News and Views

Yes, it certainly is the off-season. San Jose’s impending move to Houston is just about the only thing making MLS news today. As someone who lives in Texas, I must say that I greatly look forward to an intense Dallas-Houston rivalry, even though I am a fan of neither team.
Players prepared for move to Houston
Hoops hope to build new rivalry

Soccer 2005: From A-Z This is definitely an entertaining read.

Happy Holidays

To all of you who celebrate any holidays at this time of year, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Holidays.

News and Views

Arena, U.S. Prepare for Summer Abroad Here's to hoping that Arena makes some good decisions while preparing for this summer; I don't think that any of us who remember '98 want to see a repeat of that. At the very least, I hope they make it out of the group, and, at the most, I'm hoping they make it into either the final or the third place match. Perhaps I'm just dreaming, but it could happen. After all, who expected Croatia to end up winning the third place match back in '98?

2006 MLS SuperDraft Forward Rankings

Houston, We Have a Problem

One ball, two goals, few fans

News and Views

You know it's the off season when you start trolling the Web for MLS news and come up with article after article after article about the same thing, and very little else. In this case, it's San Jose's move to Houston. Maybe I'm way out of the loop here, but am I the only one who thinks this is a bit sudden? In case you're as out of it as I am, here are a few articles on the subject:
San Jose's move gives FC Dallas a state rival
Houston lands Major League Soccer franchise
MLS Gets a New City
Personally, I think that a team in Houston will do quite well. I find the comparison to the Cleveland Browns interesting (the Browns moved to Baltimore, and, after several years without the Browns, Cleveland got a new team and stadium). Maybe the Earthquakes will return, bigger, better, and with a stadium in a few years. Who knows; I guess time will tell.
Update: most of the blogs I link to in my sidebar have a lot more to say about this move. Go read - there's some good stuff there.

Wizards players’ reactions mixed So the Wizards are staying, at least for one more year. That's good news, though I'm sure that the fans would prefer a more concrete affirmative.

News and Views

Walsh: Scheduling A Break Can anyone explain to me what on earth possessed MLS to keep scheduling games during the World Cup? My guess is that it is a vestige from the stupid-decision-making period at the beginning of MLS - you know, the period when they did things like break all draws with shootouts. And, I don't about you, but I don't even so much as pay the slightest bit of attention to MLS when the World Cup is in session, and that is completely regardless of whether or not the USA or any other country that I am rooting for is still in it. This is coming from a pretty hard-core MLS supporter.

Commissioner joins sports youth talk This made me think: I wonder if the whole Freddy Adu hype has anything to do with the media hoping that they'll have the distinction of being the first to report on the future Pele...just a thought.

FC Dallas players lend a hand

Quakes fans rally to show support

Teams, players planning for draw

Matthaeus tied to U.S. team's fate

News and Views

Ah, the off-season, when there is precious little (in the world of MLS) for me to blog on. But, since this blog is dedicated to MLS, I'll try to stick primarily with MLS-related news and opinions.

The Clean Sheet: Pandomania? This got me thinking; I'm starting to look at the Galaxy the same way that I was raised to look at the NY Yankees and Michigan (can you guess where I was raised?). Come to think of it, that's the way I once thought of DC, back in the days of The Curse (I'm referring to the Crew's past inability to win at RFK). I actually don't really hate DC anymore; what's wrong with me? Oh, and one other thing: what on earth happened to the Golden Goal? I am extremely grateful that MLS chucked the shootouts and count-down timer, but did they really have to chuck the Golden Goal, too?

What now for Keane? And I quote: there are offers on the table from the MLS in America. Please tell me that MLS is not resorting to signing has-been players who quit their own teams in the Premiership. I honestly don't think that MLS has much of a chance of getting him, nor do I necessarily wish for them to sign him. In my opinion, it would be kind of insulting to MLS if Keane signed with them, as if MLS were his last option. (I also happen to be a Man U fan, so take that statement for what it's worth.)

S.J. Earthquakes: The big questions

Countdown to '06

133 days

Countdown to '06

It looks like it's time to start the official countdown to the first game of '06. (If any math whizzes happen to read this, feel free to correct my math if it's wrong.)

Days until kickoff '06: 139

Cup winner

As you likely already know, LA defeated the Revs 1-0. You probably also know that makes me wrong. Well, at least I accurately predicted which teams would make it to the Cup, and it's not like my team made it anyways. My prediction for next year's winner: Columbus. (I can hope and dream, can't I?)

News and Views

There are just over 24 hours until the start of the Cup '06, which, unfortunately, I am unable to attend. Here are some articles about the prep for the match:

Veteran midfielders savor shot at Cup
Two captains, one goal: MLS Cup
Galaxy defense finds right time to gel
Time To Crown New Kings...
Frisco is ready for MLS finals

There is a lot of talk in the media about the future of MLS. Here are a few articles that discuss this issue:

Expansion, relocation top league agenda The future should be decided for Major League Soccer in Toronto, San Jose and Kansas City within the next 30 days, Commissioner Don Garber said at the MLS Cup 2005 Media Luncheon Friday at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Here's to hoping that they make the right decisions. (Then again, it would be hard to beat their former, uh, shall we say unintelligence, in decisions like the draw-breaking shootouts.)
League in no rush to fill the field Since MLS' architects launched the league in 1996, they haven't neglected the costly lessons of past pro soccer efforts. Specifically, the North American Soccer League (1968-84), which hastened its demise by overly aggressive expansion. So the MLS expansion doctrine is etched in three words: slow and steady. Let's hope that MLS stays that way. I am not under any illusions of MLS being the top league in the world, but, as Kin of Fish said in his October 28 post, where would we be without MLS? I remember the state of soccer in those pre-MLS days, and I certainly have no desire to return to those days.
MLS Future: Which way is it headed?

Blog links

I've updated my list of soccer-related blogs. Go check them out!

News and Views

Joseph fuels Revolution's engine Last I checked, soccer is played by 11 individuals, functioning together as a unit that we English-speakers call a team. Sure, some players may stand out more than others, but that does not negate the fact that, without all 11 men or women functioning together as a unit, the team will go nowhere. Look at the now-defunct NASL. Did the addition of Pele to the roster of the Cosmos (correct me if I'm confusing my teams) help boost interest in the NASL and soccer in general? Soccer is a team sport, and without all its players, coaches, etc., functioning together as a cohesive whole, there will be no success. So why on earth would anyone want to try to pick an MVP? The same also goes for the goal of the match contest. Sure, one person may have done a spectacular job of finishing the attempt, but were it not for the other 10 team members maintaining a good offense and defense, there would have been no attempt to capitalize on.

