I'm a huge MLS fan, but I can't remember seeing a day like yesterday. It was one of the most agonizing days of MLS action I've ever seen: 1) Two penalties, both of which were horrible calls. Plus, Scott Sealy's goal was offsides. 2) No real standout goals, and a number of "defense sleepwalking" moments. 3) An incredible amount of missed chances (NE-HOU, Thiago).
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Yesterday I saw two of the worst games in MLS as far as officiating goes. How are we supposed to be taken seriously as a league, when the refs are that bad. The DC-KC game was an absolute debacle, mostly in the first half. A phantom penalty call when Simms whiffed on the shot. A Sealy goal that was offsides, an Eskandarian goal which was mysteriously disallowed. The ref completely lost control of the game. I think the outcome wasn't affected. KC's difficulty scoring, combined with DC's performance, meant that DC might have won anyway. It's the "might" that should cause consternation. You never know. As bad as it was, it wasn't worse than the Col-RSL game. Other than the phantom penalty, the ref was just clueless. How can we let the league now as a group that the officiating isn't good enough?
Depends, because there are people especially on Bigsoccer that demand quality for their money, knowing that the quality on the field (whether in officiating or players) is a factor in helping improve the league in this country. IMHO I don't see anything wrong per se with expecting at least a commitment to excellence.
While the officiating may have a ways to go, I think the play on the field has been stellar this season. Especially the kinds of chances teams are creating and the way goals are scored - more (and better) shots from outside and better assists. Passing and teamwork seems improved over years past as well, across the board. Overall, MLS has come a long way in the past six years (which is when I started following the league).
On the Sealy goal... in all honesty, in a situation where the last field player and the goalkeeper have overlapped, that can be an easy one to miss. But that's not a defense. That goal did appear to be offside to me. And by the way... the key word there is OFFSIDE. Not offsideS.
It doesn't explain the officiating, but I think the absence of World Cup players has revealed the lack of outstanding stars and the lack of depth. Also injuries- the Rapids keeper yesterday reminded me of a Sunday leaguer, but I believe he is the Rapids third string keeper. I still enjoyed the game.
I've seen several accusations of this on here, and it simply isn't true. Adu is standing on the post the entire play. It's impossible for anyone to be offside.
Fill in the blank. The USSF should make its young refs get experience by _________ before officiating an MLS game. That way they won't make any mistakes.
It's amazing how misunderstood the offside rule is. Adu was the last defender, not the next to last, since Perkins left his line to flap at the cross. The field players have no special status with respect to the offside rule, it just so happens that usually the goalkeeper is the last defender.
The Eskandarian goal was GOTW worthy. What? That was disallowed for no reason? Well make it the Non-Goal Of The Week!
Well I don't know who you are watching but a number of the DC United games this season have been terrific on both sides. They are so far past the level of play back in 96, there is no comparison.
I agree on DCU more or less ... but there's a lot of really horrible tactical and technical play still in the league otherwise. DCU is at the top of the conference for a reason.
yeah without: Oliver Kahn Phillip Lahm Bastian Schweinsteiger Owen Hargreaves Julio Dos Santos Roque Santa Cruz Lucio Ze Roberto Ali Karimi Michael Ballack mjust 5000 fans showed up sadly..
The ref for Col-RSL, I think that was his first MLS game and it wasn't an auspicious start. The other newbie did NE and Houston...I haven't seen it yet since I'm travelling but I guess that one went okay?
Hurting the cause? You have to demand more as a fan, whether it's in regard to media coverage, the quality of play, whatever.
Yawn. dumb thread. I saw nothing wrong with yesterday. Ref's make mistakes in every sport. The better team usually wins. D.C. United had that game the whole time. The rest of the games were fine. There was good play in most of them. You don't have thrillers every week in the EPL either. Jezus. Lame.
http://www.soccertimes.com/wagman/2006/may28.htm Perhaps our refs are so blind, we need two on the field.