Commentary: The MLS and Tournament Failures

Let's face it. America is pretty darn lousy when we play outside America, and even when we play other teams at home, we still manage to screw things up.

In 2007 and 2008 both D.C. and Houston advanced to the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup, marking the last great accomplishments in CONCACAF tournaments, if you are to mention them as such. The last win in the tournament came in 2000 when Los Angeles squeaked by Olimpia to take the crown. Before then it was D.C. in 1998 that took the trophy home, but there has been no real threat made by an American club in almost a decade.

So what gives? Does America not care about the tournament? Is it a lack of funding that keeps teams from competing or is it the fact that our schedule prevents clubs in America from putting together sides that can stand up to their peers?

There are a lot of questions, and very few answers. The reality of the situation is that America is different from Central America and the way we play the game and the manner that tournaments are competed varies on a year-by-year basis. If we were to look at all the success this league has had in terms of growth, we would undoubtedly look at the trophies D.C. United has obtained and the fact that MLS championships have been won by seven different franchises.

Teams grow yearly in terms of talent and development but when the league was young and without much guidance we had the most success. Perhaps the reason American clubs have failed to consistently produce is because of the lack of heart rather than the MLS throwing them a bone and giving them better opportunities to succeed.

Back in the day, the MLS was new, exciting and searching for the next frontier. They found excitement in international tournaments and D.C. won the last installment of the Copa Interamericana in 1998 and even the Chicago Fire came in third in the CONCACAF Champions Cup after their first season. It was like the first weeks of falling in love and the MLS was quickly rising.

I guess this is also why it is not surprising that many clubs that start up have success like Houston when they moved from San Jose, when Chicago won the U.S. Open Cup and the MLS Cup in their inaugural season and now Seattle Sounders taking the U.S. Open Cup and fighting in their first playoffs. But as all good relationships go, some of the sparkle is lost, and while amicable relationships built on mediocrity can be developed, it's pretty difficult to keep what once was bright and shiny for long.

Today, clubs struggle financially and look for creative ways to bring back fans, but what clubs should be doing is looking at the way they play the game.

That type of heart that has long been missing from the MLS is what can create future successes and what will bring more fans to the league. The statistics don't lie, and when things are fresh and new, everything works out better. Recreating it through a recommitment to the club is the only way to get it back. Toronto fans in their first couple years tolerated a poorly run club because they wanted a team so badly. It has finally come to blows with management and the only answer is to get the passion back into a club that already has the players it needs to compete.

The same can go for most MLS franchises; bring in heart and good things will happen. After watching Seattle and their fans cheer their team to a 0-0 draw tonight, I think it's evident that this club will do good things in the future because of the amount of love of the game that they exude all over the pitch.

My only hope is that the heart that existed back in the 90's will come back to stay very soon and start filling the trophy cases across the nation.

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A shameless plug

Hello everyone.

This will be my last (I swear) plug for this today, but I wanted to encourage everyone to check out The MLS Show, a show by fans and for fans of all things footie. I did a short corresponding segment at the beginning of the podcast (in case you were wondering what my silky smooth voice sounds like) and encourage you all download it, subscribe to it, heck even rate it on iTunes or what have you.

You should check out what fans like you have to say. You can't be right and you can't be wrong, so why not give it a shot?

-Colin

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The MLS International Presents: Awards 2009

With all the speculating that has been circling around who will win the prestigious awards that are presented in the coming weeks, I think it's only fair that a little bit of love might be sent to the lesser known awards. While they might be on par with the Razzies, The MLS International would like to present the 2009 MLS Non-Awards and Awards That Were Overlooked.

Worst Performance of the Year

Greg Janicki

In their first game in the 2009 CONCACAF Champions League, all D.C. United wanted was to escape Honduras with a tie. His second time in the CL should have been much easier, but for Greg Janicki things unraveled pretty quickly against Marathon. At the start of the game he failed to clear a ball out of the box, allowing Walter Martinez to poke it into the net. In the second half, Janicki finally cleared a ball out of the box... but into the back of the net. Just five minutes later he tripped up a rushing Marathon attacker and awarded them a penalty kick. The match ended 3-1, and Janicki has been relegated to the bench more often than not the rest of the season.


The Ability to Burn Your Retina Award

Wilman Conde

When Volkswagen thought it was a good idea to create some funny celebration videos to advertise their product and the league, I am sure they never envisioned that Wilman Conde would willingly remove his shirt and subject tiny children to his chest hair. Warning: the video is only for those people with the ability to close their eyes.



Runners up: naked D.C. United in 'The Body Issue.' (shudder)


Weakest Goal of the Year

Gino Padula

A perennial assist man, Padula was never known to put the ball in the net. Nor is he known to really look that pretty when he's on the ball or defending. Regardless, the freekick that was sent in by Padula on that fateful night against New England just three weeks ago will haunt the Matt Reis for a while. As the ball was set up about 40 yards out, the pass went into the middle of the box and New England defender Emmanuel Osei looked to have the situation handled. But instead of heading it away, he let the ball fall to the earth, where Matt Reis  unsuspectingly stood. The ball continued into the net, thus giving Padula his first ever goal in the MLS. 

Worst "The Sitter" Clip of the Year

'Screaming 'keepers'

Seriously, who gives this guy a mike? Lalas, you play great, but you don't speak so well. Keep your analysis on the intricacies of the sport to yourself.


Worst Team of 2009

D.C. United

This team had all the potential, all the motivation, and what seemed like the most to play for back in March. Now the team looks to implode with Tom Soehn's coaching career in Jeopardy (D.C. has never kept a coach for more than three years) and fans are unhappy with the wonderful message left to them by president Kevin Payne. Not to forget, the team might be building a future stadium in Baltimore, thus creating the need to build new supporters, which is exactly what this team needs. NOT! (My thoughts on the matter can be found here.) 


