Looks like someone was jumping to conclusions...LOL. Only scrolled through the last page on my phone - did not get to read the posts on the previous page yet!
I'll shoot you a note as soon as I like your other posts
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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter Ramsay Hunt Experience
- Start date
Native
Footballguy
shader
Footballguy
Really cool trip and I love this info. The kids you're talking about are in the 12-13 age group, right?gianmarco said:
I've been thinking a lot about what Pulisic said recently, that the problem with US kids is that they aren't getting the right opportunities at 16-19 and what he said struck a chord with me. Your experiences seem to back that up if these kids are all similar athletically and from a skill perspective.
Is that "cross" idea something you may implement in your coaching?
Native
Footballguy
@gianmarco Just read through your posts. Sounds like an incredible trip. Would love to inquire about doing something similar with my kids. Thanks for sharing! 
Regarding your comment about Craven Cottage being right in the middle of a residential area - reminded me of this picture of Anfield and Goodison Park each nestled in their own local neighborhood less than a mile from one another. A completely different experience than anything we have in the US. Would love to visit.
Regarding your comment about Craven Cottage being right in the middle of a residential area - reminded me of this picture of Anfield and Goodison Park each nestled in their own local neighborhood less than a mile from one another. A completely different experience than anything we have in the US. Would love to visit.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Less than a mile? That looks less than a quarter mile! Had no idea they were so close (unless that's shopped)@gianmarco Just read through your posts. Sounds like an incredible trip. Would love to inquire about doing something similar with my kids. Thanks for sharing!
Regarding your comment about Craven Cottage being right in the middle of a residential area - reminded me of this picture of Anfield and Goodison Park each nestled in their own local neighborhood less than a mile from one another. A completely different experience than anything we have in the US. Would love to visit.
gianmarco
Footballguy
El Floppo
Footballguy
I remember seeing This Must be the Place a few years ago (strange, but worthwhile Sean Penn movie) and part of it takes place in dublin with aviva stadium looming over what looks like an anytown small village. IIRC, one of the characters lives on that street, so the film is there a bit- that movie brought that idea into my head more than any other pictures I've seen.@gianmarco Just read through your posts. Sounds like an incredible trip. Would love to inquire about doing something similar with my kids. Thanks for sharing!
Regarding your comment about Craven Cottage being right in the middle of a residential area - reminded me of this picture of Anfield and Goodison Park each nestled in their own local neighborhood less than a mile from one another. A completely different experience than anything we have in the US. Would love to visit.
Native
Footballguy
gianmarco
Footballguy
Oh, something else crazy.
As we are walking into our section at Wembley, which is obviously a HUGE stadium (90k seating), the steward at our specific entry looks at the 3 of us and asks if it's just us or if our whole group is here. I looked at him with a puzzled look.
He goes "I was with you guys at Fulham".
Sure enough, he was the same steward (the only one, mind you) for our box at Craven Cottage and he actually showed me to the bathroom while we were there.
Apparently they cover different matches each week but the chances we see the same guy at Wembley with hundreds of entrances.... Nuts.
As we are walking into our section at Wembley, which is obviously a HUGE stadium (90k seating), the steward at our specific entry looks at the 3 of us and asks if it's just us or if our whole group is here. I looked at him with a puzzled look.
He goes "I was with you guys at Fulham".
Sure enough, he was the same steward (the only one, mind you) for our box at Craven Cottage and he actually showed me to the bathroom while we were there.
Apparently they cover different matches each week but the chances we see the same guy at Wembley with hundreds of entrances.... Nuts.
El Floppo
Footballguy
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I don't know if Tata can pull this off but if he does, oh my. It would be a signing MLS has never been either willing or able to make. If they do pull this off I assume they are going to sell Almiron.
===================
It’s that time of the year again. Silly season heating up and today we’ve stumbled upon a doozy of a rumor. It’s important to remember that with all transfer rumors, especially during the winter in MLS, should be taken with a grain of salt.
However, Cesar Lusi Merlo, a news producer with TyC Sports in Argentina has tweeted out that Atlanta United are willing to pay a $14 million transfer fee for 18-year-old center attacking midfielder Ezequiel Barco from Independiente in the Argentine Primera Division.
