This may turn out to be redundant... As I posted in the general MLS thread, I am looking to get more into MLS. In doing so, the best way I know to do that is to choose a team or two to follow more closely. I live in Tennessee, so really no team is close. I do plan on trying to watch games of course, but I can't watch all the teams. I just don't have the time. I have a career, wife, and two kids under the age of 2. So I am trying to narrow down a team or two to follow and watch. My wife and I get little TV time anymore, so I have to bargain and trade off her show for mine a lot. I don' t have many and can use an MLS games. I follow Arsenal in the EPL regularly and US national soccer in depthly. As I have explored teams, what most draw me are 1) style of play and club committment to a style, 2) players (style and particularly those at the US national level, 3) locale (closer to Tennessee the better), 4) look (its last but its there). I hope to find a team I can truely get behind during good seasons and bad. They mean more that way. I have narrowed it down to four. DC United, Sporting Kansas City, New England Revolution, and Real Salt Lake. I can research players, locale, and team look. What I would like information on is your team's playing style, management reputation, and overall expereince as a follower/fan of your team. Mostly I am interested in descriptions of playing style. I am going to post this same message on each of the four teams and compare. I would deeply appreciate your input. I hope that discussing such things related to your mls team is enjoyable enough that this isn't a burden or a favor but a chance to express your opion about your teams history, expereince, and future. Thanks for any comments. ;-)
We play to win. Our playing style was summoned though our worship of El Diablo. Join us, or be conquered by us. (The rest of the gang will go into details like Jonathan Wilson)
Well step right over here while and watch this briefing on the history of DC United, MLS' most winning team in its 14 year history with the most passionate fan base in the US.... Yeah whatever. You follow a team because you like the team. Everyone is going to tell you the same thing: all other teams suck and their team is the best. The Revs are a bunch of diving, hack douchenoozles. "Sporting" KC is way too easy to make jokes about "sporting" things and flying monkeys. Real Salt Lake gets called "Fake Salt Lake" all the time and who wants to put up with that? We're tired of our front office and want a change. The owner, Will Chang, is a cool dude and has been known to hang out at tailgates and bang a drum with the fans. The coach is a long time team legend who will forever have our respect but we won't hesitate to call him out for making stupid decisions. Playing style? Nuevo-American-ball passing. The players - all around great guys. They even hang out with us fans on occasion too. No over-inflated egos here. *coughMattReiscough* Distance to TN - google it. Look - Black and Red all the way baby!! KC's kit is lame. I'm sure others will have more input but that's my take on it. Love the team. Love the players. Black and Red all the way.
This is all you need to know: http://www.dcunited.com/club/trophy-case Plus, the current team is whole-heartedly trying to add to it!
I would instantly narrow your four choices to two based on a good club playing style, DC and RSL. I enjoy watching RSL, they have a good GM, he used to do TV color commentary for DC. KC will play a decent style some years, but don't seem to have a long-term vision of any style. I am admittedly less knowledgeable about their so-called new philosophy than one of their fans might be NE's style is best described as thuggery, imo. Of those 2 (and of all 4) I think DC has the best atmosphere at games live in case you ever make one. DC has always had the nicest kits and the most entertaining style, imo. We've been through some lean years where the players could not quite pull the possession style off, but the front office (not all of us hate them, btw, just some) has never deviated from wanting to entertain instead of simply grinding out ugly wins (not that it's bad to do so in a game or two, obviously). I think our best asset is in the team's simple motto: Win Championships. Serve The Community.
DC has had different eras through the years, but generally DC has always been considered an attacking/possession team by MLS standards. Somehow this style has mostly survived despite the various coaches who have come through here. It's strange but the DC United of Bruce Arena played more beautiful soccer than Bruce Arena's US national teams and the current LA Galaxy. Also Peter Nowak's DC United played more beautiful soccer compared to Nowak's Union. Other managers like Thomas Rongen and Ray Hudson wanted to play possession/attack but had no idea how to implement the style. Needless to say we've had many years of incompetence here, but we've never really been a bunkering, overly physical, long ball, target forward type of team.
Since you're an Arsenal fan, think of how you feel about Stoke or one of Fat Sam's Bolton or Blackburn teams. The Revs are of that same breed and are not a viable team choice.
Ok, I have MLS Live. What would be a good match to watch to get a good feel for this team? Sometimes they dont play well, sometimes the other team takes away what they want to do too well, and sometimes they just have lucky games. What would be a good example match?
So far we've had a handful of blowout wins at home which would be the most fun to re watch for a DC fan. Especially the 4-1 win over our eternal rivals NY, although I wouldn't recommend that to a neutral because it was too one sided of a game. The most entertaining games from a neutral perspective would be our home game against Houston and away to San Jose. Both games show a lot of open attacking soccer that this team is capable of although the San Jose game doesn't exactly flatter our defense. We were very shorthanded in the back that day. Looking forward the New England game this weekend should be good. Both teams can play exciting soccer so it seems inevitable that there will be goals.
