Why is MLS CUP on Saturday December 1 at 1:30pm? Seems like Wednesday or Thursday of that week would make more sense for max exposure.
Sounders got hosed. Should have already been 3-0 prior to that handball. I understand why it was called, but man, Keane was stuck and just kicked it into his arm. Johansson was an idiot for having his arms out.
Texas Monthly @TexasMonthly Another year, another @houstondynamo trip to MLS Cup final...pic.twitter.com/hoHGV8n5
soulfly how do we fix this fucking team? Desperately need David Estrada to be as good as he started this season. Can't afford to lose any of our strikers. Need to bring Cato's pace into the game more. Rosales disappears a lot. We either need Cato or Zakuani on at all times. Hoping Duran and Rose pan out. Excited to see more of Martinez next season. I'm about ready to write off all of our keepers save Gspurning. Plus Tetteh and Carrasco.
Rosales is dealing with injuries more than he's disappearing. Zakuani has looked good in the short time he's truly been back from injury. Martinez needs to get playing time. Gspurning is legit and arguably the best keeper in the MLS right now. It's really tough to say. You look at the team on paper and they should be accomplishing more than they do. Alsono is a savage CDM. We have arguably the best striker pairing. Defense needs an overhaul but it hasn't been too big of an issue with Gspurning backing up their mistakes. We don't seem to do well at all in the draft, picking players that are completely off of everyone else's radar. I'm not sure if the problem is coaching, or what. I'm also tempted to say we need to bring in a true high money DP. Maybe a legit CB (not a fucktard like Marquez). All of this is assuming we're still able to keep Montero, EJ, and Alonso.
Take it with a grain of salt, but Oil Money coming to MLS? Red Bull considering pulling out? From the Telegraph Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi-based owners are understood to be considering extending their influence in football across the Atlantic with a bid for a New York MLS franchise. Telegraph Sport understands that City’s proprietors are among a number of investors considering bidding for the franchise, which will extend the league membership to 20. Sources with knowledge of the MLS franchise process told Telegraph Sport that City’s owners have examined the potential of a US investment, though they will face competition, both from Middle East rivals and US-based investors. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s purchase of Manchester Citymay have begun as a whim, but its potential as a marketing and diplomatic tool quickly became clear to the emirate’s ruling family. The success of the project is understood to have led to discussion of building City 'franchises’ in other leagues, with the US among the most lucrative and high-profile developing markets in world football. Qatar are also interested in extending their global reach in football to the US, with the investor behind Paris St-Germain understood to be taking soundings about the MLS.
Yeah but maybe they could encourage a current big name player to jump to the US by paying the high transfer fee?
Pro Prospects: MLS notices Cinderella Article Written by J.R. Eskilson & Travis Clark, ESNN Published: November 23, 2012 Here’s a look at the senior MLS prospects who did themselves a favor in the opening week of the NCAA Tournament – and who didn’t: Spoiler Stock Up MF Jack McVey, Fairleigh Dickinson: McVey was the key for FDU in its upset of Saint Louis on Sunday. The senior notched the game-winner in overtime, but he also disrupted the SLU attack much of the day as well as spring the attack for the Knights. Dan Delgado The midfielder definitely played his way into an MLS combine invite with the performance. If he can put together a similar showing against guaranteed top five pick Mikey Lopez on Sunday, then his draft stock will really skyrocket. D/MF Greg Cochrane, Louisville: The Cardinals continue to prove that they are an MLS production line, and any left sided player is going to be coveted. Cochrane, who started this season as a left back before moving into a left midfield role, continues to show a nose for goal and the ability to setup teammates, scoring a goal and an assist in a big 5-0 win over Winthrop. MF Dan Delgado, San Diego: Did we all write off San Diego and its roster full of seniors too early? Perhaps. There is a lot of talent on the field with Delgado pulling the strings, and he showed on Sunday that if you give him time and space, he would pick apart any defense in the nation. Can Delgado do it again when Tulsa will be focused on stopping him? D Tommy Muller, Georgetown: A senior center back who is probably one of the best in the class, Muller’s knock on him is his size, standing at 5-foot-11. In the Hoyas’ 1-0 win against Charlotte, Muller was a beast, however, winning almost every header and showing the instincts that certainly will see him drafted in January. Stock Down MF Leston Paul, South Florida: Paul was invisible for large stretches of the game against Tulsa in the South Florida. It was a game that was there for the taking, but Paul just did not put together the vintage performance that would have sealed the deal for the Bulls to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. F Will Bates, Virginia: By putting his young Virginia teammates on his back and going on a nice tournament run, Bates could have made some noise and pushed higher up the draft ladder. And while he won’t have hurt his case significantly – Virginia were in the mix until the end in their loss to a very good New Mexico side, Bates did show a streak of petulance when he shoved over an opponent in Sunday’s loss, not exactly what scouts want to see. MF/D Jack Bennett, St. John’s(m): The early exit for St. John’s from the NCAA Tournament was not Bennett’s fault, but it will not help his draft stock to be sitting without games to play for the next six weeks or so. F Chris Thomas, Elon: Coming from a smaller program like Elon, Thomas needs to use every chance that he can get to impress scouts, so his team losing in the first round isn’t going to help, as he won’t get a chance to add to his body of work anymore.
