2013 MLS Thread, now with 99% less Beckham talk

You're saying that Galaxy have an advantage over other teams in the league because they have owners who spend more, right?

It is true the owners of the LA Galaxy are rich, and haven't been shy about putting the money out to get big names, not that they've always worked out...that owner is Anschutz Entertainment Group, the same owner as Houston Dynamo.
(According to Wiki: The Dynamo is owned by majority owners Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) in partnership with Brener International Group (headed by Gabriel Brener), and world and Olympic boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya).

I'd argue that many of the teams in the lower payroll section aren't avoiding big names because they don't have the cash, but it's because they think they can win without spending the money. In fact, Dominic Kinnear did win it all without spending that much, so he knows he can do it.

Admittedly, the league landscape is changing, and that may have been a factor in Kinnear splitting for San Jose, so you may see the Dynamo make moves this season towards a spendy signing. We shall see...

 

I didn't know Bilbao did that too. As for it being racist or not, all I can say is if you don't think excluding all people outside of a culture isn't racist, we can't agree on what the word means. The question rather is whether you think that sort of racism is OK or not.

 

there is a team called the usmnt and they only play players of germanic descent

 

lol much like the team DFB-Elf who only play players of Turkish descent

 

are you forgetting the Poles ?

 

there is a team called england and they only play players of descendpointment...

 

let me try again. england have a team of people from slow descen(d)t into mediocrity

 

:sign15:

 

I guess Texas can be considered Germany.

 

I wonder if the Galaxy will hire a translator for Gerrard like they did for Juninho and Sarvas? I can't understand a word he's saying.

 

Work stoppage likely ahead for MLS.

Here's why:
http://screamer.deadspin.com/why-ml...ource=deadspin_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

 

Looks like Sebastian Giovinco is headed to MLS in Toronto.
He's supposed to wait 3-4 more years before retiring to milk the USA and Canada for their soccer dollars. Silly Italians.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jan/18/sebastian-giovinco-juventus-mls-toronto-fc

 

Man, I saw that headline briefly and immediately assumed it was Torino in Italy. That's some coup for Toronto if he performs anywhere near his ability.

 

So, the prospect of a strike or lockout seems to be growing.
There is still quite a bit of sabre-rattling going on, but the sides seem very far apart based on the rhetoric.
I don't know if the MLS landscape can withstand a strike at this stage.

Good link on the current state of affairs:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/23/us-soccer-mls-cba-idUSKBN0KW2JK20150123

 

What happens to the players? Can they go out on loan in the meantime if there was one? Just as the MLS is starting to get more important worldwide, it would be a shame for this to have a great impact.

 

i think this deal makes him the highest paid italian player in the world. so given that this is toronto, there is no chance he will perform at a high standard.

 

Agreed. Very poor timing, and I think that gives leverage to the players. Not sure what the players could do in the event of a work stoppage because it hasn't happened specifically in MLS before, however...it has happened in other sports here like MLB, NHL and NBA. In those cases, players did take contracts abroad. In some cases as I recall, they had to fight legal battles in China or Turkey to get back to the states when the lockouts ended.

 

Point well taken, fan old boy. TFC is the Chris Wondolowski in front of the net of MLS front offices.

 

This is the level of scrutiny one must got to when Monday morning quarterbacking your MLS Team.

Roster, Salary, Rules updated: January 22, 2015 / 1:15pm PT
Essentials
2014 Roster Rules
new CBA tba/tbcPlayer Salaries (September 15, 2014)
2015 MLS Transactions

Out
#10 Landon Donovan (368) DP (retired)
#16 Rob Friend (91) INT (retired)
#25 Rafael Garcia (49) (12/11/14 - option declined)
#1 Brian Perk (63) (12/11/14 - option declined)
#26 James Riley (80) (12/11/14 - option declined)
#31 Kyle Venter (61) (12/11/14 - waived)
#30 Chandler Hoffman (49) GA (12/18/14 - Re-Entry Stage 2 Draft to Houston)
#8 Marcelo Sarvas (193) INT (01/15/15 - trade to Colorado with INT spot for 3rd allocation ranking & $)


In
#?? Steven Gerrard (???) DP / INT
#?? Ignacio Maganto INT
#?? Daniel Keller (??)
#?? Andrew Wolverton (??)

#1 Brian Perk (63)

Salary Budget 2014 MLS = $3'100,000 / G's = 2'609'000 $ = 491'000 below
all players with last full known MLS salaries, unconfirmed roster belongings/designations and no allocation money or retention funds.

Roster Overview (MLS in brackets, based on 2014 MLS Rules)
Players = 28 (30)
Designated Players = 03 (03)
Internationals = 8 (7) + 1 to Colorado (duration unknown)
Off Budget = 11 (10)

Salary Budget Players
#7 Robbie Keane (368) DP / INT
#4 Omar Gonzalez (368) DP
#?? Steven Gerrard (???) DP / INT
#19 Juninho (325) INT
#24 Stefan Ishizaki (213) INT
#9 Alan Gordon (207)
#11 Gyasi Zardes (198) HG
#14 Robbie Rogers (168)
#2 Todd Dunivant (161)
#20 AJ DeLaGarza (155)
#18 Jaime Penedo (139) INT
#22 Leonardo (105) INT
#6 Baggio Husidic (90) INT
#1 Brian Perk (63)
#33 Dan Gargan (49)

Off-Budget Players
#21 Tommy Meyer (65)
#33 Jose Villareal (51) HG
#36 Oscar Sorto (51) HG
#32 Jack McBean (49) HG
#34 Kenney Walker (49)
#12 Brian Rowe (49)
#27 Charlie Rugg (49)
#38 Bradford Jamieson (37) HG
#40 Raul Mendiola (37) HG (greencard)
#?? Ignacio Maganto (??) INT
#?? Daniel Keller (??)
#?? Andrew Wolverton (??)

 

woooo Andrew Wolverton!

 

Last year, a man was caught in the White House after scaling the fence and through a comedy of poor security practices got into the White House itself.

His name was Omar Gonzalez.

Each year, league champions get to have a photo op at the White House with the president, and this year's MLS champ LA Galaxy are no exception. In attendance, this time LA Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez.

His Twitter on the occasion was next level..

Enjoy
http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2015/02/02/la-galaxy-white-house-president-obama-omar-gonzalez

 

3-1 Loss to a brand new NASL team.... could be a long year

 

Meh, it's preseason... It's a time to experiment. Don't sweat it.

With Houston and KC (?) coming to the west this year, Western Conference is going to look like a WWI battlefield... Frontal assaults. Bodies everywhere. Once proud nations brought to their knees.

This sets up the east to steal an MLS Cup or even the supporters shield. With NER getting Juan Agudelo back, and the massive fortune Toronto has spent for a second consecutive season, I'd guess those are your front runners, but Chicago, Houston and the newbs in Orlando or NYCFC might upset some teams.

As long as the stupid CBA gets resolved, it will be an interesting season...

 

USL is showing all there games for free live on youtube.. so when the players strike or get locked out.. come on you City Islanders

 

Yeah...this strike thing looks more and more likely...
Interestingly, the MLS affiliated USL Pro teams will still play, and STH get free tickets to the games. So we got that going for us.