Major League Soccer 2023: Now With League-On-League Violence

67YAZ

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Dec 1, 2000
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Messi starting.

He’s unreal. He has the drive and hunger of a 22 year old trying to break through. He celebrates teammates goals like game winners. He treated the Leagues Cup like the Champions League…except he handed the armband to Yedlin to respect the veteran team leader’s tenure with the club.

He’s the best. What a pleasure to see him every week in MLS.
 

Senator Donut

post-Domer
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Apr 21, 2010
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Clint Peay put forward a simple game plan and the Revs looked good for the first time in a while. Philly might have the second-worst vibes of any playoff team and Jacob Jackson looks like he could provide competent goalkeeping. Revs might actually steal this series.

If you’re searching for reasons to be optimistic, the Revs will have the best player on the pitch in any match they play. The bullish argument is basically Carles Gil becomes Superman for two months. The bear case is that the back four plus Jackson has been wildly inconsistent.

View: https://twitter.com/nerevolution/status/1715838460445982994
 

Senator Donut

post-Domer
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Apr 21, 2010
5,544
I can’t believe the Revs have a realistic chance of qualifying for CONCACAF Champions Cup. If any of the qualified teams except Vancouver win MLS Cup, the Revs would qualify with the next best point total in the shield standings. If the Whitecaps lift MLS Cup, Montréal qualifies as Voyageurs Cup runners-up. One qualified team (Miami) is eliminated. The following clubs winning the cup move the Revs into the 2024 event.
  • FC Cincinnati
  • Columbus Crew
  • Houston Dynamo FC
  • Nashville SC
  • Orlando City SC
  • Philadelphia Union
  • St. Louis City SC
  • New England Revolution (duh)
 

ThePrideofShiner

Crests prematurely
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Jul 16, 2005
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67YAZ

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Dec 1, 2000
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Pretty meh. He did a nice job in his first WC cycle with the England women, but performance dipped significantly after 2019. Then Wiegman stepped in and fashioned the Lionesses into one of the very best squads in the world.

His Miami sides weren’t very good, but they were also a complete mess in terms of recruiting and roster construction (never mind breaking the DP rules for washed stars).

All that to say, he seems to get teams on play to their level more or less. Not an inspiring hire, but probably not a disaster.

Please understand I say this with envy as Chicago hasn’t fired Heitz or even started its own manager search in earnest yet. Sigh.
 

Catcher Block

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Mar 7, 2006
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St. Louis
SKC take care of St. Louis at home, 2-1, and advance to the next round.

St. Louis had a fantastic start to the season, but they ran out of gas and coasted to a #1 seed that LAFC and Seattle seemed disinterested in taking.

SKC flipped that script completely. Started off as bad as you can be, and caught fire just to get in as the 8 seed. They're going to be a tough out.
 

ThePrideofShiner

Crests prematurely
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Jul 16, 2005
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A very newsy day in MLS.

Kai Wagner suspended three matches for using an Asian slur when shit talking to Bobby Wood during Game 1:
NEW YORK (Tuesday, November 7, 2023) - MLS has issued a three-match suspension to Philadelphia Union defender Kai Wagner for violating the league’s on-field antidiscrimination policy during the Philadelphia Union vs. New England Revolution match on Saturday, October 28.
https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/major-league-soccer-suspends-philadelphia-union-s-kai-wagner-three-matches

Matt Miazga apparently went into the officials' locker room after FC Cincinnati's Game 2 win. The referee association is pissed and want him suspended:
@tombogert
FC Cincinnati CB Matt Miazga entered the referee's room after win vs. the Red Bulls, but multiple sources say he left w/ FCC staffer, not stadium security. "The entire thing has been blown out of proportion." MLS investigating.

https://theathletic.com/5040843/2023/11/07/matt-miazga-referees-locker-room-mls/
Phil Neville officially hired (yesterday, technically) and Timbers fans are unhappy:

@cboehm
·
19h

"Nowhere near is it a reflection of me as a person ... I'm a strong advocate of women's football, women's sports in general ... I would love to sit down with the Timbers Army." I spoke with Phil Neville about those sexist tweets and more: https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/phil-neville-brings-unfinished-business-into-portland-timbers-opportunity
 

ThePrideofShiner

Crests prematurely
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Jul 16, 2005
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Washington
I skipped going to the game because Friday night games suck, but the Sounders are through to the next round and have a Thanksgiving weekend date with LAFC.

That's going to be a really good matchup.
 

ThePrideofShiner

Crests prematurely
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Jul 16, 2005
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Washington
As one of the biggest MLS defenders out there, can I say just how dumb the playoff start times are?

Sounders-LAFC is kicking off at 6:30 p.m. local time on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend. Why not move it to 4? The Seahawks play Thursday at home, the Apple Cup is Saturday night, so I understand wanting to avoid those two games, but now no one east of the Rockies will watch what might be the marquee matchup of the postseason.
 

nayrbrey

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Jul 20, 2005
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Driving somewhere most likely
Everett Stadium looking closer to becoming reality.

