blah blah blah.

hope DCU coach has been sacked by the time you are back FRI

First.

i hope soehn is telling all his players that last night ins the rreason they are not all-stars

hope DCU coach has been sacked by the time you are back FRI

Posted by: juanma | July 24, 2008 12:27 PM

Hope everyone at the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission has been sacked by the time you are back. It must be nice to have jobs where you can do everything wrong but never have to worry about being fired.

@juanma: From your mouth to Kevin Payne's ears.

I will never spend another dime in our Nation's Capital. Fenty lied.

Thx,

Jay!

Posted by: JayRockers! | July 24, 2008 9:03 AM
------------------------------------------

Honestly, I don't know what you're talking about.

Posted by: Fisch Fry | July 24, 2008 11:19 AM

----------------------------------------

I believe what the person is referring to is........

"Thank you Kevin for this D.C. United jersey and congratulations on your terrific season. It is great to see over 20,000 fans here at RFK supporting D.C. United. It is my hope that your fans will soon be coming to your brand new soccer stadium at Poplar Point in Anacostia. World class fans, and a world class team like D.C. United, deserve a world class stadium. And I am going to make it a priority to help you build that stadium. Thank you -- congratulations and good luck to the Black-and-Red!"

-Adrian Fenty on Oct 29 2006 (right before a mayoral elction mind you)

link to full article: http://www.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20061031&content_id=77524&vkey=news_dcu&fext=.jsp&team=t103

As for the excuse that we're missing all of our players and thats why we stink. I don't see that excuse being made for the Yankees who are without their best pitcher, their starting left-fielder, and their starting catcher, or when they were missing A-Rod.

Injury = excuse = horribly weak.

Boo-Yah

All Star Ennui would be a better title.

- Hope Soehn is sacked
- Hope for some unknown reason to myself that Arena is hired. (Isn't there anyone else worthy?)
- Hope that United announces plans and groundbreaking of the new stadium site in PG County
All by the time you get back Friday

Goff said non-DCU discussion. The Book of Lamentations is an earlier thread.

Which makes this an OK topic here --

Washington Freedom to stay at SoccerPlex next year when WPS starts up. The lights work there.

http://www.gazette.net/stories/072308/kensspo192803_32356.shtml

What's the big deal about announcers broadcasting remotely? Many people posting on this blog think they can coach better from their computer than coaches can on the sidelines.

"This is part of a mandate from the IOC to reduce strain on the host city by bringing fewer people," he said.

Maybe the National Population and Family Planning Commission of China should introduce a one announcer per "couple" of sports policy. A single philoprogenitive of NBC per 2 sports.

this is non-dcu discussion so I will say this, I will not watch nonsense mls starched game no matter what. It feeds garber and espn interest and big pay to the hammers who is a rubbish club.

Do our owners still exist? Care about the team?

Goff, maybe you should track them down and do an interview to find out if they remember they still have a team in DC. Maybe they could sell it to someone who cares about the team and not just the Poplar Point development.

Until they start acting like a true arrogant pro-sports ownership group and harass DC publicly on a daily basis for the miserable conditions at RFK, they will never see a bit of change and we won't see a new stadium unless we move with the team up to Montreal.

DC United should change the name to Fans United because obviously DC is not United in support for our MLS team, especially our mayor, the sports commission and our ownership group.

We need our own stadium...would love for it to be in DC but if it's Greenbelt...lets get it done and construction to begin.

Also 1 or 2 new players to add in the mix for more depth!!!

Hope everyone at the DC Sports and Entertainment Commission has been sacked by the time you are back. It must be nice to have jobs where you can do everything wrong but never have to worry about being fired.

Posted by: | July 24, 2008 12:36 PM

Umm...doesn't this describe every government worker, not just DCSEC?

YES!!! If a stadium can't be built in DC, MLS should move the club to Montreal. How perfect would that be?

Greenbelt = a new set of problems. PG County IS NOT a step up.

Yes, our owners very much exist. They interact with the fans regualrly in Lot 8 and elswhere. They go on TV and radio and do lenghty interviews (ie: American Soccer), they travel to most of teh away games, and spend a considerable amount of hands on time with all teh aspects of the team. I'll personally say that they have doen a godo job of showing a lot of us that they are Soccer guys, and know a lot about the sport.

I am pretty sure MacFarlane and company are in meetings and on the phone today with debacle that is RFK the past couple of weeks front and center in the conversation. They are smart buisnessmen and politicians and they aren't going to get what they want by publicly embarrasing people...

And Will definatly cares about the team... he puts himself on the line to stand behind it (or at least his hair)

Do our owners still exist? Care about the team?

Goff, maybe you should track them down and do an interview to find out if they remember they still have a team in DC. Maybe they could sell it to someone who cares about the team and not just the Poplar Point development.

Until they start acting like a true arrogant pro-sports ownership group and harass DC publicly on a daily basis for the miserable conditions at RFK, they will never see a bit of change and we won't see a new stadium unless we move with the team up to Montreal.

DC United should change the name to Fans United because obviously DC is not United in support for our MLS team, especially our mayor, the sports commission and our ownership group.

Posted by: Where is MacFarlane? | July 24, 2008 1:11 PM

YES!!! If a stadium can't be built in DC, MLS should move the club to Montreal.

Posted by: Hoost | July 24, 2008 1:28 PM
========

How many stops past Metro Center is that?

This thread is for all non-DCU discussion

By Steve Goff | July 24, 2008; 12:00 PM ET

I love how everyone blames Soehn for a horrid display in the month of July.

