The MLS Thread- Blow Yourselves Away [R]

[kopiteinkc]

Thought I'd give this thread a try. That way other Reds fans won't be annoyed by other LFC related threads being taken off on a tangent.

MLS is almost upon us, pre-season matches are underway, some of us on here root for various teams in the league. Now we can be "rivals" of sorts.

I don't really think there is a need for this to be a rivalry type thread. More a discourse amongst reds fans (who are the most knowledgable of course) about the upcoming MLS season. Quite a different take I think than other MLS based threads and it may be a chance for some of us to get together for away matches, MLS Cup final, etc.

Who wants to go first ....

[Lanky134]

Kopite, I was intentionally trying to take the thread off course. Ignoring our uneducated friend looked like it was going to be the get him to stop.

[kopiteinkc]

I know, but I'd been considering starting this thread anyway.

If no-one's interested it will die.

But I think we have enough diversity of posters here who might be able to offer a different insight.

I find most of the MLS boards, too "you suck, no you do" for my taste

Maybe an intelligent thread on MLS is possible.

[655321]

When I was in Dallas, I had season tickets for the Burn for three years and thoroughly enjoyed it. I really do miss going to the Cotton Bowl (and the $5 cans of Tecate :) ). I just can't get into San Jose, though.

[kopiteinkc]

Well as I posted on other thread, I have season tickets in KC.

Apparently our season tickets sales are the highest ever for the club, nearing 5,000. If you consider that there is not a bad seat in the house and that the stadium will never sell out, quite a remarkable achievement.

As for personnel, I am actually excited to see Josh Wolff coming. KC might finally score some goals. Three nil-nil games in a row has me salivating at the moment ;)

I did attend the MLS draft a few weeks ago, that was pretty cool. Managed to meet Steve Nicol. Class act.

[Lanky134]

Originally posted by 655321
I just can't get into San Jose, though.
I'll avoid the obvious joke about you not knowing the way to San Jose...

IThat said, it's hard to make any predictions for this year - at least not now. In the previous two years a team has come out of nowhere to challenge for the title (San Jose in 2001, NE last year). Obviously LA has to be considered again. Chicago and SJ each lost some key players, and United, Metros and NE gained some.

[liverbird]

I'm a member of the "Screaming Eagles" for DCU. Season ticket holder from day one. My son, miniLB, has been a ticket holder through out those seven seasons and he's only 12. We saw two MLS Cup victories.

[Lanky134]

Originally posted by liverbird
I'm a member of the "Screaming Eagles" for DCU.
Those yuppies...

[mbrossetti]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc
I find most of the MLS boards, too "you suck, no you do" for my taste

Maybe an intelligent thread on MLS is possible.

Which was pretty much the reason I stopped habituating most of the MLS boards. I'd just check in on the Metro boards to see if there was anything that I had missed in the papers, but ever there there seems to have been an increase in antagonistic behavior amongst fans of the same team. I'd welcome a nice little slice of MLS heaven where you can actually talk about the games and not have to worry about defending an idea you have (a concrete one, not the half-assed beligerent type wildman seems to employ).

I'm refusing the even think about predictions for the year. With the exception of Chicago being hurt for cap reasons, most teams are still in the anyone can win the league mix. Was even that way at the end of last season. Don't think that it will change that much. Hopefully I'll just be able to get to enough games this year.

[SuperElf]

I move around a lot, and was in Philly for the formation of the league, making me a DC United fan. I made it to 3 or 4 games a year for those first few seasons.

When in Boston for the summer in 1999, I went to 5 or 6 Revs games, and had a GREAT time. Even though I was an outsider, the 20 or 30 hardcore tailgating/singing fans took me in and made me feel at home. Actually, I had just as much fun with those guys in a crowd of 100 or so at Foxboro as I did standing with the SE in RFK.

So, DC United is my team, but I was REALLY happy to see the Revs make it all the way to the final last year, (especially with a scouser at the helm).

To make a long story short, I REALLY hate the MetroStars. :)

[Dr. Wankler]

Originally posted by mbrossetti
With the exception of Chicago being hurt for cap reasons,

You noticed that, too? ;)

[Liverpool_SC]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc
Thought I'd give this thread a try. That way other Reds fans won't be annoyed by other LFC related threads being taken off on a tangent.


I think this is a great idea. It would be nice if the more erudite (for lack of a better word) approach of Liverpool Fans could be imbibed by more fans in the MLS. Too many Gooner- and ManUre-type fans leaving their grimy fingerprints on the average MLS discussion forum.

But to be perfectly honest and candid, the DCUnited forum really is a cut above the rest. DigiTron, Sachin and many of the Barra boys are always a good read. When I venture onto a MetroStars thread (usually by innocently clicking on a BigSoccer Live link), I generally end up holding my sides so they don't split. And I am not trying to be arrogant or anything. It is just really funny sometimes the kind of comments you see there.

But - anyway. I am very excited about the upcoming season. The trade between the Metros and DC will only up the ante on the rivalry. I only hope that Bradley is able to sign some midfielders so that the games can be as good as the hype. I don't quite understand the whole Rosas situation - I certainly don't see where he fits in, when we really need another holding midfielder - but the brinksmanship aspect of it is great.

I think that our offense is going to be a sight to behold this year. Let's be honest, last year we had a bunch of inexperience and/or questionable talent on the front line. Q2 - Ali Curtis - "last legs" Lassiter? This year we get Q1 back for the season (Hopefully in a somewhat dedicated frame of mind. You do have to be professional if you want to make a living in professional sports), a healthier Etcheverry - who will undoubtedly benefit from experienced and composed players around him, Earnie Stewert and Ben Olsen with their energy and drive off the ball and a much more experienced Bobby Convey who is starting to show flair and skill (at the USMNT level!) that only Clint or Landon have shown up to this point (we owe Bruce big time for pushing him even harder after he started to settle in and show up for DC Utd at the end of last season). And Alecko seems to have the little bit of swagger and arrogance that go a long way towards making a skillful player into a great one.

