Major League Soccer 2019: Your Humble Local League (and a little USOC too)

Senator Donut

post-Domer
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Apr 21, 2010
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Not sure what the Revs have to do, but to lose at home like that means relegation in most worlds. The MLS needs relegation.
The Revolution are experts at finishing a handful of points out of the playoffs, and have not finished "bottom three" in quite some time (although it looks like they'll make a run at it this year), so I don't think thus would solve their issues.

Sadder than the lack of a thread on the Revs is that this is probably the longest run of consecutive posts about them perhaps ever. I'm a former season ticket holder and have followed them weekly since probably 2002. I flew to LA a few years back for another MLS Cup loss. But I'm finding it very, very hard to continue on. They are a joke, and ownership doesn't care. Every new team carries with them excitement that hasn't been with the Revolution for years, and while I really do understand why they continue to play at Gillette, it's absolutely brutal for the fan experience. But in the end the stadium is not the exclusive problem because if they were competently run, you would still pull 20k down to Foxboro for these matches, and it would be slightly less horrendous. They are dire in every possible way, and it depresses the shit out of me.

Sell the team, please?
One of the few things keeping me on as a ticket holder has been the access to Patriots presales and the ticket exchange, but now that Ticketmaster shut down the exchange, I'm not sure why I continue to pay ahead for tickets that are readily available at the box office until kickoff. I'm almost dreading spending two hours in the car to watch the same act against Minnesota next week.
 

Jimy Hendrix

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Now that they’re all on ESPN+ I try to catch a decent amount of Revs games, but boy is it a slog.

Gil so far looks like a surprising case of Friedel’s “guys I remember from England four years ago” strategy paying off, but there’s no one around him to finish anything he doesn’t finish himself.

You’d think he and Penilla would work together, but so far Penilla looks like a shell of what he was last year. I am sure that by the time the Revs luck into another finisher for next year, if they actually do at all, that Gil will have been similarly ground down by the sheer pointlessness of the Revs and the new guy would take his place as the one dude on the team who looks better than average.
 

finnVT

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Jul 12, 2002
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There hasn't been for years (at least), but that's not a huge surprise given how heavily Anglophile this board leans, and because the Revs are among the least inspiring teams in MLS these days for the reasons mentioned in the last few posts.

Someone should start one, though!
It would be great to have a dedicated Revs thread. Maybe this is the year we finally get one. Perhaps they can put it in Somerville, or South Boston, or Dorchester, or Cambridge Crossing.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
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The 718
Toronto looked like a top European club in the last thirty minutes. NYC was shell shocked.
 

Titans Bastard

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Toronto looked like a top European club in the last thirty minutes. NYC was shell shocked.
Toronto needed Pozuelo sooooo badly. TFC's attack was beyond pathetic in CCL and while Altidore's return helps, but it wouldn't be enough.

NYC has real problems. Their roster is weirdly constructed (so many wingers and AMs, so few real forwards) and there's yet to be solid evidence that Domè Torrent is a good manager, Man City pedigree be damned. They've won four of their last 20 MLS matches.
 

Cellar-Door

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Atlanta are bottom of the table and have scored 2 goals in 4 games.

Now Almiron has a case for the single best player ever to play in MLS (at the time they played), but that's still ridiculous. It will be interesting to see how this goes, the ownership and management group is a good one, and usually patient, but...... if it keeps up de Boer might be headed for another mid-season firing, and it's hard to see who gives him another job, he keeps moving down the prestige ladder and failing, maybe a small league for the name value?

De Boer's last league win.... Inter 2- Torino 1, 10/26/16.
 

wonderland

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I found something that made me not want to listen to a match called by Jon Champion - Taylor Twellman.
 

Titans Bastard

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There's a trademark dispute between Inter Miami and Inter Milan.

I'm traumatized to see this kind of pushback on a Euro-poseur name.
 

Titans Bastard

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Colorado signs a 16 year old right back from their academy.


He doesn't have much of a profile among prospect-watchers, but for whatever reason that's usually the case for Rapids kids even if they're good.
 

