Wow, who would've thought that New England wouldn't be able to come to terms with someone financially.

They are going to suck this year, especially with TT dogging it. He can hardly be motivated.

Rankings-smankings. So the US is now #26. I'm not sweating it just like I didn't get euphoric when we were ranked #6 or #7 or whatever we were a couple years back. Goff is dead on. The game is played on the field and not in a luxurious office in Switzerland. For some programs, it is a point of reference (like Puerto Rico). For us, it means almost zilch--just as long as we don't done in when it comes to being seeded in major tournaments.

Goff,

Since MLS is a single entity structure, what roll does MLS have a role in new player salary negotiations? Is it all New England's responsibility?

The FIFA rankings mean about as much as The Grammy's.

MLS teams have gained more autonomy on many fronts in recent years, including contract negotiations. For the most part, the club is in direct talks with the player/club. The contract must be approved by MLS, but in most circumstances, the league will not take issue with it.

cuz everybody's Grammy rates them #1?

"Rankings-smankings."

Right. Less fodder for TV's soccer-hating windbags.

The FIFA rankings mean about as much as The Grammy's.

Posted by: Chico | February 13, 2008 02:58 PM

-------------------------------------------
Ding!Ding!Ding! Give that man a prize.
Gracias, Chico.
And just about every other awards show.

So are you telling me NE is trying to low-ball a player?

Badilla and his agent need to check into the Babelfish and translate some articles about NE and they way they ensla...I mean employ their players.

After all of the cash that the Patriots have made, why is Big Daddy Kraft so tight when it comes to the Revs? I have never understood that. Maybe the funds for the fine that the Pats and BelliCHEAT had to pay came from the soccer club's coffers. Maybe that's where their DP and salary ca$h went. From New England to Norway. Do they have an airline that provides express service to former Revs players at a discount?

I agree that the rankings are not a reflection of how good a team is, but the quesiton is do they have any bearing on how teams are seeded for the World Cup? I would find it hard to believe that any team not in the top 10 would be considered for a seed since FIFA would not want to make their own rankings a complete farce. As a result, I think we actually need to pay some attention to our ranking if we hope to rise to the level of a seeded country in either 2010 or 2014.

The Unified Korean team ranks at #84.

Ranking is one component of the WC seedings. The others include: final position in WC qualifying and whatever else FIFA makes up.

IIRC, FIFA uses the standings from the previous WC qualifiers. In 2006 we suffered because we did not qualify 1st in CONCACAF for the 2002 WC.

As long as Sepp Blatter runs that criminal organization the rankings and the seedings mean squat. Just use the evidence provided by I-270 for proof.

I wonder when FIFA is going to get a spot in the UN. They have more political an economical pull that a lot of the member countries.

dwb:

the World Cup is seeded based on past World Cup Finals performance. I believe it is the last three, but maybe the last two, you get points for wins, advancing, etc.

The Unified Korean team ranks at #84.

Posted by: Kim Jong-il | February 13, 2008 03:11 PM
------------------------------------

How can that be? I thought you invented soccer... and space travel... and lollipops.., and the interweb...

in fact, FIFA uses an equal weight of past performance (previous two cups, 1/3 for earlier one, 2/3 for penultimate) 32 points for winning, down to 1 for last place; and an average of the FIFA rankings at the end of the year the previous three years. (32 pts for 1st, 1 pt for 32nd)

so the US was a 9 seed based on our 8th place finish in Korea/Japan and our ridiculous 8th place ranking in 05.

oh heck, go try and follow it yourselves!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_FIFA_World_Cup_seeding

The rankings are pretty baffling on the whole. I just looked at how the African nations moved post-ANC

-- Ghana + 330 points
-- Ivory Coast +189 points
-- Cameroon +114 points
-- Egypt +92 points

Which is pretty amusing if you consider that Egypt won the ANC, beating Cameroon twice, and Ivory Coast by a resounding score...

Anyway, the "formula" is here:
http://fifa.com/worldfootball/ranking/procedure/men.html

WTF....how is Bolivia ranked 102 but they got Cyprus AT 66 and Equatorial Guinea AT 78!! I mean trust me I know Bolivia aren't doin so well lately but competing in the CONMEBOL isn't an easy feat either. mEh F'em, FIFA under Sepp Blatter has been a joke anyways.

Rumor has it there will be a 9am press conference tomorrow (Thursday) with Adrian Fenty and DCU in attendance.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz?

