MLS 2022 season

[Betterread]

It starts in less than two weeks. Just read that Jozy Altidore is joining the Revs after two unproductive, injury filled campaigns with Toronto. Toronto don’t need him because they got Lorenzo Insigne to move from Napoli to Toronto. if he is healthy, he is still in his prime (30) and he might be unstoppable in MLS.
Minnesota United signed Paraguayan (Amarillo) and Honduran (arriaga) national team forwards, but pulled the plug on two midfield vets. First game is 2/26 v Philly.

[M2]

I'm completely uninspired by the Jozy Altidore signing. Hope he stays glued to the bench.

Haven't looked, but has FCC done anything to be better than doormat? If baseball can't get its act together the door would be wide open for the local soccer team to win over fans.

[Yachtzee]

I'm completely uninspired by the Jozy Altidore signing. Hope he stays glued to the bench.

Haven't looked, but has FCC done anything to be better than doormat? If baseball can't get its act together the door would be wide open for the local soccer team to win over fans.

They got Charlotte FC coming in, whose coach has already said, "we're screwed," so at least FCC has a shot at not winning the wooden spoon this year.

The Crew have brought in some new players. We'll see if they are any good or not. The Crew whiffed on some of the guys they brought in last year.

[M2]

They got Charlotte FC coming in, whose coach has already said, "we're screwed," so at least FCC has a shot at not winning the wooden spoon this year.

The Crew have brought in some new players. We'll see if they are any good or not. The Crew whiffed on some of the guys they brought in last year.

I don't understand teams that enter the league with an expansion mentality when so many have come in and jumped immediately to the front of the line. It's not like it's hard to find impact players from around the world (e.g. Armenia). There's a really big pool of talent from which to shop. So Charlotte entering with what profiles as a doormat or FCC being the absolute dregs for years on end is pretty inexcusable. Just try.

Columbus definitely is a team that profiles as due for an upswing after a down 2021. If Berry takes a step forward and Molino remembers he can score goals too, the Crew should be a tough team.

[Kingspoint]

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/charlotte-fc-set-mls-single-game-attendance-record

They now have the ticket revenue to go get that impact player.

[M2]

Austin's started the season with 5-0 and 5-1 wins to start the season. It was over Cincinnati and Miami, which should have been relegated in more self-respecting league. So maybe Austin isn't an all-conquering force, but that's impressive even against bad teams.

[Betterread]

Two Jimmi Charra bicycle kick goals in the first two games. Are you kidding me?
I love Mo Salah, but Riyadh Mahrez is a better soccer player for me. It’s close but Mahrez is it. On a team with a number of beautiful footballers, he stands out.

[M2]

Went to the Revs-Pumas game tonight, which turned into a tres a cero affair for the home team. New England thrashed them. First time I've been at a soccer game in the snow too. Pretty cool. The Revs, NYCFC and Seattle are all well positioned to progress to the semifinals, though never take a trip to Mexico for granted (this applies to both the Revs and Sounders). May be the best chance ever for an MLS team to win the modern version of the CCL.

[Betterread]

Went to the Revs-Pumas game tonight, which turned into a tres a cero affair for the home team. New England thrashed them. First time I've been at a soccer game in the snow too. Pretty cool. The Revs, NYCFC and Seattle are all well positioned to progress to the semifinals, though never take a trip to Mexico for granted (this applies to both the Revs and Sounders). May be the best chance ever for an MLS team to win the modern version of the CCL.

Big win for the club. Revs are well-constructed and their key players have performed as tactically needed. Deserved progress and hope for the ultimate goal.

[M2]

Big win for the club. Revs are well-constructed and their key players have performed as tactically needed. Deserved progress and hope for the ultimate goal.

Helps to have a human cheat code in Carles Gil.

[M2]

Not in Foxborough tonight for the snowy clack between the Revs and RSL. Kinda jealous. Bet it's a blast.

[Yachtzee]

Not in Foxborough tonight for the snowy clack between the Revs and RSL. Kinda jealous. Bet it's a blast.

Carles Gil didn't seem to like it.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/this-is-not-football-carles-gil-irate-after-new-england-lose-wintry-match-to-rea

[M2]

Carles Gil didn't seem to like it.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/this-is-not-football-carles-gil-irate-after-new-england-lose-wintry-match-to-rea

Never should have pulled their Icelandic player. They gave away a clear Nordic advantage.

[Kingspoint]

Austin's started the season with 5-0 and 5-1 wins to start the season. It was over Cincinnati and Miami, which should have been relegated in more self-respecting league. So maybe Austin isn't an all-conquering force, but that's impressive even against bad teams.

Shutout in stormy Portland Saturday Night. Charra with a great Assist for a header in the 2nd Half and the only goal of the game,...and POR managed not to give up an extra-time goal.

Real soccer players love crappy rainy weather, just like real football players love playing in the snow.

Charra's personality has changed this season....for the good, as he's much more aggressive. But, it's also cost him five fouls already in 3 games this season. At this rate, he's going to get tossed soon.

https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fi.pinimg.com%2Foriginals%2F76%2F5 2%2Fb9%2F7652b9365662a4d19a91504eea95bd55.png&f=1&nofb=1

Timbers is a great name for us. That 1905 cover photo is of my great-grandfather's mill in downtown (where the current bowling alley is at) Silverton, Oregon [home of Vince and Johnny Peskovich (Pesky)]. Vince, is about to celebrate his 100th birthday.

[M2]

CCL rundown:

NYCFC advanced last night on road goals against Communicaciones (5-5 aggregate).

Montreal got bounced tonight by Cruz Azul (2-1 aggregate). Cruz Azul is probably the prohibitive favorite to win the tournament.

The Revs starting central defense is out against Pumas tonight. They are really trying to protect their backup defense. Pumas have clawed back a goal and now down 3-1. This is going to be twitchy.

Edit: The Revs blew it. Lost on penalties. Never bet against Mexican teams.