Los Angeles Galaxy mini bios
New England Revolution mini bios
Hmm, bios of the members of the team. I'm beginning to see a theme to this post.

Donovan still trying to prove his worth Is it a contradiction to link to this article?

The Clean Sheet: In the stands Palace may think that the Galaxy is going to win, but I'm still holding out for the Revs.

MLS Cup 2005 Sold Out I haven't seen this report confirmed on other sites (which may or may not mean anything), but it's still pretty sweet to hear.

Pizza Hut Park ready to be displayed And to think that the Crew started the MLS trend of getting soccer-specific stadiums (as my heart swells with pride).

Crew respond to fans at open forum

MLS Cup

I was right!!!!!! The Cup is going to between the Galaxy and the Revs. I made a prediction this year that came true! I'll press my luck a bit further: I'm plugging for the Revs to win.

American soccer video

If you have a broadband connection go check out this video, which is promoting grassroots American soccer.

Cup predictions

This is my attempt at actually predicting accurately. My prediction is that the Cup will be between the Revs and the Galaxy. (Disclaimer: if my prediction turns out to be wrong, don't blame me!)

News and Views

Colorado Rapids advance 5-4 on shootout So much for my predictions of Dallas winning the Cup, or at least getting there! Let's see: this year my Crew did pathetically (making them, in my opinion, The Most Underachiving Team in America - forget about "the hardest-working team in America") and my prediction for Cup winner (Dallas) didn't even make it to the conference finals. It's a good thing I don't bet!

Will MLS club boost national success? Frank Yallop, coach of Canada's men soccer team, hopes the impending arrival of a Major League Soccer team in Toronto will make his life easier. Maybe yes, maybe no. Two years after MLS's opening season, the US scored a whopping one goal in the World Cup. That aside, does Toronto even have the fan base to do that? (Yes, I'm still waiting for Rochester to make it into MLS. Then again, I'm a die-hard fan of the Most Under-Achieving Team in America and predicted that Dallas would win the Cup this year. Seeing my recent track record, maybe a team in Toronto isn't such a bad idea after all!)

Soccer gamble: Can MLSE make it work? This article includes a nice little recap of MLS history.

The Cheap Seats: Pressure time Here's an interesting take on the playoff format (basically, the matches are entertainment and go support your team).

Smith's strike vaults Revs over Metros

Note: I edited to correct a couple links.

Links

I'm a slacker; I finally got around to updating my blog links (on the right side of the page), and checking my blog's email account. Thank you D and Climbing the Ladder for linking to my blog (yea! I have readers!).

Playoffs

Hmm, FC Dallas is still in the playoffs. Maybe my predictions will come true (for once)?

News and Views

Oy. I have really been out of the MLS loop lately! Sadly, though not surprisingly, the Crew did not make the playoffs this year. However, I am still rooting for Dallas, and, from what I can see, they have improved since I last updated my blog. Here are today's news and views from the world of MLS, which are basically a rundown of today's matches:

FCD hope to seal deal on home field

Galaxy keep an eye on opposition

United look to continue late run

MetroStars primed for D.C. rematch

MLS Fines Razov, Three Others

If the Cup were to be played today,

it would be between New England and San Jose. My pick would be New England. (Take my opinion for what it's worth; my pick earlier in the season was Dallas, and I'm a die-hard, long-time fan of the much under-achieving Crew.)

Standings

1. New England
2. San Jose
3. Chicago
3. KC
4. DC
5. Dallas
6. LA
7. Metrostars
8. Colorado
9. Columbus
10. Salt Lake
11. Chivas USA

News and Views

If you're a soccer fan who happens to have some extra money on hand and a desire to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, you can bid on jerseys worn by your favorite players on the US national team, the Mexican national team, and MLS teams. All proceeds are going to the Katrina relief efforts.

U.S. win over Mexico a big hit

Crew creeping back into playoff race What else needs said? Go Crew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FC Dallas’ free-fall continues Columbus is climbing (slowly but surely); Dallas is falling. Who'd have thought it would happen? I love parity in MLS!

Home debuts not what Chivas expected Personally, I have been pretty surprised at Chivas USA's performance this year. 3 wins out of a total of 26 games played? Yikes!

Metros disappointed with lack of points

Rapids' season revving up

Wizards rookie Sealy named MLS Player of the Month

It pays to double-check your posts after you post them

Somehow, a bad link escaped my notice in my previous post. I have edited the post to show the correct link.

This isn't MLS News, but...

it's important enough to post, anyways. I think the headline speaks for itself: U.S. team punches ticket to Germany!!!!!! Whoo whoo! Let's see if the USA's upward climb over the past decade will continue in Germany next year. If my memory serves me correctly, they placed 32nd (eek!) in France and 8th (yea!) in Korea/Japan. According to the August world rankings, the USA is at number 6, ahead of traditional powerhouses like England, Germany, and Italy! It is now their job to win the Cup, or at the very least, make it to the the final or third place match.

If you're interested, you can view the official list of qualified teams here.

If the Cup were to be played today,

it would be between New England and San Jose. My pick is New England, due mainly to their solid season so far. However, my stubborn streak won't let me give up Dallas as a candidate for the Cup, and I am still bemoaning the Crew's performance this season. Oh, how i miss parity! (Yes, I understand that MLS does have parity from season to season, which adds excitement to the league; however, there is very little parity among the teams this season. Parity is a good thing.)

Standings

1. New England
2. San Jose
3. KC
4. Chicago
5. DC
6. Dallas
7. LA
8. Metrostars
9. Colorado
10. Columbus
11. Salt Lake
12. Chivas USA

This is one of the first times all season that there has not been a tie somewhere in the rankings!

My views of the news

MLS has a point to prove in Madrid "This is a great opportunity to show the true level of soccer in the U.S.," said Youri Djorkaeff of the MetroStars, who won the World Cup with France in 1998. What this article doesn't say is what that level will be. It also doesn't say whether Real will put out their top or reserve players. On a total sidenote, I found this statement amusing: This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs. I think that statement was put in there for people like me!
MLS All-Stars keen to impress

Clubs should make use of transfer window

RSL use ceremony to honor Kreis

FYI

1) I organize the standings based upon total points on a given day. I typically do this on Monday or Tuesday, after I am certain that the previous weekend's results have been added in. Whenever there is a tie betweeen two or more teams, I list them in alphabetical order.

