http://www.ussoccer.com/lamar-hunt-u...york-red-bulls
NYRB at FC Cincinnati, US open cup semi final, 8pm
Winner faces SKC
http://www.ussoccer.com/lamar-hunt-u...york-red-bulls
NYRB at FC Cincinnati, US open cup semi final, 8pm
Winner faces SKC
“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
Pablo Mastroeni fired in Colorado.
Good riddance.
FWIW
Forbes has us as #3 in value in the leauge now - $280m. Losing $9 million on revenue of $46million
Behind a wall
https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissm.../#42659c29b815
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/...season-matches
Very interesting. Could be a difference maker for us in the playoffs.
Atlanta's stadium is really interesting. 5,000 seats controlled by supporters groups, with a mix of GA and reserved (keeps everyone happy).
Only downside is that it will be turf for the NFL team's sake.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/...s-benz-stadium
Piatti putting the pressure on Saputo to pay up. If they lose him, there a bottom of the east team. He's a top 6 player in the league imo
I'm in favour of this.
I see no argument against it other than people saying "hey, it's not what they do in Europe".
It's good for the fans. It's an extra pair of fresh legs that can be brought in to pick up the pace of the game.
It's good because of potential injury when games stretch out into extra time.
I've never really understood why the game is limited to just 3 subs anyway.
Can someone enlighten me as to how they arrived at that number?
Wouldn't letting teams use more of their roster provide a better product for the fans?
I think the counter-argument is that too many substitutions would slow the game. I personally like this initiative because it only kicks in when there is extra time, so it seems balanced. The extra sub might enable tactical moves to unlock "anti-football" playing for penalties like Seattle did last year for the cup.
Having 3 substitutes has only been since 1995, prior to that it was two, and there were no substitutes allowed until 1950 (which must have been quite hazardous for the players!).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Substitute_(association_football)
Last edited by Oldtimer; 08-18-2017 at 08:47 AM.
MLS is a tough, physical league, that emphasizes speed, and features plastic fields, grueling travel, extreme weather, and incompetent refs. - NK Toronto
I also think the 4th sub in OT is a great idea. Up to now, the sub strategy often seems radically different in games where extra time is possible. I.e. coaches wait longer with the subs, to leave themselves more options towards the end of the game & in extra time. I think subbing on a PK taker is actually not that common. Instead, coaches are much more wary to sub in attacking talent in the 2nd half of a close game if extra time is expected -- unlike what would be normal especially in an all-or-nothing game. Instead they have to wait and leave at least one sub for possible injuries, and/or wait and see which player suffers the most extreme fatigue.
This can increase the chances of a plodding game in the 2nd half & in overtime, especially if one team is bunkering, and the stronger team can't afford to put on more attacking talent. In fact, I would even consider allowing 2 extra subs in extra time, as that could make more of a difference.
RE flatpicker's question, why three subs: Oldtimer explained how that developed through history. But the general reason: soccer is, among other things, considered an endurance sport. The best teams are those with skill & endurance. Managing playing time, exertion, & subs are key tactical skills for managers & players. Changing that radically would affect the game too much. But extra time can be treated as a special case.
Sometimes I watch College soccer in the US on Big10. Then I regret it. It is a free-for-all sub, kind of like American Football where guys run on and off the field during stoppages. If a guy comes off, he can go back on again.
Also, last few years watching TFCII games. They were allowed 5 subs in USL. Not anymore - they are now in line with MLS with 3. I wonder if they'll go to +1 in ET.
I can see both sides of this though. One side doesn't want to see change - see RSL game this past weekend where the ref went to video assistant 2X. The other side thinks watching 11 guys running around a field after 119 minutes, just gassed, playing out the clock, is a little nuts. We would have likely benefitted from this during the MLS cup game last year. '
Road Games:
2013 - Montréal , 2014 - Orlando (Disney Classic), Montréal
2015 - Columbus, New England, Montréal
2016 - NYCFC (Leg 2 Conference Semis), Montréal (Leg 1 Conference Final)
2017 - Ottawa (Leg 1 Canadian Championship Semi), DCU, Red Bulls (Leg 1 Conference Final), Columbus (Leg 2 Conference Final)
2019 - Montréal, NYCFC (Eastern Conference Semi @ Citi Field), Seattle (MLS Cup Final)
I don't have a problem with it but I fail to see why these tweaks (VAR, extra substitute) are getting attention from the league.
There are far bigger issues to fix.
Currying favour with FIFA
VAR is something FIFA has been discussing and MLS wants to be in the forefront of anything FIFA wants to talk about that is serious.
The extra substitute thing is in the same vein.
Anything to make MLS & CONCACAF look better in FIFA's eyes. Helps with 2026 and beyond. Long term visions is to probably have the World Cup rotate through North America every 16 years.
Well this is an interesting bit of gamesmanship, but I do like the way he thinks!!
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/...-keep-battling
We now have our own tier. No one else is in our tier. It's called number one.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2017/...g-home-stretch
I know and see what Viera is doing. He learned the same tactic from Mourinho in his playing day in Chelsea. I am far from ready to call it. It is nice to fully control our destiny. As long as we keep registering points the rest of the league must win to try and keep pace/make up ground.
Mancini was doing the same thing during the run in 2012. We all know how that went. And they were down eight points with six games to go.
Vieira can play all the mind games he wants but this is the least mentally fragile team in any sport in quiet a while. We're on the right path, but it still ain't over till the fat lady sings.
Yeah, the last time I saw something like this was the Montreal Canadians in the 70's.
This team has not been phased by losses and bounced back right away. We face a few tough matches on the run in - NER away is always tough, Montreal 3 times, NYRB at home, Atlanta away. But, if there is a team that can grind out what is necessary, its this team.
Agreed that it would, in theory, allow his side to play with more freedom, but I do think he's also hoping to instill a bit of complacency in us.
Just as well, when he says that he doesn't think any side can stop us, the rest of the league perks up (especially Montreal), if we didn't already have a target on our heads.
I think someone here said it best, that this is an extremely tough and disciplined group, from a mental standpoint; I should think that Vieira's efforts, then, shall prove an exercise in futility.
In the lulz world, the Pigeons have to play a 'home' game in Connetticut
https://twitter.com/StimuIating/stat...800384/video/1
“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