The Flight of the Center Backs
Posted on December 9, 2008 9:57 am
On the heels of the unsurprising news that MICHAEL PARKHURST IS OFF TO EUROPE comes the unsurprising news that CHAD MARSHALL IS TAKING A STAB AT IT AS WELL and as for William Conde, well, he isn’t talking but when you SELL ALL YOUR BELONGINGS, DISCONNECT YOUR PHONE AND MOVE TO COLUMBIA you’ve pretty much said it all.
Solid back line defense was a major reason why these three teams – not coincidentally the top three teams in the top MLS conference – had the seasons that they did, and nobody can lose that kind of talent without it having an effect.
All three teams have options, but you can’t easily replace the kind of quality Parkhurst and Marshall – pretty much unarguably the two best defenders in the league – represent.
The thing that bothers me most though is the level to which they’re going (assuming Marshall gets an offer): Denmark and 2.Bundesliga. While the money is certainly better, these guys are the best MLS has to offer.
For several years now we’ve all confidently asserted that American players were “beginning to get the respect they deserve” from the European leagues, after years of being considered as nothing much more than cheap practice players.
It’s beginning to look like nothing much has changed.
Several sharp-eyed posters noticed the gargantuan presence of Biker Claus, AKA CONCACAF Vice President Chuck Blazer, at the Women’s U20 World Cup final.
Indeed, as the Chairman of the event (Jack Warner is on a 40-nation “Tour de Greed” at the moment) Chuck and his “personal staff” was al over this one
Making it easier for Chuck and his “personal staff” to make the grueling trek from end to end of the vast expanse that is Chile was the FIFA-provided personal jet, fueled and ready at all times
I’m told the young lady is the official CONCACAF Director of Travel and Accommodations, a recent graduate of the Ultra-Exclusive “Hotelschool” in The Hague.
The Seattle Sounders have a “Marching Band?”.
Fire fans are still pretty ambivalent about the upcoming addition of cheerleaders, and I understand the dilemma; nobody wants a repeat of the ugly incident in Denver a couple years ago when A RAPIDS CHEERLEADER WAS KNOCKED TO THE GROUND AND GROPED by a crowd of horney seventh graders.
But at the risk of offending the already notoriously touchy Sounders fans, isn’t a Marching band just a little, you know, excessive?
I’m sure Daniel will have more for us on the US Soccer Hall of Fame voting, which concludes tomorrow. He probably won’t be mentioning J Hutcherson’s objection to anyone except himself getting a ballot, though.
They’ve assured that there won’t be another shutout year by lowering the bar from 70% down to 66% and if that doesn’t generate a winner or two they’ll conduct a runoff amongst the top vote getters.
I for one like the idea that if nobody can get 70% then nobody gets in. See you next time.
But Oneonta wants a ceremony, dammit, and so Oneonta is going to get one if they have to enshrine Steve Trittshuh to do it.
You would think Conde would have learned that the Fire are more than willing to let him sit on his ass until other teams meet their demands/expectations. And this time they don’t have to pay him if he stays in Colombia.
Better have himself some good trials…wonder how much the Fire will demand as a transfer fee…
Chuck looks a little cramped in that jet. He must not be on Sepp’s good list. Couldn’t he get the XXXL personal airplane? Poor guy.
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So which transfer hurts their team more, Parkhurst or Marshall? Who do they have up-and-coming to try and replace them? The Revs have been bleeding players for quite a while now. Were they still playing a 3-man backline last year? If so, I’m thinking Parkhurst’s departure hurts New England more than Marshall leaving hurts the Crew.
I don’t know what everybody else thinks, but there are at least 5 people on the ballot deserving of the hall. How somebody like Earnie Stewart could only muster 40% of the vote last time is beyond me………….
I think the marching band is a Pacific NW thing. The Timbers have a march to PGE Park before every game complete with pipers, drummers, and flautists, or “flute guys” to use the technical term.
ColOmbia, Bill, with an O. That’s the proper name of the South American country from which Willman Conde is from.
ColUmbia, with a U, is a District between Maryland and Virginia, the alma mater of the president elect and a British-themed province of your Canadian friends.
I was in Belgium in September and caught AFC Tubize away to KV Mechelen. During Tubize’s warm up passing drills, a goddamn marching band strolls in from the locker room ramp, right through the Tubize drills, straight to the supporter’s stand to play a tune. The Tubize players just stood around stunned.
Total dick move. Which is what made it absolutely awesome. So yeah, three cheers for a marching band. I hope it catches on.
I hear-tell that Tronna invented marching bands. Some guy wrote it on the internet so it must be true.
I thought Toronto invented Marching Bands….
I think the idea of a band is great. I’ve often thought that MLS clubs should work out a deal with local area high schools and/or colleges to bring in guest bands through out the season. Give them free tickets to sit in one of the empty corners and play fight songs. They can even do a halftime program (couldn’t be any worse than Mascot Soccer).
This would be a good example of how we can “Americanize” the league without “Americanizing” the sport.
It would also add some atmosphere to some of the quieter stadiums.
Hall of Fame voting ended last Wednesday. I filed the exact same ballot I did last year – as the folks on the ballot were essentially the same as last year as they’ve extended the waiting time to a full three years from a pseudo three years.
Basically just giving us another chance to get last year’s induction right – or in short inducting Joy Fawcett and Preki.
Can someone explain to me why Chuck Blazer still has a job?
What has he done to Jack Warner to deserve a firing? Sure, we all think he’s a corrupt bastard like his Capo, but unless he costs Captain Jack money, I’m not sure how one would think Biker Claus (classic, btw) is on the outs at all.
I’m ok with having a band as long as they restrict themselves to playing while marching to the stadium and during half time, while myself and the rest of the Emerald City Supporters will be more occupied with consuming beer. But as soon as they start blasting out the latest arrangement of ‘shake that booty’ or whatever 5 year old R&B song over our supporter chants, shit will fly.
On the other hand, if they are willing to work with supporters, and from what I have they are in contact with ECS leadership and will have radio communication with our Capo, then there is a chance having a band could would out for the good.
Check out the March Fourth Marching Band (from Portland, I think). Something like that would be cool.
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