[Betterread]

Gyasi Zardes traded(sold?) from Columbus to Colorado. Good move for him. He wasn’t starting for Columbus. coming off a sub 10 goal year in 2021.
Assuming Colorado acquired him to play, he starts, pushing Shinyashiki one player further down the depth chart. Shinyashiki’s days for Colorado must be numbered. I like his game. Could be a wise acquisition for a smart club.

[Kingspoint]

Nice DEF Chicago.

:rolleyes:

[M2]

Seattle is about to become the first U.S., and first non-Mexican, team to win the CONCACAF Champions League. Very cool.

[Betterread]

Seattle is about to become the first U.S., and first non-Mexican, team to win the CONCACAF Champions League. Very cool.

It would be cooler if it wasn’t Seattle, if it was just about any other MLS club.

[M2]

It would be cooler if it wasn’t Seattle, if it was just about any other MLS club.

I don't go for the whole "everybody hates Seattle" vibe. They put a good team on the field every year. They've never missed the playoffs. They've never had a negative goal differential. They've got a stacked trophy case. Their fans show up in big numbers. That is a first class organization. If anyone doesn't like Seattle, then do better than them. That goes for my team too.

It's probably the least surprising thing that they're the first MLS club to hoist the CCL trophy.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I don't go for the whole "everybody hates Seattle" vibe. They put a good team on the field every year. They've never missed the playoffs. They've never had a negative goal differential. They've got a stacked trophy case. Their fans show up in big numbers. That is a first class organization. If anyone doesn't like Seattle, then do better than them. That goes for my team too.

It's probably the least surprising thing that they're the first MLS club to hoist the CCL trophy.

Agree. As a Galaxy fan the Seattle games are always one of the most anticipated match ups. Nothing but respect to that organization and their fans.

Very cool accomplishment.

[Betterread]

I don't go for the whole "everybody hates Seattle" vibe. They put a good team on the field every year. They've never missed the playoffs. They've never had a negative goal differential. They've got a stacked trophy case. Their fans show up in big numbers. That is a first class organization. If anyone doesn't like Seattle, then do better than them. That goes for my team too.

It's probably the least surprising thing that they're the first MLS club to hoist the CCL trophy.

In the west, you have to play Seattle 2x a year and again in the playoffs. You have no idea what they are like if your team plays them every other year or whenever NE plays them.
Seattle wins. They have proven over and over that they will do anything to win. Led by Lodeiro, they play with a lot of quality, but the reason I have a dislike for lodeiro in particular is that if you are winning or have an advantage on them, they will butcher you, they will flop and they work the refs hard, like Barca, all the time.
Think of Chris Paul, but imagine he played for the Lakers. And Roldan is the Lodeiro mini-me, except he doesn’t have Lodeiro’s technical skills. But he thinks he does.
I love Rudiaz though. If Seattle becomes his team, I might go from dislike to measured respect.
So if you like winnning teams that do anything it takes to win, Seattle is your team.

[M2]

In the west, you have to play Seattle 2x a year and again in the playoffs. You have no idea what they are like if your team plays them every other year or whenever NE plays them.
Seattle wins. They have proven over and over that they will do anything to win. Led by Lodeiro, they play with a lot of quality, but the reason I have a dislike for lodeiro in particular is that if you are winning or have an advantage on them, they will butcher you, they will flop and they work the refs hard, like Barca, all the time.
Think of Chris Paul, but imagine he played for the Lakers. And Roldan is the Lodeiro mini-me, except he doesn’t have Lodeiro’s technical skills. But he thinks he does.
I love Rudiaz though. If Seattle becomes his team, I might go from dislike to measured respect.
So if you like winnning teams that do anything it takes to win, Seattle is your team.

I get not digging that. Barca's definitely extra on that front, though that's not at the top of what irks me about them.

[Fil3232]

FC Cincinnati has won 3 in a row for the first time since joining MLS!

A potential answer to “where ya gonna go?”

[Betterread]

FC Cincinnati has won 3 in a row for the first time since joining MLS!

A potential answer to “where ya gonna go?”

Great away win for Cincinnati, tough home loss for the loons. Cincinnati had effective attacks at various points throughout the match and earned the three points.

[Yachtzee]

FC Cincinnati has won 3 in a row for the first time since joining MLS!

A potential answer to “where ya gonna go?”

Castellinis should have taken note when FCC was selling out USL matches at Nippert. There are quite a few people who used to live and die with the Reds that are now putting their time and money into FC Cincinnati or, like myself, Columbus Crew. In my closet, the most recent Reds item I own is a Barry Larkin jersey from 2000. I have 3 Crew jerseys and a recently acquired Joe Burrow Bengals jersey. Where we gonna go, Phil? We don't have to go anywhere. There are other Ohio sports teams that are at least making an effort to earn our loyalty and our disposable income.

[M2]

Castellinis should have taken note when FCC was selling out USL matches at Nippert. There are quite a few people who used to live and die with the Reds that are now putting their time and money into FC Cincinnati or, like myself, Columbus Crew. In my closet, the most recent Reds item I own is a Barry Larkin jersey from 2000. I have 3 Crew jerseys and a recently acquired Joe Burrow Bengals jersey. Where we gonna go, Phil? We don't have to go anywhere. There are other Ohio sports teams that are at least making an effort to earn our loyalty and our disposable income.

I caught the Crew on Saturday. Nice fight back. They saw Omar Gonzalez come in and went right at him. That's the sign of a smart team.

[Yachtzee]

I don't go for the whole "everybody hates Seattle" vibe. They put a good team on the field every year. They've never missed the playoffs. They've never had a negative goal differential. They've got a stacked trophy case. Their fans show up in big numbers. That is a first class organization. If anyone doesn't like Seattle, then do better than them. That goes for my team too.

It's probably the least surprising thing that they're the first MLS club to hoist the CCL trophy.

