Writing about North American football with little internet in Ireland is difficult, so I’ll direct your attention to CONCACAF’s team previews that they are doing as each team plays their first game.
http://www.concacaf.com/competitions/champsleague/qteams.aspx
Apparently preseason friendlies in the USA yielded Premier League side Everton with more than just exposure and a warm-up to the regular season. Everton Manager David Moyes was impressed with the play of Colorado’s English midfielder Terry Cooke. Moyes has supposedly been telling everyone he can find to take a look at the 32 year-old playmaker. With Everton’s extreme lack of depth and lack of interest in Cooke, Moyes must have thought Cooke was good, but not quite good enough for the Premier League. Cardiff City, Preston North End (no stranger to chasing US players, as they’ve been after Taylor Twellman for a while), and Derby County are reportedly interested, with Derby’s interest the strongest.
Cooke is no stranger to the English Top Division. He was a product of the Manchester United youth system (capturing their Young Player of the Year award in 1995), played with Manchester United, Manchester City, Sheffield Wednesday, and Grimsby Town, and had loan deals at a half dozen other English sides. However, injuries have haunted him throughout his career and Sheffield Wednesday sold him to Colorado in 2005. With the Rapids, Cooke has been the driving creative force of the offense, leading the team in assists this year as well as the past two.
There’s plenty of big headlines today, so I’ll run through them a little more briefly than usual:
The Fire and Galaxy take the field for ESPN’s MLS Primetime (which has been pushed back to 10 the last few weeks and moved to ESPN2 as a reward for good ratings). Both teams will be without stars (Beckham, Blanco, etc.) due to international duty, but Bruce Arena will make his big debut. If the Galaxy don’t have enough depth to field a quality side of starters and they use front office people in Reserve League games, does that mean we should see some accountants on the field for LA tonight?
Chicago has been hot lately, they have plenty of depth, and LA is LA, so I’ll say Chicago 3-Los Angeles 1
LA’s midfield mess should get a little bit tidier with the addition of American international Eddie Lewis. 34 years old, Lewis is mostly a link player and defensive midfielder, which is exactly what the Galaxy needed. Lewis has spent the last 8 years playing for various high-level English clubs (Fulham, Preston, Leeds, and Derby County), picking up 80 caps along the way. An added bonus is that Lewis is familiar with Bruce Arena from their US National Team days, so Eddie knows what he’s getting into.
After seeing a solid franchise slowly go downhill under the Uruguayan Head Coach’s tenure, the Colorado Rapids have fired Clavijo (or as the team put it, the two sides have “reached mutual agreement for termination based on personal reasons”). Taking over will be Interim Coach Englishman Gary Smith, who led the Rapids to a 2-1 victory over Kansas City last week in Clavijo’s absence.
Posted in News
Tagged Bruce Arena, Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Eddie Lewis, Fernando Clavijo, Gary Smith, LA Galaxy
It should have been the kind of match that makes international football great: an exotic locale, a raucous venue, an inspired underdog, and the World Cup barely visible in the distance on the CONCACAF landscape. Instead, violent play from both sides, though most notably from Guatemala, tainted an otherwise sloppy, but exciting contest.
The United States recorded their first World Cup Qualifying victory in Guatemala on the backs of a 69th minute Carlos Bocanegra header. Bocanegra guided in a corner kick from DaMarcus Beasley to give the United States the lead just minutes after both a Steve Cherundolo red card (second yellow) and a straight red to Guatemala D Gustavo Cabrera for a vicious diving elbow to the head of Eddie Lewis. Although Guatemala would pressure American keeper Tim Howard the rest of the match, the USA managed to hang on for the first-leg victory. The American players looked impacted by the hostile environment and jetlag from their international travels, often displaying poor touch and questionable passing (even stellar Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard’s kicking was off). Furthermore, the lack of a quality attacking option remains blatant. Brian Ching holds up play well and is decent in the air, but Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey provided few threats to the Guatemala goal.
