The Official Major League Soccer Thread

[LittleOzzy]

That was a terrible decision in my opinion.

I actually like the rule change, but to be fair it shouldn't have started until next season.

[LittleOzzy]

Toronto FC is coming!

I'm actually getting hyped for the season. First time in a very long time.

[edfmx86]

RSL announced their coach yesterday, Jeff Cassar

http://www.realsaltlake.com/news/2013/1 ... head-coach

I'm excited, he has been in Jason coaching staff since the beginning and knows the system as well as anyone in the club. Great with our youth and respected greatly by the vets, who unanimously asked for Jeff to take over when asked by the owner. Also he's adding reggae boy Andy Williams to the staff, LOVE that addition.

[edfmx86]

Kenny Cooper to Seattle feels odd. Zakuani to Portland is just as odd but makes Portland better. Im glad DeRo is going back home. I hope he retires in Toronto.

I dont expect RSL to make any major moves. We are in need of a back up fullback since we lost our main bench full back, Lovel Palmer. I'd hate to see Mansally get a lot of burn this season. Too inconsistent this season, a lot of mistakes. 2014 season can't come soon enough.

Also, if anyone interested, MLS live is on discount price right now to the end of the year, 52 dollars is a great deal, Ill be buying after the holiday.

[PANDEMONEUM]

dam.
wish i saw that 52$ deal for MLS Live.

i talk up the MLS with all my soccer loving friends
1, loves MLS
the others, just listen to amuse me

i hope more moves like Defoe and Bradley happen across the MLS
more TV coverage is needed
more coverage by the sports networks, espn, fox, etc is needed
more importance on the concacaf club tournament is needed

************************

ITS STILL GOING ON, 52$ FOR THE YEAR. SUPER NICE.

[LittleOzzy]

I'm guessing a few of the game times for TFC this season will change to get them on national TV.

What a day they had today.

[Ted Lasso]

I was just reading a haaaaaalarious thread on the Raptors board about how we might pursue LeBron and i saw a post which mentioned that the MLS contributed funds to Toronto FC's purchase of Michael Bradley.

What is that about? is it something that happens on the regular? And how do they determine for which signings and how much to chip in?

[edfmx86]

I was just reading a haaaaaalarious thread on the Raptors board about how we might pursue LeBron and i saw a post which mentioned that the MLS contributed funds to Toronto FC's purchase of Michael Bradley.

What is that about? is it something that happens on the regular? And how do they determine for which signings and how much to chip in?

I've read that its happened a few time, but the other notable signing where MLS chipped in on Dempsey, around 9m. I guess the league owners decide if the move is beneficial to the league as a whole and thats how they decide who they decide to help out. Remember, some of these rules "are being made up as we go a long"

[LittleOzzy]

Yup, sadly it doesn't take much for MLS to change one of it's off the field rules.

[LittleOzzy]

Vancouver's 7th pick just signed with the New York Cosmos.... Talk about a major slight to MLS, and a terrible terrible week for Vancouver news.

[edfmx86]

Vancouver's 7th pick just signed with the New York Cosmos.... Talk about a major slight to MLS, and a terrible terrible week for Vancouver news.

Aren't all draftees signed to MLS after being drafted? What a mess, first the Camilo situation and this only a few days after. Sucks for Vancouver and MLS.

[edfmx86]

If he isn't signed by MLS upon being drafted, then I see no point in having an MLS draft.

[magik9113]

it's kinda like the Fran Vasquez thing back when the Magic wasted a lottery pick on that guy. They can't force you to sign a contract even if you are drafted. but you can't play for any other MLS team

[LittleOzzy]

Though I'm not a Whitecaps fan, I'm glad they resigned their captain. He always seemed like one of the good guys that helps promote our league.

Whitecaps FC re-sign captain Jay DeMerit

Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that the club has re-signed captain Jay DeMerit. Per Major League Soccer and club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

“As he has proven over the last three seasons, Jay is an important member of our club,” said Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson. “He’s a total leader, and he's someone who we had every intention of bringing back. His dedication and professionalism were on full display last season when he returned from a serious injury earlier than expected and proved that he could still compete at a high level. The experience, energy, and standards Jay brings to our group is second to none and we’re delighted that he has committed to continuing his career with our club.”

“When I came to Vancouver three years ago as the club’s first signing, we had a shared vision and commitment to making this club a successful one both on and off the field," said DeMerit. "Our goal has been not only to create a team Whitecaps FC fans can be proud of but to continue to grow the game here in North America. Today, I'm happy to say that our commitment to that long-term goal can continue and I'm thrilled to be a part of this team and this organization. Vancouver has always felt like home and together with my wife, we have a sense of purpose and belonging here in BC. The fans of this club have always been tremendous. They deserve to have success and they deserve players who reflect the loyalty that they show us. With the strong nucleus we have created over the past few years, together with the young talent we will help grow, I believe the future of this club is bright and I look forward to being a part of it.”

http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2014/01 ... ay-demerit

[Double Helix]

I don't know if this was posted yet but it's an excellent writeup from the "The Independent" on the DeFoe move to TFC that's far more open-minded than most of the pieces I've seen outside of North America.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 68600.html

The obituaries have been written, the eulogies have been heard. When Jermain Defoe officially kisses the Premier League goodbye on 28 February he will head west in search of untold wealth and new frontiers. But it comes at a cost, as he is also condemning himself to high-salaried servitude in a footballing backwater, never to be heard from again, with Roy Hodgson unlikely to send out a search party.