Save of the Year (for a non-goalkeeper) 

Tyrone Marshall

Up 1-0 on the Crew, the Sounders looked like they could be the team that could snap Columbus's 20+ game win streak at home. In the 70th minute, Robbie Rogers made a pass to Eddie Gaven, who then headed the ball in front of the net to Steven Lenhart, who sent a looping header past goalkeeper Kasey Keller. Marshall, who was playing near the line jumped and kicked the ball away from the net in one spectacular motion, clearing the ball just off the line and preserving the lead. 


National Team Call up of the Year (from the MLS)

Robbie Rogers

After having a very successful 2008 campaign, Rogers looked like 2009 would be his breakout year and one that would get him back into Europe. Unfortunately for him the MLS year didn't take off like he had hoped, but his call up for this past summer's CONCACAF Gold Cup definitely improved his spirits. His improvement over the tournament gave him a call up in the last qualifying match for the U.S. against Costa Rica, where he was inserted in the final 20 minutes of the match to spark some offense. Almost tying it up in the 72nd minute, Rogers put in the corner kick that resulted in the now infamous header by Jonathan Bornstein. The rest is history.




Runners up: Connor Casey, Kyle Beckerman 


Individual Performance of the Year

Bouna Coundoul

It took all season, but it was worth the wait. In the very last match of the season Coundoul put on a clinic in goal, stopping everything in front of him with precision and flawless motions. So poetic was his goalkeeping last Saturday, that even after the whistle blew he had no problem stopping random shots with ease. While some may say Chad Barrett should have been given a free kick and Coundoul a red card for his tackle early in the game, the rest of the evening was for the Senegalese, who made five saves and shutout Toronto FC 5-0 in their final match at Giants Stadium and eliminated the Canadians from the playoffs.


Best Outlook

San Jose Earthquakes

When I think of how well the Western Conference was this past season, it's hard to imagine that it can get any better. Californians beware as San Jose looks to make a lot of noise this coming offseason (get a midfielder in the draft!) and have finally solidified their lineup to something that can take on the best in the business week in and week out. I would be surprised if San Jose was not in the top 6 come next October. I dare you to take me up on it. (My full take is here.)
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FC Dallas: We love to loathe you

Cunningham seeks protection from fans in some loving arms.

So half the soccer blog-o-sphere wants to give their own take on what happened last weekend, and after a couple days off to make sense of it all, I think we're all finally ready to say what needs to be said:

It was all FC Dallas's fault.

The weeks leading up to the 30th game were, for the lack of a better term, unbearable. With D.C. floundering, Colorado tying and Toronto fans bad-mouthing, it seemed inevitable that we were going to have a lot of unhappy people come the last week. That's when FCD struck gold.

In week 26 the golden boot of Cunningham started it all; a two goal performance that left Real Salt Lake saying, "Why did we even bother," and better yet, "just give them a damn playoff spot already." If only we had listened.

After a pirouette and a similarly dance-like shot, Cunningham was well on his way to ruining the playoffs for all of us, as only a team without a real glimmer of hope can attest to. The miracle run of four wins brought FC Dallas figuratively within striking distance coming into their final game of the season against the Sounders.

Now I'll acknowledge that I bought it. I believed in FC Dallas. I thought Cunningham was the bee's knees (that is what the kids are saying, right?). America finally had something to believe in. No more of this socialized medicine to worry about, and no more disgruntled conversations at the water cooler over when the boss was going to bring back casual Friday. No, this was a time for the good life, and FC Dallas gave it to us.

Entering into the final week, all MLS fans knew that they would be facing a couple pretty long nights. Thursday was a night where Chicago could finally clinch, or Chivas could put Columbus in a must-win situation to win the Supporters' Shield. Because of the 1-0 victory to the home side, a lot of that pent-up anticipation was left to be resolved on Saturday, when the final table would be more a less a lock.

The early game featuring New York and Toronto left people drooling for what was to come later, as the loss by TFC would result in a C.F. in a couple of hours. Next, D.C. tied to K.C. in the last minutes, allowing the chain of dominoes to begin their quest towards an FC Dallas appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Sweat poured from fans across the nation, praying that the miraculous would happen... a miracle on grass, if you will. We waited, hoped, dreamed and sat watching the match tracker as the simultaneous matches took place.

Oh ho! Real Salt Lake looks like they can take on Colorado! What joyous news! What elation....

And without breaking a moment our collective thoughts all combined towards hatred as Brad Evans scored what would be the winning goal for Seattle.

America, I give you the goat, and yes, it is you.

All those weeks, the discussions, the forums, the belief. It all came down to one last game and they failed to produce. FC Dallas put on a ruse, sucking in the very souls of soccer fans, spitting it out, and killing us all a little inside. How could we be so foolish? Did we actually believe in love at first sight? Who the hell put the thought of happiness in an American soccer fan's head?

But what's worse? They are 11th in the league. When people look back on the season, all they will know is that FC Dallas came two spots away from being the first team out. They won't remember a great run, nor the amount of support they received during their stretch. The fact that they were not even close to making it is what will be remembered, and not one person (besides Dallas) will know.

So thanks, FCD, for the good times. I won't remember them come next year, but believe me, the damage to that part of my brain will be permanent. Like the girl that every so often appears on the street corner, the times are good while they last, but the Burn lasts forever.

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Game of the Week: Toronto FC at New York Red Bulls

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The last game of the season and Toronto FC needs a huge win to be able to fit into the playoff picture. For New York, spoiler is the role they would like to play, and while these two teams do not match up on paper, it's all about emotion in what is the most intriguing match of the weekend.

Thus far, Toronto is 2-0 against New York, a team that has struggled all year long with its new role as MLS punching bag. The teams square off at 7:30pm in a match that can end the playoff drought for Toronto FC, a team with almost religious fans that have been awaiting a postseason visit since 2007.

This match for New York marks their first losing season in years and the first time out of the playoffs since 2002. After completing so many goals last season, New York has become an enigma to the league as they move in a new direction with interim coach Richie Williams. As the team moves into its new digs at Red Bull Arena, the team also hopes to move in a new dynamic direction that will bring back the promise of 2008 and less of 2009.

