Usually when I write something I expect to get feedback from, I am alerted by some e-mail that my SI.com column has been posted.
This time, I beat myself to the punch. My USL/CCL column is up.
Here's the link, but I have yet to get any response.
My favorite line from the story:
"Our teams didn't go into this -- just like they don't go into the [U.S.] Open Cup or the Canadian Cup -- as a half-assed exercise," Marcos said. "It's real. It's a way to vindicate themselves. It's a way to prove that they belong."
Friday, March 6, 2009
Believe
The last two days, I've been consumed with the USL. I'd never really given it much thought outside of Open Cup. I suppose since we don't have a team here locally, at least not in USL-1, it's sort of an out-of-sight, out-of-mind phenomenon.
But I'm starting to come around to thinking that the gap between MLS and the USL is very small.
Since Seattle tore apart Chivas and Colorado and nearly beat Dallas in the 2007 Open Cup, I paid more attention to the USL. I even wrote a column on the Sounders' run for the Press-Enterprise. USL teams knocking out MLS teams in the Open Cup is no surprise to me anymore, since MLS teams don't care about the USOC nearly as much as USL teams do.
There's more to it than just caring and wanting to win, though. USL teams are strong, stronger than many give them credit for. It's not a crackpot, glorified Sunday rec league. And if it is, well, MLS is too.
MLS has so many more advantages than the USL in terms of money and finances and players and talent and even within the scant media coverage given to soccer. MLS is more likely to get mentioned on sports highlights shows than USL.
Yet it's the USL teams who have been the story of this tournament, along with the Mexican teams of course. But the latter were expected to compete, to be there at the end, to continue to set the standard in CONCACAF. Not the USL. The second division. The place where MLS washouts go to prolong their careers.
I don't want to steal any of my own thunder as I wrote a column on this for SI.com. I talked to USL President Francisco Marcos at length yesterday, an interesting and great conversation. You'll have to wait for the SI.com column to come out, but Marcos did say that he thought for a while that if USL teams had the same chance as MLS teams, we'd see what we're seeing now. Something that didn't make it into the column:
Marcos said: I want to make it clear that to enter the competition was always something that was very important to us, just as it is important for our teams to enter the US Open Cup and to do as well as we can because given the overall problem, if I can label it a problem, of not having promotion and relegation, the only way we were going to be able to have any kind of comparative measure or to be able to show to the rest of the world that we to belong somewhere was by being able to play in the same competition where the MLS teams play and where other countries' first division or whatever the case may be also play.
And what happened when USL was allowed entry into the same international tournament as MLS?
Well, only four teams are left in the CCL. Three are Mexican. The other sure as hell isn't from MLS. It's Puerto Rico who rounds out the quartet.
But hey, MLS is the better league, right? MLS has caught up to the Mexican league because... uh what was that... oh yeah, SuperLiga. Right. Forgot about that.
Well, MLS can have the made-for-TV SuperLiga.
USL will be off playing with the big boys.
But I'm starting to come around to thinking that the gap between MLS and the USL is very small.
Since Seattle tore apart Chivas and Colorado and nearly beat Dallas in the 2007 Open Cup, I paid more attention to the USL. I even wrote a column on the Sounders' run for the Press-Enterprise. USL teams knocking out MLS teams in the Open Cup is no surprise to me anymore, since MLS teams don't care about the USOC nearly as much as USL teams do.
There's more to it than just caring and wanting to win, though. USL teams are strong, stronger than many give them credit for. It's not a crackpot, glorified Sunday rec league. And if it is, well, MLS is too.
MLS has so many more advantages than the USL in terms of money and finances and players and talent and even within the scant media coverage given to soccer. MLS is more likely to get mentioned on sports highlights shows than USL.
Yet it's the USL teams who have been the story of this tournament, along with the Mexican teams of course. But the latter were expected to compete, to be there at the end, to continue to set the standard in CONCACAF. Not the USL. The second division. The place where MLS washouts go to prolong their careers.
I don't want to steal any of my own thunder as I wrote a column on this for SI.com. I talked to USL President Francisco Marcos at length yesterday, an interesting and great conversation. You'll have to wait for the SI.com column to come out, but Marcos did say that he thought for a while that if USL teams had the same chance as MLS teams, we'd see what we're seeing now. Something that didn't make it into the column:
Marcos said: I want to make it clear that to enter the competition was always something that was very important to us, just as it is important for our teams to enter the US Open Cup and to do as well as we can because given the overall problem, if I can label it a problem, of not having promotion and relegation, the only way we were going to be able to have any kind of comparative measure or to be able to show to the rest of the world that we to belong somewhere was by being able to play in the same competition where the MLS teams play and where other countries' first division or whatever the case may be also play.
