Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] Really? I've heard the opposite. I'm hard pressed to think of anyplace he would put it then, as I don't think Miami is a viable market for MLS, and LA isn't going to get a third team. Brand Beckham pretty much demands one of those three markets.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] It could be the Versus deal. Both Landon and Henry are doing a teleconference afterward so it probably isnt something about a specific team.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] good point. It is a league wide announcement. Either TV or sponsorship.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] That or the playoff format ... '2 more expansion slots for 2014' .... some cack like that. This things are normally underwhelming.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] It could be the ASG announcement which is likely at Red Bull Arena.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] If it was that I'd expect it to be done at RBA not via teleconference.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] if it were AEG I wouldn't expect Henry. The playoff format is a possability, though that is just press release material. An actual conference though is something significant. Sponsor or partnership. I put it at a 4:1 over something like the all-star game opponent.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] Anyone with any insight on how the playoffs are going to work this year? I would love to see them do away with the home/away series and let the two "play in" games take the place of one of those weeks. Or, at the very least, make the two play in games home/away and then the rest of the playoffs one-and-done. If they do two rounds of home/away, I think I just might puke.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] They haven't announced it yet. I expect MLS to make it so all teams get a home game, except maybe the 9th and 10th seed. Which I have no problem with. Personally I like the idea of home and home all the way to the finals. Just add in the away goal.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] Please, no. I think that is the worst tie breaker that you could possibly have. Games are played differently. Sometimes you have a tight defensive contest and then other games get into a shootout. If you are the home team in the shootout contest you get screwed.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] Yeah, you're probably right. Although I thought this was a press conference with Landon and Henry doing a teleconference.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] The tele- part of this presser might just have something to do with the snowpacolypageddenami...
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] Actually I love the away goals rule--in Europe. Here in America, we don't have the history of cynical football that makes the away goals rule necessary. It can actually add drama to a knockout tie though, depending on the case.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] No shit, smartass, that's why I said "insight" and not "news".
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] doesn't mexico do a home and away and then have the seed as the tiebreaker?
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] that in itself is surely more impressive than whatever the announcement is going to be. EDIT: by the way, i'm calling that the all-star game will be against barca.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] someone is saying that the red bulls have a press release saying that the cosmos will join as early as 2013 whatever that is worth
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] Well so much for those rumors of us hosting the All Star game, Steve Davis strikes again.
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] MLS has jumped the shark. This was their major announcement: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/red-bull-arena-host-2011-all-star-game Doesn't even say who the opponent is. Leaves me wondering why Donovan and Hank are speaking later if this is what all the fuss was about. I was speculating the ASG would probably be half the announcement, and since Hank and Donovan were there I was wondering if it might be All Stars vs Arsenal, but come on, by what definition is this a "major announcement" worthy of several days' buildup?
Re: MLS 2011 Non-Sporting Discussion [R] I love the away goal rules and I remember what it was like without them back in the days. British sides really never camped on the road back then (they really don't know often) but the Italians and co would stick everybody behind the goal at home or away if they had a lead and that was a real downer. The away goal has added so much to games over the years by forcing home teams to really attack when they are on level terms, and it also keeps away teams in the hunt knowing one goal might not just tie things but project them into the lead ... Its one of the best moves FIFA have made in many a year along with banning the back pass to goalkeepers and modifying the offside law so that if you where level you are onside rather than level and off. Said he was full of shit immediately (as did you basically) .... anybody who believes Steve Davis on anything is a dullard, he is MLS Rumors quality.