At the end of the day, we won the one game in july that we actually had to win.

So...
1. DC United crashed out SuperLiga.
2. Lost their July MLS match using as much of a band-aid line-up that we could have possibly used and in conditions that prevents our possession style of play. Who cares?

So what?

We beat Chicago in the US Open Cup. This is it. This is the tournament that we have to win. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We all want to win MLS Cup. But seriously, we don't have the depth to survive the MLS season, MLS Cup, and the Champions League.

When healthy, we have a starting 11 that could win them all, but to end our trophey drought and qualify for the '09/10 Champions League, we've got to win one. And the only one that our depth will allow us to really fight for is the US Open Cup.

As for blaming Soehn?

Who are you kidding?

Is it too much to ask the players to get excited for a game? To show some pride? To show some heart?

We've all seen what this team is capable of. That's the coaching. When the players don't respond, that's the players.

When they're on the field, it's Moreno's responsibility to lead this team. And it's everyone's responsibility to follow his lead. If he doesn't do it, then someone else has a responsibility to step up and do it.

On another note. I just listened to half of the Commish's SOTL speech. One word: BOORRIINNG! Yawn.

Our ticket rep told us that Mc Farlane was in Toronto for MLS business yesterday and flew back to DC last night for the game. For a guy from San Franciso, that doesn't sound disinterested to me.

Is it too much to ask the players to get excited for a game? To show some pride? To show some heart?

Posted by: TCompton | July 24, 2008 1:56 PM
_____________________________________

Isn't it kinda part of the job of a coach to get his players fired up and show some heart when they are lacking that?

Houston's announcers were commenting on exactly this last night in reference to Houston's coach keeping his players fired up.

@ I-270, Exit 1

It's eleven stops -- compared with eight for RFK. It hardly makes a difference for those of us who live within walking distance of Old Georgetown Rd & Tuckerman. But it would be hard for the Virginia crowd.

I think MacFarlane just lacks the voice of someone like Lerner who is capable of getting millions back if DC paints his office the wrong shade of egg shell white.

For fans it is frustrating that while it seems the Nats get everything they want and then some, without paying a cent, we don't even get electricity and we have a lease agreement that keeps the club stuck in the red.

RFK could still be a quality venue if the DC S & E Commission actually cared. If DC United held them to the same standards as the Nats they would be paying us to play at RFK instead of the other way around.

So how bout that Tour Day France stage today?...
Someone should tell Cunego that fake tattoos make it harder to recover from crashes and also create drag...

As for the excuse that we're missing all of our players and thats why we stink. I don't see that excuse being made for the Yankees who are without their best pitcher, their starting left-fielder, and their starting catcher, or when they were missing A-Rod.

Injury = excuse = horribly weak.

Posted by: Hollywood Hogan | July 24, 2008 12:43 PM
--------------------------------
Last time I checked, the Yankees had a wee bit more money than DC United, so affording depth isn't much of an issue for them. You may find it "horribly weak," but we may as well face facts. Losing sucks, but sometimes it happens.

That said, what I don't accept is losing when it looks like your team isn't trying. That part's down to the manager.

1) Hollywood, the fact remains that the Yankees are in third place. If the Yankees were in first place, your point might make sense. But the yankees place on the table is in large part a reflection of the players they have. Same with DCU's 4th place in the table. If lack of quality players really makes no difference, then DCU could expect to win with a bunch of high school players, pay them in orange slices, and make a huge profit and win the MLS Cup every year.

2) Like it or not, no one is going to get fired, not Soehn, not anyone in the FO, no one. Get used to it, DCU mgt is what it is til at least the end of the season.

3) What our season is coming down to is whether any of these new players DCU is going to bring in have talent or not, and if they can mesh with the team.

I'd think the decision to call all the soccer games from NYC is more of a concession to the announcers since Adrian Healey and JP have pretty active careers here with MLS, US Qualifiers and Euro games to call here.

MLS did not shut down for the World Cup, why would the Olympics stop them?

Aside from people being there to actually see the Chinese government point their guns at the cameramen to stop filming the protests and signs in the stadiums, I don't really care if they are calling the games from Winnipeg.

What's the big deal about announcers broadcasting remotely? Many people posting on this blog think they can coach better from their computer than coaches can on the sidelines.

Posted by: BillyBob | July 24, 2008 1:06 PM

Well played, Sir, Well Played!

dadryan, the finish to Le Tour today was so strange. They slowed down so much that the bikes almost fell over. #2 guy was piiiiisssssssssed....

"Adrian Healey and JP have pretty active careers here with MLS, US Qualifiers and Euro games to call here."

"I don't really care if they are calling the games from Winnipeg"
Posted by: AM | July 24, 2008 2:27 PM
--------------------------------------

Great! Now MLS is going to expand to Winnipeg?????? Screw Canada, I say plunk an MLS team in Mexico!!!

They slowed down so much that the bikes almost fell over. #2 guy was piiiiisssssssssed....

Posted by: RK | July 24, 2008 2:51 PM
===========

They were trying to avoid Robert Novak.

As the announcers pointed out the last bit of the race seemed more like something you'd see on a Velodrome.
That being said, I hope to catch some of the Olympic track racing!
You tube has an endless supply of entertaining track racing, and crashing BTW...The Japanes NJS standard stuff is radical!

@Hollywood Hogan -- I am well familiar with the Fenty quote. Hardly a day goes by without someone posting it. If you read my comment, it should be obvious that I thought the poster's comment didn't make sense because he was upset about the power outage -- which falls more in the act of G-d category.

