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MLS News
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Sunday, 22 March 2009 19:06 |
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Landon Donovan scored two goals in the final 10 minutes to give the Los Angeles Galaxy a 2-2 tie with D.C. United on Sunday in the MLS opener for both teams. Christian Gomez and Chris Pontius scored for D.C. United, which built a 2-0 lead after 62 minutes before Donovan brought his team all the way back.
“Landon is going to get better,” Galaxy coach Bruce Arena said. “His fitness has to get better and he has to get a little sharper on the ball. But over the next month or so, we expect Landon really to get into good form.”
Donovan, who led Major League Soccer with 20 goals last year, broke the shutout with a penalty kick in the 80th minute. United’s Rodney Wallace committed a handball in the penalty area to give the Galaxy the kick.
Then in the 86th minute, Donovan tied the score by beating three defenders and heading Kyle Patterson’s left-wing crossing pass from six yards.
“On the second goal, I took a chance and made a run into a good spot,” said Donovan, who added that playing with Germany’s Bayern Munich for two months helped him anticipate plays. When the right service comes, a ball gets knocked down or a play breaks up, I’m ready for it. I’ve been sharper in trying to take advantage of opportunities that aren’t necessarily great chances but can become good.”
Gomez made a penalty kick in the 44th minute after being fouled in the penalty area by the Galaxy’s Dema Kovalenko. Pontius, a rookie from UC Santa Barbara, scored his first goal in the 62nd minute on a curving 18-yard shot.
“I think the second goal actually woke us up,” Donovan said of Pontius’ score. “At the beginning of the second half, we came out a little bit timid and unsure.”
D.C. United’s Ben Olsen played his first game since June 29. Olsen, who was replaced in the 72nd minute, missed all but one game last season because of slow recovery from ankle surgery.
<a href="http://www.socialmarker.com" mce_href="http://www.socialmarker.com" >Social Bookmarking</a>Source: Click Here
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MLS News
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Sunday, 22 March 2009 16:59 |
Around the league it was a good opening week for the rookies. Many showed well.
On Thursday, Jeremy Hall had the job of trying to wake the Red Bulls up as a sub early on and fared pretty well. Number one draft pick Steve Zakuani got on late for Sanna Nyassi and looked strong continuing to threaten the slow RBNY defense. That right side for Seattle is going to be a big problem for defenders all year.
In Kansas City, former Maryland Terp Graham Zusi started for the Wizards in a losing effort to Toronto FC. Zusi had an underwhelming debut getting his pocket picked by Jim Brennan who eventually capitalized on a nice TFC move.
The Reds prevailed with two of their draft picks in the starting line-up getting great efforts from Wake Forest man Sam Cronin and big goalkeeper Stefan Frei. Frei was never really threatened other than Davy Arnaud's two rockets with which he could do nothing but watch.
Head on over to Houston where the other UPenn graduate, Alex Grendi, influenced a Columbus tie, a better outcome than fellow Quaker Danny Cepero's 3-0 loss to the Sounders.
Grendi was the Crew's fourth round pick and replaced Robbie Rogers in the 46th minute, ultimately assisting on Guillermo Barros Schelloto's equalizer. Not a bad way to start your MLS career.
Kevin Alston - New England fullback
Despite being outshot and at times, outplayed by San Jose, New England grabbed the away win with the help of two rookies, Darrius Barnes and Kevin Alston. The two were a big part of a tight New England defense that was able to hold off constant attacks from Bobby Convey, Darren Huckerby, Ryan Johnson, and Arturo Alvarez.
A busy weekend at the Home Depot Center with Chivas USA and Los Angeles home matches producing a lot of first chances for the the new blood.
In the Chivas USA match, starring Paulo Nagamura, Wake Forest midfielder Michael Lahoud entered in the 54th minute right before Nagamura unleashed his double salvo. In the Galaxy-DC United, United fielded the hardworking Chris Pontius up front with another Terp Rodney Wallace making his debut as well.
The Galaxy gave First Kick starts to AJ DeLaGarza and Omar Gonzalez, both former Terps. Are we starting to see a pattern here? MLS is high on Maryland with four former Terps grabbing starts this weekend—DeLaGarza, Zusi, Gonzalez and Wallace—and another coming off the bench.
