MLS Thread.

[Kay20]

Dallas up 1-0 right now and 3-1 on aggregate. RSL has missed a few chances but we'll see if my darkhorse pick FC Dallas can hang on.

Wow. They hung on and then some TX Bill. The highlight reel for this game was 10 MINUTES LONG. Holy crap did the GK have an *amazing* game.

Big surprises so far - hope LA holds on tonight. Then it would be LA v FCD and SJ v Colorado. I'm starting to hope for an LA/SJ final - good history there and should make for good TV.

 

[ijjysmith]

My Dad got me a Real Salt Lake shirt for my collection so have adopted them as my mls team. Bit gutted they missed out.

Do they have any players I may have heard of?!

 

[spikeman]

My Dad got me a Real Salt Lake shirt for my collection so have adopted them as my mls team. Bit gutted they missed out.

Do they have any players I may have heard of?!

Beckham... I mean Kyle Beckerman? Robbie Findlay? Nick Rimando?

 

[Nordecke]

Beckham... I mean Kyle Beckerman? Robbie Findlay? Nick Rimando?

I like Beckerman, dudes a pimp.

 

[Wratho]

I should get tickets for the Rapids vs. Quakes on Saturday night. It is only about an 1hour and 15 minute drive......... I really like Cummings.... I wonder if any European teams will pick him up... speed and can finish from the outside. He is 28

 

[Kay20]

I didn't expect the Seattle/LA game to turn out the way it did - it seemed over at the half. Excited for the Galaxy! They put in a great team performance tonight.

FC Dallas vs. LA should be quite interesting, and I'll say it again, will be a very interesting final if it could be LA vs SJ. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

 

[Wratho]

I didn't expect the Seattle/LA game to turn out the way it did - it seemed over at the half. Excited for the Galaxy! They put in a great team performance tonight.

FC Dallas vs. LA should be quite interesting, and I'll say it again, will be a very interesting final if it could be LA vs SJ. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

You are Galaxy vs. Rapids

 

[TX Bill]

Ok.

Going out on a slight limb here.

I'm picking Dallas to beat LA. And I hate FC Dallas. But I think they have something special and actually have a decent bench as well.

 

[wscottl]

Look at Philly Union, DC United and Chivas and compare them against RSL, Rapids, Sounders and Galaxy - I think that disparity is pretty wide.

Hard to include Philly in there with only one year together. They showed improvement all year and may battle for a playoff spot next year.

I like Beckerman, dudes a pimp.

Looks like Gary Oldman in True Romance.

 

[Kay20]

Hard to include Philly in there with only one year together. They showed improvement all year and may battle for a playoff spot next year.

Good point - Le Toux looks good. That also causes disparity - lots of new teams! Forgot about that.

Wratho - I don't particularly care if it's Rapids or SJ - just was thinking back to the history that SJ/LA have - classic NoCal/SoCal rivalry. They HATE one another, and it doesn't help that LD played for both. But, just excited to see how much MLS has improved! These playoff games have been fun! No bunker-ball.

Finally, TX Bill - no!!!! But I am nervous about the FCD/LA game - I think it's going to come down to plain old lady luck. I would love LA to go out winners while Becks and LD are on top. Out of curiousity, is there a rivalry between FCD and Houston? I know they are not derby cities, but still, is there a natural rivalry there? I've only repicked up MLS this year, so still learning.

 

[The Yank]

Good point - Le Toux looks good. That also causes disparity - lots of new teams! Forgot about that.

Wratho - I don't particularly care if it's Rapids or SJ - just was thinking back to the history that SJ/LA have - classic NoCal/SoCal rivalry. They HATE one another, and it doesn't help that LD played for both. But, just excited to see how much MLS has improved! These playoff games have been fun! No bunker-ball.

Finally, TX Bill - no!!!! But I am nervous about the FCD/LA game - I think it's going to come down to plain old lady luck. I would love LA to go out winners while Becks and LD are on top. Out of curiousity, is there a rivalry between FCD and Houston? I know they are not derby cities, but still, is there a natural rivalry there? I've only repicked up MLS this year, so still learning.

