Goodbye for now...

Hello all.

Now that the season has finished, it's time to part, but only for a little while; the off-season is too short to stay away for too long.

The MLS International will return in full force in late-January, just in time to get some more information together to last an entire season.

A site redesign is also in the works and over the next couple months do not be alarmed if the site is not viewable, as possible renditions will come and go. Also if you have any ideas or suggestions I am more than receptive and you can leave them in the comments.

While my break will last to 2010, this is not to say, that posts will not be put up in the future months. As large issues get tackled (CBA, MLS Draft, etc.) look for more stories and reflections here. To make sure that you keep up on everything, subscribe to the blog and follow me on Twitter at @MLSInter (link is on the right).

Thanks for reading, and I'm sure I'll be talking to you all soon.

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Why the 2009 MLS Cup Final was the best

Memories of the 2009 season are slowly being tucked away, so I feel it is time to create a brand new argument: the 2009 MLS Cup Final was the best ever.

The venue, the players, the result; all of these ingredients made the final something to remember. From the feel-good story of Andy Williams to misses from both team captains in penalties to great offensive displays, this rendition of the Cup is one that we should silently remember as the greatest.

Not convinced? Let's go further.

Real Salt Lake, eighth seed in the playoffs, outplayed Columbus over the course of two matches and played up to the atmosphere that was created in Toyota Park. Rimando was huge, blocking three Fire penalty shots in his effort to help lift the Eastern Conference championship. In the final Kyle Beckerman looked like a man possessed both on and off the ball; it was clear that playing with the national team has given him new-found meaning in the game.

On the other side of the field was the Galaxy, seeking a third title and the first for David Beckham, who was supposed to be an automatic lock for Los Angeles in their search for more trophies. The inclusion of the Rookie of the Year and Landon Donovan to the mix made the game a must-see and gave the Commissioner reason to be excited about this year's possibilities.

In the first half it looked like L.A. would run away with the title, controlling the play and doing what they wanted to the RSL backline. Not to be outdone, RSL pursued more chances and eventually equalized, proving that they were up to par with the best. The only way to resolve the match was in penalties, giving non-soccer fans the ending that they desired and an experience in a heated finale.

While the players on the pitch did a good job to make the game entertaining, the 46,000 fans at Qwest field gave the match purpose at a neutral site. I think we can all agree that the city did a great job to promote the sport and the final due to the large amount of photo-ops, signings and publicizing the Sounders have given to the MLS. Who cares if the home fans cheered for Seattle: getting people into the match when their team isn't playing is almost as important as actually paying attention to the action on the field.

Here's the ending for those that missed it:



Now of course there will be naysayers. Other MLS Cups had higher attendance (1997, 1998, 2002), and more dominant performances (1999 D.C., 2002 San Jose, 2008 Columbus). Similar stories have also been told: small market teams have won a lot of the big games like Kansas City and Columbus and newly founded teams hosting the cup have hosted sold out crowds like D.C. and New England. Just last year New York won the Western conference as a final seed in the playoffs, similar to how RSL got in this season.

What makes this cup unique from others was the build up to it and the sheer magnitude of the event for all parties involved. For the MLS, giving the final to Seattle meant guaranteeing a highly marketable game to a fan base that would be sure to dive at the opportunity to attend it. Seattle wins because they get to host a final in their very first year, making their profits soar and promoting their team.

As for the clubs, L.A. desperately needed to get into the playoffs and have a deep run. Fans were upset with Beckham (not because of his hair) and the lack of production in the past three years. Now that they have made a final, Beckham has unresolved feelings about playing in America, coming so far as to guarantee his appearance in the league next year to help win a cup.

Real Salt Lake, a franchise that has only made the playoffs twice in their five year history, wanted all the glitz that other teams had been accustomed to. The new stadium promoted success and brought new fans to the game, but without the playoffs the team would never grab hold of those fans. While their attendance was abysmal in their first match of the 2009 playoffs, perhaps a championship will help build the club into something larger.

For those fans of teams that did not make it into the playoffs, all these ideas swam (whether consciously or unconsciously) in their heads, giving the game a purpose without having a stake in it. Watching this game on ESPN made it readily available for more passive viewers and the inclusion of all these side-stories gave viewers some meaning behind watching it for close to three hours.

So no, the 2009 MLS Cup Final might not be your favorite for a lot of reasons, but to the layman, the casual fan and to those without affiliations, this one was the best.

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The Wizard speaks: Expansion

The final part of our series for 'The Wizard speaks' will be on expansion in the MLS. The Don might have only mentioned it for a period of 30 seconds, but the words and statements within the paragraph are absolute gold for those that want to speculate on the future of Major League Soccer.