Merlo says that Atlanta are willing to pay the fee, a sum that would smash the current top transfer fee ever paid by an MLS club. He also says that Independiente would allow the player to leave, but that it’s Barco who holds are the cards to allow the deal to happen.
Barco is a highly rated prospect in world soccer. FourFourTwo listed him at No. 17 in their Top 100 teenagers in the world in 2017. He has been tenuously linked to clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan and Zenit St. Petersburg in the past.
===================
It’s that time of the year again. Silly season heating up and today we’ve stumbled upon a doozy of a rumor. It’s important to remember that with all transfer rumors, especially during the winter in MLS, should be taken with a grain of salt.
However, Cesar Lusi Merlo, a news producer with TyC Sports in Argentina has tweeted out that Atlanta United are willing to pay a $14 million transfer fee for 18-year-old center attacking midfielder Ezequiel Barco from Independiente in the Argentine Primera Division.
Merlo says that Atlanta are willing to pay the fee, a sum that would smash the current top transfer fee ever paid by an MLS club. He also says that Independiente would allow the player to leave, but that it’s Barco who holds are the cards to allow the deal to happen.
Barco is a highly rated prospect in world soccer. FourFourTwo listed him at No. 17 in their Top 100 teenagers in the world in 2017. He has been tenuously linked to clubs like Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan and Zenit St. Petersburg in the past.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
More fuel being added to the Miami fire. If the guy who has accomplished more off the field in MLS than any one else fears this can't happened while being involved in it, MLS may want to seriously consider stopping this mess.
=============================
Tim Leiweke fears David Beckham’s MLS franchise wont come to fruition.
This after MLS commissioner Don Garber said in August the league could officially unveil Miami as an expansion team “perhaps by the end of the summer,” according to ESPN.
“I’m helping any way I can with David,” Leiweke told the Sun. “I hope it gets done, but it’s not done. I have my fears as to whether it’s going to get done because things like this that drag on this long that’s always tough on a process. But for David I hope he lands somewhere.”
Leiweke joined Beckham’s investment group in 2015 in an effort to push the deal through.
Two years later, all’s quiet on the south Florida expansion front.
“It would be unfortunate for the league to not honour the job he did and the decision he made,” Leiweke added. “His best work would still be ahead of us if we could figure out a way to get him involved with a franchise.
=============================
Tim Leiweke fears David Beckham’s MLS franchise wont come to fruition.
This after MLS commissioner Don Garber said in August the league could officially unveil Miami as an expansion team “perhaps by the end of the summer,” according to ESPN.
“I’m helping any way I can with David,” Leiweke told the Sun. “I hope it gets done, but it’s not done. I have my fears as to whether it’s going to get done because things like this that drag on this long that’s always tough on a process. But for David I hope he lands somewhere.”
Leiweke joined Beckham’s investment group in 2015 in an effort to push the deal through.
Two years later, all’s quiet on the south Florida expansion front.
“It would be unfortunate for the league to not honour the job he did and the decision he made,” Leiweke added. “His best work would still be ahead of us if we could figure out a way to get him involved with a franchise.
El Floppo
Footballguy
why would a genuine young international prospect want to make their first move to MLS? I guess we'll find out. cool if it happens.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
While I feel the probability of a top Argentine youth coming to MLS is very low, did you get to read the article I posted earlier about why Almiron signed with Atlanta?
It was really eye opening the pull Tata has. Give it a quick read, I think you will like it.
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/miguel-almiron-atlanta-united
El Floppo
Footballguy
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
This paragraph really stood out for me. I don't think many 16-17 year old american soccer players think like this due to the differences in our cultures.
=========================
Cerro had given me a lot. I had been a fan of the club since I was a kid, and it still is a very important club to me. They gave me the opportunity to grow and I will always be thankful for that. But financially it was too difficult. Sometimes I would have to wait three to four months before receiving my salary. I couldn’t help support my family on a couple of hundred dollars every month. And I realized that my future was about more than playing football. It was about how I could use football to help my family.
Jaysus
Good times!
And this one for me... because he is going to be in Europe pretty damn soon, right?
=========================
Argentina was an amazing experience. Football is an art there. Lanús is an excellent club and they made me feel at home. I scored in our league final last year against San Lorenzo and we won 4–0. I felt on top of the world. I thought maybe I could go to Europe, or a bigger club in Argentina in a few years.
