2012 MLS Thread

[CBW]

2011 is done. Time to start talking 2012!

The new Houston Dynamo Downtown Stadium will be awesome.

Montreal is the new team in town with a 'new' rufurbished stadium next to Olympic Stadium or whatever the Frenchy's call it these days.

The Pacific Northwest enhances the league. Can't say enough about the passion they bring to the league.

LA is still a bunch of deuche bags.

NY is trying to buy a championship and fans at the same time.

Philly looks legit. Passionate fan base and good team.

I wish the 20th MLS team would be in Mexico City or something. That would be full of win minus the fear a team being kidnapped!

[Durant Durant]

A little early for this, but still looking forward to it. Seattle signed some new goalie from over in Europe, an Austrian who's been playing in Greece for the last 4 years. Supposedly he's pretty decent, and should be great in the MLS. Dude is 6'5" too, not exactly a small guy. Per his wikipedia:

He is known for being a solid and dominant keeper and also a good penalty-stopper.

Keeper was definitely my biggest concern for the Sounders going into next year. It still is, because regardless of how good this guy is he can't replace Keller's leadership. Keller was a $#@!ing boss out there ordering around the back 4 and making sure people are in position and what not. Hopefully this guy will be vocal as well.

We're also opening the season at home for the 4th year in a row. Probably will be on TV vs another big club! First kick is always a fun match! Can't wait for next season, and to continue our dominance in Cascadia.


ps: $#@! PORTLAND! (just wanna set the tone from the jump on this thread)

[Durant Durant]

2011 is done. Time to start talking 2012!

The new Houston Dynamo Downtown Stadium will be awesome.

I wish the 20th MLS team would be in Mexico City or something. That would be full of win minus the fear a team being kidnapped!

So the Dynamo WILL be playing in that new stadium next season? Might have to go down there and hit that match, I definitely want to see that new stadium.

And LMFAO @ an MLS team in Mexico City. That would be disastrous. It'd never happen anyways, Mexico has their own thriving league so I doubt a major city like that in the middle of the country would join the MLS. Now maybe we can get the Nuevo Laredo Drug Mules or something, that would be interesting.

I could see the next MLS expansion team either being in northern California (Bay Area) or somewhere in North Carolina-area, or up the east coast where college soccer is really big.

[FondrenRoad]

I've heard talk of the Cosmos returning. Don't think Red Bull would allow it, however. But LA does have two teams already so it's not unprecedented.

[Durant Durant]

Sounders schedule released! http://www.soundersfc.com/Matchday/Schedule.aspx?y=2012

Going to try to hit a few away matches this year:

6/24 - Portland away
9/29 - Vancouver away
$#@!TY! We don't play @ Houston. I really wanted to see that new stadium!

[triplehorn]

We can't ask for a better set up for taking the Cascadia Cup this year. We play both Seattle and Vancouver twice at home and once on the road.

Looks like instead of home an away with East teams, the schedule is stacked for in conference games, hence the 3 games per conference foe. Portland away at Houston could be in the cards for me this year. I hosted my brother last fall. He's already champin to return the favor.

[Durant Durant]

We can't ask for a better set up for taking the Cascadia Cup this year. We play both Seattle and Vancouver twice at home and once on the road.

Looks like instead of home an away with East teams, the schedule is stacked for in conference games, hence the 3 games per conference foe. Portland away at Houston could be in the cards for me this year. I hosted my brother last fall. He's already champin to return the favor.

Yeah, they moved to keep things more local in terms of scheduling. I think it will be good for building rivalries. We've got Ports$#@! and Vancouver away twice, but host LA twice. I'll definitely be heading down for the two Portland away matches. Looking forward to that $#@!!

[tantric superman]

Thank God the best columbian in the league, Ferreria, is going to be healthy.

[Harry J.]

Omar Gonzalez finally got called up to the recent USMNT's camp only to leave to go on loan at FC Nurnberg. Things are looking up and up!...until first day of practice with Nurnberg, and Gonzalez tears his ACL on a tackle by none other than Timmy Chandler. $#@!kkkkk

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_b...-acl-tear.html

Tough loss for the Galaxy defense

[LurkingHorn]

Omar Gonzalez finally got called up to the recent USMNT's camp only to leave to go on loan at FC Nurnberg. Things are looking up and up!...until first day of practice with Nurnberg, and Gonzalez tears his ACL on a tackle by none other than Timmy Chandler. $#@!kkkkk

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_b...-acl-tear.html


Tough loss for the Galaxy defense

Damn. Feel bad for the guy. LA is going to have to scramble now.