And what happened when USL was allowed entry into the same international tournament as MLS?
Well, only four teams are left in the CCL. Three are Mexican. The other sure as hell isn't from MLS. It's Puerto Rico who rounds out the quartet.
But hey, MLS is the better league, right? MLS has caught up to the Mexican league because... uh what was that... oh yeah, SuperLiga. Right. Forgot about that.
Well, MLS can have the made-for-TV SuperLiga.
USL will be off playing with the big boys.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Stunning match
What a game. I don't know how you top that kind of game, at least in this tournament.
Santos won 5-2 and won the series 5-4. They play Atlante in the semifinals while Montreal is out.
Two things...
* Anyone still doubt the dominance Mexican teams have at home? The last time a Mexican team lost at home... was on Wednesday when Pumas lost but they lost to Cruz Azul. The last time a Mexican team lost a game (in the CCC or CCL) to a non-Mexican team in Mexico was indeed Atlante as East River pointed out. Atlante lost to Joe Public during the group stage. Saprissa beat Monterrey in Monterrey in 2005, but on PKs. I checked the '03 and '02 tourneys but the venues weren't all available so it was difficult to tell if some of the Mexican teams' losses came at home or not. But no losses from 2004 through this year save for Atlante's setback to Joe Public.
* Montreal blew it. Giving up two stoppage-time goals is unacceptable. I don't care if it's a USL team or a high school team; allowing those goals under those circumstances is horrid. They showed they could play with Santos but they also showed their inability to rise up to the level of the game.
Santos won 5-2 and won the series 5-4. They play Atlante in the semifinals while Montreal is out.
Two things...
* Anyone still doubt the dominance Mexican teams have at home? The last time a Mexican team lost at home... was on Wednesday when Pumas lost but they lost to Cruz Azul. The last time a Mexican team lost a game (in the CCC or CCL) to a non-Mexican team in Mexico was indeed Atlante as East River pointed out. Atlante lost to Joe Public during the group stage. Saprissa beat Monterrey in Monterrey in 2005, but on PKs. I checked the '03 and '02 tourneys but the venues weren't all available so it was difficult to tell if some of the Mexican teams' losses came at home or not. But no losses from 2004 through this year save for Atlante's setback to Joe Public.
* Montreal blew it. Giving up two stoppage-time goals is unacceptable. I don't care if it's a USL team or a high school team; allowing those goals under those circumstances is horrid. They showed they could play with Santos but they also showed their inability to rise up to the level of the game.
It's official: Donovan's back
The Galaxy announced the official return of Landon Donovan as Bayern Munich passed on Donovan after all.
With the move, the Galaxy became contenders in the Western Conference... well, contenders for a playoff spot anyway. I don't think they will be as bad as they were last season, with Donovan in tow. Without him, they would have struggled.
Donovan's stint in Germany was ultimately unsuccessful but it wasn't a failure. With Bayern, it wasn't the right fit because the club had different ideas about how to spend their millions and where to invest - they opted to spend on young players instead of a 26-year-old. That doesn't mean Donovan won't get another look, nor does it necessarily mean his desire to play abroad has lessened.
At least this loan went along as planned and wasn't a dragged-out soap opera.
With the move, the Galaxy became contenders in the Western Conference... well, contenders for a playoff spot anyway. I don't think they will be as bad as they were last season, with Donovan in tow. Without him, they would have struggled.
Donovan's stint in Germany was ultimately unsuccessful but it wasn't a failure. With Bayern, it wasn't the right fit because the club had different ideas about how to spend their millions and where to invest - they opted to spend on young players instead of a 26-year-old. That doesn't mean Donovan won't get another look, nor does it necessarily mean his desire to play abroad has lessened.
At least this loan went along as planned and wasn't a dragged-out soap opera.
He's a believer
I had a great conversation with USL President Francisco Marcos earlier this morning. While I can't put some of what he said regarding his overall thoughts on Puerto Rico's run and his league and the CONCACAF Champions League here right now, I did have the opportunity to talk to him about Montreal tonight and how he feels about their chances.
I wrote up a story for that for Goal.com. I'll have a column on some of the other stuff on SI.com tomorrow.
As far as Montreal goes, if they score one goal, it would force Santos to score four in order to win. They do have an opportunity to advance and make the CCL semis a USL-Mexico affair... well, it already is an exclusive USL-Mexico party but it could be two teams apiece instead of three Mexican teams and one USL representative.
