RBNY
Soccer Potpourri
MLS
- Grant Wahl: Six reasons why the Red Bulls are MLS’ most intriguing story
- Jason Davis: Increasing the Pressure in Major League Soccer
- Avi Creditor: In ever-changing MLS landscape, the RSL way remains constant
- Soccer Newsday: Has the Market Called Time on Chivas USA?
- Devin Pleuler: Possession trends and what they say about Major League Soccer
Interesting Reads
- Tom Dunmore: A Bohemian Footprint: Supporting American Soccer Nationwide
- Footiebusiness: What American Soccer Can Learn from Japan – an older post, but worth a read.
- Barney Ronay: It takes all sorts to be a football journalist – so now we’re all at it
- Free Beer Movement: Taking the Longer View of MLS, the National Teams, and American Soccer
- Guardian: England risk falling to third in Uefa coefficient rankings
- Best Eleven: FIFA Confederation Ranking Comparison – March 2013
The Business of Soccer
The Dark Side
- Associated Press: Egyptian soccer federation torched
Tournaments
- Jonathan Wilson: The Question: is the away-goals rule counterproductive?
- Guardian: Champions League: how has dominance changed hands between Europe’s top leagues?
- UEFA Champions League: UCL round of 16 concludes
- Europa League: Europa League Update
- CONCACAF Champions League: CCL semifinals set
MLS Stuff
MLS
- Central Winger: Draft remains an undervalued tool in MLS
- J Hutcherson: What Major League Soccer Needs in 2013
- WV Hooligan: MLS and USL-PRO Talking Partnership – I love this move. It’s something I’ve commented on in the past. Make so much sense, which makes it almost surprising that MLS is going for it, given their penchant for questionable past developmental decision.
- Philly Soccer Page: MLS-USL deal is huge for American pro soccer
- SoccerLens: How MLS can help North America’s lack of passion for football – An interesting read with a good comment thread.
- J Hutcherson: MLS and the Ideal of an American Soccer Club
- US Soccer Players: Five Items Every MLS Club Needs
MLS Stadium Blues in Bridgeview
- Footiebusiness: Money Troubles in Chicago
- Chicago Tribune: Soccer stadium deal kicks Bridgeview taxpayers in the teeth
- Heartland: Small Town Gets Big-League Debt with Stadium Deal
- Chicago Tribune: Bridgeview slides further into debt to support stadium
The MLS 500 Club – Metrostars/Red Bull
The charter clubs of MLS are crossing the 500 regular season games played threshold this season. This is the fifth in the 9 part series with all time records in league play.
Soccer Potpourri
MLS
- World Soccer Reader: MLS Team by Team Preview – One team a day. I’m a day behind, 2nd post already up, just look for it and bookmark the site for the rest of the previews.
- Red Bulls: The New York Red Bulls and the Homegrown Player Rule: Expectations Meet Reality
- Brian Quarstad: Integrating MLS Reserve League into America’s Lower Divisions – Part 1 – Integrating MLS Reserve League into America’s Lower Divisions – Part 2
- Hot Time in Old Town: How have the other MLS teams done in the off-season? Part 1: East Coast – How have the other MLS teams done in the off-season? Part 2: Central and Mountain
- Guardian: MLS: Where 1,000 miles is a short trip for away supporters
Interesting Reads
- FootballFanCast.com: Does the Premier League have this duty to all its members?
- David Hills: Said and Done
Tournaments
- UEFA Champions League: UCL round of 16 continues
Soccer Potpourri
Guests in town, so don’t expect any posts for the next 9 days.
MLS
- The Guardian: Tim Ream and the MLS to EPL journey
- Hot Time in Old Town: How the Fire’s New Sponsor Deal Compares to Other MLS Clubs
- Brian Lewis: Red Bulls explore residence academy
Interesting Reads
- David Conn: Uefa’s fair play rules will help clubs rein in spending
- J Hutcherson: UEFA And The Fairness Of Transfer Fees
- US Soccer Players: What American Soccer Fans Should Be Watching
- SI.com: Relegation is part of K-League overhaul
Tournaments
- African Cup of Nations
- FA Cup: FA Cup Update
- Olympics: US Women qualify for Olympics
Soccer Potpourri
MLS
- RBNY: Red Bulls to receive 2/3 of sale of Tim Ream – Good for a better understanding of transfer money
- Zach Woosley: MLS 101: New Player Drafts, Generation Adidas, Trades, Waivers and Roster Exceptions
- Seth Vertelney: For young American players, signing with MLS isn’t always the best option
Interesting Reads
- John Godfrey: Player Ratings: One Man’s Rules
- Josh Brodesky: Tucson soccer goes for big goal: Sonora fans
- Grant Wahl: Life in Mexico a very different experience for three U.S. players
- Leander Schaerlaeckens: How to improve U.S. soccer
- David Hills: Said and Done
- CONCACAF: Average FIFA Ranking Table 1993-2012
- Turkey: Choas reigns as Turkish Super League under scrutiny
For Fun
- Jeff Maurer: Write your own ‘D.C. United signed a striker’ story
The Business of Soccer
- ESPNSoccernet: UEFA reveals €1.6bn losses for clubs
Take Me Out to the Playoffs – Quarterfinals Leg 2
Welcome to the 3rd edition of ‘Take Me Out to the Playoffs’. If you are adventurous, try out my new player statistics pages, but remember it’s a work in progress. All feedback will be greatly appreciated. And for historical regular season attendance records, try MLS Attendance.
