All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

[Pastor]

(NOTE: The "you" refers to no one in particular. I just hate writing "one".)

If you are an American, and a soccer fan, it is logical to assume you wish to see the sport of soccer succeed in the United States of America. This includes a stronger league, a stronger national team and pool, and a stronger international presence in how our domestic league and our national team are regarded by those overseas who have had the game longer than we have had the NFL.

Therefore, you should support MLS. Yes, for noblesse oblige. Please do not put your nose in that air while "waiting for MLS to get stronger." Help it get there, be here now, as you hopefully were a decade ago, when it is at the start of something potentially special. No, I don't mean buy season tickets or something, and I certainly don't mean choosing a mediocre MLS game on TV over a quality Champions League matchup (unless you happen to be part of a Nielsen family).

But please don't ignore the league so you can show "knowledge" by understanding that AC Milan-Inter Milan is a more impressive matchup than Galaxy-Chivas USA. Great line, Trooper Bari, about those who pledge allegiance to overseas teams they will likely never see play in person.

Then, a decade or so from now whenMLS is firmly established with diffrerent owners for each team (yes, it's getting there, slowly but surely) and our national team has become even better, you can point at the Johnny-come-latelies who hop on the bandwagon (as so many did after summer 2002) and ask with the rest of us, "Where the hell were you when the league, when the sport in the US needed YOU?" I cannot stand the bandwagoneers, who showed up when the national team showed well. Where will they be after our tough draw kills us this summer?

I will not forget that sense of pride I had when it was clear the 2002 world cup team succeeded largely due to MLS players, and I remembered attending games in cavernous stadiums in 1996. Though I can't say I ever watched the Surf or Aztecs, for what it's worth.

I was going to respond with something similar, but really, this just took the cake.

I follow a European team. I am in a supporters club for them. I will travel to San Fran this summer to hang out with other supporters and meet several players.

HOWEVER, MLS comes first. I have my season tickets. I watch the games on the tele. I purchased my kit (and then another one for my wife). I bring friends out to games. I travel to DC with other supporters to watch games.

You can't expect things to get better without support. How does the league develop better players without the money to do it?

Right now we are starting to see a new generation of players that grew up as fans of the league (ie Rolfe).


SIDE NOTE: Zizzer, it is more than just "whiney Jersey boys". Zoffinger is a **** and has always hated MLS. As a Jersey guy that lives in this metropolitan area Zoffinger can **** off. As to the issue, Jets and Giants are not involved and having seen this question asked and answered nearly 100 times over the years, I just don't have the patience right now. Maybe later, just not right now.

 

[zizzer]

No worries, Crass, I was more thinking about why Zoffinger can't give a reason....

Anyway, bumping this back up to the top.... the USMNT has set its three domestic tune-ups for the Cup....

May 23 vs. Morocco in Nashville, Tenn.
May 26 vs. Venezuela in Cleveland, Ohio
May 28 vs. Latvia in Hartford, Conn.

Official announcement is slated to come today. Right now, the Venezuela game is slated for ESPN2, though I'm kind of hoping to be there in person. Of those three games, maybe Morocco and Venezuela might be decent. Should be three wins for the home side.

 

[Pastor]

No worries, Crass, I was more thinking about why Zoffinger can't give a reason....

Sorry, Ziz, didn't mean to snipe about it. The deal is that the Jets and Giants don't apply because of several reasons:
1) They began as NY teams. They were well established as NY teams before moving to NJ.
2) The corporate offices of both the Jets and Giants are in NY.
3) When they moved from NY to NJ the agreement stated that they would be able to keep their NY association.
4) They were the first teams to cross the Hudson and demonstrate the Northern NJ location is a viable location for a professional franchise.

Other teams:
Devils: They moved from far away and did not land in NY before going to NJ. Thus, they stay NJ.
Nets: They began in NJ. They moved to NY while the stadium was getting built and moved back to NJ upon completion.
Knights: They were of the now defunct World League. I believe they had NJ as an association or just NJ.
Hitmen: They were of the now defunct XFL. They had the NY/NJ as an association.