Regardless, the presence of Gonzalez and DeLaGarza wasn't enough to keep DC United from scoring two but with the help of fourth-round pick Kyle Patterson's assist on the Donovan equalizer, the Gals were save a point after a rough start.
CHI's ROOKIE OF THE WEEK: Chris Pontius
None of the SuperDraftees were as impressive this week as DC United's Chris Pontius. The versatile forward scored his first MLS goal in style with a fantastic curler from the edge of the box to put United up 2-0.
His work in preseason has drawn rave reviews and it's good to see him hit the ground running. It was Rodney Wallace who provided him with the assist. The rookies got it done as part of the United offense, but ultimately the win wasn't to be as Donovan and some unfavorable ref decisions got in the way of a good DC start.
I will get the clip of Pontius' goal once it surfaces. The goal, however, might at least stop people from throwing out the Party Boy references. Doubtful, but there's a chance...Source: Click Here
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MLS News
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Sunday, 22 March 2009 06:30 |
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FIFA, how I love thee.
FIFA has taught me all that I know about soccer, what everyone outside of America calls football.
I am "the sporty boy next door," as my girlfriend likes to describe me, because sports are completely up my alley. I love sports, and all competition, for that matter. Shoot, get a beer pong tournament together, and I'm there.
I am in love with the NFL and NBA, have a fascination with the MLB, enjoy the NHL, and PGA tour, and can stand NASCAR, MMA, college sports, tennis, and cricket, but didn't know a single thing about soccer. That is, pre-FIFA days.
FIFA, for those of you that don't know, is an extremely addictive soccer video game that is completely and specifically devoted to the replication of soccer at its best, put out by EA Sports. The FIFA I am describing is FIFA '08 on the Playstation 3 (My roommate's).
When playing FIFA, you can play as the very bad Colorado Rapids, or the great Barcelona, or Chelsea teams. Due to FIFA, I now understand who those great teams are, and why they are among the elite in the world.
What is amazing about soccer is that there are exceptionally talented soccer players on almost any team out there. From Ronaldinho, to Villa, to Fernandez, a FIFA player can try all these big names' skills out for themselves.
Probably the most stunning aspect about soccer that I have learned from FIFA is that literally EVERYONE in the world plays it! A player of FIFA can play as Poland, USA, or some abstract Brazilian team. If you can imagine the match up, FIFA can bring it to you.
FIFA makes a layman fan of soccer realize it really is "The World's Game."
FIFA has also introduced me to certain aspects of soccer that I had previously not known.
The cross is an awesomely effective offensive play, in which the offender attempts to head in a score.
Offside is running past all the defenders, which, unlike basketball, is a bad thing in soccer. Most of all, there is only one referee that calls penalties, the other two just call offside.
Playing FIFA and accordingly, watching real soccer, has opened my eyes to why international NBA players flop so much. Soccer players can get fouls on almost no contact at all, similar to the NBA in 2009.
The last great thing about FIFA is that it translates into the user becoming a fan of the real sport.
I, along with my roommates, find ourselves watching Fox's soccer channel, tuning into UEFA and much lesser games alike. We enjoy watching soccer, now that we understand better what is actually going on.
This may be where soccer lacks in the US, commentators and the media need to explain soccer better to Joe six-pack. They need to break it down, much like commentators on the NFL on CBS, or NBC in John Madden.
That, and the MLS is horrible compared to any other soccer league on the planet.
If the MLS can attract bigger named players like it did with Beckham, and creates a competitive league, soccer has a future in the US.
If it continues on the road it is now, America will miss out on a great spectacle, "The World's Game." Source: Click Here
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Saturday, 21 March 2009 23:06 |
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The wait is finally over and the 2009 Major League Soccer finally kicked off this weekend. Here is a look at the games this weekend with some video highlights compliments of MLS.
Houston 1, Columbus 1
Guillermo Barros Schelotto scored in the 81st minute to give defending MLS champion Columbus a 1-1 season-opening tie against the Houston Dynamo.
Houston’s Brian Ching broke a scoreless game early in the second half when took a lead pass from Chris Wondolowski and scored from just outside the upper box.
The Crew tied the game when Jason Garey settled a loose ball with a header and Schelotto fired it just inside the left post.