I think the dislike for Seattle comes less from the team itself and more from the arrogance of their supporters. In soccer message boards and social media, there's an ongoing meme of "Seattle invented. . . ." It comes from this general attitude that they don't respect what came before them. A classic example was when Columbus was hosting the US-Mexico World Cup Qualifier for the 2014 World Cup. At this point, Columbus had already established itself as the home of Dos-a-Cero and Columbus supporters were well-versed on how to host a qualifier. And yet, American Outlaws felt it was necessary to fly in a bunch of Seattle guys to "show us how it's done." Between that experience and part owner Drew Carey keeping quiet during the whole "Save The Crew" campaign, despite being an Ohio guy who dealt with losing the Browns, well, there isn't much love for the Sounders in Columbus. I think beating the Sounders in 2020 for the MLS Cup provided some measure of catharsis, so maybe the strong dislike has turned to a mild distaste. But still, there are other MLS expansion teams that have come in with amazing support and been successful without generating nearly as much antagonism.

[M2]

I think the dislike for Seattle comes less from the team itself and more from the arrogance of their supporters. In soccer message boards and social media, there's an ongoing meme of "Seattle invented. . . ." It comes from this general attitude that they don't respect what came before them. A classic example was when Columbus was hosting the US-Mexico World Cup Qualifier for the 2014 World Cup. At this point, Columbus had already established itself as the home of Dos-a-Cero and Columbus supporters were well-versed on how to host a qualifier. And yet, American Outlaws felt it was necessary to fly in a bunch of Seattle guys to "show us how it's done." Between that experience and part owner Drew Carey keeping quiet during the whole "Save The Crew" campaign, despite being an Ohio guy who dealt with losing the Browns, well, there isn't much love for the Sounders in Columbus. I think beating the Sounders in 2020 for the MLS Cup provided some measure of catharsis, so maybe the strong dislike has turned to a mild distaste. But still, there are other MLS expansion teams that have come in with amazing support and been successful without generating nearly as much antagonism.

My take on that as it was happening is Seattle exposed a lot of MLS 1.0 operations as sleepy backwater operations (and I'll volunteer the Revs as the most backwater of the bunch at that point in time). For whatever we want to say, Seattle set the model for other top flight operations. They never had an expansion team phase. They walked right to the front of the line, not just on the field, but in the stands as well. And I get why MLS fans who'd been there through the lean years felt slighted and thought Seattle was too full of itself.

But the hard pill to swallow was we all wanted to be what they were (and still are). The Sounders entering MLS kind of changed soccer in this nation. It was either get on their level or get left behind. Their hubris wasn't exactly misplaced. And they're probably going to be extra now that they've won the CCL.

[Fil3232]

Castellinis should have taken note when FCC was selling out USL matches at Nippert. There are quite a few people who used to live and die with the Reds that are now putting their time and money into FC Cincinnati or, like myself, Columbus Crew. In my closet, the most recent Reds item I own is a Barry Larkin jersey from 2000. I have 3 Crew jerseys and a recently acquired Joe Burrow Bengals jersey. Where we gonna go, Phil? We don't have to go anywhere. There are other Ohio sports teams that are at least making an effort to earn our loyalty and our disposable income.

I’ve watched more FC games this year than Reds game. Hell, I even watched their US Open match last round and look forward to Wednesday’s tilt against M2’s Revs!

[15fan]

Miles Robinson done for the year. Brad Guzan done for the year. Ozzie Alonso done for the year. Josef Martinez still out with knee issues. You could put together a pretty good team starting w/ United guys who are on the shelf.

(JM walked right by me a couple of weeks ago at Hartsfield-Jackson. Took me a minute to realize who it was, and by then he was gone amid the sea of travelers.)

But if Cisneros can go hat trick in the first half of every game like he did vs Chicago, they’ll be alright. My favorite line after the recent thumping of Chicago: invading yankee arsonists don’t really catch us by surprise here any more.

[Kingspoint]

I hope Cincinnati fans are enjoying this.

Only three teams have more wins than they do in the MSL. If they win again this weekend, it could be fewer than that.

The hardest thing to do is to figure out how to win. A draw is easy, but winning is hard.

[Kingspoint]

Don't know if anyone saw today's single goal in the NYC/RBNY match, but RBNY's goalie had zero chance of preventing it because of the brilliant pass by Morales.

[Kingspoint]

WOW!

What a game between MIN and POR this afternoon in the searing heat.

[Betterread]

WOW!

What a game between MIN and POR this afternoon in the searing heat.

Good comeback for the Timbers to earn a 4-4 draw after being down 1-3. Both defenses were so bad: one Minnesota goal the slow Cf picked up a loose ball at midfield and took it all the way to the box with no defender to beat and scored; and one Blanco goal and the Og from a blanco kick were both examples of the top offensive threat being let uncovered in the box - by at least five yards from my perspective. How do you lose track of the key guy so often?

[Kingspoint]

Good comeback for the Timbers to earn a 4-4 draw after being down 1-3. Both defenses were so bad: one Minnesota goal the slow Cf picked up a loose ball at midfield and took it all the way to the box with no defender to beat and scored; and one Blanco goal and the Og from a blanco kick were both examples of the top offensive threat being let uncovered in the box - by at least five yards from my perspective. How do you lose track of the key guy so often?

It was hot. The second half really showed it.

[Tony Cloninger]

How good is this league really. A lot more Uruguayan players are going there and while the leagues In Uruguay have fallen down so far down then the 80s and 90s. They go here and Mexico more than I would prefer due to money. Instead of going to Portugal or The Dutch leagues.

[M2]

How good is this league really. A lot more Uruguayan players are going there and while the leagues In Uruguay have fallen down so far down then the 80s and 90s. They go here and Mexico more than I would prefer due to money. Instead of going to Portugal or The Dutch leagues.

It's all right, probably a just a notch below Portugal and the Dutchies. Might be deeper than those leagues, but can't match the upper end of teams like Ajax and Porto. MLS is becoming a decent stepping stone league for players who get there fairly young, and a nice landing spot for guys quality players who aren't going to take the world by storm. I definitely would expect Euro teams to eye Santi Rodriguez for a winter transfer.

