If Cincy took the USA-Mex game from Columbus, I'd be livid. I understand if they place it somewhere other than Columbus but not Cincy.
Doc Edwards has been quoted saying, if we play Austin in Columbus, he wants it to be in Mapfre. I read it as being more of an emotional statement rather one based in some hard policy. His basic point was, they don't deserve to play in our new stadium. Of course, this won't necessarily have any effect on hw the league schedules matches and whether we host Austin here at all this season.
So, there are three possible outcomes for the forthcoming schedule. 1) We host Austin 2) We play at Austin 3) We don't play them at all this year, because of the total number of teams in MLS. I have to believe that, for pomp and circumstance and TV eyeballs, we will play Austin this year. It seems more logical (for me at least) for the first match between the two to be here in Columbus. Now, that said, how does the league go about making these decisions? How much of an input does Dr Edwards/ownership, or might it fall to Bez, have? Another way of looking at it, does the club have the ability to lobby for us playing them here this year, and, to if so, can we pull to have it be in a time frame that the match would be played in MAPFRE?
From what I understand after discussing scheduling a bit with Dr. Pete last year after the Supporters Summit is that the teams do have the ability to make requests on some aspects of the schedule. And usually, the schedule makers try to take all requests and do the best that they can with them. However, they do not have to comply with the requests. As an example, he said that they asked last year to have no more than two home matches a month in March/April and they still scheduled six (even though they were cancelled). I know they have some ability to blackout dates that they cannot have home matches due to availability of the stadium.
I think youre completely wrong. First, I think you underestimate how much the league worries about Columbus fans being hopeless thugs. Ask anyone who attended the early Crew at Union games. They had 30 policemen cordoning off 50 Crew fans because they were worried about us causing violence. We scare them. According to them we rioted with Tornoto fans, fought with West Ham fans, threw bananas at black players, yelled racial slurs, on and on. I know it sounds ridiculous. Hell, it IS ridiculous. But they believe it. (Although its true we chanted an obscene Precourt song which we would do again given half a reason. Unless Dee asked us not to and I doubt she would. No one else could do it.) If youre right about them wanting a CBus Austin game, it will be in Austin. They can have the game you think they want without worries about Crew fans starting fights or riots or screaming obscenities on TV or throwing stuff etc. Austin fans arent angry at anybody, but theres a lot of residual hate in Columbus. Makes no sense to give Crew fans a golden opportunity to vent it on TV. I honestly cant think of one single reason why theyd want that game here. Not one. Which is OK by me. I dont want that trash in our stadium. I wish they could arrange it so that outfit never, ever befouls our place.
Do you think that the league thinks we’re such hopeless thugs (LOL!) to the point that it outweighs scheduling this matchup even at austin in austin’s first season? I have to think that our fans’ showing at the Hell is Real match in Cinci in 2019 (on national TV nonetheless) would put to rest anything that happened in Philly in 2008-10. No? Do you think the league doesn’t want this game scheduled for this year, then circle it on their calendar, plan to televise it nationally, and promote the hell out of it as this big rivalry game? Because, I have to think, as dominant as we’ll be going forward, and as lame as most expansion teams are for a few years, this matchup won’t have the luster next year or the year after that it would now. Seems like MLS would want this matchup and want it this year. (Edit: this post is edited from its original.)
Yeah...that's right. I flipped it. I was remembering it as "How dare they set foot in The House Lamar Built." IMO, that would also be quite nice, but it's not what was said. If we do get one more game at the fairgrounds (and it now seems doubtful), I'd love for it to be New England. They were there on 5/15/1999 and they should be there in 2021. If that's not going to happen, why not open the new stadium against them? But yeah. It was one of those emotional "If I had my choice" statements and far from any sort of hard policy. Stuff like this has been mentioned as far back as 2001. One of the league bosses mentioned then that no scheduling software (such as used by other leagues) could work for MLS scheduling, due to all the blackout dates. Of course, things have gotten a bit better. Mark McCullers always had a wish of not having home games before tax day, due to weather. We'll almost certainly have blackout dates due to events at the arena and a blackout date on July 3rd, dependent on Red, White and Boom. I'd be surprised if we don't play them this year. In any league, that storyline of "new team vs defending champs" always gets eyeballs.