Titans Bastard

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SKC got housed in Monterrey last night in the CCL semifinal first leg. Getting over the hump against the best clubs in Liga MX ain't happening this year.
 

Titans Bastard

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Major changes afoot for the Chicago Fire. The club is in discussions to buy out their stadium lease in Bridgeview, which runs to 2036. They're talking about moving to Soldier Field and possibly changing their name.

We complain about the Revs here a lot, and rightfully so, but I'd argue that the Fire are in even worse shape. I'm not surprised to see big changes.

 

Senator Donut

post-Domer
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Apr 21, 2010
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Major changes afoot for the Chicago Fire. The club is in discussions to buy out their stadium lease in Bridgeview, which runs to 2036. They're talking about moving to Soldier Field and possibly changing their name.

We complain about the Revs here a lot, and rightfully so, but I'd argue that the Fire are in even worse shape. I'm not surprised to see big changes.

I'd trade franchises in a heartbeat. Joe Mansueto has injected cash and ambition into the club (and a stupid Euro name), but the Revs are likely going to be subject to at least another quarter century of Kraft family ownership.
 

Titans Bastard

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Bob Bradley's LAFC look like the class of the league right now. They went into DC, who had given up one goal in four games, and absolutely crushed them 4-0.

Portland lost 3-0 at San Jose. Ouch. San Jose had 2 GF, 14 GA heading into this one. The Timbers have shipped 15 goals in five games and look real bad right now. We all could have told them that Claude Dielna was not the way to improve the defense in the offseason.

NYRB lost to Minnesota at home, their third L in a row. I expected them to take a step back after losing Tyler Adams and because BWP is getting awfully long in the tooth. NYRB and Atlanta haven't won in nine collective games this season.

NYCFC are also winless. The field at Yankee Stadium looked awful, too.
 

Titans Bastard

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Seattle signs one of their USL guys to an MLS contract. Leyva is quite young (an '03) and made an impression during preseason. I'd imagine he'll stay with the USL team for 2019, but I wouldn't be surprised to get see him get a cup of coffee. He'll shake out as either a DM or a box-to-box mid. He was pretty unknown 12 months ago, but seems to be on the rise.

 

Cellar-Door

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Things looking good for DeBoer's first win in many years.
Up 2-0 on the Revs behind 2 Barco goals including this filthy curler:
 

Titans Bastard

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What's the over/under on the length of Kaku's upcoming suspension?

 

Jettisoned

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People are throwing around a 10 game suspension as though he stepped on another player's foot or something. IMO assaulting a spectator is way more serious. I'd be thinking seasons, not games. The league and club will certainly be sued by the the fan who was hit, and one could make an argument for criminal charges.
 
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Senator Donut

post-Domer
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Apr 21, 2010
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People are throwing around a 10 game suspension as though he stepped on another player's foot or something. IMO assaulting a spectator is way more serious. I'd be thinking seasons, not games. The league and club will certainly be sued by the the fan who was hit, and one could make an argument for criminal charges.
Precedent seems to indicate much fewer than ten games. The Revs’ Mauricio Castro only got two for kicking the ball into the stands (and no red card either)
 

Titans Bastard

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Precedent seems to indicate much fewer than ten games. The Revs’ Mauricio Castro only got two for kicking the ball into the stands (and no red card either)
Digging up a Goff tweet from 2009, nice work.

The league has only twice given out a ten-game suspension. One was for Brian Mullen's leg-breaker on Steve Zakuani, and the other was when Ricardo Clark went apeshit on Carlos Ruiz.

I think Kaku will get 4-5 games. IIRC Castro didn't hit anyone in the stands, whereas Kaku blasted a guy in the face from close to point-blank range.
 

Cellar-Door

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People are throwing around a 10 game suspension as though he stepped on another player's foot or something. IMO assaulting a spectator is way more serious. I'd be thinking seasons, not games. The league and club will certainly be sued by the the fan who was hit, and one could make an argument for criminal charges.
you're crazy, he'll get a handful of games. The fan can feel free to sue, it will be thrown out immediately because his ticket agreement indemnifies the league and the club for balls going into the crowd, just like every other sport. As for criminal charges.... get the fuck out of here. What is the charge? Battery? How do you prove there was any intent to hit that person?
 

