Ony one match in Manaus. I don’t think any team wants to play in the Amazon.
After thinking about it for a while, its a manageable draw.
Ghana is a must win. Draw Portugal. Pray that Germany beats the piss out of both Ghana and the fighting Ronaldos. Then we play bunker ball to a draw in the 3rd match.
Of course the other conspiracy theory is France: http://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/eh-game/world-cup-potgate-scandal-sees-france-earn-easy-205635811.html
And naturally, after changing the rules in a way that could benefit France, they end up in probably the easiest group. Very fishy.
I can’t believe the rest of the confederations approved this, but maybe they thought there’d be a good chance their teams would end up in the easier group. My suspicion is that there was quid-pro-quo of some kind involved, possibly involving swiss bank accounts given that’s the way that FIFA seems to have handled other decisions.
With a field like this, there won’t be any “USMNT failed to live up to expectations” talk. However, I think it’s reasonable to think that we should get out of this group in 2nd place. Portugal are typical underperformers and I don’t see how we couldn’t beat them.
England’s probably got a tougher draw than us now that I’ve had time to reflect on it.
… four and a half years from now.
Julian Green officially declares his intentions to play for the US instead of Germany. Will probably make his debut for the USMNT against Mexico next week.
Think he’ll make the official World Cup roster?
Nice to see players of this caliber starting to choose the US. http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2014/03/140326-MNT-Roster.aspx
[quote=“J Felt, post:66, topic:27433”]Julian Green officially declares his intentions to play for the US instead of Germany. Will probably make his debut for the USMNT against Mexico next week.
Think he’ll make the official World Cup roster?
Nice to see players of this caliber starting to choose the US. http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Mens-National-Team/2014/03/140326-MNT-Roster.aspx[/quote]
More good news Gedion Zelalem declined to accept an invite to play with the German National Team in an upcoming match. He’s a player who once he is a citizen (currently a resident of the US) would be eligible for the USMNT. He’s an Arsenal youth player and an impressive one at that. He’s compared frequently with Cesc Fabregas.
Has everyone picked an MLS squad yet?
I’ve officially hopped on the Toronto FC bandwagon. Bradley and Defoe have them off to a 2-0 start, and are looking like a contender so far.
Celtic wrapped up their 3rd straight Scottish Premiership title last night. That will keep them in the CL qualifiers.
[quote=“J Felt, post:68, topic:27433”]Has everyone picked an MLS squad yet?
I’ve officially hopped on the Toronto FC bandwagon. Bradley and Defoe have them off to a 2-0 start, and are looking like a contender so far.[/quote]
I pull for DC United largely because they’re local
MLS team in Atlanta?!
Will play in the new stadium as well. Unless you’re filling it like Seattle does, a football stadium makes a bad place to house an MLS team, IMO.
[quote=“J Felt, post:71, topic:27433”]MLS team in Atlanta?!
Will play in the new stadium as well. Unless you’re filling it like Seattle does, a football stadium makes a bad place to house an MLS team, IMO.[/quote]
I feel like MLS is screwing up a bit on their recent expansions. Orlando yes, because they had a great organic thing going with Orlando City FC, but NYCFC, Miami and especially Atlanta seems like a stretch. Seems like they are just going for big money owners rather than building on top of previous soccer cultures like Portland and Seattle.
I just don’t understand why Raleigh isn’t getting any love from MLS. Look at what they have built with the Railhawks. Imagine what they could do in MLS.
[quote=“Gassman, post:72, topic:27433”][quote=“J Felt, post:71, topic:27433”]MLS team in Atlanta?!
Will play in the new stadium as well. Unless you’re filling it like Seattle does, a football stadium makes a bad place to house an MLS team, IMO.[/quote]
I feel like MLS is screwing up a bit on their recent expansions. Orlando yes, because they had a great organic thing going with Orlando City FC, but NYCFC, Miami and especially Atlanta seems like a stretch. Seems like they are just going for big money owners rather than building on top of previous soccer cultures like Portland and Seattle.