El Floppo
Footballguy
that's the kind of thing you heard in Hoop Dreams- so probably still relevant for inner city kids with basketball and football. I've always said when the money and culture is there, the rest of these kids will follow. money is getting there, but the culture is a ways away for them I'd bet. no fields or leagues, no adult role-models playing, nobody to talk about the sport with or go play afterschool with. I got linked to two black dudes in their 20s who have a youtube channel where they listen to iconic heavy metal songs and give live reactions to it (mostly favorable)... the song I watched they mention soccer- (paraphrasing) "this is like soccer for me- I don't know it at all, but that messi guy... I see him, and I'm like- right- I get it now".
andy's mentioned this in the past as younger guys are getting brought into the league from SA... it would be a great model for MLS to continue- bringing young talented guys here for good salaries and transfers, allowing them to grow and then get sold to the bigger leagues if their talents warrant. the league gets hungry young talent instead of fatted old stars which brings the level of the league up (hopefully not interfering with our own young- not as hungry- talent rising)
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
as we have watched the league grow and morph over the last ten years I am still struck by the fact that MLS as a business still seems to think if they sell players, they have some how failed as a business in the eyes of their customers.
IMO, they put too high a price tag on players which wards off selling.
I think for the league to continue in its growth, they are going to have to take the risk that their fan base will understand why players get sold, as long as the money in reinvested back into the club.
El Floppo
Footballguy
Ned
Footballguy
That's the big rub with the way the MLS is structured vs. the supporters club setup?
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
I am unsure what a supporters club set up is...are you referring to an individually owned team like Liverpool?
Either way, the MLS rules do make selling and reinvesting harder for a fan to follow. If an MLS team sells a player for $9m, the team keeps $6m and the league gets $3 million.*
But the team can't just specifically turn around and spend the $6m directly because of the various cap rules. So it can either be spent on a DP or put back into the teams operations (which is where fans lose transparency). Only $650k of the $9m transfer fee can be used as allocation money to improve the squad outside of signing a DP.
========
*currently team keeps 2/3 if non home grown and keeps 3/4 if home grown but from rumors both of these numbers are said to be increasing next season.
Eephus
Footballguy
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
The Leiweke bomb about his fear of Miami not happening is picking up steam. It looks like data is coming out now that the lengthy court appeal process that is keeping Becks from moving forward won't be resolved until next summer.
I find it really interesting that Leiweke drops this just before the expansion announcements. I think this is going to continue to add fuel to the speculation that MLS might grant all three of Cincy, Nash and Sac at once (although I still think it is a low probability of happening).
I find it really interesting that Leiweke drops this just before the expansion announcements. I think this is going to continue to add fuel to the speculation that MLS might grant all three of Cincy, Nash and Sac at once (although I still think it is a low probability of happening).
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
FCC President Jeff Berding said that MLS has approved Nippert Stadium as a temporary venue if they get chosen.
This is going to be a wild couple of weeks until MLS makes their announcement.
This is going to be a wild couple of weeks until MLS makes their announcement.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
This is the first public announcement from DC United that they will be playing games at a temp facility while waiting for the stadium to finish.
For you DC area guys, where might they play? Are there any locations that make sense? It would seem weird to go back to RFK after they had the formalities to say good bye at the end of this current season.
=============
From an update to season ticket holders:
As we prepare for the transition to Audi Field, please understand we are committed to remaining fan-centric. Season Ticket Members will not be charged for any early-season home matches not played at Audi Field and will have first-right-of-refusal to purchase tickets for home matches played at alternate venues.
For you DC area guys, where might they play? Are there any locations that make sense? It would seem weird to go back to RFK after they had the formalities to say good bye at the end of this current season.
=============
From an update to season ticket holders:
As we prepare for the transition to Audi Field, please understand we are committed to remaining fan-centric. Season Ticket Members will not be charged for any early-season home matches not played at Audi Field and will have first-right-of-refusal to purchase tickets for home matches played at alternate venues.
Native
Footballguy
Thanks for posting this. Cant believe I missed it until now. Had no idea that Tata had that kind of pull. I specifically liked this part:
People want to say it’s a retirement league, but that’s nonsense. I’m 23 and I wanted to be here. I think it’s actually the opposite. It’s a place where young players can come and grow and really become something. The fact that people like Tata, Sebastian Giovinco and David Villa all want to be here means something.
