The 2017 Major League Soccer Thread

[Titans Bastard]

No Altidore or Giovinco and Toronto still wins 4-0 on the road. They've won their last six games with a combined GD of 21-3 and have scored 3+ goals in seven of their last eight games. TFC will win the Supporters Shield as early as next weekend.

Diego Valeri set an MLS record by scoring in eight consecutive games.

Montreal's home choke against Minnesota means that their playoff chances have taken a precipitous fall, especially if NYRB beats Philly today. It looks like the six playoff teams in the East are pretty much set at this point.

 

[robssecondjob]

TFC will win the Supporters Shield as early as next weekend.

Don't get ahead of yourself. TFC plays the mighty Revolution this weekend. If the recent results mean anything, TFC might have a player get knifed in the opening minutes.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Don't get ahead of yourself. TFC plays the mighty Revolution this weekend. If the recent results mean anything, TFC might have a player get knifed in the opening minutes.

Watson is definitely due for a red soon.

 

[Senator Donut]

I'm going to see them play in Foxboro against Toronto FC and it almost looks like it isn't worth the cost of the gas to get there. Utterly pathetic.

It makes way more sense if you think about the Revs home and away as two different teams.

Revolution F.C.: 10 W, 2 D, 2 L, +21 GD
Revolution United: 0 W, 3 D, 12 L, -27 GB

They're basically Juventus at home and Benevento away. Luckily, you have tickets to see Revolution F.C. so it should be an interesting match.

 

[Senator Donut]

Ives is reporting that Heaps is gone.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Wow.

I mean, other orgs would have fired Heaps a while ago and it should be expected, but it's still weird to see the Revs actually pull the trigger. Nicol and then Heaps have collectively been in charge for over 15 years.

I think the Revs will have trouble recruiting a strong manager by MLS standards. It is a difficult job that doesn't hold much promise of upward mobility. Still, MLS jobs open up infrequently enough. Can the Revs make a gamble on the right unproven manager? If it works out, will it even matter given the club's talent acquisition problems? We shall see.

 

[steeplechase3k]

Brian Strauss

The NASL has filed a federal antitrust lawsuit in Brooklyn against USSF. So much for their appeal. It begins.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Brian Strauss

This will end in nothing.
Though the thought of USSF being broken by the courts is second only to the USSF elite going to prison in the CONCACAF investigation in fun things that could happen in US soccer

 

[Titans Bastard]

This will end in nothing.
Though the thought of USSF being broken by the courts is second only to the USSF elite going to prison in the CONCACAF investigation in fun things that could happen in US soccer

If the USSF is ever broken, I'm not sure I want the NASL to do the breaking. For a while now, they are league whose leadership has been comprised of idiots and charlatans.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The US Open Cup final is tonight, SKC vs. NYRB. ESPN2 is doing a doubleheader along with Atlanta-LA.

 

[steeplechase3k]

http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2017/09/portland_timbers_to_begin_cons.html

There are still a few steps to be completed but the Timbers plan to begin construction on their expansion of Providence Park this off season, to be completed for the 2019 season. They will have to play on the road for a month or so to start the 2018 and 2019 seasons due to construction, and will continue some work during the 2018 season.

 

[Titans Bastard]

It looks like the NASL decision to proceed with the lawsuit was not unanimous. Local reporting suggests that North Carolina FC was among those not in favor of the lawsuit.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The Denver Post reported on the Rapids' managerial search. Steve Cooke is the interim manager, but he doesn't seem to be favored for the job.

• Cesar Farias -- former Venezuela manager, as well as a litany of other clubs in Latin America
• Henning Berg -- Lyn, Lillestrøm, Blackburn, Legia, Videoton
• Jeremy Gunn -- Fort Lewis, UNC-Charlotte, Stanford (where he's won the last two NCAA titles)
• Josh Wolff - DC (asst), Columbus (asst)

Nothing amazing, but I'd say that's not a terrible list given that it's the lowly Rapids. Who's excited to work for Stan Kroenke's fifth sports priority?!


An update on NYCFC's stadium search. I don't know NYC politics enough to know how likely any of these sites are. I assume the answer is "very unlikely" until proven otherwise.

 

[swiftaw]

Wow Galaxy look terrible, down 3-0 after 20 minutes to Atlanta.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Wow Galaxy look terrible, down 3-0 after 20 minutes to Atlanta.

