The 2017 Major League Soccer Thread

Jimy Hendrix

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Oh nice, the team that won that noise complaint game is a pub team from a bar that I'd be watching matches at if I were to put pants on in the morning and go somewhere rather than just watching at home.

They play (and likely get whooped by, but who knows?) Louisville next Wednesday night for a $5 ticket. I should drop by after work.
 

saintnick912

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On the Revs broadcast (wow RSL looks bad), they say there is a new more advanced fieldturf surface in Foxboro. Applicable for the Patriots also.
 

Titans Bastard

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On the Revs broadcast (wow RSL looks bad), they say there is a new more advanced fieldturf surface in Foxboro. Applicable for the Patriots also.
RSL's roster is not that good to begin with and they've been decimated by injuries and now international absences (they sent four guys to the U20 WC). That was definitely one of those must-have home wins that a middling Revs team can't afford to drop.


Random thoughts:
  • Toronto is killing it right now with six wins in a row despite a lot of travel (they are coming off back-to-back two-game weeks). They just have great depth for MLS at just about every position. They are six points clear of the field right now, though a number of other teams have games in hand.
  • Portland didn't have a single American starter yesterday, nor did any domestic players come off the bench. The Timbers have always been one of the worst franchises to watch if you're interested in watching Americans develop.
  • Dallas is undefeated in nine games even though their big forward signing Cristian Colman hasn't been producing and their best attacker Mauro Diaz hasn't made it back from injury yet. Diaz is back in training; when he's up to speed, Dallas is going to be scary. Their CM/CB spine is amazing.
  • Weird to see both LA and Seattle out of the playoffs at the moment. Seattle's chances of a turnaround seem better - LA's talent level just isn't what it once was.
  • The Sacramento MLS bid has acquired Sacramento Republic. The Sacramento application in the latest round of expansion awkwardly did not have any signs it was going to be connected to the Republic, despite the USL's popularity. Sacramento's entry now looks even more likely.
 

Titans Bastard

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Oh nice, the team that won that noise complaint game is a pub team from a bar that I'd be watching matches at if I were to put pants on in the morning and go somewhere rather than just watching at home.

They play (and likely get whooped by, but who knows?) Louisville next Wednesday night for a $5 ticket. I should drop by after work.
Welp, Tartan Devils ended up losing to Louisville 9-0. Ouch.

A few amateur-over-pro upsets in the second round:

Christos FC (MD) beat Richmond Kickers
Reading United beat NY Cosmos
Michigan Bucks beat Indy Eleven
Chicago FC United beat Pittsburgh Riverhounds

The third round is the last round before MLS clubs enter:

Rochester Rhinos (USL) vs. GPS Omens (LQ)
Jacksonville Armada (NASL) vs. Charleston Battery (USL)
FC Cincinnati (USL) vs. Louisville City (USL)
North Carolina FC (NASL) vs. Charlotte Eagles (PDL)
Miami FC (NASL) vs. Tampa Bay Rowdies (USL)
Reading United (PDL) vs. Harrisburg City Islanders (USL)
Michigan Bucks (PDL) vs. Saint Louis FC (USL)
Chicago FC United (NPSL) vs. Christos FC (LQ)
Tulsa Roughnecks (USL) vs. San Antonio FC (USL)
Colorado Springs Switchbacks (USL) vs. OKC Energy (USL)
Phoenix Rising (USL) vs San Francisco Deltas (NASL)
LA Wolves (LQ) vs. Orange County SC (USL)
Sacramento Republic (USL) vs. Reno 1868 (USL)

NASL = D2 North American Soccer League
USL = D2 United Soccer League
PDL = Premier Development League
NPSL = National Premier Soccer League
LQ = Local Qualifier

PDL and NPSL are the soccer equivalent of summer college leagues.


The third round has three NASL vs. USL bragging rights games and one amateur team is guaranteed to advance because of the Chicago FC United vs. Christos game. GPS Omens, who play in Revere, are carrying the torch for local amateurs.
 

Jimy Hendrix

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It was *very* apparent which team are amateurs to the point where they don't even practice apart from game nights because they've got actual jobs.

Still pretty fun for $5 plus snacks though.
 

Pesky Pole

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Went to the Union - Rapids game last night. The hapless Union are suddenly the surging Union with their fourth win in a row. The new guys are starting to blend into the team and Ilsinho is actually trying this season. Bedoya is back to playing the destroyer role and Gooch is resurrected.

Odd red card in the game as Calvert was given a yellow for time wasting on a fake injury. He went off on the end line then stood there waiting to re-enter. Since he was on the end line, the ref left him there. He got tired of waiting and just ran back on. Second yellow and a red. At that point, the 1-1 game was all Union.
 