[Tony Cloninger]

It's all right, probably a just a notch below Portugal and the Dutchies. Might be deeper than those leagues, but can't match the upper end of teams like Ajax and Porto. MLS is becoming a decent stepping stone league for players who get there fairly young, and a nice landing spot for guys quality players who aren't going to take the world by storm. I definitely would expect Euro teams to eye Santi Rodriguez for a winter transfer.


Great info. I was not downgrading MLS either. If it was that easy you would see a lot of these European players dominating everything and they’re not. I want this league to be on par with the Top 5 in the world.

I am also stuck with the mentality that to be a better national team these players need to at least develop in Portugal and Netherlands which are very good leagues for development. Italy used to be THE league but man have they fallen since the 90s. I also think that some of these players like Cavani or their agents seem to be delusional in how much they should be paid.

Cavani had an offer from Villarreal. Perfect situation to help that team get into Top 4. But obviously you’re not going to be paid like you would before.

Yes Rodriguez like Diego Rossi who is doing ok at Fernabachi looks good. I had higher hopes for the other Player Brian Rodriguez who was Rossi teammate. He seems though to have stalled.

[Betterread]

How good is this league really. A lot more Uruguayan players are going there and while the leagues In Uruguay have fallen down so far down then the 80s and 90s. They go here and Mexico more than I would prefer due to money. Instead of going to Portugal or The Dutch leagues.

1. MLS Ranking: The target for MLS is Liga MX. Recently, Liga MX President Arriola spoke to ESPN about his “worry” that MLS will pass his league for investment and player development. I watch some Liga MX matches and from an eye test, that league seems to have a higher standard of techinical ability and stronger tactical play than MLS. But they have lots of trouble with fan violence. I am really impressed at the positive atmosphere of MLS games. It is so much more relaxed and healthy that the vibe in Europe and South America. MLS teams have supporters groups, and they mostly mimic British and Mexican supporter rituals, but they leave out a really important thing: the violent conflicts with opposing supporters. I have not seen any fights or violence at any MLS match I have attended. This is a polar opposite to the NFL where fan violence is endemic. And another key positive about MLS is the parity. The biggest city teams Do not always dominate. Texas and California have not had a champion in a long time, for example.
As for the other nations you mention, I don’t know much about The league in Uruguay, I have only heard of the Montevideo teams, Nacional and penarol. It is my limited understanding that top players play in Argentina, but also in Europe - Damien Suarez of Getafe is one.
The Portuguese league is a lot higher ranked than the Eredivisie ( only one club, Ajax is good in Holland). The Portuguese league is just out of the top five leagues and is close to Russia and Ukraine, while the Dutch league is next tier, close to Belgium and Turkey.

2. Uruguay Talent. Much more talent than USA. You have historically produced a steady mix of talented goal scorers and tenacious defenders and defensive midfielders. But in MLS some of the best creative midfielders are from Uruguay - Santiago Rodriguez from NYC (current cup holders), and Diego ***undez, Austin’s top playmaker ( born in Uruguay and played for Uru’s u-20 team, even though his whole career is in USA).

[Kingspoint]

Betterread, enjoy the All-Star game. I assume you are going.

[Betterread]

Betterread, enjoy the All-Star game. I assume you are going.

Will miss it. On a family vacation during that time. Lots of interesting stuff going on around the game. For example, the all star game jersey for MLS looks kind of like the old Loons Uniform.

[Tony Cloninger]

1. MLS Ranking: The target for MLS is Liga MX. Recently, Liga MX President Arriola spoke to ESPN about his “worry” that MLS will pass his league for investment and player development. I watch some Liga MX matches and from an eye test, that league seems to have a higher standard of techinical ability and stronger tactical play than MLS. But they have lots of trouble with fan violence. I am really impressed at the positive atmosphere of MLS games. It is so much more relaxed and healthy that the vibe in Europe and South America. MLS teams have supporters groups, and they mostly mimic British and Mexican supporter rituals, but they leave out a really important thing: the violent conflicts with opposing supporters. I have not seen any fights or violence at any MLS match I have attended. This is a polar opposite to the NFL where fan violence is endemic. And another key positive about MLS is the parity. The biggest city teams Do not always dominate. Texas and California have not had a champion in a long time, for example.
As for the other nations you mention, I don’t know much about The league in Uruguay, I have only heard of the Montevideo teams, Nacional and penarol. It is my limited understanding that top players play in Argentina, but also in Europe - Damien Suarez of Getafe is one.
The Portuguese league is a lot higher ranked than the Eredivisie ( only one club, Ajax is good in Holland). The Portuguese league is just out of the top five leagues and is close to Russia and Ukraine, while the Dutch league is next tier, close to Belgium and Turkey.

2. Uruguay Talent. Much more talent than USA. You have historically produced a steady mix of talented goal scorers and tenacious defenders and defensive midfielders. But in MLS some of the best creative midfielders are from Uruguay - Santiago Rodriguez from NYC (current cup holders), and Diego ***undez, Austin’s top playmaker ( born in Uruguay and played for Uru’s u-20 team, even though his whole career is in USA).

Good stuff.

I was hoping Luis would go to Miami. I understood why he went to Nacional though.

Before 1978. Brazil and Uruguay had won more WC and Copa America combined. Then Argentina blew by Uruguay and started producing better WC results up until 2010 and started producing more internationals by a lot.

The right wing military juntas worked well for them. Even with hyper inflation. Not for Uruguay.

[Betterread]

Good stuff.

I was hoping Luis would go to Miami. I understood why he went to Nacional though.

Before 1978. Brazil and Uruguay had won more WC and Copa America combined. Then Argentina blew by Uruguay and started producing better WC results up until 2010 and started producing more internationals by a lot.

The right wing military juntas worked well for them. Even with hyper inflation. Not for Uruguay.

My favorite Uruguayan player of all time is still Alvaro Recoba. He played with Ronaldo at Internazionale. He even debuted with phenomeneo and scored twice in that debut game.

