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American Soccer |OT2| Party Like It's 1999.

C

Cystm

Member
MLS Fantasy: http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/

Make your team, it's super easy. Afterwards, join the NeoGAF leagues with these codes:

8937-1554 For Classic league.

2825-906 For Head to Head

Really doesn't matter if you are good or not, just have fun.

Though, you might want to get serious once you see what is at stake!
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Previous Threads



Welcome, one and all, to the United States Association Football thread. Herein, we will engage in discussions regarding all things soccer
in or about America's teams or players. Soccer is constantly growing it's fan base in the US and has seen an ever increasing climb in
popularity. Because of this expanding interest across the country, there are many teams and leagues and things happening on a daily
basis. The hope is this thread will consolidate discussion and reduce overlap from splinter threads. As a secondary benefit, we should be
able to excite people about other aspects of American Soccer they may not be aware of. Thirdly, anyone who is just beginning with US
soccer can have a place to come and jump into talking about what interests them without wondering where to go and do it.

Our goal is to be all encompassing. All leagues and things happening in the world of soccer in The States or abroad that relates to US
Soccer or players is welcome.

The discussion will include, but is not limited to: US Men's and Women's National Teams, men's and women's professional
leagues (MLS, NWSL, NASL, USL, etc.), college seasons/teams/players, American players on foreign clubs, and developing youth players.

We will be including discussion regarding Canada and all her teams and players.

Join in the mayhem and let your passion be known!


----- Table of Contents -----
Quick links to each subsection.

General Knowledge and FAQ
  • What is FIFA, and why do I care?
  • What is CONCACAF, and why do I care?
  • What is the United States Soccer Federation (USSF)?
  • What is a Supporter's Group?
  • What exactly is "Offside"?
  • A list of helpful terms
Important Tournaments:
  • FIFA World Cup
  • FIFA Confederations Cup
  • Summer Olympics
  • CONCACAF Gold Cup
  • CONCACAF Champions League
  • FIFA Club World Cup
  • US Open Cup
National Teams:
- US Men's National Team (USMNT)
- US Women's National Team (USWNT)

Men's Teams and Leagues:
- Major League Soccer (MLS - Men's Division I)
- North American Soccer League (NASL - Men's Division II)
- United Soccer League (USL - Men's Division III)
- US Soccer 2014 Review

Women's Teams and Leagues:
- National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)

The Canada Addendum
​

Quick Start Guide (tl:dr)

Where to watch National Team games


Where to watch NWSL matches



Where to Watch MLS matches

  • UK: Skysports
  • Pan-Euro: Eurosport
  • China: Letv
  • North America/Mexico: Univision Deportes
    You'll have to sign in with whatever internet provider you have. Unimas Provider Listing.
    You can use SAP to listen to Univision in English, though you need to know going in that the commentary in English is laughably bad at best and mind numbing at worst.​
  • North America: MLS Live
    The season is midway through and the season pass is now 50% off @ $37.00 USD 7/2/2015.
    You can use MLS Live on the following as well:​
    • iOS
    • Android
    • Chromecast
    • AppleTV
    • Roku

If you live outside of these areas and want to watch, it's Very Possible you already kNow what to do.

Enjoy the thread!

Treat each other with...​
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C

Cystm

Member
What is FIFA, and why should I care?
The "Fédération Internationale de Football Association", simply called FIFA, is the world's governing body for soccer. It is currently made
up of two hundred and nine member nations. FIFA maintains the rules of the game and organize the major international tournaments
across the globe. For all intents and purposes, they are the law regarding soccer worldwide. The beginnings of FIFA are traced to the
early 1900s when it became apparent an overarching body was needed to manage play between international opponents. The charter
memeber nations formed the association. They were France, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
England was the next to join soon after followed by South Africa in 1909, Argentine and Chile in 1912 and the US and Canada in 1913.

As a subset, the participating member nations are broken up into six Confederations. They are; the Asian Football Confederation (AFC),
Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF), Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football
(CONCACAF), Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (CONMEBOL), Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), and Union des
Associations Européennes de Football (UEFA).

The United States belongs to the CONCACAF group. How teams do in CONCACAF play is extremely important and directly determines
how or if we qualify for larger competitions.

The elected board officials for FIFA are generally thought to be corrupt, regularly making backroom decisions and deals based on who
lined their pockets with cash. Despite the high worker death rates on construction sites and the ridiculous heat there will be during the
games, they are still planning on keeping the World Cup in Qatar for 2022 since they can't and don't want to give their bribes back. They
are headed by Sepp Blatter, who clearly takes massive amounts of dirty money and is also a well known ball of garbage.

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​


What is CONCACAF, and why should I care?
There are forty one member nations in the CONCACAF group. Each member nation has a National Team that is made up of citizens from
that Nation. For the US Men's and Women's National teams, CONCACAF qualifying play is the start of the long path to the World Cup and
the Olympics. Beyond that, there's also a CONCACAF specific National Team tournament called the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

US Men's and Women's National teams have become a real force in CONCACAF play of late. The US Men's Team placed #1 in World
Cup Qualifying in our group for this year's World Cup and are ranked #27 in the world. The US Women's Team has been nothing short
of dominant over CONCACAF and World Cup play, and are currently ranked #2 in the world. They have won 6 of the last 8 CONCACAF
Gold Cup tournaments, won 2 of the last 6 World Cup tournaments, and won 4 of the last 5 Olympic Gold Medal games. The year they
didn't win Gold in the Olympics, they still made it to the Gold Medal game and took second.