Toronto 3, Kansas City 2
Amado Guevara scored twice in the second half, leading Toronto FC to its first win against Kansas City.
Jim Brennan also scored as Toronto overcame two thundering goals by Kansas City’s Davy Arnaud. Toronto, an expansion team in 2007, had scored only once in the team's six previous matches.
Toronto missed a chance to ice the game when Dwayne De Rosario put a penalty kick over the crossbar in the 80th minute, after a handball call against Michael Harrington.
Chicago 3, FC Dallas 1
Brian McBride scored the go-ahead goal on a penalty kick in the 51st minute to lead Chicago.
The Fire won at FC Dallas for the first time in 14 games despite surrendering Kenny Cooper’s goal on an amazing shot from inside his own half in the ninth minute. Check out the goal below.
Chicago’s Justin Mapp made it 1-1 on a 15-yard shot in the 38th minute, then McBride put his team ahead after FC Dallas defender Drew Moor was called for a hand ball in the penalty box early in the second half.
Cuauhtemoc Blanco added an insurance goal in the final seconds when he curled a free kick over a wall of defenders into the right corner of the net.
Revolution 1, Earthquakes 0
Kheli Dube scored in the 55th minute to give depleted New England a win over the Earthquakes. New England, missing four starters due to injury and another because of a league suspension, eked out its first victory in San Jose since 2000 despite being outshot 16-7.
The Earthquakes dominated play for much of the final hour but never could break through against New England goalkeeper Matt Reis, who made four saves to preserve the shutout.
Chivas USA 2, Rapids 1
Paulo Nagamura scored two second-half goals and Chivas USA won its home opener in four consecutive seasons. Omar Cummings scored for the Rapids.
Nagamura tied the score in the 55th minute on a 25-yard shot that rolled past Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens. Four minutes later, Nagamura fired a low hard shot from 15 yards out and tucked it into the back of the net.
Source: Click Here
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MLS News
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Saturday, 21 March 2009 10:00 |
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On Thursday night, I watched my favorite soccer league (or what 95 percent of the world in some variation refers to as football) kick off. The match was between corporate whores Red Bull New York and expansion franchise Seattle Sounders FC.
Qwest Field was packed, and it was great to see the city of Seattle happy again, especially to the tune of a 3-0 victory. They were the first MLS expansion team to score in their first game since the Chicago Fire did it in 1998.
The Fire also won the cup that year, so maybe Seattle is going to start seeing some happier days.
This is just the first of three planned expansion teams in the Northwest, and I have to say, it sounds like a good idea.
The Northwest has always been soccer crazy. In fact, the USL is a big deal out there, yes I know people reading this, you have no idea what the hell the USL is. Well here you go, American soccer is like European football in the fact that there's a pyramid.
What makes ours different though, is that there's no promotion or relegation. So an American way of expressing this would be...the USL is the minor league of the MLS, only without team affiliation.
Although, there is one odd, truly American form of promotion going on, and that's the better performing markets in the USL are entering the MLS as expansion franchises.
Seattle was the first, they were an excellent USL market and a stable choice for expansion which, to put lightly, hasn't always gone so well for the MLS.
Fast forward two years and it brings us to the MLS' most recent expansion franchises: Vancouver, BC and Portland, OR. Both of these cities are great USL towns with a lot of passion for the world's game.
Honestly, I think it's a fantastic decision by the MLS to place these teams in soccer hungry cities, especially ones within such a close proximity.
I should create fantastic rivalries, building off the ones that already existed in the Cascadia Cup days of the USL. In 2011, the northwest will be home to the best rivalries in the league.
A lot of people worried about if the MLS would make it, if North America could actually support a major soccer league, but if they keep making smart decisions like this, I think it will.
OTHER NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER RELATED NEWS:
The MLS' only current non-Northwest expansion team, Philadelphia, is hopefully close to announcing an official team name and color scheme, as they said it would come 30-45 days after the end of fan voting.
It has since been 44 days. Keep checking MLSPhilly2010 with us until we find out.
Also the uniforms and logos were unveiled for the upcoming Women's Professional Soccer. I know uniforms and logo aesthetics is my specialty, but I don't really want to go in depth with this, so I'll just toss out two logos I really love.