If anyone besides Buddle deserved the MVP award it was Le Toux. He was amazing this year and he had a good set of players to play with. They just didn't seem to click but being a first year team it would be hard to expect them to. Also DC United has Chris Pontius, Andy Najar, Troy Perkins and Santino Quaranto. They are hardly strapped for quality players. They just suck as a team.

If we put DC and Colorado Rapids against each other on paper I would give the quality edge to DC. Rapids' huge advantage is Conor Casey and Omar Cummings. IMO the only team without quality players is Chivas USA. They have Bornstein... and well maybe we can give them a half point for Alan Gordon too.

Correction... Donovan didn't just play for both, he fled the hell hole that is Norcal to come to a decent club.

My LA Galaxy beat Dallas three weeks ago but that was without Hartman. If El Gato is back I will be a little worried about the western conference final.

 

[pfim]

Anyone who can win two legs with Mike Magee starting as a striker has to be considered the favorite to win the whole thing.

 

[TX Bill]

Finally, TX Bill - no!!!! But I am nervous about the FCD/LA game - I think it's going to come down to plain old lady luck. I would love LA to go out winners while Becks and LD are on top. Out of curiousity, is there a rivalry between FCD and Houston? I know they are not derby cities, but still, is there a natural rivalry there? I've only repicked up MLS this year, so still learning.

Yeah, there's a rivalry but for the first few years, Dallas was awful and we pretty much owned the series. Things have changed though and FC Dallas was a much better team than we were this year. However I really don't know if the supporters were "into it" like they have been in the past. We were all so bummed about how poor we were combined with the players we lost and injuries we had that the rivalry wasn't on the front burner, at least from my perspective.

But we have supporters go up there and they have some come down here for the series so it's all good.

 

[Kay20]

If anyone besides Buddle deserved the MVP award it was Le Toux. He was amazing this year and he had a good set of players to play with. They just didn't seem to click but being a first year team it would be hard to expect them to. Also DC United has Chris Pontius, Andy Najar, Troy Perkins and Santino Quaranto. They are hardly strapped for quality players. They just suck as a team.

If we put DC and Colorado Rapids against each other on paper I would give the quality edge to DC. Rapids' huge advantage is Conor Casey and Omar Cummings. IMO the only team without quality players is Chivas USA. They have Bornstein... and well maybe we can give them a half point for Alan Gordon too.

Correction... Donovan didn't just play for both, he fled the hell hole that is Norcal to come to a decent club.

My LA Galaxy beat Dallas three weeks ago but that was without Hartman. If El Gato is back I will be a little worried about the western conference final.

Very good point about the talent on those teams - that's why I think teams will continue to pull away from one another as the league continues to develop (and the new teams have time to come together). We saw that this year with some teams gelling with their talent more than others. General managers have skill sets too - and some are better at getting players than others...

I think if he can get his citizenship figured out Najar is a future USMNT-er.

I live in NoCal, and am a rabid Giants fan (thus, hate the Dodgers), but just can't get myself to support SJ. Buck Shaw SUCKS mightily, and the team is no one without Wondo + Convey, so I just haven't been able to do it. They just look like a junior team compared to The Home Depot Center + more talented veterans + an actual system with a decent GM. Plus, I can watch LA on ESPN whereas I have to hunt for the Earthquakes. Sorry guys, nothing against you, but my local support only goes so far. Hopefully the Earthquakes will get their new stadium though - then I might actually go watch some games.

Agree on Hartman. I'm also worried about the tired factor of the players. Becks and LD can only bring their energy so far. And Eddie Lewis as a 24 year old must have an expiration date.

You know, I thought the same thing about Magee until the waste of space known as Tristan Bowen came on as a sub. Yikes - the kid looked overwhelmed, deer in headlights eyed and was generally useless. He needs reserve time badly.

Go Galaxy!

P.S. Here's to hoping the lights actually stay on this year. For those who might not know what this is about - go watch Dynamo/Galaxy highlights from last year, when the game is plunged into darkness, not once, but TWICE.

 

[Kay20]

I should get tickets for the Rapids vs. Quakes on Saturday night. It is only about an 1hour and 15 minute drive......... I really like Cummings.... I wonder if any European teams will pick him up... speed and can finish from the outside. He is 28

Congrats Wratho on the Rapids win!!! Did you end up going to the game?