8/26/05: Last Friday In August?!?

[GPK]

FC Dallas GM steps down-Dallas Morning News (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/soccer/stories/082705dnsposocelliot.af221fb7.html)

FC Dallas replaces GM Elliott-Ft. Worth Star Telegram (http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/12483102.htm)

GAME PREVIEW: Columbus Crew (7-12-3) at Wizards (11-5-8)-The Kansas City Star (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/soccer/mls/kansas_city_wizards/12479048.htm)

Mexico's stars brighten Chivas USA-Pasadena Star News (http://www2.pasadenastarnews.com/sports/ci_2974406)

Metros hope Garipe is final piece-North Jersey Herald News (http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkxMzcmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTY3NTQ5MTQmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2)

Shutout was Real lesson-Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/articles/2005/08/26/shutout_was_real_lesson/)

Mathis looks sharp in return to team-Salt Lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_2974836)

Despite rout, Kreis liked game in Spain-Deseret News (http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600158663,00.html)

MLS a desirable partner for Sounders-Seattle Post-Intelligencer (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/othersports/238150_sounders26.html)

Postcard From The Road-Ft. Worth Star Telegram (http://www.dfw.com/mld/dfw/sports/12482929.htm)

[Footer Phooter]

"The difference right now is about three players. If we could add three top-end players to our roster we could play with any MLS team," Hanauer said. "The MLS and USL are very similar, other than those two or three special players that are making big money that the USL just can't afford."


I'm not so sure about that. Yes those 3 players would help, but I don't think the Sounders would make the playoffs with 2-3 high $$ add-ons.

[Sachsen]

I'm not so sure about that. Yes those 3 players would help, but I don't think the Sounders would make the playoffs with 2-3 high $$ add-ons.

Do you really follow the Sounders that closely to be able to say that, from out in Virginia?

As recent painful USOC experience tells us, there are plenty of USL sides that compete with MLS on any given day. Thanks a lot, Minnesota.

[Sachsen]

As recent painful USOC experience tells us, there are plenty of USL sides that can compete with MLS on any given day. Thanks a lot, Minnesota.

Fixed my post.

[Footer Phooter]

"On any given day" is one thing. Over the course of an entire season is another.

[MightyMouse]

I dunno, I've seen some really good teams in the USL this season. Hell, even the Islanders look like a damn good team that can cause "Ha-Vok" on MLS sides.

[Michael CM1]

I dunno, I've seen some really good teams in the USL this season. Hell, even the Islanders look like a damn good team that can cause "Ha-Vok" on MLS sides.

USC looked good in the national championship game against Oklahoma last year. Doesn't mean they'd have a snowball's chance in hell against an NFL team though. Don't forget those NFL teams choose not to even draft some of the standouts at colleges.

The only saving grace for a soccer comparison is you don't have the line play that football does or the size difference that basketball does. But I still think ny MLS team would consistently wax any USL team over the course of a season. Anybody can strike gold once but the MLS guys are paid more because they are better.

[ElJefe]

Hanauer's souped-up USL team would end up sort of like Chivas USA -- competitive in almost every match, but losers in most of them. The talent level of the stars aren't what makes good teams good in MLS, but rather the talent level of the complementary players.

[drew_VT_6]

Rochester's squad with a Josh Wolff and two other international caliber players, plus 3-4 more developmental players would be worth more than the Revolution. (Good sources put the Rhino's payroll at $800,000.)

You certainly can't convince me that complimentary players like Carlos Mendes, John Wilson, John Wolyniec, Clyde Simms, or Tiger Fitzpatrick are any better than the starters on the top USL teams.

I believe that every starter from the Rhinos and Montreal could be a starter for the RIGHT MLS team. I think all of Richmonds forwards could be key contributors to MLS teams, they all just happen to be foreigners.

I do know for a fact that international caliber players like Caballero, Earnie Stewart, Bobby Convey, Brian McBride, Stern John, etc can make a huge difference in an otherwise seemingly even match.

BUT, here's how I like to think of it, how many starting spots on any given MLS team could be taken by a USL1 player? Certainly less than 8 for a good team.

[cdin]

As recent painful USOC experience tells us, there are plenty of USL sides that compete with MLS on any given day. Thanks a lot, Minnesota.
You should also remember that many MLS teams rest their stars during the open cup.

[ChrisE]

I believe that every starter from the Rhinos and Montreal could be a starter for the RIGHT MLS team.