[Tony Cloninger]

My favorite Uruguayan player of all time is still Alvaro Recoba. He played with Ronaldo at Internazionale. He even debuted with phenomeneo and scored twice in that debut game.


Alvaro had the talent to be as good as Raul. He was the bad time poster player for Uruguayan soccer in the 90s and early 2000s.
Great player when he wanted to be. Played when he wanted to. Would get hurt. Frustrating player.

Uruguay could not beat out Bolivia for the last spot in 94 WC. Did not make it in 1998. They were even worse. Ranked in the 40s. Finally made it back in 2002. Bounced after they could not bear Senegal. We’re down 3-0. Came back with a young Forlan made a great golazo. Then Rodriguez misses an open header.

Then in 2006 they had to go to the playoffs again. Against Australia again.
Recoba says. Uruguay going to the WC is our destiny. Pure arrogance and the bad attitude that was formed with an agent who ran Uruguay NT selections. Pablo Casal. Total slime if an agent.
Would eat their words by losing at Australia in the 2nd game during Penalty kicks.

They did a Das Boot German NT style after that.

Tabarez came in and redid the whole system. Got rid of the bad actors like Recoba. Underperforming Dario Silva. Among others.

Brought Forlan into the team more. Diego Lugano. Players who wanted to play. Not just get paid.

[Kingspoint]

Big game for Cincinnati tonight.

Thought it was in Cincinnati, but it's in NYC.

[Tadasimha]

FC Cincinnati wins at home over San Jose 6-0. First ten victory season in MLS for them.

[M2]

Probably ought to mention the hideous decision MLS has made to put all of its game, including local broadcasts, on Apple+ - https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/minnesota-united/whats-good-for-mls-is-a-killer-for-local-tv-broadcasters. I have zero intention of getting Apple+ unless it comes free with something else I've got, like my cellphone plan. And, where I am, the local broadcast crew of Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies are kind of beloved. They're an integral part of the team's marketing.

I suspect the overall viewership of MLS games is going to go way down and that teams are going to become somewhat anonymous in their home markets (or more anonymous dependent on your locality).

[Kingspoint]

Probably ought to mention the hideous decision MLS has made to put all of its game, including local broadcasts, on Apple+ - https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/minnesota-united/whats-good-for-mls-is-a-killer-for-local-tv-broadcasters. I have zero intention of getting Apple+ unless it comes free with something else I've got, like my cellphone plan. And, where I am, the local broadcast crew of Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies are kind of beloved. They're an integral part of the team's marketing.

I suspect the overall viewership of MLS games is going to go way down and that teams are going to become somewhat anonymous in their home markets (or more anonymous dependent on your locality).

Pretty stupid decision that they'll regret.

[Chip R]

Probably ought to mention the hideous decision MLS has made to put all of its game, including local broadcasts, on Apple+ - https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/minnesota-united/whats-good-for-mls-is-a-killer-for-local-tv-broadcasters. I have zero intention of getting Apple+ unless it comes free with something else I've got, like my cellphone plan. And, where I am, the local broadcast crew of Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies are kind of beloved. They're an integral part of the team's marketing.

I suspect the overall viewership of MLS games is going to go way down and that teams are going to become somewhat anonymous in their home markets (or more anonymous dependent on your locality).

Don't like that at all. I'm no hardcore fan - far from it. But I do like watching FCC when I get home from work on Saturday nights on our local station. They certainly are getting a pile of money out of it but at what cost? Like you, I'm not paying for Apple+. But, I suppose a lot of people have Apple+ and won't be affected.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Probably ought to mention the hideous decision MLS has made to put all of its game, including local broadcasts, on Apple+ - https://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/minnesota-united/whats-good-for-mls-is-a-killer-for-local-tv-broadcasters. I have zero intention of getting Apple+ unless it comes free with something else I've got, like my cellphone plan. And, where I am, the local broadcast crew of Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies are kind of beloved. They're an integral part of the team's marketing.

I suspect the overall viewership of MLS games is going to go way down and that teams are going to become somewhat anonymous in their home markets (or more anonymous dependent on your locality).

I love it and I hope more sports TV deals look like this. With the way regional sports networks have been fractured stuff like this will make it way easier and likely cheaper for fans to watch games. I got ESPN plus largely so I could watch MLS games.

I can’t even watch Cavs and Guardians games on TV and I live 5 miles from the stadiums. If someone offered a way to watch those plus every other game in the league for $10-20 a month plus I get whatever other content they offer? Sounds good to me.

[Fil3232]

I really hope Apple hires on the bulk of local broadcast teams already in place across MLS.

[goreds2]

FC Cincinnati now playing on ESPN.

[Tadasimha]

With their win over Chivas, FCC now has not lost a match since the July 17 match against the Crew. 4-0-1 in their last five.

[Tadasimha]

With their win over Chivas, FCC now has not lost a match since the July 17 match against the Crew. 4-0-1 in their last five.

With a 1-1 draw in Seattle, FCC still unbeaten since July. Last two games of the regular season coming up: on the road against the Fire this Saturday and finishing up at home against DC United. Two potential trap games as both the Fire and United (along with Toronto) are the bottom three of the conference and out of the playoffs. Cincinnati currently in 5th in the standings.

Seattle needs to win out now (plus get help from other teams)or their MLS record thirteen straight season streak of reaching the post-season is over.

[Kingspoint]

POR vs LAFC Sunday on ABC should be great.

[Tadasimha]

Bad day for Cincinnati teams playing against Chicago squads. With a win (and some help), FCC could have punched their first MLS post-season ticket. Instead they lose 3-2 to the Fire. Now the final game on the road in DC becomes even tougher.

(Sorry, I had the home and away games backwards in a previous post)

[M2]

Saw Josef Martinez score an absolutely sick bicycle kick goal today - https://twitter.com/BrianSciaretta/status/1576291530922373121. Seriously, Louvre quality.

[Kingspoint]

Czichos is a wuss.

[M2]

Czichos is a wuss.