View: https://twitter.com/BostonGlobe/status/1724132743867437550


The provision is included in a supplemental budget measure that Senate leaders filed on Monday. The House has already passed its version of the budget without the stadium language, but approved similar legislation last year. Lawmakers hope to resolve any differences in the supplemental budget bills this week, as they wrap up formal sessions for the year.
This legislation is considered crucial for the soccer stadium development to proceed: It removes 43 acres — currently home to a shuttered power plant overlooking the Mystic River — from a Designated Port Area, a state designation that limits what can be built on certain waterfront parcels to marine industrial uses. The property is on Boston’s doorstep, just across the Mystic from Charlestown, and across Route 99 from the Encore Boston Harbor casino.
 

67YAZ

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Ugggghhhh. Heitz & Peltzer back on a 1 year extension.

I don’t get the 1 year extension. This means Heitz gets to make the call on the next manager, and it will definitely narrow the candidate pool to come work for a director in a “prove it year.”

My reading of the tea leaves is that Mansueto was all in on Jim Curtin, Curtin listened to the pitch through an intermediary, and Curtin decided to stay in Philly. Fair enough.

But were there other targets? Anyone else contacted? The MLS perception of Mansueto is that he want to win and is investing in the club, but he made a poor first hire as director. That happens, but this neither moving on or committing is a weird next step.
 

67YAZ

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Dec 1, 2000
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In good Fire news…they signed Guti to a 5 year deal under the U22 initiative. This gives the club a really strong hand in any transfer dealings and gives Guti a sizable pay bump. Win-win.

on a related note, I haven’t seen a good reason why Guti was left off the November Olympic team camp roster. It’s disappointing, hope he can rotate back in for January.

Areas of growth for Guti this offseason: body strength, conditioning, and finishing. If he can add more muscle to become a stronger defender/fight through defenders & keep a high work rate for 90 minutes, he’ll take a leap forward next season. And if he can improve his finishing, bigger clubs are going to start placing offers. This is all within reach for the kid.
 
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Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
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Is this Kraft actually calling my bluff to buy season tickets only when the Revs have a SSS, or the biennial "stadium" story to rally ST renewals?
I'm very cynical about the "stadium" story plant every fall, but this one feels a little more authentic than the previous ones. The fact that the reclassification of the relevant parcel is actually in a serious MA state legislature proposal suggests that they've actually been working this angle behind the scenes.
 

nayrbrey

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Jul 20, 2005
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I won’t believe it until I actually walk into the new stadium and sit down, but this is probably the closest they’ve come to a SSS in the immediate Boston area. They’ve done outreach to local groups as well from that article.
Everett officials on Monday also released an agreement with the Kraft Group that spelled out a raft of community benefits from the project, perhaps the strongest public signal yet that the Revs owners are fully engaged in pursuing the site. Provisions range from setting aside four acres of open space for a public park to $5 million for a community center and $10 million for a housing stabilization fund, to limiting on-site parking to 75 spaces and allowing the city’s soccer teams and band program to use the facility.
Edit- here’s the link to the memorandum, looks like ~25K capacity and grass or hybrid rather than turf.

https://htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/files/memorandum-of-agreement-nrs-signed-6553b8856284f.pdf
 
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Senator Donut

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Apr 21, 2010
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Today is decision day for the Revs. The state legislature typically engages in some brinksmanship and passes the supplemental budget at the very end of its formal session which is tonight. Anything after midnight, including extending the formal session, can be derailed by a single objection according to State House News. The Revs have already executed agreements with Everett and Wynn, so there would be very few additional hurdles to overcome, though most notably environmental review could be an issue.
 

shaggydog2000

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Apr 5, 2007
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I won’t believe it until I actually walk into the new stadium and sit down, but this is probably the closest they’ve come to a SSS in the immediate Boston area. They’ve done outreach to local groups as well from that article.


Edit- here’s the link to the memorandum, looks like ~25K capacity and grass or hybrid rather than turf.

https://htv-prod-media.s3.amazonaws.com/files/memorandum-of-agreement-nrs-signed-6553b8856284f.pdf
Wait, a 25K capacity and just 75 parking spots? That seems low even for just team and stadium employees, busses etc. The closest public transportation access is what, Assembly? I don't think there is a pedestrian bridge going from there, so Wellington or Sullivan Sq might be closer by walking. From either you'd basically have to walk along a highway. So I guess they're planning shuttle busses? That part is kind of messy. The stadium part sounds nice enough so far.
 

Titans Bastard

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Wait, a 25K capacity and just 75 parking spots? That seems low even for just team and stadium employees, busses etc. The closest public transportation access is what, Assembly? I don't think there is a pedestrian bridge going from there, so Wellington or Sullivan Sq might be closer by walking. From either you'd basically have to walk along a highway. So I guess they're planning shuttle busses? That part is kind of messy. The stadium part sounds nice enough so far.
Yeah, it's not an ideal spot for public transit, but it's simultaneously the best chance the Revs are going to get at a stadium site that is even remotely central.

