Not a bad writeup, but it's hard to take an author seriously who calls the league "The MLS." For pete's sake people, it's called MLS. Stands for Major League Soccer. Does it make sense to say "The Major League Soccer"? No. You don't refer to our pro baseball league as "The MLB", do you? Sorry, this is my pet peeve about soccer writers - at least know what the league is called before you dissect it.
I have this same pet peeve, but this writer actually writes it correctly in the body of the article. It's possible that he didn't write the headline or got confused by the fact that he could have written his title correctly in two different ways; "MLS's all-underpaid/overpaid team" or "The MLS all-underpaid/overpaid team." But what really bugs me is to hear guys like Bruce Arena or Marcelo Balboa say "the MLS" on TV. That's probably why people continue to say it that way.
I found this the most compelling part of the article: "Kreis has sent away 20 of the 28 players on the roster he inherited last May. Only five still play in Major League Soccer." Do we have more or less talent on our team now? I think we have more. But you all are the experts. Do you agree or disagree?
I think it is a good thing that there are so few players remaining from teams that basically sucked. I would have serious doubts about a franchise that kept around players and didn't make changes when things obviously weren't working. In the past, you could watch a game and pick out 3 or 4 players in RSL's starting 11 who didn't belong there. Right now I don't see that anymore. There are fewer and fewer weak links, and there isn't a drop-off in talent when substitutions are made. This team is definitely better than the teams in the past (even though the result at DC may not support my argument).
Hopefully this isn't the quote 2 years from now: "<insert new coach here> has sent away 20 of the 28 players on the roster he inherited last May. Only five still play in Major League Soccer."
I refuse to hunt down the thread about MLS team sponsorships. Volkswagen sponsors DCU. second-largest jersey deal in the U.S. soccer league's history
Thank Goodness. DC has been the team that has never had their name on their jersey, just the three stripes. This year it has just looked blank. I'm happy for Chicago, Columbus, and DC for getting some established names. Sorry Xango, Herbalife, Comex, and Amigo (Oh I get it. It's a sombrero, not the St Louis Arch) Energy.
Here it is: http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/173648 The stat quoted is from 2007 but I can't see Yura improving in '08.
Holy Smokes! The team is serious about improving if they will trade away their captain when he doesn't perform.
Let the speculation begin. Who are we freeing up cap/roster space for? Where is our greatest need? Is Cooke headed our way for that 2nd round pick??? I just previewed my post and realized that I now have to change my signature...
Chivas must plan on using him on the back line as cover, since they already have Paulo Nagamura and Jesse Marsch in defensive midfield. And hello, Dema - dmid until Sturgis gets back.
I want to see that Claude Makelele deal done. How cool would that be. In the post game press conference at the Champions League Final, he announces, he's moving to Real Salt Lake.
I would pee my pants. I would pee the pants of everyone in a 3 mile radius. It's not going to happen. Kreis is freeing up roster space so he can sign a proven MLS scorer: Jason Kreis.
I went to practice today and there was a new player that they were using as an outside back during the scrimmage. I have no idea who he is though. Practice at Rice-Eccles: Friday May 9, 2008
Just received some new information: The outside back seen at practice today is a trialist named Yombe Williams, who was a teammate of David Horst's at Old Dominion and was drafted by Kansas City in the most recent SuperDraft. His look with RSL is independent of the Talley deal, and Garth/Jason will be looking at several options for the open roster spot. Ian Joy did rest today because of the bone spur, but RSL hopes he will be back out there next week.
Maybe this is dated. I found it funny. Besagno on the rise at Salt Lake Former No. 1 pick from Maple Valley eyes starting role http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/soccer/362589_socc10.html
Not dated at all. Last week on the day that David Beckham came to town, there was a crush of media. More reporters at practice than I have ever seen. Well along comes this guy from the PI wanting to interview who? You guessed it - Nick Besagno.
Just seemed to be a little too much "glass half full" approach. I especially found the parts talking about all the other draft choices (Barret, Guzan etc) and what they are doing now. I think that really made Besagno look bad, although that was not the intention of the article.
"Not dated at all?" Have you seen Besagno "on the rise lately?" I haven't seen him rise off the bench. We know the story wasn't dated in terms of when it was reported, but in terms of new information contained therein, it was as stale as the chewy popcorn they serve at Rice-Eccles. No wonder the PI is getting spanked by the Times these days. This story was really about a reporter who wanted to see Beckham and needed a local-angle justification to be there.