They slowed down so much that the bikes almost fell over. #2 guy was piiiiisssssssssed....

Posted by: RK | July 24, 2008 2:51 PM
===========

They were trying to avoid Robert Novak.

Posted by: I-270, Exit 1 | July 24, 2008 3:02 PM

Ha! Which proves that Novak is no conservative. He would have been in a limo otherwise.

After last night's storm, Haymarket has even MORE open space on which to build a SSS. And I-66 is getting widened to four lanes each way! No brainer, folks. We'd love to have you -- including you tofu-eating soccer fans off of I-270.

Friedel to Aston Villa? Just when Carson moves on, Guzan finds out he's going to understudy Friedel? Or does this put the kibosh on Guzan's Villa move? By the way, I think this makes Villa a contender for European honors.

I was out of the country so I may have missed my chance to rip on this, what's up with the olympic team only picking five defenders, two of which are traffic cones. Caught the Dortmund Munich game yesterday, the 19 year old american starting for dortmund at CB appeared as though he should be getting call ups at least to the U-20's or Olympic set. I heard while in europe that Michael Bradley has demanded to leave Heerenveen; has had a trial with Monaco and big interest at Blackburn, any truth to this. what's the story with Feilhaber and club?In addition while in Europe, I was told that five of the Dallas Texans had left the national champions to join professional teams in europe.. Goff any idea on the validity here.

I was out of the country so I may have missed my chance to rip on this, what's up with the olympic team only picking five defenders, two of which are traffic cones. Caught the Dortmund Munich game yesterday, the 19 year old american starting for dortmund at CB appeared as though he should be getting call ups at least to the U-20's or Olympic set. I heard while in europe that Michael Bradley has demanded to leave Heerenveen; has had a trial with Monaco and big interest at Blackburn, any truth to this. what's the story with Feilhaber and club?In addition while in Europe, I was told that five of the Dallas Texans had left the national champions to join professional teams in europe.. Goff any idea on the validity here.

I was out of the country so I may have missed my chance to rip on this, what's up with the olympic team only picking five defenders, two of which are traffic cones. Caught the Dortmund Munich game yesterday, the 19 year old american starting for dortmund at CB appeared as though he should be getting call ups at least to the U-20's or Olympic set. I heard while in europe that Michael Bradley has demanded to leave Heerenveen; has had a trial with Monaco and big interest at Blackburn, any truth to this. what's the story with Feilhaber and club?In addition while in Europe, I was told that five of the Dallas Texans had left the national champions to join professional teams in europe.. Goff any idea on the validity here.

Plan to be on the Cote d'Azur in the fall. Attended an OM Champs League match last fall - but will have to make it an AS Monaco match this year. Bonne chance Freddy!

tofu-eating soccer fans off of I-270.

Posted by: Joe Doc | July 24, 2008 3:17 PM

I hope those are female tofu eating soccer fans, for I-270's sake.

:)

They were trying to avoid Robert Novak.

Posted by: I-270, Exit 1 | July 24, 2008 3:02 PM
---------------------------------

I just hope he doesn't help out any more of my brothers and sisters in combat.

Friedel to Aston Villa? Just when Carson moves on, Guzan finds out he's going to understudy Friedel? Or does this put the kibosh on Guzan's Villa move? By the way, I think this makes Villa a contender for European honors.

It's eleven stops -- compared with eight for RFK. It hardly makes a difference for those of us who live within walking distance of Old Georgetown Rd & Tuckerman. But it would be hard for the Virginia crowd.

Posted by: Curious | July 24, 2008 2:04 PM

First off, 3 stops is three stops. Wherever you're coming from, it's the same additional stops -- unless you're coming by Amtrak, in which case it could be a blessing.

However, I'm intrigued by the notion of walking distance to Tuckerman and Old G'town. I, too, fit this description. Is there a plan to put in a stadium up here? Maybe we could buy off some land from G'town Prep? I guaranteee 30,000 crowds for every game....

Sorry about the triple post computer has having one. No longer five defenders on the olympic team roster sturgis is out with injury. Now it is 4 defenders 8 mids and 4 forwards. Nowak must be planning to play wynne(tc), parkhurst, Edu, Orozco (cb)across the back. Better not take any injuries back there. Nowak to you I say Booooooo!

including you tofu-eating soccer fans off of I-270.

Posted by: Joe Doc | July 24, 2008 3:17 PM
===============

If I see any of those, I'll run them over - Novak style. I'm proud of my carnivorousness, carnivorehood, carnivicity, whatever.

Nah, I think Novak is secure in a black Corvette convertible, even if he did get chased down by a bicyclist. The Marlena Cooke-style human hood ornament, that's a non-partisan thing. [I heard the guy is alright.] Limos are for librals. To pick up on y'day's thread of lyrics, trees and freedom -- from Joe Jackson --

There was a man in the jungle
Trying to make ends meet
Found himself one day with an axe in his hand
When a voice said Buddy can you spare that tree
We gotta save the world - starting with your land
It was a rock 'n' roll millionaire from the USA
Doing 3 to the gallon in a big white car

I thought I had been following NBC's coverage of the Olympics pretty closely and I had no idea they intended to remotely cover events such as soccer and basketball sometimes.

"...which falls more in the act of G-d category."

Posted by: Fisch Fry | July 24, 2008 3:14 PM

Unless you're from the ACLU, I don't believe that "God" is a curse word. No need for the dash. (This is the Washington Post, not Pravda).

