World Cup 2014

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I would not be disappointed in this.

They will be in the US for a tour soon and he could go on trial. I doubt he will get a work visa for England though. Might have to go on loan if they sign him. Would Seattle allow him a trial in the middle of their season after missing games for the World Cup?

No. There would be no reason for a trial. They've seen enough of him to know if they are going to sign him or not. I am not a fan of Yedlin to Liverpool. Genoa or Roma would be much better landing spots IMO.

 

[STLDomer]

4 great teams left. Germany has to be the favorite but i think Argentina is going to win it all. Just my gut feeling.

Don't know if they can without Di Maria. I'm feeling Germany over Argentina in the final though.

 

[sparkyND]

Bold move by Van Gaal with the substitution. Great tournament run by the Costa Rican national team as well.

I like Germany to win the World Cup.

 

[Cackalacky]

No. There would be no reason for a trial. They've seen enough of him to know if they are going to sign him or not. I am not a fan of Yedlin to Liverpool. Genoa or Roma would be much better landing spots IMO.

Haha. I like it because potentiality Yedlin and Pelosi could be the two backs for Liverpool.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I like Pelosi in the youth system, but Yedlin needs first team time in one of the top 5 leagues or Champions League play from a smaller league.

 

[johnnycando]

I'm pulling for a Germany vs. Netherlands final.

 

[notredomer23]

I think Argentina is going to eat up that weak Dutch defense.

The Argentine defense is weak also though.

There should be some goals by each side.

 

[Emcee77]

World Cup 2014

I still can't believe that game went to penalty kicks.

It's almost enough to make me wonder if Robin Van Persie had been paid off not to score. Not seriously, but he blew primo chances. If the Oranje hadn't won, he'd have a lot to think about over the summer.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Van Persie has been terrible in two World Cups now in the knockout round. It goes to show how strong the rest of the Netherlands team is that they can actually make it to back-to-back semifinals with one of their stars not stepping up at all.

 

[IrishBlood81]

This is going to be an interesting few games here.
Brazil is a strong team and although Neymar is out, which defo makes them weaker...it could have a different effect. The pressure this team is under is unbelievably intense. Had to call a psychiatrist to come and help them deal with it. So now, that pressure is some what relieved, they have a reason why they didn't win, it may make them play totally different.
Germany is outstanding. Consistent and so organized. A real powerhouse team, they have a real shot.
Argentina is my favorite to win it. Di Maria is a HUGE loss, it will be interesting to see how they react to it. I think they got the Dutch beat...but never underestimate a talented underdog. Got nothing to loss, everything to win.

Look forward to what happens.

 

[notredomer23]

DeAndre Yedlin to AS Roma looks as close to being official as possible... Great move for him, great move for Roma, and great move for USMNT.

Sounds like he may get loaned back to Seattle though for the remainder of the season, possibly.

Champion's League football.

 

[peoriairish]

DeAndre Yedlin to AS Roma looks as close to being official as possible... Great move for him, great move for Roma, and great move for USMNT.

Sounds like he may get loaned back to Seattle though for the remainder of the season, possibly.

Champion's League football.

To me, this is the problem with the MLS. Everyone gets excited for USMNT during the cup then wants to watch the national players play for their home club. But, a lot of these national players are leaving for international clubs. I know quite a few play here, but I was excited to see the young kids like Yedlin play domestically.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Rumor is he'll be loaned to Genoa for 2014-2015 so he won't get any Champions League time right now. It's still the best move. He's going to get first team minutes at a top 5 league club and then join an elite team the next year and learn from Maicon. This is massive for the USMNT.

 

[notredomer23]

To me, this is the problem with the MLS. Everyone gets excited for USMNT during the cup then wants to watch the national players play for their home club. But, a lot of these national players are leaving for international clubs. I know quite a few play here, but I was excited to see the young kids like Yedlin play domestically.

I hear you. But his salary right now is around 30,000 a year and he comes from a poor background. He is going to make almost 40 times his current salary in Europe. Until MLS can pay all the best players, this is gonna happen.

 

[Rhode Irish]

If the U.S. is ever going to really compete with their national side, as many of the 23 guys should be playing for Champions League eligible clubs as possible. The MLS is a nice retirement job for elite players, but the competition is not good enough to develop world class players. Steel sharpens steel and all that.

 

[IrishLax]

I hear you. But his salary right now is around 30,000 a year and he comes from a poor background. He is going to make almost 40 times his current salary in Europe. Until MLS can pay all the best players, this is gonna happen.

Yeah, big problem with the MLS is that they don't have good TV deals. Some teams have great gates but the majority don't, and no one has the lucrative NFL/NBA/MLB/NHL deals that are huge $$.

One of the primary things holding soccer back in the US is actually the difficulty of advertising as there are no commercial breaks. Less sponsorship dollars, less TV money, etc. etc.

I don't know how it'll ever get over that hurdle.

 

[IrishLax]

Also, kinda irrelevant to the world cup, but apparently the early returns on Harrison Shipp in the MLS are really good and we might have two Irish alums on the USMNT next time around.

 

[peoriairish]

Those are all great points, and I really do understand them, it's just frustrating for someone who keeps trying to convert new soccer fans of our domestic league. It would be easier if the MLS was able to be keep the top flight talent that is on the USMNT so the fair weather fans could follow their favorite players from the Cup to the MLS pitch.

