Major League Soccer (MLS) Thread

[Tio Nicci]

Originally Posted by hokiegooner

Hookie? Whose Hookie?

And you can be an honorary American -- we won't tell Colombia (or Fredy, JPA, or Hurtado, promise).

BTW, I am hokiegooner on the XBL, and dena needs to renew his subscription.

fair enough..

haha

I always call you hookie in my head. haha

[Scuba Steve]

Thats alright, even my grandmother called us that once. Its okay.

[Tio Nicci]

Joga, hows football in Miami?

[Scuba Steve]

Here is an interview that McBride did with Soccer365.com. His answers seem quite short, almost seems like he is annoyed a bit to be answering them. But maybe thats just me.

Enjoy.

Originally Posted by soccer365.com

McBride: Fire Needs To 'Start Winning Games'
It's been a strange season so far for the Chicago Fire. Seven games into the season the team is still undefeated... but with only two wins. Soccer365's Lars Lifrak caught up with striker Brian McBride after Chicago's tie with Seattle. They discuss the team, the league and if there's any chance we'll see McBride play for the red, white and blue again.

365: Let’s start with the Fire. Undefeated but is it a frustrating thing right now?
Brian McBride: Right now? You mean after this game? Sure.

365: I guess in general. You are still undefeated but with five ties in seven games.
BM: Yeah. We’ve got to start winning games. We know that. We’re not silly.

365: I’m always interested how a relationship is when two international rivals play on the same team. With you and Blanco, is there any mention of USA/Mexico games in discussions?
BM: No not at all. He’s my teammate. There are no issues whatsoever. He’s a great soccer player and it’s fun being out there with him.

365: What differences do you see with the league right now as compared to the last time you were in the MLS?
BM: The infrastructure is ten times better. I think all in all play is getting quicker. Players understand the game better.

365: What about league expansion. Do you think there is still room for more teams?
BM: Who knows? It depends on what the league decides and the players and allotments and all that stuff.

365: How about you personally. Every time you score a goal the announcers say “I wish Brian McBride would come back and play for the national team”. Is there any chance of that?
BM: As I’ve said, there is no need for me. (Brian) Ching is doing very well. There are plenty of young players and if there were a bunch of injuries or other issues and Bob (Bradley) asked then I’d think about it seriously. But it’s not something I foresee happening. He’s built a solid team and they also have some depth.

365: So if your international career is indeed over is there a moment you think is your best?
BM: I’m not thinking about the past right now. When I’m done playing soccer I’ll look back but for me right now it’s about fully concentrating on trying to improve and helping the Fire try to win a championship.

365: So that does lead into my last question. How far do you see going?
BM: I’m taking it year to year.

365: So you kind of reevaluate after each season. You could hang it up after this year?
BM: My wife and I will sit down and we’ll make some decisions and we’ll see what the Fire feels. You never know about that stuff. It’s not in the front of my mind; it’s not even in the back of my mind. I’m fully concentrating on the immediate.

365: Does that mean the Fire is the only place you want to play?
BM: I think it’s pretty obvious. I had plenty of opportunities to play in England or the MLS but this is home for us.

365: Thanks Brian.
BM: Alright.

[Scuba Steve]

Here is an article about San Jose, and their recent stadium dealings. In order to keep the stadium project alive, the city has knocked off a huge chunk of the purchase price of the land.

Its a nice gesture, but its also pretty much necessary to keep the second installment of the team in the city. But lets hope it moves forward quickly from here.

San Jose OKs reduced land deal for Earthquakes soccer stadium

Facing up to the harsh reality of a slumping real estate market, the San Jose City Council on Tuesday unanimously agreed to cut $43 million from a land deal in hopes of keeping alive plans for a San Jose Earthquakes soccer stadium.

Team owner Lew Wolff and his partners will now pay $89 million for 65 acres near the airport, pledging to build a $50 million to $60 million soccer stadium in the next two to three years while waiting until the economy rebounds to develop the rest of the land into a sprawling office and retail development. Without the revised deal, the developers warned they would walk away from the project.

While that's far less than the $132 million deal the council initially approved in May 2008, it's more than the $81 million the city paid for the land, plus 10 additional acres, in 2005. Needed improvements and other costs brought the city's total price tag to $100 million.

At the time, the land was targeted for an airport expansion that has since been scaled back.

"This is the perfect time to do this," said Councilwoman Nancy Pyle. "First of all, it brings back our beloved Earthquakes," who currently play at Santa Clara University's Buck Shaw Stadium.

A city appraisal in December found that the land had lost about a third of its value, and late last year, the developers warned city officials the project as structured would no longer add up. Besides the privately funded stadium, the project will include some 1.5 million square feet of office, retail and hotel space.Wolff, who also owns the Oakland A's, and his partners — including prominent valley builders Deke Hunter and Ed Storm — now have until 2011 to pay the bulk of the sale price. The deal includes provisions to reappraise the land, possibly raising the price, if they wait longer.

Soccer boosters and families at the meeting hailed the deal. But union leaders also spoke, urging the city to insist during future negotiations that the developers use union labor when building and operating the projects.