Glad to hear about your carnivorous ways, I-270, Exit 1. On that topic, Five Guys sounds good for dinner tonight...

Wow, I know emotions are running high and everyone is sleep deprived after last night, but you don't follow instructions too well! He said non-DCU topics people!

So, how about that Villareal becoming the new Fulhamerica? Jozy's there, though will probably get sent to some little club for a while, Rossi's made his mark (yes, he's Italian but he's really an American product), and they signed some other America kid too whose name escapes me for a moment.

The more gringos in La Liga the better - a much better class of soccer there most of the time. Of course the housing meltdown may bite into team budgets, but that might be a good thing too since the Spanish teams can get promising Americans cheap!

I thought I had been following NBC's coverage of the Olympics pretty closely and I had no idea they intended to remotely cover events such as soccer and basketball sometimes.

Posted by: sitruc | July 24, 2008 3:51 PM

If NBC plans to do every game on this 'soccer channel', they can't be flying announcers from Chengdu to Beijing to Tianjing every day. It's just not economically feasible or even physically possible unless they had a production crew in every city which is expensive. ESPN/ABC could drive announcers from city to city in Germany pretty easily for 2006WC. There's no HOV lane on the Great Wall of China as far as I know.

Again, after 15 years of watching voiced-over Champions League games on ESPN, I am quite used to this. And I really don't need to see JP Dellacamera's face at 4am any way when I wake up for the games.

Brandon Manzonelli? He's long gone from Villarreal, now with New England.

I thought I had been following NBC's coverage of the Olympics pretty closely and I had no idea they intended to remotely cover events such as soccer and basketball sometimes.

Posted by: sitruc | July 24, 2008 3:51 PM
===========

You were just watching the women's beach volleyball qualifiers. Admit it (I do).

RE: Following instructions. We will write, 100 times, "I will not post off-topic comments on Soccer Insider." Actually, we'll just write it once and post it 100 times.

Just a few more hours until Morning Kickaround.

Unless you're from the ACLU, I don't believe that "God" is a curse word. No need for the dash. (This is the Washington Post, not Pravda).

Posted by: Joe Doc (I-66, Exit 15) | July 24, 2008 4:01 PM
-------------------------------------------

@ JoeDoc:

Writing "G-d" has nothing to do with curse words. It is the traditional Jewish way. We do not say or write the Lord's name. For whatever reason, that tradition has been extended to "G-d" or the Hebrew for "Adonai", which is the Hebrew equivalent.

Speaking of names, are Novak and Nowak the same people?

No, they just signed some kid recently. But now I can't find the story and don't see the name on their website. Must have come from Soccer America?

Speaking of names, are Novak and Nowak the same people?

Posted by: Fisch Fry | July 24, 2008 4:12 PM

==========================

I've never seen them in the same place, so, maybe . . . .

Have they "both" been seen driving black Corvettes?

"Send him to Hospital"

Speaking of signings... I've been trying to find this lately....searching the Web to no avail. Does anyone else remember a young kid, maybe 13 or 15 years old, signing with a Greek club (I think the family was Greek). I think the kid might have been from around the Dallas area. He was highly regarded, and the signing was precedent-setting. I read about at the time in USA Today -- I'm thinking it could've been up to 10 years ago, but I really have no idea. I have no idea what happened to the lad. Anyone have an idea who I mean, and what's become of him?

My education continues. Thanks, Fisch Fry.

BTW... don't forget that the Washington area has three teams at the US Youth Soccer National Championships -- one from Freestate, one from Baltimore and one from McLean.

Liar! I would know about any Americans in La Liga!

Can't find it now, so maybe I was dreaming about that one. But there are definitely two right now at Villareal. And we met Javi Venta the other day and he said he played with Ante Razov in Coruna ... but that was a while ago. Now that's the guy we need at left back for DCU ... oops! There I go breaking the rules!

To clarify previous: I meant we could use Javi Venta, not Ante Razov, though at this point my U15 girls have a great defensive line and they're available.

You were at Villarreal? Why?

Sorry for shameless name-dropping but was quite exciting, actually. We were visiting family in Spain (but not Valencia), and he is a distant cousin, from same home town, his family close friends of our family, etc... Very nice guy in fact and very solid player. And so much thinner in real life than they look on TV.

i am a die hard dc fan..
but if they make the stadium in PG county.. IF..
im not going all the way there.
i live in NOVA..
they should move to northern virginia

Fisch, you thinking of Gus Kartes? I think he may have been from Florida, not Texas, but does that ring a bell?

Cool. Hope you brought una pierna de jamon home.

No longer five defenders on the olympic team roster sturgis is out with injury.
=========================================

Soccer America reports that Sturgis' replacement is Dax McCarty.

i live in NOVA..
they should move to northern virginia

Posted by: | July 24, 2008 4:50 PM
======================

impeccable logic

One jamon??? We brought two! And a whole queso manchego plus dulce!

One jamon??? We brought two! And a whole queso manchego plus dulce!

Posted by: Yellow Submarine | July 24, 2008 5:05 PM
-----------------------

We be jamon! We be jamon!

Washington Freedom to stay at SoccerPlex next year when WPS starts up. The lights work there.

http://www.gazette.net/stories/072308/kensspo192803_32356.shtml

Posted by: OWNTF | July 24, 2008 1:03 PM
=========================================

Is this entirely a good thing? I believe the other major tenant, Real Maryland, is going ahead with plans to move to a high school field that is closer to public transit, the expansion of the Plex notwithstanding. Perhaps they, not the Freedom, are making the right move.

