MLS 2014 thread.

[sonny]

Might as well start it, eh?

[improbus]

I'm really going to try to dive into MLS this season. I've become a huge soccer fan over the last decade but have spent most of my time with the USMNT and the Premier League. Part of that is quality, part is convenience (early Saturday mornings when the family is still sleeping.) So, hopefully I can give the Crew the attention they have deserved.

[reds1869]

The Crew's new tv deal has really turned me off of the club. I'll still watch MLS but won't feel like I have a horse in the race.

[sonny]

Crew president Mark McCullers out.

http://m.thecrew.com/news/2014/03/cr...mark-mccullers

Strange timing.

[Caveat Emperor]

The Crew's new tv deal has really turned me off of the club. I'll still watch MLS but won't feel like I have a horse in the race.

The only really objectionable part is the blackout radius around Columbus for MLS Direct Kick (which would allow people who wanted to pay to watch matches online or on DirecTV be able to see them).

Otherwise, really, what were the Crew going to do? They were going to be 5th class citizens with Fox Sports (where their matches would continue to be bumped by the Reds, Indians, Cavs and Blue Jackets) -- and there was really no other statewide cable alternative for them. I imagine TWC was the only outlet offering them the ability to have every match guaranteed a live telecast.

[M2]

Toronto looks like it might finally have gotten a spending spree right. Meanwhile New England (three games) and D.C. (two games) have yet to score a goal. We could see a fault line develop early in the East if a few teams don't get their acts together quickly.

[reds1869]

The only really objectionable part is the blackout radius around Columbus for MLS Direct Kick (which would allow people who wanted to pay to watch matches online or on DirecTV be able to see them).

Otherwise, really, what were the Crew going to do? They were going to be 5th class citizens with Fox Sports (where their matches would continue to be bumped by the Reds, Indians, Cavs and Blue Jackets) -- and there was really no other statewide cable alternative for them. I imagine TWC was the only outlet offering them the ability to have every match guaranteed a live telecast.

Even with said fifth class status, I never had trouble finding the Crew on an alternate channel. Since I have DirecTV my only option now is to pay for Direct Kick...not a chance that is happening for what is essentially my local club.

[IslandRed]

I've never really paid much attention to MLS. I guess I'll try to, since next year Orlando City moves up to MLS and I can get to a game now and then if I want.

[Yachtzee]

I feel for the folks in the Columbus market, but it does work out for those of us in the Cleveland market, because we weren't getting the game live on an alternate channel, but instead getting it tapedelayed. Hopefully Direct TV will add it to thethe other regional sports networks in the future.

On a side note, did anyone catch the porn audio around the 75th minute of the Philly game?

[Yachtzee]

Toronto looks like it might finally have gotten a spending spree right. Meanwhile New England (three games) and D.C. (two games) have yet to score a goal. We could see a fault line develop early in the East if a few teams don't get their acts together quickly.

I find it amazing that New England and D.C. have gone from being two of the league's marquee franchises to being complete and utter disasters over the years. The sad thing is that, in the early years of the MLS, they were winning championships and were up with LA and NY at the top of the attendance charts. They are two examples where owners were blessed with a soccer-mad local market and squandered any good will they might have had. D.C. could be due for a turnaround if they build that soccer-specific stadium they've talked about, but I really don't know if there is any hope for New England. All signs point to Bob Kraft not really caring about performance and really just using the team as a way to get people into Gillette Stadium when the Patriots aren't playing. I think the only thing that kept Kraft from being the worst owner in the MLS was Vergara, the owner of Chivas, and now Vergara's gone.

Switching gears, aside from the TV issues and the fact that it's only been two games, I really like what I see from the Crew. They may not have made the big signings that other teams have, like Toronto or Philly, but I really like the change in style Berhalter has implemented with the team. They definitely seem to be a more aggressive team than they were under Warzycha. I also really like the signing of Parkhurst. I think his solid presence in the defensive middle has freed up the players on the wings and Will Trapp in the middle to move more freely, which makes the team much more fun to watch. I'd say my concern is that they seemed to be hanging on for dear life at the end of the Philly game and will definitely be open to counters when they play some of the better quality teams, but I'll take that over the humdrum style of the team under Warzycha.