Titans Bastard

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Revs vs. Columbus right now. The wrong (Ola) Kamara scored a golazo of a volley from outside the box after a great Jermaine Jones-esque diagonal from Wil Trapp.

The Crew have been dominating thus far at Gillette. And just squandered an easy chance to go up 2-0.
 

Titans Bastard

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Well, 1-1 just like that. Trapp was stripped through pressure from Femi and Rowe, then Rowe started a three-pass sequence that resulted in an easy finish for Diego Fagundez.
 

Titans Bastard

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2-1! Fagundez scores again after a sort-of give-and-go with Kei Kamara; the return pass, I think, was actually a toe poke from the Columbus defender. The Crew defense looked pretty slow on that one.
 

Titans Bastard

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Andrew Farrell received a well-deserved red card at the end, but the Revs hold on for a 2-1 win. An important three points against an opponent from the East.
 

Titans Bastard

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LA's central midfield is a total dumpster fire right now. Lletget is out until at least late July, but probably longer. Jermaine Jones has an MCL strain and is out for at least another couple of weeks. Yesterday, Baggio Husidic broke his leg and Joao Pedro came off with a hamstring injury.

It's MLS so anything can happen, but it really feels like one of those rare off years for the Galaxy where they crash and burn. They starting off weak on the talent front and all these injuries are going to kill them. Robbie Rogers is done for the season too.
 

Titans Bastard

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If Je-Vaughn Watson never played another minute for the Revs, I would be very okay with that. Being able to play seven positions at a below-average level is just not doing it for me.
 

robssecondjob

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Brave performance by Xavier Kouassi with the equalizer for the Revs last evening. Hopping around on one leg after a groin or hip tweak (and no subs left), he headed in a cross from Kelyn Rowe to save the road point.
 
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Titans Bastard

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US Open Cup 3rd Round was last night.

Local amateurs GPS Omens pushed Rochester to extra time, but the Rhinos won with a goal at 120'+2'. The only amateur team to survive was Christos FC, who beat another amateur team. They'll play DC United next.

The Revs are hosting the Rochester Rhinos at Providence College's soccer stadium. Bummer they aren't playing at Harvard again.
 

ThePrideofShiner

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I'm randomly going to the SKC-MUFC game tomorrow in KC. Has anyone been to their stadium? Pretty excited. I bought tickets in the supporters section and look forward to comparing it to Seattle.

The only other MLS stadium I've been to is FC Dallas.
 

Titans Bastard

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The Revs are up 1-0 over Toronto and should be up 2-0 if not for Kelyn Rowe being wrongfully ruled offside. TFC is without Bradley and Altidore and the Revs are at home, so this is a good opportunity for them.

Meanwhile, Dallas is beating RSL 5-0 just before the half despite missing Kellyn Acosta and their two starting CBs. Ouch.
 

Titans Bastard

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I'm randomly going to the SKC-MUFC game tomorrow in KC. Has anyone been to their stadium? Pretty excited. I bought tickets in the supporters section and look forward to comparing it to Seattle.

The only other MLS stadium I've been to is FC Dallas.
I'd be interested to hear a report.

I've seen MLS games at NYRB, Colorado, and NE (ordered by quality of stadium). Sadly, none of these three rank highly in the atmosphere department.
 

swiftaw

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I'm randomly going to the SKC-MUFC game tomorrow in KC. Has anyone been to their stadium? Pretty excited. I bought tickets in the supporters section and look forward to comparing it to Seattle.

The only other MLS stadium I've been to is FC Dallas.
I've been to a game there. Nice stadium, great atmosphere.
 

Titans Bastard

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Revs just scored a weird one. Agudelo timed his run perfectly to get in behind the defense and crossed to an open Fagundez. Fagundez's shot hit the top of the crossbar, bounced on the crossbar again, and fell in front of the goal where Agudelo was able to head it home. 3-0 now and the Revs will move into playoff position if the Montreal-NYRB score hold up.
 

Schnerres

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What´s up with the Revs Smith? Is he in bad form, did he commit some mistakes or did NE get some CBs back on the roster and he was back to the bench?
 

Titans Bastard

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What´s up with the Revs Smith? Is he in bad form, did he commit some mistakes or did NE get some CBs back on the roster and he was back to the bench?
I think his playing time and subsequent lackthereof has been more about Benjamin Angoua's form. He's a big-ticket signing for the Revs, but he struggled to start the season and so Heaps benched him to send a message. Angoua's done a bit better since then and has regained his job. Interestingly, when Angoua was suspended a few games ago, Woodberry started in his place instead of Smith. I'm not sure what that's about - Woodberry has been kind of out of favor for a while.
 