@ I-270, Exit 1

It's eleven stops -- compared with eight for RFK. It hardly makes a difference for those of us who live within walking distance of Old Georgetown Rd & Tuckerman. But it would be hard for the Virginia crowd.

Posted by: Curious | July 24, 2008 2:04 PM
==========================================

I thought I-270 was asking about Montreal, not Greenbelt. In any event, three extra stops (11 vs. 8) applies to anyone going through Metro Center, regardless of whether they are coming from MD or VA.

We be jamon! We be jamon!

Posted by: Joe Doc | July 24, 2008 5:10 PM

Jamon Oeste Unidos?

MJ -- Thanks for the answer. Yes, it must have been Kartes. I see things didn't work out at Olympiakos or in the MLS (and even MISL), but that he might be back in Greece? Hopefully, it's not too late to realize all that potential he had at 15.

Real Maryland is not a major tenant, the major tenants are the clubs who play league and tournament games there at $300 per game. Plex probably makes more money on any random Saturday Real Maryland pays them in an entire season.

I doubt Freedom is going to play on artificial turf anywhere, especially when their owner also runs the Plex. Maybe they'll move over to Greenbelt in due time.

Greenbelt will be nice, you'll see!

I'd think the decision to call all the soccer games from NYC is more of a concession to the announcers since Adrian Healey and JP have pretty active careers here with MLS, US Qualifiers and Euro games to call here.
=========================================

If NBC can do it, why not the Post? We should be able to look forward to match reports by the Goffer, watching the games on TV from the Post newsroom.

@ tri-village:

The Freedom and Real Maryland are definitely aiming at different audiences. Freedom's crowd is minivan-driving suburbanites. Real Maryland appeals more to Hispanics and young white males, who will be much more likely to take Metro, if they can.

PS -- from Real Maryland game report of last night's game at the Plex:

After two weather delays and three and a half hours, Real Maryland fell 2-1 to the Bermuda Hogges in their final home game of the season. The game was ended in the 76th minute because the stadium lights are required by law to be shut off at 11:45pm.

I guess the lights work only until the appointed hour.

You were just watching the women's beach volleyball qualifiers. Admit it (I do).

Posted by: I-270, Exit 1 | July 24, 2008 4:08 PM

I watched them, but I normally watch the women of the AVP tour and this year I watched more of the European tour. Plus, I watched other trials as well. I watched all of the swim & dive and gymnastics and was mostly interested in track & field. I watch them all for the love of sport and not just their performance enhancing uniforms...

Good Luck Queen

Dax to the Olympics? Cool. I think that fiery little ginger is gonna make a heck of a footballer someday.
Who is the entertainment @ the "allstar game" and are the Toronto fans actually boycotting the game and wearing black or whatever they had cooked up?

thought I-270 was asking about Montreal, not Greenbelt.

Posted by: tri-village | July 24, 2008 5:23 PM
==================

Yes. I was sarcastically asking about Montreal being on the Metro as that seems to be a common complaint about any potential stadium sites. I guess I forgot the :-)

Perhaps this will help:

http://www.stm.info/English/metro/a-index.htm

don't stress, I-270, most of us got it. And to answer your question: 9 metro stops, a short plane ride and a cab. No problem.

I just heard on the MLS all star game that Kenny Cooper will be heading overseas, that he could have a contract signed as soon as tomorrow, I didn't catch the team. Does anybody know

These black and blue All Star unis look like the San Jose expansion team.

We're play a quality opponent - arguably one of the top 4 teams in London.

MLS will never be taken seriously til the All Stars each get to wear their own team's uniforms in the game like they do in the baseball version of the game.

Christian Gomez is having a very nice game. I can understand why everyone here except for the "Our Front Office Cannot Possibly Err" posse feels a lot of regret over losing him over something so piddling as a third guaranteed year. Bad move, especially when a storied cripple like Gallardo was his much more expensive replacement.

I wrote that BEFORE his great finish. Gomez 1, DC 0.

I hate Blanco, but that was a nice looking goal

I just heard on the MLS all star game that Kenny Cooper will be heading overseas, that he could have a contract signed as soon as tomorrow, I didn't catch the team. Does anybody know

I think they said Rosenborg in Norway

Christian Gomez still doesn't deserve to be on the DCU roster.

¡Viva Gómez!

¡Abajo Payne!

So I guess there will be no punishment for Blanco.

I did love the Toronto's fans throwing the streamers at the Comish

So I guess there will be no punishment for Blanco.

I did love the Toronto's fans throwing the streamers at the Comish

¡Viva Gómez!

¡Abajo Payne!

Due to the Emilio snub, I'm rooting for WHU, not the MLS All-Stars.

Anyone else?

I broke my promise and turned on the game. Where are the vast sections of black-shirted fans? A see a few scattered here and there, but no large anti-stadim sharing protest.

West Ham, I'm sure, values your principled stand. Snicker.

No tears for Emilio here.

Besides, he's not Canadian.

Due to the Emilio snub, I'm rooting for WHU, not the MLS All-Stars.

Anyone else?

Posted by: United fan in TN | July 24, 2008 8:32 PM
================

I'm rooting for the thunderstorms. In fact, I'm wearing a poncho right now. It's the closest thing to the team jersey.

Talk about really sticking it to DCU.

First, no DCU player is selected to the All-Star team.

