2023 MLS Season

mr. stats has to think there is a contradiction because he can't believe that for either organizational or "bored with losing" reasons this is becoming an unattractive place to play.

eg adam seeking an unplanned trade.
eg HH talking europe after this.
eg gitaus headed out.
eg HGP going to FCD instead.
eg elis and manotas requesting transfers.

mr. stats who wants to lecture us about loyalty like there is some underlying beautiful spirit thus seems holier than the players. the franchise's first era saw a lot of loyalty. second era was built around brad and boniek. what is the new loyal core? and if there isn't one anymore is there something fundamentally rotten or is it so long term a loser no one wants to give up that much career to see if it ever works out.

the narrow version is the "got to build faster than this" so people are loyal to a winner. broader version is loyalty to a broader spirit.

mr. stats is the last person to believe we have issues because he's a holier than pope fan.

mr. stats will say maybe it's getting turned around and i wouldn't know but HH just now speculated about a next step after all our investment (whether i like it or not). gitaus walked. pinilla committed to college. etc. etc. read the room.

i also told some of you it was dangerous if you talked resources and strong efforts then last season happens. if you want that sort of talk to be taken serious and get you a "pass" as a "new" team you want to join, a real revival of the old ways, it has to rapidly become that thing. otherwise, everyone emits hot air. new owner made it believable but you have to flip the switch in 60 seconds. you cannot take 3 years. you take years how is it objectively different than jordan and brener to an outsider or skeptical fan.

 

#AIGCcTlx | #Deportes | Coyotes FC cae 2-0 ante Houston Dynamo FC en partido amistosos internacional @HoustonDynamo @Coyotes_Oficial pic.twitter.com/pYogKnZT1v

— GraphosCcTlx (@graphoscctlx) February 5, 2023

Sebas puts it away against los 🐺⚡️#HoldItDown pic.twitter.com/gbFw8NfgWE

— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) February 4, 2023

 

Sebas got some decent service? This is new lol. Looks like Bassi on the pass?

 

My 2023 Western conference predictions

1. LAFC
2. FC Dallas
3. Austin FC
4. Portland Timbers
5. LA Galaxy
6. Sporting KC
7. Seattle Sounders
8. Minnesota
9. Vancouver
10. RSL
11. St Louis FC
12. SJ Earthquakes
13. Houston Dynamo
14. Colorado Rapids

— MLS Moves (@MLSMoves) February 5, 2023

 

Looked like HH -> Baird -> Sebas
As I saw it at least

 

This is going to be HARD for some people to take. I think we're better than San Jose, I hope we're better than St. Louis. I don't think Vancouver and RSL are that much better than us. But we definitely aren't a lock to make the playoffs.

 

You're right, it was Baird.

 

Also looking in the video it seems that Coco is about even, if not further up the field, than Sebas. I know it’s just a sliver but it’s interesting when we have no lineup info from either of the two games so far

 

https://theathletic.com/4160858/202...f-training-center/?source=user_shared_article

It’s looking more like the playoffs will feature a best-of-3 round before being single elimination until the final. It would also include expansion to 9 playoff teams per conference with teams 8 & 9 having a play in game. The owners of the league are doing these changes to provide more playoff content to Apple and increase gate revenue.

 

I totally understand it for providing each playoff team with a home game, but you’ve now diluted even more the value of a single regular season game more. Dynamo glory years were back when 8 of 13 made it so similar ratio to then, but that was probably two MLS versions ago. Lots of years where 55-62% of teams made the playoffs. Seems to me that 16 of 29 or 30 is the right figure

 

https://www.houstondynamofc.com/season-kickoff-party?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

I don’t think this was posted before, but the Dynamo have a season kickoff party on February 21st. Debuting the New Jersey and having some interaction with the team.

 

Terminó el partido en Cantera entre #Pumas y Houston Dynamo.