Besides National Teams, Club teams (MLS/NASL/etc) also have dealings with CONCACAF. A Club team is a team created of contract
players from any nationality. While trying to win their respective leagues for trophies and recognition, Club teams can qualify for
other, larger stage tournaments by placing in certain positions in their league (MLS) or winning a domestic tournament (US Open Cup).
These other tournaments feature other CONCACAF Club teams that play in other member nation leagues. In soccer, tournaments and
leagues lead to other tournaments and still other tournaments. As an example, let's look at Sporting Kansas City of MLS.

In 2012, during the MLS season, SKC won the US Open Cup, a US domestic knockout tournament. Winning that tournament, or having a
certain MLS league standing at the end of the season, earned them a place in a competition called the CONCACAF Champion's League or
CCL. The teams in CCL play in 2013 and 2014. The winner of the CCL, moves onto the 2014 FIFA Club World Cup, which determines the
top club in the world. The road is tough and it's a long shot, but playing well in a tournament in 2012 entered them into another tournament.
Winning that tournament could lead to another tournament, and it all began two years ago, and it all went through CONCACAF.

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United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation (USSF), commonly referred to as U.S. Soccer, is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the
United States. With headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, the FIFA member governs U.S. amateur and professional soccer, including the men's,
women's, youth, beach soccer, futsal and Paralympic national teams. U.S. Soccer sanctions referees and soccer tournaments for most
soccer leagues in the United States. The U.S. Soccer Federation also administers and operates the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, which was
first held in 1914.

U.S. Soccer was originally known as the United States Football Association. It formed on April 5, 1913 and on August 15 of that year was
accepted as one of the earliest member organizations of FIFA and the first from North and Central America. The affiliation was temporary and
at the following year's FIFA Congress in 1914, the USFA, as it was abbreviated at the time, was accepted as a full FIFA member. The
governing body of the sport in the United States added the word soccer to its name in 1945, when it became the United States Soccer
Football Association. It dropped the word football from its name in 1974 to become known as the United States Soccer Federation.​

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Supporters Groups
Supporters groups or supporters clubs are independent fan clubs in association football, particularly in English speaking counties.
Supporters groups in Europe are generally known as Ultras which derives from the Latin word deriving from ultra, meaning beyond in
English, with the implication that their enthusiasm is 'beyond' the normal. In English speaking nations, these groups are generally
known as "supporters groups".

Supporters groups and their members are the emotional backbone of the club. They provide Tifo and chants to support their clubs while
simultaneously trying to taunt and intimidate the opposing side. In some cases, members "live and die" with their team's performance on
the field and will feel the game very deeply like Portland Timbers fan, Sadsack McMantears.

Mr. McMantears saw his team eliminated at home during the 2nd leg of the Western Conference Championships against Real Salt Lake
and he shed many, many tears. After the game he was admitted to a local hospital and given an IV drip to replace the massive amount
of fluids he lost due to his Pseudobulbar episode.

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What is a Tifo?
Originally the Italian word for the phenomenon of supporting a sport team, is mostly used as a name for any choreography displayed by fans in the stands
of an arena or stadium in connection with a sport event, mostly as part of an association football match.

Examples:

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What exactly is Offside?
First off, for the record, the term is Offside, with no s at the end. They call it Offsides in the NFL, but in the soccer world its Offside.

This rule is usually the biggest sticking point to people who are new to watching soccer...the understanding of the offside rule. If
you are a new fan, learn this before you learn anything else because you'll be less frustrated watching matches:
​
A player is in an offside position if three conditions are met:​

  1. First, the player must be in the opposing team's half of the field.
  2. Second, the player must be in front of the ball.
  3. And Third, there must be fewer than two opposing players between him and the opposing goal line, with the goalkeeper counting as an
    opposing player for these purposes. It is not necessary that the goalkeeper be one of the last two opponents.

Any attacker that is level with or behind the ball is not in an offside position and may never be sanctioned for an offside offence.
The 2005 edition of the Laws of the Game included a new International Football Association Board decision that stated being "nearer to
an opponent's goal line" meant that "any part of his head, body or feet is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and
the second-last opponent (the last opponent typically being the goalkeeper)." This is taken to mean that any part of the attacking
player named in this decision has to be past the part of the second-last defender closest to his goal line and past the part of the
ball closest to the defenders' goal line.

Got it? If you're still having trouble, let John Cleese explain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmC9JOcaofI
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A list of helpful terms

  • 6 yard box - The smaller rectangular box in front of goal.
  • 18 yard box - The large rectangular box in front of goal.
  • Card, Carded - Punitive action taken by a referee in a game against a player.
  • Cracker - Long range power shot.
  • Dos a cero - In recent and important head to head matches in Columbus Ohio, the USMNT has defeated Mexico 2-0. "Dos a cero" is "2 to
  • 0" in Spanish and is used as a taunt against the Mexico team and fans. This scoreline prevailed in 2001, 2005, 2009 and now 2013 World Cup
  • Qualifying games in Ohio.
  • GOAT - Greatest Of All Time!
  • Goats - Another term for Chivas Guadalajara and Chivas USA. Chivas literally means goat in Spanish.
  • Nutmeg or 'meg' - To pass a ball between an opponents legs.
  • Scudetto - This means "little shield" in Italian. It is a jersey badge worn by the defending MLS champions the season after victory.
  • Tifo - Also an Italian term meaning "the phenomenon of supporting a sport team". It has come to mean the painted banners displayed
  • before and during a game, made by the Supporters Groups for thier team.
  • Touch line - Out of bounds. The limit of the field.
  • Ultras - A different word for a Supporter.
 
C

Cystm

Member
Important Tournaments

The World Cup

The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's
national teams of the members of FIFA. The championship has been awarded every four years since the inaugural tournament in
1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not held because of the Second World War. The current champions are Germany, who won
the 2014 tournament in Brazil. The current format of the tournament involves 32 teams competing for the title at venues within
the host nation(s) over a period of about a month; this phase is often called the World Cup Finals. A qualification phase, which
currently takes place over the preceding three years, is used to determine which teams qualify for the tournament together with the
host nation(s).