Today, we believe we are going to be a 20-team league. What we think in 2020 or 2025, I can't answer and won't be around to have to address.

We'll start here. The Don admits that his fountain of youth will eventually run dry and that he won't be around forever. No surprise considering the MLS has had two Commissioners in the 13-year history. 2020 or 2025 can be considered huge years for the MLS, as a potential World Cup bid is still in the work for the U.S. The future of the league will springboard off of the success of that bid and can propel many future owners to start investing in the league.

However, the most intriguing comment is the one about the size of the league. As he puts it, a 20-team league is the objective of the MLS entity. Garber said the same thing earlier this year when he was selecting which cities would receive franchises in 2011. It makes sense that the league would be most viable in the next few years at 20 teams, allowing teams to develop and grow within their own systems without constantly being torn apart by expansion drafts or learning new rosters and the logistics around traveling to new cities.

But as soon as he begins on this track, he explores the eventual growth of the league:

This is a big country, it's the size of a continent, and along with Canada, it gets even bigger. We're covering 300-plus million, which is far bigger than any other country where you have the 18- or 20-team leagues in Europe or other parts of the world. We don't have promotion and relegation, so the size of the league is less relevant than a league that might have a second and third division.

Hmm. I know the Soccer Don wasn't trying to backtrack on his words, but it sure seems like it. Since he used a precursor to his statement by saying, 'I won't be here at this point, but....,' I guess I can't blame him for stating it. 

The league will be huge one day, and I'm just talking about popularity. To think that the league will just stop increasing the number of teams just because they think they have enough is not going to happen. As Garber says, the league covers a huge amount of area. As a comparison, the MLB has 30 teams spread out all over the place in markets that are most profitable and most widely spread. The NBA is definitely similar (especially by putting a team in Oklahoma City), and perhaps the best example is the NHL where the league has teams in both North American countries as the MLS.

The Commissioner did not come out and say it, but by mentioning the size of the potential market he brings up the topic of how many teams can we include in the league, rather than where do we stop recruiting. The playoff system will keep teams in check and still encourage a 25- or 30-team league to compete to the bitter end, which further enhance his perceived case.

Lastly, the Commissioner brings up new expansion besides the teams already selected:

We have had productive conversations with Montreal to be our 19th team. We have not put a timetable as to when that team would enter the league if we reach agreement with them. We don't have any active discussions for the 20th team.

Uh oh. Montreal? Wasn't that a team that just recently broke away from the USL to form a new league that may or may not receive licensure from U.S. Soccer? I realize that the Canadian club has dominated its opponents, but don't you think it would be more financial suitable to just try and get into the MLS in a couple years rather than just splitting from an already established league and forming some rogue organization? I'm just saying.

But if the Don thinks it's a good idea, I'll buy it. As for the 20th team, I'll leave that up to you to speculate.

So until Don Garber speaks again about topics far and wide, the Wizard will retire once again to the Emerald City (both of them), locking up Oz until next year. Potentially Carey and company can bring up some more topics during the Supporters Summit (rather than talking about how awesome Seattle is). I'm looking forward to it.
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The Wizard speaks: CBA

Besides the Columbus Crew, it always seemed unlikely that the players in the MLS would rise up in their overalls and hardhats against the monopoly of a socialist leader. But it seems that is the very case as we head into the off season with hopes that soccer will be played on time in 2010 and with content players.

The Collective Bargaining Agreement, or the discussions and eventual contract signing that will take place by January 31st, puts the MLS against the MLS Players Union in a clash that players hope will guarantee them more rights. While money is the main concern, guaranteed contracts is where most of the fighting is occurring, as the MLS has the power to terminate contracts before the players are finished as long as they do so before July 1st. The result is players do not get paid and that leaves some unhappy former-teammates clamoring for change.

It's unlikely the league will be able to offer everything that the union seeks, but I can imagine that the union also realizes this and has put up more 'wing and a prayer' type goals that will become a part of their next contract. Maybe it's a good thing that we have a SuperDraft... more business savvy players that graduate from college help create better agreements. I kid of course but it would make the Don uneasy.

Regardless, the players seem to be more upset about these slow proceedings than Garber, as he plays the role of devil's advocate towards the negative press many players have been giving the league in the past weeks: 

We [MLS and the Players Union] are in regular meetings. We have met a half-dozen times. The formal discussions began six months ago, and like all leagues and unions, they have ebbs and flows and at times they become heated. I expect that this will be a difficult agreement to finalize, but I am very confident that we will be able to reach a productive agreement. Both we and the union are committed to that.