Garber had his State of the League address today. - 2013 season will kickoff on March 2 next year, earliest ever. Obviously will still be pretty cold in some markets but it will allow for less fixture congestion and not playing during FIFA dates and fewer games during the Gold Cup (which will probably be an MLS heavy team). Also get the season kicked off before March Madness fully starts to get ramped up. - 2016 is still the plan for a Queens team - DC and New England are both looking for downtown stadiums
Congrats to LA on the Championship Any truth to the rumors about Donovan retiring? Really don't want to hope to have him for 2014 if his head is not in the game.
Grant Wahl @GrantWahl Man City's owners 1 of 4 groups interested in owning 2nd NY MLS team. Another: ex-NFL'er Curtis Martin & French film mogul David Mimran.
@SoccerByIves reports Salt Lake to trade Jámison Olave & Fabián Espíndola to NY, Will Johnson to Portland for big allocation $.
Because the Red Bulls are mostly a New Jersey franchise. The re-branding from MetroStars to Red Bull was a disaster too, despite an awesome new stadium near public transportation. I think a Queens team will be a huge success. I'm more concerned about Red Bull once the Queens team is up and running.
I am really looking forward to their arrival, soon rather then later. Living in SW Connecticut does not make traveling to Red Bull Arena easy.
Reports: Marquez leaving RBNY to join Leon Posted on December 10, 2012 by Ives Galarcep Photo by ISIphotos.comChristmas may have come early for the New York Red Bulls. According to multiple reports, Rafa Marquez is set to leave the Red Bulls and join Mexican club Leon after a two-and-a-half-year stay that was marred by injuries and controversy. One report claims that Marquez is in the process of terminating his current deal with the Red Bulls, which has one more year on it, so as to sign a two-year contract with Leon as a free agent. Marquez joined the Red Bulls in August 2010 and he played in 44 regular season games for the MLS club, scoring one goal and assisting on nine others. This past campaign, Marquez was limited to just 15 regular season appearances. If Marquez does return to Mexican soccer by joining Leon, his departure would open up a Designated Player slot for the Red Bulls, who are said to be in discussions with Brazilian midfielder Juninho Pernambucano and have been linked to Brazilian star Kaka. A Red Bulls spokesperson declined comment when asked about the reports. If the Red Bulls succeed in unloading Marquez it would mark a major coup for a team already carrying two Designated Players and a team that has been largely disappointed by Marquez’s contributions and behavior since joining the team. Unloading his salary would not only help the team sign another star player, but would rid the team of a player who has been injury prone and had a penchant for making stupid mistakes, such as earning red cards in the team’s playoff-deciding matches in each of the past two seasons.
Cahill looking like a strong contender for RBNY captaincy Posted on December 10, 2012 by Soccer By Ives Photo by ISIphotos.comTim Cahill has been with the New York Red Bulls for just over four months but that has not stopped him from earning a bevy of respect within the organization, a respect that could see him earn the club’s captaincy in 2013. Thierry Henry has worn the armband for the Red Bulls for each of the last two seasons, but Cahill could displace the star striker in that role when the club appoints its new head coach in the near future. Both Designated Players are two of the more experienced players on the Red Bulls and in MLS, but Cahill has quickly made a lasting impression on teammates, coaches, and club executives with his professionalism, toughness and ability to lead. “I didn’t know anything about Tim Cahill aside from watching him play for Everton, but he completely surprised me with his positive attitude, never anything negative,” Mike Petke told MLSsoccer.com. “Who knows what he’s thinking in his mind, but never anything negative, always pushing the guys on, always the first in the locker room to be offering up advice.” Adding to the argument that Cahill is a potential captain is his handling of a pair of situations late in the year. Cahill played through a torn calf in the playoffs and he also stopped media from reaching a tearful Kenny Cooper following the Red Bulls elimination loss to D.C. United in the playoffs. There’s no question that Henry has his own leadership qualities and he has been around MLS and with the Red Bulls substantially longer than Cahill. The new coach that steps in could very well elect to keep the former France national team forward as the Red Bulls’ captain for that reason and many others, but for the first time in years, it appears some serious thinking will go into the decision of who will captain the Red Bulls.