Overshadowing the actual soccer was the shamefully dirty play. While most of the late shoving and desperate atttempts from the US were retaliatory, Guatemala did whatever they could to intimidate or flatout injure the American players. Cabrera’s flying elbow was simply the nadir of a display that included Carlos Ruiz kicking Tim Howard in the head, plenty of body checks and takedowns, a Guatemalan defender kicking at Carlos Bocanegra during his goal celebration and defender Yony Flores attempting to attack a US coach after the match.
Though I had heard about the hostility of Central American opponents, I had never seen the United States in a football streetfight until their match with Guatemala. Poor CONCACAF officiating only compounded the needless aggression that Guatemala apparently felt they needed to utilize in order to have a chance against one of the federation’s juggernauts. While I had been thinking about how weak qualifying competition gave the United States a disadvantage once they reached large tournaments like the World Cup and Olympics, I now know that at the very least, the Red, White, and Blue are mentally prepared to take on all comers.
With the MLS looking to expand to at least 18 teams, possibly 20, their eight candidates have been scrambling to pursue staidum opportunities, develop a grassroots fan movement, and put together a pitch to sell their cities to the league.
While the league has talked about expanding beyond 18 teams, that is a risky proposal in the short term. There really isn’t strong enough domestic talent in Canada or the US to support many more teams than are already in the league, and it will take 5 or 10 years for the talent pool to grow substantially stronger. Seattle’s expansion squad will be a good benchmark as far as how much the league’s talent can continue to support growth. With the international player limit relaxed and teams looking abroad more and more to fill their squads, MLS could very well become as international as the English Premier League (albeit at a lower level of competition). Player salaries are another issue. As it stands, teams can hardly afford to pay their players competitive salaries. MLS is way behind other American leagues in that regard, meaning the franchises themselves to focus on getting stronger before the league can think about expanding (strong rivalries and rabid fan support are a good way to make the sport more appealing).
Because MLS is expanding both the Western and Eastern conferences at the same rate, I’ll split up the candidate cities into their potential conferences to examine their chances at securing the right to pay MLS $40 million-$50 million for their franchise:
Population: 559,000
The biggest advantage that Las Vegas has in the expansion race is the Las Vegas Sports and Entertainment Group’s $500 million support of a proposed team. Additionally, the Las Vegas area is the fastest growing in the United States, and already has a population large enough to be considered a solid media market. However, Las Vegas has tried for years to lure NBA, MLB, and NHL franchises with no success. Las Vegas does not have a stadium ready for an MLS team, nor does it seem like a particularly desirable market for the league, given its reputation. Finally, Las Vegas would have no natural, geographic rivals stranded in the desert as it is. LA is the closest MLS cities (4 hour drive), but there is already a strong derby in LA with the SuperClasico. Salt Lake City is 6 hours away and has a budding rivalry with Colorado for the Rocky Mountain Cup.
Population: 550,000
Portland has a strong soccer presence already with the USL’s Portland Timbers (in addition to a great supporters group, the Timber Army). The Timbers currently play in downtown PGE Park, a minor league baseball and college football stadium. Merritt Paulson, owner of the Portland Beavers baseball team and leader of the Portland expansion project plans to revamp PGE Park for the MLS team, move the Beavers to a new suburban stadium, and allow Portland State to use PGE for football. PGE is an intimate venue and has excellent location in downtown Portland. As far as marketability is concerned, Portland is a large market, Seattle is nearby as a natural rival (the Portland Timbers-Seattle Sounders rivalry is one of the oldest in American soccer), and the Timbers long tenure in the city proves that there is interest in the sport. Portland’s biggest hurdle, as is usually the case with sports projects, is getting the city government behind the project.