The 19 World Cup tournaments have been won by eight different national teams. Brazil have won five times, and they are the only
team to have played in every tournament. The other World Cup winners are Italy, with four titles; West Germany, with four titles;
Argentina and inaugural winners Uruguay, with two titles each; and England, France, and Spain, with one title each. The World Cup
is among the world's most widely viewed sporting events; an estimated 715.1 million people watched the final match of the 2006
FIFA World Cup held in Germany. The next two World Cups will be hosted by Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

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Further Wikipedia Reading:
Instead of copying all of Wikipedia in this post, here are some links with lots of information for further reading.​




FIFA Confederations Cup

The FIFA Confederations Cup is an international association football tournament for national teams, currently held every four years
by FIFA. It is contested by the holders of each of the six FIFA confederation championships (UEFA, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF,
CAF, AFC, OFC), along with the FIFA World Cup holder and the host nation, to bring the number of teams up to eight. Since
2005, the tournament has been held in the nation that will host the FIFA World Cup in the following year, acting as a rehearsal
for the larger tournament. Brazil hosted the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup from 15 to 30 June, which they won by defeating
Spain 3–0 in the final.

The tournament was originally organized by and held in Saudi Arabia and called the King Fahd Cup (Confederations Winners Cup
or Intercontinental Championship), contested in 1992 and 1995 by the Saudi national side and some continental champions. In
1997, FIFA took over the organization of the tournament, named it the FIFA Confederations Cup and staged the competition every
two years. Since 2005, it has been held every four years, in the year prior to each World Cup in the host country of the forthcoming
World Cup (the 2001 edition was hosted in South Korea and Japan, before the quadrennial pattern was established). Considered a
dress-rehearsal for the World Cup it precedes, it uses around half of the stadia intended for use at the following year's competition
and gives the host nation, which qualifies for that tournament automatically, experience at a high level of competition during two
years of otherwise friendlies. At the same time, participation was made optional for the South American and European champions.

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Further Wikipedia Reading:

Summer Olympics

Soccer, has been included in every Summer Olympic Games except 1896 and 1932 as a men's competition sport. Women's
football was added to the official program in 1996. Football was not included on the program at the first modern Olympic Games in
1896, as international football was in its infancy at the time. However, sources claim that an unofficial football tournament was
organized during the first competition, in which an Athens XI lost to a team representing Smyrna (Izmir), then part of the Ottoman
Empire. However, it is in fact unclear whether any competition took place at all; the Olympic historian Bill Mallon has written:
"Supposedly a match between a Greek club and a Danish club took place. No such 1896 source supports this and we think this
is an error which has been perpetuated in multiple texts. No such match occurred."

Tournaments were played at the 1900 and 1904 games and the Intercalated Games of 1906, but these were contested by various
clubs and scratch teams. Although the IOC considers the 1900 and 1904 tournaments to be official Olympic events, they are not
recognized by FIFA; neither recognizes the Intercalated Games today. In 1906 teams from Great Britain, Germany, Austria, the
Netherlands and France withdrew from an unofficial competition and left Denmark, Smyrna (one Armenian, two Frenchmen and
eight Britons), Athens and Thessaloniki Music Club to compete. Denmark won the final against Athens 9–0.

For the 1984 Los Angeles Games, the IOC decided to admit professional players. FIFA still did not want the Olympics to rival the
World Cup, so a compromise was struck that allowed teams from Africa, Asia, Oceania and CONCACAF to field their strongest
professional sides, while restricting UEFA and CONMEBOL teams to players who had not played in a World Cup. Many countries
fielded young teams, including France, who won the 1984 Olympic title, coincidentally in the same year that the main team won
the European Football Championship, less than two months before. Since 1992 male competitors must be under 23 years old,
with three over-23 players allowed per squad. The new format allows teams from around the world to compete equally.

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​
Further Wikipedia Reading:



Men's CONCACAF Gold Cup

The CONCACAF Gold Cup is the main association football competition of the men's national football teams governed by
CONCACAF, determining the regional champion of North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The Gold Cup is held
every two years. Previous to 2015, when the Gold Cup did not fall on the same year as the FIFA Confederations Cup, the winner,
or highest placed team that is a member of both CONCACAF and FIFA, qualified for the next staging of that tournament.
Beginning in 2015, the winners of two successive Gold Cups (the 2013 and 2015 editions in the first instance) will face each other
in a playoff to determine the CONCACAF entrant to the next Confederations Cup. If the same team has won the Gold Cup on
both relevant occasions, there will be no playoff and that team will automatically qualify for the Confederations Cup.​


Women's CONCACAF Gold Cup

The CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup was a football competition sponsored by CONCACAF that sometimes served as the qualifying
competition to the Women's World Cup. It was held as a stand-alone tournament in 2000 and as a qualification tournament in 2002
and 2006. After the 2010 edition, the CONCACAF Women's Gold Cup was replaced by the CONCACAF Women's World Cup
Qualifier. The most successful country has been the United States.

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Further Wikipedia Reading:



CONCACAF Champions League

The CONCACAF Champions League, originally known as the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, is an annual continental club football
competition organised by CONCACAF since 1962 for the top football clubs in the region. It is the most prestigious international club
competition in North American football. The winner of the CONCACAF Champions League qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup.
The tournament consists of two stages. The group stage is played from August to October, in which there are eight groups of three
teams each. The eight group winners enter the knockout phase, which spans March through May. Unlike its European and South
American counterparts, the winners of the CONCACAF Champions League do not automatically qualify for the following season's
competition.

