KC Wizards
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
Midweek MLS, CCL Champs League
MLS
- KC Wizards: Wizards wonder win in 97th minute The Wizards are now 3 points back of Seattle for the last playoff spot with a game in hand. Seattle hold the tiebreaker(head to head) with a 1-0 win at Qwest. The two meet on Oct 9 in KC
- Dallas: FCD’s unbeaten string continues with stoppage time goal
Club Tournaments
- CONCACAF: Champions League Results – Seattle loses, RSL wins in group phase 4th round. Columbus and RSL lead their respective groups after 4 rounds.
- Asian Champions League
- Copa Sudamerica
Interesting Reads
- If you read a lot of articles about soccer, and let’s face it, you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t, you’ve often seen pieces done in the US on why MLS clubs don’t take the US Open Cup or CONCACAF Champions League seriously. Fielding weakened teams is often the case as clubs put a priority on league play. Well, it was good to run into this piece on the same issue for English Premier Clubs: It’s Time for Premier League to Take the Carling Cup More Seriously
News and Views – Mon-Tues Aug 30-31
MLS
- Week 22 Attendance Report
- Footiebusiness: The updated Adidas deal
- Kansas City: Wizards sign home grown keeper
- Philadelphia: Union sign D-M Williams
Club Tournaments
Interesting Reads
- CONCACAF: CONCACAF To Change World Cup Qualifying - How the Change hurts the Azteca
- Luis Bueno: New CONCACAF Qualifying Proposal Levels Playing Field
- USSF D2: Week 21 Review
Player Moves
- A flurry of moves as the summer transfer window closed. Some ‘big name’ movers… Camoranesi, Gudjohnson, Van der Vaart, Robinho, Pennant,
- Goal.com’s Transfer page
The Business of Soccer
- Transfer fees in the UK
- Michel Platini Set To Level The European Playing Field With New Spending Rules
After the Weekend Aug 28-29
MLS
- Week 22 Attendance Report
- Highlights: Henry gets first MLS goal, Dallas set away game record, Gals still faltering, Wizards still trying, Seattle surging
- MLS’ers head for International duty
- Goal.com on a couple of players coming into their own: Dane Richards – Kei Kamara
- Adidas deal extended, enhanced
Club Tournaments
Interesting Reads
- Real Madrid: The Special One and Real Madrid
- David Hills: Said and Done – A weekly column
- Two former USL-1 teams compete for USL-2 title. Charleston beats Richmond.
- The transfer window from a player’s point of view
- League tables just a click away
- Central American roundup
Player Moves
News and Views from Fri Aug 13
MLS
- WV Hooligan: Weekend preview
- Wizards: Kansas City Sign Omar Bravo, Then Loan Him Out
- Dallas: FC Dallas signs Brasilian Jackson on loan
- Why Mexican stars are coming to MLS
- RSL: RSL loans US youth starlet Luis Gil to AC St Louis
- DC United: D.C. United signs local player Conor Shanosky
- Rapids: Colin Clark to miss the rest of season with torn left ACL. This is the 2nd year in a row that Clark’s season has ended prematurely
US Pyramid
- USSF D2 Professional League Standards by Brian Quarstad. Probably spells the end for D2 in Phoenix for the foreseeable future.
- USSF D2: D2 preview
Around the World
- EPL: The Guardian’s EPL preview
- Tottenham: Tottenham Sign Honduran Starlet Anthony Lozano
- Beckham: Beckham Finally Finding A Balance
- Spartak Moscow: McGeady joins Spartak Moscow from Celtic
- Rangers: James Beattie joins Rangers
- Lyon: Monthly salaries
- Italy: Crisis, Problems & Solutions – Part I — Crisis, Problems & Solutions – Part II
- Man City: Balotelli signs for Manchester City
- Blackpool: Blackpool signs midfielder Chris Basham from Bolton
- Chelsea: Chelsea sign Brasil midfielder Ramires from Benfica
- EPL: Wenger: ‘Ridiculous’ squad rules will ruin EPL
News and Views from Thur Aug 5
MLS
- Crew down Philly on Lenhart brace
- Union: Philly acquires Colombian defenseman
- Crew: Columbus sends Zayner to DC United
- Galaxy: LA send Gordon to Chivas USA
- Wizards: KC loans Hohlbein to Miami FC of D2
- Expansion: Detoit thinking way outside the box – Gotta love it
- Timbers: Building a MLS roster – Part 1 – Part 2
- MLS: Have a little perspective
- MLS: Why The MLS On Versus Needs To Happen
Club Tournaments
- N.A. SuperLiga: Revs v Morelia in final
- CONCACAF: Champions League Results – Joe Public, FAS thru to group phase
- CONMEBOL: Copa Libertadores Chivas advances to final, will play Internacional
- UEFA: Champions League Results
- UEFA: Europa League Results
Interesting Reads
- Soccer Strategy: Is 4-2-1-3 the future?