Toronto's best hopes in the match will come from the usual cast: De Rosario, de Guzman, Vitti and Brennan. Carl Robinson will be out for the match and potentially the rest of the postseason, and Marvell Wynne will most likely sit out a couple more weeks with his quad injury. The questionables include Fuad Ibrahim and Stefan Frei, but if the game looks to be in jeopardy I would not hesitate in putting in either.

For the Red Bulls, the injuries to Goldwaithe, Wolyniec and Mendes have ended their seasons early, but perhaps the club can gain something from a match that will feature many reserves. Besides, the closing of the stadium should be motivation enough to try to defend what culture New York has there. The MetroStars built up their stature in the city, and the Red Bulls hope to keep it in the area for years to come. The new Red Bull Arena should be a sight to see, but no one will care if you can't defend it. That process begins today.

If you'd like to look at the staggeringly amazing conditions for Toronto to make the playoffs, check it out here.

This is an exciting evening for soccer, so keep up on it and look for a post late Sunday with some wrap ups.

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U.S. World Cup Bid Stadiums #2

Our series on stadiums of the potential World Cup in America continues...

Cleveland - Cleveland Browns Stadium

 

The city on the lake, Cleveland provides a unique venue for what could be one of the most unappealing cities in the final bid. As my hometown, I guess I'm a bit biased in what I say about the city, but Cleveland can be a wonderful place to play the game, and past experiences there are proof positive of their ability to host a match or two. Before the 2007 World Cup, the U.S. played a successful friendly match against China at Browns Stadum, leaving a recent positive note to what could come in the future.

The Cleveland area, as I can attest to, has ample hotel room for travelers and the highway system makes the venue very approachable. The downside is that public transportation in Cleveland is poor at best: the Rapid Transit, although rated very highly, cannot hold the capacity of travelers that it would need to if Cleveland is to get a bid. Regardless, Cleveland can provide the Midwest with an alternative stadium that will only be around 20 years old when the U.S. potentially hosts the World Cup.

Dallas - Cotton Bowl, Cowboys Stadium

 

The first city with multiple stadiums on our list, Dallas has an opportunity to cash in on at least one of their stadiums to host a 2018/2022 World Cup match. The Cotton Bowl hosted a whopping six matches back in 1994, proving that the stadium can not only provide modern amenities, but that its 90,000+ capacity is a big draw. On the downside, the Cotton Bowl is getting up there in years (despite extensive renovations) and will reach the ripe old age of 90 by the time the U.S. would host the event. The MLS International approved!

The new Cowboys Stadum provides what the Cotton Bowl cannot: the bright and shiny future of what stadiums in the U.S. can be. Jerry Jones's venture has given the Cowboys an additional jewel to their gem-encrusted past and could be the centerpiece of soccer in America. On the other hand, soccer indoors is still an idea that leaves many turned off, and you can bet that Petr Cech and Edwin Van der Saar are going to have a competition in the middle of the match to see if they can hit the gigantic scoreboard.

Denver - Invesco Field

Denver hopes their bid will hit the stratosphere by including Invesco Field at Mile High on the list of potential sights. Even if they don't reach the stadium expectations of the bid committee, their unique location in our nation can be a draw enough for travelers. Colorado provides an environment unlike any other in the U.S. and can be seen as the 'middle ground' for travelers that are going to be traversing from multiple locations.

Opened in September 2001, Invesco Field has been home to the Denver Broncos and also the former home of the Colorado Rapids (2001-2006). As a destination city, Denver hopes to capitalize on their ability to host soccer at the stadium (evidence in their USA v. Mexico match back in 2002) and their 300 days of sunshine they average every year. If that isn't enough to lure you in, how about some of the most beautiful scenery in the U.S. of A? The MLS International approved! 

Detroit - Ford Field, Michigan Stadium

Another two stadium city (although I hardly think Ann Arbor is Detroit), the Motor City has already proven that they can host a World Cup match and actually was the first city to host a game in a dome. Of course that was back in 1994 when the Pontiac Superdome was still the place to play sports in the city, but now Ford Field is looking like a possible venue. The ability for Detroit, a city down on its luck, to have a game can be a real boost to the local economy, even if it is for a couple weeks.

On the other hand, Michigan Stadium is looking to take a little business away from Detroit, but could work out just as well as Ford Field. The stadium, second largest in the U.S., can hold a mammoth 110,000 and would be the largest stadum the U.S. can offer in 2018/2022. While their stadium's amenities might be frugal, and the lack of an immediate large city might be a draw back, the great part of this stadium is that everyone is right on top of the action, and when you come to see your team play, that's all you really want. The MLS International approved!

Houston - Reliant Stadium

Another Texas destination, Reliant Stadium has been no stranger to soccer. Hosts of Gold Cup matches in 2005 and 2007, the indoor stadium most recently held a Gold Cup match in 2009 between Guadeloupe vs. Nicaragua and Mexico vs. Panama. In 2008 Houston hosted a match between the U.S. and Mexico that resulted in a capacity crowd. Although the stadium is located just outside the stadium, METRO lines serve the stadium and make the venue an attractive destination.

Like other domes of recent construction, Reliant Stadium has a retractable roof, allowing the venue to be opened up on those hot days/nights that are indicative of Texas. Another thing going for Houston is their local team, giving them more of a push for their own soccer specific stadium and for more growth of the sport.

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Houston, D.C. fail to make quarterfinals

After a glimmer of hope on Tuesday night, only one of the three teams participating from the MLS in the CONCACAF Champions League will move on to the quarterfinals.

D.C. made a valiant effort in their match against Toluca to tie away from home in a difficult stadium, but their effort fell short as San Juan Jabloteh failed to tie their match with Marathon, allowing them to take second place in the group. While their loss can be a failure in the eyes of this year's tournament, their bigger fish they have yet to fry is this weekend's match against Kansas City.