Well then, it seems like the ol' Commish has got things in order. Problem is, January 31st is right around the corner in terms of the off season since teams start forming in that month. If a deal does not seem likely by mid-January, how many teams do you think will have complete squads? It might be in their contract to show up on obligated days, but to think that they are going to show up happy and focused is beyond natural thinking.

Garber's thoughts on a strike:

Any discussion about a strike or work stoppage is totally premature. It's way too early for anyone to come to that conclusion. It's counterproductive to what has been a very mutual commitment with our union to reach an agreement that will be good for management and good for players.

I heavily doubt that the MLS will go on strike since the wages most of these players earn is hardly enough to go on for two years, let alone a couple months. Collecting a paycheck is almost as much work for young development players as it is riding the bench most weekends. Demoralizing an already crappy situation for them would almost kill any chance that talent youth would want to play in the MLS after college. A higher minimum salary would be a start, but is $22,000 going to allow you to survive in New York?

As fans, we can only hope that both sides will come away with something positive. If 'The Office' has proven anything to me, a win-win-win situation can happen. Perhaps we all sacrifice a little: players don't get everything they want, the league backs down a little, fans pay more at the door.

I'm not saying, "Let's stay together for the kids," but what I would like to see is a proper opening of Red Bull Arena and the inaugural match for Philadelphia Union. Destroying those two days because of the CBA is just going to ebb away at the credibility of this leasgue.

Just as importantly, I want to see players that are only focused on the game, and not on what injustices were done to them this winter. I would hate to see a picket line at the gates with players marching in with wooden signs in their hands instead of a soccer kid's.

Tomorrow: Garber talks about Expansion
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The Wizard speaks: Single table, Champions League

Coming out behind the green curtain, the Commissioner spoke live, in person, rather than with his nebulous green face and fire spewing from colums on both sides.

In his speech he proved he has heart for the fans, courage to speak his mind, and most importantly, a brain for creating new ideas to improve the league in the coming years. Don Garber is not one to rush, but from what I gathered from his State of the League Address, he spoke a lot of truth that fans need to hear in regards on a myriad of issues, the best being his stance on the table and the CONCACAF Champions League.

East Side, West Side

Garber didn't say much about the single table debate, but I figure it's enough to get people off his back:

Not next year, no. And whether or not it's in the near future, we haven't gotten that far.

I guess if you want to break it down, the Don is basically saying that it is in the works, but in terms of planning it's going to take a little more time than just meeting with Sepp Blatter every once in a while to get the MLS on track with other leagues.

It won't happen next year, which means that people will still be upset in 2010 when he says that it's likely to not happen for the 2011 season. But really, did we expect change to come this quickly? With the World Cup coming up and larger issues in terms of scheduling, addressing the issue in 2012 probably seems like the most reasonable date to start rebranding the league.

Finally someone who cares

What I liked about his approach to the Champions League was that he came right out and said what MLS franchises should immediately know:

We need to win the Champions League. Those opportunities to compete in a global competition are important to show how far we have developed as a soccer nation, and the opportunity to do it on the pro club side is with the world club championship. We've got to win that [CONCACAF] tournament...There are things we have to look at so we are not penalizing those clubs and be disadvantaged in the league tournament, but probably more importantly, what do we need to do to ensure that these teams make it a priority? Right now, not all of our clubs believe it is a priority.

Right on the head. Garber also mentions in the address that teams don't find it 'fair' to be playing more games than other clubs since it puts them at a disadvantage with small rosters, but man, I can't agree more with what he is saying (which is a lot coming from me).

The league needs to grow, and taking a look at these quotes, it's clear that he realizes that additional prestige is earned internationally- if we can't be popular here, let's get it out everywhere else. Sure it's important that clubs win the domestic league; it's the only distinguishable way to prove that a team is good in American since a star is over the crest or a scudetto is on your chest. To win at the international level, however, means so much more to other clubs around the world that it can be just as good as winning the league.

Look at a quarter of the clubs participating in the UEFA Champions League. Would we know anyone from the Israeli league or from middle-of-nowhere Romania were it not for a big tournament like this? Probably not, considering no one really cares in America or in Western Europe. But the positive side is that they are being mentioned, regardless of derogatory or pejorative comments. Sometimes bad press is better than no press at all, which is close to what the MLS is receiving as the season ends, football amps up and basketball takes over weeknights.

Admittedly, the CONCACAF Champions League is still in its infancy, but all good things come to those that care about these tournaments. Come March it will be on quite a few people's mind, although only one team from the MLS has advanced for the quarterfinals. Hopefully next year it will be a different story, and if Garber has any influence on it, it will be.

