Everything Soccer

[ACamp1900]

Today is the 14 year anniversary of the first Dos a Cero.... It's been a fun decade and a half, basically dominating those tri colored step children...

 

[ACamp1900]

Anyone else watching the Orlando/NYFC game?? Shea's been looking good...

Honestly, I get that the top euro leagues are it, but I actually enjoy the MLS more than say the EPL... It's our league, and it's no longer a joke. Happy to have MLS and baseball back.

 

[NDinMich]

Today is the 14 year anniversary of the first Dos a Cero.... It's been a fun decade and a half, basically dominating those tri colored step children...

100 Moments: Dos a Cero Starts in Columbus: http://youtu.be/6WZk7VFIKKg

 

[GowerND11]

Anyone else watching the Orlando/NYFC game?? Shea's been looking good...

Honestly, I get that the top euro leagues are it, but I actually enjoy the MLS more than say the EPL... It's our league, and it's no longer a joke. Happy to have MLS and baseball back.

I've been a fan of his for a few years now. I think the problem for him, and a few other Americans has been going to teams in Europe, especially England as of late, that do not fit their style. Shea being at Stoke just did not seem to fit. (it didn't help that the manager that brought him in was sacked...)

 

[notredomer23]

I'm really trying to get into NYCFC and MLS this year. The first game was awesome. Mix Diskerud was a fucking boss. NYCFC and Orlando are definitely two teams to keep an eye on in the east

 

[NDohio]

Anyone else watching the Orlando/NYFC game?? Shea's been looking good...

Honestly, I get that the top euro leagues are it, but I actually enjoy the MLS more than say the EPL... It's our league, and it's no longer a joke. Happy to have MLS and baseball back.

I really enjoyed opening weekend for the MLS. The league gets a little better every year. I am looking forward to a good season.

62K for opening night in Orlando was pretty awesome as far as numbers go, but the fans didn't seem to be into it. In the first half, when Orlando was dominating the game, that place seemed dead. Maybe the KC/Seattle/Portland fan bases need to give some lessons.

 

[notredomer23]

I really enjoyed opening weekend for the MLS. The league gets a little better every year. I am looking forward to a good season.
.[/I]

MLS's goal is to be a a top 5 league by 2022, and with its current trajectory, I think that is fair.

As more Americans play and get into soccer every year, the league gets stronger.

Italy, France and Spain's debt economic problems may help also. Average salary in Italy is like 300,000 euros, which isn't an insane amount more than MLS's average.

Important for the USMNT fans that don't have an MLS club to pick one and support it if they want the USMNT to win a World Cup

 

[GowerND11]

In order for the MLS to reach that status in the world do you guys think it will need to adjust to the European schedule? What about the pyramid system in the US, feasible?

 

[Emcee77]

MLS's goal is to be a a top 5 league by 2022, and with its current trajectory, I think that is fair.

As more Americans play and get into soccer every year, the league gets stronger.

Italy, France and Spain's debt economic problems may help also. Average salary in Italy is like 300,000 euros, which isn't an insane amount more than MLS's average.

Important for the USMNT fans that don't have an MLS club to pick one and support it if they want the USMNT to win a World Cup

Ok. Deal. Who should I root for? I don't follow the MLS at all.

I live in Chicago. Chicago Fire?

My bro-in-law is a huge Columbus Crew fan and I watched the game with him this weekend. (Tough loss to Houston for them ... DaMarcus Beasley was dominant on his side.) Should I pick them?

I'd like to root for a team that is fun to watch and competitive but I don't necessarily want to jump on the bandwagon of a top contender. If you don't watch your team struggle a little, it's no fun to watch them succeed when they do get there. That's why, in the fall, I picked Liverpool in the BPL. If they had started the season in the kind of form they were in in spring of 2014, or even the form they are in now, I might have picked Tottenham. It was down to those two for me.

 

[NDohio]

In order for the MLS to reach that status in the world do you guys think it will need to adjust to the European schedule? What about the pyramid system in the US, feasible?

The schedule situation is an good debate. I personally like the way MLS is currently scheduled. Competing against MLB is the best case scenario for the league to grow and continue to take fans from that sport. Also, some of the cities that have MLS teams couldn't sustain a season through the winter without going to indoor facilities - I would hate that. I understand the other side of the debate though.