The playoff numbers look like this…
| 5 year comparison | ||||||
| Quarterfinals – 1st Leg | ||||||
| Avg | +/- | Home Teams | ||||
| 2007 | 14,245 | Chicago | Dallas | Kansas City | RBNY | |
| 2008 | 10,476 | -26.46% | Kansas City | New England | RBNY | RSL |
| 2009 | 19,985 | 90.77% | Chivas USA | New England | RSL | Seattle |
| 2010 | 17,230 | -13.78% | Colorado | Dallas | San Jose | Seattle |
| 2011 | 16,718 | -2.98% | Colorado | Philadelphia | RSL | RBNY |
| Quarterfinals – 2nd Leg | ||||||
| Avg | +/- | Home Teams | ||||
| 2007 | 19,838 | New England | Chivas USA | Houston | DC United | |
| 2008 | 19,444 | -1.99% | Chicago | Columbus | Houston | Chivas USA |
| 2009 | 21,526 | 10.71% | Chicago | Columbus | Houston | Los Angeles |
| 2010 | 19,871 | -7.69% | Salt Lake | Columbus | New York | Los Angeles |
| 2011 | 24,834 | 24.97% | Houston | Kansas City | Los Angeles | Seattle |
| Quarterfinals Totals(both legs) | ||||||
| Avg | +/- | Teams | ||||
| 2007 | 17,041 | CHI, CHV, DAL, DCU, HOU, KC, NE, RBNY | ||||
| 2008 | 14,960 | -12.22% | CHI, CHV, CLB, HOU, KC, NE, RBNY, RSL | |||
| 2009 | 20,755 | 38.74% | CHI, CHV, CLB, HOU, LA, NE, RSL, SEA | |||
| 2010 | 18,551 | -10.62% | CLB, COL, DAL, LA, RBNY, RSL, SJ, SEA | |||
| 2011 | 20,776 | 11.99% | COL, HOU, LA, PHL, RBNY, RSL, SEA, SKC | |||
| Home Playoff Games History | |||
| Teams with Home Games in 2011 | |||
| GP | Avg | < 10,000 | |
| Colorado | 16 | 10,162 | 10 |
| Dallas | 17 | 10,558 | 7 |
| Houston | 7 | 26,268 | 0 |
| Kansas City | 15 | 9,867 | 6 |
| Los Angeles | 25 | 19,895 | 1 |
| New York | 13 | 13,886 | 1 |
| Philadelphia | 1 | 18,539 | 0 |
| Real Salt Lake | 5 | 16,523 | 0 |
| Seattle | 3 | 35,783 | 0 |
Observations
Take Me Out to the Playoffs – Quarterfinals Leg 1
Welcome to the 3rd edition of ‘Take Me Out to the Playoffs’.
The playoff numbers look like this…
| 5 year comparison | ||||||
| Conference Semifinals – 1st Leg | ||||||
| Avg | +/- | Home Teams | ||||
| 2007 | 14,245 | Chicago | Dallas | Kansas City | RBNY | |
| 2008 | 10,476 | -26.46% | Kansas City | New England | RBNY | RSL |
| 2009 | 19,985 | 90.77% | Chivas USA | New England | RSL | Seattle |
| 2010 | 17,230 | -13.78% | Colorado | Dallas | San Jose | Seattle |
| 2011 | 16,718 | -2.98% | Colorado | Philadelphia | RSL | RBNY |
| Home Playoff Games History | |||
| Teams with Home Games in 2011 | |||
| Includes 2011 | |||
| GP | Avg | < 10,000 | |
| Colorado | 16 | 10,162 | 10 |
| Dallas | 17 | 10,558 | 7 |
| Houston | 6 | 26,521 | 0 |
| Kansas City | 14 | 9,245 | 6 |
| Los Angeles | 24 | 19,891 | 1 |
| New York | 13 | 13,886 | 1 |
| Philadelphia | 1 | 18,539 | 0 |
| Real Salt Lake | 4 | 16,388 | 0 |
| Seattle | 2 | 35,664 | 0 |
Observations
Soccer Potpourri
MLS
- Grant Wahl: MLS’ biggest disappointment may be New York’s Red Bulls – Not ‘may be’ in my estimation, definitely.
Interesting Reads
- Jeff Carlisle: U.S. team hoping Corona heads north – Corona wasn’t selected for the upcoming 2 game cycle
Around the World
- In the ‘You don’t read that everyday’ category: Turkish champions ask to be demoted amid match-fixing allegations
- Spain: Spanish football strike called off
- Europe: European Soccer Teams Face Host of Financial Woes
- Debate: Is football pricing out the real fans?
Tourneys
- Copa Sudamericana: Sao Paulo go through
- CONCACAF Champions League: MLS teams are undefeated through two group stage rounds
- UEFA Champions League: Group Stage Draw
World Cups, League Strikes, etc
MLS
- J Hutcherson: Playing In The CCL – A Good Read
When 140 Characters Doesn’t Quite Cut It
- @TheVipersNest: Gonna say this and probably get people violently disagreeing with me, but if @TheNYCosmos want to join #MLS a groundshare at RBA makes sense
It only makes sense for the owners’ pocketbooks. Queens is the place for the team from the start. I say that as something that grew up in the area and despite the enormous obstacles in getting any project started in the Metro area, the Cosmos, should they actually ever field a team, should set their stake as close as possible to their permanent home, and Harrison is not that.
Around the World
- La Liga: Spanish season delayed after players, officials fail to strike deal
- Serie A: Serie A Postpones Talks to Avoid Players Strike
Tourneys
- No Short Corners: Portugal v Brasil in U20 World Cup Final
- WC14-CONCACAF: Bahamas withdraws from 2014 World Cup qualifying!
- WC14: Syria Disqualified From 2014 World Cup
- Copa Sudaméricana: LDU advances