MLS 2021: On a scale of 1-10, my baby's 26

Senator Donut

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Apr 21, 2010
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Heading up to Seattle to go to the Sounders-RSL match tonight. This will be the sixth playoff game I've been to. Seattle is 4-0 in my previous playoff appearances.

2006 MLS Cup Houston 1, New England 1 (4-3 PK)
2014 Western Conference Finals Seattle 2, LA Galaxy 1 (Galaxy advanced on away goals)
2015 Western Conference semifinals Seattle 2, FC Dallas 1 (Dallas later won on aggregate)
2016 Western Conference Finals Seattle 2, Colorado 1 (Seattle won on aggregate)
2019 MLS Cup Seattle 3, Toronto 1
Not bad, although Seattle has a 16-match home unbeaten streak in the MLS Cup Playoffs, so there weren’t many losses you could have attended. Somewhat surprisingly, the Revolution have a 12-match home unbeaten streak that started in 2003, but unfortunately I did have the displeasure of attending the most recent home loss.
 

ThePrideofShiner

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Not bad, although Seattle has a 16-match home unbeaten streak in the MLS Cup Playoffs, so there weren’t many losses you could have attended. Somewhat surprisingly, the Revolution have a 12-match home unbeaten streak that started in 2003, but unfortunately I did have the displeasure of attending the most recent home loss.
True, though the 2014 WCF was a win though they lost the series, so it was a weird experience. Also, the Timbers beat the Sounders in 2018 on PKs in Seattle. Another aggregate thing where Seattle won the game, but then lost the shootout for the series.

I'm pretty nervous about tonight. One offs are brutal and the Sounders haven't exactly been good lately.
 

Titans Bastard

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Senator Donut

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Apr 21, 2010
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Twitter claims A. Roldan is hurt.

All I know is that was a typical Schmetzer first half. Seattle did absolutely nothing.
The Fox broadcast said Alex Roldan was hurt on international duty, but available as a substitute. Roldan has just entered the match.

In that context, it makes a lot of sense to use him off the bench, especially with the looming possibility of having to play 120 minutes.
 

ThePrideofShiner

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I'm so fucking angry at this game. Classic fucking Schmetzer to have his team act like they are the low seed and do nothing.

Jesus fucking Christ.
 

Titans Bastard

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In the interest of promoting fairness, I’d just like to say that I enjoy it when both the Sounders and Timbers lose.
 

Titans Bastard

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Playoff troll team RSL wins again thanks to a late winner from substitute striker Bobby Wood. The top three teams in the West are already out. MLS playoffs!
 

Mr. Wednesday

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Crazy thought: Maybe MLS should consider a Page-style playoff format so that the top seeds aren't subjected to a long layoff.
 

67YAZ

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The Athletic reporting that Atlanta United is splashing a record $16m to sign Thiago Almada from Argentina. Yow.
 

Titans Bastard

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The Athletic reporting that Atlanta United is splashing a record $16m to sign Thiago Almada from Argentina. Yow.
I wonder if he'll be worth it (said as someone who knows nothing about this guy) — that's a very big price tag.

MLS clubs, including Atlanta after their successful expansion signings, have been really bad a properly evaluating South American talent. A lot of the most effective South Americans in the league came via Liga MX. South American clubs and agents have been successfully bamboozling MLS clubs for years now.
 

Senator Donut

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Apr 21, 2010
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I wonder if he'll be worth it (said as someone who knows nothing about this guy) — that's a very big price tag.

MLS clubs, including Atlanta after their successful expansion signings, have been really bad a properly evaluating South American talent. A lot of the most effective South Americans in the league came via Liga MX. South American clubs and agents have been successfully bamboozling MLS clubs for years now.
This is the unintended consequence of the under 22 initiative. There are only so many slots under which Atlanta can acquire top-end talent and there are slim few South Americans who are able to prove themselves in Liga MX at the age of 21, so Atlanta is shopping for lottery tickets in Conmebol.

When squad costs are artificially suppressed by strict roster rules, the money flows into unrestricted spending silos.
 

steeplechase3k

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View: https://twitter.com/JohnStrong/status/1466874351152553986


John Strong
A rare bit of news from me but reporting live from Timbers practice in Beaverton: Sebastian Blanco has been upgraded from Questionable to Probable for tomorrow's Western Conference Final (6:30pm ET on FS1) with his hamstring injury suffered vs Colorado last week #MLSCupPlayoffs

With Asprilla out for the RC, if Blanco can play that's huge for the Timbers. I wouldn't expect him to start, but to come in in the 70th or so if needed.
 

steeplechase3k

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Pesky Pole

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Blake, Wagner, Elliot, Glesnes just kills their defense. Note that it’s also their number 1 and 2 keepers (but Freese isn’t terrible as a 3rd choice). I’m most worried on that part of the team. It will have to be Mbaizo, Collin, Findlay and maybe Flach (out of position).