The closest T stop is Sullivan. There is a pedestrian bridge across the Mystic River from Assembly to the casino that is scheduled to begin construction next year. However, the drawback is that the Assembly T station does not have an exist on the east side of the station, so accessing the bridge requires a somewhat roundabout route if you are arriving to Assembly by train.

There are three bus lines that leave from Sullivan up Alford St to the stadium site and casino: the 104, 105, and 109. The 104 and 109 collectively appear to have not-awful schedules, but we're not talking about mega-capacity here. I know there's already a sizable network of shuttles to the casino; perhaps this network can be leveraged as well.

There will need to be sidewalk improvements made to Alford St to handle the crowds.
 

nayrbrey

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Jul 20, 2005
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I say this as a question:

By "stadium deal", we mean a reclassification of the parcel for non-industrial use, right? I don't recall reading much about funding one way or the other.
Yes, that is my understanding.
The “deal” contained within the Senate bill and still waiting for the House version is the reclassification of the parcel from port use.
 

saintnick912

GINO!
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It looks like the Revs have traded for a right back, Nick LIma formerly of Austin FC

https://theathletic.com/5078099/2023/11/20/nick-lima-revolution-austin-fc-trade/

Excerpt since paywalled:
The New England Revolution has agreed to a trade for Austin FC right back Nick Lima ahead of the league’s trade window opening on Dec. 11, sources briefed on the deal told The Athletic.

The Revs will send Austin around $275,000 GAM in exchange for Lima, the 29-year-old former San Jose Earthquakes homegrown defender. The deal is agreed to but cannot be processed until Dec. 11 when the league lifts the roster freeze. The MLS Cup is on Dec. 9.
 

ThePrideofShiner

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Jul 16, 2005
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Philadelphia just got absolutely hosed. Cincinnati takes a 1-0 lead in the 94th, but the assist came from a clear offsides position.

Unreal.
 

Senator Donut

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Apr 21, 2010
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I couldn’t tell definitively, but if it’s that close, I think the center ref should be the one to make that call on the video monitor.
 

Pesky Pole

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It looked off but the fact that they don’t have a real angle at the conference semifinal is pretty MLS. Even as a Union fan, I’m fine with it not being given if that is truly the best angle they have. And if you don’t have the angles necessary, do the lines people know and call the game accordingly? Ah, the conundrum of VAR.

Martinez going off on that frustrated/dirty tackle was the difference at the end. He’d have been in the middle of that set piece.
 

Titans Bastard

has sunil gulati in his sights
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Is anybody watching the Eastern Conference final? I got pulled away for toddler bedtime routine for a bit, but this has been a great game so far. Both of these teams are good and fun to watch.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
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Sep 27, 2016
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Also Miazga is an idiot to get himself suspended for this game
I think the likelihood is, it's a bit more complicated than that. Based on what both sides are saying, I'm inclined to credit Miazga's version over the refs - and I dislike Miazga.

https://www.wlwt.com/amp/article/mls-players-association-matt-miazga-suspension-statement/45999458

If the players union hadn't backed him up to this degree and with that amount of specifics, I probably wouldn't be this charitable, but given that they have, I think it's warranted.
 

Arroyo Con Frijoles

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Jul 19, 2005
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Does anyone dispute he went where he wasn't supposed to be after the match? If not, he should have been suspended for this game no matter what other "statements" from PSRA weren't true. And I have no love for the fucking Crew, trust me
 

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
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Apr 15, 2006
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Does anyone dispute he went where he wasn't supposed to be after the match? If not, he should have been suspended for this game no matter what other "statements" from PSRA weren't true. And I have no love for the fucking Crew, trust me
Blaming stadium security for a player getting to where he shouldn’t have been is certainly an interesting take.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
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Sep 27, 2016
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I always wanted him to get a real shot with the national team. He's a brilliant player.
He... did get a real shot? He was a MNT regular from 2015 up through Couva in 2017. A starter through all of WCQ in 2017. 25 caps, 13 starts, including starting in Couva. And then he decided he didn't want to be around the negativity, the travel demands taking him away from his family, all the other nonsense... he basically decided to decline further participation in the national team. Which, especially given the air of the team around then, made perfect sense, even if it was a shame. I don't think less of him for it.

Today, Nagbe wouldn't start for a fully healthy MNT, but he might've made the World Cup roster over Kellyn Acosta or even Roldan, and he'd definitely make some appearances. Some say he's a like-for-like with Musah, I say he'd be more in Tyler Adams' role, but he could do a job for us even today. He certainly would've had a huge role in the team as the new generation got their feet under them in 2018-2020 (Musah's first cap was Nov 2020), and a steady one in 2021-22 as our new-look midfield gelled. But he didn't want to, and that's his right.