Throwing a drink at your opponent shows you can move the team, change their name, win an MLS Cup but deep down they’ll always be ChivasUSA.
What a great start to the week. I didn't expect them to get shut-out at home; they never looked convincing. Lots of fingers pointing at Cherundolo, who switched up to a 5-2-3 for this match. Just goes to show how quickly you can go from being a darling to a goat.
It didn't help that Dolo was trying weird stuff like that 5 in the back which his guys were not used to. You can tell on that Leon goal Chiellini and that other defender were caught looking at the striker for a second wondering who had what and boom! ball is in the net. The formation changes threw off the team a bit and that is all Leon needed to find a way to hold and beat the Goats. LAFC have alot of interesting players but individual skills were no match for a very organized Leon. I think Vela is just showing his age. He is a step slower. It will be interesting to see if he is still with LAFC next season, much like our very own Chicharito. LAFC never got into their groove or were allowed to. That Leon coach is young and did a hell of a job on that team. Out coached Dolo to be sure.
I knew they were going to lose when their kid mentioned Liga mx not being a tactical league. It’s locker room material, but also, Leon’s coach is known for being organized and tactical. Just an absolute stupid thing to say before a game of that magnitude. Glad they were humbled.
I don't think it is better to any significant degree any more. Liga MX has no salary cap. In that regard, Cherundolo is correct. That is a big advantage for the Mexicans. Take a look at past results here. Yeah Mexico has had the lion's share of wins but again they have no salary cap and yet you see no obvious and consistent routs. Unless you want call the Seattle beating a rout. If so, I will allow it. 2023 Leon 3-1 LAFC 2022 Seattle 5-2 Pumas 2020 Tigres 2-1 LAFC 2018 Chivas (PK) 3-3 Toronto 2015 America 5-3 Montreal 2011 Monterrey 3-2 Real Salt Lake
They have no salary cap yet they aren’t better? That us probably the biggest reason they are better. And their superiority is unquestionable - since 2009 they’ve won 14 of 15 titles and have been in the finals 24 times vs 4 times for US.
They were much better before. Now? not so much. Hell, Last year it could have been an all MLS final had the Revs not tanked the 3-0 advantage they had over Pumas. It ended up being 3-3 and Pumas advanced by way of the coin-flip Pks. To get to the final you have to go against MX teams in this competition. Seattle made it last year to the final by defeating Leon and then trouncing Pumas to win the whole enchilada. Take the 2018 Chivas victory over Toronto. Chivas won by PKs after tying Toronto 3-3. How did Toronto get to that final? They defeated both Tigres and Club America. When I look around, I see matches where the lack of players on the MLS sides make that difference at the very end. More good players and a deeper bench with quality people helps the MX get those wins you are talking about. But I don't see unquestionable superiority here. The days of two Liga MX teams in the CCL final year in and year out, are over.
Undoubtedly the US is catching up but we still have a way to go. I watched some if the LAFC-Leon game and despite it being a home game for the goats it was clear who the better team was. Yes LAFC had a good scoring chance but it never looked likevtheyvwete going to win. IMO.
Liga MX is better. Top to bottom their rosters have so much more quality. I’d also argue the coaching is better as well. The gap is narrowing but not enough to make MLS teams consistently competitive in these finals. LAFC was absolutely dominated. They missed a few chances here and there, but Leon neutralized them completely. And I know it’s a salary cap thing, but I think I saw an infographic on twitter that showed that there really wasn’t a huge disparity between both clubs salary-wise.
The difference is that MLS teams have 3 players who make tremendous amounts of money and the rest make very little, while the Liga MX teams have a lot more players who make really good money. But as you said, culture and coaching and other intangibles also factor into it. The good news is that the gap keep closing...
Yup! And as we can see, these DP players in MLS can make or break a team. Im not a Liga mx fan at all, but when I catch a game, I’m always impressed by the quality of play. I wish more MLS teams went after Liga Mx players, but they’re PAID in Mexico.
Yeah, we are most definitely getting there. Not only are we getting to the final, we are winning them. With our wacky DPs and whathaveyou but we are in the mix. To think LAFC tanked the USOC only to come give up the ghost here. I bet you they wish now they had given that decision a second look. They could have certainly beat us and went on to win another trophy.
The LAFC fan at my office said he doesn’t think Vela will be coming back. He’s supposedly out of contract after this season? Now, if it were Klein, that would mean he’s ready for a 5 year contract extension. Maybe the goats will be smarter.
What’s old is new again. Goodbye CONCACAF Champion’s League. Hello CONCACAF Champion’s Cup https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ot...details-for-the-new-champions-cup/ar-AA1cd4Pp
Oh and looks like Messi is coming … or maybe it’s just the rights to the Messi documentary. BarcelonaParis Saint-GermainArgentinaApple TV+— Apple TV (@AppleTV) June 6, 2023
Or maybe Messi is actually coming to play in MLS Messi to MLS is being reported as a done deal .. Buckle up. This is getting good. #InterMiamicf https://t.co/PbBD5TrllL— herculez gomez (@herculezg) June 6, 2023
So which $65k-year player is going to get the first red card tackle on Messi? I mean, I would take it just to get my name in the record book....
Barreal of Cincinnati just scored the best goal I've seen all year. My goodness. Make sure to watch it.
Supposedly will make around $215M per year for 2 years. Jovan failed badly at his job for not landing Messi...lol
Messi, if and when it happened was always going to Miami. The friendship with Beck and all. What we might snag is a good enough player with all the hoopla about Messi coming to MLS. Vela is said to be going to Chivas and that might also be the final team for Chicharito next year. So both LA teams are going to be looking for that big star DP. I hope we don't drop the ball and LAFC ens up with the guy, whomever it is.