***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (8 Viewers)

[El Floppo]

I had meant to say in my Gold Cup comments that I was disappointed in Holden. Worked hard to get himself up and down the field as a 2-way player that the team lacks- but he seemed pretty rusty to me for an international.I love that JK got him minutes, but his play on the field was just far too sloppy with lots of missed touches and passes and typically a hair slow with his decision making (an area where Labrea Beckerman surpassed him, IMO).

 

[The Gator]

Rubin v. CSKA Moscow on tv :blink:

At least there's Honda and M'villa on the field

 

[Good Posting Judge]

I have a feeling that the Swans are going to take out United in Week 1.

 

[Slapdash]

Seattle has spent more money in the transfer session than Arsenal...

 

[T Bell]

I have a feeling that the Swans are going to take out United in Week 1.

You're not the only one. That Swans side looks good.

 

[The Gator]

Seattle has spent more money in the transfer session than Arsenal...

Bump for Tasker

 

[Native]

Chelsea midfield looking great. Essien linking well to Oscar and Hazard. De Bruyne a threat on the wing. Beautiful build up on the goal.

Demba Ba on the other hand looks out of sorts. Lukaku can have a massive year if Mourinho plays him regularly.

 

[El Floppo]

Chelsea midfield looking great. Essien linking well to Oscar and Hazard. De Bruyne a threat on the wing. Beautiful build up on the goal.

Demba Ba on the other hand looks out of sorts. Lukaku can have a massive year if Mourinho plays him regularly.

Essien's back? :mancrush:

De Bruyne looked like an absolute beast every time I saw him play last year- great guy for Chelsea. If Ba or Lukaku can score the dirty/easy goals, this team should be really good.

 

[T Bell]

Seattle has spent more money in the transfer session than Arsenal...

Bump for Tasker

Suck it.

 

[Native]

Victor Moses again looking like one of Chelsea's most dangerous players.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Drogba has to be the most frustrating player to watch ever. You can see that if he feels like it, Ray Lewis couldn't bring him down. Then when he sees a chace for a call he flys through the air when the wind picks up.

....and he just scored.

For me, Drogba will usually fight through a hard tackle in the box if he thinks he can get a shot on goal. Outside the box, or if the ball's gotten away from him, he'll dive.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Victor Moses again looking like one of Chelsea's most dangerous players.

Mourinho has some difficult issues with the rotation. A nice problem to have perhaps and one that he is comfortable with. The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed the rotation. Van Ginkel has been great imo and deserves some minutes in the pivot, which is also crowded. They will have over 60 games and he'll be getting pressure from the various national coaches heading into a world cup, so it's really kind of a jigsaw puzzle finding different combos and keeping everyone happy and rested. More than anything else, this is how a big club manager earns his salary.

 

[Native]

Victor Moses again looking like one of Chelsea's most dangerous players.

Mourinho has some difficult issues with the rotation. A nice problem to have perhaps and one that he is comfortable with. The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed the rotation. Van Ginkel has been great imo and deserves some minutes in the pivot, which is also crowded. They will have over 60 games and he'll be getting pressure from the various national coaches heading into a world cup, so it's really kind of a jigsaw puzzle finding different combos and keeping everyone happy and rested. More than anything else, this is how a big club manager earns his salary.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Victor Moses again looking like one of Chelsea's most dangerous players.

Mourinho has some difficult issues with the rotation. A nice problem to have perhaps and one that he is comfortable with. The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed the rotation. Van Ginkel has been great imo and deserves some minutes in the pivot, which is also crowded. They will have over 60 games and he'll be getting pressure from the various national coaches heading into a world cup, so it's really kind of a jigsaw puzzle finding different combos and keeping everyone happy and rested. More than anything else, this is how a big club manager earns his salary.

I haven't been impressed with Van Ginkel, although it's often hard to judge the pivot role. The talent in the attacking mid and flank positions is insane. And it makes Chelsea ridiculously versatile. Moses is a great player who provides pace nobody else does. De Bruyne and Schurrle both provide that direct style and clinical finishing from the flanks. Mata provides the class on the ball and an unparalleled decision making. And Oscar is one of the best I've seen at getting a finish off at the top of the box. Considering that the strikers each also provide different qualities, it give Mourinho some selection headaches, but nothing like the headaches of trying to figure out how to defend them.