There's rumors of DC United trying to get Luis Fabiano. He still has 2 years left on his contract with Sao Paulo (doubt DC would pay a transfer fee), has scored 26 goals in 36 games this year.
Sporting KC land Feilhaber from Revs Posted on December 11, 2012 by Franco Panizo Photo by ISIphotos.comBenny Feilhaber will return to Major League Soccer in 2013, and he will do so as a member of one of the strongest teams in the league. Sporting Kansas City acquired Feilhaber from New England on Tuesday afternoon, sending allocation money, a first-round pick in the 2014 MLS Draft and second-round pick in the 2015 MLS Draft to the New England Revolution. Feilhaber adds to a stacked Sporting KC team that finished first in the Eastern Conference in the 2012 regular season, as he will play alongside talented offensive players like Kei Kamara, C.J. Sapong, Teal Bunbury and U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Graham Zusi. “I am really excited to come to Sporting Kansas City,” Feilhaber said in a statement released by Sporting KC. “It is a top-class organization and team in Major League Soccer. My goal is to help the team however I can. I cannot wait to play in the best stadium in the League and in front of a great fan base. I am already hyped for the first home game.” The 27-year-old Feilhaber had become surplus to requirements with the Revolution late in the year and they declined his contract option a few weeks into the offseason, leaving his future in MLS in limbo. But Sporting KC believes Feilhaber will help them as they prepare to defend their U.S. Open Cup title and make runs at the MLS Cup and CONCACAF Champions League in 2013. “Benny is an excellent two-way, box-to-box midfielder who has tremendous ability, especially with the final pass,” Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes said in a statement. “His experience with the U.S. National Team programs and playing overseas will serve him well in our system.” In his two years with the Revolution, Feilhaber started in 46 of the 52 league games he played in. The World Cup veteran and former U.S. Men’s National Team player scored four goals and assisted on seven others while in New England.
Mwanga re-signs with Timbers Posted on December 11, 2012 by Franco Panizo Photo by ISIphotos.comThe Portland Timbers have been busy preparing for 2013 by making a number of moves in the early stages of the offseason, and on Tuesday they made another by re-signing forward Danny Mwanga. The Timbers signed Mwanga to a new contract, assuring that the 21-year-old will stick with the club for the foreseeable future. Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but the deal will keep Mwanga in the same city where he spent part of his teenage life. “It is very exciting to come back and continue to play in my hometown with the Timbers, and I am grateful to be able to play in front of such a great group of fans that have supported me through high school, college, and now, my professional career,” Mwanga said in a statement released by the Timbers. “After joining the Timbers midseason last year, I am very much looking forward to coming back and really stepping up with a full season ahead of me under Caleb Porter.” Mwanga arrived to Portland via trade from the Philadelphia Union on June 6. He played in 18 matches for the Timbers and scored three goals, all of which came against the San Jose Earthquakes.