The title has been won by 28 different clubs, 17 of which have won the title more than once. Mexican clubs have accumulated the
highest number of victories, with 29 titles. The second most successful league has been Costa Rica's Primera División with six titles
in total. Mexican sides Cruz Azul and América are the most successful clubs in the competition's history, having won the
tournament five times each. The only teams to successfully defend the trophy are Cruz Azul, Pachuca, and Monterrey. The reigning
champions of the competition are Monterrey, after beating Santos Laguna 4–2 on aggregate.

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​
Further Wikipedia Reading:



FIFA Club World Cup

The FIFA Club World Cup, commonly referred to as the Club World Cup, is an international association football competition organised
by FIFA. The championship was first contested as the FIFA Club World Championship in 2000. It was not held between 2001 and
2004 due to a combination of factors, most importantly the collapse of FIFA's marketing partner International Sport and Leisure.
Since 2005, the competition has been held every year, hosted so far by Brazil, Japan, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.
Morocco is due to host the 2014 edition.

The first FIFA Club World Championship took place in Brazil in January 2000. It ran in parallel with the Intercontinental Cup, a
friendly competition first contested in 1960 by the winners of the European Cup and the Copa Libertadores. Previously called the
European/South American Cup, the competition has been officially known as the Toyota Cup since the 1980 season, following a
change in format which saw Toyota become the main sponsor of the competition until it was discontinued in 2004. In 2005, the
FIFA Club World Championship absorbed the Toyota Cup and the competition's pilot edition and in 2006 took its current name.

The current format of the tournament involves seven teams competing for the title at venues within the host nation over a period
of about two weeks; the winners of that year's AFC Champions League (Asia), CAF Champions League (Africa), CONCACAF
Champions League (North America), Copa Libertadores (South America), OFC Champions League (Oceania) and UEFA
Champions League (Europe), along with the host nation's national champions, participate in a straight knock-out tournament.
The host nation's national champions dispute a play-off against the Oceania champions, from which the winner joins the
champions of Asia, Africa and North America at the quarter-finals. The quarter-final winners go on to face the European and
South American champions, who enter at the semi-final stage, for a place in the final.

The 10 FIFA Club World Cup tournaments have been won by eight different club teams; Spanish Barcelona and Brazilian club
Corinthians have won a record two titles each. The other Club World Cup winners are Brazilian sides São Paulo and
Internacional, Italian clubs Milan and Internazionale, English club Manchester United, as well as German side Bayern Munich
with one victory each in the competition. Brazil's Brasileirão has been the most successful national league with four titles, while
Barcelona have the record for the most final appearances with three. The reigning world club champions are Bayern Munich after
defeating Moroccan side Raja Casablanca 2–0 at the 2013 final.

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​
Further Wikipedia Reading:



Lamar Hunt US Open Cup

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, commonly known as the U.S. Open Cup, is a knock-out cup competition in American soccer. It is
the oldest ongoing national soccer competition in the U.S. and the world's third-longest-running open soccer tournament. The 102nd
edition, to be held in 2015, is expected to be contested by 91 clubs from the three professional leagues sanctioned by the United
States Soccer Federation, including Major League Soccer, the North American Soccer League, and the United Soccer League, and
amateur clubs in the earlier rounds of the tournament after qualifying through their leagues. The overall champion earn a total of
$250,000 in prize money, while the runner-up receives $60,000 and the furthest-advancing team from each lower division league
receive $15,000. In addition, the tournament winner qualifies for the group stage of the CONCACAF Champions League, first
represented by 2007 winners New England Revolution in the inaugural 2008–09 edition.

The competition was first held during the 1913–14 season as the National Challenge Cup, with Brooklyn Field Club winning a trophy
donated by Thomas Dewar for the promotion of American soccer. It was renamed to the U.S. Open Cup in 1990 and then dedicated
to MLS owner Lamar Hunt by the United States Soccer Federation in 1999. The 101st and most recent champions of the competition,
Seattle Sounders FC, were awarded their fourth Dewar Cup after defeating the Philadelphia Union 3–1 after extra time in the 2014 final.

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Lamar Hunt US Open Cup 2014 winner: Seattle Sounders

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​
Further Wikipedia Reading:
 
C

Cystm

Member
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USWNT site: http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/us-women.aspx
Quick Links

Coach: Jill Ellis

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Ellis, 47, has experience coaching at every level of the U.S. Women’s National Team program and was an assistant on the 2008 and 2012
Olympic gold medal-winning squads. She has served as interim head coach on two different occasions, including the two most recent
matches, and officially starts the job with an all-time record of 6-0-3.

She coached the team to the 2015 World Cup Championship.
​

Current Roster:

Get to know the Women's National Team: One Nation. One Team. 23 Stories.​


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​


Previous Threads

 
C

Cystm

Member
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USMNT site: http://www.ussoccer.com/teams/us-men.aspx
Quick Links

Coach: Jurgen Klinsman.

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Jürgen Klinsmann (born 30 July 1964) is a German football manager and former player who is currently the head coach of the United
States national team. As a player, Klinsmann played for several prominent clubs in Europe and was part of the West German team
that won the 1990 FIFA World Cup and the unified German team that won the 1996 UEFA European Championship. One of Germany's
premier strikers during the 1990s, Klinsmann scored in all six major international tournaments he participated in, from Euro 1988
to 1998 World Cup. In 1995 Klinsmann came third in the FIFA World Player of the Year award, and in 2004 he was named in the FIFA
100 list of the "125 Greatest Living Footballers".