Second, Blanco isn't punished for punching Simms or headbutting DCU official.

Third, Volkswagon (sponsor of MLS All-Star MVP award) gives MLS All-Star MVP Award to Blanco.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I know there's some irony in there somewhere.

"Blanco isn't punished for punching Simms or headbutting DCU official."

According to Goffman, the USSF will take action soon and MLS might do the same.

Christian Gomez is having a very nice game. I can understand why everyone here except for the "Our Front Office Cannot Possibly Err" posse feels a lot of regret over losing him over something so piddling as a third guaranteed year. Bad move, especially when a storied cripple like Gallardo was his much more expensive replacement.
Posted by: Mastodon Juan | July 24, 2008 7:48 PM
========
I said it before and now you became a united fan. Congrats!!!

I kept my promise. I went to dinner with my friends and had fun. I didn't waste my time supporting garber and bspn food supply. FU mls allstrached game whatever happened or should I DON'T CARE.

So...um, MLS won 3-2.

I missed the game because I had two of my own tonight. I heard that 2 more MLS teams promised in 2011?

With Juan Toja apparently headed to Bucharest http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=832118.html
and Kenny Cooper very close to a transfer to Rosenburg, I wonder what players FC Dallas' new coach might be thinking of bringing on. He'll have some money from those transfers.

Yep, two more teams by 2011, in addition to Philly and Seattle. I remember Garber mentioning Montreal, Vancouver, Atlanta, New York, Portland and St. Louis. No Vegas mention.

The funniest thing about the streamers getting thrown at Garber was his response,"someone's about to get thrown out of the stadium." What a dork.
Then what's his name whips the thing back at the crowd and apparently by his claim nailed someone in the head!
I didn't really "watch" as they were visiting the playboy mansion on last comic standing.
I doubt MLS is gonna punish Blanco, although they really should. I soooooo wish Chicago had another scheduled game in DC this season... Maybe we'll see them in the Playoffs.
ONE LAST QUESTION: Does anyone know exactly where in Greenbelt or elswhere that the proposed stadium would be built?
I would like to start google earthin' the area and plan my ride routes...Is it in walking distance of a metro stop?
I wish Metro would dedicate some cars to carrying bicycles during rush hour. It's kind of a slap in the face that you can't bring your bike on all the time. If they did, I bet they'd get even more ridership.
Thanks

I thought the All Star match was entertaining and well played, despite the absence of Emilio. The MLS players showed good familiarity with one another and were able to connect with blind passes several times, despite having little or no "practice time." And yes, like him or not, Blanco is a player.

Yep, two more teams by 2011, in addition to Philly and Seattle. I remember Garber mentioning Montreal, Vancouver, Atlanta, New York, Portland and St. Louis. No Vegas mention.

Posted by: Bill in Md. | July 24, 2008 10:35 PM

The Great Garbu did mention Vegas and Ottawa (whatever) in his State of the League address.

I am not sure how they can put a second team in New York when they don't have the first one there yet.

I am totally unconvinced there are enough Yankee and Canuck players to fill two more teams, much less four in four years, but we can beat that thought to death over the next 3 years of blogging.

My money's on Montreal and New York -- not because they'd be the best markets, but because the ownership groups -- the money -- it's all there. And when Shea Stadium goes down -- that's the perfect time to start work on a SSS...before anyone comes up with plans for the land.

There definitely are not enough good North American players for the teams we have now -- much less for 4 more teams. Heck, just look at DC's bench.

The league is going to have to seriously invest in internationals. That means a big jump up in the salary cap, plus another DP. Teams will need the two DPs. It's hard to bring in one player -- but if you hold out the prospect of adding other talented players, then maybe you've got more of a shot. Otherwise, the only DPs we're going to attract to the league are players like Gallardo -- players who've decided their competitive career is basically over and want to extend it a bit by coming over here.

Mind you, the supporters sections are going to have to be really loud to compete with the planes that fly over Shea...

Aahhhh Jet fuel fall out....
It does wonders for the skin!

A lot may not be going well for our DC United lately and last night it all seemed to come to a boil.

But tonight I go to bed a happy man - the all star game highlighted some of the most creative soccer I've seen played in MLS lately, but better yet this thread has again showcased the wittiest fans in the League. Thank you!

Here's a link to a Reuter's story on Freddy Adu. http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/sports/sports-olympics-soccer-adu.html

By the way, did anyone see the Daily Show a couple of nights ago? Will Ferrell was on. A few of the blogs have written it up, saying he was wearing a Chelsea jersey. Here's my question about it -- it's definitely Chelsea blue, but the sponsor logo emblazoned across the chest is "Fly Emirates" -- Did Emirates sponsor Chelsea before signing on to Arsenal?

There definitely are not enough good North American players for the teams we have now -- much less for 4 more teams. Heck, just look at DC's bench.

The league is going to have to seriously invest in internationals. That means a big jump up in the salary cap, plus another DP. Teams will need the two DPs. It's hard to bring in one player -- but if you hold out the prospect of adding other talented players, then maybe you've got more of a shot. Otherwise, the only DPs we're going to attract to the league are players like Gallardo -- players who've decided their competitive career is basically over and want to extend it a bit by coming over here.

Posted by: Fisch Fry | July 24, 2008 11:15 PM

*******************************

Might as well toss Blanco, Beckham or JP Angel into the mix.

All are past their prime but still (like Gallardo) able to contribute when healthy.