The first is the logo for the Chicago Red Stars. I love names that have meaning for their city, and I love it when the logo captures that. For those that don't know, the Chicago city flag is what the name is based off of and it's well incorporated into the logo.
Honestly, I think it's a bit cartoony, but it still does its job. If you're interested in learning more about Chicago's flag and why it is important to so many Chicagoans I suggest reading this.
Finally, the other logo that really just made me happy to see is that of the St. Louis Athletica. First off, that name is awesome. Athletica is not a real word, they instead took the word athletic and added a to the end which is prevalent around the world when a word is made feminine.
Then not only that, but the actual logo is amazing. Joan of Arc, that crest, the color scheme. I really don't see anything I dislike about it. I especially love that Saint Louis is spelled out.
So I'm the lucky person that gets to unveil our awesome: Sixty Feet, Six Inches Yeahhh Boyeeeee rating scale. It goes from zero to five yeahhh boyeeeees and features the yeahhh boyeeeee face of Sixty Feet, Six Inches writer Thomas.
Chicago Red Stars
Great representation of your city for a definite plus, but minus points for the cartooniness of your logo. I give it:
St. Louis Athletica
Everything about this logo is fantastic. It represents the team well, Joan of Arc is used as a very empowering symbol for a women's team and they spelled out Saint Louis. I will give it:
So that's all the soccer this blog can handle for now. I do follow the MLS, so let us be your source for MLS news, especially if you're just a casual fan.
Sixty Feet, Six Inches is an Indianapolis based sports blog covering a wide range of sports. If you like what you read here, check out our home page for more. Sixty Feet, Six InchesSource: Click Here
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Saturday, 21 March 2009 02:13 |
So...I have found myself reconsidering Operation Bubble Boy. That's due mainly to a single feature I used to do for Center Holds It: collective power rankings.
For those unfamiliar, here's a taste of what those once looked like (though only in the incarnation as I knew it, as opposed to what happened when Breton Bonnette took over...and ably).
I've been thinking a lot about the collective rankings since pulling the plug on reading online soccer news (though I cheated tonight to see what other BigSoccer bloggers were doing) and, yeah, I have to admit I miss the concept.
I can't think of a better way to capture the Major League Soccer (MLS) zeitgeist. Obviously, though, that requires reading other people's stuff...which runs contrary to the entire Bubble-Boy concept.
Before turning this over for a floor vote—and that assumes one happens—I want to elaborate on why I like the whole Bubble-Boy concept. Call it revolt against the New Media Age, the obsession with total information.
Why, when I was a lad, one couldn't do much more than follow the local club and look to the standings for everything else. Bulls**t, you say?
Well, yes, partially, but the point stands: you can sink as deeply into the info-swamp as you like in this Brave New World, but it's hard to make the case that all the information actually makes you smarter; it's more accurate to say you only have more information—it's what you do with it that counts.
OK. Tme for the floor vote. And if this ends 1-0 - e.g. if just one person says "collective rankings"—I'm doing what that one vote dictates. Speaking for myself, I don't care one way or the other; I like them both.
More significantly, though, I'm counting the votes in one place and only one place: the comments field.
In other words, if your vote doesn't go into the comments to this post—and only this post—it doesn't get counted. Voting closes at midnight on March 28. And, finally, here are the options for the Carey Talley Fan Club for the 2009 season:
1) I do the Collective Power Rankings, which means I reconnect to the world at large...and, by inevitable, translation, follow its whims.
2) I stick with Operation Bubble-Boy, a kind of performance-art approach to following soccer, that requires me to shun all online soccer media and report from a space separate from the normal world.
Vote how you like—e.g. either type "No. 1" or "No. 2" down below—or just tell me what you'd like to read most and elaborate to your liking (e.g. "both ideas are stupid, why did I click on this link"). Right. Thanks...and talk to you in two weeks.Source: Click Here
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Saturday, 21 March 2009 01:24 |
I hate to do this so cheaply and quickly, but I have many, many things still left to pack for a vacation and mime's a wastin'. Happily, however, both Thing No. 1 and Thing No. 2 chimed in for another people-on-the-ground report of how things looked on the ground during Seattle's inaugural match.