Population: 612,000
Vancouver has the population edge over its two western competitors, in addition to having strong support for a successful USL team and an enthusiastic owners group. Stadium-wise, the Vancouver Whitecaps play in tiny, 5,000-seat Swangard Stadium, but the MLS expansion group, led by Steve Nash, is targeting BC Place, a 60,000-seat dome that will host the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2010 Olympics. Vancouver would have a natural rivalry with Seattle, as well as being a team for western Canada to throw their support behind, with Toronto being far away. Unfortunately, not having a soccer-specific staidum could hurt Vancouver’s chances.
Population: 351,000
St. Louis will be in the Eastern Conference if they join, but that will most likely push another team (Kansas City?) to the West. With a stadium site and building already drawn up, a strong grassroots fan effort, and a reputation for being one of the country’s most soccer-crazy cities, St. Louis seems like a front runner to land a franchise. Though there isn’t currently a strong pro soccer presence, that will certainly be overshadowed by the area’s rich soccer history (every US World Cup team has had at least one member who has called St. Louis their hometown). With natural midwestern rivals in Kansas City and Chicago, and another team to cement the league’s presence in that region, there are few factors other than incredibly strong proposals from other cities that could keep St. Louis from having the 17th or 18th MLS team.
Population: 519,000
Atlanta is a large market in a part of the country that is sorely in need of MLS expansion. Atlanta Falcons owner/Philantropist/Home Depot co-founder Arthur Blank is the man behind the project, so there is plenty of moeny involved, but the biggest question for Atlanta revolves around support. The Atlanta Silverbacks are an unsuccessful USL team that play in a 4,500-seat stadium. The team has little presence in the area, which would seem to indicate that Atlanta isn’t ready for an MLS team. There are also many difficulties in getting a stadium proposal together in time, as well as getting the city behind the project. My guess is Atlanta will have to wait until the next round of MLS expansion to be a serious player.
Population: 1,855,000
Liverpool FC owner George Gillet and USL Montreal Impact owners the Saputo family are behind Montreal’s push for an MLS team. The Impact are a well-supported team whose attendance is still growing, and they already have a soccer-specific stadium which only need upgrades to meet MLS standards. A natural rivalry with Toronto FC would be huge for Canadian soccer (and Canadian soccer growth is good for the US because it’s good for CONCACAF). Montreal also has a successful history, with plenty of first-place USL finishes and control of the Voyageurs Cup for the top Canadian team every year since its creation in 2002 (even beating TFC this season). To cap it all off, the Impact will play in the CONCACAF Champions League this autumn because of their victory over TFC. The biggest question for Montreal’s expansion hopes is whether or not MLS wants to expand its geographic boundaries even further, and whether they are really interested in adding another Canadian team.
Population: 812,000
The NHL’s Ottawa Senator’s ownership group is behind Ottawa’s expansion project. Admittedly, Ottawa’s chances are slim, but MLS is very open to the possibility of Canadian expansion with TFC in mind. Ottawa is home to the Fury, a USL development league team that plays in a 3,000-seat stadium, so a new stadium would need to be constructed. The city has no soccer history, so support is not nearly as likely as in another candidate cities. Still, Ottawa is a large Canadian market, and could develop a strong rivalry with Toronto.
Population: 8,275,000
New York has always been a huge soccer town, as it is THE cultural crossroads of the United States. The Metrostars/Red Bulls have been a failure to capitalize on that possibility. Could you really root for a team named after a foul-tasting energy drink? The franchise has plenty of money and plenty of ambition (see long list of well-known managers and players), but little success to speak of other than a La Mange Cup championship in 2004 over teams from other leagues that play in the summer (Scandinavian or Russian). However with the construction of Red Bull Park, their fortunes may begin to reverse.
A second New York franchise will always be dependent on the Red Bulls; its very inception would be catalyzed by the original franchise’s existence and shortcomings. The New York Mets ownership group is behind the current project, with plans to build a soccer-specific stadium on the land currently occupied by Shea Stadium (which is soon to be replaced by $600 million Citi Field right next door). A stronger presence in NYC and a New York derby would be huge for MLS, but can the Mets ownership group put together a viable plan for a rival to the Red Bulls?
