MLS Is Back Tournament Draw

Impressive!

 

I agree that sloppy play wasn’t as big of an issue as I expected. What is an issue is that MLS is in a drought for attracting exciting players. We are becoming a league of competence, with few difference makers. The days of out and out attackers like Keane, Henri, Giovinco, Donovan, Dempsey seem to be gone. Now the league has Vela, Martinez, Pavon, Hernandez, Heber?? A couple of poachers and some pretty good midfielders. But none of these are out and out attacking players like the aforementioned.
I dont know if this dropoff is just a random occurrence or has become systemic for some reason. Whatever the reason - it makes for less exciting games.

 

I think he needs to be more forward-thinking but playing at the top of a diamond probably isn’t helping my perception. It seems like he frequently gets the ball and the only two options in front of him are two stationary strikers who are both surrounded by at least two defenders.

Still though, I’d like to see him make the final pass or finish more. He’s definitely fun to watch and has good potential

 

To be honest since I didn't really know many of the players so I only half-ass watched the Philly-NY game. I did notice Aaronson but wasn't paying close enough attention to really appreciate him. I just want to see players who are good enough and play confident enough to get me excited every time they get the ball anywhere near the goal.

 

Maybe it is a side effect of the league's fast expansion. Growing pains in this rather young 3.0 version of MLS. It could just be a cycle we are working through Skydog.

Ok, most exciting match for me so far was Seattle v SJ. It looks like Matias has used this break and time to regroup because San Jose looks more like they did last year than at the beginning of this season. They played very well and ran around the Sounders like they weren't the MLS defending champions. Bad last passes, first touches, shots on goal and great keeper interventions kept SJ from winning. Sounders had their chances but mostly on counters and their finishing also sucked. Cramps Galore , made an appearance.

Always enjoy when Seattle struggles.

 

NYRB playing pretty well and pull ahead with sweet finish against ATL. ATL defense very suspect but their midfield/forwards are pushing the action at end of 1st half.
Royer for NY is awesome - very confident and skilled player.

 

Funny match Ny/ATL. ATL controlled much of the match but no finishing. Nobody is stepping up to slip on in to Josef's shoes. If they can figure that out, ATL will be dangerous. But they need to find that someone. Bulls came out the gate at a gallop and that early score was enough due again mostly to ATL's lack of finishing and a fantastic save late in overtime by their new keeper Jensen. Absolutely clutch save.

Keepers so far have been a big factor in this tournament. Here's sending positive waves to Bingham.

 

I was surprised at how effective the phony crowd noise was. A whole different vibe from the ESPN telecasts. There were times I found myself forgetting there was no crowd.

 

First can of whoopass has been oficially opened by Columbus Crew under Caleb to the detriment of and poor unfortunate Cincy team under Stam. I wonder if Jaap is going to go apeshit after the game and start throttling his guys. That team was awful.

Zardes with a brace! Gotta love that.

Less than 48 and we're on!!!

 

All the Zardes haters on the Nats board must be going postal

 

"Major League Soccer announced that today’s D.C. United vs. Toronto FC match has been postponed and will be rescheduled. MLS will announce details later today for the rescheduled match... clubs are tested the day before each match. The results of yesterday’s tests for D.C. United and Toronto FC produced an initial unconfirmed positive COVID-19 case for one player and an inconclusive test for another player."

I don't know if the KC v Loons later today will also get postponed due to the one player that tested positive.

Had an early call today and those are always sketchy. One more of my extended family fighting covid lost her fight with the damned thing. Be careful out there.

 

Sorry to hear about your relative. Making it doubly sad is it didn’t have to happen. The rapidity of spread and the amount of death we are seeing in our country is the direct result of massively incompetent leadership in our battle against this pandemic. And that’s not a political statement- its a factual one.

 

Fingers crossed.

 

Good news from ESPN as of 4pm today:

“The D.C. United player and Toronto FC player that tested positive and inconclusive, respectively, for the coronavirus have since received negative results on follow-up tests, a source with knowledge of the situation has told ESPN.“

 

So looks like KC game not on my ESPN schedule, only on ESPN Deportes, which I don’t get. I don’t think I can pay DirectTV any more than I already do. Guess I’ll be missing game unless someone knows of a stream?

 

Thx Trick - your comment got me to recheck. I was looking at DTV channel ESNHD instead of ESPNHD. User error, per usual.

 

And KS shoots itself in foot. Actually blows its entirely off.

 

SKC winning 1-0 in stoppage and manages to lose.

 

Hell’s bells I just saw the locker room for RSL, it’s like a broom closet. Coincidentally saw Spurs changing room today, which TBF is the repurposed NFL locker room. It might not be the reason for so many positive tests in MLS compared to the EPL, BL, et. al., but just from an optics POV it’s not a good look.

 

MLS probably doesn’t have a choice on the size of their locker room. But yeah, it was pretty tight quarters.

 

9' - LAFC 0-1 HOU