http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20081121&content_id=205863&vkey=pr_mls&fext=.jsp From Garber's State of the League Address.
Or the CONCACAF Champions Cup in '05... remember damn near freezing my balls off when we played Saprissa...
Maybe we renew our long dormant rivalry with Santos Laguna. Or am I one of the few people that remembers that rivalry?
You know what, I hate to say it, but I'm torn on this... I mean, I'm pretty much thrilled that the Wizards get a chance to play in an international competition, but the SuperLiga really just seems like a watered down CCCL. I guess I lump it in the same boat as the US Open Cup. Every chance to bring home a new trophy I think should be embraced, but the USOC and the SuperLiga just dont seem to get the same respect from players, owners, or fans, as the MLS cup or CCCL titles. Still, even with scheduele congestion, I think some good cross nation play is good for a young team. Hopefully we can make a decent run
Cool! I think it's a great idea not to overlap international competitions. Look what it did to DC this year. Houston crapped out in the playoffs for likely the same reason....too many tournaments. It also gives more teams and their fans a chance to see some international players in their own stadium. I like it.
I love what the league did in dividing Super Liga and the Champions League. I can't wait to see which of the Mexican teams the Wizards will be playing. I'll chalk this one up as another good move by MLS.
Good, I'm glad I'm not the only one that remembered that. There was the Copa Merconorte, then beating them in the Champion's Cup the next year, along with a friendly or two down in like Houston.
I like the idea of this but our depth is a serious concern. We already lack depth to get through the regular season. If we want to compete in this, we need more talented bodies.
It could be, but I thought that was the Morelia game in the 02 Champions Cup. But I could be wrong. Another one that I'm pretty sure is Morelia, but not 100% on was the team that didn't get the paper work in for Igor's visa so that he could play in Mexico, so he had to stay at home. I'm up in Iowa right now, so I can't do all my fact checking. Edit: The Igor one was Morelia: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-5694.html And it looks like the referee crew was the same game https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-5656.html Although another archived thread I'm reading makes it seem like it was a Santos game either in the CCC or CM. BTW, that Wizards archieve is fun to read through if you're bored.
As a league it's a good thing. Teams like DC and KC - which faced schedule difficulties like compounded road games or extreme fixture congestion - may have been better than the final record. Maybe not. At least this way one of those two issues is reduced. Selfishly, I'm also steadfastly behind anything that redces DC's opportunity to embarass the league. Then again, I'm unappologetically biased. For KC, it definitely makes being top two in the East a more difficult goal on the surface. A little deeper and maybe you have an additional carrot of sorts for quality SI candidates to come here. For that to matter, KC would have to clean house a little. No question. I do think the best thing about this long-term is this adds roughly 6000 man minutes at International game speed, half of which will be away. I don't care who you are, that should make your Senior roster better long term. Bottom line is minimum 6? more less boring mid-week evenings and 6 games, 3? more home games minimum, 1 or 2 prime opportunities to flex the passport muscle and travel, a greater opportunity to excell (or fail), probably a good opportunity to exploit CAB's dimensions as it should be the smallest field available, and a nice reward for being #7. It's like a UEFA Cup gig I suppose. Pretty good year shaping up for the soccer fans here in '09. KCW season, KCW Superliga, USOC, WCQs, Confed Cup. If you are looking for a new TV to talk all of this in, they tend to be cheaper directly post Super Bowl and before March Madness.
Actually it's a minimum of 3 games, 2 of which at least (the two against Mexican teams) are likely to be at home. You only play each team once in SuperLiga group play.
Personally, I think this is great for the team. Good brand builder for the business, and a little something extra for the fans. There is always a push for more international friendlies, this brings in international teams and gives them something to play for, which IMHO is better than a freindly. Add to that a shot at beating Chicago for the title and it is even better!
I think it's great. Four games extra (max) is nothing to get uptight about. It makes money for the league, and, who knows, we might get to take home some silverware in the process. Plus, if any local Mexican futbol fans come out to see their team, they might like it and come back for a Wizards' game or two. More games = more fun.
You're spot on with this post. More games and more chances to win hardware are alright in my book. Not to mention the chance to see teams and players that I havent seen play before.
Thanks, I forgot there was a semi-final. Maybe it was just wishful thinking. I'd much rather just have the two group winners play for the championship.