He needs The Man to straighten him out.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/mayberry/images/5/55/Jackalbertson.jpg

[Tadasimha]

Decision Day ahead for FCC; win against DC United and they're in at the 6th seed. They have never beaten United in seven previous games, going 0-4-3 since entering MLS. A tie or even a loss does not knock them out of the playoffs unless the match between Columbus and Orlando ends in a tie.

Other interesting scenarios for the final playoff spots here at the MLS site: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/who-can-clinch-playoffs-or-be-eliminated-this-wednesday

[Reds Freak]

Decision Day ahead for FCC; win against DC United and they're in at the 6th seed. They have never beaten United in seven previous games, going 0-4-3 since entering MLS. A tie or even a loss does not knock them out of the playoffs unless the match between Columbus and Orlando ends in a tie.

Other interesting scenarios for the final playoff spots here at the MLS site: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/who-can-clinch-playoffs-or-be-eliminated-this-wednesday

Congrats to FC Cincinnati! Did it today in mostly unstressful fashion with a 5-2 victory. Fun day for the city and the franchise!

[Tadasimha]

18842

[Chip R]

Condolences th the Columbus Crew for missing the playoffs.

[Betterread]

MLS Western Conference playoff picture:
Nashville messed up. You don’t want to try to get the #5 seed. You want to avoid LAFC as long as possible.
Portland lost out - went from #6 seed to out of the playoffs. As well as Cascadia did in 2021, they went the opposite direction and none of Vancouver, Seattle and Portland made the playoffs.
Real Salt Lake makes it in on the last day,coming from #8 (outside) to qualify.

[Fil3232]

Enjoying Caleb Porter getting some comeuppance after shushing the FC crowd

[BuckeyeRed27]

MLS Western Conference playoff picture:
Nashville messed up. You don’t want to try to get the #5 seed. You want to avoid LAFC as long as possible.
Portland lost out - went from #6 seed to out of the playoffs. As well as Cascadia did in 2021, they went the opposite direction and none of Vancouver, Seattle and Portland made the playoffs.
Real Salt Lake makes it in on the last day,coming from #8 (outside) to qualify.

Nashville isn’t getting past the Galaxy. LAFC might not either. Ever since they got Puig they’ve been the best team in the league.

[Kingspoint]

POR choked big time the last two games.

[Betterread]

Enjoying Caleb Porter getting some comeuppance after shushing the FC crowd
He needs so much more comeuppance. Even Berhalter is a better coach.

[Betterread]

POR choked big time the last two games.
Minnesota came pretty close to stumbling out of the playoffs before winning on decision day. Before that result they earned 1 point out of 18 possible points for the previous 6 matches.

[Betterread]

He needs so much more comeuppance. Even Berhalter is a better coach.

And…it happened. Porter was sacked. Columbus deserves a manager who loves the game more than he loves himself.

[Kingspoint]

And…it happened. Porter was sacked. Columbus deserves a manager who loves the game more than he loves himself. You can alwasy write in stone that whereever Porter gets hired, he'll get fired and it won't be pretty.

[M2]

You can alwasy write in stone that whereever Porter gets hired, he'll get fired and it won't be pretty.

But he'll win a title along the way. Can't imagine he'll go long without getting another offer. Wouldn't shock me to see Atlanta dump Pineda and go after Porter.

[Kingspoint]

But he'll win a title along the way. Can't imagine he'll go long without getting another offer. Wouldn't shock me to see Atlanta dump Pineda and go after Porter.

I was going to add something to that effect.

[Big Red Smokey]

Good riddance Caleb. Made a lot of money this year betting live lines on the opposition either tying or winning whenever the Crew got a lead the last half of the year. Only way I was able to survive the year.

Thanks for 2020 though I guess.

[Betterread]

Nothing to see.

[Tadasimha]

18847
They're going to find out

[M2]

Way to go FCC. Hope all of you Cincinnati folks are catching some playoff fever.

[Kingspoint]

5:00 p.m. Thursday for the Football Club from Cincinnati versus Philadelphia.

Good luck to the Ohioans.

[Tadasimha]

Lunken Lions ready to go to the conference finals with a win tonight.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/fcc-fever-grips-cincinnati-as-first-ever-mls-postseason-run-unfolds

[Tadasimha]

No score at halftime between Philadelphia Union and FCC. Fairly even match across the board stats wise; Roman's two saves huge as both of FCC's shots on goal have missed.

[Tadasimha]

Union strikes first, taking a 1-nil lead in the 59th minute as FCC defense clearing goes right to Philly player who buries it in the upper left of the goal.

[Tadasimha]

18863

Good season after a brutal first three years in MLS. Hopefully used as a building block to regular contender status.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Staying up until 1am to watch your team lose to a rival in the 94th minute is a real nut punch on many levels.

[Sea Ray]

Staying up until 1am to watch your team lose to a rival in the 94th minute is a real nut punch on many levels.

What game are you referring to?

[BuckeyeRed27]

What game are you referring to?

El Traffico.

LA Galaxy v LAFC

[M2]

Staying up until 1am to watch your team lose to a rival in the 94th minute is a real nut punch on many levels.

That one hurts. Though I do like that it adds to the legend of El Trafico.

[BuckeyeRed27]

That one hurts. Though I do like that it adds to the legend of El Trafico.

It was a good entertaining game. When Dejan hit the net to tie it at 2, I thought we had it. Would have been fantastic to railroad their season. It’s soccer so anything can happen, but felt good about winning the Cup if we came out of that. So..yeah…I’m fine.

[Chip R]

It was nice to watch FCC games on TV while it lasted. :cry:

[Reds Freak]

It was nice to watch FCC games on TV while it lasted. :cry:

What are they doing next year with TV?

[M2]

What are they doing next year with TV?

All the games moved to Apple TV.

[Reds Freak]

All the games moved to Apple TV.

Ah, that's unfortunate for me. I got into MLS this year because FC Cincinnati contended and I could watch the games on ESPN+ which I subscribe to watch college sports. I'm not adding Apple on top of it.