He didnt say "its not true". He called it "nonsense". Its a really nice sentiment, and one that hopefully continues to grow as more young, talented players move to MLS.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Old habits/bias's are hard to break but when you look at MLS average age it is complete nonsense. The Bundesliga, which uses plenty of young players, had an average age of 25.7 in 2015/2016. MLS had an average age of 25.8 in 2016.
Sure, every season a couple of older guys get signed but it is so silly to claim the whole league is like that.
El Floppo
Footballguy
silly- but pretty clear why.
yeah, they get these good young talents in... but the big names are guys at the end of their careers. I would think Italy would be a good place to keep plucking younger talent like giovinco, given their wages.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
That is by definition though. MLS teams can not afford the top 50-100 or so big names while they are in their prime. Just look at the transfer fees that have flown around the last two years. It would put MLS out of business almost instantly. They simply do not have the revenue streams to support buying the guys that command over $25m.
They are getting closer but even as they get close the fees continue to rise. If every team in MLS was operating at the Seattle/Atlanta level things would be different but we know they are not.
The MLS parity system also affects this. If MLS funneled the majority of revenue to the top 4 teams like many other leagues do, then those teams could spend significantly more but that is not how things are really set up even with the DP rule.
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Lamela made the bench. But now Winks is out...hopefully just a short-term illness.Team news - Lamela could be included in the squad to face Leicester this week! Probably not to start, but it would be great to see him back in the squad again. He has been missed!
Welcome back, Coco!
@Kafka
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
We have all enjoyed laughing at this graphic in this thread, both for its accuracy and its ability to depict how intricate and confusing and over complicated MLS roster rules are
https://cdn-s3.si.com/s3fs-public/2017/02/09/mls-flowchart-7-redblue.png
Well it looks like they are going to get even more crazy soon according to the following:
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, multiple league sources tell Metro that the league has discussed over the past couple of years money similar to the TAM fund allocated for each team, but this would be tagged for players between 18-21 years old. The sources all indicated that the money being talked about for each team is roughly around $3 million but certainly could vary if and when this becomes a realization.
It is unclear how many years this money would be spread out, per team.
The idea of this fund of money would be for the league to continue to get and retain players between 18-21 years old, a crucial age for the league to be competitive on the international transfer market. During its nascent days, MLS was often tagged as a “retirement league” due to the number of aging European and South American players who played out their last years in the league.
https://cdn-s3.si.com/s3fs-public/2017/02/09/mls-flowchart-7-redblue.png
Well it looks like they are going to get even more crazy soon according to the following:
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, multiple league sources tell Metro that the league has discussed over the past couple of years money similar to the TAM fund allocated for each team, but this would be tagged for players between 18-21 years old. The sources all indicated that the money being talked about for each team is roughly around $3 million but certainly could vary if and when this becomes a realization.
It is unclear how many years this money would be spread out, per team.
The idea of this fund of money would be for the league to continue to get and retain players between 18-21 years old, a crucial age for the league to be competitive on the international transfer market. During its nascent days, MLS was often tagged as a “retirement league” due to the number of aging European and South American players who played out their last years in the league.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
wow, as good a pair of goals as you will see using both feet, and only 3 minutes apart.
https://streamable.com/0gmqs
https://streamable.com/0gmqs
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
In honor of the WC draw I won't be enjoying this week, here is the greatest moment in WC draw history 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrJjr5mLNqw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrJjr5mLNqw
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
holy crap, it looks much more real than I first thought.....
César Luis MerloVerified account @CLMerlo
Amplío: la oferta por Ezequiel Barco ya es formal del Atlanta de la MLS. Son 14 millones de dólares brutos y a #Independiente le quedan 12 limpios. El pase está avanzado
translation: Huge. Atlanta offer for Barco is now formal. It is for 14 million and the transfer is at an advanced stage
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
oh my, how timely for Atlanta (and maybe in a bad way if there were scouts in the stands from Euro teams since this was the semi finals).
Looks like he helped Independiente to the Copa finals with this win.