1. St. Louis
2. Montreal
3. New York
4. Portland
5. Vancouver
6. Las Vegas
7. Atlanta
8. Ottawa
The Transfer Season continues to chug along, and change continues to be the theme for the LA Galaxy, as forward Carlos Ruiz appears set to join Toronto FC.
The Guatemalan international has 81 MLS goals, an MLS Cup, an MLS MVP award and two MLS Golden Boots for the most goals in the league. Internationally, Ruiz is Guatemala’s highest goal scorer ever, with 39 goals in 77 appearances. However, his second stint in LA after 4 years in Dallas has been a disappointment. Ruiz has played in only 10 games, few of those appearances have been starts, and he has nothced only one goal.
LA unloads upwards of $300,000 per season in salary cap space, a Designated Player slot, and an ego to compete with the abundance of personality already present in the Home Depot Center locker room. Perhaps the Galaxy will use the space to sign American international M Eddie Lewis, who had been a rumored target in LA before new Head Coach Bruce Arena arrived. With Edson Buddle scoring plenty this season, Ruiz became surplus, and LA has accordingly been attempting to dispose of him for a good portion of the season (New York and Columbus were potential destinations).
Toronto gets a forward proven in the league (even if he is looking a little chubby and dives a lot) who can pair up with Danny Dichio. Apparently young forwards Abdus Ibrahim (17), Chad Barrett (23), Jarrod Smith (24), and Johann Smith (21) didn’t represent an immediate solution for TFC’s Director of Soccer Mo Johnston. Although Ruiz has plenty of accolades and experience, this move seems a bit desperate for the Reds, as well as an inevitable hit to the confidence of new acquisitions Barrett and Johann Smith, who haven’t even been in Toronto for a month. Ruiz carries a large price tag, has produced little this season, and can be an unsettling force similar to recently departed ex-TFC forward Jeff Cunningham. Barrett, a former Generation Adidas player, and Smith, a recent arrival from Premier League side Bolton Wanderers, are both seen as rising stars in the US Soccer world. It’s strange that the team would bring in a generously-paid player like Ruiz to take playing time away from the two of them, but Toronto is facing desperate times after slipping to a tie for last place in the Eastern Conference.
Update: Los Angeles received first and second round 2009 Supplemental Draft picks for Ruiz
Posted in News
Tagged Abdus Ibrahim, Carlos Ruiz, Chad Barrett, Eddie Lewis, Jarrod Smith, Johann Smith, LA Galaxy, Toronto FC
This is the most updated MLS Allocation list, after Cory Gibbs’ transfer to Colorado and TFC’s trade with New England. Allocation is used to “assign” American players who have been playing overseas. #1 gets the first chance to sign a player, if they pass, then #2 gets an opportunity to do so, and so on until the player is signed. Once a team signs an allocation player, that team moves to the bottom of the list, where Colorado currently resides because they recently signed Gibbs.
1. LA Galaxy
2. Toronto FC
3. New York Red Bulls
4. FC Dallas
5. Chivas USA
6. DC United
7. Kansas City Wizards
8. Chicago Fire
9. Columbus Crew
10. Houston Dynamo
11. Real Salt Lake
12. San Jose Earthquakes
13. New England Revolution
14. Colorado Rapids
LA Galaxy 2-Chivas USA 2
An intense rivalry between two poor teams. Alan Gordon’s late equalizer gave LA a draw in the match, but a victory in this year’s SuperClasico series, as Cobi Jones managed a draw in his only game as Interim Manager. Without Brad Guzan or Sacha Kljestan, Chivas will have to get a major lift from Paulo Nagamura, Atiba Harris, or Carey Talley if they are going to survive the heated race in the West and make the playoffs.
