni said. "He’s fantastic with his feet and great in distribution. He has a great goals-against average this year." 

"Zac’s familiar with the back line," Mastroeni continued. "He’s familiar with the group. This is not about individuals, this is about a collective effort and finding a way to beat Seattle." 

The team approach has helped the Rapids survive injuries during the season to Jermaine Jones, Shkelzen Gashi, Kevin Doyle and now Howard. 

The Rapids possess one of the most underrated midfield duos in the league in Sam Cronin and Michael Azira, while Axel Sjoberg is as good as they come at center-back. Add in Jones to the spine of the squad, and you have a side capable of silencing the dynamic Sounders. 

Lodeiro is the focal point of Colorado's defensive game plan. The Uruguayan scored four goals and contributed eight assists in 13 regular-season matches, and he's added a trio of postseason tallies. 

“The guys have played against the best forwards in the league week in and week out," MacMath said. "We have to continue to defend as a group and let the guys make decisions during the game that they think are best to help us keep a clean sheet in Seattle." 

Seattle's been on a meteoric rise since Brian Schmetzer took over for Sigi Schmid as manager. The Sounders were left for dead at the end of July, but they fought back to earn the fourth seed in the Western Conference. 

“Every game since we’ve taken over has been a must-win game," Schmetzer said. "Every single game we’ve had to this date has had a big meaning." 

In addition to Lodeiro in the playmaking role, the Sounders will need a strong performance out of midfield bulldog Osvaldo Alonso, who will be fighting to control the match through ferocious tackles and a possession-based game. 

Seattle also contains plenty of threats on set pieces, but they will have to deal with the 6'7" Sjoberg when they launch crosses into the box. 

"Nico’s delivery has been tremendous," Schmetzer said. "We know Colorado is the best team in the league defensively, and we will just go out there and play Seattle Sounders soccer. If we create enough opportunities, I think we have the quality to be able to finish one of those." 

Colorado won't sit back and defend for 90 minutes given the importance of the away goals in the series, but this match should be a little less open than the one in Montreal. A 1-0 final wouldn't be shocking. 

         

Joe Tansey covers MLS for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter; @JTansey90. 

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained firsthand.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here

Write comment (0 Comments)
 
Deloitte Study Suggests U.S. Soccer Could Benefit from Promotion/Relegation
Monday, 21 November 2016 09:08

Whenever the topic of promotion and relegation gets brought up in the American soccer community, a long and heated debate takes place. 

The latest addition to the conversation comes from a Deloitte study commissioned by Silva International Investments. 

"What we’re hoping is that the report and the analysis become part of the debate straight away," Deloitte's head of Sport Business Group Dan Jones said in a phone conversation with Bleacher Report. "And that debate needs to take place on the philosophical and strategic level of: Is promotion/relegation something that is felt to be desirable for soccer in the United States." 

The study states the American soccer pyramid would be able to sustain an open-league system, but it puts no specific timetable on when it should occur. 

“We quite deliberately haven’t put timelines on this because I don’t think it’s our place to do so," Jones said. "I think there would definitely be a lot of detail to be worked through, so it’s certainly not in any sense a prudent thing to do and flick the switch overnight and say we’re going to go from a closed-league system to an open-league system.

"What the report hopes to do is be a thoughtful contribution to that debate and hopefully we would say that there’s clear merit from introducing promotion/relegation and there are also clear challenges, but all of those challenges are capable of being met and dealt with." 

Most of the biggest challenges facing promotion and relegation are financial. Some would argue that an open-league system would detract owners from investing in clubs, but the conductors of the report concluded that ownership in European clubs by American owners could be a precedent for the risk involved in introducing the system. 

"Our reflective reaction here in Europe is that U.S. investors are used to closed-league systems to guarantee profits and that’s the model they use," Jones said. "We’ve seen plenty of U.S. investors come over in European soccer. Clearly there is an appetite among U.S. investors to invest in soccer without those guarantees." 

"People are willing to invest and back themselves and put their money where their mouth is―whether that’s in search for economic or emotional return or a combination of the two," Jones added.

"There is something there that is attractive and interesting about that. I don’t think it’s as simple as to say an idea of an open league would spook all U.S. investors. What’s definitely true is the guys who have invested to date would look at it as a new big economic risk." 