IMO, the pyramid system won't work currently(the USL is just too small time), but I would like to see it come eventually.

 

[Cali_domer]

Seattle Sounders or should it be the Galaxy.....? decisions

 

[NDohio]

Ok. Deal. Who should I root for? I don't follow the MLS at all.

I live in Chicago. Chicago Fire?

My bro-in-law is a huge Columbus Crew fan and I watched the game with him this weekend. (Tough loss to Houston for them ... DaMarcus Beasley was dominant on his side.) Should I pick them?

I'd like to root for a team that is fun to watch and competitive but I don't necessarily want to jump on the bandwagon of a top contender. If you don't watch your team struggle a little, it's no fun to watch them succeed when they do get there. That's why, in the fall, I picked Liverpool in the BPL. If they had started the season in the kind of form they were in in spring of 2014, or even the form they are in now, I might have picked Tottenham. It was down to those two for me.

The Crew are perfect for you then. I really like the direction their coach(Gregg Berhalter) is taking them. They always seem to be close to becoming a great team and then fall short. Hopefully they will turn the corner soon. They lack "star power" though.

 

[GowerND11]

The schedule situation is an good debate. I personally like the way MLS is currently scheduled. Competing against MLB is the best case scenario for the league to grow and continue to take fans from that sport. Also, some of the cities that have MLS teams couldn't sustain a season through the winter without going to indoor facilities - I would hate that. I understand the other side of the debate though.

IMO, the pyramid system won't work currently(the USL is just too small time), but I would like to see it come eventually.

Russia plays a winter schedule, no? I agree it would be very difficult to have a winter schedule, but possible. The big problem, as we already know, is that the MLS runs through the major international window of the summer, so we see star players leaving their teams for an extended time. Or we see the stars not being let go for duty too.

You are absolutely correct that the pyramid system wouldn't work at the moment. It would definitely be something needed down the road, and hopefully these smaller clubs stay afloat for it to happen later.

 

[NorthDakota]

Look, I like Liverpool... Try to root for them... But Balotelli is such a freaking a hole it's getting hard boys....

lol Super Mario.

"An Enigma wrapped in a conundrum"

He has been looking more and more like he can fit the current side.

I don't know how much his agent is actually on point, but he mentioned that Rodgers is asking things of Mario that no manager has ever asked, he has always gotten by on his undeniable talent. He is being told to run around and do work other than in the box.

And Jeez, can we stop playing Sterling at the striker spot when Sturridge is not in the lineup? Get Mario in there. It failed miserably earlier this year but Mario has actually put the ball in the back of the net a few times now.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

Went to the Orlando City v NYCFC game yesterday. I'm a homer but felt like OCSC had the better chances and better play overall. The atmosphere was nuts. I'd compare it to a USMNT game atmosphere.

As for the MLS I think this will easily be the leagues best year. So much new talent and depth compared to past years.

I agree anyone interested in the league should pick a team to follow but I'd add that if you can afford it you should check out the MLS Live package. It's not too pricey and you get every game.

 

[NDohio]

Seattle Sounders or should it be the Galaxy.....? decisions

I would love to go to a Sounders game in Seattle. Those fans have a ball.

 

[ACamp1900]

If you want an exciting team, good fan base, but not jumping a bandwagon,....

Portland.
Timbers.


Though I can't argue against the Crew or Fire if those are the choices either.

I honestly just like watching, I guess I'm a Galaxy fan as I root for them, watch them much more than anyone else, and they're my home town team but I really just like all of it, and have a real soft spot for Portland, I can't say that for the epl and other leagues, the only league I can just watch any random game of is the mls... Love it. And watching for the past six years regularly it's amazing how much better the product has gotten just in that time.

 

[ACamp1900]

Oh and hate the Sounders,.... Lol

 

[ACamp1900]

Seattle Sounders or should it be the Galaxy.....? decisions

See above posts....

 

[ACamp1900]

Gonna be hard not to root for Toronto this season also, two of our most important players currently, if they thrive the National team should feel some of that.

 

[NDohio]

MLS's goal is to be a a top 5 league by 2022, and with its current trajectory, I think that is fair.