[M2]

Ah, that's unfortunate for me. I got into MLS this year because FC Cincinnati contended and I could watch the games on ESPN+ which I subscribe to watch college sports. I'm not adding Apple on top of it.

A lot of people are in that boat. Basically only going to see the NE Revs games I go to next season.

[Kingspoint]

What a horrible business decision for the MLS. They may not survive it, especially with the sex crime scandal that goes throughout the league.

Timbers Owner resigned and fans are asking for public ownership.

[RedTeamGo!]

Yeah I truly do not get why they did this Apple TV thing. The league has been building real momentum the last 10 years or so. I don’t think this will kill the league or anything, but any momentum it has been building just stopped dead.

It’s the same thing with Thursday night nfl football on Amazon prime. I haven’t seen one second of Thursday night football this year because of it, and I will not moving forward. Made me realize I do not miss watching it, like at all.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I posted about this before, but I love it and wish all sports media deals looked like this.

I want to be able to watch sports. I don’t want to have to deal with blackouts or what platform or what channel has the game this week. I want to go to a place and have the game.

This is the same as if league pass or Sunday ticket or the mlb app let you watch the home team. Except now you get every single game in one place.

It would be nice if local spores were just free and available to watch, but we aren’t ever going back to that. So something like this apple mls set up is way better than the current patch work model everyone else has.

[M2]

I posted about this before, but I love it and wish all sports media deals looked like this.

I want to be able to watch sports. I don’t want to have to deal with blackouts or what platform or what channel has the game this week. I want to go to a place and have the game.

This is the same as if league pass or Sunday ticket or the mlb app let you watch the home team. Except now you get every single game in one place.

It would be nice if local spores were just free and available to watch, but we aren’t ever going back to that. So something like this apple mls set up is way better than the current patch work model everyone else has.

Except I'm an MLS ticket holder and I'm not buying an Apple TV membership to watch MLS games. And I was hearing the same from others in the supporters section at the end of the season. That's kind of where it falls apart. People already pay enough for television. If they're not already in the Apple cloud, they're not likely to join it because of MLS.

What they're taking away where I live is an established local broadcast that had real connection with the fanbase. Charlie Davies was more recognized and beloved in the local media market than any player on the team. He was an ambassador for the club. It was one of the few ways the Revs had successfully developed deeper local roots.

And I think the patchwork model helps reach the broadest cross-section of fans. Media is more distributed than it's ever been. You can't expect everyone to gather in a single place. I don't need League Pass to watch the NBA. I can watch local broadcasts of the Celtics plus regularly televised national games. I get plenty of NBA games without having to shell out anything extra. That helped bring me back to the sport after a long hiatus (more than 20 years). If it was on a subscription service I don't have, then it would have missed me.

I do think this broadcast setup is going to make MLS more of a day excursion league rather than one that people follow.

[RedTeamGo!]

Except I'm an MLS ticket holder and I'm not buying an Apple TV membership to watch MLS games. And I was hearing the same from others in the supporters section at the end of the season. That's kind of where it falls apart. People already pay enough for television. If they're not already in the Apple cloud, they're not likely to join it because of MLS.

What they're taking away where I live is an established local broadcast that had real connection with the fanbase. Charlie Davies was more recognized and beloved in the local media market than any player on the team. He was an ambassador for the club. It was one of the few ways the Revs had successfully developed deeper local roots.

And I think the patchwork model helps reach the broadest cross-section of fans. Media is more distributed than it's ever been. You can't expect everyone to gather in a single place. I don't need League Pass to watch the NBA. I can watch local broadcasts of the Celtics plus regularly televised national games. I get plenty of NBA games without having to shell out anything extra. That helped bring me back to the sport after a long hiatus (more than 20 years). If it was on a subscription service I don't have, then it would have missed me.

I do think this broadcast setup is going to make MLS more of a day excursion league rather than one that people follow.

I wonder if MLS will do something where if you buy season ticket you get an appletv sub

[BuckeyeRed27]

Except I'm an MLS ticket holder and I'm not buying an Apple TV membership to watch MLS games. And I was hearing the same from others in the supporters section at the end of the season. That's kind of where it falls apart. People already pay enough for television. If they're not already in the Apple cloud, they're not likely to join it because of MLS.

What they're taking away where I live is an established local broadcast that had real connection with the fanbase. Charlie Davies was more recognized and beloved in the local media market than any player on the team. He was an ambassador for the club. It was one of the few ways the Revs had successfully developed deeper local roots.

And I think the patchwork model helps reach the broadest cross-section of fans. Media is more distributed than it's ever been. You can't expect everyone to gather in a single place. I don't need League Pass to watch the NBA. I can watch local broadcasts of the Celtics plus regularly televised national games. I get plenty of NBA games without having to shell out anything extra. That helped bring me back to the sport after a long hiatus (more than 20 years). If it was on a subscription service I don't have, then it would have missed me.

I do think this broadcast setup is going to make MLS more of a day excursion league rather than one that people follow.

I live in Cleveland. I can’t watch the Cavs, Guardians or the Crew (technically the local market) on any streaming service (Hulu, YouTube, etc). I can now spend $20 a month to watch Cavs games on a clunky app that sometimes works and there has been some vague assurances that Guardians games will be available sometime in 2023. But that’s it. No other team for $20 a month. League pass costs less and I can watch every team every night. We are all at the mercy of providers and networks getting into pissing matches so we can watch sports.

The EPL is aggressively shifting their stuff to Peacock. Few years ago everything was on network/cable, now couple games a weekend.

The Amazon thing is a test run for the NFL. Free games on CBS every Sunday? That’s going to be a relic before long. The NFL might take longer than other sports due to massive viewership numbers. But other sports? What the MLS is doing is getting ahead of the curve on what is going to be normal in less than a decade.