========================
JFoster @JogaBonito77
Ezequiel Barco came off in the 88th minute to a well-deserved ovation from the #Independiente fans! Excellent performance by the 18 year old #ATLUTD target, scored the 1st goal and was involved in both of the other goals. #TodoRojo #VamosRojo #CopaSudamericana
Looks like he helped Independiente to the Copa finals with this win.
========================
JFoster @JogaBonito77
Ezequiel Barco came off in the 88th minute to a well-deserved ovation from the #Independiente fans! Excellent performance by the 18 year old #ATLUTD target, scored the 1st goal and was involved in both of the other goals. #TodoRojo #VamosRojo #CopaSudamericana
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Interesting that Detroit is still being considered. When their stadium plan crashed a couple of weeks ago many thought they were out.
I am bummed MLS is still sticking to the two spots with Miami going no where.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
This is exactly what I was talking about. If Garber is telling the truth, this is what MLS needs to stop doing.
By the way, most are assuming this is Almiron and Adams
Ian Thomas @byIanThomas
Garber said two offers from foreign clubs were recently rejected by MLS: a $5m offer for a player on NYRB, and a $15m offer for someone on Atlanta United
By the way, most are assuming this is Almiron and Adams
Ian Thomas @byIanThomas
Garber said two offers from foreign clubs were recently rejected by MLS: a $5m offer for a player on NYRB, and a $15m offer for someone on Atlanta United
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Is there a suggestion that Atlanta and NYRB wanted to take the offers and were vetoed? Because the Almiron offer in particular just looks low to me. Even if Atlanta were allowed to make the deal, I'd think they could hold out for better. It's hard for me to assess Adams' market value as I'm irrationally high on him.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
No, from what I am reading the speculation is that the teams might be waiting for MLS to change the rules in terms of how much you can retain for transfer fees.
Atlanta paid $8m for Almiron last year so if the 15 is real, that is a fine return for his one year of play IMO, especially if they can turn around as use it on the young stud from Argentina.
I think $5m is fair for Adams at his age.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
It's season ticket season here in Rev land and the Kraft's with their 9th straight year of playing Lucy to the fans base Charlie Brown trying to kick the football
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Ian Thomas @byIanThomas
Jonathan Kraft said that he's more optimistic than ever that in 2018 they will secure a piece of land in downtown Boston to build a stadium for the Revs. Robert Kraft reiterated that point
===========
Ian Thomas @byIanThomas
Jonathan Kraft said that he's more optimistic than ever that in 2018 they will secure a piece of land in downtown Boston to build a stadium for the Revs. Robert Kraft reiterated that point
Sammy3469
Footballguy
I said this in the USMNT thread, but Twellmen is on Twitter saying that Adams can leave for free this summer (which seems strange to me in terms of timing, but maybe the Academy contracts are different). If what Twellman says is true, they're either looking for more and/or Leipzig want him. No way they go into the new season with him being able to leave in July.
EDIT: now Twellman is saying NYRB say he's locked up through 2020. Not sure what I really believe besides that I think Leipzig probably have a serious interest.
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NewlyRetired
Footballguy
This tweet seems in contrast to the info yesterday which said LAFC was interested
===========================
Kevin BaxterVerified account @kbaxter11
Apparently the agent for Dutch international Wesley Sneijder is in L.A. But there is said to be zero interest from both #LAFC and the #LAGalaxy in signing the 33-year-old playmaker, who is with Nice of France's Ligue 1
===========================
Kevin BaxterVerified account @kbaxter11
Apparently the agent for Dutch international Wesley Sneijder is in L.A. But there is said to be zero interest from both #LAFC and the #LAGalaxy in signing the 33-year-old playmaker, who is with Nice of France's Ligue 1
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
lol, this story is such a cluster #### now
Jeff CarlisleVerified account @JeffreyCarlisle
I'm told that #RBNY didn't receive a $5M bid for Tyler Adams. Not sure who Garber was referring to at this point.
Sammy3469
Footballguy
Like I said, the only thing that makes any sense is if Red Bull GmbH went to Garber and asked how do we get Adams to Leipzig and Garber telling them $5 million in the summer and it getting filtered out this way.
NewlyRetired
Footballguy
Columbus play its last chip, and its a big one.
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https://issuu.com/thecolumbusdispatch/docs/crew_sc_letter/1?ff=true
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https://issuu.com/thecolumbusdispatch/docs/crew_sc_letter/1?ff=true