He managed the German national team to a third-place finish in the 2006 World Cup. On 12 July 2006, Klinsmann officially announced
that he would step down as Germany's coach after two years in charge and be replaced by assistant coach Joachim Löw. He took
over as coach of Bundesliga club Bayern Munich in July 2008 when Ottmar Hitzfeld stepped down. On 27 April 2009 he was released
early, even though he had won five of the previous seven league games and was only three points behind league leader VfL
Wolfsburg. In the jointly initiated reforms at Bayern it emerged there was a severe clash of opinions between coach and club
management. On 29 July 2011, the US Soccer Federation, named Klinsmann the coach of the United States men's national team. In
2013 he won the CONCACAF Gold Cup with the United States. Outside of his professional football life he earned a diploma as a baker
in 1984, runs a Children Charity foundation in four countries and is a certified Helicopter Pilot.

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Current USMNT Roster

Previous Threads
 
C

Cystm

Member
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MLS Site: http://www.mlssoccer.com/

Important Information



Major League Soccer (MLS) is a professional soccer league representing the sport's highest level in the United States and Canada.
Sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer), the league is composed of 20 teams — 17 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada.
Major League Soccer was founded in 1993 as part of the United States' bid to host the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Instead of operating as an
association of independently owned teams, MLS is a single entity where each team is owned and controlled by the league's investors.
The league's closed membership makes it one of the world's few soccer leagues not using promotion and relegation. The first season
took place in 1996 beginning with ten teams. Seasons presently run from March to December, with each team playing 34 games in the
regular season. Ten teams compete in the postseason MLS Cup Playoffs culminating in the championship game, the MLS Cup.

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The Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record,as determined
by the MLS points system. Akin to the minor premiership of Australasian sports (called a "premiership" by the A-League) and similar to the
President's Trophy of the NHL, the Supporters' Shield has been annually awarded at the MLS Supporters' Summit since 1999, and has been
recognized as a major trophy by the league. Since 2006, the Supporters' Shield winner has earned a berth in the CONCACAF Champions
League.

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MLS Championship 2014:

HIGHLIGHTS: MLS CUP 2014 - LA Galaxy vs. New England Revolution | December 7, 2014
LA Galaxy 2, New England Revolution 1

Major League Soccer's Most Valuable Player proved his value when it mattered most, scoring the goal in overtime that lifted the LA Galaxy
to an unprecedented fifth MLS Cup crown.

Robbie Keane, the game's MVP, finished a long ball from Marcelo Sarvas in the 111th minute as the Galaxy, playing in front a partisan sellout
crowd at StubHub Center, claimed their third championship in four years with a thrilling 2-1 triumph over the visiting New England Revolution.

Landon Donovan wrapped up his career with a title, winning MLS Cup for a record sixth time, as LA beat the the Revs in the championship game
for the third time, all of them in overtime.

The Revolution, the only team to play in multiple MLS Cups without a trophy, lost their record fifth final, three in OT and another on penalties.

It was a pulsating final, a first-half tactical battle that evolved into an end-to-end slugfest, with Gyasi Zardes providing LA a lead in the 52nd minute
and Chris Tierney netting the equalizer in the 79th.

Keane missed a one-on-one opportunity and Teal Bunbury hit a post late in regulation, forcing overtime for the ninth time in 19 MLS Cup finals.

Chances were few in the first half, a product of iffy passing – especially the Galaxy – and solid defending by both sides. Space was at a premium
and the best opportunities came from direct play rather than buildup.

The second half was played at a brisker pace, a more wide-open affair, and Zardes struck soon after Lee Nguyen had a penalty shout waved off at the
other end, becoming the first Homegrown Player to score in an MLS Cup.

Zardes' first touch took the ball wider, and he held off New England right back Andrew Farrell to create the needed space before firing across the goalmouth
and into the far-post netting.

Bunbury nearly gave New England the victory in the 85th minute, arcing a curling ball from the left that floated over Penedo and bounced high off the right post.

Keane scored his 23rd goal of the season for the Galaxy, all competitions, in the sixth minute of overtime's second stage. Sarvas sent a ball to the Irish striker on
the left, and he slotted past Shuttleworth to the right corner of the net from inside the box.

The Revs pushed forward in a vain search for an equalizer. Mullins forced Penedo to the ground for a save at the left post in the 116th minute, and Bunbury fired wide
from an abrupt angle on the right in the 118th.

Final Whistle blows. LA win. Landon Donovan goes out as a Champion.

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Supporters' Shield Winner: Seattle Sounders

In front of an energized crowd of 57,673 at CenturyLink Field, Seattle Sounders FC (20-10-4, 64 points) topped the Los Angeles Galaxy (18-9-4, 61 points) by a score of
2-0 to claim the 2014 MLS Supporters' Shield. The first regular-season title in Sounders FC history.

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MLS Team Listings

Major League Soccer's regular season runs from March to October with its 20 teams playing 34 games in an unbalanced schedule. Teams are
divided into the Eastern and Western Conference.​

Eastern Conference

Chicago Fire, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, Montreal Impact, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, New York City FC, Orlando City, Philadelphia Union, Toronto FC.​

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Western Conference

Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, L.A. Galaxy, Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City, Vancouver Whitecaps.​

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Expansion Teams

Atlanta United FC

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber announced that Atlanta has been awarded an expansion team that will begin play in 2017. The new team will be owned
by Arthur Blank, owner of the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons, and will play at the new world-class stadium soon to be built in downtown Atlanta.

Official Site: http://mlsatlanta2017.com/​

Los Angeles FC

A new era for Major League Soccer in Los Angeles as MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced that a new team has been awarded to an ownership group led by
entrepreneur Henry Nguyen, sports and entertainment leader Peter Guber, and sports veteran Tom Penn. The new club is scheduled to debut in 2017 in a new soccer
stadium in the greater Los Angeles area built specifically for the team.

