2013 MLS Thread, now with 99% less Beckham talk

:jumping1:

 

Lampard would be a good signing. He'll offer a lot more than Beckham. He'll score a lot more and be involved a lot more. He's got good fitness levels - rarely injured - and isn't likely to be spending much time at celebrity events back in London.

 

I can't see it though. There is no way his Mrs would get a job over in America, it's difficult enough understanding her accent over here, letting alone the Americans understanding it!

I fancy another good year for the 'caps though I worry our designated players are getting that one year older and that we need another proper marque signing. Someone like Simeon Jackson in August would be a good bet.

 

I think Posh not getting a steady job here either proved it couldn't be done or had to be done by someone who had a lot more talent.

I think the Galaxy and MLS are ready for a pro and not just a figure head. We shall see if all this works out or not, but I can tell you that Galaxy fans are generally positive about this move.
Edit:

 

Has he actually joined Fitz?

 

I think so. It hasn't been formally announced, but it is all but done according to the grapevine. AEG is likely planning some splashy event for the formal announcement. America doesn't have soccer rumors...

 

So what's with the Fox TV shot in your other post? Is it a mocked up fake?

 

No, screenshot from a story. I'm serious when I say we don't have soccer rumors. The game isn't do fawned over by al sports journalists here. Instead, it struggles for space on air and there is no time for idle chit chat, especially with spring training for baseball a few weeks away, the height of the NBA season is on us, Hockey is due to start today and the NFL goes into it's semifinal week. On top of that Manti Te'o and his invisible girlfriend and the disintegration of Lance Armstrong leave us no time for BS. No, we understand this to be a done deal, just awaiting a stupid showy announcement, which is AEG's way.

 

Haha, I have been reading up on him. I lay money that there will be a video of him on SKYPE knocking one off to an imaginary woman in the following weeks!

Fitz, if you get Lampard, he will be immense for you. Still one of the best goalscoring players in the Prem, I would be very surprised if he did join you in August, perhaps another year, yes, but if you get him now, you will have a very good player on your hands and far better than Beckham as he will get you goals.

 

I'm pretty sure this is a done deal, with Lampard joining after his season at Chelsea wraps up, so sometime in June or July. Hopefully the Galaxy have some chemistry going that I can be worried about him screwing up as he tries to fit in. I am much happier about him joining than the last Prem Legend. I don't mean Chris Birchall. The word is Kaka is in after the Brazil World Cup wraps up, too. It's kind of weird having players of this caliber on my local team week in and week out.

I suppose there could be a hitch along the way, but I really don't have any doubt this will happen.

It will be interesting to see what happens to the MLS designated player arms race as a result. Beckham was always seen as a glamour move and indeed it took years for him to produce on the field. The Lampard deal is a football move, pure and simple. Reality is Lampard doesn't have much appeal to the huge Hispanic market here, not like Kaka does. Like Keane, his contribution will be huge in the results of the games and that makes those fans of the team very happy, and makes the league more competitive.

I am genuinely excited about this deal.

 

I download the PTI and Around the Horn podcasts (as well as a ton of NFL podcasts), and Soccer just doesn't come on these shows radars. I remember the briefest mention of Messi's Ballon d'Or win, and quite a bit of conversation about Zlatan's goal against England, but nothing about the MLS. Why does football still not register in the American media, despite the high participation and very very respectable attendance figures?

I also noticed the draft this week. Am I correct in thinking there were only 2 rounds to the draft? And how do the Super Draft and Supplemental draft work together? It seems very small scale compared to the drafts in other sports.

 

MLS drafts are really different than most other sports in the US because in most of the other sports, the draft is the only way, outside of rare foreign free agents, that you can join the league. MLS has budding new academies, the Generation Adidas contracts, re-entry drafts...it is very confusing even to one who pays attention. The regular draft is for college kids coming out of school. Supplemental is for players in non-college leagues like USL or NASL.

It's a very compartmentalized sport here. If you like soccer, you probably also like other sports like basketball, hockey or football. But if you like baseball or football, you hate soccer... The mainstream sports media can't figure out how to handle soccer yet. A lot of red blooded Americans reflexively hate soccer because their daddies hated soccer. The 2010 World Cup it a big dent on that problem, and it is really making strides, but it has a long way to go and a lot of competition along the way...

Edit: also, Americans expect to be the best, and in world football, we aren't so I think there is a bit of "If I can't beat you, it must be a stupid sport"... I try to appeal to my fellow Americans instinct to be number one when talking about soccer, but it is still an uphill battle.

 

Looks like MLS calendar may be catching on...sounds like the Germans are into it now.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...nter.football.3rd.ld.writethru.673/index.html

 

I think this completely on deal is now off.

Lampard has been so good, even Abramovich's hubris can't allow him to let Lampard get away from Chelsea. I'm certain he will be re-signed there. I was watching him since the news about him coming to the Galaxy got serious and he really would have been a great addition to the MLS Champs. I've always appreciated his play, and it seemed he turned it up a notch and made himself indispensable.

I think all the contract stuff was written up with AEG/Galaxy and was just waiting the close season for an autograph. I'm a little disappointed to be honest. I was looking forward to having a player of his caliber setting the bar higher for the expectations of a Designated Player in MLS.

Now AEG will have to try to find a new poster boy, with Kaka not likely until after the World Cup.

 

Afraid to say I could never have seen Lampard joining, as I said earlier in the tread, still good enough to play here and with his family and that all this way, can;t see him moving cross the pond. Any ideas on who you will go for now? Can't think of really any big name players still without a club? Shame Odemwingie isn't more well known, would be a great signing!

