Comments on: On the Pitch with an American Novice: Pints and Red Cards http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/10/13/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice-pints-and-red-cards/ 'Cause there's always room for one more on the bench. Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:17:25 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rey http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/10/13/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice-pints-and-red-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Rey Sat, 18 Oct 2008 18:14:11 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=1322#comment-106 Good red card Casey. I'll second that. I've read on another blog site that Nike is investing in USL division teams, but not into MLS. Seems strange. Of those teams vying for an MLS franchise, you can eliminate Atlanta and Miami. There have already been two franchises in FLA that didn't last in MLS. There is ZERO demand for soccer in the south. I'll revisit an old theory. PAETEC park was doomed from the beginning. How much do you blame on the placement of that stadium? I remember there being an argument for building in Greece. Why wouldn't that have worked? Philly will be joining the MLS in 2010. Their team will be playing in nearby Chester, PA. Much more demand for soccer in the suburbs. Go where the youth programs flourish. Good red card Casey. I’ll second that. I’ve read on another blog site that Nike is investing in USL division teams, but not into MLS. Seems strange.

Of those teams vying for an MLS franchise, you can eliminate Atlanta and Miami. There have already been two franchises in FLA that didn’t last in MLS. There is ZERO demand for soccer in the south.

I’ll revisit an old theory. PAETEC park was doomed from the beginning. How much do you blame on the placement of that stadium? I remember there being an argument for building in Greece. Why wouldn’t that have worked? Philly will be joining the MLS in 2010. Their team will be playing in nearby Chester, PA. Much more demand for soccer in the suburbs. Go where the youth programs flourish.

]]> By: Casey http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/10/13/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice-pints-and-red-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-105 Casey Thu, 16 Oct 2008 18:29:52 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=1322#comment-105 I am giving a red card to the former ownership group of the Rochester Rhinos. Once upon a time Rochester was the crown jewel of the A-League and ascension into MLS appeared a foregone conclusion. The Rhinos consistently drew larger crowds to their games than some of the MLS teams. The Rhinos beat three MLS teams in winning the US Open Cup. Since then an 'entertaining style of play' has taken the place of a winning style. Attendance has dropped, and yesterday the MLS announced the names of seven cities bidding for two spots in the league - Vancouver, Montreal, Atlanta, Miami, Ottawa, St. Louis, and Portland, Oregon. I am giving a red card to the former ownership group of the Rochester Rhinos. Once upon a time Rochester was the crown jewel of the A-League and ascension into MLS appeared a foregone conclusion. The Rhinos consistently drew larger crowds to their games than some of the MLS teams. The Rhinos beat three MLS teams in winning the US Open Cup. Since then an ‘entertaining style of play’ has taken the place of a winning style. Attendance has dropped, and yesterday the MLS announced the names of seven cities bidding for two spots in the league – Vancouver, Montreal, Atlanta, Miami, Ottawa, St. Louis, and Portland, Oregon.

]]> By: Rey http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/10/13/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice-pints-and-red-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Rey Wed, 15 Oct 2008 00:14:47 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=1322#comment-104 I agree with you on Everton, Casey. But we need to buy a pint for David Moyes. He just signed a five year extension today. He said he's "determined to go forward" with the Everton. The guy has every reason to gripe and complain, but really hasn't. Everton spent no money this summer when Moyes was calling for upgrades on defense. I just don't understand why they have these breakdowns. You have two defensive guys in Jolean Lescott and Josef Yobo who have recently had international CAPS. England called up Lescott and Yobo is a key player for Nigeria. Is it the middle of the defense? That seems to be where most of the goals have come. But I do give Moyes a ton of credit for not leaving. He has plenty of offers across the premier league. I agree with you on Everton, Casey. But we need to buy a pint for David Moyes. He just signed a five year extension today. He said he’s “determined to go forward” with the Everton. The guy has every reason to gripe and complain, but really hasn’t. Everton spent no money this summer when Moyes was calling for upgrades on defense.

I just don’t understand why they have these breakdowns. You have two defensive guys in Jolean Lescott and Josef Yobo who have recently had international CAPS. England called up Lescott and Yobo is a key player for Nigeria. Is it the middle of the defense? That seems to be where most of the goals have come. But I do give Moyes a ton of credit for not leaving. He has plenty of offers across the premier league.