Titans Bastard

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Expansion news:


Miami, Nashville, and Austin are #25-27. It seems like they are officially announcing that they'll go past 28 so that they can take both Sacramento and St. Louis if both pass muster.
 

Titans Bastard

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Frank de Boer FC takes an L at the hands of FC Dallas and they're winless in three home games this season. The boo birds are out in Atlanta.

FC Dallas is a real team to watch this season. 5-1-2 while getting major contributions from three American teenagers throughout. Jesus Ferreira scored his third of the season today.
 

The Gray Eagle

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Expansion news:


Miami, Nashville, and Austin are #25-27. It seems like they are officially announcing that they'll go past 28 so that they can take both Sacramento and St. Louis if both pass muster.
Why don't they expand by finally putting a team in Boston?
 

Titans Bastard

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Why don't they expand by finally putting a team in Boston?
From your lips to God's ears.

But seriously, while it's great to have strong new expansion teams come in, at some point something has to be done to perk up legacy clubs in some of the biggest markets: Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Boston all have relatively weak support (to varying degrees). The NY teams could be doing better given the size of the market, and so could Philly.
 

Titans Bastard

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There was a point in time when Bob Bradley was a very boring interview, but that really hasn't been the case for years now.

I will say, one thing I respect about Bradley is that whereas most coaches in their 60s roll with lukewarm variants of tactics that were de rigueur two decades ago, he seems to keep picking up new tricks.

 

Titans Bastard

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Kaku gets a three game suspension in total (having already served one).

 

Titans Bastard

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It's the first sacking of the season, and no surprise. Hudson was an unimpressive hire from Day One, and has always been out of his depth. This week, he really threw his players under the bus, a telltale sign that the end was near. Conor Casey is now the interim manager.



The Sounders bump up another of their prospects to an MLS deal ahead of U17 WC qualifiers. Leyva and AOC seem to be the best of the bunch of their current youth crop.

 

Titans Bastard

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The MLS transfer window will soon close until July, so there's likely to be a brief flurry of activity.

Toronto is strongly rumored to be signing Omar Gonzalez...

Chicago traded for Minnesota's Costa Rican CB, Francisco Calvo. It makes sense: he's fallen out of favor in Minnesota and Chicago has no depth anywhere across their defense. It could also potentially facilitate a formation change that would allow the Fire to get more of their best players on the field in the right positions.

Dallas sent left back Marquinhos Pedroso to DC, who have lost both of their LBs to injury. In Dallas, Ryan Hollingshead won the LB job anyway. Rookie John Nelson has looked like a serviceable backup, and it opens up a place on the totem pole for one of their several solid academy LB prospects.
 

Senator Donut

post-Domer
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Brad Friedel told the Athletic's Sam Stejkal that there is a "50/50" chance of the Revs signing a DP by the close of the transfer window, so I think we can safely rule that out.
 

steeplechase3k

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I've refrained from posting a bunch of stuff about the renovations at Providence Park, but now that it's less than a month until the opener I'm going to post something. I'll probably do so again after we have a match or two.

These are from the Providence Park facebook page:
View from the existing stands on the west side (this is also the TV camera position)


For perceptive, this is what it looks like from 2001-2010 over there. The level that says "PORTLAND" was added in 2011, everything above that is new.

View for the top level deck (upper left in the picture above)


You can see two new video boards in this photo. The one near the center of the photo is replacing the one installed in 2011 in the renovation for MLS. The new one is, I'm guessing, about twice the size of what was there. The one on the right side is new, that was just static advertising banners.

The concession stands and bathrooms on the entire concourse are also all being redone. Other than some minor cosmetic changes those were mostly from the 2001 renovation when the AAA Beavers and USL Timber returned.

This is a redone beer stand, the metal above and tile below are all new, and I believe most of the stuff inside the stand is too This is well away from my seas so I'm not positive what this looked like before (my photo).



