2012 Thread for Discussion on other MLS Teams [R]

I dunno. It seems like an isolated incident of someone acting like an idiot. Basically, anyone with a job that comes in contact with the public, whether you are a public sector employee or working the counter at Tim Hortons, you pretty much need to be bilingual. That was one of the sticking points in the 60s and 70s, when single-language speakers (usually Francophones) were limited in the kinds of jobs they could get.

There used to be all kinds of crazy stuff going on in the 70s, with separatists and quasi-terrorist groups and all that, and today, most of the hard-core Francophones are older and a lot less relevant than they used to be. Most people under 50 are more accepting that not everyone will speak both French and English, especiallly those who come from other places. Part of being a modern, cosmopolitan, multi-cultural city is recognizing this, and not taking offence when someone doesn't address you in your preferred language.

I was there fairly recently and in my unscientific survey, I heard English just as much as French when listening to random chatter. If you go to a bar, restaurant or store, they might address you in French first, but if need be, they will switch to English with no attitude whatsoever. 20 or 30 years ago, it was much more common to have the attitude of the "T" employee, but not so much anymore.

 

Weird. Surprised the team isn't comping him with a subway pass? You work in the city, you kind of expect it. Had no trouble with subway employees not speaking English in Montreal. The ticket vending ATMs have English too (but take only cash or those funky debit cards with chips).

Does he speak English? Maybe he speaks neither French nor English.

 

I was recently in Paris, and had the same experience. The Parisians were gracious, friendly, and willing to try speaking English, even though as a group they were not as anglophone as, say, the Germans.

 

Well, the Germans will need the English to keep the proles in line when they move their war by economics to the US and occupy our cities.

 

I think the Disciplinary Committee will be taking a long, hard look at that dive by Gordon.

 

Building on this (and I don't know if I should have put this in the Toronto Game thread)

For all the praise we heap on Toronto for their fan base, stadium, budget, and big name DP acquisitions - Isn't moving Mariner to coach after he seemingly failed to find the right players to make this team succeed in his other position very similar to the promotions the Revs made last off season?

 

It always sounded to me like Winter was the one making the majority of the decisions, regardless of the titles.

 

It raises some questions for me. While not as unproven as Heaps was a couple of months ago, I think he's still a big question mark as a head coach. The main points on his coaching/management resume are good results working under Nicol and a distinct lack of results at Plymouth Argyle and Toronto, so far.

 

So who would that 'most likely' put is in line to get? (I'm looking for speculation here)

Bedoya, as mentioned earlier? Or would he most likely be a target for Rangers to keep because of his age and his (most likely) low salary?

 

I read in the YA Forum there's a FA/owners/whatever vote on whether Rangers (since they're now technically a "new" team) stay in the SPL next season or get bumped to Division 3 on July 4th. If they get bumped down, there's no way Bedoya stays, and I think MLS makes the most sense for him - he'd get more of a chance at getting back into the USMNT picture Stateside than he would in Norway/Sweden/Denmark/Austria etc.

The only other notable US player who is having a tough go of it abroad right now (from reading the YA forum) is Zak Whitbread, who was just released by Norwich City - but he's famously injury-prone and I'm not sure he's subject to the allocation order.

 

According to Wiki Zak has never been capped beyond the U20 level. So he wouldn't be subject to allocation order, correct?

If I was an MLS club, I would make a bid to numerous Rangers players. They are bound to be affordable, and where else would they be headed? The Championship?

I heard about that vote on the status of Rangers. I thought it was the other SPL clubs voting. I don't know why they wouldn't vote them back in - doesn't their profitability depend on it? (based on the TV contracts - which are primarily based on the Old Firm rivalry)

 

There's also Dominic Cervi, a 6-foot-6, 25-year old goalkeeper who was last seen picking splinters out of his ass at Celtic Park. He's now a free agent, and Matty Reis IS 37...

Steve Cherundolo, perhaps? Maybe DaMarcus Beasley has a change of heart at Puebla?

 

Obligatory question as to where we are in the allocation order?

 

No thanks; you've got to dress before you can pick out splinters and there's a reason why he isn't doing either with Celtic.

 

And they get to pick returning US PLAYERS!!?? Blasphemy!

 

Not that there's a huge pool of quality, but if a Canadian National Team player signed with MLS, would they be subject to the same allocation process?

 

I don't believe so. I think the rule is USMNT players and players who left on transfer fees