All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

So you won't have anything to do with MLS until it looks like Europe, sounds like Europe and plays like Europe?

 

The MLS should pay ringers to create an atmosphere. Round up 1,000 college kids each game (bribe them with tickets, beer...etc.) and have a ringleader of a supporters group organize the crew. If you do this for several games and the audience starts to understand it, I think the atmosphere will take care of itself without encouragement.

 

Gooch was a DNP in Standard Liege's 2-2 home draw with Steaua Bucharest in Champions League qualifying.

Good signs for Jay DeMerit, meanwhile, in Watford's 1-1 draw with Inter Milan. Reports are saying he handled marking Adriano and Obafemi Martins with relative ease.

 

Yes, the atmosphere at a European (and this goes for just about any location not known as the US of A) game is better than that here. You have supporters groups here that are trying to emulate that but it takes more than just a small group.

I guess the thing that throws me off about your statement is that you are looking for the atmosphere to improve before watching MLS. On the other side of this, how do you expect the atmosphere to get better if you, and others like you, which are willing to take part in said atmosphere do not attend the games?

Yes, it can definitely suck to watch soccer-moms and little kids sitting in a lot of seats. Right now, that is all they are getting.

Instead of being a follower and deciding to show up to games after a leader has already taken his/her place and begun the singing, why not be the instigator?

 

I'm saying stop the gimmicks and shit like that. If I go to a match, I want to see and hear the game, not have hundreds of kids around and not having music playing during the match (which I've heard at each of the three different stadiums I've attended).

The game is fine as it is. Stop trying to make it something it's not. THAT'S what I mean about the atmosphere improving before I'll go. If I want to be surrounded by hundreds of screaming kids whose parents think it's a two-hour babysitting service, then I'll go work at daycare center.

No, I won't have anything to do with it until it looks like soccer, sounds like soccer and plays like soccer (at least they're getting there on the third one).

Single table and no playoffs make every game important. There's a significant reward for finishing first, other than having to play more games. There's equality of schedule and a true sense that your consistency has been rewarded. I don't think playoffs add anything to the season other than cutting off half your fan base at the end of the year. If your team is out, you lose interest (I've lost interest in what little I follow baseball now since the Indians are out of the race).

I too live 90 minutes from the nearest team. I've seen a few of their games, and caught games in two other cities when I've been in town. I've given it a legitimate shot. I find the MLS in its current form is more about gimmicky garbage than about the product on the field (case in point - my college's roommate's cousin is a cheerleader for the Crew. Why the hell does soccer need cheerleaders?).

I'm done with it. I'd much, MUCH rather go watch a college soccer match in this country than watch an MLS game. So please don't tell me I'm not supporting soccer in this country.

 

Well, I can only talk from experience and I'm a season ticket holder for Red Bull NY.

1. I am not certain about what you are referring to as "gimmicks." RBNY setup a major festivity for opening day which included free food and alcohol (I was smashed on Red Bull and vodka), they had Rihanna singing in the pre-game, and they had Shakira and Wyclef playing at halftime. I didn't hear any music during game play. The league recently banned horns, so that was good. I guess, I'm just confused about what you mean by gimmicks.

2. The field has lines for soccer. Goals are setup to regulation soccer size. There are 11-men on the field, one of them is a goalie. They have two linesmen and one referee. The goals scored only count as 1. The rules appear to be the same. I guess, I'm just a little a little thrown off on why it does not "look like soccer" or "sound like soccer." What, exactly, looks and sounds like soccer?

3. The single table v. divisions can be argued back and forth. The regular season has already been elevated in importance since MLS decided that the winner of the Supporters Shield (best regular season record) goes with the MLS Cup winner to some tournament (I don't remember which one right now).

4. I see now that you mention "cheerleaders" as gimmicks. I can see that. I agree, cheerleaders are stupid. But that isn't why you are there and it doesn't seem like a legitimate reason to stay home.

"Hey Charlie, I'm going to an MLS game. Do you want to come?"
"No. I never go to MLS games. They have cheerleaders there!"

(Side note: They have cheerleaders in Mexico as well and I'm certain that you would concede that the atmosphere and environment of the MFL is definitely the type that you wish was here.)

 

Zizz must be a Steelers fan. 8)

 

Steve Nash, Red Bull New York fan and basketball player, was given the chance to train with the team. That seems pretty cool. I'm sure it was fun for some of the American players to meet him as well as for Nash to meet with Youri.


BigAppleSoccer.com: Running with the Bulls
NewYorkRedBulls.com: NBA MVP Nash runs with the Red Bulls

From BigAppleSoccer.com

 

And he's rocking my old college number. Hooray 13!

And Becks is off (for now) the England side. His international career might be over.

 

Each of the three venues I attended games at had music playing during the match at various points, along with having distracting marketing attempts along the sidelines and behind the goals during the play. Gimmicks.

Yeah, and what about the convoluted playoff system they used to employ with the three games per round? Hence why I said they're getting better - I believe they scrapped that useless plan.

Then what's the point of the MLS Cup if not every team is invited? You're allowing all the teams to compete in the season, but not all in the tournament, and giving the same benefit to both winners. Show me another league around the world that does that.

See my prior comment about distracting marketing gimmicks along the touchline and goalline. Never attended a MFL game, so I can't speak to that.

Again, I'll attend college games before I'll ever go to an MLS match.

 

Soccer here will never be soccer in the rest of the world. It isn't lfe and death here -- we have way too many sports where that is the case. We don't travel away fans. It's not as if you can take a 90 minute (or shorter) drive or train ride and be at a rival's stadium.

I've been to a bunch of MLS games, mostly at The Swamp, and haven't heard any music blaring.

 

Good riddance.

England has set piece takers. What they don't have is players who can break down defenses off the dribble, something Lennon and SWP do quite well.