The new outside of the stadium still has some work to do to install the glass that will fully enclose the first new deck, and provide wind protection for the back of second new level (my photo):


For perspective this is the google street view from the same spot.

I'm just so excited to be back in this stadium in a month!
 

ThePrideofShiner

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Jul 16, 2005
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What does it say on the seats of the new upper section?

I really need to get to a game there. It is just such a cool looking stadium.
 

steeplechase3k

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It says SCUSA. Soccer City USA.

It's been a nickname since at least NASL Soccer Bowl '77
https://www.timbers.com/post/2019/04/18/when-pele-ruled-civic-stadium-michael-lewis-remembers-great-american-soccer-moments

If you (or anyone) ever comes to Portland and wants to go to a game, I can generally find tickets.

The stadium is so cool. The first recorded soccer match on the site was in 1893 and, the old "J" shaped part of the stadium was built in the 1920s. The plan then was to make it a "U" shape, but the private club that was building it ran out of money (they later sold it to the city). This new renovation essentially completes it, almost a century later.
 

Titans Bastard

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I've refrained from posting a bunch of stuff about the renovations at Providence Park, but now that it's less than a month until the opener I'm going to post something. I'll probably do so again after we have a match or two.
Keep posting stadium pics!
 

steeplechase3k

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I can post some more when I'm on a computer, for now this is the most up to date architectural drawings I was able to find online.

If you're as much of a stadium nerd as me, you'll enjoy looking at this.

http://www.nextportland.com/2017/09/26/providence-park-expansion/

The only major change i have seen is the the aisles are different. The drawings have an aisle on the extreme outside of the sections, but they moved them in some so there's a half section on each end.

Also, here is a construction camera for the project. The time lapse is cool to see.

https://www.senserasystems.com/public/TurnerConstructionPortlandJob3/M78937526587
 

Titans Bastard

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The Timbers just announced the acquisition of Brian Fernandez from Necaxa for a reportedly club record fee. He plays forward or right wing and scored 12 goals in 15 Liga MX Clausura games this spring.

Jeremy Ebobisse has done well enough that he could retain his spot up top with an attacking midfield trio of Valeri, Blanco, and Fernandez behind him.

The Timbers sucked to start the year, but won their last three games (all on the road) and are close to the playoff line. Due to the stadium renovation that opens soon, they have 17 home games and 8 road games remaining on their schedule.

 

Titans Bastard

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Interesting. Should that be interpreted to mean that Brad Smith is heading back to Bournemouth when his loan expires?
 

Titans Bastard

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FC Cincinnati fired Alan Koch today. It's not a huge shock, as FCC haven't scored in their last five games and generally look bereft of an identity. Koch pulled an Anthony Hudson and recently complained publicly about the quality of his squad; like Hudson he got the sack very quickly afterward.

Still, FCC's management looks bad here. There isn't much reason to believe that Koch is a good manager, but Koch was with FCC during their last two years in the USL, raising questions about the decision to give him the MLS job in the first place. Also, their roster just isn't very good: they used a lot of salary cap resources towards some dubious signings and it will take time to dig out of that hole.

https://www.si.com/soccer/2019/05/07/fc-cincinnati-fires-manager-alan-koch

Nashville is going down the same path in 2020, having already announced that Gary Smith will move up from USL with the team. Good luck.

More happenings today, as the MLS transfer window closes:

  • LA Galaxy signed 26 year old winger Favio Alvarez on loan from Atlético Tucuman. No idea if he's any good, but they need the depth after losing Alessandrini for a while.
  • Chicago signed 33 year old GK Kenneth Kronholm from Holstein Kiel. He's a relatively obscure German-American who spent most of his early career in the 3rd and 4th tiers, but who clawed his way up to being a 2.Bundesliga regular.
  • Atlanta acquired winger Justin Meram from Columbus. He'll provide cover this summer because they'll lose guys to international competition like Barco (Argentina U20), J. Martinez (Venezuela) and maybe P. Martinez (Argentina) and Tito Villalba (Paraguay). Meram hasn't been good since 2017 and is 30 now, though, so I'm not sure how much help he'll be.