This USL-MLS discussion is far from over, friends. And the USL is not a crackpot second-rate league either.
I wrote up a story for that for Goal.com. I'll have a column on some of the other stuff on SI.com tomorrow.
As far as Montreal goes, if they score one goal, it would force Santos to score four in order to win. They do have an opportunity to advance and make the CCL semis a USL-Mexico affair... well, it already is an exclusive USL-Mexico party but it could be two teams apiece instead of three Mexican teams and one USL representative.
This USL-MLS discussion is far from over, friends. And the USL is not a crackpot second-rate league either.
USL dominance
Who are these guys?
Did a USL side reach the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League? The same tournament that saw 1, 2, 3, 4.... 5 MLS teams flame out in their own spectacular way?
I don't get it, really. There are former MLS players on the team, which is led by a former MLS coach, all supposedly banished to the USL, all of a shot at reaching the Club World Cup.
Did a USL side reach the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League? The same tournament that saw 1, 2, 3, 4.... 5 MLS teams flame out in their own spectacular way?
I don't get it, really. There are former MLS players on the team, which is led by a former MLS coach, all supposedly banished to the USL, all of a shot at reaching the Club World Cup.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Crisis management
Now that Barcelona/Miami is out of the running for an MLS expansion team, we are left with more than just four bids seeking two spots available for expansion.
We are left with questions regarding expansion in general and whether the economic crisis will knock other potential investors out of action.
Barcelona officials pointed to the United States' sagging economy as a major reason why they decided to pull out.
According to this story, Bolivian investor Marcelo Claure, the point man for the Miami bid, the league is asking for $40 million to join, and getting the actual club up and running would cost an additional $60 million.
Are there those sorts of funds out there right now in the United States for professional soccer? It seems difficult to imagine that now, when employers lay off workers by the hundreds on a seemingly weekly basis, when school districts across the country are struggling, when some state governments are scrambling to pass a budget and raising taxes, that there would be $60 million available for soccer.
Stadiums are a must for new teams, and what city would be willing to invest the types of monies necessary for constructing a new stadium for an MLS team?
The expansion bids originally went out to seven teams but three have dropped out. Two of the remaining bids are Canadian, whose economy is not in the dire straits the American economy is. However, the crisis is not limited to the U.S.
Still, season ticket sales are strong in Seattle and the club is anxiously awaiting the start of their own franchise. And the existing teams are seemingly operating as per usual, in the red, trying to increase their own season-ticket base.
Maybe I'm being too pessimistic in thinking that the crisis will expand over to MLS and the expansion teams, but this failed Miami bid has me scratching my head and wondering just that.
We are left with questions regarding expansion in general and whether the economic crisis will knock other potential investors out of action.
Barcelona officials pointed to the United States' sagging economy as a major reason why they decided to pull out.
According to this story, Bolivian investor Marcelo Claure, the point man for the Miami bid, the league is asking for $40 million to join, and getting the actual club up and running would cost an additional $60 million.
Are there those sorts of funds out there right now in the United States for professional soccer? It seems difficult to imagine that now, when employers lay off workers by the hundreds on a seemingly weekly basis, when school districts across the country are struggling, when some state governments are scrambling to pass a budget and raising taxes, that there would be $60 million available for soccer.
Stadiums are a must for new teams, and what city would be willing to invest the types of monies necessary for constructing a new stadium for an MLS team?
The expansion bids originally went out to seven teams but three have dropped out. Two of the remaining bids are Canadian, whose economy is not in the dire straits the American economy is. However, the crisis is not limited to the U.S.
Still, season ticket sales are strong in Seattle and the club is anxiously awaiting the start of their own franchise. And the existing teams are seemingly operating as per usual, in the red, trying to increase their own season-ticket base.
Maybe I'm being too pessimistic in thinking that the crisis will expand over to MLS and the expansion teams, but this failed Miami bid has me scratching my head and wondering just that.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Down and out
Nice to see Houston defend their colors and MLS, for 20 minutes anyway.
Atlante 3, Houston 0. Atlante wins CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series by a 4-1 aggregate and are through to the semifinals.
I wonder... I think I included the stat in a recent column, probably the SI.com one from Friday. I think it's now an aggregate score of 44-10 that Mexican teams have over their MLS counterparts in the CCC/CCL since 2002, in games played in Mexico.