Tomorrow: Commissioner talks about the Collective Bargaining Agreement
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Supporters summit a time for hope, fears

Many fans are already looking towards next year, since majority of teams are now eliminated from playing soccer for the rest of 2009. But for those lucky enough to attend, a look towards 2010 is not far away.

The annual Supporters Summit is to take place November 21st in Seattle before the MLS Cup Final. It will feature the likes of Commissioner Don Garber and minority owner Drew Carey, who will help moderate the event. On tap are some key items. From the release:

The MLS Commissioner will deliver a special address to some of the League's most dedicated and fervent fans, after which Carey will moderate a question and answer session. The summit will also include a formal discussion addressing the officiating and technical structure of MLS with top League stakeholders, Joe Machnik and Alfonso Mondelo.

The first thing I noticed was that the Commissioner wishes to address officiating and the technical structure of the MLS. It seems like every year this is a discussable issue, but nothing ever gets done. Referring in the MLS has long been a topic of hatred for MLS fans and players, but is there ever a league that never has problems?

Also, the 'technical structure,' aka. the single table debate, will be spoken about in hopes of quelling the ideas of changing the league towards something more European-like. While there are pros and cons for every format, this one is constantly on the mind of FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his potential puppet Garber. Scheduling will most likely also be a topic of debate, as the couple weeks off from World Cup play could be an indicator of things to come.

I'm not saying that the MLS will go to a more European-friendly schedule, but I'm sure it will be addressed or at least deflected by a 'we're not going to discuss that' comment.


So what should be the most important topic of discussion? Single table, schedule, referring, or something else?

Your comments, as always, are welcome below.

P.S.- Enjoy the Conference finals this weekend!
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Too soon: America's soccer acceptance

I like the old adage "the best is yet to come." It makes me feel warm and fuzzy, like, something new, exciting and better is around the corner and the anticipation towards that event can be easily cut with a knife.

What's better is that 2009 is almost over and I feel the good times are just starting for soccer in America. My nascent league is developing nicely, sheathed in the hopes and dreams of true fans across the nation.

After reading a nice little article in the Huffington Post about soccer in 2009, however, I just got this weird feeling; it was as if my gut was telling me that I should reject something foul I ate. Problem was I hadn't eaten in hours and all I was doing was looking at soccer blogs during class.

It eventually dawned on me that what I was reading was 'soccer has arrived,' or more eloquently, 'soccer is ruined for me.'

As Gude explains, 2009 is the year that soccer finally arrives in America. To argue with him would be futile- his writing makes perfect sense. Sponsorship is up, TV deals are higher than ever and the U.S. National Team qualified for the World Cup on one of the most wonderful plays in recent memory. Yes, it certainly does seem that soccer is making it.

While I am certainly proud of the fact that America is finally embracing the fairer sport, I have hesitations. I mean, growing up loving soccer has always meant fighting for it, tooth and nail, through thick and thin, with hopes that you might just convince one friend to sit down and watch a game with you in between his busy college football viewing schedule. Without the idea that soccer is not mainstream literally hurts my head, making me think of all the ways that I can come to actually dislike a sport I grew up with.

Ugly fans that show up and shout at players non-stop, ogling the cheerleaders that some MLS franchises utilize, shouting obscenities more than the supporters sections do. Disgusting people wearing jerseys around town, thinking that they are cool because they are supporting the new fad that has come into America. Ugh I feel sick. 

What happens if frat boys start coming to games, bonging beers and hitting on women at games rather than watch them? Or if mom and dad start showing up because the thing their son has loved for so long starts to interest them? That would probably be the death of me.

Sometimes I think of what could happen if soccer actually caught on here. Sure it would be nice to go to a match with 40,000 screaming fans, and I am sure that the talent pool would grow leading to American successes all over Europe and abroad. But what if I start liking the sport more because other people do also? Am I a hypocrite of my own devices? Can't I just take the sport for what it is in its current state and just love it?

I can't do this. I won't let America accept soccer- not yet. I'm not ready to lose this thing that seems so delicate, so new and innocent, depraved of the molestations of modern sports fans with their painted faces and ridiculous costumes (Yes I am looking at you, person who dressed up as a banana for a sporting event just to get on T.V. You are dumb, and you are not touching my soccer).

So no, Huffington Post, I cannot absorb your claim of mainstream soccer, nor will I acknowledge your factually based article. I will just crawl in my hole for a little while longer, writing responses with tears in my eyes on blogs across the interwebs, crying out that soccer is not accepted by Americans. Oh no, not yet.
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Break up the HSG

With success comes a lot of things: rings, trophies, shields, and blame.

