Audi Pardners! The 2018 MLS Thread

[Hot Pepsi]

I have to say that as doubtful as I am about the Moroccan bid and its value to the people of Morocco, the idea of having a tournament that takes place over the entirety of North America is about as stupid as the next European championships taking place over the whole continent. Possibly even more stupid as it's significantly bigger

A 48 Team World Cup is already stupid. This doesn’t make it any stupider.

Indeed, keeping it mostly or entirely in the west makes sense. They could play the games in the morning when it’s not too hot and that would be early evening Europe time.

[The Awesome Berbaslug!!!]

The World cup is really turning into a geopolitical nightmare isn't it? Having it in South Africa in 2010 was just plundering that country again. Everyone involved in the Brazil world cup in 2014 is either dead, in jail or worried about the FBI. The 2018 world cup is going to be in fucking Russia, and whatever about the difficulties of having a west coast American world cup, do you have any idea how far apart some of these russian venues are, or how fucking terrifying Russian Airplanes are? the 2022 world cup is being held in Tipperary, with sand, oil and slaves, and now this? A choice between north and central America (apparently unpopular because the FBI is cleaning house at FIFA) and America's lurch into open fascism, or an impoverished country that is largely made up of Sahara Desert.

Expanding it to 48 teams is madness. What the fuck are qualifying tournaments supposed to be for?

[Rogin the Armchair fan]

The maddest thing about a 48-team finals remains not where and how they play it but the sheer size of the task for Panini.

[Kevin S]

The 2018 MLS thread is a somewhat unorthodox place to discuss Morocco's 2026 World Cup bid, isn't it?

[ursus arctos]

Have you watched MLS?

[Kevin S]

Not very often, no.

[Incandenza]

Lifestyle Athletic FC takes down Seattle on the road, a very hilarious result.

[Incandenza]

Sounds like you need some divine intervention. Maybe Inca can bless the thread?

Forgive me for my late arrival, my flock.

PKs

HUMOR

COLOR

ALUMINUM

SOCCER

[Amor de Cosmos]

Whitecaps win their home opener against Montréal. Too early to tell very much but Alfonso Davies scored his first MLS goal and set up Kamara with a glorious cross. MoM, the kid did good.

[Incandenza]

Galaxy perhaps got away with a 2-1 win at home over the Timbers. Ola Kamara looked pretty good.

[Exiled off Main Street]

Lifestyle Athletic FC takes down Seattle on the road, a very hilarious result.

Why lifestyle ? I thought Vela was outstanding. Nomar !

Watched the KC-NYFC game - Gutierrez, the 21yr old Chilean playing center mid for KC has a divine left foot, shame his forward line sucks. David Villa is the kind of player who shows up at the park for a pick up game and absolutely refuses to pass the ball to anyone in a goal scoring position, after doing it once. Greedy Goal hog.

[Hot Pepsi]

The 2018 MLS thread is a somewhat unorthodox place to discuss Morocco's 2026 World Cup bid, isn't it?

Not really. It's the only USA soccer thread we really have and the 2026 World Cup is very important to the future of US soccer, according to the USSF, at least.

[Incandenza]

Why lifestyle ? I thought Vela was outstanding. Nomar !

Just about how most of the promotions and social media posts from LAFC have been about cool young people wearing an LAFC hat or shirt while posed against a graffiti covered wall or leaning against a bridge railing over a freeway, making it look more like a new streetwear brand than a soccer team.

I can see LAFC sticking around and becoming much more successful than Chivas USA ever was (not that that won't be easy to do). Their stadium is in a better location, it's public transportation-friendly, they're trying to reach a different audience by having their games streamed on YouTube rather than having to search around for some channel in the 700s on your cable or satellite box. The Galaxy looks stuck in the past in comparison with some of those things, especially the stadium location. It could be a real urban vs. suburban divide between the two teams.

[jefe]

DCU signs USL golden boot winner Dane Kelly, late of Reno 1868 and formerly Charleston Battery, for forward depth and are going to import a left back from Saprissa once all the paperwork can be cleared up, so not for a few weeks.

Columbus and Ohio are officially suing Anthony Precourt on the basis of the law passed after Art Modell moved the Browns. Ursus can explain it better than I, if he is so inclined, so I won't try.

Jacksonville Armada's owner says he's going to build a stadium.

Sunil is no longer the head of the WC2026 bid but remains on the Board of Directors.

Montreal are chasing a winger from Lanus.

[ursus arctos]

This is the gist of the suit, which seems quite solid on its face

The lawsuit, filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court, invokes a 1996 law enacted after Art Modell moved his Cleveland Browns to Baltimore, where the team was renamed the Ravens. The state law says no professional team that gets public assistance or uses public facilities can leave town without giving six months’ notice and providing locals an opportunity to buy the team.

The lawsuit says the Crew has received millions in taxpayer benefits and has given no such notice. It asks the court to enjoin the team from leaving.

More here.

[jefe]

El milagro se empieza? Xolos 0-2 RBNY.

[Anton Gramscescu]

MLS Champions 2 - 1 Mexican Champions. It was an excellent game and Osorio's winner was fabulous. (note: the gap between MLS and Liga MX is probably not as big as people think). Prediction - we lose the return leg 3-2 and go through on away goals.

[Gerontophile]

This is the US Lower League soccer teams map. (From the team at Roots Up podcast)

[Anton Gramscescu]

Imp - I tried out your van der Wiel suggestion on nearby seatmates last week.

The answer is still no.

[scratchmonkey]

Watching Schweinsteiger on the Fire is fantastic, it's like seeing an older relative huff around the park. He seems to have adjusted to Chicago cuisine quite nicely.

[Amor de Cosmos]

The Grandson was one of the kids accompanying the players at the Houston/Vancouver game yesterday. He was beside himself with anticipation and nervousness — mainly because he didn't know the words to either anthem — but, as I told him, neither will most of the players — also because of divided loyalties and not knowing who to cheer for. He was still buzzing yesterday evening.

[ursus arctos]

Wonderful

Good result, too

[Amor de Cosmos]

Yes. The 'Caps have been among MLS's best road teams for several seasons, and, Houston has one of the best home records. So it was a very good result.

[Anton Gramscescu]

Caps looked good yesterday. Looking forward to the Voyageurs Cup final in August.

[Amor de Cosmos]

The "pieces" certainly appear to be better than at any time in their MLS past. Lots of new players though, so much depends on how well they gel. Probably a bit of a watershed year, without a decent play-off run Robinson will likely leave, and everyone reckons Alphonso Davies will be off to Europe at the end of the season whatever happens.