Over the years, we've heard about how MLS teams could and should be included in Copa Libertadores, which I've always felt was laughable. Now, not only do I not think MLS should have any part of Copa Libertadores, or Sudamericana for that matter, but I wonder whether they should be in the CONCACAF Champions League. Okay, that's a stretch, but four teams? Really? Based on what, exactly?
If you factor in previous results, MLS should have one team in the tournament proper and another team in the play-in round and that's it.
Atlante are through to the semifinals now. On the weekend, they can go back to stinking up the joint in league.
Atlante 3, Houston 0. Atlante wins CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series by a 4-1 aggregate and are through to the semifinals.
I wonder... I think I included the stat in a recent column, probably the SI.com one from Friday. I think it's now an aggregate score of 44-10 that Mexican teams have over their MLS counterparts in the CCC/CCL since 2002, in games played in Mexico.
Over the years, we've heard about how MLS teams could and should be included in Copa Libertadores, which I've always felt was laughable. Now, not only do I not think MLS should have any part of Copa Libertadores, or Sudamericana for that matter, but I wonder whether they should be in the CONCACAF Champions League. Okay, that's a stretch, but four teams? Really? Based on what, exactly?
If you factor in previous results, MLS should have one team in the tournament proper and another team in the play-in round and that's it.
Atlante are through to the semifinals now. On the weekend, they can go back to stinking up the joint in league.
Miami's out
MLS won't return to Miami after all.
The statement from MLS:
"Major League Soccer, FC Barcelona, and Marcelo Claure have jointly agreed that Miami is no longer a candidate to be one of the next two MLS expansion teams. After extensive discussions and collaborative evaluation a decision was made that at this time because it was determined that it was not feasible to launch a Major League Soccer team in South Florida in 2010 due to adverse market conditions.
Notwithstanding, FC Barcelona remains committed to Major League Soccer and the U.S. market and will continue to work with MLS and Marcelo Claure on other soccer-related projects."
This isn't completely surprising as a report broke a week ago from Spain in which Barca folks were second-guessing the move into MLS.
Let's see now, we've got Miami and Atlante and Montreal out of the running, so the next two expansion teams will come from: Vancouver, St. Louis, Ottawa and Portland as the remaining cities.
I wonder if more of these remaining bids will falter due to the economy. With so many jobs going by the wayside and money become increasingly tight throughout the country, I wonder if these bids will have enough funds and support behind them to expand. It's not cheap to expand into MLS after all.
The statement from MLS:
"Major League Soccer, FC Barcelona, and Marcelo Claure have jointly agreed that Miami is no longer a candidate to be one of the next two MLS expansion teams. After extensive discussions and collaborative evaluation a decision was made that at this time because it was determined that it was not feasible to launch a Major League Soccer team in South Florida in 2010 due to adverse market conditions.
Notwithstanding, FC Barcelona remains committed to Major League Soccer and the U.S. market and will continue to work with MLS and Marcelo Claure on other soccer-related projects."
This isn't completely surprising as a report broke a week ago from Spain in which Barca folks were second-guessing the move into MLS.
Let's see now, we've got Miami and Atlante and Montreal out of the running, so the next two expansion teams will come from: Vancouver, St. Louis, Ottawa and Portland as the remaining cities.
I wonder if more of these remaining bids will falter due to the economy. With so many jobs going by the wayside and money become increasingly tight throughout the country, I wonder if these bids will have enough funds and support behind them to expand. It's not cheap to expand into MLS after all.
Shaping up
A little update on Chivas USA and some potential Mexican players.
* Arturo Ledesma may or may not make it here. It's not certain whether he will be here at all, as had been rumored. And you can pretty much forget about Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Jesus Padilla. Hernandez has been doing quite well in limited time for CD Guadalajara, and they're not about to give him up. Padilla, who knows what rolls around in his head? I just don't think the guy wants to be here. He'll probably be a Tapatio player forever.
* Eduardo Lillingston is all but a part of the squad. In fact, it's not a question of if the team will sign him but rather if he will start the season opener. It's good too because he's just a hard-working kind of guy. Not flashy, not particularly fast but just a guy that knows the game and works hard.
* Mariano Trujillo played some with Chivas USA this weekend. He was in camp last year as he was "training" with the team. At least that's the story we got. Seems there was a bit more to it than that as now he's here looking for a job. I'd like to see him get an honest chance of winning a job and fighting for a spot because I think he can be useful too.