These will get the respect they deserve when I return from Disneyland...no, I'm not kidding, I'm going to Disneyland for the first time in my life...at 38. Holy crap, I'm old.
But my Sounders FC correspondents, young as spring chickens...at least at heart. I was going to write "Hope you enjoy," but that's silly. Enjoy game-day reports by Thing No. 1 and Thing No. 2. Seeing as Thing No. 1 got pride of place last time, let's give Thing No. 2 top billing this week.
Local Man Fights Through Cynicism and Enjoys Self at Inaugural Sounders FC Match
By Thing No. 2
Still a bit hung over, but hereSource: Click Here
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MLS News
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Friday, 20 March 2009 21:19 |
Eastern preview here. You don't have to read it if you don't want to. In fact, I'm sure you already have, or made an equally considered and informed decision not to.
Chivas USA
Who cares? It's barely worth the energy to hate these clowns anymore. The only reason they're kicking off this year was to get $80 million or thereabouts out of Cascadian capitalists. Please don't tell me we're stuck with these jerkoffs until expansion stops.
Why don't they just break the Home Depot Center lease, change out of those secondhand candy-stripes, and go make some cash in Missouri or Quebec or Florida? What are they afraid of? Who the hell did they sign the lease with, anyway, Phil Anschutz, or Rumpelstiltskin?
There are so many problems with the "Sick of the Galaxy? We're cheaper!" marketing approach that it's frankly mind-boggling. It's enough to say that method has harvested sub-peachy returns for three years now.
And now that the economy has died and gone to hell, the prognosis is as negative as the sales figures for the instructional DVD, Making Friends Playing Football: Atiba Harris Shows You The Beautiful Game!.
I've talked about the negative feedback loop these clods have with the clods at the Galaxy, and the only reason I keep talking about it is because it only gets more and more true. Verily, the I Told You So gods have granted me a mighty boon.
They are literally the poor-man's Galaxy, right down to the one great player tasked with carrying a fragile front line and a godawful defense.
The only thing they don't have is a DP, and doesn't THAT speak volumes about the Omnilife empire's commitment to this licensing venture. It's supposed to be Chivas, not Cheap-ass.
MY GUESS: Another year of trying to sell hamburgers to PeTA. Oh, by the way? Jon? Jonathan Bornstein? That thing on the floor, just lying there, motionless? Not moving? Dead to the world? At a complete standstill? Yeah, that's your career. You might want to either get that thing moving again, or put it over there in the bin with your potential.
Colorado
You're going to read "They should be better this year" a lot, about Los Pids specifically and the West in general. This actually has the makings of a good team in a year or two, which makes them one of the real powerhouses in the West right now.
I wish Omar Cummings were American, don't you? Ditching Bouna Condoul is usually the kind of idiot move that keeps non-playoff teams free in November, but finding Matt Pickens makes up for it.
They're in love with Nick LaBrocca over there, and who am I to stand in the way of true love?
It's a mild upset that Cory Gibbs is still around—anything to keep the hatred from Dallas ticking along. I'd honestly predict very good things for the Rapids this year if I could get a look at Gibbs' daily calendar, and see if the transfer window isn't highlit with big smiley faces.
On the down side, not sold on Kimura. Ugo Ihemelu only gets one more broken leg before I scream for him to retire or quit—like Tyrone Marshall, he's one short of the Dema limit. Pointy-headed smarmy skeptics mock the idea of Conor Casey maintaining last year's form—and I am their king.
And didn't Mehdi Ballouchy want to be a soccer player at some point?
MY GUESS: In all honesty, what's the gap between, say, second and eighth in this conference? Exactly. I think they're a slight cut above some of the other schlubs here, so go ahead and print playoff tickets.
Dallas
I don't have to say "Dave van den Bergh was garbage in MLS Cup," you know. I don't need the aggravation. I don't need the negativity. I don't get off on saying hurtful things just because hatefulness is my chocolate.
David Ferreira doesn't have as many fans yet, but still, where does it profit me to point out that everyone from Beckerman to Nagamura to Kovalenko to Mastroeni to Clark is going to just barrel into the little guy?
