All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

I don't know half of the players on the pitch right now at Stamford Bridge...is that bad?

 

I believe it to be a tourney of 16, but I'm not sure. MLS is whittling away how many teams are able to play in it by having a mini-tourney beforehand.

 

Last year's open cup had something like 42 teams in it.

 

There can never be too many teams in an open cup tournament.

 

There are 12 teams apiece in the USL first and second divisions, so they should draw six USL teams together for a play-in game to the round of 32. Then go with a random draw for each round with one team getting a bye in the first round since since six teams dropping would leave 31.

EDIT: Or even better, give the round of 32 bye to the previous years winner.

 

they reduced the number of MLS teams in the U.S. Open cup this year because they didn't want to stretch the league too thin because of other commitments (SuperLiga, Champions Cup, etc)

 

Sure, but its a five round tournament. With no replays and a shootout at the end if its still tied, its worth five games max, four for the team that defends its title.

 

RIP Gino Pariani, member of the US 1950 World Cup side that beat England...

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/soccer/05/10/bc.soc.obit.pariani.ap/

 

Boo to that. It's an OPEN Cup for a reason. Any team in America that wants in should be in. Imagine limiting teams in the FA cup to 32.

 

Exactly.

 

Interesting final day of the Premiereship season, setting up a long offseason of crying about Tevez.

 

So you're saying the SportsJournalists.com all-stars should get a team together to enter?