I just don’t understand why Raleigh isn’t getting any love from MLS. Look at what they have built with the Railhawks. Imagine what they could do in MLS.[/quote]As much as I’d prefer a team be in Charlotte, Raleigh is more likely to support it. I just don’t see Miami working, nor Atlanta.
[quote=“J Felt, post:73, topic:27433”][quote=“Gassman, post:72, topic:27433”][quote=“J Felt, post:71, topic:27433”]MLS team in Atlanta?!
Will play in the new stadium as well. Unless you’re filling it like Seattle does, a football stadium makes a bad place to house an MLS team, IMO.[/quote]
I feel like MLS is screwing up a bit on their recent expansions. Orlando yes, because they had a great organic thing going with Orlando City FC, but NYCFC, Miami and especially Atlanta seems like a stretch. Seems like they are just going for big money owners rather than building on top of previous soccer cultures like Portland and Seattle.
I just don’t understand why Raleigh isn’t getting any love from MLS. Look at what they have built with the Railhawks. Imagine what they could do in MLS.[/quote]As much as I’d prefer a team be in Charlotte, Raleigh is more likely to support it. I just don’t see Miami working, nor Atlanta.[/quote]
I’m hoping the acquisition of the eagles USL pro franchise by the hounds comes to fruition and they play their games at memorial stadium. I will be there.
Here in Jacksonville, the Armada FC is starting to create some decent buzz. Jax is actually a very soccer-friendly city; we had one of the highest turnouts ever for a USMNT friendly against Scotland in Everbank Field just a couple years back. The NASL expansion is trying to capitalize on that by bringing a new team here. Dario Sala, former FC Dallas GK, has been brought on as the GM. Local entrepreneur has put up a lot of capital to get it started and seems very dedicated. For the time being, they will play at UNF’s Hodges Stadium, but if interest warrants, they are looking at building a dedicated facility downtown near the already-existing sports complex.
Love the logo/branding. Hopefully they can get some decent talent for the NASL level and win some games!
I’m hoping they prove me wrong, but the Atlanta franchise “feels” like a disaster waiting to happen. a non soccer specific 30k capacity stadium, on turf, in a bad sports town. Its just seems like a nod to Arthur Blank since he has thrown a ton of money at MLS and the USNT.
Atlanta will be a dumpster fire.
[quote=“casstommy, post:76, topic:27433”]I’m hoping they prove me wrong, but the Atlanta franchise “feels” like a disaster waiting to happen. a non soccer specific 30k capacity stadium, on turf, in a bad sports town. Its just seems like a nod to Arthur Blank since he has thrown a ton of money at MLS and the USNT.[/quote]Yea.
Also, he’s willing to pay the fee.
I wonder if there will ever be a true tiered system in this country with relegation. MLS 2 or something like that. Prospects are doubtful though.
[quote=“J Felt, post:78, topic:27433”][quote=“casstommy, post:76, topic:27433”]I’m hoping they prove me wrong, but the Atlanta franchise “feels” like a disaster waiting to happen. a non soccer specific 30k capacity stadium, on turf, in a bad sports town. Its just seems like a nod to Arthur Blank since he has thrown a ton of money at MLS and the USNT.[/quote]Yea.
Also, he’s willing to pay the fee.
I wonder if there will ever be a true tiered system in this country with relegation. MLS 2 or something like that. Prospects are doubtful though.[/quote]
Relegation would be nice to have but the franchise fee paid by MLS is the deal killer.
Yup… Unless they find a way to really tap into the 'burbs and consistently bring those folks out, I don’t see how this succeeds.
By the way, Vancouver plays in a football stadium, on turf, converted for soccer and it’s not bad:
http://backpagefootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/bc-place-04.jpg
We all know how folks feel about soccer in the Pacific Northwest though. Atlanta barely supports the major league franchises it has now. For a city that size it really is embarrassing.
As for the relegation aspect, Don Garber seems to be furthering himself from that more in more. In a recent interview when he was asked about it he basically said “heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell no” in so many words.
I see MLS as a league of 30 teams (similar to all the other major sports) in 20-25 years with conferences & divisions etc. My one wish for MLS is to switch to a single table format but I don’t see that happening as the league continues to grow. They could still keep the playoff feel if they ever invested any serious coin into the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup.