Real Madrid Vs. MLS All Stars, August 23!

In the Bernabeu. OMG!! How will MLS teams feel about their best players taking an extended trip? Do they have a choice?

I guess the question that needs to be answered is will it be the same team as the one against Fulham. We could have a second team of all stars.

 

I'm all for them having the EXACT same team as against Fulham. Take as many F*C*'ers and Revs as possible.

 

Now this is a friendly that really has no benefit for any MLS team. LA vs. Real, or even the "All-Star" game I can live with. This one is a waste for everyone involved. Unless RM liked what they saw from Kobe Jones and want to invite him along for a trial

Thx,

Jay!

 

Well if the game is on a Tuesday ... then wouldn't it be possible that the All-Star players wouldn't miss any Saturday games?

Bring a larger squad, limit each player in playing in only one half, and I think the should be okay coming back and playing Saturday again. Right?

 

this is retarded. what league has multiple all star games? I smell gimmick. Fvck, are we supposed to be the soccer version of the team the harlem globe trotters always beat?


BOOOOO!

 

Anyone know what team they have faced in this match in the past.

 

I don't see this being a bad thing at all in terms of the league's reputation worldwide. Arguably the best and most prestigious team in the world wants to do business with MLS. What's wrong with that?

As long as you don't unfairly penalize one team by playing too many of their guys for too long a time.

I'm for anything that helps raise MLS' profile domestically or in Europe and sending a team to the Bernabeu certainly qualifies.

 

For players from most eastern teams it's probably no farther than an away game in L.A. or S.J. And they probably don't have much choice, MLS is single entity.

 

But that's not fair to you all.

I listened to a soccer show in which Peter Wilt complained for a good 5 minutes about how it was so unfair for a 1st place team to not have any players selected for an All-Star team.

Let's have Chicago supply most of the players; I'm sure that'll make you guys very happy.

 

i believe there was the tsunami relief game and many other testimonials all over europe. i know henry and beckham played in at least 2 of these games. i'm not saying it's good, but the concept of multiple all-star friendlies is not unheard of.

 

It's deja vu all over again. From last June:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/grant_wahl/06/24/mls.expansion

 

It's like 6-8 hours. A flight across the USA is about 5.

Thx,

Jay!

 

For them it's a preseason game--for our players it will be a midseason game.
On top of that the "All Stars" are also players that get National Team callups etc so they will be doing double/triple duty. BAD for the body--BAD for their Club Teams. BAD BAD BAD

 

But good for the perception that your league is deemed legitimate enough to give arguably give arguably the richest and most talented team on the planet a pre-season season tune up in one of the soccer's cathedrals. Helps your perception abroad and if you broadcast it you can sell it and use it to help promote both your sport and your league in this country.

If you have the chance you do it. Just make damn sure you don't get embarassed. That's the only way this is a negative.

Plus, if you're an Eddie Johnson or someone like that, here's your chance to showcase yourself and show you belong with the sport's elite.

It's a no brainer that you do this because it's for the greater good of the league.

 

Tea Man Tom, you're right on. This can be a positive both both sides here. I believe that you will see Real Madrid operating a team in the MLS in the not too distant future and create a real presence here in the U.S. I also think it'll give more of our players a chance to do battle against one of the elite teams in the world in their soccer cathedral, Santiago Bernabeau.

 

This game should be moved, not the Open Cup. The LHUSOC is much more important than this pure and utter crap.

 

The thing that makes this not such a burden in my mind is that MLS teams probably play 15 games less than a top EPL team and unlike in Europe international duty for MLSers replaces a club match instead of taking up a player's off week.

 

http://www.realmadrid.com/articulo/trofeo_santiago_bernabeu_major_league_24542.htm

 

From the US east coast about 8 hours, from the west coast about 11 hours. I think due to contrary prevailing winds the trip is longer returning to the us by an hour or so. And this is just flying time, you have to also add clearing customs, etc. The players are not going to have much gas in the tank for their weekend games following the Bernabeu gig. Logistically, any way you slice it this is going to be a nightmare.

That said, I still think MLS should do it. This has the potential to attract more fans, which the MLS sorely needs. If I were a player, I sure would love to play RM at the Bernabeu. I would just suck it up and deal with it the best I could.

 

While I understand the reservations people are having, this is something which simply cannot be passed up. Few players in their right mind would turn down in opportunity to play Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. The MLS guys see the big picture; this is about league development. The fact that Real Madrid were so impressed with their tour of the US to invite us is a great honor and will only lead to bigger and better things in the future.

 

Exactly. How many people fill the Bernabeu? The MLS guys don't get that kind of atmosphere or excitement that often. Any foreign interest in MLS is a good thing.