North American Pro Soccer 2023

[Digby]

I like that Bay FC made a big show of how their logo has a piece of the bridge from Oakland to SF but they're playing in San Jose. But, it's a really nice stadium and will be good for a quality NWSL team, for sure.

[Dilbert]

Whats going on in DC? Two DC United players have been suspended by the team on the same day their trainer was fired for displaying a racist hand gesture. Taxi Fountas was accused of using a racial slur towards Nigel Robertha in a match last season. Fountas played for Miami at the time. Now Fountas used the language again at Robertha in a recent training session. Roberta responded by physically assaulting him.

 

Meanwhile, their trainer Reade Whitney, was fired for displaying the OK symbol in a staff photo at an MLS All Star Game training session.

 

https://nypost.com/2023/07/22/d-c-united-suspends-two-players-over-alleged-racial-slur-altercation/

[GDAWG]

Bay FC is playing at PayPal Park for the next 5 years:

 

 

[MJWalker45]

If I told you that Minnesota United beat Puebla 4-0 in a game in which one team played with 10 men, would you believe it was Minnesota that scored 2 goals with that man down? Minnesota could have beat them even worse but Pukki played a couple shots right at the keeper.  Columbus won 2-1 over St. Louis after multiple weather delays, and Cincinnati overcame a 2-0 deficit to tie the game on a PK in the last kick of regular time, before winning 4-2 on penalties.  

[Dilbert]

That Cincinnati game was wild. An own goal, and a goal off a set piece put KC up 2-0 in the first 12 minutes. Then Alan Pulido headbutts Yerson Mosquera for a straight red in the 30th, putting KC down a man. Cincinnati would get on the board just four minutes later with an own goal to make it 2-1 KC, but before they could kickoff again, the game hit a weather delay, only lasting 30 minutes. Restart, play 11 more minutes, then stop again for halftime. Brandon Vazquez would tie it up in the 56th minute, but a handball in the box by Alvas Powell would put KC at the spot for a penalty in the 69th minute. KC would convert to go back up 3-2. Just when you thought it was over, in the final seconds of the game (96th minute), Cincinnati would go to the spot for a penalty as KC actually committed two handballs in the box. Luciano Acosta would convert to tie it for Cincy and send the game to penalties. With this being a tournament game, Roman Celentano got some rest tonight, as backup keeper Alec Kann was in net for FCC. With FCC converting all four penalties, KC only made two, with one going over the crossbar, and Alec Kann making the winning save with his legs, to win it for FCC. Wild game. Officiating was poor. 5 yellows each side plus the straight red for KC, missed several hard fouls, yet called several fouls that were very soft.

 

Overall, Im not a fan of the Leagues Cup.  FCC needs to stay focused on the Open Cup and the supporters shield. We need to give our guys some rest, and get our injured healed during this tournament. FCC is already in a prime spot for a Champions Cup spot through other means (Supporters Shield, Conference Champion, Open Cup, MLS Cup). Outside of a cash prize and hardware, we really shouldnt put our focus on this tournament.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Messi has three goals in an hour of MLS play.

 

It's really hard to believe he's in our domestic league. This is awesome.

[Rockstar Matt]

22 minutes ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

Messi has three goals in an hour of MLS play.

 

It's really hard to believe he's in our domestic league. This is awesome.

 

He's going to shatter every goal record we have. He's too good for this league, but I'm glad he's here

[DG_ThenNowForever]

3 minutes ago, Rockstar Matt said:

 

He's going to shatter every goal record we have. He's too good for this league, but I'm glad he's here

 

I've seen some complaints that MLS has turned itself into Messi League Soccer, but that's dumb. It's the GOAT! Playing close to his prime in our domestic league. I want nothing but Messi coverage until he's not good anymore.

 

I'm okay if Miami never loses again with Messi. He's the greatest ever and he's delivering on everything promised and it's awesome.

 

Also, DeAndre Yedlin is a wonderful player and a Seattle native, and I'm rooting for him.

[FiddySicks]

On 6/24/2023 at 7:42 PM, MJWalker45 said:

USL is clearly the Division II league and unless US Soccer is getting a cut of that money to lift USL Championship up to the same level as MLS, US Soccer won't be approving it. I also don't think the league is ready to spend what it would need to in infrastructure to increase stadium sizes and practice facilities. 

Yeah this idea might be fun, but ultimately it’s nuts. I worked for several years in the front office for what is probably a top 3 club in USL at the lowest (unless things have drastically changed since 2019) and they basically never had money. Like, the entire operation was as bare bones as they could possibly get without tipping people off to it. The rest was borrowed or theoretical, predicated on some long shot plans that ultimately fell through. I can’t imagine many clubs in that league have much more capital to work with (or the ability to find that in investors, who would ultimately look at it and realize most of it isn’t that valuable anyway and it would be better off just starting something new). 
 

USL is a great thing for what it is, but there’s a lot of pretending going on there when it comes to what the actual ceiling is. At least, IMO. 