- Soccer Strategy: Why are two holding midfielders so crucial in the modern game?
- USMNT: U20′s offer hope for the future
- USMNT: How A High Level National Team Coach Could Influence US Soccer
News and Views from Fri Jul 30
MLS
- Sounders deal Ljungberg to Chicago
- Chhetri Leaves For National Team Duty
- Revolution signs two forwards
- Revolution waives Michael Videira
- Red Bulls Waive Veteran Forward Wolyniec
- Union sign JT Noone, waive Brian Perk
- FC Dallas Sign Three From Development Academy; Deal Anthony Wallace To Colorado
- DC United U17′s win 2nd consecutive SUM Cup
- Galaxy U-20′s Move One Step Closer to USL Super-20 Finals
- Steve Davis: MLS considers moving to 34 games. I’ve been asking this question for several months. Steve is the first to address the issue as far as I can tell.
- Expansion: MLS’ 20th team at All Things Footy. Thanks to Kartik for this link.
USA Soccer Stuff
- USSF D2: A Look Ahead at Week 17.
- USMNT U20: U.S. U-20′s Win Milk Cup.
Around the World and other Stuff
Player Moves
- Lazio sign Javier Garrido from Manchester City.
- David James joins Bristol City.
- Sami Khedira to join Real Madrid from Stuttgart.
- Defender Stam joins Wigan from FC Twente.
- Ajax signs Morocco striker El Hamdaoui from AZ.
- Portuguese international Miguel Veloso headed to Genoa.
- West Brom signs Hull keeper Myhill.
The Business of Soccer
News and Views Jul 28-29
MLS
- Houston Youth Player Maybe Makes Some Kind of History
- Eleven things about the Man U/MLS All Stars match
- Steve Davis: Large crowd was about the only plus for MLS in All-Star game.
- N.A. SuperLiga: Semifinals dates set.
- DeMerit, Defenders, and DPs
- Grant Wahl: On MLS with Don Garber and more.
- Uruguayan midfielder Fernández headed to Seattle
- Vancouver wins toss – gets to choose
- Proposed Baltimore soccer stadium could attract D.C. United
- Santiago Hirsig out of KC
USA Soccer Stuff
- College Soccer and American Youth Development
- Bill Archer: Youth Soccer and player development.
- USMNT: U-20 MNT Tops China at the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland.
- Aaron Stollar: MLS and the USSF are heading in the right direction in youth development matters.
- Can US Soccer grip our hearts?
- Growing Recognition For American Supporters Groups
- NPSL (US Amateur) Final Four Begins
- Pro soccer coming to Arizona?
Around the World and other Stuff
- On the new homegrown rule in England
- Developing Soccer Technique: The Best Tool
- Potential Quirks And Consequences Of The Homegrown Rule
- Defending the Defensive Midfielder
- More on the new homegrown rule in England
- Manchester in New York City
- Marseille beat PSG to claim Trophee des Champions
- Perennial mid-table Premiership teams try to avoid stagnation
Club Tourneys
- CONCACAF Champions League: Seattle 1 – Isidro Metapan 0 in 1st leg.
- Copa Libertadores: Chivas, Universidad draw 1-1 in semifinal.
- Copa Libertadores: Internacional 1 – 0 São Paulo in semifinal.