BREAKING-Timbers set to trade first-round pick to TFC for Johnson, Kocic Posted on December 12, 2012 by Ives Galarcep Photo by ISIPhotos.comBy IVES GALARCEP The Portland Timbers continue to re-shape their roster under new head coach Caleb Porter as they are ready to make another major deal to add some quality veterans to a squad with its share of young talent. The Timbers and Toronto FC are set to complete a trade that will send Jamaican forward Ryan Johnson and Milos Kocic to Portland for the No. 3 overall pick in the 2013 MLS Draft, sources have confirmed to SBI. The trade is expected to be announced later today. The trade gives the Timbers an athletic and versatile forward in Johnson, who finished 2012 with seven goals and five assists. The Jamaican international is well-suited to feature in the 4-3-3 system Portland is expected to implement under Porter. Johnson can play both as a target forward as well as a left forward. The trade leaves Toronto FC with two of the top three picks in the 2013 MLS Draft, though sources tell SBI that Toronto is shopping the No. 1 overall pick. Louisville centerback Andrew Farrell is the consensus No. 1 pick, which has helped boost interest in acquiring the top pick. With Farrell and U.S. Under-20 and Furman centerback Walker Zimmerman widely-regarded as the top two prospects in the draft, the N0. 3 pick is less of a sure thing, but sources tell SBI that Toronto FC is also interested in drafting Coastal Carolina striker Ashton Bennett, a speedy forward who also holds Canadian residency status. Bennett makes plenty of sense, though Toronto could be tempted to grab Zimmerman if he slips past Chivas USA, which is the real wild card in the early part of the draft. TFC head coach Paul Mariner could choose to keep the No. 1 pick and select Farrell, an athletic, technically gifted and versatile centerback who many teams feel can step in and contribute from day one. It should be noted that the 2013 MLS Draft will be Mariner’s first in charge of Toronto’s drafting strategy. During his time as New England assistant coach, Mariner was credited with being the brains behind an impressive string of drafting success for the Revolution. Trading the team’s first-round draft pick seems counter-intuitive for a Portland side led by a new head coach coming from the college ranks, but the lack of true pro-ready options at the top of the draft likely led Porter to decide trading the pick for a proven commodity like Johnson was more practical than keeping the pick and choosing from players such as VCU’s J.J. Johnson and Central Florida’s DeShorn Brown, two Generation adidas targets projected to go near the top of the draft. Portland also receives a solid back-up goalkeeper in Kocic, who had some strong periods of time in goal for TFC, though he also had some shaky moments. Moving to the Timbers will reunite Kocic with Timbers goalkeeper coach Mike Toshak, who coached Kocic when he was TFC’s goalkeeper coach from 2009 to 2011. With Stefan Frei back from knee surgery and expected to start, Kocic was deemed surplus to requirements and sent packing. That leaves Toronto with Freddy Hall as the team’s back-up, though sources tell SBI the club is working on a move to add a new back-up goalkeeper.
KC just keeps getting stronger. Sporting Kansas City @SportingKC NEWS: #SportingKC acquires defender Ike Opara from the San Jose Earthquakes: http://bit.ly/UUj5BM
Out of left field BREAKING: TIMBERS LINING UP MOVE FOR DISKERUD Posted on December 13, 2012 by Ives Galarcep Photo by ISIPhotos.comBy IVES GALARCEP The Portland Timbers figure to be a more possession-oriented team under new head coach Caleb Porter, who is set to install the attacking style he became so well-known for during his time at Akron University and with the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team. What the Timbers don’t have yet is a pure attacking midfield, but Portland is lining up a move to land just the kind of player who could fit that role. The Timbers are preparing a move to sign U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder Mix Diskerud, sources told SBI on Thursday. Currently at Norwegian side Rosenborg, Miskerud would be re-united with Porter, who coached him with the U.S. Under-23 national team. Due to his status as a U.S. national team player, Diskerud would have to go through the MLS Allocation process, but the Timbers have maneuvered themselves into the top spot in the MLS Allocation Order after deals with Toronto FC and Chivas USA. (Update- TFC still has the No. 1 Allocation Order spot, but an agreement is in place that would ensure that Toronto would not select Diskerud. The arrangement was part of the trade completed between the teams on Wednesday.) If the Timbers pull off the Diskerud acquisition, they will have added two major midfield pieces in Diskerud and Will Johnson who would fit in perfectly with the 4-3-3 system Porter is known to favor. Diskerud, 22, has enjoyed a strong run with Rosenborg after joining them earlier this year, including a good showing in Europa League. He also impressed in the U.S. National Team’s recent 2-2 draw vs. Russia, scoring the late equalizer for the United States. What do you think of this development? Shocked to hear Portland could pull off this move? Impressed with the team the Timbers are putting together?
Not having a MLS team in the South East is killing my fandom. I really wish they would expand sooner than later my direction.