[5TimeWSChamps]

I find it amazing that New England and D.C. have gone from being two of the league's marquee franchises to being complete and utter disasters over the years. The sad thing is that, in the early years of the MLS, they were winning championships and were up with LA and NY at the top of the attendance charts. They are two examples where owners were blessed with a soccer-mad local market and squandered any good will they might have had. D.C. could be due for a turnaround if they build that soccer-specific stadium they've talked about, but I really don't know if there is any hope for New England. All signs point to Bob Kraft not really caring about performance and really just using the team as a way to get people into Gillette Stadium when the Patriots aren't playing. I think the only thing that kept Kraft from being the worst owner in the MLS was Vergara, the owner of Chivas, and now Vergara's gone.

Switching gears, aside from the TV issues and the fact that it's only been two games, I really like what I see from the Crew. They may not have made the big signings that other teams have, like Toronto or Philly, but I really like the change in style Berhalter has implemented with the team. They definitely seem to be a more aggressive team than they were under Warzycha. I also really like the signing of Parkhurst. I think his solid presence in the defensive middle has freed up the players on the wings and Will Trapp in the middle to move more freely, which makes the team much more fun to watch. I'd say my concern is that they seemed to be hanging on for dear life at the end of the Philly game and will definitely be open to counters when they play some of the better quality teams, but I'll take that over the humdrum style of the team under Warzycha.

Yep. Other than the TV deal, the club's done everything right since Precourt took over. Got my tix for Toronto next weekend. If they can get 4 points out of the next 2 games (@SEA, TOR), they will be in business

[M2]

I find it amazing that New England and D.C. have gone from being two of the league's marquee franchises to being complete and utter disasters over the years. The sad thing is that, in the early years of the MLS, they were winning championships and were up with LA and NY at the top of the attendance charts.

Actually, NE and NY were disasters right from the start. The Revs had a sweet run from 2002-2009, but prior to that they were terrible. Fans flocked to games in Foxboro early on, but it became clear back in about 1999 that the team needed a stadium in Boston. Bob Kraft is a terrible soccer team owner. A lot of local fans wish he'd sell the team. The owners of Liverpool, Roma and Millwall are all local. The white knight potential is pretty high. Down in New Jersey, the Metro Cows have rarely been good. FC New York might blow them out of the water next year.

Chicago, which built its stadium too deep into the burbs, and DC were the two teams that dominated the league's early years. I'm hoping someone recognizes the potential to make all of those teams into relative giants.

[5TimeWSChamps]

JUSTIN MERAM!

Crew go into Seattle and win

http://www.thecrew.com/news/2014/03/...er-94th-minute

[Yachtzee]

JUSTIN MERAM!

Crew go into Seattle and win

http://www.thecrew.com/news/2014/03/...er-94th-minute

Amazing. I'm on the road, so I didn't get to see the game, but I used my phone app to set the DVD, so I'm hoping it taped. I heard the play was pretty rough in the first half, but they tightened up in the second and never stopped sending men forward, even after they got the equaliser. With the rain and the fake grass, I would have been happy with 1 pt. To come away with 3 is huge, especially playing in front of one of the most obnoxious fan bases in MLS. I never would have guessed the Crew would start 3-0. I really want to find the time to get down for a game now. Just a fun team to watch.

[5TimeWSChamps]

Amazing. I'm on the road, so I didn't get to see the game, but I used my phone app to set the DVD, so I'm hoping it taped. I heard the play was pretty rough in the first half, but they tightened up in the second and never stopped sending men forward, even after they got the equaliser. With the rain and the fake grass, I would have been happy with 1 pt. To come away with 3 is huge, especially playing in front of one of the most obnoxious fan bases in MLS. I never would have guessed the Crew would start 3-0. I really want to find the time to get down for a game now. Just a fun team to watch.

Got my tix for next Saturday against Toronto. If they can beat Philadelphia/Seattle/Toronto back to back to back, would be an amazing start