The Galaxy look terrible because they are terrible. They had a terrible offseason in terms of player acquisition and they made one of the worst coaching hires I can remember in MLS. Onalfo's KC and DC teams were atrocious and I still can't believe a club with the stature of LA went with such a low-level retread.

Maybe they'll lose by more than the Revs did.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Jermaine Jones red card and then a fourth Atlanta goal a few minutes later. Come on, LA, you can do it! Still a few more minutes left in the first half.

 

[Senator Donut]

Jermaine Jones red card and then a fourth Atlanta goal a few minutes later. Come on, LA, you can do it! Still a few more minutes left in the first half.

Too bad they've already attempted a shot though.

 

[OCST]

The Denver Post reported on the Rapids' managerial search. Steve Cooke is the interim manager, but he doesn't seem to be favored for the job.

• Cesar Farias -- former Venezuela manager, as well as a litany of other clubs in Latin America
• Henning Berg -- Lyn, Lillestrøm, Blackburn, Legia, Videoton
• Jeremy Gunn -- Fort Lewis, UNC-Charlotte, Stanford (where he's won the last two NCAA titles)
• Josh Wolff - DC (asst), Columbus (asst)

Nothing amazing, but I'd say that's not a terrible list given that it's the lowly Rapids. Who's excited to work for Stan Kroenke's fifth sports priority?!


An update on NYCFC's stadium search. I don't know NYC politics enough to know how likely any of these sites are. I assume the answer is "very unlikely" until proven otherwise.

The Willets Point site is feasible- they have to do something with it. It would be a matter of assembling the mixed use project but that can be done if a big developer gets involved and bends its knee at all the right altars.

The Yankee Stadium parking garage site is not only feasible, it's likely IMO. The infrastructure is there, the NYCFC fans have shown they'll travel there, the owner had an interest in putting the site to more profitable use, and - this is a biggie- the neighborhood wants it, which is unheard of for projects like this. The political win of giving the Bronx something nice and not another garbage transfer station is so obvious I expect this to happen.

 

[Titans Bastard]

SKC won their fourth USOC last night, 2-1. Only LA and DC have more trophies than them at this point.

 

[OCST]

Forcing absorption of their stronger franchises would be a feasible goal of such a suit, but as per the article upthread, Indy and NC are already getting sniffs from MLS.

This seems to be the work of the Cosmos doofus, who is I think the only guy in the world who thinks that NASL and the Cosmos iteration in NASL is the cat's meow.

I so want this moron to just throw in the towel and sell the Cosmos brand to RBNY, who can then stop being named after a bodega product.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Forcing absorption of their stronger franchises would be a feasible goal of such a suit, but as per the article upthread, Indy and NC are already getting sniffs from MLS.

This seems to be the work of the Cosmos doofus, who is I think the only guy in the world who thinks that NASL and the Cosmos iteration in NASL is the cat's meow.

I so want this moron to just throw in the towel and sell the Cosmos brand to RBNY, who can then stop being named after a bodega product.

Everything the Cosmos touch seems to turn to shit.

When the NASL first broke off from the USL, their commissioner was a guy named David Downs. He seemed reasonable and always spoke about establishing a stable league in D2 markets.

Then the Cosmos joined. Shortly thereafter, Downs was deposed and replaced with Bill Peterson. The new regime nixed a potential development deal with MLS and started several years of rhetoric about trying to compete directly with MLS. MLS went to the USL instead, who accepted and has been running rings around the NASL ever since. The infusion of MLS2 teams was the crucial factor that allowed them to run a regionalized schedule, begetting more independent club expansion.

A different loudmouth ran the Cosmos back then, but the delusions, douchebaggery, and debilitating decision-making seem to run deep at that club.

 

[Senator Donut]

This seems to be the work of the Cosmos doofus, who is I think the only guy in the world who thinks that NASL and the Cosmos iteration in NASL is the cat's meow.

I think this lawsuit is almost certainly being led by Rocco Commisso and Riccardo Silva. I don't think the Railhawks (last American team to lose to the Revs at home, by the way, over a year ago) or potential CPL teams want anything to do with the litigation. As TB points out though, the Cosmos are seemingly always tilting against windmills, regardless of who owns them.

 

[Titans Bastard]

FourFourTwo's take on the Revs:

The Revolution has a culture problem, and only large-scale change can turn that over. Conversations with multiple sources around the league landed on the same theme: New England is too far behind in investment in too many areas to compete with the best clubs in MLS.