[Durant Durant]

Thank God the best columbian in the league, Ferreria, is going to be healthy.

LOL. Only in Dallas is 16 goals in 60 matches > 13 goals in 30 matches

Good luck this year.

[Durant Durant]

Omar Gonzalez finally got called up to the recent USMNT's camp only to leave to go on loan at FC Nurnberg. Things are looking up and up!...until first day of practice with Nurnberg, and Gonzalez tears his ACL on a tackle by none other than Timmy Chandler. $#@!kkkkk

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_b...-acl-tear.html

Tough loss for the Galaxy defense

That sucks. Was really looking forward to seeing him with the USMNT.

[Napoleon]

That sucks. Was really looking forward to seeing him with the USMNT.

Me too.

AND The Olympic Team...

[Texaskimo]

Me too.

AND The Olympic Team...

Is the national team different from the olympic team?

[Napoleon]

Is the national team different from the olympic team?

In Men's Soccer- YES!!

In Women's Soccer- NO!

In Men's, it's a U-23 team (which actually means 23 years old & under most of the time) + 3 overage players (at the discretion of the country). Most countries in Europe don't take the Olympics that seriously, so Latin America or African teams tend to win the gold medal over European teams. I'm actually not completely sure Gonzalez was eligible. But he most certainly won't play now.

But first we have to qualify anyway.

[Napoleon]

I wouldn't mind seeing this guy leave the MLS for Spain. He should have focused on Spain from the get-go, but he always had bigger plans than a La Liga cellar dweller.

Freddy Adu dreams of European football



There's still excitement in Freddy Adu's voice, even after years of bouncing from club to club. The 22-year-old American midfielder, who plays for the Philadelphia Union, was recently back in Europe. This time it was with Madrid-based club Rayo Vallecano, situated in the southern part of the Spanish capital. Though it was just a 10-day training stint, Adu felt right at home in Europe with a ball between his feet.

"I definitely miss playing in Europe," Adu said via phone from Madrid. "I always said that when I went back to MLS, I wanted stability, and that I wouldn't go back until I could play for a top-five league. But if I did get the chance, I'd have to pursue it."...

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/new...ootball-soccer

[pacman]

2012 SuperDraft today

FC Dallas up next

http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/2012/roundbyround

[Durant Durant]

2012 SuperDraft today

FC Dallas up next

http://www.mlssoccer.com/superdraft/2012/roundbyround

Was surprised to see Wenger go #1. Not that I know much about these kids but everything I saw had Mattocks going #1 (he went #2 to Vancouver).

Dallas takes a defender from UNC - Matt Hedges

[Harry J.]

Kenny Cooper was traded by Portland to NY Red Bulls. Lots of forwards at NY now, but this article claims that Agudelo could very well be on his way out. I'd love to see Agudelo get more playing time.

[Harry J.]

George John loaned to West Ham

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/120120...rs-switch.html

[Augie's Homeboy]

I wouldn't mind seeing this guy leave the MLS for Spain. He should have focused on Spain from the get-go, but he always had bigger plans than a La Liga cellar dweller.



http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/new...ootball-soccer

Rayo really liked Freddy when he was there. He won over the locker room and the club wants him to come back, it's just a question of the numbers getting worked out.

[triplehorn]

Defender Andrew Jean-Baptiste and midfielder Brendan King drafted by Portland today in the SuperDraft. From Timbers site:

The Timbers selected Jean-Baptiste from the University of Connecticut with the No. 8 overall pick and selected King from the University of Notre Dame in the second round (No. 27 overall).

“We had identified the players we were after,” said Timbers General ManagerGavin Wilkinson. “With our No. 8 pick, we definitely wanted to add a quality piece, and I think we got that with Andrew. He was a player that we identified and a player that we wanted. It was good that he fell to the No. 8 spot and we were able to acquire him.”