I do think that the one piece Chelsea could use is some increased passing range out of the pivot.

 

[T Bell]

Victor Moses again looking like one of Chelsea's most dangerous players.

Mourinho has some difficult issues with the rotation. A nice problem to have perhaps and one that he is comfortable with. The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed the rotation. Van Ginkel has been great imo and deserves some minutes in the pivot, which is also crowded. They will have over 60 games and he'll be getting pressure from the various national coaches heading into a world cup, so it's really kind of a jigsaw puzzle finding different combos and keeping everyone happy and rested. More than anything else, this is how a big club manager earns his salary.

I haven't been impressed with Van Ginkel, although it's often hard to judge the pivot role. The talent in the attacking mid and flank positions is insane. And it makes Chelsea ridiculously versatile. Moses is a great player who provides pace nobody else does. De Bruyne and Schurrle both provide that direct style and clinical finishing from the flanks. Mata provides the class on the ball and an unparalleled decision making. And Oscar is one of the best I've seen at getting a finish off at the top of the box. Considering that the strikers each also provide different qualities, it give Mourinho some selection headaches, but nothing like the headaches of trying to figure out how to defend them.

I do think that the one piece Chelsea could use is some increased passing range out of the pivot.

And you're not even talking about Marko Marin who seems like a pretty good player. Are they going to keep him?

 

[Bonzai]

Victor Moses again looking like one of Chelsea's most dangerous players.

Mourinho has some difficult issues with the rotation. A nice problem to have perhaps and one that he is comfortable with. The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed the rotation. Van Ginkel has been great imo and deserves some minutes in the pivot, which is also crowded. They will have over 60 games and he'll be getting pressure from the various national coaches heading into a world cup, so it's really kind of a jigsaw puzzle finding different combos and keeping everyone happy and rested. More than anything else, this is how a big club manager earns his salary.

I haven't been impressed with Van Ginkel, although it's often hard to judge the pivot role. The talent in the attacking mid and flank positions is insane. And it makes Chelsea ridiculously versatile. Moses is a great player who provides pace nobody else does. De Bruyne and Schurrle both provide that direct style and clinical finishing from the flanks. Mata provides the class on the ball and an unparalleled decision making. And Oscar is one of the best I've seen at getting a finish off at the top of the box. Considering that the strikers each also provide different qualities, it give Mourinho some selection headaches, but nothing like the headaches of trying to figure out how to defend them.

I do think that the one piece Chelsea could use is some increased passing range out of the pivot.

And you're not even talking about Marko Marin who seems like a pretty good player. Are they going to keep him?

There's also that Hazard guy.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Victor Moses again looking like one of Chelsea's most dangerous players.

Mourinho has some difficult issues with the rotation. A nice problem to have perhaps and one that he is comfortable with. The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed the rotation. Van Ginkel has been great imo and deserves some minutes in the pivot, which is also crowded. They will have over 60 games and he'll be getting pressure from the various national coaches heading into a world cup, so it's really kind of a jigsaw puzzle finding different combos and keeping everyone happy and rested. More than anything else, this is how a big club manager earns his salary.

I haven't been impressed with Van Ginkel, although it's often hard to judge the pivot role. The talent in the attacking mid and flank positions is insane. And it makes Chelsea ridiculously versatile. Moses is a great player who provides pace nobody else does. De Bruyne and Schurrle both provide that direct style and clinical finishing from the flanks. Mata provides the class on the ball and an unparalleled decision making. And Oscar is one of the best I've seen at getting a finish off at the top of the box. Considering that the strikers each also provide different qualities, it give Mourinho some selection headaches, but nothing like the headaches of trying to figure out how to defend them.

I do think that the one piece Chelsea could use is some increased passing range out of the pivot.

Yeah - sometimes I think their best link to the mid is Cechs throws and Terry. I'm a big Obi Mikel fan, still like him and Lampard as the best pairing in front of the back 4,but there's a lot of talented options for that role waiting for o chance.

FYI Tbell - Marin went on loan to Sevilla.

 

[The Gator]

The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed to win EUROPA and get us to 3rd while managing the rotation

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

Victor Moses again looking like one of Chelsea's most dangerous players.