Official Site: https://lafc.com/​

Minnesota United

Major League Soccer announced that Minnesota has been awarded an expansion team that will begin play in 2018. The new club will be owned by a Minnesota
ownership group led by Dr. Bill McGuire, and the team will play in a new soccer-specific stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

Official Site: http://www.mnunitedfc.com/​




Supporters Groups Listings

Eastern Conference

Chicago Fire


Columbus Crew


D.C. United


Montreal Impact


New England Revolution


New York Red Bulls


New York City Football Club


Orlando City Soccer Club


Philadelphia Union


Toronto FC


Western Conference

Union Ultras


Colorado Rapids


FC Dallas


Houston Dynamo


L.A. Galaxy


Portland Timbers


Real Salt Lake


San Jose Earthquakes


Seattle Sounders FC
Emerald City Supporters
- Website: http://www.weareecs.com/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/weareecs/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeAreECS/​


Sporting KC
The Kansas City Cauldron
- Website: http://www.kccauldron.com/
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/KCCauldron/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/KCCauldron/​


Vancouver Whitecaps

Previous threads
 
C

Cystm

Member
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USL Site: http://www.uslsoccer.com/

Quick Links

Important Information

The United Soccer League (USL), is a professional men's soccer league in the United States that began its inaugural season in 2011.
The USL is sanctioned as a Division III Professional League by United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer), placing it under Major League
Soccer (Division I) and the North American Soccer League (Division II) in the hierarchy.The league is owned and operated by United Soccer
Leagues (USL) and was formed as result of the organization's merger of the old USL First and Second Divisions. The merger is meant to
consolidate USL's position within the American professional soccer landscape and focus on stability, commercial growth and the professional
development of soccer in four main regions throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean. In January 2013, USL and MLS reached
an agreement to integrate USL league competition with the MLS Reserve League, primarily to improve player development in North America,
strengthen league competition and build ties between divisions in the American soccer pyramid. This multi-year deal encourages MLS and USL
team affiliations and player loans, and it will lead to more games for teamsand developing players.

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The Commissioner's Cup is is the trophy awarded to the team with the best regular season record as determined by the USL points system.

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USL Championship: Sacramento Republic


Sacramento Republic FC claimed the 2014 USL Championship as a goal in either half earned a 2-0 victory against the
Harrisburg City Islanders in front of a sellout crowd at Bonney Field. Octavio Guzman and Tommy Smith had the goals for Republic FC, which
capped a remarkable inaugural season with a championship.
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Comissioner's Cup Winner: Richmond Kickers

The Richmond Kickers cruised on the strength of two Matthew Delicate goals and some spectacular goalkeeping from Andrew Dykstra to beat
Orlando City SC and clinch the Commissioner's Cup, the USL regular season championship. While both teams have one game remaining,
the Kickers now own the first tiebreaker over Orlando City, which is head to head. Delicate opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Joseph
Ngwenya started the play by receiving the ball in midfield and making a great move to get away from his man. He then made it to the endline to
put in a cross, which Delicate clipped off the back post and into the goal. A mere five minutes later, Delicate scored his second goal and put
the Kickers in complete control of the game.​

USL Team Listings

USL played its 2014 regular season schedule with each of its 24 clubs playing a 26-game schedule as the league embarked on agroundbreaking partnership
with MLS. field a stand-alone USL team of their own, providing additional playing opportunities at the professional level for young or rehabbing players on loan,
current MLS Academy players or previously unsigned prospects.

Charleston Battery, Charlotte Eagles, Harrisburg City Islanders, LA Galaxy II, Oklahoma City Energy FC, Orange County Blues, Orlando City S.C., Phoenix FC
Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Richmond Kickers, Rochester Rhinos, Sacramento Republic FC, Wilmington Hammerheads, Colorado Springs Switchbacks
Tulsa Roughnecks, Louisville City FC, St. Louis FC
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C

Cystm

Member
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NASL Site: http://www.nasl.com/

Quick Links

Important Information

The North American Soccer League (NASL) is a professional men's soccer league with ten teams in the United States and Canada. It is sanctioned
by the United States Soccer Federation (U.S. Soccer) as the Division II league in the American league system, under Major League Soccer (MLS) and
above USL PRO. The league is named for, but not affiliated with, the original North American Soccer League. The modern NASL was founded in 2009,
and began play in 2011.

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The Woosnam Supporter's Shield is a planned annual award given to the North American Soccer League team with the best regular season, as determined
by the NASL points system on aggregate between the Spring and Fall championship seasons in year. Planning is currently underway to ensure it is
awarded prior to the end of the 2014 season. The Woosnam Cup will be presented retrospectively to the prior year winners. The Woosnam Cup derives
its name from Phil Woosnam, long time Commissioner of the original North American Soccer League who died during the summer of 2013.

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Soccer Bowl 2014: San Antonio Scorpions

San Antonio Scorpions defeat Fort Lauderdale Strikers 2-1

The San Antonio Scorpions are your 2014 NASL Soccer Bowl champions after defeating the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 2-1, in front of a modern-era NASL Championship
game record crowd of 7,847 at Toyota Field in San Antonio, Texas.

After 70 minutes of tense, scoreless soccer, the champions opened the scoring through Colombian midfielder Rafael Castillo‘s perfectly executed overhead kick. It
wouldn’t, however, prove to be the winning goal, which meant Billy Forbes‘ 74th minute tally was the ultimate championship-winner after Walter Ramirez finished a tidy
Strikers move with just 11 minutes of regulation to play.

