MLS/USL thread [R]

[tigerdave]

Congrats to Houston on finally winning a game.

Nevermind it came on a late penalty. :p

All Ws count the same. Funny thing is despite the suckitude, the champs are only 2 points off the top of the Conference. The West better be worried.

[ToonUSA]

All Ws count the same. Funny thing is despite the suckitude, the champs are only 2 points off the top of the Conference. The West better be worried.

Worried about what exactly?

Houston has shown absolutely nothing all year.

[City Dave]

Worried about what exactly?

Houston has shown absolutely nothing all year.

I assumed he meant about the East. Overall, the West sucks in comparison, and they have the past few years, despite Houston winning the Cup twice.

"If the season ended today, FC Dallas would be tied for first in the West.

If Dallas was in the East... well, people would be fired after the team finished seventh and missed the playoffs.

Six of Major League Soccer's seven Eastern Conference teams have more points than Colorado and Dallas, who are tied atop the West with nine points.

Last weekend, the East went 3-0 against the West, improving to 14-4-2 in interconference matches this season."

From here: http://www.star-telegram.com/549/story/638936.html

Older articles here:
http://www.socceramerica.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=Articles.showArticleHomePage&art_aid=26356
http://mysoccerblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/2008-mls-season-so-far-by-numbers-just_21.html

[tigerdave]

Worried about what exactly?

Houston has shown absolutely nothing all year.

It's a marathon, son.

They've played good football without the results the past few games. Now they have a result to build upon. Don't forget, they started slow last year and still hoisted the trophy.

[Russell1892]

I watched the LAG game via Sopcast tonight. I need to get out more... bloody hell a week after the season finished and I'm watching MLS... was a good game though. A lot of the defending from both sides seemed to be from the Titus Shambles school though. Beckham almost got in a fight... thats worth watching by itself.

Couple of questions though: Why does MLS break it up into East and West standings when everyone plays each other and the final table is taken from everyone (seems a bit like the Premiership doing North and South standings)?

Why does MLS play through internationals? :confused:

[tigerdave]

Why does MLS break it up into East and West standings when everyone plays each other and the final table is taken from everyone (seems a bit like the Premiership doing North and South standings)?

MLS is lame like that, but the table scenario isn't wholly accurate. The top 2 from each conference qualify for those playoffs us Yanks are fascinated with, as well as the next four point totals. It's designed to stop crap fourth-place teams getting in over better teams from the other conference, but it's still lame. I wish they'd scrap the playoff system altogether and just go to a league table but most Americans' heads would explode trying to understand it.

Why does MLS play through internationals? :confused:

Because we're on the same calendar as the Russian league because of varying things - for instance NFL, "too cold" in most places outside of California and Texas to play during the winter :rolleyes:, etc. They played straight through Germany '06, the Copa America, Gold Cup, etc.

[Dirt McGirt]

Because we're on the same calendar as the Russian league because of varying things - for instance NFL, "too cold" in most places outside of California and Texas to play during the winter :rolleyes:, etc. They played straight through Germany '06, the Copa America, Gold Cup, etc.That doesn't really answer the question that was posed. MLS just chooses to ignore FIFA blackout days and it helps them to avoid shutting down during various summer tournaments.

[tigerdave]

That doesn't really answer the question that was posed. MLS just chooses to ignore FIFA blackout days and it helps them to avoid shutting down during various summer tournaments.

Well there's that too, but that would be avoided by and large if MLS were on the FIFA calendar rather than the CONCACAF one.

[Russell1892]

I was thinking more in terms of how come MLS keeps going when the US National team is playing? Surely they can stop for a week? I appreciate no other US sport has a schedule of internationals but... howay.

I can see why they don't stop for tournaments abroad (like the Premiership doesn't for the African Nations) but for when your own NT is playing? Leaves me a bit confused anyway.

[City Dave]

Also, teams don't play identical schedules. We have 14 teams now, the home and away round robin only accounts for 26 matches. The next four are extra games within each division, which does legitimize the different standings a bit. Now, in 2010, if we do have a home and away round robin for 30 matches, then it will be pointless and unfair to have guaranteed spots for the division winners. Well, I guess guaranteed spots isn't really unfair considering the odds that all teams in one division will finish better than all the others is highly unlikely. But seeding preferences is another story.

And as far as shutting down. I don't agree with how they don't adapt their schedule for FIFA, but I'm sure they have their reasons. When our national team plays, our country is so big that very few people have to make the choice between attending their local teams match and going to the nats game. I suppose that their may be television conflicts, but that doesn't amount to much. MLS teams always let the players go. And, honestly, soccer isn't really big enough in this country yet for it to make a difference. It's not like the nation shuts down to watch the nats, even in important matches. Most people here hardly notice that the World Cup is going on, let alone the Gold Cup, or qualifiers and such. They probably feel they only have so many weeks of good weather to schedule in that they don't want to give any up. I'm sure over the years, if soccer and the league gets more popular here, then all of this will change.