Mourinho has some difficult issues with the rotation. A nice problem to have perhaps and one that he is comfortable with. The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed the rotation. Van Ginkel has been great imo and deserves some minutes in the pivot, which is also crowded. They will have over 60 games and he'll be getting pressure from the various national coaches heading into a world cup, so it's really kind of a jigsaw puzzle finding different combos and keeping everyone happy and rested. More than anything else, this is how a big club manager earns his salary.

I haven't been impressed with Van Ginkel, although it's often hard to judge the pivot role. The talent in the attacking mid and flank positions is insane. And it makes Chelsea ridiculously versatile. Moses is a great player who provides pace nobody else does. De Bruyne and Schurrle both provide that direct style and clinical finishing from the flanks. Mata provides the class on the ball and an unparalleled decision making. And Oscar is one of the best I've seen at getting a finish off at the top of the box. Considering that the strikers each also provide different qualities, it give Mourinho some selection headaches, but nothing like the headaches of trying to figure out how to defend them.

I do think that the one piece Chelsea could use is some increased passing range out of the pivot.

Yeah - sometimes I think their best link to the mid is Cechs throws and Terry. I'm a big Obi Mikel fan, still like him and Lampard as the best pairing in front of the back 4,but there's a lot of talented options for that role waiting for o chance.

FYI Tbell - Marin went on loan to Sevilla.

Khedira makes a lot of sense if Van Ginkel is seen as not being ready. With that said, there's no doubt they can get buy with Mikel, Essien, Ramires, and Lamps in rotation. Again, each provides their own qualities. On a worse team, Ramires would be given freer rein to make those gut busting runs.

 

[T Bell]

The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed to win EUROPA and get us to 3rd while managing the rotation

Seriously.

Thank goodness Daddy Roman came through and spent heavily on a new team for me to root for.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed to win EUROPA and get us to 3rd while managing the rotation

Cletius was fairer to Benitez than most Chelsea fans. I think he only had about a two week run of calling him the fat Spanish waiter.

Benitez's rotation policies have always been questioned. I remember them from the Liverpool days. But I agree its absolutely the toughest part of being a top flight manager.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Maybe they can trick Oscar into thinking the Capital One Cup is roughly equivalent to the Champions League.

 

[Slapdash]

The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed to win EUROPA and get us to 3rd while managing the rotation

Cletius was fairer to Benitez than most Chelsea fans. I think he only had about a two week run of calling him the fat Spanish waiter.

Still in his sig

 

[The Gator]

The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed to win EUROPA and get us to 3rd while managing the rotation

Cletius was fairer to Benitez than most Chelsea fans. I think he only had about a two week run of calling him the fat Spanish waiter.

Still in his sig

 

[CletiusMaximus]

The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed to win EUROPA and get us to 3rd while managing the rotation

Cletius was fairer to Benitez than most Chelsea fans. I think he only had about a two week run of calling him the fat Spanish waiter.

Still in his sig

I've got sigs turned off - need to change that up I guess. I never accepted Rafa because he's always a Scouse to me, but I've credited him more than most Chelsea fans and had a few fun fights on the CFC boards defending his results in a very tough situation. I really hope he does well at Napoli.

Its fun being a Chelsea fan - we get mocked for winning the Europa, but mocked for not being happy with winning the Europa. Just like last season when no one gave us credit for winning the Champions League and mocked the style of play, but then criticized for firing our manager because he had just won the Champions League.

 

[Native]

Victor Moses again looking like one of Chelsea's most dangerous players.

Mourinho has some difficult issues with the rotation. A nice problem to have perhaps and one that he is comfortable with. The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed the rotation. Van Ginkel has been great imo and deserves some minutes in the pivot, which is also crowded. They will have over 60 games and he'll be getting pressure from the various national coaches heading into a world cup, so it's really kind of a jigsaw puzzle finding different combos and keeping everyone happy and rested. More than anything else, this is how a big club manager earns his salary.

I haven't been impressed with Van Ginkel, although it's often hard to judge the pivot role. The talent in the attacking mid and flank positions is insane. And it makes Chelsea ridiculously versatile. Moses is a great player who provides pace nobody else does. De Bruyne and Schurrle both provide that direct style and clinical finishing from the flanks. Mata provides the class on the ball and an unparalleled decision making. And Oscar is one of the best I've seen at getting a finish off at the top of the box. Considering that the strikers each also provide different qualities, it give Mourinho some selection headaches, but nothing like the headaches of trying to figure out how to defend them.