[M2]

I live in Cleveland. I can’t watch the Cavs, Guardians or the Crew (technically the local market) on any streaming service (Hulu, YouTube, etc). I can now spend $20 a month to watch Cavs games on a clunky app that sometimes works and there has been some vague assurances that Guardians games will be available sometime in 2023. But that’s it. No other team for $20 a month. League pass costs less and I can watch every team every night. We are all at the mercy of providers and networks getting into pissing matches so we can watch sports.

The EPL is aggressively shifting their stuff to Peacock. Few years ago everything was on network/cable, now couple games a weekend.

The Amazon thing is a test run for the NFL. Free games on CBS every Sunday? That’s going to be a relic before long. The NFL might take longer than other sports due to massive viewership numbers. But other sports? What the MLS is doing is getting ahead of the curve on what is going to be normal in less than a decade.

I suppose it's ultimately going to depend on the percentage of cord cutters and then the percentage of those who aren't using a service like Sling. Yet if I was running MLS, I'd want to be late to that party. Let the NFL figure it out. However, since many MLS owners are NFL owners I suspect it's more a case of them wanting MLS to work out those bugs first.

[Chip R]

Yeah I truly do not get why they did this Apple TV thing. The league has been building real momentum the last 10 years or so. I don’t think this will kill the league or anything, but any momentum it has been building just stopped dead.

Because they are getting piles and piles of money for doing it.

[Kingspoint]

Except I'm an MLS ticket holder and I'm not buying an Apple TV membership to watch MLS games. And I was hearing the same from others in the supporters section at the end of the season. That's kind of where it falls apart. People already pay enough for television. If they're not already in the Apple cloud, they're not likely to join it because of MLS.

What they're taking away where I live is an established local broadcast that had real connection with the fanbase. Charlie Davies was more recognized and beloved in the local media market than any player on the team. He was an ambassador for the club. It was one of the few ways the Revs had successfully developed deeper local roots.




This is where Jody Allen has placed the connection between local and Oregon fans and the Trailblazers. The broadcasting comes from the Seattle Sports' Network, along with announcers for pre-game and post-game also coming from Seattle. While the broadcasts themselves, along with the pre-game (it's Neal Everett and a great analyst next to him, but I forgot his name, for the away broadcasts, and a local team that's been around for the home games) is improved dramatically, the disconnection between the team and the fans is almost complete. There's no midweek shows about the Blazers. All we get are the games live....if you happen to pay for the extra cable sports package that includes the channel.

Jody Allen is even more insensitive to others than her brother Paul was, and he was horrible.

The mantra seems to be, "Give us your season ticket monies and suite sales, and damn everything else". She's made it pretty clear that this is the Jody Allen Trailblazers and that she can afford not to give a damn what anybody thinks, especially the people of Oregon and the surrounding Portland Metropolitan area. Her social IQ has to be in the 50's. Her brother Paul's was certainly in the 60's.

She doesn't understand where the hardcore fans come from....the poor of the area who can only afford to go to one game per season, if that. They spend a ton on concessions the game that they go to. It's a major family event as big as the 4th of July. There's also those who are physically challenged, sight-impaired, hearing impaired, who find the greatest enjoyment in their daily lives following a local team throughout the season. They never ever get to a game, but are the team's biggest and most loyal fans. To alienate them completely is a cruel and harsh thing to do to another human being. It's not that she could care less, it's that she's so completely socially dysfunctional and asympathetic that she doesn't even know that they exist or the harm and destruction she does to their lives.

I read all the time on this site that it's just sports. That's the insensitivity that's prevalent among Owners like Allen and those involved in approving this MLS decision. It's not just sports. It's a connection to society for so many on the fringe of society, those forgotten about by most people, those who die during pandemics, those who die during heatwaves, those whose children would rather shove them into a nursing home than to sacrifice a little bit of their time and money to make it possible for their parent to live in their home and not feel unwanted and not needed.

Which brings me to the elderly, the largest branch of fans that decisions like this effects the most. Again, they are loyal fans who find a connection to the community, a community that they feel doesn't need them anymore. They generally, not only can't afford the extra costs of special cable channels, they don't even know what the heck Apple+ is, as they struggle just to be able to use a simplified version of a cellphone. Paul Allen quit going into the small communities of Oregon 25 years ago. The caravans that were so important at connecting communities to a franchise were always more important than selling jerseys in China. I do not invest my monies into crappy businesses, Apple being one of them. I don't have a smartphone anymore because of Google. It's horrible how disconnected companies are, not just the Owners, but all of the members of these companies who insist on connecting to people via a computer screen, whatever it's size.

When companies and the government forget that they don't exist without their clients, and that understanding the needs and concerns and pains of their clients, then that company and government is doomed to eventually implode upon itself.

This decision by the MLS is just another in a million decisions exactly like it that government entities and companies have made over the last 20 years that will alienate and divide the population.

[Tadasimha]

Philly the first city to lose two championships in the same day as the Union go down on penalty kicks after LAFC tied the game late...and then the Phillies drop game six to the 'stros.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Philly the first city to lose two championships in the same day as the Union go down on penalty kicks after LAFC tied the game late...and then the Phillies drop game six to the 'stros.

Incredible final. I was watching with some non soccer fans and everyone was going crazy.

[M2]

Philly the first city to lose two championships in the same day as the Union go down on penalty kicks after LAFC tied the game late...and then the Phillies drop game six to the 'stros.

That is so on-brand for Philly.

[Betterread]

Philly the first city to lose two championships in the same day as the Union go down on penalty kicks after LAFC tied the game late...and then the Phillies drop game six to the 'stros.

This would seem like a disaster, but compared to election week 2020, it was nothing. And another election is coming up this week. What are the odds Philly will mess up again? It’s how things run in that town.

[M2]

This would seem like a disaster, but compared to election week 2020, it was nothing. And another election is coming up this week. What are the odds Philly will mess up again? It’s how things run in that town.

I don't want to go down this rabbit hole on a soccer thread, but Philly could deliver its full vote in one night if it was allowed to pre-run mail-in ballots (like most places in the U.S. that have mail-in ballots). It's barred from doing that by a nonsensical state law that basically ensures large cities will be delayed in processing their full vote total.