]]> By: Muels http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/10/13/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice-pints-and-red-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-103 Muels Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:35:46 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=1322#comment-103 Rey- I am sorry to hear that Tim Howard is returning to his ways that got him sent to Everton from Man U in the first place. I am guessing that he has been focusing too much on his National Team duties and taking his club time for granted. I don't know the current state of the Toffee roster, but if Tim is this busy it must be a bit weaker than the recent past. Maybe a break from the MNT will clear Howard's head... Rey- I am sorry to hear that Tim Howard is returning to his ways that got him sent to Everton from Man U in the first place. I am guessing that he has been focusing too much on his National Team duties and taking his club time for granted. I don’t know the current state of the Toffee roster, but if Tim is this busy it must be a bit weaker than the recent past. Maybe a break from the MNT will clear Howard’s head…

]]> By: Casey http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/10/13/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice-pints-and-red-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-102 Casey Tue, 14 Oct 2008 15:41:26 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=1322#comment-102 I am giving Everton a red card because they certainly don't deserve a pint. Somehow the Toffees have forgotten a match is 90:00 - plus stoppage time. They either - !. Give up early goals then roll over and play dead. 2. Give up early goals and make a frantic comeback that either comes up short or ends in a tie. 3. OR they score early only to allow the opposition back in the contest. 8 points in 7 matches? I am glad they didn't qualify for the Champions League; that could have been embarrassing. I am giving Everton a red card because they certainly don’t deserve a pint.

Somehow the Toffees have forgotten a match is 90:00 – plus stoppage time. They either – !. Give up early goals then roll over and play dead. 2. Give up early goals and make a frantic comeback that either comes up short or ends in a tie. 3. OR they score early only to allow the opposition back in the contest.

8 points in 7 matches? I am glad they didn’t qualify for the Champions League; that could have been embarrassing.

]]> By: Rey http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/10/13/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice-pints-and-red-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Rey Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:10:56 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=1322#comment-99 Muels - How confident are you in US goalkeeper Tim Howard? If you've seen him play, I'm assuming it's in these qualifying games and international play. I've been watching him with Everton as well. He seems really off sometimes, and by off I guess I mean two things: off his line and off his game. He'll make some really great saves and bail out his defense, then he'll give up a goal that just seems like he should have had a better position on. Thanks for pointing out the roster changes Bradley made. I haven't seen much from Maurice Edu, formerly of Toronto FC I think but now with Rangers, and he's on the roster. Both he and Freddy Adu should get some much needed time. Muels – How confident are you in US goalkeeper Tim Howard? If you’ve seen him play, I’m assuming it’s in these qualifying games and international play. I’ve been watching him with Everton as well. He seems really off sometimes, and by off I guess I mean two things: off his line and off his game. He’ll make some really great saves and bail out his defense, then he’ll give up a goal that just seems like he should have had a better position on.

Thanks for pointing out the roster changes Bradley made. I haven’t seen much from Maurice Edu, formerly of Toronto FC I think but now with Rangers, and he’s on the roster. Both he and Freddy Adu should get some much needed time.

]]> By: Casey http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/10/13/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice-pints-and-red-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Casey Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:07:44 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=1322#comment-101 Dang - I'm thirsty! Dang – I’m thirsty!

]]> By: Muels http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2008/10/13/on-the-pitch-with-an-american-novice-pints-and-red-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-100 Muels Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:05:12 +0000 http://ccww.wordpress.com/?p=1322#comment-100 Rey Thanks for yet another link to the world of the beautiful game. I enjoyed what I saw of the the US vs Cuba, and now that we have clinched a berth in the final qualifying round I see that Coach Bradley is calling in a larger number of MLS players and releasing many of his Europe-based players back to their clubs. This is where the early road victories during qualifying will really pay off in allowing these younger US-based players to gain some much-needed big game experience (while WE may not need to gain a result in these forthcoming games, our opponents certainly will, still making them big games). Rey
Thanks for yet another link to the world of the beautiful game. I enjoyed what I saw of the the US vs Cuba, and now that we have clinched a berth in the final qualifying round I see that Coach Bradley is calling in a larger number of MLS players and releasing many of his Europe-based players back to their clubs. This is where the early road victories during qualifying will really pay off in allowing these younger US-based players to gain some much-needed big game experience (while WE may not need to gain a result in these forthcoming games, our opponents certainly will, still making them big games).

]]>