The report also suggests a phased transition could be used to implement promotion/relegation in the United States to ensure a safe switch from a closed- to open-league system. 

“The most obvious element of transition is not to have straight promotion/relegation right away, but to have a promotion/relegation playoff," Jones stated. "The lowest-finishing teams in the top tier face the highest-finishing teams in the lower tier. If the teams trying to come up are good enough, they’ll win the playoff on merit. I think that’s an obvious transitional provision." 

In a survey of 1,000 fans conducted by Deloitte, a ratio of over 8-to-1 fans are in favor of introducing promotion and relegation to the American soccer pyramid. Eighty-eight percent of the supporters questioned believe an open-league system would be beneficial to club soccer in the United States. 

Jones also noted an ESPN FC  MLS player survey from March 2016 in which 49 percent of the players surveyed favored promotion and relegation. 

The interest in promotion/relegation's potential success continues to grow, but the reality is the American soccer pyramid isn't close to getting there yet. 

There's an argument about whether the North American Soccer League or United Soccer League should be the true second division beneath MLS, or if both leagues should be given second-division status. Currently, the NASL is the second division in the United States. 

However, a shakeup is set to take place heading into the 2017 season, as the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Ottawa Fury will move to the USL from NASL. 

The USL may seem like it's ready to assume second-division status, but the majority of the clubs in the league have direct affiliations with MLS sides.

All 20 of the clubs who participated in MLS in 2016 have some sort of affiliation with teams in the USL, 11 of which are direct feeder teams including LA Galaxy II, New York Red Bulls II and FC Montreal among others. 

Despite the challenges presented by the conflicts in the lower leagues, Jones believes the hurdles can be overcome at some point down the road. 

“To the point of affiliate or feeder clubs, in European soccer you have that in Spain with the B teams of the bigger clubs playing in the lower divisions," Jones said. "None of these things are insurmountable. There are nuances and complications that need to be brought in mind, but none of these things are insurmountable.

"They could all be dealt with. I think from the analysis that we’ve done, there are very strong arguments for, and the arguments against are very real, but they’re all capable of being managed if people believe in the benefits of promotion/relegation." 

If promotion and relegation is instituted in the United States, Jones suggests certain criteria should also be met for certain clubs to secure first-tier status. 

“Have criteria around those things and have them with a grace period, like a two-year grace period when you first come up to get the stadium in shape or what have you," Jones said. "The examples in other countries reflect that.

"There was a period when in England, in terms of promotion from the fifth tier to the fourth tier, there was a three-year period where the winners from the league below didn’t meet the criteria and therefore didn’t come up. You can put these criteria in place to try and make sure you don’t damage what you already have." 

The challenges are still evident in American soccer, whether it be continued expansion in MLS, development teams in USL or financial troubles in NASL, but the Deloitte study exudes confidence that one day promotion and relegation could be implemented down the road.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here

Write comment (0 Comments)
 
Steven Gerrard to Depart LA Galaxy: Latest Comments and Reaction
Tuesday, 15 November 2016 11:25

L.A. Galaxy have announced former England captain Steven Gerrard is set to leave the MLS club following the conclusion of his deal with the Californian team. 

The club's official website shared the news, revealing the Liverpool legend will not return for the 2017 season.

The midfielder joined coach Bruce Arena's outfit in 2015 after opting to leave the Premier League and has scored five goals and provided 14 assists in 34 MLS appearances, per the club's official website.

Gerrard explained his disappointment in not securing silverware during his stint in the United States, per the website:

When I left Liverpool, I came to Los Angeles with the goal of helping the Galaxy lift another MLS Cup. I am of course disappointed to have not achieved that objective, but I can look back at my time at the club with pride at what we accomplished, including two straight playoff appearances and countless memorable moments on the pitch.

He also thanked the organization and the fans for a positive experience:

I would like to thank Mr. Anschutz, Dan Beckerman, Chris Klein and Bruce Arena for this opportunity. I would also like to thank my teammates, the coaching staff, all of the support staff and most importantly the fans for their fantastic support during my time at Galaxy; I am excited to see this league and this great club continue to grow. I am now looking forward to spending time with my family as I consider the next stage of my career.