The Hunt Sports Group, popular in Major League Soccer by basically bottle-feeding the league throughout its infancy, has come under fire numerous times in the past years for their inability to put products on the field that yielded consistent fruits.

Starting up with Kansas City and Columbus, Lamar Hunt owned what was 1/5 of all franchises and was a charter investor in the young league that was hoping to strike it big with the popularity that the 1994 World Cup brought to American soil. They successfully captured the interest in fans and even built the first soccer specific stadium in the U.S. in 1999. Things appeared good for HSG, but things changed quickly in the mid-2000's.

For one, Columbus was a stinker. Attendance was shrinking, the team was shallow at best and never proved to be much more than a mid-table brand of soccer that was neither entertaining nor exciting.

The Wizards were a club that saw only marginal success, winning the Cup in 2004 but never really doing anything exciting in a league where so much is based on image and posturing for the following season.

In 2003, HSG purchased the Dallas Burn, renaming the club and building its own stadium. As altruistic as it might have been, the team was looking desperately for a turn from their poor form and HSG was willing to jump on the bandwagon once more to collect a total of three teams. The change produced good results for the club, boosting ticket sales and helping the team become runners up in the Supporters' Shield race in 2006.

Success even trickled down to their other clubs. After a downturn for almost 12 years, the Crew finally won their first championship in 2008 and have collected two Supporters' Shields in the past two seasons, giving them opportunities to advance to the Semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League and a spot in next year's tournament.

But do things really appear better for HSG?

In 2006 Clark Hunt sold the Wizards to an ownership group looking to rebuild the franchise into something that can contend year after year, something HSG could never do. FC Dallas hasn't made the playoffs in two years and consistently drew under 10,000 fans for several games this season.

Most disturbing? Maybe it's the fact that the Crew still cannot draw a crowd after the success they had over the past two seasons, or maybe that FC Dallas relied on an over the hill striker for the second half of the season. If you are looking for a real kicker, though, look no further than the MLS ownership rules, which allows multiple team ownership to exist.

It is clear that HSG, while the grandfather of the league, has outstayed its welcome in the new momentum the MLS is establishing. With new teams on the horizon with deep pocketed owners, HSG still uses the same tactics to get butts in the seats and advertize to their fans, but every year it seems like one of their clubs is on the verge of collapse.

Because the league is inspired by local owners (take Philadelphia, Seattle for example) having an entity like HSG makes people feel uncomfortable with the people running their team. If you have to take a plane to go to a game, perhaps its best that you just drop one.

In the beginning, people may have thought that it was great to have multiple team ownership, but the truth is that it just does not work anymore. While original investors were safe knowing that MLS could cover their losses, we are now approaching the dangerous discussion of single franchise ownership... the taboo term that no one inside the MLS offices dares to utter. Ownership groups that are disassociated with their teams would most likely crumble first at the very thought of needing to account for their actions.

Splitting up the HSG would probably be the best solution for the MLS; getting rid of one franchise will allow others to develop the abandoned one more personally and learn what is best for their club. Relying on faxes and emails about how your club is doing on a day-to-day basis is hardly ownership.

Attendance is probably the biggest argument leading this effort, as dismal fan numbers has successfully alienated a lot of potential customers. Those watching games on TV see empty seats, deem the sport unprofessional or boring, and immediately change the channel. Hell if we could I am sure the MLS would just televise the Super Classico and every Sounders home game. Without fans, everyone loses in the MLS except ownership, which is the group that needs the swiftest kick in the pants. 

HSG, as a fan of the MLS I love what you've done for us. But it's time that you choose one team and commit.
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U.S. World Cup Bid Stadiums #3

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

Indianapolis - Lucas Oil Stadium



Probably one of the coolest venues on the list, Lucas Oil Stadium offers an indoor-outdoor feel to those soccer aficionados that are looking to keep the purity of an outside game. With a retractable roof and movable windows, the wonderful Midwest air can flow through the stadium on a moment's notice. While not the largest place for football, the brand new facility offers all the amenities and has a great charm on the exterior and the interior.

The downsides are easy to find, however. Indianapolis has never been considered a destination (unless you are a racing fan) and the image of a podunk town getting a World Cup bid can upset a lot of people. That being said, Indianapolis has just built a brand new international airport that will be able to service all travelers and their highway system is pretty good considering every time I have driven through there it was during rush hour and never once felt any pressure from drivers. The MLS International approved!