I don't think people in Dallas are bad people. It doesn't give me joy to say that, in my opinion, their soccer team will be one of the very worst in the league. I wish it were otherwise. But I just can't get there. I'm sorry, guys. I really am.
Yeah, Kenny Cooper, he's great. If only Dallas had him last year, right?
Fine. Van den Bergh isn't THAT old, and for all I know Pablo Ricchetti is set to become an elite MLS player. I'm sorta baffled that he hasn't, and I don't think it's simply because Dallas players are historically underrated and ignored (Mark Dodd and Clarence Goodson are the examples that come to mind, but there were others).
Still, Buzz Carrick is still lamenting the loss of Jamie Watson, and there are words to describe teams that will regret not having Jamie Watson. (Who's a gamer, don't get me wrong - he'll find a home somewhere. But, y'know, he ain't Jason Kreis.)
MY GUESS: Every week, they will thank God and geography that they are in the West
Houston
There are two Houston Dynamos. There's the real one, and there's the one in comparison with the rest of the conference. The latter one is probably, week in and week out, one of the finest teams ever to play the game.
Just for fun, let's talk about the real one, because if MLS keeps an East-West format, the Texas teams will get kicked over to the East in the season after next. Then the Dynamo will finally have to sing for their supper.
Until that fretful day, it's smooth sailing.
So how come this perfectly good team has trouble winning the West, and when they do, they gag in the first round to a bunch of little blue and silver cans?
I have a theory it was all Dwayne De Rosario channelling the LA Lakers, keeping fresh for the playoffs. This allowed much more vulnerable teams like Chivas USA and Dallas to get the top seed and step on the playoff format minefield, whereupon the Dynamo would pick up the pieces.
If it wasn't a plan, it's just odd. The Supporters Shield is there for the taking every year, but so far they haven't bothered to pick it up from where they left it (hopefully not Spartan Stadium, I don't think anyone's been back there since).
They might have bought into the Curse of the Shield, but the Crew exorcised that particular ghost last year.
There are only a couple of question marks on this team for 2009 - is Stuart Holden ready to be The Man, and will Kei Kamara finally take the second forward spot that's been open pretty much since Donovan left?
The answers are (a) probably, although it shouldn't matter this year, and (b) probably not, much to the chagrin of the US Soccer Foundation, whose charitable arm has already benefited from Kamara's largesse.
And, again, it shouldn't matter this year.
MY GUESS: The Dynamo are still much better than anyone west of the Mississippi (sorry, Wizards), and they're a very popular favorite to get to Seattle and leave happy.
A lot of these guys are either old, fragile, or dumb, but very rarely are any of them two of those things. But they proved last year they can lose to anyone, they really could have used a better result in CONCACAF, and it's going to be another long season playing against thugs on turf.
They may want to finish second or third, just to catch their breath in the first round.
Los Angeles
There's a bit in the original "In-Laws" movie where Peter Falk says "You know, I am such an incredible driver. It's incomprehensible to me that they took away my license."
And in response, Alan Arkin gets this wonderful expression, combining equal parts terror, horror, and helpless rage. I call that look the "Galaxy Season Ticket Holder" look.
MY GUESS:
Salt Lake
I can't believe they got rid of Espindola! Sure, he was dumb! So what! You kept Clint Mathis this long, didn't you?
People laugh at me, and not in the good way, when I say I like Salt Lake's defense. By the time they get to Rimando, the opposition has to get the ball from Morales, find a way past Beckerman, then avoid getting fouled by Olave, Joy, Wingert or Borchers.
It happened a lot last year, but I think this year they win on the road once in a while. Sure, the Royals aren't going to win the five or six games a year when Olave is suspended. But they're abnormally deep in the back, even at goalkeeper.
That makes up for a lot of faults.
Most of which are up top. Robbie Findley and Yura Movsisyan are the kind of fantasy league picks you make because you're running tight on budget and you really hope this will be a real breakout year.
That's a beautiful way to finish in the middle of the pack - ask me how I know. Yura was so dominant in the playoffs, though, and there are only about two, maybe two and a half good defenses in the division, so this year might be different.
Then, of course, there's Javier Morales, who's good. Good enough to get 20 assists and lead Salt Lake to the top.
MY GUESS: If Houston wasn't in the way, Real Salt Lake and Colorado would battle for a spot in MLS Cup. That might have to wait a year or two, though.