Find a post by @Foosinho. Unless something changed, his signature may still link to "Debunking That Classless Liar Who Hates Columbus And Thinks We're All Nazis."
What you said was that you felt the game would be in Columbus. You seem to now be ignoring this, which was the entire point of my post.
MLS season will now start 4/17. https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2021/02/10/mls-2021-regular-season-starts-april-17 No news yet on when teams can report to camp, especially those in Champions League.
OK. MLS has hired me again to be "Covid Police" at all the home games. (I'm also listed as the 1st person to contact if they need someone in Cincinnati.) Pretty excited, to be able to go to all the home games this year. (And maybe a couple in our rivals new digs.)
Just saw MLS Cup winner betting odds. Los Angeles FC - +350 Columbus Crew - +400 Seattle Sounders - +450 Toronto FC - +450 Philadelphia Union - +650 NYCFC - +700 Orlando City - +900 New England - +1100 Portland Timbers - +1400 Atlanta United - +1800 Inter Miami - +1800 Sporting Kansas City +1800 New York Red Bulls - +2000 Minnesota United - +2200 Chicago Fire - +2500 Los Angeles Galaxy - +2500 FC Dallas - +3300 Colorado Rapids - +4000 CF Montreal - +4000 Nashville FC - +4000 Austin FC - +5000 Real Salt Lake - +6600 San Jose EQuakes - +6600 Vancouver Whitecaps +6600 Houston Dynamo - +10000 DC United - +12500 FC Cincinnati - +12500 Im liking those Atlanta numbers. Not a lot of confidence for a team with an good Argentine coach again and Josef back. LOL @ cincy.
I think FC Dallas and maybe the Gals would be the sweet spot for long odds but a decent shot. I certainly wouldn't want to be rooting for DC and Kentucky in the playoffs. I could bring myself to root a bit for a western conference team a bit more easily. It's pretty nice to see us getting some respect as the defending champs. And of the top half teams in the league, you'd be hard pressed to think of one that has improved more than we have in the off season. I expect this team of ours to be very good this year. They exceeded expectations last year. I had expected them to be contenders in 2021. Now I really think we are the best team in the league and am looking forward to them proving it on the field all season long.
Uh, check your math there, sir. If you did that with the 17 teams with the best odds: Los Angeles FC - +350 Columbus Crew - +400 Seattle Sounders - +450 Toronto FC - +450 Philadelphia Union - +650 NYCFC - +700 Orlando City - +900 New England - +1100 Portland Timbers - +1400 Atlanta United - +1800 Inter Miami - +1800 Sporting Kansas City +1800 New York Red Bulls - +2000 Minnesota United - +2200 Chicago Fire - +2500 Los Angeles Galaxy - +2500 FC Dallas - +3300 You'd be out $170. You'd lose money if any of the top 9 are champs. Make $20 for loaning a casino $170 for 10 months if the next 3 win and make few bucks if some of the longer shots come through. Even if FC Dallas win, you're not even doubling your investment.