Lucky for United, they sat some of their starters for their match in Mexico for this reason. Making it into the playoffs is now the biggest concern for D.C., because to get back into the tournament next year they will need to advance to the MLS Cup finals.

As for Houston, their luck has finally run out in the CONCACAF as they allowed Metapan to escape with a win. Tally Hall's goal at halftime (yes the goalie) gave them hope as it tied the match at 2-2, but Houston was unable to put enough pressure on the El Salvador club and now play a match of some great consequence this weekend against Los Angeles.

Here is Hall's goal: 



Unlike D.C., Houston relied heavily on their starters in the match, trying to put pressure early and score to avoid having to play the stars of the team for the full 90 minutes. Dominic Kinnear used Ching, Oduro, Waibel and a slew of other regulars to push through with the win, but now will struggle with a hodge-podge lineup this weekend when they could play to be outright winners of the Western Conference.

For the Crew, some MLS brotherhood in the quarterfinals might have been nice, but there will be plenty of time to think about their futures as they wait for their first match in spring of 2010. This year all four groups were won by Mexican clubs, and like last year, only one American side advanced. The task will be difficult for the Crew as they will need a huge game at home to be able to compete in Mexico on their second-leg match, but now the pressure is off and they can afford to concentrate on the playoffs (finally).
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Crew are in, D.C. waits, and Houston watches

There were some wild matches last night culminating in some interesting discussion on what will happen in the next couple days for MLS clubs and how they will reflect on this weekend's matches.

Columbus

The Crew clinched last night with a tie against Puerto Rico, a game that was poorly played by Columbus in the first half but realized potential later. New guy Emilio Renteria scored the goal for the Crew off a deflection that landed at his feet. The ball arched over goalie Justin Myers, who was way off his line, and crashed into the back of the net.

After a poorly played start the Crew found themselves down 1-0 at the half, but like many games from 2008, they were able to share a point and secure their way into the next round. The other game in Group C saw Cruz Azul win 2-1 against Saprissa, a team that knew it would not advance before they played.

D.C.

There must be some sort of lazer guidance on Chris Pontius's foot. At least that was probably the only way that goal could have happened due to its speed, trajectory and final resting place. The goal that put D.C. up on Toluca early in the first half did not hold, however, but few could forget that strike that left the crowd speechless, and myself muttering under my breath.... "damn."

Lawson Vaughn's foul in the 62nd minute led to the penalty kick goal that drew the two sides and leaves D.C. uneasy about their chances in the next round. To advance, San Juan Jabloteh needs to tie or win against the Honduran side Marathon, who sits just one point behind D.C. There is some waiting to do, however, as the game won't be played until Thursday at 10pm EST.

Houston

It all comes down to tonight for the Dynamo. They need some serious help if they are going to advance into the next stage, but it is still conceivable that they make it in. All they need is for Pachuca to beat Arabe Unido, a team that beat them in humiliating fashion back in August. Simple, right? On the plus side, the Panamanians have scored only two goals away from home in the tournament (out of 13) and have a 1-1-0 record away from home.

It Pachuca should win, a win by Houston is necessary to advance to the next round. It might be a simple task for the Dynamo as Metapan has not scored a single goal all tournament and has collected no points in the table.

Let's hope for an all Mexican/American quarterfinal! ....except one other team from Group D!

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Final matches bring hope, worry to MLS teams in CONCACAF

While the MLS season comes to a close this weekend, added pressure has come upon the shoulders of those teams in the CONCACAF Champions League. Beginning tonight, the Columbus Crew, D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo will face their toughest challenges as their lives in this tournament will come down to their final games.

Columbus

For Columbus, their trip down to sunny Puerto Rico can bring them some international respect and a momentum that will bring them into their last game of the MLS season. It seems doable and in fact likely that the Crew can come away with points against the Islanders, but the 51st state is looking for respect, something that cannot be taken lightly. With a tie, the Crew can clinch a spot in the next round regardless with the result on Thursday's match involving Saprissa because Columbus owns the tiebreaker (1-0-1).

If what Crew beat writer Shawn Mitchell says is true, the Crew will have multiple players that did not play on Saturday against D.C. for this upcoming match. Included are Emmanuel Ekpo (who served a red card suspension), and Alejandro Moreno. While the two combined have not provided a lot of offense for this club, their meer presence on the field soothes a side that lost an up-hill battle over the weekend.

D.C.

D.C. faces the most difficult opposition of the week, taking on Toluca at La Bombonera. The key to the match is points: in Group B, United is tied with Marathon at 9 points, good for second place in the group. If D.C. wants to continue in the group, they will need to set the pace for Marathon, who will play on Thursday against San Juan Jabloteh, a team that has not collected a point all tournament.

According to Steve Goff, Ben Olsen, Jaime Moreno, Clyde Simms and Marc Burch did not travel with the team, probably to give them a rest before they take on the Wizards in their MLS season finale. I guess trying to get back into the tournament next year is a better option according to Soehn than advancing in this year's. Either way, a D.C. tie against Toluca is as good as a win any other day of the week.

Houston

What could be a great night for the Dynamo might already be ruined before the game begins. On Wednesday Houston will play Metapan for their chance to compete in the next round of the Champions League, but two hours before they begin, they will know if playing this game will be worth it at all. Arabe Unido, who sits in second place in Group A, will take on Pachuca earlier in the evening, and any result that does not end in a loss for the Panamanians will doom Houston in the tournament.

When Arabe beat Metapan last round and the Dynamo lost to Pachuca, Houston lost their chance to keep up and now are desperate. AGainst them is the fact that Pachuca lost their first game of the tournament against Arabe 4-1, but they have since gone on a four game win streak that puts them at the top of the table. This round, Pachuca is at home, the place where they have scored seven times and have not relinquished a goal. Although it might be crass to say, if the Panamanians steal a point this will be nothing more than a glorified scrimmage with the B-team. If they do lose, the Dynamo will only have to muster a tie against a team that has no points in the table.