Jacksonville - Jacksonville Municipal Stadium



The municipal stadium in Jacksonville is one of the oddballs in my opinion. Because the facility is only 15 years old, I feel hesitant to even discuss the matter there just because the stadium appears older than it should. Perhaps it's because the building was originally built from the Gator Bowl, but this building doesn't scream "give me soccer or give me death" to anyone.

Summing up Jacksonville's bid in a stadium, however important, is still unfair to a city with some soccer history. Jacksonville had the Tea Men back in the days of the NASL, and the city successfully hosted a friendly between Germany back in 2000. They are also used to large crowds, handling the Super Bowl back in 2005 and the Gator Bowl since 1995. Soccer in Florida has been hit or miss in terms of support, but doubting that Jacksonville will not be gracious hosts is ridiculous.



Kansas City - Arrowhead Stadium



Another old stadium that is well past its prime, Arrowhead stadium is next on our tour of the U.S. in our nation's heartland. The position of the city in the country allows a lot of people to hop from place to place with relative ease and the city's culture brings a lot of people into the area as well. There is plenty to see and do in the city outside of soccer, but the idea of a World Cup match in K.C. has got to get some people revved up.

The Wizards were hosted at Arrowhead from 1996 to 2007 but elected for a smaller venue for their fans. Because of the number of spectators that the stadium can hold (79,000) it is one of the larger venues for the proposed bid. The open air feel and the gracious amount of space that seems to be given due to the wide breadth in the upper deck make it seem like the stadium can really make the game look beautiful. Now if only there was a better way of getting there besides a shuttle...



Los Angeles - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Rose Bowl



Los Angeles has the good graces of having two stadiums on the potential list of U.S. venues. First, the Coliseum welcomes fans into a stadium huge on traditions and sporting culture, something everyone can appreciate. From football to baseball to even soccer with the Aztecs, the Coliseum has been able to hold massive crowds and still provide everything that fans need. Potential renovations to the stadium might increase the drool factor for area fans that want a match nearby. The MLS International approved!

Second on the list, the Rose Bowl has had very recent success in soccer. When FC Barcelona came to town over the summer, over 90,000 fans took to the stands to see them take on the Galaxy. It might be located outside of Los Angeles, but the stadium provides some great history just like the Coliseum. My only gripe about this stadium is that it is very low, similar to what Michigan Stadium is like. The views of soccer pitches are best from above and this stadium just can't cut it.



Miami - Land Shark Stadium



Formerly Dolphins Stadium, Land Shark Stadium seats around 75,000, making it a marketable stadium that can host a very attractive match or two in 2018/2022. The sights, sounds and encompassing beauty of the area is enough to draw people to the south shores but if that was not enough, the international flair that Miami exudes will bring people from all over to the Sunshine State.

For those that believe that the Miami Fusion FC flash in the pan that occurred years ago will inhibit this bid, remember that the World Cup is also as brief but more rewarding. In a state that is eager to rejoin the MLS, a spot on the bid list gives the city extra motivation to put in a franchise in the near future. In addition, Jozy Altidore grew up nearby so I am sure that will nudge some people to check out a game or two with his extended family of fans. The MLS International approved!

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Coach Merry-Go-Round Take Two

Our second look at the 'coaches that can be' for the 2010 MLS season...

 
 

Preki

Well this could be interesting. Preki, the most successful coach of the young Chivas USA franchise, might be moving come December, hoping to become affiliated with a new club and a new challenge. Taking over in 2007 from Bob Bradley, Preki has taken Chivas to the top of the West and into the quarterfinals twice in three seasons and looks to do it again this weekend by beating the Galaxy. It could be a fitting send off as Preki looks to leave on a high note for some bargaining leverage. New York looked at him back in 2008 so you can expect them to have him on speed dial this offseason.


 

Dave Sarachan

After two years with the Galaxy serving as an assistant, Sarachan's name might be called up from the bench to serve as manager once more. Winner of two U.S. Open Cups and a Supporters' Shield with an MLS Cup Final appearance with the Fire, Sarachan has had reasonable success with clubs that already play well. Adopting the club after Bob Bradley (wow lots of connections, huh?) the club was already a stalwart in the league for a few seasons but was soon on the decline with Sarachan. While he might serve fine as a coach for a team that is looking to change directions and has previously had marginal success (ahem, Colorado) I doubt he will be taking a manager's position in the MLS this year.