2) When writing my views of the news (hmm, maybe I should consider renaming that section of my blog!), I try to stick with articles that are up to a day old. That said, I have been know to make execptions to that rule.

If the Cup were to be played today,

it would be between New England and San Jose. Thanks to my stubborn streak, I'm still holding out for FC Dallas and routing for Columbus. However, New England does appear to be a very serious contender for the Cup at this point in the season. Looking back at this season's standings, they have consistently remained at the top.

Standings

1. New England
2. KC
2. San Jose
3. Chicago
4. DC
5. Dallas
5. LA
6. Metrostars
7. Colorado
8. Columbus
9. Salt Lake
10. Chivas USA

Excuse of the day

I swear that this has been one of my busiest summers yet. I'm going to try to get back into the practice of regularly blogging again (yeah, yeah, famous last words!). Here goes.

If the Cup were to be played today,

it would be between New England and San Jose. Dallas is still my pick, although New England appears to have a good shot at the Cup.

Standings

1. New England
2. San Jose
3. Chicago
4. Dallas
4. DC
4. KC
5. LA
6. Metrostars
7. Colorado
8. Columbus
9. Salt Lake
10. Chivas USA

News and Views

MetroStars reach final agreement on soccer specific stadium And to think that Columbus started it all! (Crew Fan smiles with pride.)

The Clean Sheet: Pizza Hut delivers Big news in the world of MLS:

Somehow slipping under the soccer radar screen in a summer filled with high-profile matchups and new ownership is another landmark in the long-term growth of Major League Soccer: the opening of Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. This is simply the most important match of the year in MLS.

Now for the next "important" thing:

I mentioned last week that I wasn't sure what we are going to nickname Pizza Hut Park, and I still am not convinced. I received quite the flood of e-mails with suggestions, but nothing has grabbed me. I know many will be calling it "The Oven" or even "The Big Slice," but I'm just not there yet.

Personally, I like "The Oven." Don't ask why; I just like it.

That a squad of national team-caliber players can beat a Premier League bottom-dweller in its preseason proves nothing about MLS as a league, so let's give those thoughts a rest. Much like the afore-mentioned friendlies, these games are just great entertainment. MLS has some big-time players and a selection of its best should spank a team like Fulham in its sleep.

Now if the All-Stars had been playing Manchester United, that might be a different story. Even then, it's still different than a "regular" MLS team playing a "regular" Premiership team. Just my two cents.

News and Views

A place to kick it: FC Dallas to open state-of-the-art soccer venue next Saturday Now I really think that Dallas is going to win the Cup. Talk about a way to boost the team's morale! (OK, so that hardly explains Columbus' performance this season, but they have performed well in previous years.)

Best dressed stars capture the moment Somebody please tell me that this is a four-month-late April Fool's joke.

The Cheap Seats: A proving point OK, so this article is several days old, but it is still a good read. Its premise is that MLS players are no longer awed by European clubs.

MLS All-Stars 4 : Fulham 1 Not bad at all.

Soccer-filled month in U.S. a success

The Clean Sheet: I don't know much

K.C.'s Garcia shocked by suspension

If the Cup were to be played today...

it would be between Chicago (or New England) and San Jose (or Dallas). I put New England and Dallas in paranthesis because they have more losses than Chicago and San Jose respectively. Still, Dallas is still my pick to win the Cup.

Standings

1. Chicago
1. New England
2. Dallas
2. San Jose
3. DC
3. KC
3. LA
4. Metrostars
5. Colorado
5. Columbus
6. Salt Lake
7. Chivas USA

On the national front: Gold Cup winners!

The US has won the Gold Cup! For more information on World Cup qualifying, see FIFA's list of qualified teams. Better yet, check out the current FIFA world rankings. Specifically, check out the number 6 spot. For more info on the Gold Cup final, see the following articles:

USA wins continental championship Brad Davis ended a long day and a long tournament, regaining the CONCACAF Gold Cup for a depleted U.S. soccer team that will limp into its next World Cup qualifier.

Third Gold Cup for the U.S. Leaves Legs Tired and Achy

Gold Cup: USA Win Title After Penalties

News and Views

As Columbus has discovered, MLS has parity When I first saw the title, my first thought was that MLS does not have parity this season. However, this article is more about parity on a season-to-season basis, and it makes some interesting points. For example, “By design, our league has parity built in,” said Wizards midfielder Chris Klein. “The single-entity structure and having relatively few teams creates that. The article goes on to expound on that, but you will just go have to read it for yourself. This article is well worth the read.

MetroStars' GM fined for criticizing MLS
Lalas - Zip It..
Drama, drama, drama. There is never a dull moment in MLS.

K.C. hopes to hit break on high note

News and Views

Johnson inks new multi-year deal I disagree with the following statement: "This announcement is proof that Major League Soccer can compete for top players with any league in the world. I want to play in Major League Soccer and specifically with FC Dallas," said Johnson. Getting a little egotistical, aren't we? Egos aside, I personally do not think that this signing is proof of anything.

Lalas shares a pint with Metros fans Good for you, Lalas. Good for you. (There is no sarcasm intended in that comment.)

Subs send Warzycha to first win Columbus won! Yea!

MLS - Screw Fulham Apparently, an MLS team will play Madrid in Madrid next month.

The Clean Sheet: Where was he?

They won't let Beckham talk to me This article is funny, but I really hope that the writer is employing a bit of sarcasm.

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you know what I think about soccer-specific stadiums. Here are two articles regarding just that:
Soccer fans rally, support complex
Lawmakers like a fair-soccer mix

News and Views

Columbus move a no brainer OK, so I'm breaking my own rule about not linking to old articles, but I found this newsworthy enough to post. Besides, Wynalda makes the very same statement that I have been making all season long: Columbus is a pretty good team that is obviously underachieving. How many times have I written that this year?

Real applaud Galaxy after friendly Michael Owen making positive comments about MLS? Impressive. (I am not being facetious).

Metros keep focus on league play

Report: Palencia to Chivas USA

If the Cup were to be played today...

it would be between Chicago and Dallas. Dallas is still my pick to win the Cup, although I am not rooting for them. Yes, I am still rooting for the 4-10-3 underachieving Crew.

Standings

1. Chicago
2. New England
3. Dallas
4. KC
4. LA
4. San Jose
5. DC
5. Metrostars
6. Colorado
7. Columbus
8. Salt Lake
9. Chivas USA

News and Views

Due to the following facts:

1) this is my blog, which means that I can write about whatever I chose, and
2) I haven't blogged in almost a month,

I am going to break my own self-imposed rule and blog about some articles that are more than a day old. I hope that you don't mind.

