Going for worst team ever? At least we'll know if we're any good after our first game. Doesn't matter if it's home or away you should beat Chivas this year if you don't suck.
Why, they want a Mexican-American keeper? Kennedy wasn't quite as stellar in 2012 as he was in 2011, but he's still a top 5 keeper in the league. Trouble is, keepers just don't have much trade value because just about everyone in the league is set at that position with either an established veteran or a young up-and-comer. New England, Vancouver, and Portland are the only teams I can think of that would be even remotely interested, and they all have veterans already.
BTW not that we didn't already know but the Indianapolis Star reporting it is good enough for me. http://www.indystar.com/article/20130115/SPORTS/301150336/Indy-lands-soccer-franchise Congratulations to our Indy contingent on getting an NASL team. http://www.ibj.com/well-known-indianapolis-developer-launching-pro-soccer-team/PARAMS/article/38994
NYC is getting a second team. Gonna be owned by owners of Man City. Possible city reserves moving over like Chivas.
According to Adam Jardy's twitter, Livestrong Sporting Park to be re-named. From @downthebyline @TheFull90 livestrong's been stripped from the stadium history page, and apparently the Livestrong sign is not lit up at SP http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs.../01/14/d-c-united-plan-for-homegrown-signing/ DC signs the first player to be born after the league's inception.
I believe it was the NY Post that had a picture of the yellow wristband photoshopped to say LIESTRONG. When he was first banned, a bunch of people were defending him on the basis of what he's done for cancer awareness and research. Now that a doctor is suggesting that his doping is what caused the cancer, it'll be interesting to see public reaction. http://www.sportingkc.com/news/2013/01/statement-robb-heineman Official statement from KC.
Look up my history... I can never say sources or else I will no longer have sources. It's real though and it will happen. They're pushing for 4 u21 City players to be allowed to be on their team with City paying the payroll....
Good piece of business that. My dream for my powerball winnings (back when it 500+mil) was to buy Everton and Crew and loan fringe players to MLS. The offsetting seasons are perfect for that relationship. The advertising and emerging market seem like a no brainer... I dont care for Citeh that much, if this pans out they earn some savvy respect.
http://www.soccerbyives.net/2013/01...ing-trades-are-set-to-shake-up-mls-draft.html I think this seems pretty likely, the worst part Toronto probably still gets Farrell the guy they want because Chivas is stupid and Colorado wants Zimmerman.
Look up my history, I can never say you're full of shit unless you're full of shit. "Yes, we're going to pay $100 million for a team so that we can have four U21 guys go over and play Toronto FC" doesn't even make rational sense.
What's 100$ mil to their owners to have a franchise in one of the largest world markets. Advertising for ManCity Ability to have a consistent 30+ game schedule and first team experience for project players. No financial fair play rules Prospective TV and other marketing deals. To flippantly reject the idea is pretty irrational. Granted TFC and the hacks around the MLS is a good argument against putting premier league players into the MLS environment.
Bill, I thought these were the folks you wrote a blog post about a month or so ago. Some shadowy Qataris, Bin Hamman, the would be sports entrepreneur, and whether MLS would simply take the biggest check?
That That's the Cosmos group, owned by the President of World Sports Group. Indications are that after Cohiba Don & the 40 Thieves get approval for the stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens - and there's a lot of local opposition due to the loss of 13 acres of park land which the law says they must replace - they'll basically hold an auction and may the deepest pockets win. But the bottom line is that MLS will own and operate a stadium, which will include one hell of a lot of entertainment events and, oh yes, some soccer games. They intend to be the landlord in perpetuity. And despite the fact that City has repeatedly denied these rumors (or "rumours" in their case) some people insist that they're true. I don't believe it for a minute. You have to remember - or, in the case of a shocking number of people, actually figure out for the first time - that MLS does not sell franchises, they sell ownership shares to league investors. So City would not be "buying a team" they'd be investing $100 million in Major League Soccer. And in Major League Soccer, the league owns the players and pays the players. Not the teams. Players sign contracts with MLS. This is non-negotiable for about a hundred reasons, and anyone who doesn't get that is an ignorant douche who ought to shut the f*** up and go read MLS LLC vs. Iain Fraser, Mark Dodd, Mark Dougherty, Rhett Harty, Steve Trittschuh, Sean Bowers, Mark Semioli and David Vaudreuil . Now if a team owner wanted to, say, bring in four International players and pay them off the books, even U21's, then we're going to get into whether they're now Designated Players. I'm sure no one would object, but if that's really how you want to use your spots - on a handful of 19 and 20 year old kids - then you're going to lose a lot of games. Could the league change the rules for this one team? Sure they could. But why in hell would they? And I'll say again, why would anyone pay $100 million for the right to find playing spots for four U21 kids? You're really telling me that they can't find someplace with a roughly equivalent level of play for a hell of a lot less? Really? Seriously? Are you drunk? I mean, you could buy them starting spots in half the leagues around the world for $50 and a hand job. And that leaves aside the fact that most U21's - even the very very best that City's academy system can offer- would not start in MLS, unless the coach was forced to do so. So they end up playing in USLPro with the rest of the bench. For $100 million. Unless of course the coach is forced to play them by his bosses. Which MLS would sure love to see. Nothing like a total abrogation of integrity. And for what? For the same $100 million investment fee that, at last report, four ot five US-based groups are willing to fork over? Why? Futhermore, I just love it when people who are probably night stocking clerks at Sam's Club post confidently about how "$100 million is nothing to (fill in the blank)". Now you've left simple drunkenness behind and have moved into serious peyote-ether-and=grain-alcohol-binge territory. Finally, if someone really doesn't get why this kind of deal doesn't work, go take a look at league laughing stock Chivas USA. Not. Going. To. Happen.