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Game of the Week: Colorado Rapids at FC Dallas

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In the second last week of league play, a whole slew of games were candidates for GOTW. Playoff outsiders Real Salt Lake and Toronto FC, Western Conference hopefuls Chivas USA and San Jose Earthquakes, and the conference favorites Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy play in pivotal matches that will effect the rest of the table.

While all these games could easily slide in as the number one 'must watch,' the pairing of two teams like Colorado and Dallas offers a unique perspective: one team is on the cusp of completing a historic comback while the other is hanging onto playoff hopes as its leader comes back from national team duties. Here's the breakdown of each team and the offensive powers that have put them into the positions they are in:

Colorado has been undefeated in their last four games.

Dallas has been undefeated in their last three games.

                                                                                                  Advantage: Dallas

Colorado is second in goals and fourth in assists in the MLS.

Dallas is first in goals and first in assists in the MLS.

                                                                                                  Advantage: Dallas

Colorado has not been beat on the road in the last five games.

Dallas has not been beat at home in their last seven games.

                                                                                                  Advantage: Push

Connor Casey has two hat tricks, which is the most in the league.

Jeff Cunningham has the most game winning goals (7).

                                                                                                  Advantage: Dallas

Connor Casey had four consecutive games with a goal twice this year.

Jeff Cunningham has six consecutive games with a goal (still active).

                                                                                                  Advantage: Colorado

Colorado is 1-0-1 in their series with Dallas this year.

                                                                                                  Advantage: Colorado

Matt Pickens's goals against average is 1.16 and Preston Burpo's is 1.22.

Ray Burse's goals against average is 1.62 and Dario Sala's is 1.51.

                                                                                                  Advantage: Colorado

Colorado has a .346 win percentage on the road.

Dallas has a .643 win percentage at Pizza Hut Park.

                                                                                                  Advantage: Dallas

Colorado has given up 33 goals this season, 23 on the road.

Dallas has given up 44 goals this season, 18 at home.

                                                                                                  Advantage: Dallas

Hmm seems like the often hollow confines for Dallas is going to push them over the edge this week. Hopefully a good crowd will turn out for this match since buying a $10 ticket gets you your first beer free! (Note to self: include alcohol in next attendance piece....)

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World Cup Bid Looks toward NFL Stadiums

Piggybacking on more of the USMNT success, today we'll take a look at some of the cities still left on the list of potential match sites for the 2018/2022 World Cup. Now there are 27 different cities, so this will be a multiple-post series that will be approached once a week. To avoid bias, it will be alphabetical... no cheating, Cleveland.

Also, petition counters are included so you can support your favorite cities! 


Atlanta - Georgia Dome



I'll admit: I had some serious reservations about Atlanta and their presence in the soccer community, but all those worries tended to go by the wayside after reading a little more about their history and some of the key features that will make them an attractive place to play soccer. Most impressive? Probably the fact that the USWMT won their 1996 World Cup gold in Atlanta. Also impressive? Transportation: having a rail line and a bus line serving the stadium is a key, especially for those snooty Europeans that use rail all the time.

Most alarming? The lack of a team in the MLS. I know the Silverbacks are present and have some great supporters, but the South is missing out on top level soccer. Maybe getting it there will make me feel better about it. The MLS International approves!



Baltimore - M&T Bank Stadium

Along with Atlanta, Baltimore hosted a match during this summer's American tour by Chelsea and AC Milan. With D.C. United being the big club in the area, soccer is hot on the minds of fans in the Virginia-Maryland area. What surprised me the most was the fact that M&T had never hosted a soccer match before. Perhaps a little more practice is in order before the real thing happens.

But maybe a Seattle-type move will happen and D.C. United will end up moving out to Baltimore anyway, and M&T can get some practice that way. (Just kidding D.C. fans, I think Baltimore should wait in line.)



Boston - Gillette Stadium

I have some small hesitations about this one. Gillette is a stadium that is no where near the city limits of Boston. To get there one would have to take the MBTA... 28 miles. In cab fare, according to one website, it would cost over $100. That's a lot of money. Other than that, however, this stadium has everything that a soccer fan would be looking for: it's newer, has a great look, and it has experience as a soccer stadium.

The downside? No grass. I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem to insert some for a game, but I just hate to see sod laid down for a match or two and then gotten rid of. The MLS International approves!



Charlotte - Bank of America Stadium

Again, another surprising destination for a possible World Cup match. Bank of America Stadium, according to my knowledge, has never seen soccer inside its confines, which only gives me a limited amount of grief. It is relatively new (13 years old) and the area seems to enjoy soccer by the Rail Hawks and the Eagles.

Probably the most inspiring part of this bid is transportation: Charlotte acts as major hub for U.S. Airways, and (as I can attest to) serves a lot of flights directed to the Americas. While I am sure this in no way is a clincher for Charlotte, it is definitely something the U.S. committee will discuss.



Chicago - Soldier Field

Really a no brainer, Chicago has put Soldier Field up as its stadium of choice to host a World Cup match. The obvious downside, however, is the 61,000 capacity, which is well under what other NFL-sized stadiums can offer. On the flip side Chicago does have a rich tradition of hosting important soccer matches, and just this year they have hosted two, each bringing in over 55,000. Not bad.

Transportation in the Chicagoland is a real pain, but the ability for fans to travel all around the country from Chicago can make the spot a very lucrative position. The MLS International approved!
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Charlie Davies '9' Salute

I know this is coming in the first half of the match and the U.S. is currently down to Costa Rica, but I would like to congratulate everyone that was a part of the Charlie Davies salute. On television the papers definitely made a nice impact, regardless if Casey's misfire deflated the atmosphere. With the smoke dancing along the sidelines, it made me feel a lot of pride for those people that I consider my soccer brothers and sisters.

