PDA

View Full Version : European Soccer Part XIII

Pages : 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 [37] 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51
Warrior51
08-15-2004, 01:22 PM
Originally posted by Rhett
Salt Lake surprises me... I had been following expansion news pretty closely until the last couple of months, and the frontrunners to be #12 seemed to be Cleveland, Oklahoma City, and Rochester. Rochester seems to be the most worthy, if they can get past the stigma they have as a AAA city.

I am a huge soccer fan myself and from my error from posting on the Hattrick thread, I think that I will join that. I run MFLS and MLS Fantasy leagues. Looks like a blast.

To be honest I was shocked about a second team in LA and Salt Lake City. No one was talking about either place. Rochester I think would be extremely successful. They aren't a major city but they have a well established soccer community and A League Franchise. They are currently in the works to build a new stadium.

I really like the idea of a team in Toronto. The Canadian Soccer Federation is building a new stadium and training facility there for the Canadian National Team. Go Onstad!
MavrckMngr
08-17-2004, 09:59 AM
Rumor has it that Shaun Wright-Phillips will not, I repeat, will not be in the starting 11 for England's friendly this week, which leads me to my question...

When did Sven get a lobotomy?
Nathan
08-17-2004, 10:09 AM
Granted I'm biased, but with the success of the Thunder, I'd like to see them move from a div 1 to an LMS franchise.
MavrckMngr
08-17-2004, 12:51 PM
It looks like Barcelona's striker is going out on loan again, quite possibly to Monaco, ending speculation, for now anyway, that Anelka was France-bound, not that that would be a bad thing some days.
Don King
08-19-2004, 02:25 AM
Originally posted by Nathan
Granted I'm biased, but with the success of the Thunder, I'd like to see them move from a div 1 to an LMS franchise.

Wouldn't that be great? :D Unfortunately, I don't think they're anywhere near financially viable enough to work as an MLS team. There's no doubt that the MLS designation would draw more fans, but my gut feeling is that it still wouldn't be enough, considering the rather paltry numbers they draw now.

They've had talks with the city of St. Paul about possibly building a stadium somewhere downtown, in effect riding on the coattails of the resurgence of that area of St. Paul. Something on the order of 5-10,000 seats, with room for more should the franchise take off.

Hey, it could happen someday. And it'd be the first step towards MLS.
Bob Gray
08-19-2004, 11:59 AM
I was in Salt Lake City in June and there was a lot of discussion of them getting an MLS team at that time, and the prevailing wisdom was that SLC would get a team.
Craig P.
08-20-2004, 10:58 AM
Originally posted by Rhett
Salt Lake surprises me... I had been following expansion news pretty closely until the last couple of months, and the frontrunners to be #12 seemed to be Cleveland, Oklahoma City, and Rochester. Rochester seems to be the most worthy, if they can get past the stigma they have as a AAA city. AFAIK, Cleveland was out when the prospective front-man for ownership and a stadium passed away.

Re: Houston, I believe that ownership remains a problem there -- if Bob McNair wanted in, I have little doubt that Houston would be in the picture for this expansion cycle. IIRC, there's some kind of first-refusal option for McNair from the Harris County Sports Authority on a major soccer team in Reliant Stadium that is expiring soon, so it's within the realm of possibility that another ownership group might come in that would play at Reliant. I'm not sure, though, whether there would be enough revenue not going to McNair for that to be viable.

Re: Tottenham, are they playing Robinson or Keller at keeper? If the former, is there any indication that Keller will get transferred (or released)?
USAFA Bulldog
08-20-2004, 11:35 AM
Originally posted by Craig P.
Re: Tottenham, are they playing Robinson or Keller at keeper? If the former, is there any indication that Keller will get transferred (or released)?

Robinson started last week vs. L'Pool. He's expected to be the #1, but then again we're only 1 week into the season. I haven't seen anything saying Keller's expected to transfer. He is listed as being in the squad against Newcastle tomorrow, we won't know who is the starter until then.
Bob Gray
08-20-2004, 11:53 AM
I'd like to see an MLS team here in Phoenix either sooner or later. Given the large Hispanic population here, it'd seem to be a natural location for a team, though they would need to play inside, probably at The BOB to avoid the summer heat.
Don King
08-20-2004, 03:32 PM
Man Utd has sold Diego Forlan.

It's a sad day for me. Now I will have to invent some new jokes to torment Nathan. :D
MavrckMngr
08-20-2004, 04:15 PM
Originally posted by Don King
Man Utd has sold Diego Forlan.

It's a sad day for me. Now I will have to invent some new jokes to torment Nathan. :D

You Gooner bastard, you beat me to it! However, Bronco and I will probably let you sing "Gary Neville's a Blue, he hates United" with us. :)

The Rags will be better off without him, and so will Newcastle now that they let Woodgate go to Real Madrid.
Don King
08-20-2004, 04:21 PM
Originally posted by MavrckMngr
You Gooner bastard, you beat me to it! However, Bronco and I will probably let you sing "Gary Neville's a Blue, he hates United" with us. :)


Thanks for that. I think. :)
MavrckMngr
08-20-2004, 04:26 PM
Originally posted by Don King
Thanks for that. I think. :)

You have to admit it makes sense; he's anything but a City killer.
Nathan
08-20-2004, 04:50 PM
Originally posted by Don King
Man Utd has sold Diego Forlan.

It's a sad day for me. Now I will have to invent some new jokes to torment Nathan. :D Oh happy days are here again!!!!!!!!!
nubobcat
08-20-2004, 04:57 PM
Salt Lake City got a team? Do you know how hot SLC during the summer time? No one is going to want to sit in a stadium and cheer on soccer in 110 degree heat unless the team is made up of all BYU Stormin Mormans.
Bob Gray
08-20-2004, 05:00 PM
I'd be more upset about this, but Forlan wasn't going to feature much at ManU anyway. But this just means we'll have to make more fun of the Nevilles, etc.

The timing is a bit odd, as with RvN and Saha both out, ManU was already shorthanded up front. But in the long run this is a nice move for ManU. I can't believe they got $12.5 million for the guy! Sheesh! I think I'll call Villareal and tell them I've got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell them.

Forlan's final record at ManU is 17 goals in 95 appearances, though some were as a substitute.
Jimjamesak
08-20-2004, 05:01 PM
Originally posted by Don King
Man Utd has sold Diego Forlan.

It's a sad day for me. Now I will have to invent some new jokes to torment Nathan. :D
Glory Glory Man United! :D :D
Nathan
08-20-2004, 05:09 PM
Originally posted by Bob Gray
The timing is a bit odd, as with RvN and Saha both out, ManU was already shorthanded up front. But in the long run this is a nice move for ManU. I can't believe they got $12.5 million for the guy! Sheesh! I think I'll call Villareal and tell them I've got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell them. Hee Hee Hee. Kieron Dyer, anyone????
Jimjamesak
08-20-2004, 05:19 PM
Originally posted by nubobcat
Salt Lake City got a team? Do you know how hot SLC during the summer time? No one is going to want to sit in a stadium and cheer on soccer in 110 degree heat unless the team is made up of all BYU Stormin Mormans.
You forgot to mention altitude.

Now the frontrunners for the next expansion cities in MLS, in my mind, are Rochester and Seattle. Rochester if they follow through on the stadium and make it a bit larger and Seattle if a decent ownership group gets together.

I also want a team in Seattle because that would make my quest to be a National/MLS referee a whole lot easier.
MavrckMngr
08-20-2004, 10:05 PM
City v Lpool haiku on my blog:

Calling all Scousers:
If City wins at Anfield,
Please take Keegan's car. :p