[MJWalker45]

10 hours ago, FiddySicks said:

Yeah this idea might be fun, but ultimately it’s nuts. I worked for several years in the front office for what is probably a top 3 club in USL at the lowest (unless things have drastically changed since 2019) and they basically never had money. Like, the entire operation was as bare bones as they could possibly get without tipping people off to it. The rest was borrowed or theoretical, predicated on some long shot plans that ultimately fell through. I can’t imagine many clubs in that league have much more capital to work with (or the ability to find that in investors, who would ultimately look at it and realize most of it isn’t that valuable anyway and it would be better off just starting something new). 
 

USL is a great thing for what it is, but there’s a lot of pretending going on there when it comes to what the actual ceiling is. At least, IMO. 

The idea that Saudi Arabian money might pop up in places like Pittsburgh and San Antonio is rather Pollyannaish as well. No one is coming into the United States and trying to bury MLS by lifting up USL when they can do crazy things like throw $25 million at PSG just for the ability to talk to Mbappe, on the chance he might take a $700 million deal. They're fine spending money elsewhere, but since their big new project in the World Cup 2030, they'll want to spend soccer money at home. 

[gosioux76]

13 hours ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

 

I've seen some complaints that MLS has turned itself into Messi League Soccer, but that's dumb. It's the GOAT! Playing close to his prime in our domestic league. I want nothing but Messi coverage until he's not good anymore.

 

I'm okay if Miami never loses again with Messi. He's the greatest ever and he's delivering on everything promised and it's awesome.

 

Also, DeAndre Yedlin is a wonderful player and a Seattle native, and I'm rooting for him.

 

If anything, I'd like to see other leagues -- baseball in particular -- play up their stars like this. MLS is doing exactly the right thing in this case. 

[Dilbert]

Am I the only one who doesnt really care about Messi in MLS? In his second match with Miami he was subbed out in the 75th minute, and thousands of fans began filing for the exits. They were just there to see Messi and as soon as he's off the pitch, it was like no one cared about the rest of the match. Honestly, its not a good look for Miami or MLS.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

7 minutes ago, Dilbert said:

Am I the only one who doesnt really care about Messi in MLS? In his second match with Miami he was subbed out in the 75th minute, and thousands of fans began filing for the exits. They were just there to see Messi and as soon as he's off the pitch, it was like no one cared about the rest of the match. Honestly, its not a good look for Miami or MLS.

 

No, it's fine.  They were up 4-0 and it was garbage time left.

 

NBA arenas clear out when LeBron checks out and the Lakers are up 25. Same thing here.

 

And you really should care about the greatest ever playing in your domestic league. Especially right off a world cup win. It's really awesome.

[Digby]

The coverage has been kind of crummy. It's a legitimate nuisance to try to find any info about any of the other 46 teams playing in this tournament on the MLS website or the Apple TV thing. In game I've heard enough from commentators about legacy and MLS's standing as if they're trying to write thinkpieces out loud and in real time (nor do I ever need to see "look, there's DJ Khaled" cutaways again).

 

We'll see how sustainable the entire ecosystem is when the shock wears off. The Retirement League DPs historically don't have a 100% hit rate, so while I'd expect Messi to light it all on fire for a while, I wonder how many of his 35+ buddies will be able to consistently recreate peak form in Florida conditions. I like watching elite players but I also live for schadenfreude, so if this follows the Zlatan model of a star being stunning to watch while the team finishes mid-table anyway, I'm totally cool with that.

[MJWalker45]

1 hour ago, Digby said:

The coverage has been kind of crummy. It's a legitimate nuisance to try to find any info about any of the other 46 teams playing in this tournament on the MLS website or the Apple TV thing. In game I've heard enough from commentators about legacy and MLS's standing as if they're trying to write thinkpieces out loud and in real time (nor do I ever need to see "look, there's DJ Khaled" cutaways again).

 

We'll see how sustainable the entire ecosystem is when the shock wears off. The Retirement League DPs historically don't have a 100% hit rate, so while I'd expect Messi to light it all on fire for a while, I wonder how many of his 35+ buddies will be able to consistently recreate peak form in Florida conditions. I like watching elite players but I also live for schadenfreude, so if this follows the Zlatan model of a star being stunning to watch while the team finishes mid-table anyway, I'm totally cool with that.

I also wonder how good he'll look when he plays top tier MLS teams and not the back end of the standings in MLS and Liga MX. 

[Digby]

5 hours ago, MJWalker45 said:

I also wonder how good he'll look when he plays top tier MLS teams and not the back end of the standings in MLS and Liga MX. 

 

I can't imagine even the best of MLS slowing Messi down right now -- Robert Taylor is another story which is what will be the interesting thing for Miami -- but seeing him take on a Puebla or an America would be a compelling watch. Might make this whole silly tournament worth it.

[MJWalker45]

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66377906

Bruce Arena is on admin leave pending an investigation over "inappropriate remarks". 

[DG_ThenNowForever]

3 minutes ago, MJWalker45 said:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66377906

Bruce Arena is on admin leave pending an investigation over "inappropriate remarks". 

 

What a fun game: "Guess the slur!"

[Digby]

I don't think old Bruce would've made it this far on racism; my DraftKings prop bet is on a crass joke to a female employee, in the old Italian guy from Brooklyn tradition. (But only a "joke" and not the "full Udoka".) Hell of a way to maybe derail a quietly promising Revolution season.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

I was traveling yesterday and missed it, but damn Messi does it again!