Cómo lo platiqué hace un rato en el noticiero de Redacción @deportesWRADIO, el marcador fue 0-0. https://t.co/UaxSx7Ihed

— Fabrizio Domínguez Castilla (@FabrizioDC_) February 7, 2023

According to reports the friendly vs Pumas today finished 0-0

 

Imágenes del 0-0 entre @PumasMX y @HoustonDynamo en Cantera. La alineación:

González
Caicedo
Casares
Bennevendo
Ramírez
Rivas
Trigos
Huerta
Ruvalcaba
Marco García
Gael Rodríguez

📹 Club Universidad #Pumas pic.twitter.com/2AAoot8MMu

— José Iván Ruiz Trejo  (@eldesconocido) February 7, 2023

Some video published, again very Pumas focused. Taking it with a grain of salt since it’s a 1:00 reel, it seems like they’re allowing a lot of crosses

 

baird

 

looks 433 still or some variation of it. franco LF. can't tell where bassi is. i have seen some sources suggest them competing for the LF slot which would be a waste. get either coco or HH off the field. or did they miss the lesson of last season without a 10 or DQ playing second striker/trequartista we have no offense.

we don't step to the crosser fast enough, kinda jog. maybe we lack foot speed so we don't want to do the soccer equivalent of football press coverage, we feel the need to concede space and slowly close to not get run by. we then give up the cross in the space. the formation gives them no help, unless tracked by forwards a wing has a bunch of green space in which to receive the ball, even dribble up some, then hit a relaxed cross with their head up. if you play a 451 there is no space there, there are 2 layers of wing defense. if you play 442, same. even a 352 would have a wing whose job was to mark that. i do not understand why a team destroyed by crossing and lacking in many attacking elements lines up 433. the worst part is i think it's attempted pandering to fans who want something functional and winning instead.

i thought 6-1 was horrifying and suggested ben wasn't "taking." but a couple 0s is growth. 3 goals in 3 games isn't much, particularly when 2 were on a second division team. but we will see when MLS preseason compo arrives how this matches up for sure. they will also probably start releasing lineups, subs, and formations. as well as the games themselves. they have been able to fly under the radar a week. i like that they changed the preseason mix up.

the offense, the goal they showed the other day was two guys from last year feeding each other. that underwhelms, though MX teams would be hard. the defense seems to be giving up the same crosses as ever though the anecdotal footage today seemed to show some actual clearing headers for a change as opposed to endless chances. though who knows if we're getting A team oppo. The A v A portion of the MLS games will be the good hint where this sits. Their best, our best.

 

I'm just bewildered by MLS on this move. Not as much the numeric expansion, though I disagree with it. It is the move to a best-of-three first round. One of the basic lessons MLS has learned in its history is that everything they have done to "Americanize" soccer has been a mistake and hurt their business. While everything they have done to bring MLS in line with the World's game has helped their business. Best-of-three is an American sports thing. The world uses two-legged cup ties. Aggregate score. For me, forcing the first and second leg to be decided by penalty kicks is so messed up and stupid American sports driven. I hate it.

 

Team is moving to New Jersey? Wot!?!

 

You can never fully “de-Americanize” MLS. Ultimately the league still exists in the American sports economy where you have to have playoffs. The playoffs are always going to be the most watched product and I can see why the league wants to increase the number of playoff games. Why they can’t do 2 legs all the way to the final I don’t understand. Also I didn’t see where it said PKs for the first 2 of 3 games. When this was brought up earlier I heard someone talk about the winner would be determined as “first to 5 points”, IE a win and two draws gets you in.

 

I've seen the first to 5 idea. I was reacting to "best-of-3" wording. That, implies to me, a winner in each game. Having said that ... one game matches or two-legged ties. Those are the only options for me.

 

I think best of three is stupid as well. Question, do they still play the third game if the series goes 2-0?

 

Jeez. You probably won’t pro/rel too. A concept that erodes franchise values in the Us