All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

Meanwhile, Chelsea beats up West Ham to make sure there's no change at the top. That Arsenal-Chelsea game is looming larger than the ManYoo-Chelsea a week later for me right now. I don't see another game on the schedule United has a chance at losing except for Chelsea.

 

Wow. What a busy week so far for Toronto!
Soccer By Ives: Mulrooney to Houston for Kevin Goldthwaite and Houston's number 1 draft pick.

 

Seems like another good deal for Toronto. They're piling up the draft picks as well, which will help them further down the line.

 

I'm thinking about taking my son -- who will enter the world of being a teenager this year - to an MLS game for his birthday in June because he is a huge soccer fan as am I.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to which home stadiums have the best atmosphere, you know so he'll get a taste of maybe how exciting the games in Europe are?

I'm just wondering, I've never been to an MLS game but I've been to some MISL games and I've been to two world cup games so I was just looking for some help as to which places would provide the best experience.

 

That all depends on where you are from. As far as atmosphere this is what I can gather.

East Coast: DC United
Midwest: Chicago Fire
West Coast: LA Galaxy

 

Chicago? That's fairly close. That's good info, thanks.

 

I would say that Chivas USA games have better atmosphere than galaxy at this point. Galaxy gets more fans, of course, but there's something to be said for a fan group that consists of a whole section that never sits down. As opposed to the Galaxians, which are basically fewer than a dozen people with a drum and absolutely no rhythm. And the LA Riot Squad, which sells itself as doing "European-style chants!" still hasn't gotten past the "Hey, (fill in the blank), you suck!" level of creativity. Though the Chivas-LA games are great, now that Chivas built a solid team.

That all said, Chicago and DC are pretty legendary for atmosphere, at least as MLS goes.

 

The good news from UEFA's decision to award Euro 2012 to Poland and Ukraine -- the wife is of Polish/Italian descent. We've been to Italy to see where her mother's family was born, and we've been to Ireland to see where my parents' people are from -- and she wants to see Poland.
I feel a trip coming on.
Only five years to wait!!!

 

Messi with a goal of the year candidate

http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/lionel-messi-scores-a-maradona-goal.html

 

A good friend of mine is Ukrainian. This is certainly looking like a trip to come. He has family over there that is willing to put us all up.


Also, I think Piotr is spot on with the MLS locations. They are the best of the lot. If Chicago is the closest, they may be the best to go to as they have a nice new stadium. That certainly helps atmosphere.

 

I was just about to post that. I've had a depressing day so far, but that goal brought a smile to my face. Absolutely unbelievable. And that last move to deke the goalie? Wow.

Definitely the goal of the year for any league.

Here's a link for a YouTube that has the Messi and Maradona vs. England goal side by side.

 

Since you're on the subject of Eng vs Arg, this is the goal that made me a Michael Owen fan for life.