The MLS/USL/NWSL Thread

[Szumi]

11 minutes ago, LittleDaniel said:

Damn I was hoping I could find pictures of him covered in dirt or slime or something so I could start a "Lio Messy" thread, but no luck

Anyway, love that it's the first game of the season and Minnesota still doesn't have a manager! At least Reynoso was only a week late to pre-show this year...and then immediately injured himself. Gonna be a good year!

Minnesota actually hired Eric Ramsey as their manager this week. He's been a coach at Manchester United and turned down opportunities at Blackpool and Swansea. He's supposed to be a highly rated coach at Manchester United, or at least that's the reporting, but he's incredibly young at I think 32. 

[LittleDaniel]

19 minutes ago, Szumi said:

Minnesota actually hired Eric Ramsey as their manager this week. He's been a coach at Manchester United and turned down opportunities at Blackpool and Swansea. He's supposed to be a highly rated coach at Manchester United, or at least that's the reporting, but he's incredibly young at I think 32. 

I saw he was rumored to come in, didn't see the deal was finalized. That's good, though admittedly I know nothing about him and am judging that entirely on him having worked in the Premier League. 

Without Reynoso (and Hlongwane, my favorite who was breaking out last year but will miss the first game or two) I don't have high hopes for today, but I was being a little hyperbolic about it not being a good season. Hopefully I'll be able to make it out to a game this year -- I tried to when I was visiting friends in Minnesota last year, but shitty weather put a stop to that.

[LittleDaniel]

nevermind, ending up dominating most of the game without a manager or two of our best players and the players who kinda sucked last year looked great in the new high press, gonna win it all 🏆

[Szumi]

11 hours ago, LittleDaniel said:

nevermind, ending up dominating most of the game without a manager or two of our best players and the players who kinda sucked last year looked great in the new high press, gonna win it all 🏆

Definitely helped playing Austin. They are my pick to finish last in the West. Terrible last season and made no real improvement. I think Minnesota is going to be so fun to watch this year. Reynoso having a whole year with Pukki to create chances for and Bongi is definitely going to breakout this season I think!

[Szumi]

Reasons to love MLS. While most people are watching Miami vs Orlando, over in Salt Lake City for RSL v LAFc, the match was delayed in the 3rd minute because of thunder and lightning in the pouring rain. An hour later, they're back playing in heavy snow and orange ball. Pitch is covered in snow. It's phenomenal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bobfoc]

I don't think this is Lowry's best work.

[LittleDaniel]

Orlando City's fans were pissy after Minnesota's GK (Dayne St. Clair) made a clean tackle in the penalty box early in the game. Lot's of "Fuck St. Clair," they threw the ball back into the field at one point during play, they sucked basically.

That said, I enjoyed Hlongwane's celebration after scoring in his first game back from injury.

Things didn't get better from there.

 

[Lineker]

 

[Szumi]

MLS has a significant issue with VAR in terms of having nowhere near enough cameras to determine offsides. They're using cameras from midfield, don't draw lines, and repeatedly make terrible calls because of it. The Union were eliminated in the playoffs last year because of it, and today had a goal ruled out for offsides that has universally been said to be onside by fans from both teams, and MLS pundits. Our manager Jim Curtin just had an all timer in the post match in response to how VAR uses clear and obvious to determine offsides or not.

 

 

[gunnar hendershow]

"Get fucked Charlie Sheen" - Jim Curtin, probably

[GoGo Yubari]

the US Open Cup. It's fun!

[GoGo Yubari]

On 03/11/2023 at 12:30, GoGo Yubari said:

 

No FO and head coach deserve each other more than the Portland Timbers and Phil Neville.

BOTTOM OF THE WEST

The Sounders are not good at all this year but the Timbers (and their most decorated ex-coach!) being even worse does make me feel a lot better.

[Hobo]

Woke up this morning to see the Vancouver Whitecaps issued a statement because apparently Inter Miami won't be playing Messi in their upcoming game and they had I guess sold a lot of tickets on to that game on the basis of Messi, Suarez etc. coming to town.

I can't quite get the full gist.

[gunnar hendershow]

19 minutes ago, Hobo said:

Woke up this morning to see the Vancouver Whitecaps issued a statement because apparently Inter Miami won't be playing Messi in their upcoming game and they had I guess sold a lot of tickets on to that game on the basis of Messi, Suarez etc. coming to town.

I can't quite get the full gist.

It's been a big theme, the resale price of the tickets for seemingly every Miami game has been through the roof. But it's professional sports, so players get hurt or maybe just need a day off. And maybe someone knows better than I, but are these games generally treated as "premium" by the clubs themselves and the base-level prices are gouged?

Much of this is on the heels of the NBA trying desperately to get its stars to stop taking "load management" days during the regular season. A video came out during the previous season of a family who traveled to a Heat game to see their son's favorite player, Jimmy Butler, and the stadium or team staff was seen talking to them and explaining to them that he wasn't playing in that particular game. It's a terrible look that makes the players look selfish, especially in the US & Canada where the most popular sports by leaps and bounds are ones built off of high-intensity contact where players metaphorically limp out there to keep playing.

I'm of two minds about the whole thing. First, as someone who watches and goes to a lot of sporting events, you're paying for the game itself. The stars are a byproduct, and if you're lucky enough to see them that's nice. Though with the way the ticket resale market works in the US & Canada, I'm very reluctant to say you aren't owed exactly what you think you're paying for. There are professionals who buy up blocks of tickets and resell them, usually at a loss, but turn a profit off of just a few games where demand is high and it makes it worthwhile for them.

Culturally we're not obsessed with stars in every sport - but with basketball we certain are. Domestic soccer has found its niche, and you would get to see some older stars winding down their careers. It was never this huge "appointment" when a team came through until last summer - Beckham was the closest and I definitely have no recollection of this same thing happening. Messi & Suarez & Busquets together (but especially Messi just being here) have felt once-in-a-lifetime because there's so much presumed to still be in the tank and Messi can be argued as the best player ever or at least of his generation. This isn't someone like a well past-his-prime Schweinsteiger coming here to finish out a career.

Older players can't be expected to play every match. So it's tough, and Miami-to-Vancouver is especially so (perhaps it's the same flight time as crossing the Atlantic? Or close). You can understand why this was the match they picked to not have everyone travel for, yet for kids and fans in Vancouver this was maybe their lone shot to ever see Messi (not to mention Suarez and Busquets) play in person.

[GoGo Yubari]

1 hour ago, gunnar hendershow said:

It's been a big theme, the resale price of the tickets for seemingly every Miami game has been through the roof. But it's professional sports, so players get hurt or maybe just need a day off. And maybe someone knows better than I, but are these games generally treated as "premium" by the clubs themselves and the base-level prices are gouged?

Home games against Miami were definitely promoted almost separate from the rest of the regular season from what I remember, yeah.

I think there was a fair chunk of Whitecaps fans who assumed that they might not get Messi given the travel and the timing but thought they'd surely get some of the other stars who came to Miami in his orbit and I guess they'll get Jordi Alba but not even getting Suarez and Busquets really makes it loads worse.

I know the Whitecaps responded by basically slashing the prices of in-stadium food for that game as a make-good.