As far as salary cap issues, raising the minimum salaries is as important as allowing teams more DP signings. It might help keep some of our better college players interested in pursuing MLS careers. Another DP per team won't help team depth nearly as much as having a few more decent but relatively cheap ($35K - $100K) players per team.

Curious,

that Reuters article about Adu is by Brian Homewood who seems to just summarize other articles for the international English reading market. I doubt he has any more insight into Adu's career trajectory than the average American soccer fan does.

I found tonight's game entertaining and mostly well played. But it's a bit depressing when the league kind of brags about losing young talent in the middle of the season.

pic of Ferrell in Chelsea Jersey
http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/IMG_1160_mm.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chelsea_F.C.
Chelsea's kit is currently manufactured by Adidas, which is contracted to supply the club's kit from 2006 to 2011. Their previous kit manufacturer was Umbro. Chelsea's first shirt sponsor was Gulf Air, agreed midway through the 1983-84 season. Following that, the club were sponsored by Grange Farms, Bai Lin tea and Italian company Simod before a long-term deal was signed with computer manufacturer Commodore International in 1989; Amiga, an off-shoot of Commodore, also appeared on the shirts. Chelsea were subsequently sponsored by Coors beer (1995-97), Autoglass (1997-2001) and Emirates Airline (2001-05). Chelsea's current shirt sponsor is Samsung

"As far as salary cap issues, raising the minimum salaries is as important as allowing teams more DP signings. It might help keep some of our better college players interested in pursuing MLS careers. Another DP per team won't help team depth nearly as much as having a few more decent but relatively cheap ($35K - $100K) players per team."

This deserves repeating. MLS needs to pay the average reserve more than what they could make bagging groceries. If one of the main goals of the league is to develop the american footballing talent base then we need to give talented young athletes a realistic aim if their goal is to become a professional soccer player. 20K a year or whatever guys like Pat Carroll are making is a joke. Who can afford to make the kind of sacrifice that is required from a professional athlete for that pathetic wage?

Pay all squad players a legit wage, invest in youth acadamies based on proven euro and brazillian models (hell, invest in euro and brazillian youth coaches while you're at it), create more parks and free fields at the local level to promote a culture of play for children... all these together are needed to create a deep national talent pool, but any one of them would be a step in the right direction.

My wife and I represented DC UNITED in Toronto tonight. We were both in our jerseys!

Fisch Fry:

Peter Philipakos. I believe he had a trial with NY, and has vanished off the face of the earth. Or, according to Wikipedia, plays for Ethnikos Piraeus of the Greek 2nd division.

Yellow Submarine:

You should work your family connections to get Venta to come over here. I have had a soft spot for Villarreal for 4-5 years now (thanks to Championship Manager).

Mastodon Juan:

I can see keeping Gomez and not signing Gallardo, but not on the terms Gomez wanted. DP money for 3 guaranteed years to a 33 year old? No team in MLS should be willing to do something like that. The mistake was being so public about going after Veron during the negotiations. I bet Gomez would have been willing to sign for fewer guaranteed years if we weren't also openly shopping around for his replacement (and a bigger-name, DP replacement at that). That's where I see the mistake. Then again, I also think Gallardo is being undervalued by most people because his style is much more subtle than we're used to seeing on these shores.

Dadryan:

I have no inside information, but I do know Greenbelt. The best spot would be next to the federal courthouse, at the intersection of Kenilworth Rd. and Cherry Hill Rd. There would need to be significant infrastructure work done (namely, adding lanes to both roads), but there's nothing there aside from woods. This location is no further from the Metro stop than RFK is from Stadium-Armory. The nearest place to get a beer is the 3 Brothers inside gorgeous Beltway Plaza Mall, which is about 3/4 of a mile away. Otherwise, you can take Metro one stop down to College Park and walk much further to the CP bars and play "Spot the underage girl who got in anyway".

Needless to say, it's an area I know well.

On the player pool, salary cap, etc.:

I agree with AM that the pool is not ready to stock 4 more teams over the next 3 years. Quality of play, for me, has plateaued after an obvious jump last year. This is in part because San Jose decided that MLS journeymen and developmental players were good enough and didn't grab anyone aside from Cannon and Garcia that can play (O'Brien hasn't been since before he tore his ACL). If Seattle, Philly, and mystery teams #17 and 18 are not run by idiots, the pool will be severely stretched.

However, I will join the herd siding with garbaggio on how to handle the raising of the cap. We don't need 15 world class (or "were once world class") players; we need like 80 quality players. Think of players ranging from Burch to Martinez. You can't build a franchise around them individually, but you can build a great core if you get 5 or 6 of them. And of course, the guys at the bottom need to be making at least $30K. If we up the wages, MLS could perform a league-wide raid on USL teams and grab up the guys that are down there primarily because they get a better wage than they would in MLS. As the Open Cup has proven for the past couple years, there are usually at least 4 guys on any USL team that could be solid contributors for MLS teams (and often, more than 4). Looking for internationals is obvious, but it would be foolish for MLS to not aggressively pursue good players that are playing within our country (sorry, Bob and Doug, countries).

While we're playing with the money of millionaires, I also believe the roster needs to have more senior spots. DC is going to play, at minimum, 46 competitive games this year (30 in MLS, 4 in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, at least 3 in the Open Cup, 3 in the Superliga, 6 in the CONCACAF Champions League), and an MLS Cup run will take that to 50 or 51 (depending on the Open Cup). Even if all 10 developmental players turn out to be contributors, that's a ton of games. How about expanding the senior roster to 25 players, meaning a total roster of 35? If the average wages for those 7 new spots are, say, $50K, you're talking a $350K cap raise. The developmental wages, if doubled, add about $150K more. That's not even the massive raise many have called for; it's just half a million.

