This thread is a catch-all for general banter not specifically related to transfer rumours
This thread is a catch-all for general banter not specifically related to transfer rumours
MLS is a tough, physical league, that emphasizes speed, and features plastic fields, grueling travel, extreme weather, and incompetent refs. - NK Toronto
I'll kick it off with the tweet of the day
https://twitter.com/whitecapsfc/stat...44360629780480
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
New Wall of Honour Up
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/NeilMDavidson/status/837328919145689088
I think I can just make out Defoe's. It might say Biggest Momma's Boy!
In other news, the overrated one has been cut by NYCFC
Check out this tweet at
https://twitter.com/DougMacESPN/status/837344864710852610
Atlanta has sold 50k for their first match, close to a sellout (55k) of their pointyball field. 30k season tickets, second highest in the league and the highest ever for an expansion side. Life is great for MLS 3.0 sides, and there seems to be a lot of pent up demand for footy in some markets:
http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/0...ural-mls-match
MLS is a tough, physical league, that emphasizes speed, and features plastic fields, grueling travel, extreme weather, and incompetent refs. - NK Toronto
I was just over looking at the Big Soccer Forum. There's a thread for people to post there predictions on final results for the year. Every single person who has posted, predicts TFC to finish first in the east with many going further and predicting either that TFC wins the Shield, wins the MLS Cup or plays in the Cup final.
Wow TFC has come far! Felt great to read positive comments about the Reds instead of being the but of all MLS jokes. It takes some getting used to.
MLS is a tough, physical league, that emphasizes speed, and features plastic fields, grueling travel, extreme weather, and incompetent refs. - NK Toronto
Pffft, that's nothing! I still get excited when I think of Defoe's mama!
A look at the local TV deals for all the US based teams
http://www.socceramerica.com/article...?edition=16900
Most teams are covered locally except for the games on ESPN and Fox.
Grant Wahl's ambition rankings.
Teams actually lobby Wahl to get better rankings.
Always worth a read.
http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2017...ition-rankings
And, yes, we are #1 in this.
At the bottom of that page, Wahl links to the specific answers to his questionnaire that were given by each team. Its a lot of corporate speak but if you are, like me, a wonk for what is going on in MLS, it makes for some interesting reading.
Last edited by OgtheDim; 03-03-2017 at 10:41 AM.
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good football.
I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: ‘A pretty move, for the love of God.’
And when good football happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
-Eduardo Galeano
Anybody got a recent definitive piece to read about Atlanta?
Every single thing they have done is impressive
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
Well here's a fan perspective on Atlanta
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article...-mls-game-fans
I like these two bits
Right now, Atlanta United is pristine, unblemished, nothing but something we can all get excited about and feel special about and scream super loud about. Atlanta is a city that has sometimes struggled with a collective mindset, but the unquestioned desire for that has led to this moment for Atlanta United. Everybody's a fan of Atlanta United right now. But it is much easier to be a fan when you haven't, uh, played any games. Now there are actual games. Now there are actual sports. Now is when it gets hard.
So on the eve of their first game, I just wanted to take the opportunity to appreciate this final moment of perfection for Atlanta United, when the whole city's ecstatic to welcome a new team, to feel like they're a part of something, to have a happy collective good, before the ungainly realities of cheering for a sports team set in. Many of those 50,000 fans won't come back after this weekend. But if this team can give them that moment -- or even if just the atmosphere of 50,000 people losing their mind, starting something together, can itself be that moment -- then, well, dammit, they'll have us forever, whether we like it or not.
&
That's US in the corner
That's YOU in the spotlight
Losing to our set piece
Trying to keep us OUT
And I don't know if you can do it
Oh no I've said too much
You haven't scored enough
I thought that I heard you laughing
I thought that I heard you sing
I think I thought I saw you try
^Thanks. They really have something that looks like what happened here in 2007, only bigger.
The front office, starting with Eales, is kind of a black box, a complete mystery. Hopefully someone has or will get some access.
ps that chant is great, if a bit clunky
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
I actually think Atlanta is underestimating MLS a bit
In this Guardian interview,
https://www.theguardian.com/football...ted-mls-soccer
Martino said
Travel and turf and salary cap be damned, they are going to play that high South American press. I admire that in some ways but in others this reminds me of NYCFC and their playing it out the back.n Atlanta, he’ll be true to himself. Martino, ever the student of his own tactical philosophies, doesn’t believe he should change anything just because he is in an unfamiliar league. “I think when a new manager who has a specific way of playing comes to any league, he doesn’t think about adapting but rather looks for ways to slowly implement his style so it can be developed for years to come. That’s what I’m trying to do here in Major League Soccer.”
Also, lets just say a few Argentinians don't think of him as a genius.
^The Tata piece, combined with that DP strategy, make them the team I am most interesting in seeing up close. It's kind of like a better attempt at what Mo did in 2007, except based around Conmebol, not England.
“What the world needs is more geniuses with humility; there are so few of us left.”
Left side Iconic Moments - Eastern Conf Champions, first goal, Metro-Croatia wins soccer bowl in 70's.....yes really. then on the right all the players that made the All Star game or the league 11.
Anyone else notice they got Ronnie O'Brien's number wrong? He was number 5, Mr. Andy Welsh was 7. good times.
Pirlo says MLS needs to abolish it's salary "cap" to compete with China. I can't see that happening anytime soon, but here's his comments:
http://www.thescore.com/news/1254629
MLS is a tough, physical league, that emphasizes speed, and features plastic fields, grueling travel, extreme weather, and incompetent refs. - NK Toronto
Not sure where to put this but looks like they've hired the Sean/Devang replacement
Check out this tweet at [URL]https://twitter.com/Eric_Giacometti/status/842033101631037440[/URL]
He used to work for the Red Bulls and I think he wrote for SBI (Ives site)
FWIW
Check out this tweet at https://twitter.com/MnNiceFC/status/842443702261977089
Yes, most of Vancouver's followers are fake...but people who live in glass houses etc. etc.
Last edited by OgtheDim; 03-16-2017 at 02:17 PM.
This is just horrible.
Last edited by Oldtimer; 03-19-2017 at 10:10 PM.
MLS is a tough, physical league, that emphasizes speed, and features plastic fields, grueling travel, extreme weather, and incompetent refs. - NK Toronto
My ears are bleeding. Thanks Oldtimer!