It’s less a case of haves vs. have-nots and more about wills and will-nots, with New England firmly in the latter group despite the financial backing of an NFL owner. As a result, it faces an uphill challenge to compete in an Eastern Conference that includes high-spending clubs like Toronto, New York City FC and Atlanta.

Spending is not limited to the first team and Designated Players, though that certainly plays a big role. It’s in the infrastructure of the organization, specifically scouting, facilities and the academy. New England’s stadium situation may make it difficult to generate revenue, but the Revolution’s lack of spending in those key areas has created a gulf that will become difficult to overcome.

Heaps took the fall this season for losing the locker room, but the culture in New England goes higher than the head coach. Players have become disgruntled over how contract negotiations have gone with the team and with Burns, according to two league sources. New England is considered in league circles as one of the most difficult teams in the league to deal with in the trade market, and multiple agents also said New England is notoriously difficult to deal with, making yet another avenue of player acquisition more difficult.

Yep.

 

[SocrManiac]

So, the question becomes... Why are the Krafts bothering? They don’t give a shit, why should I?

I’m a rabid footy fan. The only way I’d go to a Revs game is if the tickets were free, they played a team with an MLS geezer I follow, or they’re an undercard on a European team’s preseason tour.

The stadium is a pain in the ass. Last time I went, there was no parking control so escaping was a nightmare. And obviously, the team blows and doesn’t give a shit. It’s not inspiring.

In the early days of MLS, games were a blast to attend. There was a ton going on around the stadium. People were excited for a pro soccer franchise. Now... All the goodwill they’d garnered is gone. It’s really sad.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The Revs are a reasonably good investment for the Krafts. Profitability is tough to gauge because MLS owners play a million shell games with the books. However, the Revs are usually listed as turning a small profit because they have low costs and control stadium revenues. They also fill more stadium dates and bring people to Patriot Place. Most important, the value of the franchise will continue to be dragged upward by the success of the league, even if the Revs remain near the bottom of the valuation list. They are riding on everyone else's coat tails.

 

[SocrManiac]

At some point, will dwindling ticket sales finally hit the tipping point? Does the product on the field even matter to profitability?

They have a far better idea of the cost/benefit analysis than I do. Would the cost of a winning team that fills the seat allotment increase profits? I'm guessing not, given the behavior.

I'm sitting in the Putnam club tomorrow, which will be a new experience for me. If they were standard seats, I doubt I'd make the trip.

 

[Titans Bastard]

At some point, will dwindling ticket sales finally hit the tipping point? Does the product on the field even matter to profitability?

They have a far better idea of the cost/benefit analysis than I do. Would the cost of a winning team that fills the seat allotment increase profits? I'm guessing not, given the behavior.

I'm sitting in the Putnam club tomorrow, which will be a new experience for me. If they were standard seats, I doubt I'd make the trip.

The thing is, attendance isn't even that bad. They averaged just over 20,000 last year. That might include some giveaways, but they do a ton of group sales, especially in the fall when kids are back in school and families are in town. It's probably a testament to what could be that so many people show up in spite of everything.

Attendance is down this year, even factoring in the big numbers they usually get for the last 1-2 home games. But they're still 15th out of 22. It's not a Chivas USA situation and that's part of the reason why they don't seem bothered to change.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Hmm.

http://dcut.ussoccerda.com/sam/teams/index.php?team=3939240&player=273900366

 

[Senator Donut]

It makes way more sense if you think about the Revs home and away as two different teams.

Revolution F.C.: 10 W, 2 D, 2 L, +21 GD
Revolution United: 0 W, 3 D, 12 L, -27 GB

They're basically Juventus at home and Benevento away. Luckily, you have tickets to see Revolution F.C. so it should be an interesting match.

Revs get it done again at home against the Supporters' Shield winners (albeit without Altidore and Giovinco)

 

[SocrManiac]

Just got back. For all the bellyaching I do about the quality of the game on the field, it’s really heartening to see the passion of the supporters. Even in a completely inappropriate venue, it’s a nice atmosphere with a really impressive and diverse fan base.

 

[steeplechase3k]

Diego Valeri set an MLS record by scoring in eight consecutive games.

Make that nine straight.

Valeri scored twice tonight (one PK, one in the run of play) as Portland beat Orlando 3-0. He also set the MLS goals record for a midfielder with 20 goals in a season.

 

[SocrManiac]

MLS continues to embarrass itself. The Revs just got the most inexplicable and indefensible red card I’ve ever seen, and it was the result of video review.

