flickr
videos
community photos
friends of tias
categories
contact
Feel free to contact me for anything related to TIAS, your information will not be shared with anyone.
designated players
the barometer
Not so secret meetings, winning women, an international influx, and more Dempsey speculation… just another week in the world of US Soccer. And oh yeah, there’s still tickets left for the MLS Cup. Can’t we even sell that out? How about free pizza for everyone? Pizza Hut, be a good host and hook it up.
1
Grant Wahl thinks Clint will win an MLS Cup before he exchanges the hip-hop aesthetic for tight jeans and emo ballads. Good thing Wahl’s predictions came before last Saturday’s loss (as did my Chicago pick, though it looks I was wrong on The Ham returning to Real. If obtaining a starting position is really his priority, Grant may be right about his arrival into MLS in 2007. Otherwise, he is looking at the likes of Watford or Reading. He won’t be able to start on most teams in the EPL).
Deuce is wild [Sports Illustrated]
2
All our best players will leave us, children departing the nest. Nothing new there, but where we previously thought we’d get nothing in return, college soccer is stepping up its exchange program. Who thought educational opportunities would lead to stronger athletic programs?
International influx broadens the college game [Soccernet]
3
Two Americans are up for FIFA player of the year. Now re-read that statement without knowing that their women. Is it simple athletic prowess that allows our women to dominate? The men could learn a thing or two from Kristine Lilly and Abby Wambach.
FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year [US Soccer]
4
Not that this should come as a surprise to anyone, but Klinsmann is “in talks” about the US MNT managerial opening.
A Coup in the Works [Sports Illustrated]
And lastly, Evan Mitz from the FC Dallas front office asked if I would communicate that seats are still available for the MLS Cup on November 12. You can call him directly for priority seating at 214-705-6752. I’ll leave it up to you whether or not the fact that with less than a month until the championship there are still tickets readily available for this says anything about American soccer. But If it does, its not good.
kyle
on Oct 30th, 2006 - 9:59pm
Went to the DC v. NY playoff game last night. My first MLS game. I was thoroughly surprised with the turnout and enthusiasm in the crowd. Much like the world cup though, the fans outperformed the players.
What was most remarkable to me was the lack of pace and organization on the field. I expected the live game to be quicker. Passes were soft and slow. judgment was piss poor. Quite frankly, I expected more out of the playoffs with more at stake (theoretically). I can’t say I’d travel outside my city to see the finals.
Perhaps the greatest deficit I’ve noticed in the american game is vision. It’s a much more cerebral game than most sports. Raw ability only goes so far, and strict assignments don’t work very well b/c the game is too organic and fluid. I fear this is a by-product of our timeout happy sports culture here where coaches can micro-manage and pause every time an adjustment is made.
anyway, my two cents
leave a comment items marked with * are required