Titans Bastard

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David Ferreira played attacking midfield for FC Dallas from 2009-2013 and was the league MVP in 2010. He's 37 now and is actually still playing for América de Cali. His son Jesus came through Dallas' academy, signed last winter, and just made his MLS debut and scored, becoming the second youngest scorer in league history. Unfortunately it's a notorious list:


Hopefully his career turns out better than most of the guys on that list. Ferreira is supposed to be getting US citizenship quite soon.
 

Titans Bastard

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Real Salt Lake has been operating a residential academy in conjunction with Grande Sports World (GSW) in Casa Grande, AZ for a number of years now. However, RSL is leaving GSW and moving their academy back to Utah following the construction of expanded facilities in the Salt Lake City area.

While RSL is taking their Development Academy slot to Utah, Arizona will continue to be represented in the Development Academy through GSW. GSW's new partner? Barcelona. Euro club involvement in US youth development is often just a branding exercise and a way to make an easy buck. However, getting involved in the DA is a step beyond what most do. Curious to see how it plays out.
 

ThePrideofShiner

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I'd be interested to hear a report.

I've seen MLS games at NYRB, Colorado, and NE (ordered by quality of stadium). Sadly, none of these three rank highly in the atmosphere department.
Flying home so have some time to reflect on this. I really liked the intimacy of the stadium, especially compared to Seattle. Tickets were cheap, and even more impressive was the ability to walk around the stadium on the concourse and never lose sight of the action. That is one of the best things Safeco Field offers for Mariners games, the chance to see the game from multiple angles without paying more.

It was insanely hot, and the sun pounds the supporter's section, which sucked.

I thought the Blue Hell was cool, but was more impressed with the contingent from Minnesota than the locals. The MNUFC crowd was loud throughout.

Also, the SKC fans not in the supporter's section were pretty quiet, which is a lot different than Seattle games.

Still, the stadium was beautiful. Excited to hopefully hit more stadiums in the future, including Portland.

Speaking of Portland, I scored tickets to the US Open Cup game against them next Tuesday. The game will be missing lots of stars with the WCQ going on, but should still be fun.
 

BernieRicoBoomer

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I'm not opposed to watching in Spanish, but having the game locally on Univision triggers the blackout for MLS Live? Is there not an English language broadcast of this Chicago Atlanta match? Curious because I'm new to this...kind of like this actually.
 

Titans Bastard

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I'm not opposed to watching in Spanish, but having the game locally on Univision triggers the blackout for MLS Live? Is there not an English language broadcast of this Chicago Atlanta match? Curious because I'm new to this...kind of like this actually.
Univision provides an English-language broadcast via the SAP button, though my understanding is that certain cable providers mess this up somehow.

Also, Univision's English broadcast team is.....rough.
 

Senator Donut

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Thanks. Watching on DIRECTV Now which does not offer SAP. I find the goals more exciting in Spanish anyway!
I don't think there was English commentary for today's match. FiOS doesn't offer SAP, but there wasn't anything on the second audio channel when I pulled it in OTA.

Edit: I forgot Unimas games are now streamed for free on Facebook, including Liga MX too, so you'd have to catch it there instead of MLS Live.
 
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Titans Bastard

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Streaming at dcunited.com at 7:30
Guess who just went up 1-0 on a free kick?

EDIT: The goalscorer is a 24 year old Malian whose career consisted of four years at UMBC and then 37 minutes for Charlotte in the USL in 2015.
 

Titans Bastard

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DC has tied the game. The dream is dead?

For a random amateur team, Christos has a lot of fans at this game.
 

ThePrideofShiner

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Went to the Sounders-Timbers match last night. It was a deep cut of second team players I'd never heard of, but still a pretty fun match. Getting to go to a tiny stadium to watch even a few regulars was pretty cool. $20 to sit 8 rows above the Portland bench. Caleb Porter had some pretty funny interactions with the crowd, who was riding him pretty good.

Also, the Sounders featured an 18-year-old defender who went to high school during the day, then helped beat the Timbers, then had to prepare for a final at school today.
 

Titans Bastard

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Also, the Sounders featured an 18-year-old defender who went to high school during the day, then helped beat the Timbers, then had to prepare for a final at school today.
That's Sam Rogers. He is a Sounders academy kid who has been playing regularly for the USL team on an amateur basis, though the organization announced that he signed a USL contract before the game yesterday. MLS teams with USL reserve teams are allowed to sign their USL guys to four-day short-term contracts for US Open Cup, Canadian Championship, and CCL games, so he was able to be part of the crew that was bumped up to the first team for the day.

The starting lineups yesterday were indistinguishable from what you would have seen had you gone to a Timbers 2 vs. Sounders 2 game in the USL.
 