(Yes, I have one more thing to say. Sorry about the excessive commentary)

P.S. When did JP Dellacamera transform into an MLS celebrity hunter? He has become more grating than Galaxy superfan Max Bretos at this point. Amongst his many crimes during the All Star Game happened when the crowd began very clearly chanting "We want Brennan" and Dellacamera somehow heard it as "We want Landon".

Dellacamera used to be a reasonable announcer with some homer tendencies. Nowadays, I bet his favorite thing to watch is any MLS-produced commercial. Honestly, can we hire someone better than a fanboy to do PBP for a national broadcast?

Dadryan and Chest Rockwell, regarding Greenbelt stadium location:

I think the proposed Greenbelt location for the stadium is actually at the Greenbelt Metro station. Petrie Ross has secured plans to redevelop the large parking lot into a mixed use development (named Greenbelt Station) that would be right off the Beltway. The Greenbelt city council opposes the addition of a stadium, favoring upscale retail that was originally planned in the development.

Here's a link showing an original concept plan, with the shopping core (and the Beltway) being to the right, which is actually North:

http://www.greenbeltstation.com/concept-plan-detail.html

choateward:

Thanks for the link. I mixed up Cherrywood and Cherry Hill, like I always do.

I'm not sure who would shop at upscale retail in Greenbelt. This site is directly across the street from the Agricultural Center, which has no housing. There isn't a wealthy area close to there that isn't closer to existing shopping centers targeted to them.

I propose a name change from Soccer Insider to DC United Insider but you can still write non-DCU or hire a new person who is dedicated to DC United Insider.

Chest Rockwell:

Definitely will be working on the Villareal/Javi Venta thing. He just signed a new two-year deal, so might not be for a couple of seasons yet.

Garbaggio:

Have to defend Brian Homewood here. He may not be fully up on Freddy or American soccer, but he has been covering South American sports, especially futbol, from Rio for at least 20 years, so he knows his stuff. He appears to be based in Buenos Aires now.

arlington, why?

Because when I see the blog list on the post I see every team has their own name with insider but DC United. I think DCU more than deserve one with its own name.

The United or The DC United. I know that bothers some people quite a bit. You know what is worse. The MLS.

The National Football League
The National Hockey League

MLB does not go by:

The Major League Baseball.

Neither should MLS go by The Major League Soccer. If it were like many outside the US call it. Major Soccer League, then you could get away with calling it THE MSL. However "The MLS" bothers me.

I thought about this for quite a bit last night (yes I was bored). Now that I'm talking about it, Major League Soccer is one of the dumbest names for a league they could have come up with. I'm not trying to go all Euro here, but MLS was a poor choice.

How are they going to do scheduling with 18 (or more) teams? I don't think that they'll go home-and-home for 34 games. They will have to have an unbalanced schedule, which would reduce travel but then you wouldn't get to see every team every year.

Vancouver wants to play at BC Place?? What a horrible venue.

@ arlington4united | July 25, 2008 7:28 AM

I think a name change would do injustice to Steve who covers much more than DC United. He has broken many MLS, USA, and Americans abroad stories.

I get what you're saying about the other WP blogs, but I would remind you (with some degree of elitism in my tone) that our blog "community" has broader soccer interests than just DC United and broader overall interests than soccer that make this a very interesting blog. It's not what DC United deserves, it what the readers deserve.

Steve Nash last night on ESPN called the league "the MLS."

Arlington4United, I think Goffinho's got a good thing going here. If you look at blogs, in terms of number of comments per thread, he has a hyper level of activity.

He's becoming known around the country as the top soccer reporter. I don't think it would make any sense to put DC United, even though DCU is a focal point of his coverage.

Barrett to Toronto FC confirmed

hahaha

Withdrawn :) I know Steve is not only known in the country but spreading around the world too and I get that we have a broad readers here but still annoying.

I cringed a bit my self when Nash did The The bit, I guess we should cut him a little slack he is Canadian after all...
You have got to love cities with very relaxed ganja policy!
I remember being amazed at security simply telling the blunt smoking kids in the concourse to take it outside to the "smoking section" at the Slam City Jam years ago...
Who's ready for the road trip to Seattle!?!?!?!?
They don't call it Emerald city for nothing!
I get cotton mouth just thinking about the tailgate...

Slam city is/was an annual skateboard contest in Vancouver.

@Hollywood Hogan -- I am well familiar with the Fenty quote. Hardly a day goes by without someone posting it. If you read my comment, it should be obvious that I thought the poster's comment didn't make sense because he was upset about the power outage -- which falls more in the act of G-d category.

Posted by: Fisch Fry | July 24, 2008 3:14 PM

What?!? I had nothing to do with it. Why do you people keep blaming me for this crap, go ask Mother Nature why she did that its HER business not mine. Just becasue something happens doesn't mean I did it. And quit asking me to damn everything! I'm busy can't you see?

@ Posted by: GOD | July 25, 2008 10:04 AM

Dad, It's Friday. Can I borrow the car tonight? I'm just going out with my 12 buddies.

steve-o, you aren't alone. That kind of thing ("The MLS") bothers me, too. Like ATM machine. Argh!

i dont care where u r i just care that dc is losing and theres nothin i can do about it.

i dont care where u r i just care that dc is losing and theres nothin i can do about it.