But most of all - Stoichkov and Kovalenko will not put up with any junk. They will drive this team with abandon. Our entire approach will be different - no more settling into a shell and hoping we can score one goal. No more 1 man front lines with desparation tactics like Eddie Pope at target forward for the last fifteen. No more relying on Jaime Moreno and Ray Lassiter when they obviously don't have anything in the tank. This team is going to want the ball and they are going to want to do stuff with it. Speed, flair and possession. And when we wear out a couple of the older guys, look at the depth we have. We will even be in pretty good shape during the Confederation Cup and Gold Cup.

Finally, the composure that we will have in the backline will give the attacking players the license to move up without too much fear of counterattacks. Ivanov may not be quite as strong as Eddie Pope, but he seems to have lots of composure. Reyes speed helps him recover from mistakes and Nelson will be solid at dmid as long as he gets some help from Kovalenko.

In any event - I anticipate quite a different style of play from DC United compared to 'Pool. You Revs fans, on the other hand, might think you were watching the same team from a tactical perspective (Mr. Nichol, step forward!). Although your central midfield could be a trainwreck and Ralston gives you more width than Diouf, Murphy, Smicer or anyone else who is on the right.

[655321]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc
I find most of the MLS boards, too "you suck, no you do" for my taste


They do seem to get to that point every once in awhile, although most of the Burn fans that I know/knew are honest to goodness supporters who organize events, understand the game, keep in touch with the front office, etc, etc. I'd like to be following them more than I do, but it's hard to see many of their matches in California. Seriously, I can keep up with LFC news easier...

[helmet]

Originally posted by 655321
When I was in Dallas, I had season tickets for the Burn for three years and thoroughly enjoyed it. I really do miss going to the Cotton Bowl (and the $5 cans of Tecate :) ). I just can't get into San Jose, though.

Well I've been a San Jose fan since the Clash v. Dc United on 4/6/96. Great atmosphere and a good time.

It's not as great of an atmosphere that often, but the core group of San Jose fans are knowledgeable and get into the game when appropriate. SJ v. LA last year in September was awesome.

For the regular season matches you should check out the Club Quake tailgate on the east side entrance before the games.

[Flying Weasel]

Well, I don't have a MLS team though sometimes I find myself pulling for D.C. United. I'm waiting for Philly to get a team. With where I grew up in PA and the fact that I spent some of my college years there, Philly is my "home" team city. (Although I don't actually root for any other Philly teams except the Flyers, but that's another story). Anyway, when MLS started I was disappointed that Philly didn't have a team. I figured within several years Philly would get a team and so I consciously decided not to allow myself to develope affections for any other teams because once I pick a team it's for life, like it or not--team allegiances are forever.

So here I am 7 years later, still without a team, though I must admit to often detachedly pulling for D.C. United. After all, they had the best uniforms at the outset, were the closest team, and played attractive football. And they got Ben Olsen who's from my general area. Of course, it's helped that I was overseas for 1-1/2 years and then for 3 years was a season ticket holder of the A-League Hershey Wildcats. But the Wildcats folded and I now enter my 2nd summer without a pro team to call my own. And so the pull to become a United fan gets stronger. Living in Harrisburg, DC is only a little longer a drive than Philly. And if Hayden Woodworth (who's from the same school as I and who I've watched play the past 4 years) had made the team, I might have had no choice.

But alas, I wait for Philly to get a team. Meanwhile I follow MLS, go to the occassional game, and hope it grows and expands.

[mbrossetti]

I'll take the growth (especially if it can be financial) before the expansion, allthough if they came hand in hand, I'd be OK with the timing of it.

It would be nice to see 12 teams back in the league, but financially, unless there is a nice injection of cash somewhere along the lines, I think that expansion would only serve to dilute the talent pool. If they expand, I would hope they feel it neccessary to expand the salary cap just a bit, in order to allow for some flexibility when looking at players (Not required to be foreigners). But when you look at most of the players just on the outskirts of the league, expanding right now lets them in, which would be good for them, but I think would pull the league back 2 years to the point where the starting 11 are good enough have moments of brilliance, but the benches are littered with players that this year wouldn't be able to crack one of the 10 teams lineups.

[usscouse]

Originally posted by kopiteinkc
I find most of the MLS boards, too "you suck, no you do" for my taste

Maybe an intelligent thread on MLS is possible. MLS Sucks...!

Couldn't resist...:D

Needs a Seattle team, badly.

[usscouse]

More seriously I’d love to see a Seattle team but I honestly don’t think it would received the support it would need to survive. Seattle fans are a tough nut to crack when it comes to supporting sports teams.
The Mariners almost left through lack of support after the big strike, now it’s become Japan “East” and saved itself.
Maybe we could import some J league players….!

mbrossetti, is that correct? the talent pool is that small 'still' in this country.

[usa1950]

I can occasionally be found at Columbus Crew Stadium, standing and singing with the travelling FIRE supporters. 300 of us can make more noise than 10,000 Ohioans. Who's the best.... FIRE!

And YanksFC and I will get up to Chicago this year as well. Why???

Good guys wear red.

I'm definitley looking forward to the MLS season, to take the sting out of the Reds FA Cup loss to Palace, the crap at Birmingham, losing to United, etc.

[kopiteinkc]

Originally posted by usa1950

Good guys wear red.



Or Wizards blue :D

Actually supporting the likes of Paul Rideout (briefly), Richard Gough (briefly), Preki and Mo Johnston -- Wildman, they all played for Everton -- has been a challenge for a Red bigot like me :)