 

Trevor James

Another Galaxy assistant, James has the smallest amount of MLS experience since he never played in the league and did not come to Los Angeles until 2006. He served as an interim manager for a couple friendly matches (1-0-1 against USL-1 clubs) but has not had significant time as the leader. The idea of someone fresh and new in the league will be inviting to some in addition to the small-ish price tag he comes with. On the other hand, the product on the field better not be cheap.


 

John Spencer

The sun on a cloudy day, Spencer was undoubtedly one of the better players to kick a ball around in Colorado, collecting a handsome ransom for his goals and becoming an icon for the Rapids club. Now on staff in Houston, Spencer's number could be called once more to take charge of teams that are down on their luck. Although Colorado would be the feel-good choice, I doubt that they would risk their club with someone that does not have first-team managerial experience (note: he did manage the reserve league team in 2008 to a championship).


 

Colin Clarke

Clarke can be considered the greatest footballer in all of Puerto Rico that is of foreign ancestry. Reason? He manages both the USL-1 side Puerto Rico Islanders as well as the national team. For a puny country, that's still a heck of a lot of work, especially if you have seen the strides the Islanders have made in the past few years. After managing FC Dallas for four seasons and collecting a Supporters' Shield for his resume, Clarke moved down south and has turned the fledgling Puerto Rico Islanders into something that can contend with anything in the U.S. Last year the team won the USL First Division and won a spot in the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League. An upgrade to the MLS could prove if it is all a fluke or it he is the real thing. 
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Eurosnobbery: An American soccer fan's robbery

Well hello there.

I wrote up an article for the magazine I work for that I think you might appreciate. Here's a tidbit from the article to whet your appetite:

On any given weekend, the television in my apartment is glued to soccer coverage. Whether a match is on the ESPN family networks, Fox Soccer Channel or our Ohio News Network, the image of a green pitch with the bright white lines is almost burned into my retinas come Sunday.

Even on weekdays, our DVR fills up with soccer matches stretching from the West Coast all the way over into central Europe. The ability for an American who loves what some consider to be 'the beautiful game' is now easier than ever, especially with the lead up to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. ESPN now shows games from England with regularity and a couple goals might sneak into the top ten plays at the end of each night. Even Fox Sports shows highlights from UEFA Champions League matches, desperately trying to catch up with coverage of their basic cable rival.

It seems like soccer might finally make it in mainstream America, the last frontier for footie. But while many students show their zeal towards their favorite sport by wearing favorite soccer jerseys or scarves to class, it is quite noticeable that one league is underrepresented. In one day on campus I saw jerseys from Spain, England, Italy and Scotland, but not once did I see a jersey from our good ol' U.S. of A....


You can check the rest here.

Make sure to comment (it boosts my spirits and my editor's)!
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Coach Merry-Go-Round Take One

Here's the first look at the recent merry-go-round of potential coaching changes and shake-ups that will take place this off-season.

 

Richie Williams

The Red Bulls turn around after Juan Carlos Osorio resigned can be a clear sign of things to come from a franchise that is looking for big things next year. Retaining Juan Pablo Angel and adding some depth to their roster with the Super Draft will give RBNY an opportunity next year in their new Arena and give some stability to the franchise. To remove Williams now might do more harm than hiring some type of high profile coach in the coming months. I am sure we'll be hearing from the Austrian Oberherren any day now.


 

Curt Onalfo

Currently out of work, Onalfo couldn't do anything with a Kansas City franchise that had not made significant movement since he joined. Collecting a spot in the semi-finals back in 2007 was the best he could do with the club and now is on the curb with his 'hire me' sign. Claudio Lopez was a bust for the team, and players like Josh Wolff, Dvy Arnaud and Roger Espinoza, while working towards their future, might not work out for a team that struggled out of the gate. Still, Onalfo has a lot of experience with the MLS as a part of the staff for D.C. United and was even considered for the job in Colorado when Clavijo was hired. Don't be surprised if he is in the running for a position in San Jose if they decide to part ways with Frank Yallop.


 

John Harkes

Surprisingly enough, Harkes name has come back into the coaching picture as teams are looking to regroup for the future. It wouldn't be a bad gig for a guy with little experience in terms of coaching but some knowledge of world soccer. As a 42-year old, Harkes does not have the knowledge that current coaches might have, but as a great player in his day and (in my own opinion) a decent TV personality, he knows the game and he is not afraid to state his opinion. Some clubs might cringe at the thought of a coach that actually wants to lead the team, but it could be in worse hands.


 

Brian Bliss

Currently the Technical Director for the Columbus Crew, Bliss has a wealth of soccer knowledge and has worked tirelessly to build a team that has won back-to-back Supporters' Shields and an MLS Cup Championship. As a former interim coach for Kansas City in 2006, Bliss turned around a franchise in the dumps and made it into a respectable club that was just edged out of the playoffs in their last game. He has been on the board for several jobs in the past (L.A., Seattle) and will be on the market once more. Where will he go? Probably where the outlook is worst.