A member of Generation adidas, Jean-Baptiste, 19, played two collegiate seasons at Connecticut, appearing in 45 games and recording three goals and two assists. As a sophomore, the Brentwood, N.Y., native anchored the Husky’s backline that allowed just 10 goals and recorded a program-record 16 shutouts in 2011. Jean-Baptiste led Connecticut to the finals of the BIG EAST championship tournament and the semifinals of the 2011 NCAA tournament.

Following the season, Jean-Baptiste was named the BIG EAST Conference Defensive Player of the Year, received Soccer America second-team MVP honors and earned a spot on the NSCAA All-Northeast Region first team. He was a member of the U.S. U-20 National Team player pool in 2010.

Jean-Baptiste is 6'2" and 205 lbs. Built to truck. Glad to see Portland is focusing on shoring up the D. It was ridiculous how many times the Timbers got a lead and couldn't hold it to finish last year.

[tantric superman]

George John loaned to West Ham

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/120120...rs-switch.html

Pretty good stuff and excited for John. He'll work his way into the Premiership one way or another.

http://www.whufc.com/articles/201201...236884_2572437

[pacman]

John's situation explains the Hedges pick.

[elfenix]

dynamo stadium will be the most architecturally interesting stadium in texas. not that it isn't a rip off of the bird's nest in china. but that's better than reliant, which looks like the GRB.

[Jack]

dynamo stadium will be the most architecturally interesting stadium in texas. not that it isn't a rip off of the bird's nest in china. but that's better than reliant, which looks like the GRB.

As a FCD fan, I hate to say it, but it appears your stadium will blow our stadium away.

[Napoleon]

dynamo stadium will be the most architecturally interesting stadium in texas. not that it isn't a rip off of the bird's nest in china. but that's better than reliant, which looks like the GRB.

As a FCD fan, I hate to say it, but it appears your stadium will blow our stadium away.

As a Dallas Cowboys' fan, I find the first statement so laughable that I need to go to the bathroom to make sure that I don't piss myself.

[Jack]

As of last week the FC Dallas stadium is no longer called Pizza Hut Park. The naming rights sponsorship ended on January 7th and was not renewed. The stadiums new name is FC Dallas Stadium. This will be the name until a new sponsorship agreement is reached with someone.

Hopefully this won't impact the clubs ability to sign quality players to replace the good players we've been losing.

[elfenix]

As a Dallas Cowboys' fan, I find the first statement so laughable that I need to go to the bathroom to make sure that I don't piss myself.

while cowboys stadium is certainly nicer looking than the george r brown inspired reliant stadium, it's still not really interesting from an architectural standpoint in the way UoP stadium or the birds nest are.

[CBW]

Reliant Stadium and The George R Brown convention center look nothing alike. Reliant is made with all glass and is a 1st class stadium that is a better stadium than Cowboys Stadium. The idea of an all glass exterior from Cowboys Stadium is from Reliant, btw.

The George R Brown Convention Center is modeled after a river boat and has no windows or glass on the exterior at all.

How are they similar in any way? They are both big?

[tantric superman]

Interested to see how new FCD players Blas Perez and Carlos Rodriguez of Panama do tonight.

[Lazarus Bocanegra]

Interested to see how new FCD players Blas Perez and Carlos Rodriguez of Panama do tonight.

I predict we'll see some flopping and general bitchery, at least from Perez.

[tantric superman]

I predict we'll see some flopping and general bitchery, at least from Perez.

When accompanied by at least a few goals, I will be fine with it. FCD has been playing with no fowards. Perez and Ferrera and Shea will be able to make some connections.

[triplehorn]

Portland Timbers' newest addition, I believe for something north of 2 mil per year:

PORTLAND, Ore. – The Portland Timbers today announced the signing of Scottish forward Kris Boyd as a Designated Player. Boyd is the Scottish Premier League’s all-time leading scorer with 164 goals. Per league and club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Timbers general manager Gavin Wilkinson made the announcement.

Boyd, 28, is one of the most prolific strikers in Scottish football, scoring 164 goals in 296 appearances in the Scottish Premier League with clubs Kilmarnock FC (2000-05) and Rangers FC (2006-10). He netted 101 goals during his time with Rangers, and is a four-time winner of the SPL’s goal-scoring title. Boyd has been capped 18 times by the Scotland National Team.

Since 2000, Boyd has scored 176 goals in 335 career matches, playing in the top leagues of Scotland, England and Turkey. He will be added to the club’s roster pending the receipt of his P-1 Visa and the successful completion of a physical.

