Hey, perhaps we can stop taking pot shots at each other and just survey things objectively. Those who think the format is terrible, the sky is falling and MLS admins (including Uncle Philly) should be shunned, boycotted, trussed, tarred and feathered for the concept aren't probably going to change their minds anytime soon. Those who are intrigued, interested and enthusiastic will probably remain so, despite the invective and armageddon scenarios flung at them. Those who are nuetral and don't care - well, they can still vote.
Where is the upside? So you pack the HDC.....It's not like the Mexican's don't know we have talented soccer players. It's not like we are out to get revenge for World Cup. There is tremendous downside though. Imagine how bad MLS will look if they lose or even draw.
You should offer to be a moderator in this forum so you can move these things, Andy. You always seem to catch these horrible transgressions well before the moderators get around to doing their job.
I used to moderate US Men N&A with an iron fist. I was only slightly less reviled than my co-moderator MikeLastort.
I've never watched an All-star game but I'll probably tape this one because once Chivas is losing, there's a high potential for some serious aggro on and off the field. Is Cobi Jones going to be playing?
No Cobi!!! Didn't you know Galazxy fans are making a concerted effort to make sure our players DON'T get elected? Then all the stars from other teams get hurt by the dirty Chivas players and LA finally begins to make its run on retaining the title!
what happened to all the posters who said the allstar games weren't competitive enuf?! this promises to be some competitive shite! somebody no doubt will get racked up on both sides... keep in mind that chivas will be in off-season form
So we can analyze poll results? That and continue the same discussion going on in about 7 threads throughout these boards...
Imagine the terible things that could happen if you get out of bed tomorrow. So what if we lose? So what if we win? Maybe we'll tie -- who knows? What matters is a good match for the day, one that matters to the players. ... so leave McBride out. He's not up for it, and thinks it's a bad idea. He has a point: on the one hand, no lark of a parody match,as in the past, all for the laughs and a good time; on the other hand, no one wants to get injured in an exhibition over bragging rights and wreck their season and paycheck -- which all who played in the Confed Cup did anyway, so... At any rate, fear of "how will it look if.." is a poor reason not to play the match.
I am now more interested in this MLS ALL Star game than for all 7 previous MLS ALL Star games combined. Andy Mead: Poll Cop. The vigilent never sleep.
Er, I didn't know this was a poll-free forum. The new format for the All-Star game is news - and I was tired of the pointless arguing about it - I wanted specific numbers (analysis) on it, so I started a poll. Sometimes it seems like it's not the majority opinion, but the most hysterical that gets heard here. A poll seemed more objective. And, yeah, I'm not a "dude" either.
My analyst told me that I was right out of my head. The way he described it he said, "You'd be better off dead than alive." I didn't listen to his jive. I knew all along he was all wrong, and I knew that he thought I was crazy, but you know I'm not. Oh, no. Actually, I figure everybody here on BigSoccer is crazy, so I fit right in.
Chivas, the most available opponent I generally deplore all star games (why not just do away with the thing?), and I really loathe this format. There is: a) No upside for MLS if they beat Chivas. b) But a huge loss of respect if Chivas somehow win. Lots of potential damage to the league's credibility. Also, the choice of format is pure opportunism: The Depot -- MLS' shrine -- will be filled with fans hostile to MLS. Great. But I have to say I'll watch the game (as a curiosity) whereas I probably wouldn't if it were East v. West or Yank MLSers v. International MLSers. If there must be an All-Star Game, bring in a international side with impeccable championship credentials. My preference would be to bring in the Copa Libertadores champions -- Boca Jrs. or Santos. Or at least give us the MFL champions. If the opponents win, good on them and little shame for the MLS. If the foreign side lose, the All-Stars will have defeated a meaningful opponent, not just the most available opponent.
Re: Chivas, the most available opponent Again, loss of respect from whom? And what credibility are you speaking of that's going to be hopelessly lost by losing an exhibition game? Would that be the credibility MLS got by DC beating Vasco de Gama? Or the credibility it got by playing in Dragon Stadium? Or the credibility it got by paying guys $24,000 to live in New York? I'm just curious where the huge damage is going to come from if MLS loses this one exhibition game that no one outside of us is going to watch or care about in the first place.
Re: Re: Chivas, the most available opponent This format is just a useless exercise. I totally agree with MichaelR. Why must MLS continually go out of its way to cater to the Mexican population in SoCal? Especially with the HDC, the stadium that US soccer built. This just doesn't make sense on many levels. All star games are not supposed to be competitve, they are supposed to be fun. Now we are putting our top stars in a competitive game with a team bent on revenge (according to their coach.) There was nothing at stake for USA vs. Cameroon and Martino left the game on crutches. It would be a shame to have someone hurt in this "exhibition". (Insert Kovalenko joke here)
Re: Re: Re: Chivas, the most available opponent Maybe that's one reason why they're largely irrelevant.