As more Americans play and get into soccer every year, the league gets stronger.

Italy, France and Spain's debt economic problems may help also. Average salary in Italy is like 300,000 euros, which isn't an insane amount more than MLS's average.

Important for the USMNT fans that don't have an MLS club to pick one and support it if they want the USMNT to win a World Cup

It's really important that we find a way to grow the fan base so that young kids truly see soccer as a viable option here in the States. Soccer needs to keep players like Odell-Beckham Jr in the game and not let them get away to other sports(Max Redfield too).

I am fairly disheartened that the national sports radio shows aren't talking about soccer at all today. Jozy Altidore had a great weekend, Clint Dempsey started the season strong, Robbie Keane looked awesome, etc. I don't have big expectations of the media, but at least a mention of the crowd in Orlando would have been nice. Or couldn't they hear the voices of 62K? SMH

 

[ACamp1900]

The only radio show that isn't controlled by TV contracts and the idea of helping someone get a return on investment with some sport or another is maybe Dan Patrick, and he openly hates soccer....

With that said, most major stations have much larger investments in football, football, football, football, baseball, football, and basketball.

 

[NDohio]

The only radio show that isn't controlled by TV contracts and the idea of helping someone get a return on investment with some sport or another is maybe Dan Patrick, and he openly hates soccer....

With that said, most major stations have much larger investments in football, football, football, football, baseball, football, and basketball.

Yeah, I just hoped with the new TV contracts MLS signed there would be a little bit of chatter about it. Crickets ...


It's all NFL free agency today and free agency hasn't even officially started yet(of course that's part of the story).

 

[NDinL.A.]

It's really important that we find a way to grow the fan base so that young kids truly see soccer as a viable option here in the States. Soccer needs to keep players like Odell-Beckham Jr in the game and not let them get away to other sports(Max Redfield too).

I am fairly disheartened that the national sports radio shows aren't talking about soccer at all today. Jozy Altidore had a great weekend, Clint Dempsey started the season strong, Robbie Keane looked awesome, etc. I don't have big expectations of the media, but at least a mention of the crowd in Orlando would have been nice. Or couldn't they hear the voices of 62K? SMH

Soccer doesn't move the needle for the mass American radio audience. These stations need to make $$$, which means they need ratings, which means they need to talk about topics that people will listen to. Hardcore soccer fans in the USA are fervent, but miniscule compared to NFL fans. So I don't blame them at all for not talking soccer. They don't talk hockey either for the very same reason.

I get my soccer news from podcasts, and I listen to those in the car instead of talk radio. Haven't listened to talk radio in years (other than Mike and Mike or Cowherd if I'm at home).

My team is the Galaxy and they've been an awesome team to root for. Can't wait to see Steven G this summer. But sorry ACAMP, the EPL and La Liga, for me, are much more enjoyable to watch. The EPL has done a masterful job of marketing their league, and the intrigue and drama are must-watch TV for me. (I'll watch an almost unwatchable game like Stoke-Burnley if it's on, bc the players have been marketed so well.) And the EPL viewership in the United States is far stronger than the MSL for that very reason. And La Liga has, for me, the most purely enjoyable futbol on the planet.

But I'm hopeful for the MLS. It's going to take time, a lot more time than I think hardcore MLS fans want to admit, to capture more of the American audience. Getting stars to come and play here in their prime, like the Italian in Toronto (a huge get for the league) will help, and keeping stars like Bradley and Jozy will also help (while IMHO hurting the MNT in the short term). Should be a great year...

 

[Emcee77]

The Crew are perfect for you then. I really like the direction their coach(Gregg Berhalter) is taking them. They always seem to be close to becoming a great team and then fall short. Hopefully they will turn the corner soon. They lack "star power" though.

If you want an exciting team, good fan base, but not jumping a bandwagon,....

Portland.
Timbers.

Though I can't argue against the Crew or Fire if those are the choices either.

I honestly just like watching, I guess I'm a Galaxy fan as I root for them, watch them much more than anyone else, and they're my home town team but I really just like all of it, and have a real soft spot for Portland, I can't say that for the epl and other leagues, the only league I can just watch any random game of is the mls... Love it. And watching for the past six years regularly it's amazing how much better the product has gotten just in that time.