* Arturo Ledesma may or may not make it here. It's not certain whether he will be here at all, as had been rumored. And you can pretty much forget about Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez and Jesus Padilla. Hernandez has been doing quite well in limited time for CD Guadalajara, and they're not about to give him up. Padilla, who knows what rolls around in his head? I just don't think the guy wants to be here. He'll probably be a Tapatio player forever.
* Eduardo Lillingston is all but a part of the squad. In fact, it's not a question of if the team will sign him but rather if he will start the season opener. It's good too because he's just a hard-working kind of guy. Not flashy, not particularly fast but just a guy that knows the game and works hard.
* Mariano Trujillo played some with Chivas USA this weekend. He was in camp last year as he was "training" with the team. At least that's the story we got. Seems there was a bit more to it than that as now he's here looking for a job. I'd like to see him get an honest chance of winning a job and fighting for a spot because I think he can be useful too.
Biggest failure?
I wrote my PE column on David Beckham and his loan deal. I compared him to some of the Galaxy's former high-profile players like Luis Hernandez and Carlos Hermosillo, well, mostly those two, in terms of how they used to join the Galaxy in the middle of the season and all that.
Anyway, the full column should be up on Wednesday and I'll link to it. But one thing I really didn't pursue was this: which one was the biggest failure?
Now, I actually think Carlos Hermosillo was decent in his time and I don't know that I'd call him a failure on the field. But he didn't bring in any large numbers of fans either.
I guess it depends what criteria you use. If it's that - the ticketing, marketing, general interest standpoint - that's one thing. If it's the on-the-field impact, that's another. Possibly. Maybe you can't judge those players without taking everything about them into account.
And it also may not be quite time yet to judge Beckham since he still could play for the Galaxy this year. I say could because I'm not sure that he will come back. After all we heard there was no chance he'd leave, then we heard the rumors, then we heard about some lame ultimatum set by the league, then we heard he was coming back on March 9, and now we hear that he's coming in July. Right.
Anyway, the full column should be up on Wednesday and I'll link to it. But one thing I really didn't pursue was this: which one was the biggest failure?
Now, I actually think Carlos Hermosillo was decent in his time and I don't know that I'd call him a failure on the field. But he didn't bring in any large numbers of fans either.
I guess it depends what criteria you use. If it's that - the ticketing, marketing, general interest standpoint - that's one thing. If it's the on-the-field impact, that's another. Possibly. Maybe you can't judge those players without taking everything about them into account.
And it also may not be quite time yet to judge Beckham since he still could play for the Galaxy this year. I say could because I'm not sure that he will come back. After all we heard there was no chance he'd leave, then we heard the rumors, then we heard about some lame ultimatum set by the league, then we heard he was coming back on March 9, and now we hear that he's coming in July. Right.
Biggest busts
Okay, the Raphael Wicky thing got me thinking about Chivas USA's all-time biggest busts. Lots of different criteria to use I suppose - expectations, hype, previous stops - but narrowed it down using my own criteria.
Guys like the second-division players hadn't played in the top flight before and few knew what to expect. I made an exception for the goalie since I'm not sure he played for anyone's first team before joining Chivas USA. And two guys never played (and to be fair one was because of an injury), but the way they were hailed prior to their arrivals, you'd have expected something from them. The fact the injured guy was not brought back and went on to play first division soccer in Mexico says something as well.
Chivas USA's All-Bust XI
G: Sergio "Matute" Garcia
D: Douglas Sequiera
D: Alfonso Loera
D: Jorge Barrera
M: John O'Brien
M: Hector "Pirata" Castro
M: Amado Guevara
M: Raphael Wicky
M: Johnnie Garcia
F: Arturo Torres
F: Isaac Romo
Coach: Hans Westerhof
You might say, where's Pulpo Zuniga? Well, we all knew that guy was washed up. Garcia was highly touted for his goalkeeping skills but was pretty much useless. Barrera , well, I'm not sure he got a real chance here but again he was supposed to offer something, anything, minutes... but he didn't even get on the field. Castro was a casualty of the Giants Stadium turf in 2005 but the club thought so much of him they didnt' bring him back during the offseason.
Guys like the second-division players hadn't played in the top flight before and few knew what to expect. I made an exception for the goalie since I'm not sure he played for anyone's first team before joining Chivas USA. And two guys never played (and to be fair one was because of an injury), but the way they were hailed prior to their arrivals, you'd have expected something from them. The fact the injured guy was not brought back and went on to play first division soccer in Mexico says something as well.