[Durant Durant]

Not MLS, but related. One month til the CL picks back up:

Mar 6 & 13 - Plays winner of Pumas/Metapan in Semi's
Morelia/Monterrey

Mar 7 & 14 - Winners play in Semi's
LA/Toronto
Seattle/Santos

March 8 & 15 - Plays winner of Morelia/Monterrey in Semi's
Pumas/Metapan

Seriously of all teams Seattle had to draw Santos. They'll probably end up winning it all but I like ours and LA's chances. Rest of the teams would be a longshot at best. I'll be at the March 7 Sounders match!

[bikerack]

Mark Berman from Fox 26 in Houston just tweeted this:

MLS sources tell FOX26 Sports the Dynamo are in advanced talks with Montreal that would send the rights to Brian Ching back to Houston

[Napoleon]

There's a decent possibility that I'm going to be in DC for the DC UNITED vs FC DALLAS match on Friday, March 30th. And I've got an in for FREE TICKETS, though I have no idea where I would have to sit.

This could be pretty cool.

[triplehorn]

Yesterday Portland signed Camaroonian midfielder Franck Songo'o, a 24y/o with experience in La Liga and the EPL who is drawn to what the MLS offers in level of competition opportunities for playing time. He had 4 assists in 4 games this past week in pre-season games that included wins over Galaxy and Dynamo, and he got inked by the Timbers. I'm excited to see this guy play and excited that the MLS is poised to increasingly become a viable league for young international talent to make an impact. I'm more interested in watching this development than watching the Becks and Henrys in their twilight years.

Songo’o certainly is no stranger to high-level play. The 24-year-old spent his formative years in the Barcelona youth system, and started his professional career in the English Premier League with Portsmouth FC in 2005 before moving onto Spain’s La Liga.

Songo’o said he wanted to play a larger role with a team after seeing sporadic playing time over the past two seasons.

“It’s a young league, but I think it’s a very good one and it’s coming out with some really good players,” Songo’o said of MLS. “And I think the level is really high, so it’s really nice to play here. I haven’t played in very many games, and I wanted to play in as many as possible.”

[pacman]

Agree with you there triple. Exciting news for Portland fans.

[Napoleon]

Agree with you there triple. Exciting news for Portland fans.

Agree with you pacman. That's an excellent avatar.

[Durant Durant]

San Jose approved the new stadium yesterday. I've never been to the old one but one of my buddies went to a few Sounders away matches there and said it was pretty terrible. I guess last year or the year before the group was jumping and the stands started shaking and creaking and $#@! like they were gonna break. Probably a good call for San Jose, new stadium doesn't look too bad either.

[zepol87]

Let's do this FC Dallas!!! Well get to go to a few games this when i'm up visiting from Monterrey. Went to a Tigres game down here us freaking insane

[tantric superman]

3/03 5:00 PM CST FC Dallas vs. Houston Dynamo (Consolation Game)
Disney Tournament.

See if there will be some spitting like last year.

[Harry J.]

I read that George John is coming back to FCD. I wonder if he will suffer a slump coming back. I think he only has one year left on his MLS contract?

[tantric superman]

I think he will be fine. Some unexpected competition in the back will be good for FCD.

I really would love him to get a real opportunity -- the US team perhaps.

[tantric superman]

woo hoo. 3rd place.

FCD with an injured Ferrara may suck badly. With him they can at least be a tad scary.

[Durant Durant]

Sounders beat Santos 2-1 last night in the first leg of their CL clash! Big win, but giving up the 1 away goal definitely scares me. Hopefully we can get that one back in Mexico in two weeks. Would be huge if we can get past these guys! LA/Toronto drew 2-2 in Toronto and Monterrey smoked Morelia 3-1.

[tantric superman]

Did Eddie Johnson play? What are the expections over there?

[deech]

Did Eddie Johnson play? What are the expections over there?

He played and came off the bench. To be honest, I thought he looked great as when he came on he looked explosive/dangerous. He had one header that he probably should have put on frame but went just wide, but other than that did not have any clear cut chances.

[Grammer Police]

I'm looking forward to this season. I'll set my DVR for more games this year than last. What's the ESPN/ABC situation this season?