North American Pro Soccer 2014

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Someone poke holes in this because I love this idea. Slate had an article saying that a annual July 4th US men's friendly vs England (non World Cup years) would be a great new tradition. The favor could be returned later or earlier in the year.

One year it's in Chicago, the next in Seattle, one in New York and then throw in a random place like Indy or Kansas City every 5 years or so. (Let Columbus keep the Mexico qualifier)

I think it'd make an awesome new tradition even if it wasn't England. Thoughts?

Do it. Absolutely. It'd mess with the MLS season for sure, but jingoism is a sure-fire way to keep soccer and the USMNT socially relevant between World Cups, and I'm not even saying that cynically. Plus, England's could use the help.

[Gothamite]

Fantastic idea. Especially with England.

I saw lots of USMNT jerseys at 4th of July parades and parties...

[Still MIGHTY]

Now that is an idea.

I don't really know what England gets out of the deal haha, but it'd be a great idea for us.

If you want holes poked in it, you'd probably only get to play it once every three/four years. The Euros and the Gold Cup kind of screw with the July 4th date. Euro 2016 is from 6/10-7/10. Gold Cup 2015 is 7/7-7/26. Copa Centenario 2016 is 6/3-6/26.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Memorial Day is too close for the EPL season, yeah? Does it necessarily need to be tied to a holiday? Could it be a Solstice thing? Solstice Soccer Showdown!

Anyway, to this relatively new soccer fan, the English team doesn't seem to be that good and doesn't seem to be like it'll be all that good in the near future. I feel like they need something to look forward to just as much as we do.

[JayMac]

Memorial Day is too close for the EPL season, yeah? Does it necessarily need to be tied to a holiday? Could it be a Solstice thing? Solstice Soccer Showdown!

Anyway, to this relatively new soccer fan, the English team doesn't seem to be that good and doesn't seem to be like it'll be all that good in the near future. I feel like they need something to look forward to just as much as we do.

Memorial Day may be close to the end of the Premier League but it's just a friendly so that shouldn't matter too much. The 4th of July USMNT friendly idea is great! Play it right around 6 EST or so. That way everyone can get to their fireworks festivities.

[crashcarson15]

Memorial Day is too close for the EPL season, yeah? Does it necessarily need to be tied to a holiday? Could it be a Solstice thing? Solstice Soccer Showdown!

Anyway, to this relatively new soccer fan, the English team doesn't seem to be that good and doesn't seem to be like it'll be all that good in the near future. I feel like they need something to look forward to just as much as we do.

But you still have the EURO/Gold Cup issues. In odd years, it's a Gold Cup for the US while in even, it's either the World Cup for both or the European Championships for England.

That is, until they miss it again.

[VictoriaGooner]

My Highlanders Fc got spanked last night 7-2 in the Northwest Divisional Play-off at home. Last night it was by far the worst officiating I have seen collectively from a center official and his two ARs. The center official completely lost control of the match by the 30 minute where by a Highlanders FC player almost got his leg broken with a high tackle studs up. And out of it, the guy who did the dangerous tackle only got a stern talking to, but the guy who was on the ground in pain saying to ref that was a dangerous play got booked for dissent. Both ARs made wrong offide calls. Us supporter section members were in line with the last defender on two different offside calls. And both of them the attacked was onside but was flagged off. The entire stadium (1541 fans) booed off the four officials at HT and at FT. I am a qualified referee, provincial level 2, but I have no idea how he got qualified in BC with a performance like that.

But overall it was a great experience for the city. We had an attendance of 1541 for a mid-week match (we average 1800 per home match). But the big talking point was the first team coming over to us supporter section members after the match and shaking our hands, apologizing for letting us down in the match. Pure class!

So here is the breakdown of the remaining PDL Divisional Play-offs.

[VictoriaGooner]

Liam Ridgewell getting his first MLS starting appearance for the Timbers v Colorado tonight...

[VictoriaGooner]

I don't know if anyone saw the goal scored by Diego Valeri in the Timbers v Rapids match last night...WOW! what a strike! 25 yds out and hammered top right!

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Sounders are play Tottenham Hotspur tonight, but I'm not going.

What do people think about international club friendlies? Seems like a lot of money to what the home team get whallopped by a second-tier(ish) EPL club. On the other hand, it's also cool to see an EPL team in person, so I'm not sure.

[AnythingChicago]

Tottenham were caught in the midst of a second Cuban Missile Crisis. This time the missile was fired...off the foot of Cuban midfielder Osvaldo Alonso.

[FiddySicks]

Seems like a lot of money to what the home team get whallopped by a second-tier(ish) EPL club

FWIW, I found a ticket to the game today for $20.