MetroStars: They began in '96 with NY/NJ but dropped that after about a year or two because the "Metro" portion, they felt and I agree, successfully described the area in which they played.

Additionally, with the new Red Bull New York, all of the offices are located in NJ. The team began their existence in New Jersey. They are building a new stadium specifically for the team in Harrison, NJ. Thus, why the necessity to associate the team with a city/state that it doesn't play in?

Now, this is marketing and by that, the team needs to be associated with a major location. Harrison is not that location. Red Bull would have two choices: Newark or New York.

The main problem in all of this is that NYC is located in the state of NY. Had NYC been in NJ, this wouldn't be an issue. The new Harrison stadium is closer to NYC (a mere subway/train ride of less than 9miles) than the Pistons to Detroit, the Angels to LA, etc.

Anyway, bumping this back up to the top.... the USMNT has set its three domestic tune-ups for the Cup....

May 23 vs. Morocco in Nashville, Tenn.
May 26 vs. Venezuela in Cleveland, Ohio
May 28 vs. Latvia in Hartford, Conn.

Official announcement is slated to come today. Right now, the Venezuela game is slated for ESPN2, though I'm kind of hoping to be there in person. Of those three games, maybe Morocco and Venezuela might be decent. Should be three wins for the home side.

I've seen the US play in Columbus and Hartford. I would imagie that Cleveland would have a similar crowd to Columbus.

Those were real good times.

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

Should've tried to bring in an Eastern European team for Cleveland. Venezuela is not going to inspire massive ticket sales.

 

[zizzer]

Should've tried to bring in an Eastern European team for Cleveland. Venezuela is not going to inspire massive ticket sales.

Not playing that game in Browns Stadium....

Now, if Cleveland had a 25,000-seat soccer specific stadium, that'd be a different story....

 

[PaperDoll]

Now, if Cleveland had a 25,000-seat soccer specific stadium, that'd be a different story....

If Cleveland had a 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium, it'd also have a Major League Soccer franchise by now.  But, alas...

 

[Pastor]

Now, if Cleveland had a 25,000-seat soccer specific stadium, that'd be a different story....

If Cleveland had a 25,000-seat soccer-specific stadium, it'd also have a Major League Soccer franchise by now. But, alas...

Rumor from Not Doug Logan is that Cleveland will be the next to get an MLS team.

With Toronto coming in, Garber needs a second team. And Garber opened his mouth about Cleveland being that city.

 

[PaperDoll]

Rumor from Not Doug Logan is that Cleveland will be the next to get an MLS team.
With Toronto coming in, Garber needs a second team. And Garber opened his mouth about Cleveland being that city.

Only because Philadelphia doesn't have a soccer-specific stadium.  The league's been after Philly for years, but hasn't been able to convince Penn to convert Franklin Field back to natural grass.

 

[Pastor]

Rumor from Not Doug Logan is that Cleveland will be the next to get an MLS team.
With Toronto coming in, Garber needs a second team. And Garber opened his mouth about Cleveland being that city.

Only because Philadelphia doesn't have a soccer-specific stadium. The league's been after Philly for years, but hasn't been able to convince Penn to convert Franklin Field back to natural grass.

Philly would be a great location. They have held some great matches there over the years.

 

[zizzer]

Rumor from Not Doug Logan is that Cleveland will be the next to get an MLS team.
With Toronto coming in, Garber needs a second team. And Garber opened his mouth about Cleveland being that city.

Only because Philadelphia doesn't have a soccer-specific stadium.  The league's been after Philly for years, but hasn't been able to convince Penn to convert Franklin Field back to natural grass.

Philly would be a great location. They have held some great matches there over the years.

Not sure if putting two clubs in Ohio is a great idea. I mean, I'm all for it, but at the same time wondering if the fan base is big enough.

 

[Pastor]

The US has released the roster for the March 22 game versus Germany.

Goalkeepers (2) – Marcus Hahnemann (Reading FC), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)

Defenders (7) – Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Cory Gibbs (ADO Den Haag), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjælland), Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake)

Midfielders (6) – Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Chris Klein (Real Salt Lake), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Ben Olsen (D.C. United), Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City Wizards)

Forwards (4) – Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution), Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)

I'm thinking a 4-4-2 is in order.