'Must win' game goes Wizards' way I am still surprised that Victorine made that shot. If you didn't get a chance to see the match (ok, so I only saw the second half), he shot from outside the penalty box and made it! Granted, it was a textbook shot (low, to the far corner), but it still was from outside the box.

Connolly: Young players get their shot This article is proof that Freddy Adu is not the only young player in MLS at the moment.

The Clean Sheet: Money talks

United unearth gem in Kuffour He's not bad on the pitch.

If the Cup were to be played today,

it would be between New England and Dallas. Again, that is not the least bit surprising. And, just as I have said all throughout this season, Dallas is my pick to win the Cup this year. (By that, I mean that I expect them to win. As my pseudonym suggests, I want the underachieving Columbus Crew to finally win the Cup.)

Standings

1. Dallas
2. Chicago
2. New England
3. LA
3. San Jose
4. DC
4. KC
5. Metrostars
6. Colorado
7. Columbus
8. Salt Lake
9. Chivas USA

Some things never change. Dallas remains number one; Columbus and Chivas USA remain at the bottom. Am I the only one who misses last season's parity, and the excitement that went along with it?

My excuse...

Yikes! I didn't realize how long it has been since I last blogged! My excuse is a combination of a killer work schedule and a very unstable Internet connection.

Soccer: Aging saviors failed, so U.S. tries Adu This is an interesting read about past failed attempts at importing soccer stars, such as Pele, in an attempt to popularize soccer in the USA. However, To more enlightened Americans, it dawns that their country needs to find stars of its own, stars who would merit airtime in television schedules crammed with the staple sports of American football, baseball and basketball. This article makes some interesting observations. I certainly hope that MLS will avoid the downfalls of the NASL.

Lalas leaving Quakes to join Metros

World Cup hero Lalas named as MetroStars chief I find this title a bit amusing. I mean, Lalas was an important figure in the USA's past World Cups, but I don't know if I would call him a hero.

West Coast Bias: What happens with San Jose

Standings

1. New England
2. Dallas
3. LA
4. Chicago
5. KC
5. Metrostars
6. San Jose
7. Columbus
7. DC
8. Salt Lake
9. Colorado
10. Chivas USA

Those rankings do not surprise me in the least bit. Oh, how I miss parity! And oh, how I miss a Crew who lived up to their nickname of the hardest working team in America!

News and Views

Give And Go With Thomas Rongen This statement made me think:

So you think the Chivas powers that be underestimated MLS?
No doubt. We talk about athleticism and power in this league, but clearly, there are some very good players technically and tactically who could play anywhere in the world.

Is Chivas USA's lack of success some sort of indication that the level of play in MLS has become world quality?

The Clean Sheet: Truth be told I resent this comment: Who knew the Columbus Crew could be this exciting?

Soccer League Ends Talks With San Antonio

News and Views

Chivas USA gaining new mentality This article begins with the following statement:

After one week as boss of Chivas USA, Hans Westerhof has made his mark on the club.

The article then ends with this statement:

In the end, players said that the best way to boost confidence and mental fitness is by winning. "We're six points out of making the playoffs and we've got 20 points to go. The West is not very strong. We still have a chance. We're not mathematically out this at all," Hendrickson said. "I try my best to keep the guys positive and keep the morale of the team up. We're just six points away from being in fourth place. It's not over yet."

I agree. They just need to win. Now how they will win is the tricky part.

The Cheap Seats: Riding the sub way My reason for linking to this article is the fact that it is funny. If you need more incentive, the first paragraph reads: his past Sunday, I played a reserve match for the New England Revolution against the Kansas City Wizards. I'll let the snickering subside while I give you a little bit of backstory. Go read.

United Will Get A New Owner

Six more added to Hall

News and Views

West Coast Bias: More changes coming This article begins with an interesting statement: Okay, so maybe Thomas Rongen was not Chivas USA's problem after all. The expansion club has played twice since essentially sacking Rongen and status quo has reigned supreme. Maybe yes; maybe no. Even if Rongen truly was the problem, it will probably take more than a couple matches for the team to start playing at a higher level. Also, remember what happened to LA after their mid-season coaching switch last year; it may take a while for Chivas USA to adjust to a new coach.

Lalas: Everyone's A Critic Landon Donovan had something interesting to say:

"I play best when I’m happy off the field," Donovan told The New York Times. after the US beat Costa Rica on Saturday. "People can complain all they want about me not playing in Europe, not playing at the highest level, but I’m going to play a lot better being happy here. And they’re going to see that."

Although I do think that Europe (as well as the majority of the rest of the world) has a higher level of playing than in the US, I do like Donovan's reasoning. Furthermore, if he really is telling the truth, well, that is a very admirable statement to make.

Donovan's career back on track after return to U.S.A. This article is also along the same lines as the previous one.

"I think Landon kind of shuts down as a person when he's not happy," Kajlich said. "He's definitely a different person now."

League owners complete meetings

Something's amiss: World Cup qualifying leaves MLS lacking firepower

Depth is an issue for teams in MLS

L.A.'s Donovan leads All-Star voting Don't forget to keep voting!

Crew add Wolyniec

MLS - Twellman out for a month

If the Cup were to be played today...

it would be between New England and Dallas. What a shocker. Oh, how I miss parity!

Standings

1. Dallas
2. New England
3. LA
4. Chicago
5. KC
6. Metrostars
7. San Jose
8. DC
9. Salt Lake
10. Columbus
11. Colarado
12. Chivas USA

Odd...no ties this week! That just might be a first!

News and Views

Tie brings relief for Chivas USA I empathize with any team with a record as poor as Chivas USA's record has been so far this year, and therefore am very glad that they tied!

First XI: Sinking our teeth into stats

Smith making a name for Bermuda

Not just another year: Freddy turns 16

News and Views

And now for the news that we have been expecting to hear: Chivas USA coach Rongen reassigned as sports director

Thomas Rongen was relieved of his coaching duties by Chivas USA on Monday, two days after the Major League Soccer expansion team lost its eighth game in 10 to open the season. Rongen was reassigned as the team's sporting director and will oversee its development efforts, including scouting, clinics and player development.

The rumors were true.

Beckham in Big Apple Beckham reiterated he was happy at Real Madrid and plans to end his career there - "and that's the end of that." Despite that, asked if his playing career might eventually take him to the U.S., Beckham said: "Maybe, one day that could happen ... I love America."