I think they can survive the midfield (Brujo, Monteiro, Gazdag) and they’ll just have to hope that Kasper plays well (which he hasn’t for a while). Could be Paxten’s chance to break out up front.
 

steeplechase3k

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But also. Timbers host RSL in 2 hours.

This is probably the biggest home Timbers game since the NASL. I certainly haven't seen one that matters more since 2004 when i got stuck in. I'm not even going to post why for fear of jinxing it.
 

Pesky Pole

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Mbaizo has killed us all year letting the ball play him. It’s why Powell had taken over but alas, he got COVID. Can’t be too upset with that effort.

I would have liked to see Aaronson and Fontana earlier but the D was where they had no depth today (absent a 17 year old academy kid).

Go Timbers.
 

steeplechase3k

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Weather report for Portland on Saturday.

RAINING ALL DAY.
47109

I don't know anyone here complaining, we have had some amazing matches in the pouring rain. As the Timbers Army loves to sing "Let it rain! Let it pour! Let the Portland Timbers score!"
 

ernieshore

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Aug 24, 2006
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The Camel City
Weather report for Portland on Saturday.

RAINING ALL DAY.
View attachment 47109

I don't know anyone here complaining, we have had some amazing matches in the pouring rain. As the Timbers Army loves to sing "Let it rain! Let it pour! Let the Portland Timbers score!"
Did you get your tickets? My neighbor has season tickets and sounded relieved to get his just one section over from where he normally sits. I couldn’t even get into the site for the public sale - general admission is starting at $600 now.
 

steeplechase3k

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Did you get your tickets? My neighbor has season tickets and sounded relieved to get his just one section over from where he normally sits. I couldn’t even get into the site for the public sale - general admission is starting at $600 now.
Yes.

I have 3 Season tickets (1 GA, 2 reserved in Section 109) and I begrudgingly renewed the night before the deadline so I was in at 10am on the dot. I got 4 GA tickets and sold the extra 3 to someone I've known in the TA since ~2006. I could have sold them on the open market and paid for my tickets next year.
 

ernieshore

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Aug 24, 2006
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Yes.

I have 3 Season tickets (1 GA, 2 reserved in Section 109) and I begrudgingly renewed the night before the deadline so I was in at 10am on the dot. I got 4 GA tickets and sold the extra 3 to someone I've known in the TA since ~2006. I could have sold them on the open market and paid for my tickets next year.
That's very nice of you. Enjoy the game. The secondary market is going to have to crash for me to go.
 

Senator Donut

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Apr 21, 2010
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That's very nice of you. Enjoy the game. The secondary market is going to have to crash for me to go.
Crazy that the get-in price is now roughly $700. I remember attending MLS Cup 2002 and wondering if professional soccer was going to make it in America.
 

tmracht

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Crazy that the get-in price is now roughly $700. I remember attending MLS Cup 2002 and wondering if professional soccer was going to make it in America.
Yeah I used to fly to MLS Cups get hotel, flight and ticket for less. Wild.
 

steeplechase3k

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~3 months ago there was a game where I couldn't even give away my extra tickets, so I used one to re-enter after getting a cheaper halftime beer across the street. And now If I'd gotten those reserved seats, and wanted to scalp them, I'd have paid for most of next season.
 

Arroyo Con Frijoles

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Jul 19, 2005
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The only time when I'd be grateful for our cavernous football stadium, hosting MLS Cup. 2002 was incredible, and this year would have been better.
 

MetSox1

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Mbaizo has killed us all year letting the ball play him. It’s why Powell had taken over but alas, he got COVID. Can’t be too upset with that effort.

I would have liked to see Aaronson and Fontana earlier but the D was where they had no depth today (absent a 17 year old academy kid).

Go Timbers.
Mbaizo may also have been the exposure issue (If not it seems to have been Glesnes parents, which is tough to fault)... Bang up week for Oliver.

Fontana really got himself into the doghouse and never got out. Talented kid with an ego the size of lake tahoe it seems.
 

ThePrideofShiner

Crests prematurely
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Jul 16, 2005
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Washington
Crazy that the get-in price is now roughly $700. I remember attending MLS Cup 2002 and wondering if professional soccer was going to make it in America.
As much as I hate the Timbers, I will say that this is awesome. I expect Saturday to be an incredible scene.

I paid $275 for tickets to the MLS Cup in 2019. Seattle let season ticket holders buy up to eight tickets, which created an insane secondary market. Now that I'm a season ticket holder I'll hopefully be on the receiving end of these types of pay outs.