Thanks fellas. After watching BPL games all season with a soccer snob who insists that MLS is garbage, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the MLS soccer I watched this weekend. Maybe not quite the same virtuosity in the attacking third, but it looked like pretty good soccer to me. I'm looking forward to watching more of it.

lol Super Mario.

"An Enigma wrapped in a conundrum"

He has been looking more and more like he can fit the current side.

I don't know how much his agent is actually on point, but he mentioned that Rodgers is asking things of Mario that no manager has ever asked, he has always gotten by on his undeniable talent. He is being told to run around and do work other than in the box.

And Jeez, can we stop playing Sterling at the striker spot when Sturridge is not in the lineup? Get Mario in there. It failed miserably earlier this year but Mario has actually put the ball in the back of the net a few times now.

I totally agree on both counts. Balotelli is really starting to work hard at fitting into Rodgers's current 3-4-2-1, and I like the way he combines with Sturridge. I think he can either substitute for Sturridge as center forward or play one of the attacking midfielder/withdrawn forward spots.

You can tell Rodgers hates to stick Sterling out on the wing because it limits his touches, but in the current system I think he should be a wingback. He looked fantastic there yesterday; one of the few players who played really well for LFC. He's also good as one of the withdrawn forwards/attacking midfielders, but I don't like him as a center forward. Haven't liked him there all year. He is a great player but not a clinical finisher, at least not yet.

 

[ACamp1900]

I just can't watch a random game like Stoke/ Hull, boring to me, but I can enjoy a UnionvCrew game for example, just me... Absolutely can't watch La Liga at all, under any circumstance... Again just me.

And if the mls is garbage then every single league in the world outside of big five is 'garbage' bc the MLS is already among the next teir down...

 

[NDohio]

Soccer doesn't move the needle for the mass American radio audience. These stations need to make $$$, which means they need ratings, which means they need to talk about topics that people will listen to. Hardcore soccer fans in the USA are fervent, but miniscule compared to NFL fans. So I don't blame them at all for not talking soccer. They don't talk hockey either for the very same reason.

I get my soccer news from podcasts, and I listen to those in the car instead of talk radio. Haven't listened to talk radio in years (other than Mike and Mike or Cowherd if I'm at home).

My team is the Galaxy and they've been an awesome team to root for. Can't wait to see Steven G this summer. But sorry ACAMP, the EPL and La Liga, for me, are much more enjoyable to watch. The EPL has done a masterful job of marketing their league, and the intrigue and drama are must-watch TV for me. (I'll watch an almost unwatchable game like Stoke-Burnley if it's on, bc the players have been marketed so well.) And the EPL viewership in the United States is far stronger than the MSL for that very reason. And La Liga has, for me, the most purely enjoyable futbol on the planet.

But I'm hopeful for the MLS. It's going to take time, a lot more time than I think hardcore MLS fans want to admit, to capture more of the American audience. Getting stars to come and play here in their prime, like the Italian in Toronto (a huge get for the league) will help, and keeping stars like Bradley and Jozy will also help (while IMHO hurting the MNT in the short term). Should be a great year...

Yeah, I was just hopeful that a there would be some sort of mention of opening weekend. I didn't expect a full segment or even a rundown of all the scores, just a drive by...

 

[ACamp1900]

I have to rant on Spain now, love ya NDinLA, but:

La Liga to me has ruined a good part of the magic Euro soccer had for me... It's part of the reason I can't get into the EPL like I used to. Why watch the deepest league in the world when their champion has basically zero chance at all of winning Europe? The way TV income ( and other sources) are given almost exclusively to two clubs just turns me off... Then of course you get this environment where under fair play rules the only teams that can compete in the transfer market anymore are the Classico clubs... I mean you have a great historic team like AJAX whose ENTIRE HISTORY was out spent by Real in just the last two transfer windows... I also believe strongly if the EPL tried to make Man U and City into unstoppable monsters by tweaking the way the league income is distributed the way Barca and Real have FIFA would stop them cold.

I also don't like the national team either, while admitting their obvious quality they're like the most boring watch in all of sports... Lol... So I just do my best to avoid anything from Spain involving soccer...