You go ahead and believe this, but five starters for Rochester - Rey Angel Martinez, Tenywa Bonseu, Jonathan Bolanos, Frankie Sanfilippo, and Scott Vallow have recently been dropped by MLS teams in the last two years. Considering that one of the best teams in the league is built around MLS rejects, I'm not convinced that all a USL-1 team needs is a couple of marquee foreigners.


I think all of Richmonds forwards could be key contributors to MLS teams, they all just happen to be foreigners.

The A-league's goalscoring leaders in 2004 were Alan Gordon and Dante Washington. Neither has scored a goal in MLS this year. The previous year's leader (and MVP), Thiago Martins, has managed 3 in 20 games. What makes you think Richmond's are any different?

[drew_VT_6]

You go ahead and believe this, but five starters for Rochester - Rey Angel Martinez, Tenywa Bonseu, Jonathan Bolanos, Frankie Sanfilippo, and Scott Vallow have recently been dropped by MLS teams in the last two years. Considering that one of the best teams in the league is built around MLS rejects, I'm not convinced that all a USL-1 team needs is a couple of marquee foreigners.

Martinez: not a starter
Bonseu: Received his green card too late
Bolanos: Don't know what happened with him
Sanfillippo: Is a better right back than Carlos Mendes
Vallow: (and our backup Huddock) are better than most backup GK's in MLS and in the RIGHT situation they could easily be starters. Montreal's Sutton would be one of the top GK's in MLS right away.

The A-league's goalscoring leaders in 2004 were Alan Gordon and Dante Washington. Neither has scored a goal in MLS this year. The previous year's leader (and MVP), Thiago Martins, has managed 3 in 20 games. What makes you think Richmond's are any different?

Let's talk about leading goal scorers and how they do at the next level. Let's start with Jason Kreis, then go to Taylor Twellman, neither can cut it at the international level. What makes you think Quaranta who has far less goals in MLS can get the job done?

[Liverpool_SC]

Martinez: not a starter
Bonseu: Received his green card too late
Bolanos: Don't know what happened with him
Sanfillippo: Is a better right back than Carlos Mendes
Vallow: (and our backup Huddock) are better than most backup GK's in MLS and in the RIGHT situation they could easily be starters. Montreal's Sutton would be one of the top GK's in MLS right away.

+ Mendes plays on one of the worst defenses in MLS. And he plays center-back for them, not right-back. He would not play much for almost any other MLS club.
+ Bonseu was a member of the worst MLS defense last season and he was one of the worst members of it.
+ Bolanos could not get any playing time as a transitional international for Chicago, even though they were playing with smaller rosters when he was there.
+ Sanfillippo - even suggesting he is MLS caliber - go ahead and build your team around a right back. It is one of the weaker positions in MLS.
+ Vallow/Huddock - both have been backup GKs in MLS, so does that mean that they are better than themselves? I don't doubt that there might be a good goalkeeper or two in USL - but DJ Countess and Brad Guzan are decent goalkeepers and look what it has gotten them. 2.00+ GAAs.


Let's talk about leading goal scorers and how they do at the next level. Let's start with Jason Kreis, then go to Taylor Twellman, neither can cut it at the international level. What makes you think Quaranta who has far less goals in MLS can get the job done?

The international game puts a premium on athleticism. That is not the strong point of Jason Kreis. Taylor Twellman is a bit under-sized at the international level for the type of game he plays, but the jury is still very much out.

I don't see why you are even bringing Quaranta into the equation (non sequitor). He has not played that many minutes at the MLS level. When he has played, his goalscoring (per minute played) has been at a very good level. Besides, he does not generally play forward for the national team.

Carrying your analogy to its ends, you are basically suggesting that Gordon and Thiba are better off dominating A-League and that Cephas or that Minnesota guy who plays so well in US Open cup matches would make great right wings in MLS.

I think that the closer analogy for how Rochester or Seattle would do in MLS is Real Salt Lake. That is a team that has lots of Bolanos type players (Selolwane, Scarlett), lots of MLS "squad players" (Kamler, Broome, Brown, Dunseth, Pierce, etc), lots of elite A league types (Tiger, Behncke, O'Brien, etc). Plus some 'elite' type players (Kreis, Mathis, Andy Williams). This team plays hard, but they have found the going very rough. Almost every player who gets significant minutes in MLS would be an impact/elite level player in A-League (just look at the performance of Dante Washington, Richie Williams, Ted Chronopolous, etc) when they stepped down. But these guys simply are not good enough to be regular starters on the average MLS team.

A Seattle with a few SIs bolted on would be like RSL. Rochester or Montreal might be a bit better - about like the MetroStars or Rapids. But they would struggle pretty bad over 32 games.