[BayernWake]

MLS TEAM PICKING WATCH 2008:

I've flirted with DC for a long time, but after learning that the Crew's supporters clubs sit in an area of the stadium callled the "Nordecke" (northern corner), due partially to the fact that 20% of Columbus' population is of German ancestry, I may have to go with the Crew. Call me a bangwagon jumper. I do plan on going to some games when I move to Bowling Green in August, however.

[tigerdave]

Still Houston. :)

Though I may start to follow Seattle more closely when they start play, since I'm a Northwest guy through and through.

[City Dave]

MLS TEAM PICKING WATCH 2008:

I've flirted with DC for a long time, but after learning that the Crew's supporters clubs sit in an area of the stadium callled the "Nordecke" (northern corner), due partially to the fact that 20% of Columbus' population is of German ancestry, I may have to go with the Crew. Call me a bangwagon jumper. I do plan on going to some games when I move to Bowling Green in August, however.

Hell, if you're moving to Bowling Green, and you already have an interest in the Crew, go with them. Otherwise you'll end up like me, 400 miles from your team. Although, this is the perfect time to be able to start supporting DC and not be called a bandwagoner.

[JaredSS07]

MLS TEAM PICKING WATCH 2008:


I have always been a casual Fire supporter, but if McHead signs for them I will be watching more games. One of my good friends is a huge Fulham fan and was a Fire fan until Blanco signed with them. He won't watch a Fire game until Blanco is gone.

[BayernWake]

Hell, if you're moving to Bowling Green, and you already have an interest in the Crew, go with them. Otherwise you'll end up like me, 400 miles from your team. Although, this is the perfect time to be able to start supporting DC and not be called a bandwagoner.

Just couldn't get into DC. Not sure why.

Anyway, I can deal with being called a bandwagoner. After all, I support Bayern.

[BayernWake]

Saturday Results:

Canucks beat Gals 2-0
The Fightin' Orange beats Austrian Energy Drinks 1-0
Stupidest Name Ever beats Seismic Waves 3-1
The Fightin' Prekis beat My New Favorite Team 2-0

Sunday Match:

My Least Favorite Team in the Western Conference Because of the Name of Their Stadium hosts That Team with a Delicious Stadium Name

[tigerdave]

So. On vacation in SoCal and took in the Gals/Crapids game tonight. Pretty good game, on the whole. Five goals, two dismissals, and end-to-end action especially in the second half with the more open field and Colorado chasing a 3-0 deficit. Did have a few observations, though:

- Abel Xavier is far better as a defender than I remember him being. Maybe it's the move to MLS but dude was a freakin' rock in the backline.
- Speaking of defenders, for being a middle/forward his whole career, Chris Klein is a pretty damn good MLS right back.
- Watching Beckham warm up is pretty cool.
- Cristian Gomez is a ghost of his DC United self. At least tonight he was. Far too selfish when he was supposed to be playing playmaker, then he blasts over from 6 yards when he's supposed to be the goalscorer.
- The Riot Squad is a fairly solid "hardcore fan" section, by MLS standards. I was disappointed, though, that I was sitting pretty close to them (upper concourse but right behind them) and whoever was operating the PA system during pregame and halftime seemed to just be turning it louder and louder to drown the RS out. Way lame on HDC's part.

Still a Dynamo fan, for the record.

[Russell1892]

I hope you were wearing a Newcastle jersey TD :D.

From what I gather Xavier had one of his best games for the Galaxy last night, I think most of the time he looks all over the place, as he did at Boro. Lets not forget that four years ago he was playing in a Portugal team that went to the final of Euro 2004.

Beckham always attracts plenty of interest, I remember when I saw him in Newcastle when England were playing at SJP in 2001 (the game after we beat Germany 5-1)... loads of photographers and people with autograph books following him around. Wasn't as cool as the time I saw Nikos Dabizas in Starbucks though.

[tigerdave]

I hope you were wearing a Newcastle jersey TD :D.

I forgot to bring a kit with me on vacation. I was so kicking myself last night when I saw all the other kits around. Would've been the perfect night to bust out that Shearer kit you sent me. :(

[ToonUSA]

From what I gather Xavier had one of his best games for the Galaxy last night, I think most of the time he looks all over the place, as he did at Boro. Lets not forget that four years ago he was playing in a Portugal team that went to the final of Euro 2004.


Bingo. He looks rather Bramble like most of the time. He's not always guaranteed a place in the first XI either.