the revs don't care about making mls look like a professional league of any quality, except high quality crap so who should go in place of them? how should they be chosen? should the revs ever be let back into this competition by the ussf? should the revs receive a ban of some sort for competitions outside of mls... u.s. open cup, champion's cup and whatever else comes up... and they can fund teams that have to go in their place
I think a ban may be too severe - they are, after all, still agreeing to play in the competition. However, this situation is an extreme embarassment to MLS & the USSF. I believe the USSF should replace the Revs with another MLS squad.
I think Dallas would be next in line to get a spot, if I remember the formula from last year. If LA had beaten the Crew and won the double, Dallas, not the Crew would have gotten the last spot. Drop NE and Put in Dallas. A side note, anyone know how this is being handled in the Costa Rican press? What is their reaction. I don't read spanish, so I can look.
yes, but a ban and fine is about the only way to get into their heads... as it is, if they were simply banned, i'm sure they would love that (no paying for travel, no worryign about making money, etc) but if they were banned, forced to pay for someone else to travel if the revs had earned a slot, and pay a fine for giving the federation and mls a black-eye... that would be just, imo
New England earned their place. It's there's to screw up. Sucks for the rest of us, but that's what it is. I mean we've got the MLS Open Cup winners, US Open Cup winners, and Supporters Shield winners represented. MLS Cup sub-campeone is a legitimate fallback. Just because the Revs management is ignorant, it doesn't mean the selection criteria is messed up.
"We're excited about our first participation in the Champions Cup and we're looking forward to playing a top team in Alajuelense, " Managing Director of Kraft Soccer Sunil Gulati said. "Obviously, our strong preference would have been to play one of the matches at home. But it is simply too risky in the month of March given the sort of weather conditions we've had in New England this year. To try to partially compensate, we'll have an extended period of preparation in Costa Rica prior to the first match." How does an extended period of preperation in Costa Rica prepare a team to play a home game at their opponets stadium? Simply too risky to play in March??? Using that logic, all leagues that play in areas where it snows should close down because it is too risky to play. This game is taking place about on month before the MLS season, it could be moved by a week. Imagine last weeks CL game of Basel vs. Deportivo being moved to Spain because it was too risky to play in Basel in February. What a joke. The Swiss league taked an extended winter break, Dec-Mar, but they still played the game in Basel. What a joke!
the criteria is fine for picking the team that deserves it on the field, but if the management/owners that run them don't care.. there should be guidelines set up for this kind of crap... which is all it is, the revs will complain of failing to make money, which is one of the biggest jokes i've heard in awhile sure the revs will earn money, but kraft most certainly will not be losing money in a stadium in which he controls all the revenue streams... so i reiterate... the revs should be fined, banned (for a few years or appearances), and forced to pay the traveling fees of their replacement
yes, it's risky... remember, they didn't play that football game in a couple inches of snow that sent the patriots to the superbowl two years ago... it was actually played in panama, to ensure that the weather was safe for one and all
If you don't use objective means, you open yourself up to the whole "league wants the MetroStars to win" and similar crap. It's their opportunity to screw up. As long as they don't decline the invitation, there's nothing that should be done. It sucks, but that's what it is.
it is their chance to screw up, and if they don't bother to use the chance, they should receive repercussions from ussf and the league it's not like these types of things don't occur in other leagues to ensure that teams try and remain competitive, instead of just putting anyone out there
The Revs should take this opportunity to have a match in Miami or Tampa. There should be some MLS fans there.
Come on, didn't you guys watch "A Shot at Glory"? Kilnockie declined a home draw in the Scottish Cup because the American owner wanted a better cash payout from letting it be played at Queen of the South instead. See? Happens all the time. The rat bastards.
The Revs should play their "home" match in Dallas just like Club America is doing. I'm sure you'd get at least a couple thousand Dallas fans to come out and cheer on an MLS club against one from Costa Rica.
Come on. The Burn are playing in a 7500 seater high school stadium to save money. I work in Foxboro and was at the stadium a few days ago. The place is a complete mess.
This is outrageous. For the price of a 4th string cornerback Kraft could fully fund all of the extras the Revolution are doing, including any losses from a "home" game. If Chicago and Dallas have secured a high school field to play on and turn a profit, I'm fairly sure that somewhere in the Boston area there's a high school that will rent out their field for this game. Freaking reward the New England fans! They're some of the most loyal in MLS, don't mess that up! This is a stupid decision. Penny wise and pound foolish. The Revs couldn't get a better advertisement for the final season ticket push than the ramp-up for a local game of international proportions. I truly wish the Dallas Burn had secured that spot. I'm certain that the game would have turned a profit and everyone would be genuinely excited about it. I hope New England advances to face Club America. I'm guessing that Kraft would find the "weather" concerns mysteriously resolved in April if America were on the table. Yet another thumbs down to the Kraft commitment to soccer. -Tron
I have to agree with you totaly in every respect. just an example today in Moscow of all places Feb 25 8 pm Moscow time , temp low 20's,cloudy Lokomotiv Moscow - AC Milan in the UEFA CL I wish for once MLS and its teams would have the balls to answer to our questions and tell us the truth, the weather is not an excuse in this case
In related news, the Revs are foregoing any home games in October or any November playoff games, as it is just too risky. To try to partially compensate, they will "train extensively" for late-season matches...
after reading this " But it is simply too risky in the month of March given the sort of weather conditions we've had in New England this year." i ask you what are the chances of going thru to the second round? ..now that is what i call a risk does 0% sound fair?
Has anyone called up the Revs and asked them how the Red Sox are able to plan to play less than a week later (3/31) at Fenway Park? I would think Major League Baseball would make the Sox play the first two or three weeks on the road while the weather improves.
Think positively and imagine what the Costa Rican press will do afterwards if the Revolution actually win the series! It's not completely impossible. The ball is round and a game is ninety minutes and all that...