- UEFA Champions League: Braga beat Celtic
- UEFA Champions League: Breaking Down CL Coefficients
- Europa League: Europa League Underway
Player Moves
- Schalke signs Raul from Real Madrid on 2-year deal.
- Celtic complete signing of midfielder Biram Kayal.
- Robinho returns to Manchester City.
- Liverpool fail to complete the signing of Aston Villa’s Luke Young.
The Business of Soccer
- e="color: #3d3fa5; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Real Benefit Of Pre Season Tours.
- EPL: Which Teams Spend The Most?
- Berlusconi Beats Murdoch’s Sky on TV Soccer Pricing.
News and Views from Jul 26-27
MLS
- Week 17 Attendance Report.
- N.A. SuperLiga: Semifinals dates set.
- Chicago trades midfielder Mapp to Union.
- Omar Salgado chooses MLS and the US.
- SUM Cup U17: New England over Toronto 5-2.
- SUM Cup U17: D.C. United advances to U-17 final.
- SUM Cup U17: RSL edges Dynamo on PKs in Sum Cup semi.
- Expansion Draft or SuperDraft? Coin flip will decide who chooses.
- D.C. United Waives Boyzzz Khumalo.
Around the World and other Stuff
- What Is The American Style Of Play?
- USL-PDL Playoffs Set.
- Milk Cup: USA 1 – China 0, Salgado scores winner.
- Russian Premier League: Zenit reach pivotal stage in title march.
- New Premier League rules give Fergie a ‘problem’.
- Singapore Cup Quarter Final Draw.
- Perennial mid-table Premiership teams try to avoid stagnation.
Club Tourneys
- CONCACAF Champions League: Can anyone defeat the Mexicans?
- CONCACAF Champions League: Toronto(MLS) over Motagua(HON) 1-0 in 1st leg.
- CONCACAF Champions League: Puerto Rico(USSF-D2) embarrasses LA(MLS) at home 4-1 in 1st leg.
- CONCACAF Champions League: Santos(MEX) over San Juan Jabloteh(TRI) 1-0 in Trinidad in 1st leg.
- CONCACAF Champions League: Cruz Azul(MEX) over San Francisco(PAN) 3-2 in 1st leg.
- Copa Libertadores: Semifinal preview.
- UEFA Champions League: Dynamo Kiev cruise, Unirea hold Zenit, Kljestan scores
Player Moves
- Gary Hooper signs with Celtic.
- FC Seoul complete double swoop.
- Ajax signs El Hamdaoui and Mido.
- Bolton complete deal for defender Marcos Alonso from Real Madrid.
- Liverpool agree fee of £2.5m for Aston Villa’s Luke Young.
- Bologna secure deal for Krhin.
The Business of Soccer
- Wizards sell 700 season tickets after beating Man U.
- Leiweke to leave Vulcan Sports & Entertainment for Tampa Bay NHL team.
- Selling Manchester City In America.
- Barcelona loss at £64m for last season.
News and Views from Tue Jul 20
MLS
- Nick Green thinks: MLS needs to stop being so friendly. I’m not so sure about that. I think the exposure the league gets, particularly to the foreign teams’ players, outweighs the negatives that Nick outlines in his piece. Gotta think that players give MLS a second look after coming here to play in these friendlies.
- Tactical adjustment proves genesis for FCD victory over RSL.
- New formation sparks Colorado’s comeback.
- Real Salt Lake Development Academy Hopes To Sparkle.
- KC Agrees to Terms with D Nikos Kounenakis.
- Revolution’s Steve Ralston Retires.
Club Tourneys
- N.A. SuperLiga: New England 1, Morelia 0.
- N.A. SuperLiga: Chicago 1, Pumas 0.
- New England and Morelia thru to semifinals from Group B. Group A plays Wednesday.
Around the World and other Stuff
- Does America Need More Indoor Soccer?
- Tim Vickery: Tim’s usual excellent work examining South American football.
- Development Academy Finals Wrap-Up.
- U.S. soccer could use a new system for college-age players.
- Andrew Guest: Reflections on South Africa 2010 and the Contradictions of Fandom.
- CONCACAF: The confusing Liberia Mía saga.
Player Moves