Major League Soccer

cbus and colorado might play in the snow. stoked for the orange ball.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/321215_10150335651146091_11106436090_8674180_1321387112_n.jpg

<3ing pics like that when sepp and co. start bleating about MLS adopting a euro-style calendar

MLS players by place of birth (pdf)

double digits:

usa 280
canada 23
colombia 16
brazil 15
england 12
jamaica 12

wonder how many of the colombian players are in the league because of diego guiterrez? such a shame he's not working w/ the fire

just watched the 3rd division (nasl) championship 2nd leg, yay NSC Minnesota!

not finding a good stream for rsl/seattle, hmph

got a stream, it hurts me in my fire place to see CJ Brown celebrating goals on the sidelines with RSL

shitty poop butt team

i'm starting to irrationally hate alvaro fernandez.

rosales is missed.

it's been a successful season but to go out again like this is just

a team always goes on a run in the playoffs, could be rsl this time. deserved if it happens

RSL did it two years ago, could definitely again

then again it could just as likely be SKC

why not change the subject god damn it

@peterhirdt: See an #MLS first: 5 players on field who've scored in World Cup match—Henry/Marquez/Donovan/Beckham/Keane. ESPN2, 3pm ET

NY's field looks like a herd of wildebeasts made trails across widthwise.

Also by bringing in Alejandro Moreno as a pundits there is someone to despise on ESPN more than Lalas.

uh oh, DCU...

MLS gauging interest in club playing in Baltimore

Soccer fans in the Baltimore area have begun receiving an MLS-commissioned survey to gauge their interest about a team playing there through expansion or relocation.

...

The survey also asks fans: If you could influence any of the following MLS teams to relocate to Baltimore, which team would you rather move to Baltimore?

Columbus Crew

D.C. United

FC Dallas

New York Red Bulls

Philadelphia Union

No preference

aw DC :(

If they could finally build a stadium and get out of shitty old RFK maybe things would be different.

Yeah, but I can't see anyone justifying the funding for it, even with the snappy Metro posters which gives the players names like "The Engine".

There must be a place for it somewhere in greater DC. Throw it out in Gaithersburg or something.

Dallas' home field is out in Frisco, 30+ miles from downtown and nobody seems to mind too much.

30 plus miles from DC is Baltimore, though.

also things people don't seem to mind in Dallas is not a good barometer for anything

I'd feel less guilty about not going if they were playing Baltimore. But I'd also like the option to casually stroll over to the metro and then ride the train for 30 minutes to see them.

I thought Dallas had shitty attendance?

This whole thing makes me nervous if only 'cause DC is one of the more historic, better-supported teams in the league and if they're on the verge of moving it could happen anywhere. Teams with their own stadiums are definitely more secure, though...

http://woodlandparkzblog.blogspot.com/2011/11/seattle-sounders-fc-recruits-zoo-animal.html

^^^^^relevant to my interests

I used to ride the train from Baltimore to DC for work. Nice ride. Occasionally went the other direction when I lived in DC and took the train up to see the Orioles.

I've lived in Dallas for a month so have no idea about it beyond my friend who goes regularly. Quick google puts them below average but growing:

http://mlsattendance.blogspot.com/2011/10/final-attendance-update.html

A finals run last year and a talent like Shea seem to be helping.

I have this tendency to get evangelical about MLS: if you live near Dallas, you should go to some games!

I am hoping the Fire are in the same spot Dallas was like 2-3 years ago. They were utter crap for most of the season then gelled all of a sudden and went on a run, barely missing the playoffs. Since then the coach (whom most everyone had been calling to be fired) has been slowly adding pieces and developing youth players, and they've been perennially solid contenders the whole time.

I'll go next year. Hopefully I'll have sold my house in Maine by then and be able to afford some fun now and again.

i really don't think anybody in favor of the dcu-to-baltimore idea realize how suicidal it is, no matter who'd pay for a stadium up there, and that's good ol' MLS for you in a nutshell

If it moves the fans will get together and start AFC DC and they'll have loads of national goodwill and credibility.

what was being sung during each goal at Jeld-Wen Field this year

good goal by saborio in the playoffs wasn't it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NX3YzdaKZFs

beautiful.

LA are the most boring team to watch, guess that's why they never lose at home.

I have to say, the Guardian's MLS playoff coverage has been pretty good, low on the snark-o-meter which is a bit of a departure from previous seasons.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2011/nov/04/la-galaxy-sporting-kc-houston-dynamo

and... we're #3, we're #3!

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/dish/201111/nba-no-longer-3rd-best-attended-us-sports-league

And now elevated to Guardian MBM status!

Enjoyed the second leg of LA-NY quite a bit, looking forward to tonight's game even more.

pretty good so far imo

my mans saborío scored again. like wayne gretsky somehow, according to my commentator. feel good abt this bc LA's first was never a penalty.

disquieting to see robbie keane playing a few days before ireland's crunch euro qualifying playoff, even tho a bunch of dudes who'll be there played 12 hours ago in england.

saborio plays a flavorful game

HOT POCKETS HALFTIME SHOW gets me every time you guys, fuckin lol

aw keeper

i guess it was pretty much point blank

Lot of power in the cross and the shot, tough to keep out.

tru.

wow crossbar by espindola

nice pass Donovan

keane is no hugo sanchez

if anything his celebrations are getting even lamer as he ages, tho it seems hardly possible

Yeah that was as raggedy a cartwheel as I've seen.

rsl was the last team besides the gals to have a shot at this imo, oh well