Chivas USA's All-Bust XI
G: Sergio "Matute" Garcia
D: Douglas Sequiera
D: Alfonso Loera
D: Jorge Barrera
M: John O'Brien
M: Hector "Pirata" Castro
M: Amado Guevara
M: Raphael Wicky
M: Johnnie Garcia
F: Arturo Torres
F: Isaac Romo
Coach: Hans Westerhof
You might say, where's Pulpo Zuniga? Well, we all knew that guy was washed up. Garcia was highly touted for his goalkeeping skills but was pretty much useless. Barrera , well, I'm not sure he got a real chance here but again he was supposed to offer something, anything, minutes... but he didn't even get on the field. Castro was a casualty of the Giants Stadium turf in 2005 but the club thought so much of him they didnt' bring him back during the offseason.
Where's the love?
The CONCACAF Champions League picks up again today as Atlante host Houston for a spot in the semifinals.
I wrote this column for SI.com on Friday to sort of wrap up the week and look ahead to this week's games.
Now, in the column I partly wrote about what I've felt all along, that Mexican teams have long held an advantage and they'll take care of business at home. Until I see otherwise, I don't think teams can go into Mexico and expect a win.
Of course, some people took exception to my column, and they let me know about it:
* "You are an idiot. MLS is still in pre-season, as opposed to the Mexican leagues. But of course you won't admit that in your article because it would be factually accurate. The Mexican league, just like the national team, aren't that good."
* "That means what in terms of global futbol? Nothing. This is a terrible column that only serves to heighten Mexican nationalism. All you ever write is about Mexico, Mexico Mexico. They are a second rate team at best and the league is a third rate league. Please stop the madness!"
* "With all due respect (none), anything you write that has "class" and "Mexican soccer" in the same sentence is completely unbelievable. Those two phrases should never be together given the complete lack of sportsmanship displayed in recent USA/Mexico games as well as the earlier played group games in the CONCACAF Champ. Cup. Combine the spotty referreeing, altitude and vast differences in the team salary budgets between the two leagues and its very understandable how the Mexico played games are a bit skewed."
Ahem.
Okay, I'm an idiot. Yes, that's an original comment. But two things jump out at me and I can't figure out why people can't differentiate between them.
First, I get that a lot, the "you only write about Mexican soccer" line. Yeah, nimrod, because I am paid to write about Mexican soccer. Occasionally I write about MLS or something but my beat for SI.com is the Mexican soccer beat. That's like going to a butcher shop and complaining that all they sell is meat.
Secondly, I want to post this somewhere with lights glaring: LEAGUE AND NATIONAL TEAM ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. Any arguments you use for or against the Mexican national team hold little or no relevance when it comes to league, and vice versa. So what if the Mexican national team is playing like shit? That doesn't mean the league's teams are. Mexico is struggling against regional competition, but the league's teams are not. It's still the best league in the region and its teams are still strong. I'm not saying that Mexico is La Liga or anything but it's still the... wait for it... ahem... cough... CLASS of the region. That much I stand by.
Now, I don't have a rooting interest in tonight's Atlante-Houston game, but I think that Houston will get their asses handed to them. It might not be a 4-0 blowout but I don't think Houston will get out of their with anything but a lopsided loss, even if it's not reflected by the score. And I also think Santos will turn around their own series and come away with a victory over Montreal on Thursday.
The cream will rise to the top, and until I'm proven otherwise that's what I feel. If that makes me an idiot, so be it.
I wrote this column for SI.com on Friday to sort of wrap up the week and look ahead to this week's games.
Now, in the column I partly wrote about what I've felt all along, that Mexican teams have long held an advantage and they'll take care of business at home. Until I see otherwise, I don't think teams can go into Mexico and expect a win.
Of course, some people took exception to my column, and they let me know about it:
* "You are an idiot. MLS is still in pre-season, as opposed to the Mexican leagues. But of course you won't admit that in your article because it would be factually accurate. The Mexican league, just like the national team, aren't that good."
* "That means what in terms of global futbol? Nothing. This is a terrible column that only serves to heighten Mexican nationalism. All you ever write is about Mexico, Mexico Mexico. They are a second rate team at best and the league is a third rate league. Please stop the madness!"
* "With all due respect (none), anything you write that has "class" and "Mexican soccer" in the same sentence is completely unbelievable. Those two phrases should never be together given the complete lack of sportsmanship displayed in recent USA/Mexico games as well as the earlier played group games in the CONCACAF Champ. Cup. Combine the spotty referreeing, altitude and vast differences in the team salary budgets between the two leagues and its very understandable how the Mexico played games are a bit skewed."
Ahem.
