When the Krafts finally sell the Revs, I'm going to be so happy for the three hours before it becomes clear that the new owner intends to move them somewhere else.
If MLS wants to abandon Boston because Bob Kraft has no interest in investing in his franchise - that’s their mistake.When the Krafts finally sell the Revs, I'm going to be so happy for the three hours before it becomes clear that the new owner intends to move them somewhere else.
Chivas was particularly toxic because of Vergara's discriminatory policies up and down the organization (e.g. ethnic questionnaires), but yeah. If I were the new owner, I would completely eradicate the Revs' brand -- name, colors, and (obviously and especially) crest.While I don't think MLS would abandon New England, it's getting into Chivas territory, so I could see a Chivas>LAFC type situation, with the Revs shut down and a new expansion team. It's absurd.
Well, NYRB just tied it with 8 minutes left while playing down a man.If Orlando, playing at home, doesn't beat an NYRB team composed almost entirely of backups, Jason Kreis' seat is going to be awfully warm.
Jeez, just enjoy the moment!ZLATAN here to remind everyone that MLS is still at best a 3rd rate league
There was also an uncalled LAG foul before his ridiculous first goal, but still...He was offside on the winner, but the ref would not dare deny ZLATAN.
Better sideline angle looks like he was actually onside:He was offside on the winner, but the ref would not dare deny ZLATAN.
Oh, as someone who loves ZLATAN and gets annoyed by the "MLS is an elite league now, older stars from Europe couldn't cut it here" crew (who conveniently forget that second level washout BWP is still one of the best strikers in MLS) I enjoyed that immensely. MLS is better than it was, and it's getting pretty fun, but the people who think it's a top tier or even second tier league do it a disservice.Jeez, just enjoy the moment!
So, the MLS is a third rate league because Zlatan scored twice in 20 minutes against an expansion team?Better sideline angle looks like he was actually onside:
Oh, as someone who loves ZLATAN and gets annoyed by the "MLS is an elite league now, older stars from Europe couldn't cut it here" crew (who conveniently forget that second level washout BWP is still one of the best strikers in MLS) I enjoyed that immensely. MLS is better than it was, and it's getting pretty fun, but the people who think it's a top tier or even second tier league do it a disservice.
No MLS is a 3rd rate league because it's a 3rd rate league there are a dozen or so high end talents, the rest of the league is generally below that of the 2nd tier of major countries. There's nothing wrong with that.So, the MLS is a third rate league because Zlatan scored twice in 20 minutes against an expansion team?
Side note, but I think BWP has become a good player who has legitimately improved in his time in MLS. There is a sizable pool of middling Championship players who have not done very well in MLS. BWP wasn't even a middling Championship player, but he's been consistently excellent. At some point, you just have to credit the player. BWP himself has talked about how he's received more/better coaching in NYRB than he did anywhere in England after he left the academy and how that's helped him. (I think the issue here is that many managers in Europe and England don't bother to try to "coach up" players in their mid-20s, like BWP was.)Oh, as someone who loves ZLATAN and gets annoyed by the "MLS is an elite league now, older stars from Europe couldn't cut it here" crew (who conveniently forget that second level washout BWP is still one of the best strikers in MLS) I enjoyed that immensely. MLS is better than it was, and it's getting pretty fun, but the people who think it's a top tier or even second tier league do it a disservice.
Yeah it's fair to give BWP credit for improving his game. He probably turned himself into a better player. It was more a comment on the overall level of talent (and particularly skill) being low enough that players who struggled in lower levels in Europe can be stars here.Side note, but I think BWP has become a good player who has legitimately improved in his time in MLS. There is a sizable pool of middling Championship players who have not done very well in MLS. BWP wasn't even a middling Championship player, but he's been consistently excellent. At some point, you just have to credit the player. BWP himself has talked about how he's received more/better coaching in NYRB than he did anywhere in England after he left the academy and how that's helped him. (I think the issue here is that many managers in Europe and England don't bother to try to "coach up" players in their mid-20s, like BWP was.)
I mean, otherwise we should just run around screaming that Shaun Maloney proves that MLS is EPL quality, or something.
The thing is, there really aren't many players who struggled at lower levels in Europe who are stars in MLS. BWP is the poster child, but who else? There are certainly plenty of players who struggled at the highest levels who are killing it in MLS as well as players who did well at lower levels in Europe, but that's different.Yeah it's fair to give BWP credit for improving his game. He probably turned himself into a better player. It was more a comment on the overall level of talent (and particularly skill) being low enough that players who struggled in lower levels in Europe can be stars here.
The defense was such that if Houston converted chances, they could have plausibly scored four goals, but they fluffed so many chances.There was a red card in the Revs game and, shockingly, it was for the other team.
A rare road win over Houston - and the Revs even had the lead before the DOGSO card on Beasley. Cristian Penilla looks like a player.
Yeah, it's going to be tough to ride that defense in the East. Who among the Revs GK/DF/CMs are above-average starters in MLS?The defense was such that if Houston converted chances, they could have plausibly scored four goals, but they fluffed so many chances.
The high press combined with a tissue-paper backline that never really got fixed is going to make games entertaining, at least.
Probably accurate, thinking about it I can only remember the following:The thing is, there really aren't many players who struggled at lower levels in Europe who are stars in MLS. BWP is the poster child, but who else? There are certainly plenty of players who struggled at the highest levels who are killing it in MLS as well as players who did well at lower levels in Europe, but that's different.
I am probably forgetting someone, but the list can't be long.
It's too soon to make any proclamations with certainty, but I think the advent of "TAM" several years ago and the significant increase in TAM this past offseason is making a big difference with MLS clubs' "weak link" problems. The quality in the middle of a typical roster is better; the newly available salary cap space has allowed clubs to spend a bit more on the international market. Relatedly, the percentage of minutes going to US-eligible players is down, bigly, over the past three years.
The quality of soccer in March seems to be better. We haven't had the normal number of early-season duds, from what I've seen.
I think Kamara is the best example from the list. He had his career year at Columbus in 2015 immediately after a relatively unsuccessful stint for Middlesbrough.Probably accurate, thinking about it I can only remember the following:
Jozy before being terrible at the top level was terrible in Turkey.
Kei Kamara crashed out of the Championship,
Brek Shea crashed out of the EPL, went to Championship and 2 clubs there quickly moved on from him,
Lletget couldn't get a Championship team to take him on loan (though some of that was a series of injuries/bad luck)
Croizet the new SKC designated player was average at best on a relegated Belgian side
is LeToux still in the league? He as a Ligue 2 washout.
Looking at some of the Euros that I thought fit the bill, more of them were solidly mediocre to good at the 2nd/3rd tier (Belgium, Netherlands, Russia) then moved here for the money or because they were getting old
Yeah, the shutout would have been the dream.3-1 is always that tricky result where you feel great but have to worry about going out from a 2-0 loss in the return.
Should be intense.