The Soccer Thread

[Guest]

Seems like this would have been the perfect opportunity for Agudelo to get some serious MNT run.

[wolf stansson]

Gold Cup allows I think 6 additional changes after the groups, so I'm guessing Besler, Agudelo, Shea and Garza get called up for the knockouts. He did this last time around with Omar Gonzalez and a few others.

 

Given the injuries and drama going on in Seattle, it'd be fantastic if Morris isn't called in because Seattle's about to break the bank on him. They really, really need a speedy goal scorer at the moment.

[SpongeWorthy]

How seriously are the US and the Latin American teams going to take Copa America 2016 next year? Will they be sending their A teams?

[KaiserCesar]

I think they'll take it seriously. It doesn't interfere with the CONCACAF qualifying at least, and CONMEBOL probably won't schedule too closely, either. There's no other tournaments around that time, so it won't be like CONCACAF teams getting invited to the usual Copa America right before/after the Gold Cup.

 

With that roster, I have to think it'll be Brooks and Gonzalez starting, maybe with an eye towards Honduras and their big forwards.

[shnsajax]

With the Copa this year I am also curious how much they care. Also have the Olympics right after that. So several teams will have 3 overaged players going as well. So guys like JAB we will have to choose which tourney to play them in. Assuming we qualify.

[wolf stansson]

How seriously are the US and the Latin American teams going to take Copa America 2016 next year? Will they be sending their A teams?

I think so.

Mexico and the US will absolutely send their A teams. Messi still hasn't won [expletive] for Argentina and Neymar will need to redeem himself for this tourney. South America is used irregular Copa Americas. They'll treat this one like they usually do.

[USSoccer]

Everyone's going to treat the Copa next summer like its a mini World Cup.

[jersey cubs fan]

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[wolf stansson]

Sucks to be Toronto. Bradley, Jozy and Giovinco are killing it together. Bradley's passing is on point, Giovinco's dribbling is incredible and Jozy is finishing as well as he ever has. Finally healthy and playing some great soccer together and they're about to lose Jozy and MB for a month.

Poor Giovinco is going to be feeling the loss the most because the rest of that team suuuuucks.

 

Last night's highlights: http://www.torontofc.ca/video/2015/06/24/bacardi-match-highlights-mtl-vs-tor-june-24-2014

 

On the bright side, Jozy and Bradley are in great shape going into the gold cup.

[jersey cubs fan]

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[jersey cubs fan]

how dare they end a world cup game with this mockery of the sport

[jersey cubs fan]

I love how emotional the announcers get describing these kicks as if they aren't just a series of goalies randomly jumping the wrong way.

[treebird]

sure do hate dumbass penalty kicks

[wolf stansson]

Yo can Jurgen call up JJ, Sauerbrunn and Kling?

[wolf stansson]

I love how emotional the announcers get describing these kicks as if they aren't just a series of goalies randomly jumping the wrong way.

I can't begin to describe how silly I felt listening to Ray Hudson call the Argentina v Columbia pk's just now. Good god.

[shnsajax]

Paraguay knocks out Brazil.

[Derwood]

They had the NCAA game on at the bar last night, and I was amazed at how infrequently they stopped play. Players were constantly knocking each other down, getting tripped up, etc. and the refs just let them play. The contrast to FIFA was startling

[UMFan83]

Random MLS question...what is up with the Chicago Fire? It seems like the league is gaining traction, there are legit rivalries, rabid fan bases, etc but here in Chicago it seems like the local team is just "there". Just a rather irrelevant team with little local coverage, a nice stadium but one way out of the way and surpassed by a large chunk of the league. I know that the team has sucked for several years and that hurts as the league rises. And I know they are lacking an aging superstar from Europe or SA like many teams have. Is my perception as a very very casual fan correct? I'd love to get into the MLS as I see the excitement in cities like Seattle, Portland, LA, NY, KC etc but honestly the Fire don't even seem like they are in the same league as the teams in those markets. They just seem to be running in mud.

[bukie]

The management is really not putting any investment on the senior team, aren't bringing in any big players or doing anything to keep their good senior players. They're solely focused on developing through their youth program and trying to win solely with internal resources, which isn't keeping up with the rest of the league.

[Banedon]

Yeah, in my effort to start getting interested in soccer more, I've started trying to watch the FIre, and that's probably not the right way to go about developing interest for me. They haven't done much worth watching lately.

[shnsajax]

Random MLS question...what is up with the Chicago Fire? It seems like the league is gaining traction, there are legit rivalries, rabid fan bases, etc but here in Chicago it seems like the local team is just "there". Just a rather irrelevant team with little local coverage, a nice stadium but one way out of the way and surpassed by a large chunk of the league. I know that the team has sucked for several years and that hurts as the league rises. And I know they are lacking an aging superstar from Europe or SA like many teams have. Is my perception as a very very casual fan correct? I'd love to get into the MLS as I see the excitement in cities like Seattle, Portland, LA, NY, KC etc but honestly the Fire don't even seem like they are in the same league as the teams in those markets. They just seem to be running in mud.

 

Dallas is basically the same way. Actually the team is north of Dallas in the suburbs of Frisco. Stadium is really nice though which is why it's not in Dallas.

[USSoccer]

Random MLS question...what is up with the Chicago Fire? It seems like the league is gaining traction, there are legit rivalries, rabid fan bases, etc but here in Chicago it seems like the local team is just "there". Just a rather irrelevant team with little local coverage, a nice stadium but one way out of the way and surpassed by a large chunk of the league. I know that the team has sucked for several years and that hurts as the league rises. And I know they are lacking an aging superstar from Europe or SA like many teams have. Is my perception as a very very casual fan correct? I'd love to get into the MLS as I see the excitement in cities like Seattle, Portland, LA, NY, KC etc but honestly the Fire don't even seem like they are in the same league as the teams in those markets. They just seem to be running in mud.

 

Short answer?

 

Terrible ownership, incompetent management, poor coaching, inconsistent play from a bunch of jobbers, and a stadium parked in the single worst spot in the greater Chicago area you could come up with.

[wolf stansson]

Seems like every team that got their own stadium early, which was a huge step for the league and important in it's development, has now been held back by that stadium. They built them when the ceiling and audience for the league was unambitious. Now they're stuck out in the suburbs.

 

Chicago and Boston have by far the two highest ceilings left for their MLS market. All of these rich guys that are buying in should try to buy the Fire or the Revs and move the team into the city instead of trying to get franchises in Miami, Sacramento, San Antonio or whatever.

[apete6]

Seems like every team that got their own stadium early, which was a huge step for the league and important in it's development, has now been held back by that stadium. They built them when the ceiling and audience for the league was unambitious. Now they're stuck out in the suburbs.

 

Chicago and Boston have by far the two highest ceilings left for their MLS market. All of these rich guys that are buying in should try to buy the Fire or the Revs and move the team into the city instead of trying to get franchises in Miami, Sacramento, San Antonio or whatever.

 

It could work for Boston since they could move easily. Chicago is stuck in Bridgeview for a while since that stadium is less than 10 years old. It was an awful idea when it was first presented and has played out as such. Put that thing in the South Loop or even by the UC and it's packed.

[Banedon]

Brad Davis ruled out of the gold cup with a knee injury.