 

[Cackalacky]

To me, this is the problem with the MLS. Everyone gets excited for USMNT during the cup then wants to watch the national players play for their home club. But, a lot of these national players are leaving for international clubs. I know quite a few play here, but I was excited to see the young kids like Yedlin play domestically.

It is the nature of the beast. The big pay and top talent are in three leagues (EPL, La Liga, Bundesliga and maybe Serie A). The rest are basically developmental leagues theat sell on to bigger cllubs in the top 3 leagues. I am fine with that. They need to play lots of games and Champions League will offer that for Yedlin. I am glad to see US guys go international. Great experience for them. As MLS grows more talent will creep in and the parity will be good I think.

I thought I read Genoa may take Yedlin on loan from Roma. Is that still the case?

 

[Grahambo]

Yeah, big problem with the MLS is that they don't have good TV deals. Some teams have great gates but the majority don't, and no one has the lucrative NFL/NBA/MLB/NHL deals that are huge $$.

One of the primary things holding soccer back in the US is actually the difficulty of advertising as there are no commercial breaks. Less sponsorship dollars, less TV money, etc. etc.

I don't know how it'll ever get over that hurdle.

MLS, U.S. Soccer officially announce new TV deal with ESPN, Fox, Univision

The deal will run from 2015 through 2022. John Ourand and Chris Botta of the Sports Business Journal report that it will bring in a total of $720 million over the eight-year contract. ESPN and Fox will pay a combined $75 million a year, and Univision will pay $15 million a year.
Read more at MLS, U.S. Soccer officially announce new TV deal with ESPN, Fox, Univision

 

[Rhode Irish]

Those are all great points, and I really do understand them, it's just frustrating for someone who keeps trying to convert new soccer fans of our domestic league. It would be easier if the MLS was able to be keep the top flight talent that is on the USMNT so the fair weather fans could follow their favorite players from the Cup to the MLS pitch.

I guess I don't understand why people care about how good the MLS is. I care way more about the success of the national team than I do about the success of MLS. You can be a soccer fan whether or not MLS is viable. It is easy enough to watch the EPL on TV now. The Brazilian players play almost exclusively in Europe, and they don't seem to have a hard time getting fans interested in the sport. In the Americas, that is just the way it's going to be and I'm totally fine with that.

 

[Fbolt]

Y! SPORTS

Yedlin pulls in 92k in MLS. Due for an increase.

 

[notredomer23]

Y! SPORTS

Yedlin pulls in 92k in MLS. Due for an increase.

Surprised its 92k in all honesty considering he is only 20 and HGP

 

[RuntheBall]

Rumors are that Yedlin will transfer to Roma, but will finish the season for the Saunders first. Also mentioned Genoa is what I read, though I'd think he could get the work visa situation worked out if he is staying the rest of the season in Seattle (thus making Genoa loan unnecessary). Unsure if I interpreted that correctly though. Maybe Seattle keeps his rights while he is on loan to Genoa and the visa is worked out. Reading comprehension not a strength here.

 

[Cackalacky]

I believe the deal would be that Roma would purchase him then loan him to Genoa. He could finish out the MLs season then move over to Genoa in the fall. That is my understanding.

 

[Irish YJ]

I guess I don't understand why people care about how good the MLS is. I care way more about the success of the national team than I do about the success of MLS. You can be a soccer fan whether or not MLS is viable. It is easy enough to watch the EPL on TV now. The Brazilian players play almost exclusively in Europe, and they don't seem to have a hard time getting fans interested in the sport. In the Americas, that is just the way it's going to be and I'm totally fine with that.

ESPN had a segment the other day and made a few good points. The best, I thought, was that Americans are spoiled and feel that they "own" every sport and are used to seeing the best (teams and athletes), right here in the US. Because we don't own this sport, many Americans dismiss soccer. The other point (kind of the same) was that because we own Football, Basketball, and Baseball,,,,, most Americans will always prioritize these over soccer.

Ultimately the best athletes go where the money is. Right now that is EPL. And it will be that way for a long time.

 

[zelezo vlk]

When do the major leagues play? How many can the average American watch?

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[Cackalacky]

When do the major leagues play? How many can the average American watch?

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Virtually all other leagues play a season from August through May. There are exceptions but for the most part the big leagues play at the same time. You can watch all the major leagues and smaller leagues with a sports package on cable. NBC offers the EPL on Saturdays and Sundays now. They did an excellent job last season. Much better than anything ESPN has ever done on soccer.

 

[IrishLax]

MLS, U.S. Soccer officially announce new TV deal with ESPN, Fox, Univision

Exactly. Thanks for posting. The whole MLS is looking at roughly $100 million a year from that deal.

The Dodgers... just one franchise in the MLB... just inked a deal for $7 billion over 25 years, or roughly $280 million a year. So 1/30th of the baseball league commands $180 million more a year than the entire soccer league. The Dodgers are the exception, not the rule, but almost all teams command tens of millions in just local rights.

On top of that, MLB itself commands hundreds of millions a year itself for general broadcast rights from networks like ESPN.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Virtually all other leagues play a season from August through May. There are exceptions but for the most part the big leagues play at the same time. You can watch all the major leagues and smaller leagues with a sports package on cable. NBC offers the EPL on Saturdays and Sundays now. They did an excellent job last season. Much better than anything ESPN has ever done on soccer.

I'm sorry, I should've been clearer. I meant what time of day. Obviously the months matter (thank you for providing that), but unless the leagues can play on TV when John Doe is able to watch, the sport won't gain as much popularity as it could.

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