Fitz, is there any good sites with previews for the season yet? Would be good to see who has left/joined the clubs and all that. The 'caps seemed to have got rid of a few like Barry Robson and Atiba Haris and not really replaced them. Bit concerned about their strike force now, when a season or so ago, it seemed they only dealt in strikers in the team and Jay at the back, now it's the other way round.

Surprised they didn't try for Drogba or Anelka?

 

Iwelumo and Eustace are available

 

I suspect the Galaxy will stand pat until summer and use what they have, which is last year's team minus Beckham plus Carlo Cudicini, which isn't bad. In the summer transfer window maybe something will come up.

Still an outside chance of Ronaldinho, but he really doesn't seem that interested in the US.

There are still a lot of teams getting the pieces into place yet. The Guardian will do an MLS preview in a couple weeks. It is among the most concise around. US media still pretty well ignores our little sport. You can also get the MLS app for your phone or tablet that has a decent bit of coverage and shows highlights and all that.

 

Connor Casey and Le Toux, taking the East by storm.

 

Nigel Reo-Coker joins the 'caps! 4 year contract having turned down a deal at Ipswich. Still only 28 and Championship quality, a good signing I reckon.

 

Interesting...I think he could do well in the 'Couve.

 

As an LA fan, I loved reading this article on Keane. He is such a breath of fresh air from the complications of the Beckham and Donovan tribulations over the past 5 years.

I hope Donovan can get his head straight, but if he doesn't, I have no worries at all about the state of the Galaxy.

Robbie Keane: The unvarnished, uncomplicated, ruthless face of MLS

 

I told you you would like this guy just before you signed him, looks like I was right :sign12:

 

I always believed you!

 

Hoyos Always a top player for me in FM, for the USMNT. So by logical should be good

 

Per your request, sir.
Parker at the Guardian does the best job of summarizing the big picture.

Western Conference Preview from The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/feb/27/mls-2013-season-preview-western-conference

Eastern Conference Preview from The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/feb/26/mls-2013-season-preview-eastern-conference


And also...
An interesting piece on the the League's arcane "Discovery" Process
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110...ditor-a-look-inside-the-mls-discovery-process

 

Oh man, I've just seen that we picked up Andrew Driver from Hearts. That could be a really good signing, it's not long ago he was being linked with the likes of Liverpool. With him and Davis on the wings, we'll be looking pretty dangerous. I like it.

Nice preview, thanks for posting Fitzy.

 

Season kicks off today..! Seemed a very short off season, but I'm not complaining.
Galaxy play Chicago tomorrow afternoon.

 

Hat trick for Magee! G's win 4-0

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/03/03/mls-match-recap-la-galaxy-4-chicago-fire-0

I appear at the 0:12 mark.

 

Just caught up with the 'caps game highlights this evening. We prove yet again that we are the best team in Canada with a 1-0 win against Toronto, who have just signed Rob Earnshaw. But the big result from the game was a poor one for the 'caps and Watford. Jay reputed his achilles as will be out 'indefinitely'. At his age, I hate to say it, but it might be the end of the season for him already and by next season, he will a few months passed his 34th birthday.

It seems MLS clubs just love signing these Championships players who are nearing the end of their careers at the moment. There has been a few especially through BC Pace recently with Miller and Robson last season and now Reo-Coker at the 'caps and Earnie at Toronto. The 'caps have also signed a bloke called Kobayashi, I though it would have been one of the 'Usual Suspects'

 

If they sign Keyser Soce, you know the whole league is in trouble.

 

CONCACAF Champions League update:
Smiles in Seattle and LA as both advance into the next round.

Seattle needed a red card to Tigres to get moving, but they put in 3 goals to win on aggregate over Tigres B-Team. The A-Team stayed home to stay fresh for their Mexican League push.

LA won in style 4-1 over Costa Rican Champ Herediano. It was a fair result. Two teenagers scored for the Galaxy in Jose Villareal and Jack McBean. Keane and Gonzalez also scored.

Sad faces in Houston as Herc Gomez scores for Santos Laguna in a 3-0 rout over the Dynamo. Sorry Lukey...

Next round is in April where Seattle will face Herc and Santos Laguna, while the Galaxy meet Monterrey.

 

Seems inevitable for a Santos Laguna Galaxy Final, where Herc will come back to Haunt the Galaxy

 

I am suprised the man that done this....
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went and done this....
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Oh well, nice to see the Western Conference table at the moment anyway (even if after only a game or 2!). Kobayashi is not a 'suspect' player it seems.

 

Here is a little scene setting drama to spice up the Santos vs Seattle match.

Sigi Schmid is the coach at Seattle and was famously fired by the LA Galaxy for playing a dull, yet championship earning, brand of soccer while the team was in first place midway through the season. The year before, Hercules Gomez was a little known discovery player for the Galaxy who got a chance to play while Donovan was away preparing for what would turn out to be a sad effort for USA in World Cup 2006.

In Donovan's absence, he tore MLS up! The Galaxy won the US Open Cup and the MLS cup, but all the while though, Sigi never appreciated Herc's style and told him 'You should consider another line of work because there is not a future in soccer for you'. Then he traded Herc to Colorado, who couldn't figure out how to use him, who then traded him to KC who sat him.

Finally, his MLS contract was up, and he'd been beat down by MLS and just took off for Mexico. He got a low paying contract at Pachuca, came on as a sub and blasted Mexican Football all season long winning the Golden Boot while only playing half a season. He's moved on to Santos and a big payday and you better believe Herc will be trying to have a multi goal performance against his old gaffer Sigi...

Herc Gomez


Sigi 'Who Ate All The Pies' Schmid