MLS 2020: A Quarter Century of Soccer

Pesky Pole · Oct 30, 2020

We can’t have nice things as a Union fan. Blakes‘s hand is broken.

67YAZ · Oct 31, 2020

The Fire need to handle Nashville right now to solidify a playoff spot. Would’ve been nice if Calvo has been suspended for his red card...but it’s a blue moon Halloween, so maybe we’ll get the bizarro Calvo?

67YAZ · Oct 31, 2020

The Fire have looked soft and slow, but that was one of the worst backline I’ve ever seen on the equalizer. Very nice job by Sekulic to look up and see he had 3 yards of space before he’d be offside.

Fire need to be much more defensively organized and put together some spells of possession to change the flow of the match.

67YAZ · Oct 31, 2020

Collier off the post! Great cross, just inches away.

Fore have not won on the road so far this season. Need a moment of inspiration in the next 3 minutes to change that.

67YAZ · Nov 4, 2020

This is who the Fire are right now - a long ball to the flank, Frankowski works hard to win it then sprays a cross to Beric. The target man buries it.

It’s the antithesis of the way Wicky has always managed his clubs, but I appreciate his flexibility & pragmatism. Let’s get 3 here in Minny & salt away a playoff spot.

67YAZ · Nov 4, 2020

Ugh man, Calvo. Gambles to cut out a pass to Kamara and gets burned as the last man. Luckily Shuttleoworth bailed him out.

67YAZ · Nov 4, 2020

Mo Pineda doubles the lead! He’s been the breakout player of the season for Chicago. I don’t know where they’d be without him & hope I don’t have to see that for many years to come.

67YAZ · Nov 4, 2020

There’s that man Calvo, of course. Loses his man near post to allow an easy header to tie the match. Christ almighty.

67YAZ · Nov 4, 2020

The Loons got juiced when Reynoso came in. Bornstein has great veteran savvy and patience, but he can’t keep up with a tricky waterbug like Reynoso. And Calvo is no help with his constant attention lapses.

67YAZ · Nov 8, 2020

Missed the first half while my wife watched the Bears get spanked. And it’s 3-3!!?!?!?! Damn.

Pesky Pole · Nov 8, 2020

I know it’s the Supporters Shield but we’ll take it.

67YAZ · Nov 8, 2020

Congrats to Philly! Well earned with a really great coaching job by Curtin.

The Fire can’t even manage the draw they needed to make the play-in round. A disappointing end to a disappointing season.

ThePrideofShiner · Nov 10, 2020

Fucking Colorado scored in extra time to jump to the fifth seed and send LAFC to seventh. Generally I wouldn't care, but that means the Sounders open with LA.

67YAZ · Nov 12, 2020

Titans Bastard said:
FC Cincinnati cleared out their roster earlier this week, but Chicago only made a few changes.

Chicago Fire FC Exercise 2021 Contract Options on Four Players

CHICAGO (Nov. 12, 2020) – Chicago Fire FC today announced the Club has exercised contract options for four players from the team’s 2020 roster. An additional 23 players remain under contract, bringing the Club’s current roster to 27 players under contract for the 2021 MLS season. The Fire

www.chicagofirefc.com

With so many new signings last offseason, most players were guaranteed for the 2021 season, it seems. But that's okay: the Fire have some building blocks of a potentially good team, whereas Cincinnati needed to get out from under a zillion ill-advised contracts.

Those are all peripheral players on the roster, even Big Africa. It’s too bad that Sapong had a tough season and couldn’t find a role in Wicky’s system - fans love him and teammates really love him.

I’m hopeful for a playoff push next season with more players used to Wicky’s system & more good recruitment during the winter. They incoming from last offseason was very good - young & prime-age players for key roles, and Johnny Bornstien as a rotational LB paired with the young water Navarro.

Gaston Gimenez looked like a foundational piece after the restart, and Aliseda held his own as a teenager playing the #10. Calvo is going to be responsible for many remotes chucked at TV screens again next season, but the emergence of Pineda as a steady ball playing CB who can pass and nod in set pieces is huge for a club with a poor homegrown track record.

Looks like lots of folks are putting Beric on their “newcomer of the season” lists, but I’m less impressed. The goals tally was good, but he’s Kevin McHale in cleats. He doesn’t create for others and he goes MIA for long stretches. Overall, the whole attack was more spry with Collier up top - he’s always working and finding space, which opens it up for everyone else despite Collier’s poor finishing. Maybe Beric can become more rounded and consistent, but he’s also turning 29. Old dogs and all that...

67YAZ · Nov 12, 2020

Titans Bastard said:
I don't have as much specific commentary on Chicago having not watched nearly as many of their games, but one thing I'd note is that it isn't uncommon for foreign signings to improve in their second year in the league. Certain rigors of MLS are unmatched by any league in Europe (travel, heat) and that takes some getting used to. The travel schedule was particularly turbocharged in 2020. Since Chicago signed a bunch of dudes last winter, they might get a few bumps from that group in 2021.

It still feels like it will be too early to expect anything from the batch of 03s+04s they signed from their academy. I don't have a sense if Reynolds or N. Slonina are any good. Also, Djordje Mihailovic needs to decide if he's going to be a difference maker or not.

100% agree on Djordje. He had a nice run of matches to close out the season, but he’s moving into his prime years. Given the budget uncertainty, I expect he’ll get another full season to show what he’s got and the Fire will look to recruit someone new for the other wing.

Domer · Nov 17, 2020

Titans Bastard said:
The Houston Dynamo, who have been a deeply mediocre organization on and off the field for a while now, are reportedly considering a "rebrand or brand refresh", as one of their major owners (Gabriel Brener) may be selling his share of the team.