Don't take it personally if this year I have RSL ambushed yet again by a fifth place Eastern team—the Western Conference is like the Pac 10, except the Pac 10 will send more than one team to the second round.
San Jose
Remember 2003? Frank Yallop does. It was the last time he won more games than he lost. It's a good thing he's pretty much mayor of San Jose, because it's going to be another thirty weeks of beating for the old career win-loss average.
The Quakes are kind of the opposite of how bad teams run around these parts. They're actually okay in defense—really good in goal. It's just the offense that is highly troublesome.
You have to bleed a real hemophiliac shade of blue to believe in a forward corps of Ryan Johnson, Pablo Campos, Cam Weaver, Davide Somma, and Quincy Amrikwa. Hell, you have to be a pretty damned hardcore Quaker to have heard of most of those guys.
I don't know why Yallop is depending on them, but this isn't the first time he's relied on "Winning Without Forwards - The Story of France '98."
More likely he tests the international waters again and tries to find a proper target for a very good midfield.
Well, most people think it's a good midfield. I think Corrales and Alvarez are liabilities myself, but then I remembered what division they were in. And their job is to not get in Huckerby's way, which can't be that hard.
I also like Convey to make a comeback, if only because someone restoring their US national team career by rejoining MLS is something that NEEDS to happen.
MY GUESS: I think they finish a strong fourth. Which would be a strong sixth in the East, and therefore, no playoffs.
Seattle
Full disclosure—last night, I thought New York would pretty comfortably stroll past our new friends with the hideous green shirts, kicking off a season that would send Seattle firmly to the sub-basement of the West.
I also concluded from the Fredy Montrero soap opera that he was going to be a disappointment on a Denilson scale.
Oh, and I thought that Kasey Keller would recreate the MLS careers of former European-based national teamers like Claudio Reyna and Juergen Sommer.
Also, the last expansion team to win its opening game was Chicago in 1998—and that shouldn't count, because they were playing the other expansion team.
The last expansion team to make the playoffs in their first year was Miami in 1998. (Ah, you see, Chicago clinched their spot before Miami, so the Fusion were, in fact, the most recent team to do so.
Try that one on your friends. If they don't give you black eye for that one, they weren't really your friends.)
I'm not wrong YET about any of that, but last night sure made me reconsider a few things. Like bringing a sousaphone to games. I still think Ljungberg's an accident waiting to happen, the roster is too randomly assorted and too short on talent, and that Montero was offside on the first goal.
MY GUESS before last night would have been sixth. But they may in fact be good enough to rocket all the way up to fifth.
MLS CUP: New England over Columbus, because I don't hate the Revolution nearly enough to make them leave another final empty-handed. Besides, it's now or never ever up there, and I think they all know it.
OPEN CUP: Chicago, because they win the thing half the time and they're overdue
SHIELD: Salt Lake, so Morales gets his MVP
CONCACAF: Columbus, because shut up, USL
SUPERLIGA: ...no, I gotta draw the line somewhere.
(Every year I forget how long these take, and they just keep adding teams! Christ! My own fault, I guess.)Source: Click Here
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Friday, 20 March 2009 20:16 |
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Major League Soccer announced on Friday that Portland has been awarded an expansion franchise which will begin play in 2011. The announcement came two days after Vancouver was awarded a new team and one day after the expansion Seattle Sounders opened the 2009 campaign with a 3-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls.
“A city with such a storied soccer tradition deserves an MLS team, and we are proud to have Portland join the top level of professional soccer in our region,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. “Merritt Paulson and his family provide a vibrant and innovative ownership group that truly loves the world’s game and we believe PGE Park will provide a world-class soccer environment for soccer fans.”
Known for its fervent support of soccer since the heyday of the North American Soccer League’s Portland Timbers in the 1970s, Portland completes this round of expansion for MLS, which could expand to 20 teams by 2012 if two additional cities are deemed ready to join.
The Portland MLS team will retain the storied Timbers name.
Merritt Paulson is the owner and president of Shortstop, LLC, parent company of the Portland Beavers and Portland Timbers professional sports franchises. Before assuming ownership of the baseball and soccer teams, he was the Senior Director of Marketing and Business Development at NBA Entertainment in New York.