Charlie, we love you man and wish you the best of luck as you recover. The Nats will miss you until you return.
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Case Study: Clint Mathis

Clint Mathis has been a part of MLS since 1998 when he was drafted sixth overall in the College Draft, placing himself at the top of the dogpile that would grow to a slew of MLS talent (Chris Klein, Mike Petke, Jeff Cunningham, Wade Barrett and Tyrone Marshall were also in the top round of the class). While the others kept their careers mostly domestic, Mathis explored the German Bundesliga and had the second most caps for the United States in his draft class behind Pablo Mastroeni. His ability to change his style of play from the midfield to forward, from standout to team player, and from instigator to leader, gave him the ability to be the best of what America could offer in the early '00s.

An MLS Beginning

Back in 1998, Mathis, coming out of South Carolina, was a highly touted and gifted athlete that was primed to be a star in the newly formed MLS. Just two years into its existance, the MLS was still craving talent and the class was crawling with new blood.

Mathis was drafted by the L.A. Galaxy and was an instant hit with the club and the fans, accumulating goals and helping the team win the Supporters Shield in 1998. However, he was left off the protected list of players when the MetroStars began play, and was shipped east. It made little difference where he played and his impact was felt immediately, scored five goals in a game that season and earned Best XI honors.

In the 2002 season, Bayern Munich inquired about the young Mathis but was shutout by the MLS, which made him resent the league and ultimately led him to search for new teams abroad. 

An Impressive New Beginning/Letdown

After an impressive showing with the national team in 2002, Mathis had a resume that gave international clubs a look at what he could do. He finally moved to Germany on a free transfer to Hannover 96 and in his first match scored and impressed a coach that was eventually let go during a second-half collapse.

Because the new coach Ewald Lienen didn't favor Mathis he often sat on the bench, and in one stunt, Mathis scored a late goal after being subbed in and pointed at the watch of Lienen as if to say, 'you should have put me in earlier.' The rest of the season was a wash for Mathis and he reentered the MLS the following year, joining the expansion franchise Real Salt Lake.

Since 2005, Mathis has skipped around to different clubs, never staying anywhere long. A black cloud looms wherever he goes, as no team seems to have much success where he touches down. Perhaps it's his demeanor, or perhaps its his age, but one thing is for certain, there have been lessons learned by Mathis that other players would rather not have to know.

Why a case study?

 

Clint Mathis flew onto the radar of national team coach Bruce Arena the instant he crashed into the league and never really let go of his unique persona (as evident of his mohawk during the 2002 World Cup). He was known as 'Cletus,' but he was never thought to be a dumb player. The downfall to his career could be accredited to his inability to live up to his potential, an argument often sited in discussing the current USMNT roster.

His only regret, as he reports to Grant Wahl in a Sports Illustrated interview, was that he didn't stick it out in Europe.

"I probably shouldn't have come back. Because what killed me was coming back to the U.S. and playing for Salt Lake the first year [in '05]. I was supposed to make miracles happen like I did when I was in New York. And as the game gets better and the league gets stronger it's harder to do that."

Perhap moving around the league and seeing what was out there in Europe - he also had a spell in Greece - assisted him in learning the nuances of the game more than what a lifetime in European football could have done. Now in his second consecutive year with Real Salt Lake, he has found comfort with his team and coach, has taken his criticisms in stride and plays like he cares more about the game than the money.

Perhaps Mathis's insight into the game has actually made him a deeper person and one that doesn't freak out about the little things. He'll only be in the league a little while longer, so MLS and national team fans should take one last look at a lasting and living testament of an American soccer player.

He may never be known as the best, but then again I don't think he cares.

If you have a few minutes, the interview piece Grant Wahl did with him really is supurb... great stuff.

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Spoilers! Dallas and San Jose make up for lost time

 With the Golden Boot in sight, Cunningham has given defenders 

nightmares for the past couple weeks.

It's week 30 of the 32 week MLS schedule, but for teams like FC Dallas and the San Jose Earthquakes, there's no better time than now to start showing fans what they can do.

FC Dallas

FC Dallas has made themselves into contenders for the eighth spot in the playoffs and could very well do so as they face the rapidly falling Colorado Rapids at the end of this upcoming week. Setting up this late season charge is Jeff Cunningham, who has surprised the MLS community with 17 goals and is looking more like the Cunningham that won the Golden Boot in 2006 and less like the Cunningham that was perennially benched in Toronto.

The awakening of the sleeping 5' 9" giant has sparked life into a Dallas club that looked all but dead in August. Since that month, Dallas and coach Schellas Hyndman have collected a tidy 4-1-1 record and are now seated just two points outside the playoff race behind New England. If Dallas can put together a win against Colorado, a showdown in Seattle could determine the final result, as the Revolution need a road results in Chicago and Columbus to keep their hopes alive.

San Jose

Who else could pull out a tie in the final minutes except San Jose? This year's team that won't quit, San Jose has again proven to fans that this team is capable of doing great things.

After falling to Dallas midweek, San Jose picked up a point against Toronto, another struggling club trying to make it into the playoffs. The tie was not only demoralizing for Toronto, but it could be the 'game that got away' when they look at their season in a couple weeks.

For San Jose, the tie does not put them in contention, nor does it put them into a discussion on the most improved franchise. What it does accomplish is halting the nay-sayers that are saying this team cannot compete. The team, as it is today, can go up against the best clubs in America and go toe-to-toe with them. Just ask Colorado, D.C., Kansas City and Toronto.

The rest of the Earthquake's season is based solely in California, facing Chivas USA and Los Angeles away from home. These two games can make them the best second-half team of the league, and possibly the best team from the state.

Until next year...

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Commentary: MLS exploring indoor soccer alternative

File this under the 'what are we thinking?' category.

According to the Associative Press and the USA Today, the MLS and commissioner Don Garber might be looking inward come future winters. Indoors, is more like it.

With FIFA president Sepp Blatter leading the charge, the American soccer league might be moving towards a schedule the reflects all the other leagues that are currently playing. The change in schedule would result in contests that would take place from fall to spring like European leagues, with regular breaks for international play and summers off.