David Beckham: I might move to the MLS The author of this article starts by saying: Personally, I think that the former Manchester United ace was simply being polite – no disrespect to the Americans but I doubt he will ever play in the States. Well said.

MLS a possibility for Beckham, later

n the foreword to the American edition of his 2004 autobiography, Beckham: Both Feet on the Ground, David Beckham writes, "The rest of the world says America isn't interested in soccer. I'm not so sure. Every time I visit, I see kids playing in parks and on school and college campuses everywhere. Baseball, Football, Ice Hockey and Basketball are the established team sports in the States, I know. I get the feeling, though that soccer's time is about to come."

Any grass is good for MetroStars "I'd always rather play on grass, even if it's not a nice, level surface," Eddie Gaven said. "I'd still rather play on grass than on turf." I wholeheartedly agree. I much prefer grass over turf, even though I have played on some far less-than-perfect grass fields.

Landon Donovan comfortable with his leadership role

Roundup in MLS for Week 9

If the Cup were to be played today...

it would be between Dallas (6-1-3) and New England (6-0-3). Surprise, surprise. Both teams have played pretty consistently this year, and have been at the top for much of the season this far. The Crew (3-6-1), on the other hand, have consistently played rather poorly. Granted, they are not as Colorado (2-7-2) or Chivas USA (1-8-1), but they have done rather poorly when it comes to finishing well.

Standings

1. Dallas
1. New England
2. LA
3. Chicago
4. KC
5. San Jose
6. Metrostars
7. DC
7. Salt Lake
8. Columbus
9. Colorado
10. Chivas USA

News and Views

U.S. stumbles vs. England in friendly I was able to watch only the first 20 minutes or so of the second half of yesterday's friendly. From what I saw, however, the Curse of the Posts still has not been broken. The Curse of the Posts is what I call the USA men's tendency to have great opportunities on goal that ricochet off the crossbar or the posts, instead of actually going inside the 24 by 8 foot box (a.k.a. the goal).

Without Busch, Crew fall to Metros Not again! What is wrong with the Crew this year?

Chivas coach's job may be on line after loss to Galaxy Speaking of jobs on the line, I wonder how secure Andrulis is in his job right now.

News and Views

US-England: How Far the US Has Come The conclusion of this article reads:

Eleven years ago, people would’ve been excited to see England, and they would expect England to beat up on the States. Now, they’re excited to see both England and the USA. And no one knows what outcome to expect. The US has long been England’s step-child in the soccer world. It’s about time everyone realized that the child has finally grown up.

That may be a bit of an overstatement. Although the US has greatly improved in recent years (if my memory serves me correctly, they ended up 8th in Korea/Japan) and are in the top 10 of the FIFA World Rankings, they still have room for improvement. Still, with England ranked at number 6, and with the US tied with Italy at number 10, the gap certainly has closed. Believe me, it is a great relief that I no longer have to spend as much time defending the state of American soccer as I once did.

Kasey Keller's future in Europe, and at home This article poses an interesting question:

England faces the United States this Saturday in Chicago but has left such marquee names as Beckham, Rooney, Ferdinand, Lampard and Terry off the roster. With the United States still seeking international respect, the Fox Sports World Report Topic of the Week wants to know if you think the England squad against the USA an insult to the up-and-coming hosts?

An insult? Perhaps. A correct evaluation of oneself and one's opponent? Definitely. As I already said, the US has not yet (quite) arrived.

McBride voted top No. 1 draft pick Excellent choice!

Crew Lose Goalkeeper for Rest of Year Columbus Crew goalkeeper Jon Busch will miss the rest of the season because of a torn ligament in his right knee. Poor guy; poor Crew.

Much at stake in second 'Clasico'

TCS: It's a nice day for a car wash

Adu expected to be in mix at HOF Game

News and Views

Rongen maintains focus on improving To say that Rongen wants to focus on improving, with his team's 1-7-1 record (wow! a team with a worse record than the Crew (3-5-1)!), is make a statement that would be a prime candidate for the Understatement of the Year Award.

Columbus acquires veteran Henderson I have admired Henderson's playing ability for some time, and am excited that he has joined the Crew.

Cameroonian could be next big thing for Rapids

Inexperience doesn't hurt Parkhurst

MLS Preview: Kansas City v. San Jose

In case soccer folds, Fairpark stadium may be best bet

News and Views

Frisco stadium quickly nearing reality Yea for Dallas! I think it is great that they soon will have their own soccer-specific stadium. Although soccer can be played literally anywhere, a soccer-specific stadium is the best kind of pitch to play on. I have had to play many games on multi-purpose fields (football: way too short and narrow and the lines can be confusing, baseball: the partially-dirt field is no fun, and a grass parking lot: the ruts and terrible mowing job made for an interesting experience), and can definitely say, from experience, that it is way better to play on a pitch that is soccer-specific.

Commercial to feature four MLS stars

Standings

1. New England
2. Dallas
3. LA
4. Chicago
5. DC
5. Salt Lake
6. San Jose
7. Columbus
7. KC
7. Metrostars
8. Colorado
9. Chivas USA

If the Cup were to be played today, it would be between New England (6-0-2) and Dallas(5-1-3). Even though New England has two points over Dallas, my bet would be on Dallas, as they seem to be having a pretty solid season (only time will tell if my gut feeling is right). That said, I'm still moaning the demise of my Crew (3-5-0). The simple act of typing in their record was painful enough. What is wrong with them this year?

If the Cup were to be played today...

it would be between New England and Dallas or LA. All three have been pretty steady in the rankings as of late. Only time will tell if they will be able to maintain their lead through this fall.

Standings

1. New England
2. Dallas
2. LA
3. Chicago
3. San Jose
4. KC
5. DC
5. Metrostars
5. Salt Lake
6. Colorado
7. Columbus
8. Chivas USA

Columbus keeps falling in the rankings. They were on the number 2 spot for a while, and are still second - from last. What happened?

News and Views

Don't forget to vote for the players you want to play in the All-Star Match this summer (it is on the right of the page). And, like they say, remember to vote early and vote often; you can vote up to 10 times a day! (I'm not saying whom I voted for, but, just like I do not vote strictly on party lines, I did not vote strictly on team lines.)

Keller wants to stay This article starts with these words: US keeper Kasey Keller has denied reports that he is set to leave Borussia Monchengladbach during the summer and return to the MLS. Personally, I think it will be better for him to stay, than to return to MLS. Here's the official story.

The Cheap Seats: Score me a river

Rongen still testing Chivas USA lineup Maybe one of these days he'll hit on the right one.