Arena led the tributes to Gerrard once the iconic individual made his decision to part company with Los Angeles, per the club's official website:

We were honored to have a player and person of Steven’s caliber represent the LA Galaxy over the past two seasons. His experience, class and leadership made him a valuable member of this team both on and off the field. I will always remember his last kick for the LA Galaxy as he smashed home his penalty against Tim Howard. We thank Steven for his time and contributions to this club and we wish him the best in whatever comes next. He is one of the most iconic players of all-time and he will always be a part of the LA Galaxy family.

Gerrard is one of the most lauded players of his generation, famous for his heroic efforts at Anfield and on the international stage.

The 36-year-old made his Liverpool debut in 1998 and captained the Reds to a number of trophies, including the 2005 UEFA Champions League against AC Milan—one of the most fabled finals in the modern era, as the Merseyside giants recovered from a three-goal deficit.

Gerrard has cemented his position as a Premier League great after his years of service to Liverpool, but he was unable to bring glory back to L.A during his short time at the StubHub Centre.

His departure leaves a gap in the club's squad for next season, and the Galaxy will want to attract a big name from Europe or South America to fill the void.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here

Write comment (0 Comments)
 
Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard Underline That MLS Is No Retirement Home
Thursday, 17 November 2016 07:19

There is a certain quirk in the universe’s space-time continuum, perhaps something cosmically charged, something written in the stars, that links Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard. For as long as the two have been professional footballers, their careers have intertwined in one way or another.

One cannot exist without the other. They are each other’s reference point.

So considering how Gerrard and Lampard were Premier League stars at the same time, played for England at the same and made the move to the United States at the same time, it was little surprise that they both announced their decision to leave Major League Soccer in the same week, within 24 hours of each other.

After 18 months Stateside, Gerrard is departing the L.A. Galaxy with Lampard similarly calling time on his stint at New York City FC. Neither player has divulged much beyond that, with both thought to be considering one last spell as a player somewhere in Europe. But to continue the theme, Gerrard and Lampard are leaving behind a similar legacy in MLS.

While most North American fans would admit there was a certain novelty to having two players of such repute playing in the league, neither Gerrard nor Lampard truly excelled Stateside. Gerrard’s spell was especially disappointing, with his time at the L.A. Galaxy becoming synonymous with a period of underachievement for MLS’s most illustrious club.

The Liverpool legend never really fitted in at StubHub Center. Manager Bruce Arena did his best to accommodate Gerrard in a team that didn’t have a natural role for him, but the former England captain was something of a misfit for the 18 months he was in California.

“When I left Liverpool, I came to Los Angeles with the goal of helping the Galaxy lift another MLS Cup,” Gerrard said via a statement published on the L.A. Galaxy’s website on Tuesday (h/t the Guardian). 

“I am of course disappointed to have not achieved that objective, but I can look back at my time at the club with pride at what we accomplished, including two straight playoff appearances and countless memorable moments on the pitch. I am now looking forward to spending time with my family as I consider the next stage of my career.”

Lampard fared a little better in New York, netting an impressive 15 goals in 29 appearances for NYCFC. But that’s just it—the former Chelsea midfielder struggled to make the field over the course of his time in MLS, whether that was down to injuries or his ill-advised loan spell with Manchester City when his new club needed him most.

It was during this time that Lampard became a figure of hate at a club he hadn’t even played a game for yet. His own supporters implored him to go home, making the point that if he didn’t want to be in New York for the first few months of the season, he shouldn’t be there at all. He eventually endeared himself to the sometimes volatile New York City FC support, but his MLS legacy had already been tainted by then.

But the duo did succeed in underlining an important point about MLS in their time Stateside. The American game has long struggled with its reputation as a retirement home for fading European stars.

It’s true that once the country’s top flight was the domain of those wishing to pick up one final paycheque before calling time on their careers. That is no longer the case, though, and Gerrard and Lampard’s time over there illustrates that.

Gerrard in particular never truly committed to the task at hand with the L.A. Galaxy. He moved to California for the lifestyle, admitting that much upon signing for the club. He highlighted upon signing for the Galaxy how Los Angeles as a city had been a draw for himself and his family, as per the L.A. Galaxy website. In truth, that’s what he moved to MLS for. That’s what he is leaving behind.

