This makes me happy. I wanted to ATL lose after what they did to us. What can I say? I hold some grudges every now and then...
so KC/Hou is not on an English channel? I can watch it in Spanish, that is not a problem but you would think an American league would try to broadcast on an English channel to try to attract newer fans who might be intrigued by a one off playoff game. Soccer diehards like us here will take the time to look at the channel guide to find the game, casual fans most likely won't
Yay yay! Best of luck to them. Vancouver knocked out San Jose (Nice comeback in the Fire Sigi thread @Beakmon FC) and if they can knock out Seattle, I'm rooting for them in the West.
Yea I couldn't believe that a MLS playoff game was only being shown in spanish. I live in the market for Houston and it was only in Spanish here. It does make it difficult to casually watch a match.
That Atlanta - Columbus game was the best 0-0 playoff game ever. And way for Steffen to step up for Cbus!!
That was awesome! I'm hoping Columbus and Toronto beat the NY's. In the west, I want Houston & Vancouver to advance.
Not sure if mentioned here, but if you have 90 minutes this weekend (and we all do with no Galaxy playoff soccer) the extra time radio podcast with Pescsdito Ruiz is fantastic. I feel like I have a whole new level of respect for the guy. Loved his interview and highly recommend it.
Broadcasters go where the demand is. The casual fans are Mexican and other Spanish-speaking communities who will tune into an MLS match because they're into soccer in general. It's still a harder sell to American casuals, who follow the NT or foreign leagues, and turn their noses up at the "lack of quality" in MLS.
Regrettably, it doesn't look like VAN have the tools to punish this very disciplined Seattle side. Even missing big components, Morris, Dempsey and Alonso, they're very composed and showing few vulnerabilities. Also: The fact that Brek Shea is starting for a squad in the playoffs is amazing. And somehow he makes more than Gyasi Zardes.
Some small consolation for US U-17s: after smashing the US, ENG went on to win the U-17 WC, beating Spain in the final 5-2 and Brazil 3-1 in the semis. I have to say -- they were a great team to watch. Athletic, dogged, and relentless (they came back to defeat Spain after going down by 2) -- which is not to downplay moments of real craft and beauty they managed, more so than the Brazil and Spain squads they faced. Phil Foden deservedly got the Golden Ball, while Rhian Brewster grabbed the Golden Boot with 8 goals (kid had a hat trick versus Brazil and the US). Hudson-Odoi, the winger, was great for them as well; abused the Spanish defender through the final and set-up 3 goals, including a ridiculous pass for Foden's 2nd. Seems like a new era for England. Curious what our English posters think?
First goal was good build up and Dempsey shot. Robinson tactics were so far off. They needed just one goal but never attacked as a team. Always 1-3 players Alphonso Davis is going to be good in two seasons. Which will make him 19 and prime for a move abroad. I would love to see him in Holland
Vancouver's passing/buildup game was not up to snuff. Seattle had more quality for the whole game, and finally the scoresheet showed it. Would love to see Davies in MLS! But I know what you mean.
It’s honestly a bit weird, in part because of the mentality of the group – as you say they came back from 2-0 down and went on to win rather than lose in PKs at the quarter finals and in part because it wasn’t a fluke. The U19s won their WC this year and the U21s won the Euros, this U17 group lost to Spain on PKs in the ?? Cup and there was another decent showing against Germany. Maybe it’s still a fluke, but after a decade of absolute trash planning from the FA along with the likes of Kane & Ali at the “Senior” level England may just have got their finger out and started to produce credible national teams. No doubt the British Press will go in to silly mode very shortly and proclaim something stupid like England will win the Qatar World Cup, but for now they’ve managed a degree of rationalism. I think England might avoid embarrassing themselves in Russia (which is progress) and perhaps be in with a shot of making a final (Euro or World) in the next 4-8. Kane & Ali in their prime along with Sancho/Foden/Brewster/Winks/Sessegnon could be a formidable team - or they could do what All English teams do and collapse under the weight of absurd expectations. All that said I think it’s something for USSF to look at. Superficially I think USSF and the FA suffer many of the same institutional problems: arrogance, prioritizing money for the domestic league and a toxic mix of relying on both quick fixes and having too much patience.
Columbus has to have the upper hand at least in the first leg with both Giovinco (yellow card accumulation) & Altidore (red card) suspended. And go Houston!
Reasons to pull for Houston: They're not Seattle Former Galaxy players in AJ & Leo (even if Leo was not that great) They're not Seattle If you like underdogs, Houston are that Civic pride for hurricane survivors They're not f***ing Seattle #HoustonStrong
Montreal gets Remi Garde as their new manager. I am very surprised. Remi Garde is a very good manager. His last appointment was at Aston Villa, but as a Villa fan, Remi got absolutely screwed over by our owner, and I think at a more stable premier league club, Remi would have done well.
the one good thing for me not having the Galaxy in the playoffs, is I don't have to endure waiting 16 freaking days to play a semifinal game and the season stretching into freaking December.