I do think that the one piece Chelsea could use is some increased passing range out of the pivot.

Yeah - sometimes I think their best link to the mid is Cechs throws and Terry. I'm a big Obi Mikel fan, still like him and Lampard as the best pairing in front of the back 4,but there's a lot of talented options for that role waiting for o chance.FYI Tbell - Marin went on loan to Sevilla.

Khedira makes a lot of sense if Van Ginkel is seen as not being ready. With that said, there's no doubt they can get buy with Mikel, Essien, Ramires, and Lamps in rotation. Again, each provides their own qualities. On a worse team, Ramires would be given freer rein to make those gut busting runs.

I actually thought Essien looked good linking up with the attacking mids vs Milan. He started a few breaks by himself from the pivot, springing players loose on the counter attack. I've always rated his passing and think he can man the spot (though maybe that's just nostalgia talking).

 

[jonessed]

A lot of the recent news coming out on the Bale saga seems to indicate that RM don't have the money on-hand and Levy won't do a payment schedule since RM still owe them for Modric.

If this is going to happen Bale may have to actually throw a temper-tantrum and try and force it. Either that or RM is going to have to get a sizable loan.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Spurs threatening to fine Bale if he no-shows. This all seems vaguely familiar...

 

[jonessed]

Spurs threatening to fine Bale if he no-shows. This all seems vaguely familiar...

I'm OK with selling Bale for the kind of money being thrown about, but RM are kidding themselves if they think they can hose Levy again with an installment plan. At this point, they can't even afford their own offer. #### them.

 

[The Gator]

Cristiano has apparently agreed to a new deal. Some sites are reporting he's "signed a new deal", but I highly doubt it's that official since they've been in the states.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Cristiano has apparently agreed to a new deal. Some sites are reporting he's "signed a new deal", but I highly doubt it's that official since they've been in the states.

I think it's been in the offing for awhile now. Maybe his Mr. 15% is dotting the i's, crossing the t's, etc.

 

[The Gator]

Spurs threatening to fine Bale if he no-shows. This all seems vaguely familiar...

I'm OK with selling Bale for the kind of money being thrown about, but RM are kidding themselves if they think they can hose Levy again with an installment plan. At this point, they can't even afford their own offer. #### them.

Good for Levy

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

This sort of thing is why I don't follow MLS.

Just how much MLS was behind the move became clear early—the Sounders GM found about about Dempsey's availability in a phone call from league VP Todd Durbin.

"Adrian, there's a chance you could get Clint Dempsey," Durbin told him.

At the same time, MLS Commissioner Don Garber emailed Sounders owner Joe Roth. Dempsey was interested in returning to MLS, but only to Seattle, Los Angeles, and Toronto. For various reasons, MLS pushed Seattle ahead of the other two. Wahl's sources say "Toronto...accepted that it was better for the league if Dempsey were playing in a U.S. city."

As for Los Angeles?

"I think it was important that [Dempsey] ended up ... how do I say this politely? ... not in Los Angeles," said Roth. "Because from a perception standpoint it would make MLS look essentially like a one-team league when it came to important international players."

Dempsey negotiated exclusively with Seattle, and they arrived on a deal: $24 million in salary over three-and-a-half seasons. The $9 million transfer fee to Tottenham was paid not by the Sounders, but by MLS.

There are even questions over how Dempsey bypassed the standard process for returning American players.

While most MLS owners appear to be happy that Dempsey has joined the league, not all of them were satisfied with the process in which Seattle got him. "The league wanted Dempsey in Seattle," said one rival league executive. Some MLS owners were confused by the mechanism of Dempsey's arrival, thinking that like other returning U.S. national team players, he would be part of the allocation process. (Seattle rival Portland is No. 1 on the allocation list.)

 

[Good Posting Judge]

FTS

 

[T Bell]

Spurs threatening to fine Bale if he no-shows. This all seems vaguely familiar...

 

[T Bell]

This sort of thing is why I don't follow MLS.

Just how much MLS was behind the move became clear early—the Sounders GM found about about Dempsey's availability in a phone call from league VP Todd Durbin.