Ives Galarcep @SoccerByIves $100 Million MT @tphilipakos: #MLS #NY2 Manchester City close to being awarded MLS franchise in Queens http://bloom.bg/Ut5gXH via @soshnick
Manchester City Said Near Becoming Owner of MLS Queens Team By Scott Soshnick - Dec 14, 2012 5:34 PM ET Facebook Share LinkedIn Google +1 0 Comments Print QUEUE Q Manchester City, the English Premier League team owned by Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, is close to being awarded the Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Queens, New York, for a record $100 million, three people with direct knowledge of the talks said. The team would be known as the New York City Football Club and has contacted former England national team captain David Beckham about a role, two of the people said. Manchester City will explore other leagues around the world, seeking a way to expand its brand, two of the people said. Manchester City, which won the Premier League last season, will pay more than two times the previous record for an MLS team, said the people, who requested anonymity because team and stadium contracts aren’t signed. MLS spokesman Dan Courtemanche said via telephone that the league has held discussions with a number of possible ownership groups and that no expansion agreement has been completed. “Our discussions remain private,” he said. Simon Heggie, a spokesman for Manchester City, declined via telephone to comment on the team’s possible MLS ownership. Paul Swangard, managing director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon, said in a telephone interview that Manchester City’s involvement with MLS “further validates the strength of the American soccer market to the rest of the world.” “It shows the league hasn’t plateaued,” he said. “To have it happen now, post-Beckham, is great for the league.” Stadium Plans MLS Commissioner Don Garber said last month that the league was “at the finish line” in negotiations with New York City officials on the league’s plan to build a 25,000-seat home for a new team based in Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, east of Manhattan. Garber said the league was talking to a “wide variety” of potential owners, declining to name them. The park already houses Citi Field, home of Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, and the National Tennis Center, home to the U.S. Open. The previous high fee for an MLS expansion franchise was $40 million for several teams. Officials with Manchester City have spoken with representatives of Beckham about having an unspecified role with the team, two of the people said. Manchester City will sell a minority share of the team to local investors, the people said. Beckham, one of the best-known athletes in the world, capped his MLS playing career this month with a second straight championship as a member of the Los Angeles Galaxy. Beckham declined to say where he would be next season, adding that he would continue to support soccer. Beckham’s Commitment “My commitment to this league, my commitment to this sport and this country will continue to be the same as it was when I came here six years ago,” said Beckham, who won league titles with Manchester United in England and Real Madrid in Spain before joining MLS in 2007. MLS officials have been working for three years to bring a new team to New York, creating a rivalry with the New York Red Bulls, owned by Austrian energy-drink company Red Bull GmbH. The Red Bulls, whose roster includes Thierry Henry of France and Tim Cahill of Australia, plays in a 25,000-seat stadium in Harrison, New Jersey, about a 20-minute train ride from Wall Street. “Clearly there’s enough space in New York for two or three teams,” Red Bulls General Manager Jerome de Bontin said in a Bloomberg Television interview on Dec. 10. “It would be terrific to have that competition in New York.” Soccer Hotbed Flushing Meadows is bordered by the neighborhood of Corona, where Mexicans, Ecuadoreans, Chileans and other Latinos help make up one of New York’s most passionate soccer fan bases. The soccer stadium would cost $300 million to $350 million and be privately financed. MLS wants to start construction in 2014 and open the venue in 2016. The last professional soccer team to play in the city was the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League, who popularized the game in the U.S. by signing international stars such as Pele of Brazil and Franz Beckenbauer of Germany. The Cosmos, started in 1971, played home games in three city venues, the last one in 1976 at the old Yankee Stadium, before moving to Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Manchester City today cut its annual loss in half to 97.9 million pounds ($158 million) from last year, when it reported the largest loss ever in English soccer. City boosted sales to 231 million pounds in the 12 months ended May 31, 2012, from 153 million pounds in the year-earlier period. The team also benefited from 10.6 million pounds from the sale of players. Debt Restraints The reduction from last year’s record loss of 197.5 million pounds comes as European soccer’s ruling body tries to put financial rules in place to prevent teams from becoming overextended. City is six points behind 19-time English champion Manchester United in this season’s Premier League standings and was eliminated from European competition after finishing last in its Champions League group. City has spent more than 500 million pounds on transfer fees and salaries since Mansour bought the team in September 2008. The team benefited from the start of a record 10-year naming-rights agreement worth more than 300 million pounds with Etihad, Abu Dhabi’s national airline. To contact the reporter on this story: Scott Soshnick in New York at [email protected]
Dammit, Well guess I will be sticking as a fan of NYRB if it's going to be City running the new club.