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The Woosnam Supporter's Shield: Minnesota United FC

The 2014 season was going about as well as possible for Minnesota United FC, who had an exceptional campaign that saw them take home the Woosnam Cup for sitting
atop the combined table.​

NASL Team Listings

The NASL began playing a split-season format in 2013. Similar to Liga MX and other Central American leagues, the schedule consists of two competitions,
Spring and Fall, with the winner of the Spring season earning the right to host the Fall champion in a one-game playoff, the Soccer Bowl. The Spring
runs from early April until July 4, and following a one-month break, the Fall season runs from early August until early November.​

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C

Cystm

Member
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NWSL Site: http://nwslsoccer.com/

Quick Links

Important Information

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is the top level professional women's soccer league in the United States. It began play in spring
2014 with eight teams; four of them are former members of Women's Professional Soccer (WPS), which had been the top women's league in the United
States soccer pyramid before its demise in 2012. The NWSL's inaugural season ran from April 2013 through August 2013 with each team scheduled for
22 regular season games, including 11 home games. At the end of the regular season, the team with the highest point total is awarded the regular
season title. The four clubs with the most points from the regular season standings qualify for the league playoffs, which consist of two semifinal single
knockout matches, with the winner of each semifinal advancing to the championship final hosted by the team with most regular season points.

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NWSL 2014 Championship: FC Kansas City

FC Kansas City forward Amy Rodriguez scored two goals on two assists from midfielder Lauren Holiday as FC Kansas City upset Seattle Reign FC with a 2-1 victory in
the 2014 NWSL Championship in front of 4,252 fans at Starfire Stadium.

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NWSL Team Listings

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C

Cystm

Member
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Canada Soccer Association

The Canadian Soccer Association is the governing body of soccer in Canada. It is a national organization that oversees the Canadian men's
and women's national teams for international play, as well as the respective junior sides (U-20 and U-17 for men and women). Within Canada,
it oversees national professional and amateur club championships.

The founding meeting of the Dominion of Canada Football Association took place on May 24, 1912. The organization joined FIFA on 31 December
1912. On 21 June 1926, the DCFA resigned from FIFA, only to rejoin on 20 June 1948. The association celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012.
The Association has hosted four FIFA tournaments, the FIFA U-17 World Cup Canada 1987, the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Canada 2002, the
FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, and the FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015.

The Association's national teams have won nine confederation championships.​

Men's National Teams

  • 1985 CONCACAF Men's Championship and the
  • 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup
  • 1986 and 1996 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship
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Women's National Teams

  • 1998 and 2010 CONCACAF Women's Championship
  • 2004 and 2008 CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship
  • 2010 CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship.

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Canadian Men's and Women's National Team site: http://www.canadasoccer.com/


Professional League teams

Canada fields 5 men's teams in the top divisions of the American soccer hierarchy. The Montreal Impact, Toronto FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps
play in America's top division, Major League Soccer (MLS). MLS is considered the top division in the Canadian soccer pyramid. Also, they field
two teams, FC Edmonton and Ottawa Fury, in America's second division North American Soccer League. They have 16 players that play in
America's National Women's Soccer league (NWSL).​

Important Tournaments

Canada's national and club teams also play in the CONCACAF region described above. The same important tournaments that the United States
and her teams focus on are the same tournaments that also concern Canada and her teams, save the US Open Cup.

Please see the Important Tournaments post above.​

  • FIFA World Cup
  • FIFA Confederations Cup
  • Summer Olympics
  • Men's CONCACAF Gold Cup
  • Women's CONCACAF Gold Cup
  • CONCACAF Champions League
  • FIFA Club World Cup

However, Canada also has the Canadian Championship. The winner is awarded the Voyageurs Cup and Canada's berth in the CONCACAF Champions
League. The Voyageurs Cup is the only trophy for top-level professional soccer in Canada. From 2002 to 2007, the cup was awarded annually to
the Canadian team finishing with the best record in the USL First Division, from regular season matches against other Canadian teams in the
league. Since 2008, the trophy has been presented to the winner of the Canadian Championship, and includes Canada's berth in the CONCACAF
Champions League. Montreal Impact won the first seven trophies while Toronto FC took the next four.​

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2014 Canadian Championship Winner: Impact de Montréal

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C

Cystm

Member
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US Soccer legend Landon Donovan retires




USMNT World Cup 2014

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Tim Howard sets World Cup record with 16 saves.




John Brooks loses his mind and an entire nation falls in love with him.

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LA Galaxy win the 2014 MLS Cup making them the first team in MLS history to reach 5 titles.


The legendary Thierry Henry retires from MLS and Soccer.


Thierry will always be a Gunner above all else, but it was an absolute privilege to watch him play for the Redbulls and MLS.
Here are his best moments wearing the red and white.

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Best of MLS 2014

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We're a welcoming group of yanks, canucks and people from all over. Even if you don't support the Men's or Women's national teams
of North America, we welcome you to be a part of the thread. If you're curious about MLS and want to ask about it, please do. If you are
a supporter and would like to get into the game more or even for the first time, you came to the right place. We'll gladly fill you in and get
you rolling along.

Remember after the Women's World Cup is done and over, you should support the National Women's Soccer League. Abby Wambach,
Christen Press, Megan Rapinoe, Carli Lloyd, Sydney Leroux, etc are all there. Keep watching them.​

|OT1| Wall of Shame
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C

Cormano

Member
I like how football is growing in the USA, a couple new franchises this year, and a few more coming in the upcoming years. Although this sucks to say I believe than in the next years to come USA will #1 in CONCACAF.
 
D

Dr Campino

Member
Aw yeah subbed. Also, I wish there was a home game for one of the NY-area teams on Labor Day weekend. I miiiiight be planning a trip...
 
C

Cystm

Member
- Minnesota United Update On Stadium Proposal

We remain committed to making MLS a reality in Minnesota. Since being awarded an expansion club three months ago, support for our effort has grown across the state as countless communities, youth soccer associations, and business interests have expressed support for having Major League Soccer as part of our community.

