2013 MLS Thread

[seattleflamer]

Even if you aren't a Sounders fan, this is an insightful look into into the business side of MLS' and arguably North America's most successful expansion franchise ever:

Hopefully this works outside the States: http://www.bloomberg.com/video/sound...WKhLfBBGA.html

Summary: 32K season ticket base; 12K per match to break even; average >40K per match; leveraged knowledge of Seahawks' NFL and local business connection/know how and staffing at corporate level; ROI of 400% on an initial cost of $30 million; involved fans ("Barca rules") with decision making such as voting for club name, keep/not keep GM every 4 years and implement fan driven ideas such as March to the Match; perfect demographic storm of age, wealth, income and grassroots support.

[Montana Moe]

#1 seed in the West, I'll gladly take it!
A year ago, I would have thought that would be impossible.

Looking forward to seeing who wins the play in game, tons of great match up possibilities.

[seattleflamer]

Looks like Rennie has been axed per TSN and Vancouver radio:

Martin Rennie has reportedly been fired as head coach of the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Several media outlets say Rennie has been relieved of his coaching duties and that the Whitecaps will make his firing official on Tuesday.

http://www.tsn.ca/soccer/mls/story/?id=435314

Club regressed this year in terms of not making the playoffs though they got more points and won the Cascadia Cup in a very competitive and even league this year.

Club was frustratingly inconsistent so not surprised but now is the slippery slope of a fourth manager in 4 years in MLS. Welcome to TFC territory.

[The Big Chill]

I thought they would probably give him one more year, but it's not a huge surprise he's gone. Hopefully they have a replacement in mind though and this isn't just a move for the sake of it.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I thought they would probably give him one more year, but it's not a huge surprise he's gone. Hopefully they have a replacement in mind though and this isn't just a move for the sake of it.

Absolutely they have Frank Yallop in mind and wonder if they'll annouce the same time as Rennie's termination. It would be a natural fit really.

[Matty81]

I like Frank Yallop, I think it's a solid move.

Am going to try to watch Montreal tomorrow, too bad they choked so badly against TFC as I'd like to see a Canadian team make some noise in the playoffs for once.

Rumor has it that TFC has made concrete offers to Defoe and Gilardino... massive massive dollar offers. And honestly while I don't think either is world 11 material or anything, TFC could do a lot worse. If MLSE is willing to spend the money, they will certainly have a much better team next year. Both relatively healthy and neither is over the hill IMO. Saw Gilardino play in Florence a bit and he's a very good poacher and Defoe can really stretch defenders. Would be fun to watch them next year.

Only thing is I think they might be better off signing one striker and an attacking midfielder. I guess Osorio and Laba in the middle of the park is pretty solid but I wonder if two forwards like that are going to get the service they need without a real top notch playmaker.

[Matty81]

Wow just saw Chicago Fire hired Yallop quickly. Wonder who Vancouver will get now.

[Montana Moe]

Portland vs. Seattle in the playoffs? Yeah, that sounds like fun.

I like the odds for Portland in that series, especially with Seattle's keeper out for an embarrassing red card, and Eddie Johnson and Lamar Neagle sitting on yellow cards. 2 yellows on the playoffs = 1 game suspension.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by Matty81

Wow just saw Chicago Fire hired Yallop quickly. Wonder who Vancouver will get now.

Hilarious...they fired Klopas? The Fire obviously have an endgame that the Whitecaps should have had. Lenarduzzi's warts keep popping up. What's the plan du jour, Bob? It is too late to give it back to Rennie and get rid of Lenarduzzi?

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Portland vs. Seattle in the playoffs? Yeah, that sounds like fun.

I like the odds for Portland in that series, especially with Seattle's keeper out for an embarrassing red card, and Eddie Johnson and Lamar Neagle sitting on yellow cards. 2 yellows on the playoffs = 1 game suspension.

Welcome to the playoffs. It will be very exciting and close. They match up pretty well and it could go either way. As for Gspurning, I'd think Portland would want to rescind the red based on his recent play. At least Sigi can't play these stupid mind games with his keeper.

[Montana Moe]

Yeah, Gspurning hasn't been very impressive of late. Looks like the rain may let up by kickoff.

Fouling Dempsey seems to be a pretty effective defensive tactic, and if this match was any indication, they're going to let the teams be pretty physical. EJ gets so emotional, I find it hard to believe that he won't get that next yellow and miss the 2nd leg in Portland. He was damn close to getting it tonight with his jersey/t-shirt message.