There's only one problem: we're not Europe. We are, as Don Garber explains, a league that plays "across a continent of 300 million people, across three time zones and weather that varies from zero to 30 degrees at any given point." The likelihood of the MLS shifting schedule would bring the game indoors, resulting in more stadiums that can bar athletes and attendees from the cold, and keep the pitch clear of snow or the rain that pervades many areas of our country.

As much as it pains me to say it, stadiums with cover make sense and would allow teams to participate in a capacity that allows the league to run like the Europeans do and could potentially increase the visibility of the league. The unfortunate thing is that many franchises can't afford to make renovations. Do you think clubs like Chicago and Real Salt Lake want to make modifications to their brand new stadiums? What about New York and the Erector set that is Columbus Crew Stadium? And it's highly unlikely that Toronto would be able to put up a roof, let alone a covering to protect their frozen tundra.

Attendance is another problem. Not only would the MLS have to contend with the NFL and NBA, but also the fact that watching soccer in the winter would not be a fun experience. Again, Garber has the voice of reason (for a change) and puts it all into perspective.

"Perhaps we have to start thinking about roofed stadiums at some point. But do we have to have a fan base that is developed enough to be immune to the weather, like they do for American football where they will come out to watch a game regardless of the climate? We are not at that point yet, but we hope to achieve that at some point."

I agree fullheartedly, and while we 'research' and 'discuss' the options that might in the future please FIFA and their pervasive wisdom, the MLS will be fine with taking a couple weeks off for the World Cup and 'look into' future changes. Besides, the summer is meant for soccer. Oh, and baseball.
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Dear D.C.: Handballs count in photography, too.

'The Body Issue,' aka. ESPN looking to score more subscribers with pictures of half-naked athletes since half-naked models was already taken, is to be a celebration of the athlete's body, an equivolent to the statues and busts of ancient Rome and will obviously be compared with Michaelangelo's 'David.' Athletes from all walks of sports were invited to reveal their innerworkings and, as odd as it might have seemed, many obliged.

Adrian Peterson: huge. Dwight Howard: ripped to shreds. Gina Carano: yes, and thank you. MLS franchise D.C. United: why?

D.C. players Ben Olsen, Jaime Moreno, Santino Quaranta, Clyde Simms, Bryan Namoff and Chris Pontius bore all of their misshapen bodies for the glory of being featured on the sports leader's bi-weekly magazine, only to come up as the greatest mistake in the magazine. Not only was the shot used in the magazine a clear mistake but I can't imagine readers believing these guys are professional athletes.

I guess ESPN wanted a team with the largest.... er... trophy case, but aren't there hunkier franchises out there? Seriously, Jaime Moreno is 35, Ben Olsen is 32 and Bryan Namoff is 30. It's like looking at your creepy uncle at the pool. Talk about bad press.

And I guess Ben Olsen didn't get the invite to the chest shaving party. His body hair looks more gray than what he has up top.

Of course this edition will start the debate as to who will be in next year's photography, but I am pretty sure it will not include the following:

• Cuauhtemoc Blanco's back hump.
• Wilman Conde... his celebration video still haunts me.
• Gino Padula and Frankie Hedjuk covering themselves with their hair
• Freddie Ljungberg... he's done too many ads like this in the past.
• Danny Dichio.... no pun intended.
• Zach Thornton.... unless he's off his jelly donut diet.

Next time ESPN, let's get some people that look like athletes in there... or put more women's volleyball in.

Please?
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Game of the Week: San Jose at Toronto

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With only a handfull of selections this weekend, I'm pulling the number for Toronto and San Jose. Toronto has a lot to play for, and if Columbus can do their job and beat New England, they might just slip back into playoff contention. San Jose on the other hand is playing for pride and to prove to themselves and their fans that 2010 can be a very different season.

Toronto Players to Watch:

de Guzman: He makes his BMO debut, which I am sure will get the Red Patch Boys, U-Sector and the rest of the supporters something to cheer about.

De Rosario: If he's gonna make DP-like money, he's gonna have to step up his game. It's almost too important for him to lead the team by example than for him to score a goal or two.

Serioux: Back from injury, Serioux will need a good aerial attack to provide some offense against a much-improved San Jose defense.

San Jose Players to Watch: 

Corrales: The captain leads his team into a very hostile environment where the fans will undoubtedly never stop chanting: can he keep the team composed and take pressure off the back line?

Leitch: A defensive strongman, Leitch can keep the goal total down in the Earthquakes' recent resurgence by focusing on midfield play and giving good balls up top.

Salinas: With more international callups, Salinas is going to get the call, and he'll be damned if he doesn't do his best in his limited starting capacity.

The MLS International's call: 2-0 Toronto. The Eastern conference gets interesting.
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Angel dust: Could Juan Pablo be gone come next month?

Are these the last two games for Juan Pablo Angel in New York?

First, I'm not starting a rumor. I am merely stating the obvious as a team that will go down as one of the worst in MLS history is probably going to rebuild. Angel, who re-signed in February, has a contract that would keep him in New York through 2010, but what would keep Angel, a winner that thrives being on quality rosters, and the Red Bulls, who need to win games now rather than later, from exploring options.

Angel is 33 years old, which does not make him 'old' in the eyes of the MLS (especially in terms of designated players) but is his fight for a loose ball or his ability to strike going to improve over the next couple years? He's already managed to break the all-time record for goals scored in a Red Bulls uniform, but each year he has consistently slipped in scoring totals (19, 14, and currently 10) while averaging 23 or 24 games a season. That's not even mentioning his recurring hamstring issue.

I am sure that Angel is not bored with this league, as every week he seems to find some way to be mentioned in the game. Even back in February when he signed his extension, it was clear that Angel was happy and has only nice things to say about the league.

In fact, he's down right courteous when it comes to thinking about his future outside of the MLS. Granted, this interview was done in the middle of 2008, but he genuinely loves the idea of growing soccer in the U.S. On the other hand, it does bring into question what might happen in the future. River Plate is always an option, as well as going back to his native Colombia to finish his career.

