MLS All-Stars

So many attacking players.

 

Lampard was already replaced by Dax McCarty.

This round is:
Out:
Bradley
Gerrard
Keane
Tierney

In:
Finlay
Francis
Cronin
Juninho
Zardes

 

So our three best players this season get to go and piss around in a meaningless game in Colorado before flying down and playing in Orlando Saturday night.

Triffic. They should have claimed to be "injured"

 

I don't see how this is a bad thing. They won't go a full 90 so shouldn't be wore out and get a chance to perform among the leagues best. We haven't had 3 guys in an all star game for a very long time.

 

It's only a bad thing in that they won't be practicing with the team and preparing for Orlando. Or, you know, if anyone gets injured.

 

Are we always grumpy if we dont have an allstar and grumpy if we have an allstar? When was the last time we had 3....and when was the last time we had 3 that might actually see the field?

 

Lampson and Swanson are on the bench in the Homegrown vs Club America U20s game. Stream here:

 

Or, you know, it's highly unlikely there would be any sort of injuries and few days away from the team isn't going to make or break the season.

 

I know that this is a little off-topic, but what does everyone think of the idea being bandied about to go back to Eastern Conference versus Western Conference with home field in MLS Cup on the line?

I'm against it. I don't like the championship home field being determined by the all-star game result in baseball and don't want to see the idea come to soccer. Also, I like the idea of the MLS All-Stars facing a foreign team.

 

I'd prefer East vs West, but no home field advantage. I don't give two shits about some European team having their first preseason friendly here.

 

Id like to go back to east vs west, and Id prefer to see them do something like hockey with a skills competition.

 

1. I'd be fine with getting rid of it.

2. If it has to stay no way should it determine where any meaningful games are played.

3. At least move it to the end of the year like the Pro Bowl; with fixture congestion we don't need an all star break, which doesn't really happen anyway. Columbus will never get the all star game because it will be too cold? I'm unmoved, don't have it here ever then.

4. If the 2022 goal is a real goal at what point does pitting your all stars against a single team from another league become counter productive?

 

East vs West - YES. I hate this current format.

 

EvW with skills challenge but nothing on the line re: home field advantage. That really does belong to the team with the stronger season record. I think I got season tickets right when they changed the format (2006) because wasn't 2005 EvW at CCS? Isn't that the one where Jeff got a yellow for jumping in the stands?

 

I'm not sure if the youtube videos are still up, but the skills competition, when they did have it was pretty stupid. I think Zach Thornton kicked a ball at 70 mph from the penalty spot. It was extremely similar to the NHL's skills competition. Also, few went to the skills competition day.

 

I think they said Thornton hit it at 80 mph. I remember a young Landon Donovan winning the slalom (dribbling the ball through cones).

 

I dont want them to copy the hockey skills comp like they tried way back in the early days. They can create fun things (more things for the fans to see the players as people) They can do stuff like soccer volleyball/tennis (mini team tourny). Make it fun, make it pointless, and make it entertaining. I dont want everything to be so serious.

 

This is exactly one of the events they had and it was all in good fun. It was bad to watch.

 

I think with the influx of legitimate star players, playing against the likes of Tottenham. When they started doing this format (except against CD Chivas), it made sense since it was a big deal to the players to play against this type of competition. Now a guy like Kamara has already done so, and that's not even to mention guys like David Villa.

If it was against a truly elite team, like Bayern or Barca, then this format could still make some sense. Otherwise east vs. west would be just as good.

Personally, I wouldn't care too much either way if the game determined MLS Cup location. I like the idea of it in theory to make it somewhat meaningful, but I could take it or leave it.

 

No, it's more about TV contracts. Has been since the beginning. Outside of (American) football, there are very few sports events with national footprint interest/audience. All star games are one of those.

 

Why does it have to be a serious game? Its more of a chance for players to get some face time. The MLS vs someone has ref run its course. the old east v west hasn't been around since before 2004. its time to try east v west again