We know that Seattle is going to foul Nagbe at every possible occasion, as was protocol for the rest of MLS, as well. Alonso will be in his back pocket all night. Will Johnson will surely do the same with Dempsey/EJ, he seems to find a way to agitate everyone. (Those plucky Canadians!)

I'm sure it'll all come down to a deflected header by a reserve right back in stoppage time.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Yeah, Gspurning hasn't been very impressive of late. Looks like the rain may let up by kickoff.

Fouling Dempsey seems to be a pretty effective defensive tactic, and if this match was any indication, they're going to let the teams be pretty physical. EJ gets so emotional, I find it hard to believe that he won't get that next yellow and miss the 2nd leg in Portland. He was damn close to getting it tonight with his jersey/t-shirt message.

We know that Seattle is going to foul Nagbe at every possible occasion, as was protocol for the rest of MLS, as well. Alonso will be in his back pocket all night. Will Johnson will surely do the same with Dempsey/EJ, he seems to find a way to agitate everyone. (Those plucky Canadians!)

I'm sure it'll all come down to a deflected header by a reserve right back in stoppage time.

Tonight's win was a huge relief for a mentally fragile group. You saw it as the match progressed. The stress on the players and in the stands was palatable and you saw in the cards.

The recipe for success for the Sounders based on their only playoff win is to play the home leg first and have the first match carry momentum.

Portland is very good with multiple lines of attack and that questionable back line is nicely reinforced by Johnson and Chara. They are playing with a huge amount of confidence but have no playoff experience so we'll see if whether experience or momentum win in the end.

The CLink will be packed with Timbers fans who can't get tickets to Jenweld so should be a fun and loud night. I'll be in the cozy and dry club seats....being one of the groupon fans and all.

[Montana Moe]

Well, if the Flounders lose on Saturday, I hope they don't have to issue refunds like after the Man United debacle.

I'm reading the tweets of the Timbers fans in my timeline as they secure their seats for Saturday night, I'll admit I'm jealous. An away day at your bitter rivals is always a good time. Especially when you can laugh at them getting their chant cues from the jumbotron...

[Montana Moe]

Originally Posted by seattleflamer

The CLink will be packed with Timbers fans who can't get tickets to Jenweld so should be a fun and loud night. I'll be in the cozy and dry club seats....being one of the groupon fans and all.

Great news!

http://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-seattle-sounders-fc

$20 to See a Seattle Sounders FC MLS Cup Playoff Game at CenturyLink Field on Saturday, November 2 ($40 Value)

[troutman]

The end of the HOU- MTL game was a gong show, with 2 Impact players being shown the red card.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by troutman

The end of the HOU- MTL game was a gong show, with 2 Impact players being shown the red card.

I PVR'd that one and watched it this morning without knowing the result. Gong show indeed. Montreal had already been shown a red earlier in the game (second yellow), so they finished the game with 8 men.

Both of the late red cards were well deserved. Di Viao's I didn't see originally, but in the replay he appeared to claw at the Houston player's face two or three times.

They completely lost composure and deserved their fate. Houston were hands down the better team. So the slim chance of a Canadian club going on a cup run is officially put to bed.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by Montana Moe

Great news!

http://www.groupon.com/deals/gl-seattle-sounders-fc

Haha...the fair weather fan meme continues. Context is everything of course. Those seats are the cheapest Hawk Nest metal bleachers that are first come, first sit. ~1000 made available and all sold out so obviously a good deal for fair weather fans and Portscum alike.

The big (bad) news for me is the football lines will be in place for the match. It would be too risky to wait to paint lines till after with rain in the forecast this weekend.

Don Garber just shed a tear....

[Montana Moe]

Yeah, the football lines will be a bummer, for sure.

It was understood that the TA away section was going to be allotted 2000 tickets, but the Sounders only released 1000 tickets in the away section, so I know quite a few people were looking at taking that deal. Another 160 away section tickets were just released a few minutes ago. I'm sure they'll go quickly.

Yahoo! just posted a cool "behind the scenes" video about creating the tifo for the last PDX/SEA match in Portland. It's pretty impressive to see what really goes into creating those displays. (FYI: It's 15 minutes long)

It isn't on youtube to be embedded, yet, so here's the link

[Montana Moe]

[Montana Moe]

So. a 2-1 away win is pretty solid.



Indeed.