EDIT TO ADD: I'm wondering if Dempsey's recent skirmish didn't have something to do with him being left off the team.

 

[zizzer]

You're right, Crass... AP is reporting that to be the reason for his omission.

I'm wondering if this would strike a major blow to his chances come May....

 

[TrooperBari]

The US has released the roster for the March 22 game versus Germany.

Goalkeepers (2) – Marcus Hahnemann (Reading FC), Kasey Keller (Borussia Moenchengladbach)

Defenders (7) – Gregg Berhalter (Energie Cottbus), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City Wizards), Cory Gibbs (ADO Den Haag), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Heath Pearce (FC Nordsjælland), Eddie Pope (Real Salt Lake)

Midfielders (6) – Bobby Convey (Reading FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Chris Klein (Real Salt Lake), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids), Ben Olsen (D.C. United), Kerry Zavagnin (Kansas City Wizards)

Forwards (4) – Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Johnson (Kansas City Wizards), Taylor Twellman (New England Revolution), Josh Wolff (Kansas City Wizards)

I'm thinking a 4-4-2 is in order.


EDIT TO ADD: I'm wondering if Dempsey's recent skirmish didn't have something to do with him being left off the team.

You can drop Landinho from the Germany match roster.

http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-5691050,00.html

 

[DuceEquitas]

Philly may get a team just yet...at Rowan University in South Jersey.

http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060316/UPDATES01/603160339

I think if Clint was in trouble, he would have been on the roster no matter the circumstances. He is not technically precluded from participating. Funny enough, this probably gives him a break just before the season. He's been going for a while. Do you think perhaps someone wanted to give him a break? I think you can safely pencil him alongside the Euros who aren't involved with this friendly either.

Now if I was Steve Ralston, I'd be worried...

 

[zizzer]

Philly may get a team just yet...at Rowan University in South Jersey.

http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060316/UPDATES01/603160339

I think if Clint was in trouble, he would have been on the roster no matter the circumstances. He is not technically precluded from participating. Funny enough, this probably gives him a break just before the season. He's been going for a while. Do you think perhaps someone wanted to give him a break? I think you can safely pencil him alongside the Euros who aren't involved with this friendly either.

Now if I was Steve Ralston, I'd be worried...

Interesting news about Philly getting a squad. My guess would be someplace like KC that hasn't been keen on building a new soccer specific facility might be next on the moving list.....

If this happens, you'll be looking at new stadiums in NYC, Columbus, Dallas, LA, Chicago, Toronto, Philly.... Getting closer to what is ideal, 10-12 intimate parks....

 

[NoOneLikesUs]

Two clubs in Ohio will create a natural local rivalry, which the MLS has avoided up to this point. Sure Chivas and the Galaxy play in the same joint, but Chivas is more ethnic that location centric. Cleveland and Columbus...perfect fit. White collar GOP assholes who run the state into the ground vs. the city that can't win **** in anything.

 

[Pastor]

My take on the Dempsey situation is that The Bruce doesn't want another Mathis. So, he punishes him now for what occurred with the club team in the US, but when June rolls around, he's on the roster and headed overseas.

I'm curious to know who will replace Donovan in this game.

Germany has a full roster, real stacked. The US is more of a B-team. This could be a very interesting game to watch.

Remember: Germany just got whacked by Italy in their last friendly. The populace will not be happy with a second loss, nevermind a loss to the US.

 

[Prep_desk_junkie]

according to U.S. Soccer, The Bruce is not replacing Donovan

 

[PaperDoll]

Philly may get a team just yet...at Rowan University in South Jersey.
http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060316/UPDATES01/603160339

Rowan University is not in Philly.  It's not even particularly convenient to Philly, according to an editor at my place who lived there for years.  But I guess it's the local equivalent to Harrison, should the Metros (er, whatever they're called now) ever get their new stadium.

At least Harrison has a PATH station, making the commute from Manhattan much simpler.

 

[djc3317]

is the proper spelling
friendlies or
friendlys?

as in, 'we're playing a series of friendlies this weekend.'

I figure it's -ies, but just wanted to make sure.