First XI: Big picture parity

Chivas staying focused after rough start

Standings

1. New England
2. LA
3. FC Dallas
4. Chicago
5. San Jose
6. DC
7. KC
7. Columbus
8. Metrostars
8. Real Salt Lake
9. Chivas USA
9. Colorado

If the Cup were to be played today, it would be between New England and LA (which I do not want to see happen!).

Yikes! What happened to the Crew? I know that it is still early in the season, but things are not looking very good for the Crew. I think that this helps to strengthen my belief that the hardest working team in America is also the most underachieving team in America. I can't count how many times they have come so close to making it to and winning the Cup, but have failed every time.

It's been crazy around here...

This last week has been crazy for me, but thankfully, the worst of my final exams are now over. I have one left, but I'm not very concerned about it. Hopefully that will leave me with a little more time to blog. Now back to my irregular, unscheduled MLS blogging.

Chivas v. Revs

Final score: Revs 1 : Chivas USA 0

It was a good, hard-fought match on both sides. I like the Revs (well, whenever they aren't playing the Crew!), but last-ranked Chivas USA, as the definite underdog so far this year, was my personal pick. I didn't expect Chivas to win, but I was hoping they would. They played hard, but not well enough. And, as a Crew fan, I can definitely feel their pain.

To switch subjects, am I the only person who is thoroughly sick of hearing "classico"?

On a completely different note, I rather liked the commercial, where everyone in a mall starts to play a soccer - it might have been a food wrapper, but I couldn't really tell.

Chivas v. Revs

Right after I wrote that last post, the Revs scored. Still, that does not negate my statement about parity being a good thing.

Chivas v. Revs

Remember my statement in my previous post about parity being a good thing? 84 minutes into the Chivas/Revs match, it is still a scoreless draw. Not to state the obvious, but it has been an exciting match, with no team clearly coming out on top. Have you ever watched a team trounce on its opponent, by, say, 10 goals or more? I have, and it is not a pretty sight. A scoreless draw, on the other hand, is exciting.

News and Views

The Clean Sheet: Parity is so 2004 Here's a statement I disagree with: It says here MLS will be a more exciting product if there are a couple teams that distance themselves from the outset as the class of the league. What?!?!? When a few teams are able to distance themselves from the rest, the result is predictability. Predictability = boring; parity = excitement. The volatility of last year's rankings increased interest, as no one knew, from one match to the next, who would come out on top. Strike number two against Palace is this statement: The best thing for MLS in 2005 would be for L.A. and/or Dallas to run away with the West, and likewise D.C. and/or the Revs in the East. No, Palace; the best thing for MLS is for the Crew to (finally) come out on top! (OK, ok, so I'm biased, but so is Palace!)

First XI: Let's get it started Here, Bradley counts down the top 11 slow starts in MLS history. My personal favorite is #7.

A Tale of Two Teams

Preki: Ready ... and waiting

Fans rally in support of Wizards

Galaxy defense on guard vs. FCD

Standings

1. FC Dallas
2. Chicago
2. New England
3. Columbus
3. LA
4. San Jose
5. Colorado
5. DC
5. KC
5. Real Salt Lake
6. Metrostars
7. Chivas USA

If the Cup were to be played today, it would be between FC Dallas and Chicago or New England. Dallas (3-0-1) seems to be having a pretty strong season so far, so they would be my pick to win the Cup. This fall, it will be interesting to see how accurate my predictions are! Frankly, I am a bit disappointed with the Crew's performance so far, even though they have only played 4 matches. Still, a 2-2-0 record isn't very good, and the one Crew match that I have managed to see this year was not pretty. I will not stop supporting the Crew if they continue poorly, even after I move to Dallas later this year (I've spent the last several years in KC territory, and that hasn't dimished my support any), but I still want to see the Crew play to their full potential!

News and Views

Balboa, Harkes and Ramos comprise Class of '05 I have to agree with the selections for the Class of '05. All three were good players in their own rights and have made a positive impact on American soccer. Not that any of them will read this blog, but I'm going to say this anyways: Congratulations!

Player of the Week goes to Crew's Busch Too bad I had to miss Saturday's game! Yea for Busch!

That's why Mathis is here

Standings

1. FC Dallas
2. Columbus
3. Chicago
3. DC
3. KC
3. New England
3. Real Salt Lake
4. LA
5. Metrostars
5. San Jose
6. Chivas USA
6. Colorado

If the Cup were to be played today, it would be between Columbus (yea!) and FC Dallas.

Standings

1. Dallas
1. DC
1. New England
2. Columbus
2. KC
2. LA
3. San Jose
4. Chicago
4. Chivas USA
4. Colorado
4. Metrostars
4. Salt Lake

If the Cup were to be played today, it would be between DC or New England and Dallas. Before Saturday's matches, I expected DC to be up there, but I'm a bit surprised to see New England and Dallas up there. However, as much as it pains me to say it, New England did play well against the Crew. The Crew really need to work on both their offense and their defense. To put it bluntly, their playing stunk during the second half against the Revs. Still, we're only two games into the season, so it's still too early to tell who will come out on top this fall.

Crew/Revs match

The Revs scored again! Argh! Remember what I said about Columbus needing to tighten up their defense? That statement still holds true. Columbus played a decent first half, but something must have happened during halftime; their playing has seriously suffered in the second half.

Crew/Revs match

I just had to say it. *Shakes head in sadness.* (The Revs scored again.)

Crew/Revs match

This is depressing. The Crew have to be the biggest underachievers in MLS (I say this as a dedicated Crew fan). They aren't playing terribly right now, but neither are they playing to their potential. Granted, the Revs have the home pitch advantage, but I still wish that my Crew would tighten up the defense and strengthen the offense. They have about 10 minutes to tie the game; let's see if they can do it.

News and Views

I just realized today that I haven't blogged in about a week! I have been very busy lately, but I still need (want) to keep up with my blogging. I'm watching the Crew/Revs match as I type (broadband rocks!), so this post is taking me a while to type.

The Cheap Seats: The ReAL deal I have yet to see seen Salt Lake play, so I can't comment on their playing style. However, I take issue with this one non-soccer related comment: (You can keep Cleveland, Drew Carey. Cleveland doesn't rock.) Cleveland isn't that bad of a city. Besides, it's only several hours from the city that hosts the best team in MLS (I admit it; I'm a bit biased).

Last gasp goal gives Chivas USA a point

News and Views

I'm currently watching the Revs/San Jose match, though I managed to miss the first half (and all the other matches that were played today).

