MLS is back!

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

The phrase "own goal" is jarring to me. Much more, then, is the phrase "two own goals" — in the same game!

I had to see these plays so I dug them up:

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/own-...sc-83rd-minute

https://www.mlssoccer.com/video/own-...sc-63rd-minute

Rough on the own goal-assigned players in both cases. In the first, Alfaro is deemed the culprit but it's Brillant's whiff that sets up the goal; Alfaro was trying to clear it. In the second, Brillant gets paid back for the first goal but here, he is just standing in the wrong place as a carom from the goalkeeper's save bounces off his chest.

I assume, by the way, that the last Crew member to touch the ball gets credit for the goal in this case?

Hmmm. I just realized something. The clock counts up in MLS, correct?

That means, going by this, that Brillant's chest goal came before his whiff that set up the second own goal.



Viewed in that sequence, somehow Brillant looks even worse.

[Boomcoach]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

The phrase "own goal" is jarring to me. Much more, then, is the phrase "two own goals" — in the same game!

I assume, by the way, that the last Crew member to touch the ball gets credit for the goal in this case?

No, the goal is not credited to any Crew player, simply listed as OG.

[Michael Hopcroft]

Originally Posted by Boomcoach

Sadly still true to some extent, but a number of young Central and South American players have been coming and the level of play has improved dramatically over the years.

While it is hard to say that Beckham was worth the money he was paid, the rules that the league put in place to allow the Galaxy to sign him, have helped the league grow. (A history of MLS roster/salary rules changes can generally be summed up as "How can we help the Galaxy?")

MLS is very attractive to Central and South American players due to one simple fact: their checks clear. The leagues at home have teams in their top flights that have trouble making payroll. This even happens in Brazil, where soccer is a religion.

[Boomcoach]

Originally Posted by Michael Hopcroft

MLS is very attractive to Central and South American players due to one simple fact: their checks clear. The leagues at home have teams in their top flights that have trouble making payroll. This even happens in Brazil, where soccer is a religion.

This!^^

While South and Central American players bring a serious share of flopping to the game, they also bring huge amounts of flair and creativity, which has helped make the MLS extremely watchable.

[Boomcoach]

Crew come through with another win. Got goals from a couple different places, including Zardes' first of the season, which was good to see. Offensive flow was much better overall.

Need to start getting some clean sheets and I will really start to be cocky!

A special shoutout to Pedro Santos who stepped up to have a great game playing as an outside back for the first time in his Crew career. Amazing work rate as always and Santos continues to show he will do, and do well, whatever the Crew need.

[Déjà Bru]

Rather than bore you by asking too many questions, I have resolved to do my own research whenever possible.

Therefore, according to The Free Dictionary, "clean sheets" =

In sports, a game or series of games in which one side wins with the opposing side(s) being unable to score any points. Primarily heard in UK. "The football team has kept a clean sheet for the last three games. I don't think anyone can score against them!"

[Déjà Bru]

ESPN's MLS Power Rankings are rather obvious; all you have to do is look at the standings for the Top 5. After that, not so obvious. Your team and mine are neck-and-neck.

[Boomcoach]

The East should be neck and neck all season. I know the Crew have a lot of injuries that they are trying to work around (I am sure a lot of teams so, but I care more about my teams' injuries!)

The international break will give a chance to heal up a bit, as long as the players who leave don't come back injured, but that is the chance you have to take when you sign good players.

[Déjà Bru]

A goodly number of MLS players are headed overseas for this international break but I guess the rest are on vacation for two weeks?

MLS players gear up for busy summer of international duty

Of the ones who are traveling (well, returning) abroad, MLS runs the risk of them being injured in these other exhibitions and tournaments. Strange arrangement (to me).

[Boomcoach]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

A goodly number of MLS players are headed overseas for this international break but I guess the rest are on vacation for two weeks?

MLS players gear up for busy summer of international duty

Of the ones who are traveling (well, returning) abroad, MLS runs the risk of them being injured in these other exhibitions and tournaments. Strange arrangement (to me).

International play takes some getting used to, from the perspective of a fan used to US sports. While there is a little bit of International baseball, basketball is the sport that has the most international play, and US players seem to look at is a burden.

I have seen very few soccer players who do not see playing for their country as the highest honor, and most of the exceptions involve an issue between the player and a specific coach.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Boomcoach

I have seen very few soccer players who do not see playing for their country as the highest honor, and most of the exceptions involve an issue between the player and a specific coach.

That is an interesting aspect. U.S. fans should not expect any player to have more loyalty to an MLS team than their counterparts do to an MLB team where a player can cut ties to the Boston Red Sox and go play for the Milwaukee Brewers in a heartbeat and an exchange of cash.

The interesting part is that these MLS players — many, most? — do have a higher loyalty to their national teams. MLS cannot argue and must accommodate. Rather than a drawback, I see that as a virtue.

And it tempts me to lift my eyes to view just what it is about overseas football that calls for and receives such loyalty.

[Déjà Bru]

By the way, one of your personal focuses listed in the OP was "I am interested in see how Inter Miami fare this season. Beckham is pulling as many strings as his connections and reputation can manage, will it be enough to make them contenders?"

If you followed that ESPN link, you would have seen that the article subtitle was "Inter Miami spiraling."

Ranked #22 of 27 at the break, the word on them is:

Miami is reeling on all fronts. Off the field, the penalties from Matuidi-gate were heavy, though the allocation money portion won't take effect until next season. On the field, the Herons were wretched, getting embarrassed at home by D.C. United in front of a capacity crowd. Those early positive results seem like they took place ages ago.