 

[robssecondjob]

Another Revs game. Another very early VAR red card send off. Kouassi at 10 minutes.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Another Revs game. Another very early VAR red card send off. Kouassi at 10 minutes.

Ridiculous call, but the Revs are now down 6-1. That's 18 goals conceded in the last four games....yikes, no matter how many of those minutes were played down a man (or two).

 

[Dummy Hoy]

The Revs get everything they deserve.

I feel bad for the players and fans.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Toronto rode an unlikely hat trick from Justin Morrow to a 4-2 win over NYRB and with it, the Supporters Shield. I know they have a bunch of Canadian Championship titles, but that comp has such a small field. This is their first real trophy.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The Revs have reportedly interviewed Daniel Passarella, who hasn't managed since 2007.

https://www.thebentmusket.com/revolution-transfer-news-rumors/2017/10/6/16431792/revolution-rumors-2017-head-coach-interview-daniel-passarella

 

[Titans Bastard]

Nice pass by Tyler Adams on this goal for NYRB, who qualified for the playoffs today:


Adams has played well as a right wingback in the second half of the season, enough to raise the question of whether it will be his long-term position or whether he'll revert back to CM. Either way, he's doing really well for an 18 year old.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Houston vs. KC tonight. Who's excited for some midweek MLS?!

*cries*

The end of the season is going to be weird.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Pirlo is retiring and Kaka is leaving Orlando at the end of the season. It feels like the end of the era of really old big-name players on large contracts might finally be coming to a close. There's still David Villa, but he's still got most of his ability while guys Pirlo, Kaka, and Gerrard were shells of their former selves.

We can now devote our complete attention toward improving the player pool of Central American national teams.

 

[Senator Donut]

How bad are the Revs on the road? They just set a team record for home wins, but will miss one of the easiest playoffs in professional sports because they are complete trash away.

 

[Titans Bastard]

The decline and fall of Oscar Pareja this season has been sad to see. FC Dallas is clearly dysfunctional right now and have totally gotten away from what made them fun.

 

[Senator Donut]

Wow, this came from out of nowhere, the Crew are threatening to move to Austin unless they get a downtown stadium built in Columbus.


Edit: Reddit apparently saw this coming a month ago. Austin Villa is a huge missed opportunity.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/6vexlf/major_league_soccer_has_trademarked_austin_fc_and/

 

[Titans Bastard]

Wow, this came from out of nowhere, the Crew are threatening to move to Austin unless they get a downtown stadium built in Columbus.


Edit: Reddit apparently saw this coming a month ago. Austin Villa is a huge missed opportunity.

https://www.reddit.com/r/MLS/comments/6vexlf/major_league_soccer_has_trademarked_austin_fc_and/

Based on the reporting as well as statements from the club and the mayors of Columbus and Austin, this feels like it is real and is not a bluff aimed at getting Columbus to cough up money.

It's safe to assume that Precourt has the backing of other MLS owners, which is significant. In the past, MLS was afraid to leave any market that had a stadium for fear that it would ruin future stadium deals elsewhere.

 

[Titans Bastard]

So this is going well:




Next season is going to be really ugly for Columbus. It will be sad to see an original MLS staple like the Crew go.

 

[Titans Bastard]

Precourt is still looking awesome:

 

[Titans Bastard]

More PR wins for Columbus:




The crazy thing is that Austin's city leadership seems totally lukewarm on the concept of the Crew moving to town. They've already ruled out public funds and there just doesn't seem to be much excitement around it.

It's all very strange.

 

[steeplechase3k]

I HATE the name "decision day" but this Sunday is shaping up to be an interesting one.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/2017-mls-playoffs/playoff-clinch-eliminated-scenarios/10-16-2017-update

I'm just glad the Timbers have everything in their own hands. Win and we're first (not to mention getting the Cascadia Cup back). That way if things go the way I hope I don't have to watch the scoreboard all match.

 

[Vinho Tinto]

More PR wins for Columbus.

I never thought I’d see anyone attempt a “Hold My Beer” on how Robert Irsay moved the Colts, but Precourt looks to be giving it a try.

 

[Awesome Fossum]

It sounds like Precourt is trying to force MLS into allowing him to move to Austin by making the situation in Columbus completely untenable, no? The cost is steep, but it seems like he has good reason to jump the gun with the Spurs pushing for a team in San Antonio.

Edit: Then again, "rogue" can he really can be going if MLS is trademarking potential team names for him?