Western Conference preview for '05

Chivas USA's loss a case for defense
All-Mexican Chivas USA is changing the face of soccer
Expansion club has work to do
Despite all the hype, Chivas lost their first match 2-0. Real Salt Lake did a bit better, in their scoreless draw against the Metrostars. However, the best news of all is that Columbus beat the Galaxy 3-0!

Countdown '05

Days until kickoff: 0!

News and Views

Donovan undecided on possible MLS return Unhappy because of his lack of playing time in Germany, Landon Donovan could be headed back to Major League Soccer or perhaps to another European club. Simply put, that stinks. I had high hopes that Donovan would succeed in Germany, but apparently I was wrong. I just hope that he will be able to find another European club where he will be able to excel and improve his game.
Galaxy mum on trade rumor
No comment by Galaxy on Donovan

Soccer & Utah: Boom or Bust? If you have any interest in whether or not Real Salt Lake will thrive in Salt Lake, this article is very thought-provoking.

Teams take advantage of tourney

Countdown '05

Days until kickoff: 7

Edit: the official countdown (to the second) is now available at MLSnet.com, but I think I will continue posting my own countdown here for my own enjoyment.

Countdown '05

Days until kickoff: 21

News and Views

The Clean Sheet: Yanks march on In one of the few non-televised U.S. national team games these days, the Yanks put a 3-0 spanking on Colombia on Wednesday night. Yea! OK, so the US is ranked 11th in the world, while Colombia is ranked 26th, but I still think it's great news.

Chivas USA finding a formation that fits

The Cheap Seats: The other Clint

United take win, but not satisfied

Scouting opponents creates wins

Countdown '05

Days until kickoff: 25

News and Views

Bradley happy with Ecuador trip MetroStars head coach Bob Bradley is pleased with his team's progress through their two-week training camp in Ecuador, he said in a live teleconference call Monday afternoon. I think it is a smart move for a coach to take his or her team to another country for training, if for no other reason than the team has the opportunity to encounter a different style and level of play. In my opinion, that can do a lot to strengthen any team.

MLS Arrange Fulham Clash Remember what I said about healthy competition? Fulham will play the Major League Soccer’s All-Stars team on July 30 at Columbus Crew Stadium, it was revealed today. Personally, I think that this year's All-Star match sounds promising. Yea for MLS!

D.C., K.C. have tough road ahead

Countdown '05

Days until kickoff: 27

On soccer: Garber has MLS thriving This article basically is an upbeat look at what Garber has done for MLS. My favorite quote of the article:

"The old regime tried to win over the basic American sports fan, which led to things like the old end-game shootout to break ties. Now, the focus is on winning over the ethnic soccer fan who follows teams abroad but hasn't connected to ones here. There really is a strong market for soccer in this country," says Garber, "if you go out and work hard and connect with those who already love the game.

I especially like the last phrase: work hard and connect with those who already love the game. Get those who are already soccer fans behind MLS, and everything else will fall in place. Turn the soccer fans against MLS in a fruitless effort to appease the non-soccer fans, and you have a mess on your hands. (Don't even get me started on the tie-breaking shootouts!) If the soccer fans get behind MLS, two basic things will happen. One, MLS will have a loyal fan base, which is any league's or team's dream. Two, the excitement will be contagious. People like games where there is a lot of excitement. The only way to have excitement is to have loyal fans. I think you get the idea: MLS needs to find ways to be appealing to soccer fans. They have already made siginifant progress (for example, the abolishment of the shootouts and the establishment of a timing system that counts up, instead of down), but more needs to be done.

No Fusion, but MLS still bears watching

Countdown '05

Days until kickoff: 29

News and Views

Roundup: Quakes topple Galaxy San Jose may have won by only one point (2-1), but the Galaxy (with Sampson) is not off to a good start. (Then again, my memories of France '98 probably make me judge Sampson's actions more harshly than I would other coaches. Maybe I shouldn't judge his every action so harshly.)

"Rocky Mountain Cup" Name Chosen for Rapids/Real Rivalry When I hear or see Real in reference to soccer, I still think of Madrid. When reading specifically about MLS, I still have to stop to remind myself that the writer is probably talking about Salt Lake. (Then again, I still sometimes think of San Jose as the Clash, instead of as the Earthquakes. Change may be good, and variety may be the spice of life, but I sometimes have to remind myself that change has taken place.)

Rapids move on the offensive

L.A.'s Saragosa returning to Brazil

Crew feature in high definition, MLS announces HDNet television schedule

2004 HDnet MLS schedule

Countdown '05

Days until kickoff: 30

Sampson likes the early returns Galaxy coach Steve Sampson said he is fairly pleased with the team's progress, despite last Sunday's 1-0 loss to defending MLS champion D.C. United in the inaugural Aloha Soccer Cup in Honolulu. I still don't understand why LA got rid of their coach last season when they were doing so well, only to replace him with Sampson and to see the team fall. Sampson is running out of chances in the eyes of US soccer fans, especially those who very distinctly remember the France '98 debacle. (OK, so I should probably just be happy that he wasn't chosen to lead the Crew, and leave it at that.) Hopefully the Galaxy, under his leadership, will perform well this season. Let me qualify that statement: I want them to do well; I just don't want them to beat Columbus, and I certainly do not want to see the Galaxy in the Cup.

Chivas USA stumbles vs. US nationals The U.S. national team routed Chivas USA 7-0 at The Home Depot Center on Wednesday morning. I have only one word to say: ouch. I know what it feels like to lose that badly (for that matter, I know what it feels like to lose even worse than that). Hopefully Chivas will take this loss positively, and work even harder at their game. But still, ouch.

Henderson: Best is yet to come with MLS

Countdown '05

Days until kickoff: 32

News and Views

View from the Cheap Seats: Fantasy Island Ah, Greg Lalas's advice on playing MLS Fantasy Football (soccer, whatever). I would love to play MLS Fantasy, but I don't really have the time, and, as you can probably see, I can barely find the time to blog about MLS, let alone play Fantasy. That aside, Lalas made some interesting points:

Ah, formation. Always a tough one. Whatever you do, don't play four in the back. That's the fantasy equivalent of Steve Sampson's 3-6-1 debacle at the World Cup in 1998, and we all know how well that worked.

Interesting quote, but definitely true. Who wants to relive that debacle?

Fantasy MLS is won in the midfield.

If, at any point of time during the coming year, I criticize anything Lalas says, please remind me of this quote. Finally, some recognition for us midfielders!