 

Peter Vermes

While he might think he has locked down his spot as coach for the Wizards, Vermes is only ceremonially posturing himself for what he hopes will be a permanent position. After sacking Onalfo, Vermes stepped into the vacant position, taking over both Technical Director and Manager spots. He didn't exactly work miracles with the team, coming up with a 3-6-3 record after the removal of Onalfo (compared to his 5-7-6 record) and leaving people scratching their heads as to why he might be left in power. Regardless, he has managed one team, so why not put him up for another job? Any takers?



  
Gary Smith

The real question with Smith is: have you done enough? Colorado has suffered for a long time. They have a new stadium that they can't seem to fill and their fans are disenchanted with their owner who is more concerned about owning a European club than one in America. If the club isn't bailed out from their horrible form they won't be around much longer. Smith did do some good things this year: they improved their play, had a star (finally) emerge in Connor Casey and the group of players finally looked gelled with new leadership. The downside to the season was their late season collapse that was triggered by Casey's departure with the national team and led them to seven straight matches without a win.

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Home and Away: Are weighted goals the best option?

This past weekend marked the first leg of playoff matches that will culminate in the brawl that will last from Thursday to Sunday. Results, while not misleading, only bring half of the truth to life, as many teams played some tough odds in some difficult stadiums that obviously played a role in the result as fans made it difficult for the players to...

Ok I can't keep joking. To say that 7,000 fans in New England was a 'home field advantage,' or the 11,000 that showed up to watch Salt Lake take on Columbus was enough to push their team over that edge is complete hogwash.

And thus begins the debate: is an aggregate goal playoff system better than weighted goals?

In similar tournaments in Europe, it is common to use what is called 'weighted goals,' which means that scoring an away goal is twice as good as scoring a home goal. For example, if Team A is playing Team B at their home grounds, a 1-1 score line would actually be in favor of Team A because their one goal actually counts for two because they scored it away from home. In the second leg of the competition Team B would have to tie to have a shot at getting to the next round, or outright win.

While this system works great in a European system with rabid fans, overflowing bleachers and a raucous crowd, the American 'bring your whole family and don't ever stand up' way of doing things is just a bit different.

It is common the world over to get angry, upset, and even ravenous when another team scores at your home ground. It shows weakness not only in your team but also to your fan-dom. In other American sports, it's not unlikely that the away team scores, and neither does it really matter; the object is to win eventually. Basketball teams don't exactly shutout opponents, and when an American football franchise can do it, it is considered a great defensive display.

The same thing can be said for American soccer, a sport that rarely has a clean sheet. Just for comparison, let's look at a club that is known for its home field advantage: Manchester United. In Champions League play last year, United's defense managed four clean sheets in total, two coming at home (out of three games). For the rest of the tournament they matched their previous records, eventually losing to Barcelona at a neural site. The entire Premier League season, Manchester United blanked visiting clubs 13 times, allowing goals in only 6 of their home matches.

Real Salt Lake, the team with the best record at the end of the regular season at home (9-1-5), had seven clean sheets at home and nine games where there defense allowed a goal. That's pretty impressive and can be very misleading. From here the numbers tapper off, as the Dynamo had six clean sheets at home and the Crew had only three clean sheets at Crew Stadium.

Although it might not be fair to compare teams in the MLS to such an elite league, it does provide a good point: the MLS is not quite there in terms of home pitch advantage. It is simply too much right now (besides Toronto, Seattle and perhaps an L.A. franchise) to put up numbers that make it difficult to play away. The aggregate goal system works for the MLS because it offers both teams to play on their home fields where they are comfortable and give them the opportunity to play for a home crowd. When you think about it, it provides little else.

The idea of using weighted goals can only be implemented once home stadiums become almost too difficult to play in. To go into RFK and expect every time as an away team to get blown away is not going to happen. The same can be said about every other team from Pizza Hut Park to CommunityAmerica Ballpark. With the league full of parity and the fans not streaming in like owners would have hoped, the idea would be fruitless.

Of course the argument will come up that the fans will show up if they put in a program with weighted goals. All I can say is that if the fans aren't coming now, they won't even see the news blurb on the bottom of the last page of the sports section with the new rule.

70,000 fans at Old Trafford would have you shaking in your boots. 7,000 kids at San Jose would make many laugh. Let's keep goals even until we can at least intimidate someone.
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