Okay, I'm an idiot. Yes, that's an original comment. But two things jump out at me and I can't figure out why people can't differentiate between them.
First, I get that a lot, the "you only write about Mexican soccer" line. Yeah, nimrod, because I am paid to write about Mexican soccer. Occasionally I write about MLS or something but my beat for SI.com is the Mexican soccer beat. That's like going to a butcher shop and complaining that all they sell is meat.
Secondly, I want to post this somewhere with lights glaring: LEAGUE AND NATIONAL TEAM ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS. Any arguments you use for or against the Mexican national team hold little or no relevance when it comes to league, and vice versa. So what if the Mexican national team is playing like shit? That doesn't mean the league's teams are. Mexico is struggling against regional competition, but the league's teams are not. It's still the best league in the region and its teams are still strong. I'm not saying that Mexico is La Liga or anything but it's still the... wait for it... ahem... cough... CLASS of the region. That much I stand by.
Now, I don't have a rooting interest in tonight's Atlante-Houston game, but I think that Houston will get their asses handed to them. It might not be a 4-0 blowout but I don't think Houston will get out of their with anything but a lopsided loss, even if it's not reflected by the score. And I also think Santos will turn around their own series and come away with a victory over Montreal on Thursday.
The cream will rise to the top, and until I'm proven otherwise that's what I feel. If that makes me an idiot, so be it.
Monday, March 2, 2009
What a joke
I thought MLS learned from the past, that the league had grown to the point where clubs and the league itself didn't rely on one player.
I was so wrong.
Now, Becks gets to stay away with Milan for the duration of the season and, as an added bonus to Galaxy fans, he won't be able to play until mid-July.
By the way, this will be the theme of my Wednesday PE column so I will gather my thoughts on the matter and let everyone know how childish and absurd this whole deal is. It's too bad I won't be able to call it what it really is: complete bullshit.
I was so wrong.
Now, Becks gets to stay away with Milan for the duration of the season and, as an added bonus to Galaxy fans, he won't be able to play until mid-July.
By the way, this will be the theme of my Wednesday PE column so I will gather my thoughts on the matter and let everyone know how childish and absurd this whole deal is. It's too bad I won't be able to call it what it really is: complete bullshit.
Swiss cheese
Raphael Wicky retired from Chivas USA today. Nice of him to wait until the dawn of the season.
It's safe to say that Wicky is one of the biggest busts in the club's short history, and that's saying a lot. He played in five games for Chivas USA when he was expected to be a big part of the club's midfield.
It's safe to say that Wicky is one of the biggest busts in the club's short history, and that's saying a lot. He played in five games for Chivas USA when he was expected to be a big part of the club's midfield.
Galaxy versus... yawn... the Rapids
The Galaxy will play the Colorado Rapids in a US Open Cup play-in game on April 7 at Home Depot Center.
A year ago, the teams played a snoozer of a game in their USOC play-in match. Can't lie and admit that I'm particularly excited about the prospect of Colorado coming here again and stinking up the joint again and still having a chance of winning.
Neither David Beckham nor Landon Donovan were in the country when that game was played, and who knows if they will be around for this game either. It's a week after the United States' third qualifier (vs. T&T in Nashville on April 1) so presumably Donovan will be around. Who knows about Beckham. Probably neither would play much anyway, since it's a play-in game and everything anyway.
A year ago, the teams played a snoozer of a game in their USOC play-in match. Can't lie and admit that I'm particularly excited about the prospect of Colorado coming here again and stinking up the joint again and still having a chance of winning.
Neither David Beckham nor Landon Donovan were in the country when that game was played, and who knows if they will be around for this game either. It's a week after the United States' third qualifier (vs. T&T in Nashville on April 1) so presumably Donovan will be around. Who knows about Beckham. Probably neither would play much anyway, since it's a play-in game and everything anyway.
Bad idea
Remember in the late 90s when the Galaxy had some aging Mexican superstar on their team? At the start of the season, the team would go through business as usual and then sometime in May or so the aging Mexican superstar would be plunked down in their midst, the team would have to re-adjust to the player and one another and the team would go on business as usual.
Those days are long gone and the league has grown up a lot since then.
Or so we thought.
Reportedly, the Galaxy are considering a blast from the past, except this time it's an aging English superstar that would be the one dropped into the Galaxy's midst sometime in the first third of the regular season.
The Galaxy and Milan are supposedly looking into an agreement that would see Beckham join the Galaxy after all, but not until the Italian season ends. Then Beckham would be free of all other obligations and would be able to return to the Galaxy. Except, of course, his true obligation should be to his contract and the Galaxy.