ThePrideofShiner

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Yeah, the only guy I really knew in the starting lineup was Aaron Kovar, who got some decent run with the Sounders last year before getting hurt. Seattle's goalie - Tyler Miller - looked pretty good as well.
 

Titans Bastard

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@Monbo Jumbo

Atlanta United signed three academy players to pro contracts: Lagos Kunga, Patrick Okonkwo, and George Bello.

None are eligible for MLS play until 2018, but Atlanta has locked them down for the time being. Kunga and Okonkwo are both 18 and regulars for the DA U18 team. Bello is only 15 and hasn't played above the U16 level yet, but he's supposed to be a good prospect and could feature heavily in the next cycle's U17 national team.

I suppose it's possible that Kunga and/or Okonkwo could be loaned out to Charleston to get some USL minutes this year.

Bello was less than six months old when the US beat Portugal in 2002. Damn.
 

Schnerres

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What do you guys think on the Schweinsteiger transfer? Most in here were saying it was a bad transfer, as it is already a position of strength for Chicago. I´m just seeing the results, so I was curious to hear what he is showing on the field.
 

saintnick912

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Looks like the Revs will have a US Open Cup match at Harvard on Wednesday the 28th. Not sure if I can make it but thought it may interest some here.
 

Senator Donut

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Looks like the Revs will have a US Open Cup match at Harvard on Wednesday the 28th. Not sure if I can make it but thought it may interest some here.
I just purchased my tickets. If you're looking to do something before the match. Aeronaut Brewing on Western Avenue hosts live music every Wednesday night during the summer.
 

Titans Bastard

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What do you guys think on the Schweinsteiger transfer? Most in here were saying it was a bad transfer, as it is already a position of strength for Chicago. I´m just seeing the results, so I was curious to hear what he is showing on the field.
I was a critic of the Schweinsteiger transfer but I've already been proven wrong. I thought it was a waste of resources for Chicago, but it's mostly worked out, especially because McCarty and Juninho have missed some time with international absences and injury respectively. Even when all three have been healthy, they've been getting the job done and haven't been excessively defensive. Schweinsteiger has been influential and Chicago's rebuilding project has been going better than expected. The forward they signed from Legia Warsaw, Nemanja Nikolic, has been huge; he's leading the league in scoring.

As good as they've been, I suspect they are overperforming their talent a little. They don't have a real right back and they could use some extra firepower in attacking midfield.
 

Titans Bastard

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NYCFC signed their first academy player, 16 year old CB James Sands.

https://www.nycfc.com/post/2017/06/21/james-sands-becomes-nycfc-s-first-homegrown-player

Sands has been a regular with the U17s. He played extensively with NYCFC during preseason and earned a lot of praise from Vieira, so it's not surprising to see him make the leap.

Their biggest youth star is said to be Gio Reyna, but he's younger and still a few years from pro contract territory.
 

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the Timbers match vs Seattle this weekend was delayed until the evening. The temperature forecast at the original 1pm kick was going to be close to 100, with the turf in the sun being ~25-30 degrees warmer. Match is now at 7:30pm local time. Will still be a warm one, but not in the direct sun.
 

Senator Donut

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Looks like the Revs caught yet another lucky timing break for their next match against Toronto. Bradley and Altidore started and Giovinco came on as a sub in their 1-1 Canadian Championship match against the Impact. They play again Friday on one day's rest due to an Argonauts conflict.
 

Senator Donut

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Looks like the Revs caught yet another lucky timing break for their next match against Toronto. Bradley and Altidore started and Giovinco came on as a sub in their 1-1 Canadian Championship match against the Impact. They play again Friday on one day's rest due to an Argonauts conflict.
…and we fucked it up.
 

Titans Bastard

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…and we fucked it up.
I wish I could say I was particularly surprised...

Short rest, but Toronto rotated their squad and has a really deep roster. Given how much the Revs suck on the road...
 

Titans Bastard

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I bought tickets to the USOC game at Harvard.

I don't think I've ever missed a Revs game at Harvard. I have missed the vast majority of Revs games way out in Foxborough.
 

Senator Donut

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San Jose has fired Dominic Kinnear. The Quakes have three more points than the Revs in as many games.
 

Titans Bastard

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San Jose has fired Dominic Kinnear. The Quakes have three more points than the Revs in as many games.
San Jose hired a new GM this winter who was probably looking for a reason to make his own imprint on the club and move on from the relentlessly average and boring Kinnear.

If only the Revs also had a change in leadership...

In any case, SJ immediately announced a new permanent manager, Chris Leitch, who has been in SJ's front office since he retired after the 2011 season. He doesn't have any previous coaching experience, even as an assistant.