FC Dallas 1-Columbus Crew 2
Dallas failed to extend its hot streak, as the Crew used two second half goals, both set up by league assist-leader Guillermo Barros Schelotto, to dispose of the visitors. With the victory, the Crew took control of first place in the East. Read the in-depth match review
DC United 1-Chicago Fire 0
Fred’s 27th minute strike was the difference for surging DC, who grabbed a key road win over Eastern foe Chicago. Brian McBride, recently arrived for Beijing, came on as a second half sub and made a few key plays on offense for Chicago. New Liberian Keeper Louis Crayton impressed in his DC United debut. Chicago could have taken the lead in the East with a win, but instead lost ground to DC.
Real Salt Lake 3-Houston Dynamo 4
Houston asserted their dominance in the West in a game that had 6 first half goals. Salt Lake managed an impressive offensive showing on the road (a rarity for Jason Kreis’ team). American international Clint Mathis made his RSL debut after a season abroad in Greece with Ergotelis.
Kansas City Wizards 1-Colorado Rapids 2
Colorado collected a much-needed road win over the struggling, young Wizards team. Conor Casey was a one-man wrecking crew for Colorado, finishing with two goals, and Keeper Preston Burpo seems to have supplanted Bouna Coundoul in the Colorado net. Kansas City, previously on a 5-2-3 streak, failed to escape the cellar of the East.
New England Revolution 0-San Jose Earthquakes 4
Streaking San Jose got a huge shutout win over then leaders in the East New England. English M Darren Huckerby had two assists, and Irish M Ronnie O’Brien notched two goals and an assist. The loss knocked New England out of the top spot in the East, although they have a game in hand on Columbus, but San Jose’s victory failed to catapult them from the cellar in the West.
Toronto FC 0-New York Red Bulls 2
Toronto FC continues their tailspin with a road loss against New York, who was down a man for the second half because of a red card for Venezueland Red Bull loanee D Gabriel Cichero. Mike Magee and Juan Pablo Angel scored for the Red Bulls, who were able to hop over Toronto in the Eastern Conference standings and into a fourth-place tie with DC United. Toronto’s newest face, American U-21 F Johann Smith made his TFC debut, subbing for Abdus Ibrahim, and nearly scored his first MLS goal.
Posted in Weekly Recaps
Tagged Abdus Ibrahim, Alan Gordon, Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Clint Mathis, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, Conor Casey, Darren Huckerby, DC United, FC Dallas, Fred, Gabriel Cichero, Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Houston Dynamo, Johann Smith, Juan Pablo Angel, Kansas City Wizards, LA Galaxy, Mike Magee, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Preston Burpo, Real Salt Lake, Ronnie O'Brien, San Jose Earthquakes, Toronto FC
Last Year-
Coca-Cola Championship: 21-12-13 (3rd, Playoff Champion)
Founded: 1904, after rugby’s popularity made it difficult to start a club until then
Manager: Phil Brown (English)
Stadium: KC Stadium (25,404)
Nicknames: The Tigers
Top Players: GK Boaz Myhill, M Geovanni, M George Boateng, F Marlon King, M Nick Barmby
Famous Fans: With rugby dominating Hull’s sporting landscape, the Tigers are lucky to have fans
Last year’s feel-good story in English football, Hull City was predicted to dwell in the relegation zone in the Championship, England’s second tier. Instead, the Tigers finished third in the league and battled through the four team playoff to win promotion for the first time in their history, allowing them to shed the title of “Club in the Largest Town That Has Never Played in the Top Division”. One of Hull’s prominent scorers last season was remarkably old, 39 year-old Dean Windass. Because Windass probably doesn’t have the athleticism or quality to score in the Premiership, Hull had plenty of rebuilding to do for their first year in the top flight. Most experts are picking them to go straight back down to the CCC next season, but at the very least, 2008-2009 should be a fun ride for the Tigers’ faithful.
Posted in Team Previews
Tagged Boaz Myhill, Dean Windass, George Boateng, Geovanni, Hull City, Marlon King, Nick Barmby, Phil Brown
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