Under Richie Williams the Red Bulls have resurged, but the damage done by another Colombian (Osorio) has put the team out of playoff contention, and out of the lime light. This could not have been timed worse, as the new Red Bull Arena, the new 'crown jewel' of the MLS soccer specific stadiums, is to be opened next year.

Are fans going to show up for a team that cannnot do anything right? Will they show up without Angel? That remains to be seen.

Just don't say I didn't warn ya.

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Commentary: D.C. United of Baltimore

A new MLS law came through today: If you want a soccer specific stadium to be built for your favorite team, make sure it has wheels.

I kid, but after receiving this tidbit, I was a bit miffed at what both D.C. and the MLS is doing to our hearts and minds. Read the story.... I've got all night.

So now that you have some background, let's go through this. The District of Columbia, which houses our nation's capital as well as the D.C.-based club D.C. United, is open to the idea of building a stadium in the city of Baltimore, which is about an hour's drive from either city's epicenter.

Of course, this idea has sprung up because the Prince George's County deal broke down, limiting D.C.'s options to an abandoned crack house, a field in rural Virginia, or...hmm, let's see, a totally different city. After hosting one successful international match between Chelsea and A.C. Milan, Baltimore now believes they can host an MLS franchise. The worst part is, D.C. actually supports the idea.

“D.C. United continues to search for an appropriate, long-term home for our team,” said United spokesman Doug Hicks. “Baltimore has demonstrated its ability to work with the state to create world-class facilities for the Orioles and Ravens. We believe a new D.C. United Stadium can be an exciting and vital economic engine and look forward to the results of the Maryland Stadium Authority study of a Baltimore city location. Our conversations with other municipalities will continue.”

What? D.C. is advocating a research study on how they can improve the economy of a totally different city? What about the fans? What about the tradition?

We've already had a one move in the MLS. Is it time for another? I know that D.C. has struggled this year, but this club is not one that needs to be moved for any reasons. They are consistently in the top half in attendance and they are recognized as the most successful club in MLS history. Not to mention they have Volkswagen. Ja, they're pretty big.

Moving the team to another city and trying to keep the name is going to cause more problems than it is worth. Doesn't this seem eerily familiar? I seem to remember a certain baseball team in California that did something quite similar, say, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. To market the club better to Southern California, the former Anaheim Angels had their names changed to better bill their club. Is this going to happen to United? Are we going to see a D.C. United of Baltimore? The name change to include Baltimore certainly does make the name catchier, but is it a truly sound economic decision to stretch your name an hour north from where you won many of your championships?

If D.C. wants to move, that's fine. I'm sure the fans in northern Maryland will be thankful that they don't have to travel so far. But the unfortunate thing is, moving teams out of the city doesn't work. Take Frisco, Texas for one and their stellar attendance. Commerce City, Colorado for another. Add Bridgeview, Illinois and East Rutherford, New Jersey for good measure.

Next year, only seven teams out of the sixteen in the MLS will play in the city that is on their crest. Keep D.C. in the district, or at least in the vicinity of the Potomac.
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Aftershocks: Why the Earthquakes will compete in 2010

How does that old saying go? Third time's a charm?

The first and second seasons of the Earthquakes has been anything but memorable. In fact, at times this team has been downright ugly. Without the floundering of New York, San Jose would be face down in the mud at the bottom of the table once again. There is hope, however, and good things come to those that wait. Here's why:

Scoring

This year through 26 games the Earthquakes have scored the same amount of goals as they did through 30 games last season. 2008 was a time when a lineup was thrown together and the players put on a show to the best of their abilities without knowing what the other person was going to do. This year, the lineup has slowly taken shape and has put a consistent effort to learn each others' tendencies. Balls are not just crossed in aimlessly anymore. People did not have to fight each other for the ball. Communication was established.

Ryan Johnson is the striker of the future for this team. He's tall, strong, and physical specimen. With Darren Huckerby most likely retiring after the season, the gate has been opened and the gauntlet thrown down: Johnson needs to step up and be the support for this team. Also Arturo Alvarez needs to start showing why he starts for El Salvador and be more consistent. Bobby Convey, after a year struggling to adapt back to an American game, needs to figure out his place on the team and start realizing his potential in the MLS.

Defense

The weakness of the 2009 campaign has been the shotty defense that San Jose has put together. The remedy? Get rid of 'em.

Eric Denton? Gone. Nick Garcia? Outta here. Ryan Cochrane? See ya.

The complete overhaul in back was to be followed by a greater demise for the club, leading both players and fans to be uncomfortable with the team. Instead, the trade for Aaron Pitchkolan, along with moving up Jason Hernandez has improved the club substantially. Christ Leitch, the only immovable piece to the line, proves that he belongs with San Jose and his mere presence seems to produce confidence to a relatively inexperienced back line.

Just look at the records before and after the All-Star Break. With the lineup featuring the likes of those departed, the Earthquakes were just 3-5-10. Since the break, the Earthquakes are an astounding 4-3-1 and actually not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Sure they've given up more goals that they did last year, but 35 came from their first 18 games (1.94 avg), and in their last 8 games they've only allowed 8 goals (1.00 avg). The escalator only goes one way, and next year it's going up a floor.

Yallop

Head coach Frank Yallop knows what he's doing. It takes time to build a club into a contender, and Yallop has sparked interest and excitement back into the club. After experimenting with players, Yallop has finally blown up the team and created something genuine, and more importantly, a winner. A defender himself, Yallop has the ingredients for a great defense: strong center backs with experience and a goalie that would be up for MVP honors just for the amount of saves he makes year after year.

The west coast is on the rise, and next year's task will be no easier than this one, but Yallop is slowly improving the club and making something out of these young men. He's instilled heart back into a franchise that has a history that very few of its members can remember, let alone experience.  His next challenge? Proving that the Earthquakes are the best team in California.

In 2010, the Earthquakes will mess with the best.

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