As MLS has repeatedly stated, however, our ability to secure an MLS club is contingent on us finalizing a plan for a new stadium that will serve as a permanent home for our club.

We are pleased that MLS has agreed to meet with officials from St. Paul to learn about the possibility of building a new stadium there as we believe this is an opportunity that deserves to be evaluated further.
Click to expand...
 
B

B-Dubs

No Scrubs
Delicious Waffles said:
Subbed.

Chris Duvall had surgery for a broken tibia this morning. Out 3-4 months. :(

He could be back for the playoffs if they get that far.
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Even if we do make it to the play-offs he won't be back this season. It really sucks he had to get injured like this literally the game after he scored his first MLS goal.
 
S

snaffles

Member
Hopefully I can get to another Sporting KC game this year while I am over there, I really enjoyed the game I went to last year. Great atmosphere at the stadium, a lot like going to Melbourne Victory games here in Australia just with less flares.
 
D

dr3upmushroom

Banned
I'm going to make an effort to follow more the MLS more closely. Who should I root for? I live in Northern Cali, but I'm actually closer to Portland than San Jose.
 
C

Chris R

Member
dr3upmushroom said:
I'm going to make an effort to follow more the MLS more closely. Who should I root for? I live in Northern Cali, but I'm actually closer to Portland than San Jose.
Click to expand...

If you live in Jefferson I guess Portland will take you into the based Cascadia realm.

If this makes no sense to you root for the Earthquake.
 
O

Osorio

Member
B-Dubs said:
Even if we do make it to the play-offs he won't be back this season. It really sucks he had to get injured like this literally the game after he scored his first MLS goal.
Click to expand...

I'm going to assume McLaws will play tomorrow if not soon.

Lade blows as much as I hate to say it.
 
S

smokeandmirrors

Banned
Full text from Klinsy about Dempsey and why he's not going to captain the team: (probably posted in the other thread but doesn't hurt to have it here for any newcomers)

I had a very, very good conversation with Clint about what happened during the Open Cup, but also about how we want to approach things. For the time being we thought it’s the best thing to give the captaincy to Michael Bradley and let Clint focus on what he’s all about. Clint is about scoring goals. We need Clint Dempsey badly with the National Team. We need him in a good spirit. What happened was a mistake, but it was the first red card in his career and a lot of people went at him. I think the best thing for everyone right now is to let him concentrate really on playing and doing what he does best. It’s his performance on the field. It’s his delivery for the U.S. National Team, and he has always delivered. He’s at 40 goals for his country and I told him I want him to score many, many more. Hopefully in this summer’s Gold Cup he becomes the top scorer in the tournament. We need Clint in a free spirit and that’s why we decided to kind of take that captaincy and move it over to Michael for the Gold Cup and then we’ll see.
Click to expand...

Definitely the best way to handle it I think. Dempsey doesn't get the media focus and Bradley can step up for a role he'll have in Russia.
 
C

Cystm

Member
- Rivalry Week Recap
Great fan commentary on the various MLS rivalries.​

- Dom Dwyers 4 goals against FC Dallas in the US Open Cup.

- Yahoo Sports: Further info on the MLS Core Player rule:
The interesting twist is the money: $100,000 a year per team over the span of five years. It can be used in one lump sum, so, in the case of the Galaxy, that flexibility would allow the defending MLS champions to add Dos Santos to their lineup.

Steven Gerrard and Robbie Keane, L.A.'s seven-figures-a-year Designated Players, can't be paid down via this allocation money since they don't fall within the rules salary constraints. But Omar Gonzalez, a regular at centerback with the United States men's national team, could possibly fall into this threshold. Last year, Gonzalez made $1 million in base salary.

With some slick accounting, the Galaxy could use other allocation money to get Gonzalez to the threshold limit, then apply much of that lump sum available to them to get their star defender immediately off the books as a Designated Player. Of course, this would be pro-rated for the rest of the season, but it would be the pathway for teams like L.A. to add another high-priced player.
Click to expand...

- Stephen Nash added to New York Cosmos B sqaud (lol)

- Empire Of Soccer: Red Bulls To Equal Metrostars In Total Matches This Weekend

On Saturday, the franchise will play its 352nd match as the New York Red Bulls (or Red Bull New York)—the same total number of matches the franchise played while known as the MetroStars.

In 10 seasons from 1996–2005, the MetroStars (NY/NJ or otherwise) played in 352 matches in the MLS regular season, playoffs, Open Cup, and continental competitions—I count the Copa Mecronorte and CONCACAF Champions League. I do not count the La Manga Cup, international friendlies, or preseason matches.
Click to expand...

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M

Mory Dunz

Member
I'm glad Garza got called up. Hoped Rubin and Zeleam would too.



These friendlies against Germany and Holland have me expecting like a 3-0 win tonight. I hope our recent form won't hurt my enjoyment if we don't play to the same level.
 
J

Judderman

drawer by drawer
New OT yay!

RSL last Wednesday, Smurfs @ YS last Sunday, USWNT on Tuesday, Cosmos on Wednesday, USA friendly today, USWNT Final on Sunday...So. Much. Soccer. So good!

PS: New York is Red.
 
B

B-Dubs

No Scrubs
Mory Dunz said:
I'm glad Garza got called up. Hoped Rubin and Zeleam would too.



These friendlies against Germany and Holland have me expecting like a 3-0 win tonight. I hope our recent form won't hurt my enjoyment if we don't play to the same level.
Click to expand...

They're gonna take it slow with Zelalem after what happened with Green. I imagine he'll feature prominently alongside Hyndman in the midfield during Olympic qualifying and the tournament itself, Klinsmann has no need to rush him into the senior team fold right now.
 
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