I'm not sure I would ever describe NE as exciting. They're not quite as negative with Heaps at the helm as they were with Nicol there, but they're going to have to play like Brazil for a decade before I change my mind about them.
thats all people talk about. The stadium situation is simple, its a bad ass old stadium, but the movers and shakers cant figure out what to do with it. DCU honestly needs a smaller stadium which would better suit their financial needs, but this is a pipe dream because DC property values are through the roof and DCU can't afford to build something new and neither can the city. The general population considers RFK Stadium to be a sewer, which for years was a pretty accurate description of how it smelled and looked. DC United needs investors if serious talks are going to be able to move forward. Baltimore is also an option, although, that would be a doomsday scenario.
DC has amazing atmosphere. The fans are knowledgable and devoted, and the team cares about them. The supporters groups jump and chant for 90 minutes every game, and did so even during the lean years. Our front office -- even when they seemed to be screwing up in terms of player acquisition -- continued to show the supporters' groups respect and work with them. It's true that the owner comes and hangs out with us on game days from time to time. Good guy, and he does care. In terms of play, the team has always had more of a flowing, possession-focused style, one that is hard to play (when personnel is lacking) and a joy when the team has good pieces. The team has historically been tough without being thuggish, has not relied on bunker-ball or other slow/dull tactics, and has had often had the kind of flair/swagger that is typically lacking in lower leagues. If you want to know what kind of team you'd be a fan of with DC, one anecdote is pretty telling. Early this season a man named Chico Solares had a heart attack and passed away. He was a truly great guy and leader of one of the supporters groups. He was committed to the team from the start. Not only did the coach and most of the senior management team come to his funeral (along with dozens and dozens of fans in the middle of the work week), but there was a moment of silence in the stadium to celebrate Chico's life -- not once, but in two games. Imagine more than 10,000 people going crazy, then suddenly not a sound outside of play on the field. DC United is a unique team. I don't know of many teams in any sport that inspire this sort of passion or are this much fun.
Just watch the teams you mention play a couple of games, you'll choose United, it's a no-brainer (no offense if you choose another club). Historically, United has played in the greatest games ever in MLS history. The inaugural MLS Cup is a classic, and the 2004 Eastern Conference final (it's currently on the DCUnited website in it's entirety) is widely considered the best MLS game of all time. You're a lucky SOB! You get to be a fan of the greatest MLS club of all time, at a time when they are on the upswing. The fact that you missed the last few years doesn't seem fair, but hey, lucky you. I concur with the earlier post, get on the train or repeatedly get run over by it.
I'm going to disagree with a lot of my DCU friends. Currently, RSL is arguably the best team in MLS. They try to possess the ball even though they have missed their best player (Morales) for much of the season. They have 2 of the best pure goal scorers combined with 2 of the best CB. Their GK is a DCU alumni. They have a very talented young ball handler (Luis Gil) that is perennially a part of US Youth teams. I was out in Salt Lake for a US game several years ago with a RSL match afterwards. The people are very nice. But, they lack the deep-seated passion of my DCU friends. It almost felt kiddish (jr high school) vibe rather than being with adults - excluding the Greek. I don't really care who you choose. But, you have to quick negotiating soccer viewing.
I appreciate all the input. Right now I have four teams to follow. I think I'll naturally get pulled one way or another over time. D.C United is the one, as I watched MLS live concentrated games, I enjoyed watching the most. As a player, Hamid sticks out for me. As a former GK, he is fun to watch. I like the location as many fans mentioned. Its a location that I could enjoy visiting several times with interest beyond soccer. The negative is the word about their ownership/stadium. Where will it be long term, will it commit to attrative soccer long term. I also wish there was a field player that pulled me more. RSL, I like their committment to attractive soccer. It reminds me of Arsenal. Gil is the interesting one to keep track of there for me. I wasn't overlly impressed though with their attacking mentality. They look more like a baby Barca than a baby Arsenal. I actually get more of the attacking mentality feeling from DC, though I wonder if the committement is there for it long term. SKC, I like the fan love and committment to the ownership. Its the kind of thing that can develop long term appreciation. Zusi is the interesting one for me to watch. Mostly there seems the most excitement about SKC. Revolution- I am not sure. I like what heaps is doing. I like Feilhaber. I like the kits, logo, and color the best. I just have to wonder if I would be setting myself for a long term frustration. I have never expereinced so many fans warning me away from the team. I like the idea of coming in on a team that can swing up but not at the top of tables- so I'm not jumping on a team for its recent success. But I would want to have a feeling that they are going to swing up. Overall I have some good teams to follow and can find one I like. I appreciate the help.
DeRo and DeLeon. I'm shocked they didn't quickly grab your attention. Feilhaber has been playing poorly. He attacks less and hacks and sulks more this year. He would be a bad reason to follow NE.
Here's the 2004 game in question: (full length) KickTV has also uploaded the following games - 1996 MLS Cup Final - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiXgxHYfk2g 1996 East vs. West All Stars - 1996 Inaugural Match, DC vs. SJ - and some other great stuff too. Check out their channel (no I am not affiliated).