My quick take on the Eastern Conference teams and their outlook in 2021. It's super early days so everything will change but what else do we have to talk about right now? This is combing the current roster, coaches, and their offseason moves while acknowledging plenty of upcoming moves will change things dramatically for some teams. Grading System: (+) = Predicted to finish higher up the table than last year (-) = Predicted to finish lower in the table (*) = Predicted to finish about the same. Atlanta (+) They have a real coach, added Sosa, and a healthy Martinez, and that instantly makes them better than 12th place from last season. Can't overstate the value of an actual coach for this team. Chicago (*) They haven't really changed their starting 11 and it wasn't good enough last year so seems unlikely they will be that much better this year. Traded away Mihailovic and added a new right-back and wing. Unless other big moves come I wouldn't expect them to be that much better. Cincinnati (+) Can they continue to be that bad?? At some point luck alone has to help them, right? Brenner is a huge move but without service, I am not sure he will be able to make the same impact. If they can a few more pieces in attack then it could be a different team. Matarrita gives them some defensive stability. Columbus (+) We have done nothing but add more depth (Wright-Phillips, Kitchen, Bush) and a high-end attacking player (Molino). The major stumbling block could be the extra games in CCL that don't allow the team to get a rhythm as Caleb has to blend lineups. We are all expecting another piece to be added but the expectations should be very high. DC United (-) Is it feasible for the team to really get much worse? The new head coach is super interesting and that might alone make them more entertaining and slightly better. However, at this point, they have not done much to upgrade the roster. I would think more change is coming but for now, they don't seem on paper to be much better. Inter Miami (*) I would give them more of a chance for improvement if they had kept Alonso as the coach or hired someone more competent. Maybe Neville will work but it feels very much like Beckham picking a friend. Henderson as a sporting director means they might get better long term but in the short run they have work to do. They have not really again added anyone but a full year with Higuain, Pizarro, and Matuidi should help them some. CF Montreal (-) Count me as someone who doesn't think Henry should be a 1st team coach. He hasn't really proven to be ready for this level. Ex-players get chances fast and seem like he needs to have spent some time on the bench learning before taking the jobs he has. Who is going to score for this team? Nashville (*) They surprised everyone especially down the stretch with a really stingy defense. They need to score more goals and I think it's unlikely they can play defensively so well as teams figure them out a little more. They have enough of a solid core to remain a playoff team but unless they get a real goal scorer it's hard to see them finishing much differently. New England (*) This was a hard one for me because Bruce just seems to make teams competitive even if the talent is not there. I don't love anyone outside of Turner, Gil, and Bou but that is enough to keep them in the playoff hunt. They need a little more depth in defense and another wide attacking player. Will they spend the money to actually get the necessary quality? I could see them struggling but scrappy New York FC (+) This is a bit of a gamble but they have the assets and two open DP spots. With a history of a willingness to spend plus already some quality pieces, I can see this team really as a force once they fill those open spots. New York Red Bulls (*) Another team hard to judge so early but with Stuber having a full year and more in alignment with the overall philosophy of the club's style that should help. Caden Clark is very young but has the ability to change games but it's hard to ask that much from someone his age. They still seem to be missing attacking options. Orlando City (+) Count me a fan of what they have done so far. I am a huge fan of Dike (proving the draft means something) and getting Pato for basically nothing seems like good business. The well-coached team is finally clicking but just took a few years to get there. They should compete for the top of the conference. Union (-) It's hard to lose Aaronson and McKenzie and maintain the same momentum. At this point, they have basically signed homegrown players as replacements and it seems very unlikely we will see them spend money to replace them as it's clearly not their business plan. Seems very likely they will take a step back this season. Toronto FC (-) I don't think Chris Armas is a great coach but maybe just getting out of New York is what he needed. Bradley is older, Gonzalez is older, Altidore can't seem to stay healthy and Pozuelo played out of his mind for large stretches last year. Unless more changes are coming, it sure feels like another step back is likely to happen for this team. Even a step back can mean they are a playoff team in the top half of the Eastern Conference.
I do hope Toronto implode under Armas and their aging core. And looks like Henry might not be staying in Montreal: EXCLUSIVE Arsenal legend Thierry Henry set to be named new Bournemouth manager | @MirrorDarrenhttps://t.co/hGYEPzxp3j pic.twitter.com/blZmgNKojU— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) February 17, 2021
So can we just kick Canadian teams out of our league now? They served their purpose but now just complicate things and don't really add to the league. Give the other CPL teams another year to get established and then TOR, VAN, & MTL can join in. I truly believe they'd be more benefit to that league and the game in Canada than staying in MLS. But those 3 cities are too big for Don to let them go.
Won't matter. Theyll only replace him with some other loser. Le Clubfoot de Cheese is a permanent shitshow. Nothing will help aside from new ownership which isn't ever going to happen. The Mafia wont allow it and Joey Saputos family need him to have a hobby.