“Today is a historic day for Soccer City, USA, and it is a big win for our economy, our community and for soccer fans everywhere,” Paulson said. “We are in a position to make this announcement today because of our incredible fans and strong leadership from city leaders. Not only does this bring Major League Soccer to Portland, but it creates hundreds of jobs, protects taxpayers from risk and shines a positive national and international spotlight on Portland and the state of Oregon.”
On Mar. 11, Portland’s city council paved the way for today’s MLS announcement, voting to approve a proposal to improve PGE Park for MLS and to build a new ballpark for the Portland Beavers Triple-A baseball team at the site of the Memorial Coliseum.
“The Portland City Council’s recent approval of the framework for the renovations of PGE Park was a key factor in Portland becoming our 18th team,” Garber added. “While I understand that there are some additional steps to formally conclude this process, we are confident that the package will be finalized in the next few months.”
Upgrades to PGE Park will transform the historic venue into a world-class soccer facility and provide an even more authentic fan experience for the MLS Timbers.
The improvement will add several state-of-the-art amenities, including permanent seats and concessions on the east side of the park, widened concourses, improved player facilities and a restaurant with a view of the field.
Portland is also home to the North American headquarters of Adidas, official athletic sponsor and licensed product supplier for MLS and all its teams since 2005.
“Adidas is synonymous with soccer and bringing the MLS to Portland is a great next step in our goal of inspiring a soccer nation,” said Patrik Nilsson, president, adidas North America. “As the sport’s global leader, we have seen first-hand the positive effects MLS expansion teams have on their markets. adidas is passionate about soccer. Portland loves soccer. Together as fans of the sport we will build on the traditions and passion that exist around soccer in our hometown.”
Portland becomes the third Pacific Northwest city in MLS, and its geographic rivalries with Seattle and Vancouver will be contested on the soccer field in front of spirited, colorful crowds.
Source: Click Here
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MLS News
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Friday, 20 March 2009 18:55 |
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Toronto FC kicks off its third season tomorrow at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City with high hopes. Many feel that this could be the year that "The Reds" finally make the playoffs and compete amongst MLS's elite.
These optimists went into last season with the same mentality. But after an impressive start, fans soon realized, as the season progressed and points were forfeited time and time again, that improvements still needed to be made.
Up front, their reliance on veteran firepower proved foolhardy, as the combination of Danny Dichio and Jeff Cunningham failed to impress. The acquisition of Chad Barrett in the latter part of the season was a dramatic improvement, but the damage had already been done.
In the middle of the pitch, the loss of Maurice Edu, perhaps their most creative and talented player, proved to be too costly. Having continuously lost players throughout the year to international duty, Amado Guevara and Carl Robinson especially, TFC lacked the depth to compete.
Their defence lacked consistency as well but it should not shoulder all the blame. It had no support up front during Toronto's multiple goalless droughts.
Marvell Wynne and Marco Velez were definitely the most reliable of the back four. Greg Sutton was his usual dependable self, but the squad seriously needed a more reliable backup to help shoulder some of the workload.
This is where Mo Johnston, perhaps TFC's most valuable player, comes into play.
Up front, the additions of rookie O'Brian White and Argentine Pablo Vitti should definitely add much-needed firepower.
On defence, Tyrone Marshall was given his walking papers to make space for veteran Adrian Serioux, a natural holding midfielder who has become more accustomed to playing centre back with team Canada and will most likely assume that position in John Carver's starting eleven. Gambian's Emmanuel Gomez and Amadou Sanyang will also add depth to the squad defensively.
All of a sudden, Greg Sutton will have some pressure on his back to perform, as Stefan Frei and Brian Edwards look poised for minutes. The offseason pickups have been deemed ready by many critics and should solidify any issues the team previously had in net.
And the most anticipated and celebrated acquisition in the history of Toronto FC, Dwayne DeRosario is finally coming home. Mo Johnston finally got his man. It should be exciting to see what he and Guevara can stir up in the middle of the pitch.
Once again, the buzz around the BMO field compound is evident and those seats will be full. You can guarantee that. Toronto FC you have the best fans in the league, now it's your turn.
Make us proud. Source: Click Here
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