This is a terrible idea, the thought of sharing a player in this way. When MLS was two or three years old, there wasn't really any other way around it, and everything was so new that nobody really knew any better. Many people didnt' care for it then as it took time for players to adjust to Jorge Campos or Carlos Hermosillo or Luis Hernandez. In 1998, the Galaxy were off to a flying start but when Hermosillo came the club regressed and it took some time for the team to recover.
The Galaxy owe it to their fans to move forward with Beckham: either he will be here at the start of the season or they'll move on without him. It should be that straightforward. Accepting Beckham's desire to stay in Milan by allowing him to do just that, stay there and join the Galaxy in the middle of the season, will send all sorts of negative messages. How insignificant will the first part of the season be with a big piece of their puzzle off in Europe? Remember 2007, when the arrival was a gigantic distraction? We could see some of that again, and who knows if this team will be able to handle that.
This drama hopefully will culminate by week's end. Until March 10 comes and goes, we won't really know for sure what will happen. But let's hope an agreement in which both sides share Beckham is not one of the options on the table.
Those days are long gone and the league has grown up a lot since then.
Or so we thought.
Reportedly, the Galaxy are considering a blast from the past, except this time it's an aging English superstar that would be the one dropped into the Galaxy's midst sometime in the first third of the regular season.
The Galaxy and Milan are supposedly looking into an agreement that would see Beckham join the Galaxy after all, but not until the Italian season ends. Then Beckham would be free of all other obligations and would be able to return to the Galaxy. Except, of course, his true obligation should be to his contract and the Galaxy.
This is a terrible idea, the thought of sharing a player in this way. When MLS was two or three years old, there wasn't really any other way around it, and everything was so new that nobody really knew any better. Many people didnt' care for it then as it took time for players to adjust to Jorge Campos or Carlos Hermosillo or Luis Hernandez. In 1998, the Galaxy were off to a flying start but when Hermosillo came the club regressed and it took some time for the team to recover.
The Galaxy owe it to their fans to move forward with Beckham: either he will be here at the start of the season or they'll move on without him. It should be that straightforward. Accepting Beckham's desire to stay in Milan by allowing him to do just that, stay there and join the Galaxy in the middle of the season, will send all sorts of negative messages. How insignificant will the first part of the season be with a big piece of their puzzle off in Europe? Remember 2007, when the arrival was a gigantic distraction? We could see some of that again, and who knows if this team will be able to handle that.
This drama hopefully will culminate by week's end. Until March 10 comes and goes, we won't really know for sure what will happen. But let's hope an agreement in which both sides share Beckham is not one of the options on the table.
Friendly win
Chivas USA won their third-to-last preseason friendly by a 4-0 score over the Ventura County Fusion.
For all the match coverage, go to their blog.
I wouldn't read much into the score as the Ventura County Fusion are hardly an opponent to get worked up over. I'd say games against San Jose (on Wednesday) and Chicago (Saturday) will be more telling in terms of how the club will look like entering the season.
Still, I think Eduardo Lillingston is doing well for himself as he was involved in the first two goals on Sunday. Lillingston could very well earn himself a spot on the team and some playing time. Another possible newcomer, Diego Scotti, also got in some playing time. He trained with the team down in Guadalajara and is now with the team here, so we'll see if that means he caught the interest of the coaching staff or not.
Anyway, we'll try and update you on the comings and goings of the squad as Monday is roster compliance day, which means some players will be looking for jobs soon.
For all the match coverage, go to their blog.
I wouldn't read much into the score as the Ventura County Fusion are hardly an opponent to get worked up over. I'd say games against San Jose (on Wednesday) and Chicago (Saturday) will be more telling in terms of how the club will look like entering the season.
Still, I think Eduardo Lillingston is doing well for himself as he was involved in the first two goals on Sunday. Lillingston could very well earn himself a spot on the team and some playing time. Another possible newcomer, Diego Scotti, also got in some playing time. He trained with the team down in Guadalajara and is now with the team here, so we'll see if that means he caught the interest of the coaching staff or not.
Anyway, we'll try and update you on the comings and goings of the squad as Monday is roster compliance day, which means some players will be looking for jobs soon.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
In case you missed it
This is what a 5-0 ass-kicking looks like:
Still, the game could have gone in Pachuca's favor early on had their chances been a bit more on target. But it wasn't meant to be.
Still, the game could have gone in Pachuca's favor early on had their chances been a bit more on target. But it wasn't meant to be.
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