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.)