Digby 5,409 Posted August 5 I wouldn't mind a second bubble tournament in a month or two. Sort of apertura/clausura thing (yikes on my spelling). Ideally with bigger groups because I don't think the 3-and-out nature of the current bubble was satisfying for the early-out teams. I guess I can see how MLS travel might be able to work a little better than MLB -- with the one-off games and constricted travel, even possibility of effectively-bubbled day trips, fewer risk vectors are in play -- but still, it's tough to go from the successful format to this. (USL has been having trouble already with this, but I also trust USL less.) 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jer15 989 Posted August 5 IMO any travel is just a stupid, unnecessary risk. The bubble has worked very well for MLS. I have no reason what so ever to believe travel will work based on what's going on in baseball. Plus Montreal/Vancouver/Toronto likely would have to find temporary US homes like the Jays. If they want to have a bubble shortened season, great. Take a couple weeks off (or however long), put the season together, come back and play in the bubble. Don't risk travel. It's not worth it. 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DG_ThenNowForever 14,254 Posted August 6 Stupid Timbers. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Seadragon76 822 Posted August 6 2 hours ago, DG_ThenNowForever said: Stupid Timbers. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JayMac 3,445 Posted August 6 12 hours ago, DG_ThenNowForever said: Stupid Timbers. Sorry. We let you down. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Digby 5,409 Posted August 6 I always feel like the Timbers very consistently assemble squads that are very solid, top-to-bottom, but not what I'd call great. Then they consistently appear in finals. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DG_ThenNowForever 14,254 Posted August 6 3 hours ago, Digby said: I always feel like the Timbers very consistently assemble squads that are very solid, top-to-bottom, but not what I'd call great. Then they consistently appear in finals. Definitely. Seattle and Portland have been in the MLS Finals going back to 2015 so it's fitting Portland is in the finals of this year's title (MLS should call it a season after next week). One nice thing about the Seattle/Portland rivalry is both teams are routinely very good. One bad thing is both teams are routinely very good. Go Orlando/Minnesota! 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Digby 5,409 Posted August 6 It's funny that they're similar but different in that way. Portland always makes a squad of guys who are talented enough but nothing special, and Valeri's getting older and somebody's gonna get a DUI ... but then they turn out to be a stellar knockout team when it counts. Seattle is something of a super club with a nice mix of USA stars and elite talent from elsewhere, but they can't click for two-thirds of the season and get written off ... but then they turn out to be a stellar knockout team when it counts. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WJMorris3 496 Posted August 6 Meanwhile in Dallas, the rumor is that G Jesse Gonzalez just had his contract terminated by MLS for domestic violence. If the allegations are true, good for the league and good riddance. 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-kj 2,261 Posted August 6 29 minutes ago, WJMorris3 said: Meanwhile in Dallas, the rumor is that G Jesse Gonzalez just had his contract terminated by MLS for domestic violence. No longer a rumor. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Magic Dynasty 2,174 Posted August 7 Never in my wildest dreams did I expect them to make it this far. Vamos Orlando, only one more to go. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DG_ThenNowForever 14,254 Posted August 7 4 minutes ago, Magic Dynasty said: Never in my wildest dreams did I expect them to make it this far. Vamos Orlando, only one more to go. Congratulations! I'll definitely be rooting for you guys next week. At the start of the tournament, I wanted either Seattle or a team that wasn't a usual suspect. Orlando is most definitely NOT a usual suspect. Plus the team has been such garbage for so long, it's nice to see them succeeding! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brian in Boston 2,351 Posted August 7 The Boca in English podcast is reporting that Minnesota United FC is about to secure the services of midfielder Emanuel Reynoso from Boca Juniors for $5.2 million.@CABJ_English 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DG_ThenNowForever 14,254 Posted August 7 9 minutes ago, Digby said: Nah. Just call Orlando the 2020 league champion and we can all try again next year. 4 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
-kj 2,261 Posted August 7 16 minutes ago, Brian in Boston said: The Boca in English podcast is reporting that Minnesota United FC is about to secure the services of midfielder Emanuel Reynoso from Boca Juniors for $5.2 million.@CABJ_English After like three months of rumors, I'll believe it when there's an announcement from the team. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DG_ThenNowForever 14,254 Posted August 8 Well then. MLS return announced. Quote FC Dallas and Nashville SC To make up for the games they missed after being withdrawn from the MLS is Back Tournament, FC Dallas and Nashville SC will play three additional games, against each other. The two teams will face off in the first game of the resumption of the 2020 regular season on Wednesday, Aug. 12 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, and again at the same location on Aug. 16. A third game between the sides will be played in Nashville at a later date in the regular season. Audi MLS Cup Playoffs A total of 18 clubs will qualify for the postseason in 2020, up from 14 last year. The Audi MLS Cup Playoffs will begin on Nov. 20, culminating with MLS Cup on Dec. 12. Interesting they're announcing just a bit, and will follow up later in case the whole thing doesn't fall apart. Kind of a bummer, because the season started right before the pandemic and it feels like that was a billion years ago. Quote More matches for the Sounders will be unveiled as the league continues to chart its full course for a resumption of the regular season. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Digby 5,409 Posted August 8 I think Goff had tweeted at some point that they're splitting the remainder of the regular season into phases, partially for that and partially because they need to figure out how to work the Canadian teams back into the fold with everyone else at some point. At least some of the northeastern teams can just charter a bus to the away stadium, play the match, and then charter on home. It's gonna be like travel-team youth soccer, which is to say a miserable sh!tshow probably. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Digby 5,409 Posted August 8 Speak of the devil. If I were FCD and I got kicked out of the tournament for being infected, I probably wouldn't want to be the early adopter on stadium fans. Texas, man. 5 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GDAWG 1,672 Posted August 8 1 hour ago, Digby said: Speak of the devil. If I were FCD and I got kicked out of the tournament for being infected, I probably wouldn't want to be the early adopter on stadium fans. Texas, man. FC Dallas doesn't even have 5,000 in attendance for regular games. 0 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