Questions were asked of Lampard’s commitment to the cause as well, with the midfielder seemingly more intent on initially using NYCFC as a way to prolong his Premier League career, joining sister club Manchester City on loan for a season and only making the switch to MLS midway through the 2015 campaign. It made the wrong statement about what the former England international wanted from his time in New York.

Even when both players were present and playing, things didn’t come easily to them. Lampard took until the summer of 2016 to find his place in Patrick Vieira’s team, enjoying a spurt of eight goals in eight games over June and July. Gerrard, on the other hand, never showed his true ability for the L.A. Galaxy.

The Carson club has seen some great Designated Players over the years—David Beckham and Landon Donovan to name just a couple—but Gerrard didn’t add his name to such a revered list.

So given the struggles of both Gerrard and Lampard, will MLS finally shed its image as a place footballers go to enjoy a comfortable close to their careers?

It’s a league that takes a lot to succeed in. The quality of play certainly isn’t as high as it is in the Premier League or elsewhere in Europe, but it mustn’t be understated just how taxing the travelling and conditions are on players, even the very best ones. That is what Gerrard and Lampard discovered for themselves.

Of course, MLS will continue to court big names as long as it wants to grow. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney have recently been linked with a move across the Atlantic, per John Cross and James Nursey of the Mirror, and as David Villa and Sebastian Giovinco have shown, big names can enjoy big success in MLS, but only if they grasp exactly what they are getting themselves into. 

MLS isn’t easy. Thierry Henry was considered a success for the New York Red Bulls, yet for all his efforts, he failed to win the MLS Cup he wanted to end his career with so badly. That almost says as much about the quality of the North American game as much as anything Beckham said or did during his time there.

Derision of MLS is still common in European footballing circles, but Gerrard and Lampard’s spells at the L.A. Galaxy and New York City FC respectively underline how there is no longer a basis for such an opinion. Given the parallels drawn between their two careers, it was fitting they discovered that at the same time.

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here

Write comment (0 Comments)
 
Frank Lampard to Leave New York City FC: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
Monday, 14 November 2016 09:44

New York City FC have confirmed that Frank Lampard is to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the MLS season.

The team announced the decision on their official Twitter feed:

In a statement on their website, the 38-year-old thanked those who had made his time with the franchise memorable. 

“My team-mates have been a pleasure to play alongside. The amazing fans have given me incredible support and backing,” he said. “I have very much enjoyed my time, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to play for such a great club and in such an incredible city.”

Bleacher Report UK also reacted to the news:

Lampard, described as “the most prolific goal-scoring midfielder of his generation” in the statement, ends his time as a NYCFC player having turned out 31 times in the sky blue shirt, scoring an impressive 15 goals in the process.

Initially, things were tough in the States for Lampard, as injury problems and a loan to Manchester City in 2014 did little to curry favour among the New York fanbase; he was even booed by his own supporters in May this year when coming on as a substitute, with the team suffering an embarrassing 7-0 loss to rivals New York Red Bulls.

However, the former Chelsea man turned things around brilliantly. In July, he scored the first hat-trick in NYCFC’s history in a 5-1 win over Colorado Rapids, before netting key goals to help the team qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time ever. They were eventually eliminated by Toronto FC by a 7-0 aggregate scoreline.

As noted by Richard Jolly of ESPN, Lampard’s time in the United States added more gloss to his astonishing career record:

Indeed, Lampard is best remembered for his remarkable feats at Chelsea, where he established himself as one of the finest midfielders in the world. When he left the club in 2014, he did so as the leading scorer in the Blues’ history, having netted a remarkable 211 times.

During his time at Stamford Bridge, he also won the UEFA Champions League, as well as three Premier League titles and four FA Cups.

Naturally, questions will be asked about that the future holds for Lampard following his release. He has proved recently that he has what it takes to score goals at a decent standard, and he's still in tremendous shape—there's likely to be plenty of teams that’d love to have a man of his experience around.

In a statement on his Instagram account, the veteran has confirmed that he will be making an announcement "very soon" about his next move.  

Read more MLS news on BleacherReport.com

Source: Click Here

Write comment (0 Comments)
 
More Articles...
<< Start < Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next > End >>

Page 4 of 640