"Adrian, there's a chance you could get Clint Dempsey," Durbin told him.

At the same time, MLS Commissioner Don Garber emailed Sounders owner Joe Roth. Dempsey was interested in returning to MLS, but only to Seattle, Los Angeles, and Toronto. For various reasons, MLS pushed Seattle ahead of the other two. Wahl's sources say "Toronto...accepted that it was better for the league if Dempsey were playing in a U.S. city."

As for Los Angeles?

"I think it was important that [Dempsey] ended up ... how do I say this politely? ... not in Los Angeles," said Roth. "Because from a perception standpoint it would make MLS look essentially like a one-team league when it came to important international players."

Dempsey negotiated exclusively with Seattle, and they arrived on a deal: $24 million in salary over three-and-a-half seasons. The $9 million transfer fee to Tottenham was paid not by the Sounders, but by MLS.

There are even questions over how Dempsey bypassed the standard process for returning American players.

While most MLS owners appear to be happy that Dempsey has joined the league, not all of them were satisfied with the process in which Seattle got him. "The league wanted Dempsey in Seattle," said one rival league executive. Some MLS owners were confused by the mechanism of Dempsey's arrival, thinking that like other returning U.S. national team players, he would be part of the allocation process. (Seattle rival Portland is No. 1 on the allocation list.)

Agreed. It's collusion. I know why they're doing it is to try to nurture soccer as an institution in the US (and it's working, BTW), but it's dishonest as hell.

 

[Mjolnirs]

Bayern finally on the board in the 18th minute in their DFB Pokal first round match against amateur side Rehden.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Bayern finally on the board in the 18th minute in their DFB Pokal first round match against amateur side Rehden.

http://i.imgur.com/5gJWHhm.jpg

 

[Slapdash]

This sort of thing is why I don't follow MLS.

Agreed. It's collusion. I know why they're doing it is to try to nurture soccer as an institution in the US (and it's working, BTW), but it's dishonest as hell.

I don't understand why they can't go to a more normal structure for players.

 

[bentley]

This sort of thing is why I don't follow MLS.

Agreed. It's collusion. I know why they're doing it is to try to nurture soccer as an institution in the US (and it's working, BTW), but it's dishonest as hell.

I don't understand why they can't go to a more normal structure for players.

This whole Dempsey thing was weird (especially with the league paying the fee). But, the regular way MLS deals with this really sucks.

 

[T Bell]

This sort of thing is why I don't follow MLS.

Agreed. It's collusion. I know why they're doing it is to try to nurture soccer as an institution in the US (and it's working, BTW), but it's dishonest as hell.

I don't understand why they can't go to a more normal structure for players.

I'm with Slapdash. The Dempsey process is fine by me. The regular way MLS deals with this is what sucks.

The idea that the supposedly neutral league office is bird dogging deals for certain teams and not others is ridiculous.

If I was Portland, who's not only a regional rival for marketing purposes but a rival in the standings, I'd be really pissed off.

You can't credibly argue that the league is really about competition when you have the league office doing this.

 

[bentley]

This sort of thing is why I don't follow MLS.

Agreed. It's collusion. I know why they're doing it is to try to nurture soccer as an institution in the US (and it's working, BTW), but it's dishonest as hell.

I don't understand why they can't go to a more normal structure for players.

I'm with Slapdash. The Dempsey process is fine by me. The regular way MLS deals with this is what sucks.

The idea that the supposedly neutral league office is bird dogging deals for certain teams and not others is ridiculous.

If I was Portland, who's not only a regional rival for marketing purposes but a rival in the standings, I'd be really pissed off.

You can't credibly argue that the league is really about competition when you have the league office doing this.

See edit above.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

You can't credibly argue that the league is really about competition when you have the league office doing this.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

The league office has never been neutral. They've always been involved in transfer fees etc. If Dempsey truly would only go to one of three team (kind of surprised Houston wouldn't be on the list), then the gambits all make sense. Everyone would have flipped out if he had been steered to LA. He wasn't worth it to Toronto.

Hopefully, soon, we'll be above allocation orders and limited DP slots. And if teams, even my hometown DC United, can't hang in that environment, then we'll need to find an ownership group that can.

 

[SmoovySmoov]

The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed to win EUROPA and get us to 3rd while managing the rotation

Cletius was fairer to Benitez than most Chelsea fans. I think he only had about a two week run of calling him the fat Spanish waiter.