Lineup not set yet for Chivas USA

First XI: Amazin' Metros

Rojas officially joins Real Salt Lake

Countdown '05

Days until kickoff: 35

Countdown '05

Days until kickoff: 40

Today's News from MLS...

...and my opinions, of course (though not as much as usual).

Djorkaeff's MLS adventure With France occupying the number 2 spot in the current FIFA world rankings, I find it interesting that a Frenchman has signed with an MLS team.

CD Chivas USA coming together

Meet Michael Parkhurst: A brief interview with the Revs 2005 top draft pick

Schmid: Sorting out MLS rosters

Galaxy sign Costa Rican Umaña

MetroStars sign Youri Djorkaeff

Trecker: Valderrama, Nowak, Djorkaeff

Revs sign Brazilian midfielder 'Cassio'

Countdown '05

Days until kickoff: 42

News and Views

The Cheap Seats: Doffing my derby Lalas makes an interesting point:

Basically, the European leagues are gradually becoming more like the U.S. leagues -- one team, one city....Now, MLS is going the other way. It's just established its first intra-city derby -- or, I should probably say, Chivas USA owner Jorge Vergara has established the league's first intra-city derby.

Hmm...I never thought of it that way, although that is certainly an interesting point.

See, choice breeds competition. That's simple antitrust economics. And mark my words, those two Chivas-Galaxy matches are going to be the most competitive games in MLS next season. Because, for the first time, the players will not only be playing for their team or their salary, but also for serious bragging rights.

Lalas may be right. A good sports rivalry can be a very good thing: the games are more exciting, the fans are more passionate, and both teams can expect good crowds when playing each other. Who knows? It may even spark more interest in MLS and in soccer. However, I do have my doubts. After all, Lalas is forgetting one other part of the economics issue: is one city fully capable of supporting two MLS teams? I guess that only time will tell, and, besides, it's not like I'm a part of the decision-making process!

Fox Sports World Officially Changes To "Fox Soccer Channel" Whoo-hoo! A TV network in the USA that is dedicated solely to soccer!
For the official news: Welcome to Fox Soccer Channel!

Roundup: More good news from Crew

Friedel retires from U.S. national team

Ask the GM: Elliott on stadium, players

MLS News and Views

It's Super Bowl Sunday, and I'm blogging on MLS. I have to get my soccer "fix" to get me through a night of watching a bunch of guys who wear a bunch of pads and stop playing every few seconds to catch their breaths and think about what they're going to do next. I prefer soccer, with its nonstop action and focus on skill. So yeah. Here is today's MLS news.

Soccer stadium dream gaining serious steam Basically, Houston wants an MLS team. Seriously, I really do hope they get one. I think that MLS growth (or, as is the case this year, a return to where MLS once was) is a good thing. Of course, I'll be rooting against them whenever they play my Crew, but still. While I'm on the subject, I still think that Rochester needs to go MLS, but that's another issue for another time. (I think I've blogged on it before, so feel free to dig through my archives if you so desire.)

Team-by-team preseason schedules

Razov's era with Fire comes to an end via trade

Kick Start Like the article itself says, it is a look at the FC Dallas preseason.

Views: The Clean Sheet: Vegas, baby!

This is Tino Palace's 2005 predictions. My favorite quote:

Dema Kovalenko yellow cards: 234
Yellow cards he thinks were warranted: 0
Yellow cards any player ever has thought were warranted: 0

I know it's a grammatically incorrect statement, but ain't that the truth!

However, Palace's predicting abilities break down with this statement:

Columbus Crew: 20/1
* Ante helps, but can they put last year's monumental collapse behind them?

OK, so maybe I'm a little biased. Come to think of it, I'm probably more than a little biased. Palace's incorrect prediction aside, he does have some interesing, amusing predictions.

Sidebar

The links in the sidebar have been updated.

MLS News and Views

Yes, your absent blogger has returned...again. I haven't even been keeping up with MLS pre-season news, let alone been blogging about it, but I'll try to stick with commenting on articles that are pretty recent.

The Clean Sheet: Add some Spice? Basically, this is an open letter from Palace to Victoria Beckham, asking her to get her husband (David Beckham) to play in MLS. My thoughts: RRRRiiiigggghhhhhttttttttt. One of the world's top players in MLS? Maybe MLS will one day achieve that status, but until then, dream on, Palace.

All lines are now open I can't believe that Connolly references both the Super Bowl and Major League Baseball in this article. This is an MLS column at MLSnet.com, for crying out loud! Rant aside, Connolly makes some interesting predictions for this season. If I remember, I will go back and read this column at the end of the season to compare what he predicted with what actually happened.

Pope added to Real defensive unit Pope is a good, steady, solid, veteran defender; he should be able to add a lot of experience to Real.

Rapids Sign Beckerman, Trembly and Cullen to Multi-Year Deals

L.A. rookies expected to sit, learn

Camping season opens for Metros

Adu Wants To Start Making Bigger, Stronger Impact In Second Season Why do I continue to blog on Adu, you ask? Well, if I knew the answer to that question, I would tell you! He is a decent player overall, though I still think that he has been way over-hyped.

MLS News and Views

There isn't much to report on today, which I suppose has something to do with the fact that it's the offseason!

Dallas acquires Glen from MetroStars

S.A. is inching closer to scoring pro soccer team

Fan the Passion: Midwinter

Dispute Won't Hurt Drive to World Cup This article is not totally about, but, like I said, MLS news is slow, and, besides, the men's national team is rather closely tied to MLS.

MLS News

Expansion clubs take different routes

Teams restock, shuffle rosters in draft

News and Views

My posting should be much more regular from now on. Well, here goes for today's MLS news.

The Clean Sheet: Crossing the line Interesting. I'm not sure where I stand on the idea of having a way to know for sure whether a goal is a goal. On the one hand, I stand for truth and justice, and therefore would be in favor of some such mechanism/ruling. The concept is a good one. However, on the other hand, I detest anything that would detract from the purity of the game and/or slow down the smoothness and speed play. (For example, the instant replays to which the NFL refs can refer.) Basically, MLS and FIFA had better consider the whole proposal very carefully!

A lesson to be learned for strikers, 'keepers Read this for more information about the play that helped spark the above mentioned proposal.

Playing for Ellinger key for Mathis Mathis is back to MLS, this time to Real Salt Lake. (Funny, isn't it? My first inclination was to simply write "Real," but then I realized that when I say that, it is usually in reference to Real Madrid. I need to start being specific!)