Or so some would have you believe. Without wanting to offend any of the so-called "Eurosnobs", as a Canadian tabloid labelled one English football writer, Defoe's transfer to Major League Soccer's Toronto FC isn't so much a "dead end" as a new chapter, and it certainly shouldn't prove to be the final nail in his World Cup coffin.

[LittleOzzy]

I don't know if this was posted yet but it's an excellent writeup from the "The Independent" on the DeFoe move to TFC that's far more open-minded than most of the pieces I've seen outside of North America.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 68600.html

The obituaries have been written, the eulogies have been heard. When Jermain Defoe officially kisses the Premier League goodbye on 28 February he will head west in search of untold wealth and new frontiers. But it comes at a cost, as he is also condemning himself to high-salaried servitude in a footballing backwater, never to be heard from again, with Roy Hodgson unlikely to send out a search party.

Or so some would have you believe. Without wanting to offend any of the so-called "Eurosnobs", as a Canadian tabloid labelled one English football writer, Defoe's transfer to Major League Soccer's Toronto FC isn't so much a "dead end" as a new chapter, and it certainly shouldn't prove to be the final nail in his World Cup coffin.

Very good read, thanks for posting.

Nice to read that a few journalists understand a move to MLS can still be a net positive for players coming from Europe.

[ForeverTFC]

Vancouver's 7th pick just signed with the New York Cosmos.... Talk about a major slight to MLS, and a terrible terrible week for Vancouver news.

Aren't all draftees signed to MLS after being drafted? What a mess, first the Camilo situation and this only a few days after. Sucks for Vancouver and MLS.

The really high profile players (seniors taken at the very top), as well as Generation Adidas players are signed beforehand. The rest work out their contracts (usually minimum salary contracts) after training camp.

Generation Adidas is a venture that allows players to come out of school early and declare for the MLS draft. The kids that sign these contracts get a much higher salary than the league minimum and are given a guaranteed scholarship to go back to school after their playing days are done as they become ineligible for college sports.

So Generation Adidas lures in the younger talent from college (and includes homegrown players). The graduating senior class will often have players which did not receive Gen Adidas offers or bloomed late. These guys are often high picks and are under contract by draft time.

So essentially, you are left with either seniors who have finished school and were never looked at as a potential pro, or the younger players who chose to forgo school to start their career who were not recruited into the Gen Adidas program. There is no guarantee that these players will even make the roster after training camp, which is the reason why they are not given contracts. That's not to say that good players do not come out of this bunch.

As a side note, Generation Adidas players do not count against the cap.

[ForeverTFC]

Vancouver's 7th pick just signed with the New York Cosmos.... Talk about a major slight to MLS, and a terrible terrible week for Vancouver news.

He is going to be loaned back to the Whitecap by the Cosmos.

It's likely that he got to sign a bigger contract than he would have with the MLS, the Cosmos will likely never pay his fees unless he is a total bust and will make money off of any future transfer for him,

Vancouver gets screwed because they take a bigger cap hit, and then will have to pay a transfer fee for him to keep him if they want him after the loan spell.

All in all, everyone wins because screw the Whitecaps.

http://www.soccerbyives.net/2014/01/rep ... ecaps.html

[PANDEMONEUM]

can i get some people to comment on their teams player
like, what position(s) do they play, left/right footed
what the outlook on them is
if they like the player
etc....

Alexander, Eric M 6-1 165 04/14/88 Portage, Mich. New York Red Bulls

Gil, Luis M 5-9 155 11/14/93 Garden Grove, Calif. Real Salt Lake

Harrington, Michael D 6-0 170 01/24/86 Greenville, N.C. Portland Timbers

Magee, Mike M 5-10 160 09/02/84 Chicago, Ill. Chicago Fire

McCarty, Dax M 5-9 150 04/30/87 Winter Park, Fla. New York Red Bull

[edfmx86]

can i get some people to comment on their teams player
like, what position(s) do they play, left/right footed
what the outlook on them is
if they like the player
etc....

Alexander, Eric M 6-1 165 04/14/88 Portage, Mich. New York Red Bulls

Gil, Luis M 5-9 155 11/14/93 Garden Grove, Calif. Real Salt Lake

Harrington, Michael D 6-0 170 01/24/86 Greenville, N.C. Portland Timbers

Magee, Mike M 5-10 160 09/02/84 Chicago, Ill. Chicago Fire

McCarty, Dax M 5-9 150 04/30/87 Winter Park, Fla. New York Red Bull

Luis Gil is an attacking minded midfielder, he usually starts at the left mid for RSL. Salt Lake's confidence in him is what made trading away Will Johnson to Portland so much easier, the kid has tons of potential. I criticize him a lot throughout the season this year because there were many times he couldn't find the back of the net, so his finishing needs some work. His play making is excellent, I'd say he's our second best creator right behind Javier Morales. Makes the right pass most of the time. He's always running and being as young as he is, he can run for days. He isn't that big, but he scored a few goals with his head this year from set plays and corners.

I've said this to my buddies since the beginning of the 2012 season, Luis Gil will be playing in Europe after the world cup, I still believe this, I hope RSL can hold on to him for a while though

Here are some gems from 2013
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUAUwk0WPVg[/youtube]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQu1b3zak58[/youtube]


I don't know much about Mike Magee except that he scores lots of goals. Awesome player though, i like watching him play a lot more now that he isn't on LA