Major League Soccer

KC/Houston draw last night only made the Chicago/Montreal and New York/Columbus games more intense today. 5 points separating the top 4 in the East.

And don't overlook Dallas/Vancouver - if Dallas win they're within 1 point of Vancouver for the final playoff spot.

Excellent point. Dallas has really come on strong of late, they were pretty widely written off early in the year but have gotten healthy just in time.

Though I think the last home draw might have killed their shot.

After looking at the West standings, I'm surprised that 37pts is the current last spot. Everyone seemed to be predicting the West would be the stronger conference at the start of the season.

It is a bit surprising. I think if Dallas hadn't been so injury stricken they'd be comfortably over 40 points, but it wasn't to be. And Vancouver has been so disappointing since they became the West Scots team; they really should be comfortably out of reach by now.

Dallas closed within 1. Vancouver has a game in hand, but have looked so bad since they imported the Scots national team that I almost expect a full collapse.

AEG, who used to own more than half the league, is for sale:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/19/aeg-for-sale-anschutz-co-_n_1895548.html

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/37407/thierry-henrys-internal-monologue

^^^ MUST READ LOLZ

okay but we must respect Columbus — not literally, of course, but there is much to be learned from teams of their genre. and I leave him to mercies of the Australian, who is bounding round the middle at random, strewth-ing into things. are genius.

went to philly for the united game last night, my first time at ppl park - fun time, three much-needed points, and i totally enjoyed the stadium, but they certainly weren't kidding about those security guards

I watched most of that, looked like a bit of a hack-fest.

Gonna be a sell-out today at TP for Columbus, classic Chicago fans showing up now that playoffs are looking likely. Good thing it's for a must-win game.

http://i.imgur.com/nLA4t.gif

god you guys are playing your asses off right now

hoping we can sneak by a swooning RBNY into third tomorrow (which we will, on goal difference, with a win) - that last dcu/chicago game 10/27 could be very interesting seeding-wise

Fire looked really good yesterday.

Aside from the goal that SeanJohn just handed to them on a platter... smh.

Better he makes a flub like that now than in the playoffs. Watching it at home, the outcome never seemed in doubt. You guys were massively better.

Did anyone else catch the San Jose/Seattle game last night? Chippy and cheap, what with the Earthquakes built upon the rare breed of thuggish divers. San Jose one of the few teams in the league that make Seattle seem vaguely likable.

Didn't see that one, but I did see KC at Montreal earlier in the day. KC aren't divers as much as they swarm the ref looking for calls on seemingly every play, plus they hack and hit when they don't have the ball. Their draw means the Fire has a shot at first in the east on the road in KC on Friday, a game that I shall be attending. Only my second away day this year, shameful.

Best of luck in KC! Would love to see someone knock them off their perch.

govern yourself accordingly are you in this picture?

http://i1193.photobucket.com/albums/aa356/fugexlac/dcu_zps098777b6.jpg

yup! extreme right of frame, beard, wearing a red and white scarf

hoping we can sneak by a swooning RBNY into third tomorrow (which we will, on goal difference, with a win)

p sure you'll have to score at least 4 goals to do this, tiebreaker is goals for, not goal difference, thanks to league bullshit earlier this year

unless I'm misunderstanding something

i remember that, and of course you're right - lol mls

Nothing like starting twitter fights with another team's management over supporter regulations! I love this league. #FeartheFlag

The story: http://bit.ly/SkmgkX

Love it.

if and when DCU ever gets an SSS, this type of shit terrifies me tbqh

You guys have a pretty good setup as far as I know with the Barra/Eagles/Norte/District Ultras groups, though. The fact that you have actual cops instead of security goes a long way. I imagine that when a new building is readied, you'll be accommodated. This is really an issue for travelers.

Also, SKC have been dicks to us in a lot of ways that aren't outlined in the article, this is just all we're making public.

Just read on Twitter that http://settingthetable.info/ will be shutting down at the end of the season. Apparently the league is now providing a similar table instead of only the conference standings. RIP for a great site.

Have to say I was skeptical about bringing this guy in but he's been nothing but a great player/leader since joining the club: http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/09/fire-buoyed-presence-veteran-arne-friedrich

I'm afraid Dan didn't likely have much fun in KC. Two definite corners called goal kicks, lots of questionable non-calls, soft second yellow shown against Chicago. KC were better for much of the game, but the Fire didn't get a fair chance when they took the initiative late.

Yup, pretty much otm.

Best part of the match was Frank getting tossed. If only he could have given the ref a DDT in the way out.

went to bc place for caps v sounders.ended up in with the sounders support,rooting for caps.not something that would be advisable back home! atmosphere really different,bit more wholesome,less aggressive (even when they're sort of trying to be aggressive,turning their backs and giving the bird as the opposition team is read out,singing some slightly salty chants).

game was p dire,roughly equivalent to watching a game of scottish premier league,barry robson and kenny miller were the two best players for the caps imo.caps could've scored at the death but just past the post.ill maybe go again sometime,but i won't be in a hurry,next time ill not wait til game day and have to pay 45 bucks for tickets.

Sounders fans are kittens, really. And it's not surprising that the game seemed like a SPL match considering the number of old, broken down Scots that Vancouver have imported. They were a lively, fast team early in the season and looked really dangerous, then made all these weird moves and, well, you see the result.

http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/10/2/3446146/erik-soler-new-york-red-bulls-jerome-debontin

this ought to be hilarious

Gérard Houllier, who was appointed Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull this past July, will oversee all sporting aspects of the team.

Houllier? Really? huh.

this guy was just confirmed for the Fire's 15th anniversary party on Monday

http://www.expertfootball.com/players/stoichkov/stoichkov/fire/7.jpg

stoked

Very cool! Enjoy yourself sir.

http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1153-october-2012/9056-european-clubs-want-to-take-manhattan

that the NYC clubs have never won anything in the MLS era doesn't help, either

This game is piss poor.what is henry doing at this team,the clown.

i guess it didn't really matter for dc's sake who won the ny/chicago game, but lol red bulls - though i'm sorta hoping for a dc/ny playoff series this year to be able to attend both legs

f new york

This happened yesterday, was pretty amazing to see Stoichkov, Nowak, Razov, Kubik, and the other oldsters out on the field playing like kids. Incredibly relaxed atmosphere, no admission charged to fans, intimate and just really special all around. I have to wonder if this could happen at any other club.

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151277620569789.524119.20210009788&type=1

OK... Stoichkov is a class act, Piotr Nowak too, Arne Friedrich is hilarious, just an all around amazing evening last night with a huge cross-section of Fire people.

http://www.chicago-fire.com/blog/post/2012/10/09/wrap-amazing-night

I feel bad for snickering when I saw this but really... very much in character.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/chicago-police-investigate-stoichkov-battery-report-111529967--sow.html

Last Stoichkov-in-Chicago article, I swear, but this one is really worth it

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/39876/hristo-stoichkov

http://www.mlssoccer.com/blog/post/2012/10/22/live-stream-watch-grass-grow-bmo-field

loved this from the NASL soccer bowl first leg from the weekend
http://i49.tinypic.com/4j2r8w.jpg