Keep up the good work Gonzalo Goffino, we love your blog!

Thanks Friend of DCU. I hope that your info is accurate and that there is progress on the stadium.

FIFA is currently working on a computer model that will give strength of schedule points and nothing less than 20 computer models to determine the Club World Cup participants. It will also rely on 2 human polls that are filled out by: Jose Mourinho, Ray Hudson (after coffee), Roman Abramovich, Jose Calderon, Big Soccer Moderators, Alexi Lalas, Jim Zorn, and a collective entry from Serie A owners and Tim Donaghy

Fifa rankings are inconsistent, but should we really be ranked much higher than 26th? Maybe a bit higher, but there are a fair number of teams in the world better than ours... Something in the low 20's doesn't seem too off the mark to me...

Any one interested in throwing out their top 25? SOmething to sate our need for lists and drag this thread out?

Philly update:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/sports/20080213_Soccer_deal_is_within_reach__say_sources.html

Honestly, I dont give two farts about the rankings. I just want it to be 2012 already!

I agree with Ron. Not that the rankings mean much, but 26 is about right when you look at the other teams ranked near us. When we were 12 or whatever I felt that put targets on our backs and more teams were preparing for us.
We do better when sneaking up on people.

I just want it to be 2012 already!

Posted by: gilbert | February 13, 2008 05:09 PM
-------------
??
Euro2012? Olympics? CONCACAF qualifying for WC2014? Your 21st birthday?

Honestly, I dont give two farts about the rankings. I just want it to be 2012 already!

Posted by: gilbert | February 13, 2008 05:09 PM
-------------------------------------------
Why 2012?
Confederations Cup? Olympics?

Sorry, 2010. The numbers lined up with crap I am doing at work..

2012 = End of the World on the Mayan Calendar

and there is that..

"I just want it to be 2012 already!"
-----------

I was 23 and having a bad day when an older co-worker heard me say, "I can't wait until this week is over!"

She shook her head and said, "Another young person wishing his life away."

Man, she wasn't kidding.

Also, 2012, give or take a year, is when a site will be chosen for the 2018 WC.

USL2 -- Real Maryland schedule is posted:

http://www.uslsoccer.com/teams/2008/8969534.html

as is Crystal Palace Baltimore's:

http://www.crystalpalaceusa.com/Schedule.htm

local derby clashes on Sunday June 29th, 4pm in Germantown and Thursday July 31st, 7:30pm, at UMBC.

Who do most people like in the USL2 Derby, Crystal Palace Baltimore or Real Maryland?

Gotta say, I still don't get why these marketing geniuses think that anything "Real" will appeal to 'mericans.

And $18 tickets? A little ambitious for a USL2 team.

"Who do most people like in the USL2 Derby, Crystal Palace Baltimore or Real Maryland?"
-------------

with Real MD having not played an official game yet, I'd say that's pure guesswork. Maybe ask again in late June?

http://www.nbc4.com/news/15295762/detail.html

Big stadium news!

Wow! that is indeed a big news. I really hope this is final but will United accept? Is this mean done deal?

Huge news -- if true. I'll believe it when some one other than Fenty makes the announcement.

C'mon Goff, beating Sweden's B-team shouldn't count for anything. The game was a joke. Had it been Sweden's A-team, we would have gotten smoked.

Looks like Friend of United was right: NBC4's Tom Sherwood with breaking news re: Poplar Point...

"
UPDATED: 7:27 pm EST February 13, 2008

WASHINGTON -- News4 has learned that Mayor Adrian Fenty plans to propose building a $200 million soccer stadium on the banks of the Anacostia River across from the city's new Nationals ballpark.

Sources told News4's Tom Sherwood that the soccer stadium would be part of a $1 billion development deal on about 40 acres of land at Poplar Point along the river. The sources said the mayor will announce as early as Thursday that he has selected Clark Construction to develop the land."

"Who do most people like in the USL2 Derby, Crystal Palace Baltimore or Real Maryland?"

It's a tough call seeing as the majority of both those teams rosters haven't been made public.

Who do most people like in the USL2 Derby, Crystal Palace Baltimore or Real Maryland?

Posted by: | February 13, 2008 06:14 PM
-------------------------------------------
I down with CPB. Season ticket holder baby. That is my USL2 club. The players are cool. The ownership is cool. The coaches are cool. And the tickets are $12. $10 if you bought the season ticket plan before New Years. I'm definitely lloking forward to the derby.

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