Beyond that I suppose my love of the MLS is nationalistic,... Just like Ill watch the US national team any time over the English national team, even though I'll admit that while the US national team has come a long way in twenty years, they don't have the quality of the euro giants. It's the same way I look at the MLS...

 

[Emcee77]

Ahh so many good points by Hollywood and Acamp. I wish I could respond. This new job is killing my IE time.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I have to rant on Spain now, love ya NDinLA, but:

La Liga to me has ruined a good part of the magic Euro soccer had for me... It's part of the reason I can't get into the EPL like I used to. Why watch the deepest league in the world when their champion has basically zero chance at all of winning Europe? The way TV income ( and other sources) are given almost exclusively to two clubs just turns me off... Then of course you get this environment where under fair play rules the only teams that can compete in the transfer market anymore are the Classico clubs... I mean you have a great historic team like AJAX whose ENTIRE HISTORY was out spent by Real in just the last two transfer windows... I also believe strongly if the EPL tried to make Man U and City into unstoppable monsters by tweaking the way the league income is distributed the way Barca and Real have FIFA would stop them cold.

Whoa whoa whoa, let's not cry a river for teams like Man U, Man City and Chelsea, who have spent PLENTY of $$$ bringing in the top players in the world (including several starters for the #1 national side in the world from 2008-2014). It's about spending wisely as well, plus getting the right manager. Let's not forget, Chelsea won the Champions League just a couple of seasons ago, and are one of the darkhorses this season as well. They definitely have a shot. But they have spent well and have a great (insufferable) manager. So the EPL has the $$$ but have not clicked as well lately, so you can't simply blame it on Barca and Real Madrid and La Liga. Bayern and PSG, among a couple of others, are just as guilty.

And I don't see how Madrid and Barca are even outspending teams. So what if RM has Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema and James (Hhhhhhames) Rodriguez, and Barca has Messi, Suarez and Neymar. Is that REALLY all that much money spent? OK, I'm just playin'....yeah, it's pretty much a joke. I love Barca more than any team other than ND, but the system in Europe is whacked, no doubt. No argument from me.

I also don't like the national team either, while admitting their obvious quality they're like the most boring watch in all of sports... Lol... So I just do my best to avoid anything from Spain involving soccer...

I hear that all the time, and I get it. But if you watch, the opponents have just as much to do with it. They were so scared of the Spanish attack that they thought the only way to win would be to sit back, and sit back, and sit back and crowd the box and try to hit Spain on the counter. I mean, in the 2010 WC, a team with attacking options like Germany played like they were Iceland or something. It was truly an astonishing display, and yes, made for a boring game.

But Tiki-Taka has been figured out, and Spain has had to adjust. We've already seen Barca finally go a lot more direct, and expect the national team to marry the two style as well. The problem is, the coach decided to stay on despite the last WC debacle. Hopefully he sees the changing landscape, will call new players into the national team (he has started to do that), and will adapt his style a la Barca.

Beyond that I suppose my love of the MLS is nationalistic,... Just like Ill watch the US national team any time over the English national team, even though I'll admit that while the US national team has come a long way in twenty years, they don't have the quality of the euro giants. It's the same way I look at the MLS...

Dude, I talked to 2 guys during the last WC that swore the US national team will be top 6 by 2018. I was incredulous. We were watching the Belgium-US game, and I'm pointing out how Belgium (NOT a top 6 team themselves) had starters playing for the top clubs in the world (Chelsea, Man City, Man U) and guys coming off their bench who start and star for teams Everton and Man United, while the US had a forward who scored one goal in 2 years for Sunderland and Chris friggin' Wondolowski coming off the bench. I mean, we have come a LONG way, but we're not close to top 6 yet. We have to develop a ton more young talent. I think we can get there eventually, but we're not even close yet. Sure, we can play out of minds, defend like crazy and maybe sneak into the quarters of a WC, but not consistently. Spain, France, Germany, Brazil, Netherlands, Argentina, Italy, Belgium, England, Ivory Coast, Colombia, Uruguay...I mean, who you kicking out of that list to get the US playing top 6 soccer in the world in 3 years?