The Republic of Sport

Mike_E

Mike_E's Comments

Posted Tuesday November 24, 2009, About: Beckham won't own Montreal team

I'm not sure I completely agree with these types of comments. A shoot-out definitely is not as fair as waiting for a goal, but it's not a coin toss either. It highlights a few of the many skills needed to win a soccer game. For the shooters: mental toughness, accuracy, precision, power. For the keeper: reflexes, knowledge, game awareness, quickness. It may not be the fairest way to decide a game but it definitely isn't so arbitrary as a coin toss.

While golden goal may seem to be the ideal way to end a game, it would be a mistake to implement again. Players bodies are not built to continue playing. You risk too many injuries with golden goal. Can you imagine Andy Williams on Sunday having to continue playing longer than 120 minutes. He couldn't move anyways. Forcing him to continue to run around that pitch is risking your most valuable asset as a league: your players.

Posted Tuesday November 24, 2009, About: Beckham won't own Montreal team

To add salt to the wound. RSL, as part of their lease agreement with Rice-Eccles bought the new field that the UofU is now playing on. The University was worried about the wear and tear RSL would cause and wrote into the lease that RSL had to buy new turf for the field when they left. So RSL spent 3 years playing on that garbage, and then bought the University an actual decent playing surface.

Posted Wednesday October 28, 2009, About: FC Dallas cans general manager

Wow, my computer went down after that last post. I just barely got it working again. Triple post!! That's pretty impressive stuff.

Back on point (well, sort of), I sort of wonder if Jeff's "attitude problems" are complete BS. He seems like a pleasant enough guy. Perhaps a little prima-donna, but aren't all strikers? Some of the world-cup tune-ups would be a great opportunity to give Jeff the call up. Even if he doesn't make the WC squad, it gives your defenders a chance to practice against someone who really has that hunger for the goal.

Posted Wednesday October 28, 2009, About: FC Dallas cans general manager

That's not Hitchcock or Hyndman. That picture is John Ellinger.

Posted Wednesday October 28, 2009, About: FC Dallas cans general manager

That's not Hitchcock or Hyndman. That picture is John Ellinger.

Posted Wednesday October 28, 2009, About: FC Dallas cans general manager

That's not Hitchcock or Hyndman. That picture is John Ellinger.

Posted Monday October 26, 2009, About: Toronto FC in for shakeup

In a home and away series, you can't count RSL out. In the regular season, each team won a game, but RSL won the aggregate 5-4.

My predictions for each series:
LA-CHV - LA
HOU-SEA - HOU
CBS-RSL - RSL
CHI-NE - CHI

Posted Thursday October 01, 2009, About: Toronto FC to get grass field in 2010

Best thing I've heard all day.

Posted Friday September 04, 2009, About: Man Utd could also face transfer ban

What is a pre-contract agreement? Is that really as binding as an actual contract?

Posted Wednesday September 02, 2009, About: MLS benches three veteran refs

Isn't their fitness a pretty major aspect of their performance? I'd say good on USSF for taking some action. Hope it leads to improvement from all 3 referees and they all get reinstated eventually. The MLS needs the referees on the pitch. But they need those referees to be good.

Posted Wednesday September 02, 2009, About: MLS benches three veteran refs

The game doesn't need any more exposure in Seattle at the moment. It needs exposure in DC. This game is rightfully being played at RFK. Anyone who says different is too biased. A 1 pm start time does not help exposure.

Posted Wednesday September 02, 2009, About: MLS benches three veteran refs

Rio Tinto Stadium still has the best field in North America. But that may just be my personal preference.

Posted Tuesday September 01, 2009, About: Earthquakes in market for striker

Didn't SJ just trade Pablo Campos to RSL? The same Pablo Campos who just won the MLS Player of the Week?

Posted Wednesday June 03, 2009, About: Real-Toronto FC game hinges on new field

And here we have further proof that the RSL - RM relationship is near meaningless.

Posted Monday May 04, 2009, About: Everton lands American Peterlin

Or what did MLS coaches see that Everton did not? This kid could easily become the next American to go to Europe and fail. Good luck to him though.

As for the people saying no MLS team has a claim on this guy - how do we know that's true. I haven't seen any reputable source saying that nobody has a discovery claim out there for him yet. How long has he been with the fusion. Perhaps he has just been finishing up college and has never declared for the MLS draft. Remember the link from HS to College to Pro is pretty messed up in the US.

Posted Friday April 17, 2009, About: Davies joining Real Salt Lake

Players go through the lottery for 2 reasons:

1. They were a draft eligible payer who were offered a contract prior to the draft, but never signed.
2. They are Gen Adidas players signed after the MLS superdraft.

Since Davies was already in Southhampton, I doubt he falls into the first category. He must be classified as a generation adidas player. Good for RSL.

Posted Friday April 17, 2009, About: Davies joining Real Salt Lake

Wow, Real sure is stocking up lately. They really have no need for this kid. It will be interesting to see if they trade him, loan him, or what they do.

Posted Thursday April 16, 2009, About: Real Madrid to face D.C., other MLS team

Its about $$$.....and furthering the game in the U.S. Haven't you learned anything from Mr. Garber yet?

Posted Wednesday April 15, 2009, About: Real Madrid to face D.C., other MLS team

There is a real connection. RSL has exclusive rights to RMs North American marketing. And both teams are buidling a youth academy in SLC with RM paying half the cost.

"A match against RSL would be seen as a double joke" ??? Not sure why you feel that way. Every preseason RM plays much more inferior opponents than RSL. Last season they played Indepente Sante Fe, in 2007 they played Lokomotiv Moscow and Os Belenenses. These are preseason matches, it doesn't matter much who they play.

Posted Monday April 13, 2009, About: Real Salt Lake to sign Espindola

Picking up Espindola would be huge for RSL. Many fans were furious when he was allowed to leave. If this really happens, Lagerway and Kreis should now be commended for playing hardball and being able to get the man they really wanted all along.

RSL is going to be very dangerous with their current midfield and the crop of forwards they are loading up with.

Posted Thursday March 05, 2009, About: Ronaldo, Taylor in halftime altercation

This whole thing was overblown. Taylow put his arm over Ronaldo's shoulder to try to muscle by. He made contact with Ronaldo's shoulder and neck, if he hit Ronaldo's face at all it was minimal. Ronaldo stayed on the ground hoping Taylor would get the red. It was an unsafe play, so it probably deserved a yellow.

Why they confronted each other in the tunnel is a mystery to me. The incident was not that big of a deal.