Sat Morning Media Roundup

by Dave Clark on Oct 31, 2009 9:01 AM PDT in Major League Soccer Comment 4 comments

Having a full day off I thought I would share the links that are out there of interest to Sounders fans and those that read the site, as well as a recap of the Sounders FC weekly radio show on 710 ESPN.

First TOA v NuRock is getting to a boiling point. Yep, hints of legal issues as well. Oh, and the Timbers? They me be letting Beavers baseball get in the way of things.

Second some Sounders opinions- Jerry Brewer and Steve Kelley both look at the Playoff match here in Seattle as only columnists can. Verbally rich, and substantially controversial.

The News Tribune has an amazing timelapse of the Thursday Night match.

From the 710 ESPN Radio Show (8.30-9 Sat Morning) in a notes format

- Houston is use to physical tough matches, better to have a lead, review of the FC Dallas win, Brad Evans near post runs, plan to not foul due to Mullan, Dynamo couldn't win at home last playoff, Houston's height, use the isolation play, Jaqua in rhythm, Ianni's strengths, score first at Houston

MLS NewsSounders are two of the five a side, also suggesting the following national players play in MLS prior to the World Cup; DaMarcus Beasley, Oguchi Onyewu, Danny Califf.

This suggestion is due to Blanco signing with Mexican 2nd Division side Veracruz. He did this to get playing time prior to the World Cup.

TFC Season recap by Duane in five parts.

The Supporters Summit is really getting going. More to be added Monday. Events from Friday Night to Sunday gameday.

Around the Global Game
Soccermetrics has finished his single season EPL test of Pythag. The plan is going to go much richer, and hopefully the level of depth we can get better numbers to analyze the beautiful game. Just as better telescopes don't make the heavens less beautiful, numerical analysis of a game does not ruin its appeal.

An Old Firm club is being threatened with Administration, kind of. Rangers will likely have to sell most of their best talent to avoid administration. Celtic fans are just giddy.

Lastly, more Sounders talk on local radio today - KJR-AM at Noon Dick Fain will have myself discussing the game, Nate Jaqua and Tyrone Marshall's conversations with me as well.

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If you’re like me, you worry about the health of US/Canadian professional soccer, what with the MLS bloating to 18 teams by 2011 (if Portland can’t do it you know Montreal is there!) and, even though this current MLS and USL/A-League structure has been around over a decade, the hold professional soccer has on the US/Canadian sporting landscape is still tenuous. What Soccer needs to survive here is a viable divisional structure, which exists to a point with MLS, USL 1&2, and PDL, but has always felt ad-hoc to me. Do these people realize they can’t afford this bickering at this critical moment. With Vancouver, Portland, and probably Montreal on the verge of jumping up a division, a deeper pool of talent is needed, and this means at the lower divisions as well. The math doesn’t work out with 18 teams in MLS and 8 in the 2nd division (whatever the hell it’ll be called!) Any structure requires a good foundation, and this arrangement leaves MLS without an adequate foundation.

by Jake on Oct 31, 2009 11:20 AM PDT reply actions

If the breakaway and the USL-1 both are recognized by USSF as Tier 2, they would both have 8 teams. USL-2 would also have at least 8 teams.

by Dave Clark on Oct 31, 2009 11:40 AM PDT reply actions

I think we need a 3 tier system, whatever the tiers are called. At the end of the season, the top two teams of the lower tiers should move up to the tier above, and the lower 2 teams of the upper two tiers should move down to the tier below. All 3 tiers should have the same amount of teams.
Also, while I am a huge Sounders Fan and love that they got into the Finals, I’m not entirely sure I’m sold on a “Finals”. I tend to lean towards whoever wines the most games during the season should win the trophy…

by beowuff on Nov 1, 2009 8:24 AM PDT reply actions