The $2MM fine is bad enough, but I would imagine that the $2.2MM cap hit over the next two seasons is worse.

Your nemesis, Austin FC, is near the middle of the pack, at #15.

[rudel.dietrich]

Inter Miami got slapped hard for salary cap violations

https://www.espn.com/football/soccer-transfers/story/4396966/inter-miami-gets-mls-record-$2m-fine$22m-cap-hit-over-designated-player-dealings

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Inter Miami got slapped hard for salary cap violations

https://www.espn.com/football/soccer-transfers/story/4396966/inter-miami-gets-mls-record-$2m-fine$22m-cap-hit-over-designated-player-dealings

Yes, I was just talking about that. Rather blatant, I would say:

... in addition to signing a contract, Matuidi signed a marketing agreement that added to his total compensation. Such agreements aren't unusual, but MLS rules stipulate that such agreements must be reported to and approved by MLS for the purposes of ensuring compliance with the salary budget. That reporting/approval wasn't done. When the club subsequently signed forward Gonzalo Higuain later in the season, that essentially gave Miami four DPs, one more than the rules allow.The investigation revealed that was by no means the only violation. In addition, the total compensation for Reyes -- who was on loan from Colombia's Atletico Nacional at the time -- also pushed him into the Designated Player category, meaning Miami actually played part of 2020 with five DPs. The league's investigation also found that the salary budget charges for Gonzalez Pirez, Figal and Carranza were also underreported, thus giving Miami yet another advantage compared to other teams in the league.

The guy who was in charge in 2020, sporting director/COO Paul McDonough who left for Atlanta this year, was suspended by the league and fired by Atlanta. Even the Miami owner got fined, although the $250,000 he will pay is probably chump change to him.

[Boomcoach]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

By the way, one of your personal focuses listed in the OP was "I am interested in see how Inter Miami fare this season. Beckham is pulling as many strings as his connections and reputation can manage, will it be enough to make them contenders?"

If you followed that ESPN link, you would have seen that the article subtitle was "Inter Miami spiraling."

Ranked #22 of 27 at the break, the word on them is:

The $2MM fine is bad enough, but I would imagine that the $2.2MM cap hit over the next two seasons is worse.

Your nemesis, Austin FC, is near the middle of the pack, at #15.

Yeah, Miami got slammed pretty hard, and deservedly so. I am planning to go to Columbus to see them play Miami in the fall (part of a 4 game package) as much in hope that Pippa Higuain will be there as anything. Would love a chance to cheer for Pippa one more time.

Austin seems to have done a solid job of putting together an expansion team. Look forward to opportunities to root against them. If they aren't awful, that just makes it sweeter when they lose!

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Boomcoach

Austin seems to have done a solid job of putting together an expansion team. Look forward to opportunities to root against them. If they aren't awful, that just makes it sweeter when they lose!

Which would be just as well because your looked-for rivalry with a newly significant FC Cincinnati is not shaping up at all!

[Cod]

Rumors swirling that MLS is planning to launch a new lower division league in 2022 (https://theathletic.com/2626561/2021...vision-league/). This doesn't mean MLS will have relegation or complete with the USL, just that all the clubs with second teams will have a place to compete against one another. A few of the teams will remain in the USL after the creation.

[Déjà Bru]

Originally Posted by Cod

Rumors swirling that MLS is planning to launch a new lower division league in 2022 (https://theathletic.com/2626561/2021...vision-league/). This doesn't mean MLS will have relegation or complete with the USL, just that all the clubs with second teams will have a place to compete against one another. A few of the teams will remain in the USL after the creation.

Not sure how the finances would work but I'd say it's another indication of MLS doing very well these days.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Déjà Bru

A goodly number of MLS players are headed overseas for this international break but I guess the rest are on vacation for two weeks?

MLS players gear up for busy summer of international duty

Of the ones who are traveling (well, returning) abroad, MLS runs the risk of them being injured in these other exhibitions and tournaments. Strange arrangement (to me).

Contrary to baseball or hoops, which are US-bred sports where the biggest international competition for the teams is the token Canadian team, soccerball comes from Europe, where we have a bit of a history of enjoying a good game, but we enjoy it even more if it involves whooping a bunch of filthy Frenchmen at the same time. (No, Germany will not whoop France at the upcoming 2021 Euro 2020, much the contrary ...)

With the modern game developed in England, the first international games were played in the 1870s between England and Scotland - predating f.e. the founding of the Football League in England by a good 15 years.

(Detour: Since the constituent countries of the UK formed national football associations before there was any international organization of those, and these later joined the predecessor of UEFA/FIFA independently, they continue to compete as independent countries, even though they are just one country in a legal sense. For a long time, the constituent countries of the UK placed more emphasis on the British Home Championship than on the World Cup, which England didn't compete in until after World War II. The British Home Championship, which at times served us qualifier for the Euro / World Cup in later years, was the oldest international tournament in the world when it was abandoned in the 1980s)

The same is true in virtually every European country that was around before World War I - no formal national league was established until after they had played international games. So we over here have much more of a history of international games taking clear precedence over national affairs, with the international schedules set years in advance and each national FA then filling in the gaps with its own league schedule etc.

[Boomcoach]

Got my tickets for 6 Crew games lined up! Highlights are opening of the new stadium, the Hell is Real Derby with Cinci and October vs InterMiami, hoping that Pippa Higuain plays so I can cheer for him one more time.