It's definitely not the same atmosphere as the Timbers game, but it's still fun. This place is nearly full, too.

[DS729]

Sounders are play Tottenham Hotspur tonight, but I'm not going.

What do people think about international club friendlies? Seems like a lot of money to what the home team get whallopped by a second-tier(ish) EPL club. On the other hand, it's also cool to see an EPL team in person, so I'm not sure.

I've got tickets to go to the Kickers vs. Crystal Palace match on July 28th, I'm not sure what to expect since I've never been to any of these MLS vs. BPL Premier League matches before. I'm confident we'll lose, but it's a more attractive game to go to than a lot of other Kickers games.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Seems like a lot of money to what the home team get whallopped by a second-tier(ish) EPL club

FWIW, I found a ticket to the game today for $20.

It's definitely not the same atmosphere as the Timbers game, but it's still fun. This place is nearly full, too.

You'll find that not too many games are similar in atmosphere to the Timbers games. LA Galaxy and Whitecaps are close, but not the same. Playoff matches can be a lot of fun too.

Of course, after I saw the game going on, I was a little wistful I didn't go. 3-3 is about as good as it gets for an international friendly, and speaks pretty well to the overall quality of where the Sounders are right now.

[FiddySicks]

To be completely fair, Spurs did have a good handful of guys out for today's match. Seattle played great, though. It got a bit chippy towards the end there, too. It was about as close to a benches-clearing brawl I've ever seen in soccer.

That penalty kick Spurs got at the end to tie it was pretty suspect, though. Sounders should've won it.

[GFB]

My man Benny Feilhaber has been absolutely en fuego over the last few weeks... I wish Jurgen would have given him a longer look for Brasil.

[-kj]

Friendlies can still be fun. Tonight, Minnesota hosted Swansea and beat them 2-0. The stadium was pretty much full (a touch over 9,000), and the atmosphere was terrific.

[DarkJourney]

My Bay Area soccer calendar is loaded for the year. I will be attending:

Next weekend is going to rock:

July 26 - International Champions Cup: Inter vs. Real Madrid at Cal

July 27 - Earthquakes vs. Atletico Madrid at Candlestick

August 2 - Earthquakes vs. Sounders at Levi's

September 14 - Earthquakes vs. Galaxy at Buck Shaw

I AM STOKED TO SAY THE LEAST

[VictoriaGooner]

Caleb Porter released his full 23-man squad for the MLS All-Star match yesterday:

*=Fan XI; ^=Commissioner's Pick

Goalkeepers (2): Nick Rimando* (Real Salt Lake), Bill Hamid (D.C. United)

Defenders (6): Matt Besler* (Sporting Kansas City), Aurélien Collin (Sporting Kansas City), Omar Gonzalez* (LA Galaxy), Chad Marshall (Seattle Sounders FC), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin* (Seattle Sounders FC)

Midfielders (8): Osvaldo Alonso (Seattle Sounders FC), Kyle Beckerman* (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley* (Toronto FC), Tim Cahill (New York Red Bulls), Clint Dempsey* (Seattle Sounders FC), Will Johnson (Portland Timbers), Diego Valeri^ (Portland Timbers), Graham Zusi* (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards (7): Jermain Defoe (Toronto FC), Landon Donovan* (LA Galaxy), Thierry Henry* (New York Red Bulls), Robbie Keane (LA Galaxy), Obafemi Martins* (Seattle Sounders FC), Erick Torres^ (Chivas USA), Bradley Wright-Phillips (New York Red Bulls)

It's great to see Wright-Phillips getting the recognition he deserves. He's a crafty and technical striker, just like his dad was when he played for Arsenal. Maybe that's why Henry plays so well with him Plus Bradley so looks like his father...uncanny.

On the topic of international club friendlies and them being interesting, I have to say they are quite. Tomorrow night, my local PDL club Victoria Highlanders FC will be hosting Glasgow Rangers FC here in Victoria. The last number of ticket sales for the friendly was 3200 (and that was Wednesday) and they are expecting another 500-1000 walk up to Centennial Stadium. I myself bought tickets as soon as they went on sale (I think I was number 2 to buy tickets) because of a one in a lifetime opportunity to see Rangers but because they are coming to Victoria, BC to play. Just to say you were at the match that's what it counts. So with big name clubs coming to town, it does draw the football supporters out because they want to see the overseas professional clubs/players. Back in 2011, Victoria Highlanders FC hosted their first international club friendly against then League 1 club Port Vale FC.

[Lee.]

You don't have to write out or mention your local club in Every. Post. You. Make.

We get it.