I'm not in the ground in Houston, but is there really that much of a need to change the identity? Lots of clubs go through shitty periods. I think having a consistent identity helps build a long-term sense of history, rather than rebranding every time you've sucked for a while. Just sign good players and market the team well.

Sources: Houston Dynamo investigating rebrand as owner Brener considers sale

Big changes could be coming for the Dynamo and the NWSL's Dash.

theathletic.com

You’re never going to believe what direction they went with…

FC

All in all, I actually like most everything else. The honeycomb pattern is a little weird, but we have enough badge or circle logos in MLS. Monograms are generally speaking pretty darn cool.

Meet The New Houston Dynamo FC + Houston Dash

Our City. Our Club. Our Family. Hear from the owners, explore the new logos, shop merchandise and more!

holditdownfc.com

67YAZ · Nov 18, 2020

Titans Bastard said:
Oh, Chicago. Looks like they are officially abandoning the unpopular new crest they debuted this season.

View: https://twitter.com/PaulTenorio/status/1329062634373738497

Ha! I'll take an owner who can admit a mistake and move quickly to correct it over an one who does the bare minimum for years on end.

Awesome Fossum · Nov 18, 2020

Agreed, glad they're trying again.

Austin FC unveiled their jersey today:

Domer · Nov 20, 2020

67YAZ said:
Ha! I'll take an owner who can admit a mistake and move quickly to correct it over an one who does the bare minimum for years on end.

It always seemed incongruous to me that Mansueto, who spent a good chuck of money to get the legendary Paul Rand to design a logo for Morningstar before his company had experienced much success, would approve such an uninspiring new identity for the Fire. Glad he can recognize a mistake.

67YAZ · Nov 20, 2020

Domer said:
It always seemed incongruous to me that Mansueto, who spent a good chuck of money to get the legendary Paul Rand to design a logo for Morningstar before his company had experienced much success, would approve such an uninspiring new identity for the Fire. Glad he can recognize a mistake.

Yeah, there was 2 months between Mansueto becoming sole-owner and the logo rollout. He must have decided that it had been in the works so long, killing the rebranding at the last minute would damage internal morale.

Maybe we can get @dirtynine on the job this time. Still rue missing out on this one:

MetSox1 · Nov 20, 2020

The nightclubs are open in Miami. I think it'll depend a lot on local atmosphere, but with the condensed playoff schedule, its certainly high risk. I wonder if we don't see a forfeit or two.

We had our local broadcaster* and Coach Curtin on a local radio show for a food drive promo, the broadcaster went into the studio, but the Coach used Zoom. While there is no bubble and there is an understanding that the players are living their lives, if the team has an atmosphere of discipline and appreciating this pandemic, I think the teams can be fine as long as players don't pick things up on their intl breaks. When you do have high paid superstars like Miami, that atmosphere is likely more challenging to pull off. Having said that, I don't know how the Miami crew became exposed so I'll freely admit to jumping to conclusions a bit here.

(*it's Seba Le Toux)

dirtynine · Nov 20, 2020

67YAZ said:
Yeah, there was 2 months between Mansueto becoming sole-owner and the logo rollout. He must have decided that it had been in the works so long, killing the rebranding at the last minute would damage internal morale.

Maybe we can get @dirtynine on the job this time. Still rue missing out on this one:

View attachment 36526

Ha! I just bumped the uni thread to mention some of this stuff. (Forgot about the Austin jersey, which is great.) @67YAZ, I may have one or two of those left... let me know your size and I'll check!

ThePrideofShiner · Nov 21, 2020

I saw a tweet that said all four of LAFC's international call ups tested positive. Not sure they will be out Tuesday or not.

67YAZ · Nov 21, 2020

Titans Bastard said:
And Benji Michel buries the final penalty. Orlando moves on.

MLS is so, so lucky that it worked out this way because I have absolutely never seen a referee handle a penalty shootout in a more shambolic way and if Orlando lost it would have been ugly.

Just catching up on this. Utter insanity.

OCST · Nov 22, 2020

Titans Bastard said:
Meanwhile in Columbus, NYRB have gone up 1-0 on a strike from 17 year old Caden Clark, who is getting the start at AM ahead of NYRB's DP Kaku. He now has 3 goals in his first 300 minutes.

But now the Crew get a PK! And it's 1-1.

as a symbol of how far RB and MLS have to go, NY1 * did a good story on NYCFC’s playoff game today- with no mention at all of RB, despite their game being the only other in the league.

NY1 is a 24/7 NYC-only cable news channel which is actually very good snd everyone watches it.

shawnrbu · Nov 22, 2020

Wondo in Fergie Time to send San Jose/SKC to Extra Time.

ThePrideofShiner · Nov 23, 2020

Looks like Portland got away with a handball before scoring immediately after.

View: https://twitter.com/BigDSoccer/status/1330739081484120064?s=19

ThePrideofShiner · Nov 23, 2020

And now a 17-year-old with the equalizer late.

View: https://twitter.com/MLS/status/1330740584517165056?s=19

shawnrbu · Nov 23, 2020

How do you have no one back up 1 with 2 minutes to go? Good grief.

shawnrbu · Nov 23, 2020

Valeri cramping 3 minutes before penalties is worrisome for Portland.

shawnrbu · Nov 23, 2020

That was quite a Penalty shootout.

Watch it be Dallas vs Nashville for MLS Cup after all that has happened this season.

ThePrideofShiner · Nov 23, 2020

Incredible shootout.

MLS 2020: A Quarter Century of Soccer

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