Still in his sig

I've got sigs turned off - need to change that up I guess. I never accepted Rafa because he's always a Scouse to me, but I've credited him more than most Chelsea fans and had a few fun fights on the CFC boards defending his results in a very tough situation. I really hope he does well at Napoli.

Its fun being a Chelsea fan - we get mocked for winning the Europa, but mocked for not being happy with winning the Europa. Just like last season when no one gave us credit for winning the Champions League and mocked the style of play, but then criticized for firing our manager because he had just won the Champions League.

I think people make fun of Chel$ki for winning Europa because they were the defending European champions (supposedly) who were the first ever to be knocked out the following year at the group stages. I think people make fun of Chel$ki for winning the Champions League because of the way that they parked the bus to do it, and then for firing their manager (a former player) after winning it. But mostly, it's just for the ridiculous amount of Russian mob money that has been poured into the team to buy their history.

 

[T Bell]

The league office has never been neutral. They've always been involved in transfer fees etc. If Dempsey truly would only go to one of three team (kind of surprised Houston wouldn't be on the list), then the gambits all make sense. Everyone would have flipped out if he had been steered to LA. He wasn't worth it to Toronto.

Hopefully, soon, we'll be above allocation orders and limited DP slots. And if teams, even my hometown DC United, can't hang in that environment, then we'll need to find an ownership group that can.

Don't "steer" him anywhere, is the point.

Essentially the MLS uses infant industry trade protections as it's policy regarding players entering from outside the country.

I can see where historically that's made sense in order to get MLS off the ground and establish soccer in this country, but two decades in I think it's time to drop this stuff.

BTW, I don't give two ####s about MLS, so I'm not emotionally involved here. This all just seems silly to me.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

The one complaint I had with Benetiz was the bizarre way he managed to win EUROPA and get us to 3rd while managing the rotation

Cletius was fairer to Benitez than most Chelsea fans. I think he only had about a two week run of calling him the fat Spanish waiter.

Still in his sig

I've got sigs turned off - need to change that up I guess. I never accepted Rafa because he's always a Scouse to me, but I've credited him more than most Chelsea fans and had a few fun fights on the CFC boards defending his results in a very tough situation. I really hope he does well at Napoli.

Its fun being a Chelsea fan - we get mocked for winning the Europa, but mocked for not being happy with winning the Europa. Just like last season when no one gave us credit for winning the Champions League and mocked the style of play, but then criticized for firing our manager because he had just won the Champions League.

I think people make fun of Chel$ki for winning Europa because they were the defending European champions (supposedly) who were the first ever to be knocked out the following year at the group stages. I think people make fun of Chel$ki for winning the Champions League because of the way that they parked the bus to do it, and then for firing their manager (a former player) after winning it. But mostly, it's just for the ridiculous amount of Russian mob money that has been poured into the team to buy their history.

I think that these are all ridiculously stupid criticisms.

 

[T Bell]

This sort of thing is why I don't follow MLS.

Agreed. It's collusion. I know why they're doing it is to try to nurture soccer as an institution in the US (and it's working, BTW), but it's dishonest as hell.

I don't understand why they can't go to a more normal structure for players.

I'm with Slapdash. The Dempsey process is fine by me. The regular way MLS deals with this is what sucks.

The idea that the supposedly neutral league office is bird dogging deals for certain teams and not others is ridiculous.

If I was Portland, who's not only a regional rival for marketing purposes but a rival in the standings, I'd be really pissed off.

You can't credibly argue that the league is really about competition when you have the league office doing this.

See edit above.

Please stick with silly posts that I can freely pound on. Thanks.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I remember when the NFL stepped in and politely suggested to the Colts that it would be best for the league if they didn't draft Andrew Luck since they'd had Peyton for so long. Also made sense as the Browns had been bad long enough that the marketing guys in Cleveland needed a little help.

 

[Ramsay Hunt Experience]

I remember when the NFL stepped in and politely suggested to the Colts that it would be best for the league if they didn't draft Andrew Luck. Made sense too since the Browns had been bad so long the marketing guys in Cleveland needed a little help.

You get that the draft (and the allocation order, for that matter) are already anti-competitive market distortions, right?