In other stadium-related news, the council, acting as the San Jose Redevelopment Agency's board, unanimously approved extending the agency's tax-collection powers to the area near the Diridon rail station.

The site is targeted as a high-density entertainment district that would include several high-profile projects, including an A's ballpark and high-speed rail and BART hubs. The projects would increase values in what's currently a spartan piece of land, and the redevelopment agency hopes to capture some of that extra tax revenue.

Still, the proposal is something of a gamble. BART and high-speed rail, both of which will cost billions of dollars, are years away. And the A's have not received permission to move to San Jose, which is part of the San Francisco Giants' territory.

But because the Diridon site is already home to Caltrain and VTA service, the agency is banking on other transit-oriented development possibilities if those projects fall through or are delayed.

The area, already eligible for redevelopment funding through the city's Strong Neighborhoods Initiative, is bordered by the Caltrain tracks on the west, The Alameda to the north, San Carlos Street to the south, and Autumn Street, San Fernando Street and Highway 87 on the east.

The agency would start receiving its share of property tax receipts in the 2012-13 fiscal year, just before any baseball stadium would open. The proposal first took shape a year ago, months before the A's dropped their previous plan to move to Fremont. Currently, those taxes are shared by the city, Santa Clara County and school districts.

Cities with designated redevelopment zones are allowed to keep a larger share of property taxes from those areas to help pay for improvements.

[dena]

Speaking of stadiums, Red Bull Arena's webcam has frozen.

On a serious note, Good to hear from SJ, I absolutely hate Buck Shaw.

[dena]

Had no idea that games were scheduled today, they are:

DC United - Kansas City
Real Salt Lake - LA Galaxy

[BMxJoga]

Originally Posted by Tio Nicci

Joga, hows football in Miami?

As far as adult footall, millions of "papi" leagues all over. Youth Soccer, either all the clubs I want to try out for are too north or south...
3 Development Academy Clubs:
Weston SC(North)
Miami lalalaendall(South)
Schulz Academy(North)

[BMxJoga]

O BTW Hokie can I borrow a sig?

[Weather130]

Wow I can't believe in the Los Angeles Real Salt Lake game they had 3 90th minute goals. Seriously I never really thought that was possible, wish I actually saw the game. Of course 2 of the goals were from the penalty spot.

[Scuba Steve]

Go for it Joga. Be my guest.

And for tonight's matches.

KC 1 :: 1 DC
RSL 2 :: 2 LA

[Scuba Steve]

Hey, Dena, did you see what happened last night eh? Eh?

[dena]

Nope!, Elaborate.

[DeacsWF]

Originally Posted by hokiegooner

Go for it Joga. Be my guest.

And for tonight's matches.

KC 1 :: 1 DC
RSL 2 :: 2 LA

Neutral, ay?

[Scuba Steve]

Originally Posted by denapro

Nope!, Elaborate.

Donovan scored from the spot?

Originally Posted by FIFAL3G3ND

Neutral, ay?

Yeah, lame games. Need more wins.

[DeacsWF]

No doubt.

[dena]

*sigh*

He will never score from open play.

[Scuba Steve]

Once in a while. But he is now tied atop the scoring charts with McBride.

[dena]

MLS Philadelphia's Nickname to be Union


The MLS Expansion team in Philadelphia finally has a name.
Major League Soccer's 16th team will be named the Philadelphia Union, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported on Friday. Union beat out four other proposed nicknames, including AC Philadelphia and Philadelphia City.
For those who recall, SBI's informal poll on choosing a Philadelphia nickname back in January drew more than 3,800 votes and saw Philadelphia City (30 percent) edge out both AC Philadelphia (27 percent) and Philadelphia Union (26 percent).
Philadelphia Union will officially unveil its new team name, logo and colors on Monday at a ceremony at Philadelphia City Hall.

Do not like.

[Scuba Steve]

I like it -- because its a dumb name. Makes the new rivals an easy target (as if it was not easy enough already).

[dena]

Originally Posted by hokiegooner

I like it -- because its a dumb name. Makes the new rivals an easy target (as if it was not easy enough already).

On another note:

FC Barcelona to face LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders




American soccer fans on the West Coast will have multiple chances to see FC Barcelona live this summer as the newly-minted UEFA Champions League finalists are set for a three-match road trip to the United States this summer.
Barcelona will face the Los Angeles Galaxy at the Rose Bowl on Aug. 1st, just four days before playing the Seattle Sounders at Qwest Field on Aug. 5th. Barcelona is touring the United States for a second straight season and will be facing MLS competition for a third time in four summers. They have faced, and beaten, the New York Red Bulls on two previous visits to the United States, including last summer's 6-2 exhibition victory over the Red Bulls at Giants Stadium.
Along with friendlies against the Galaxy and Sounders, Barcelona is playing a third friendly in the United States. Details of that match have yet to be released.

[Scuba Steve]

Why the hate? Don't be jealous that we will have a new, closer, sexier rival. I know the high point of NYRB existence is being the rival of DC United -- but we can still make time for you every once in a while.

[dena]

Last time I checked St. Louis was almost 900 miles away.

[Scuba Steve]

Oh we were talking 3 years down the road then? My bad.

[dena]

You know me, always thinking ahead.