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The (Old School) SBI Q & A (Nov. 4 Edition)

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The MLS playoffs are in full swing and World Cup qualifying is set to kick off, so what better time than now to have an Old School SBI Q&A?

It has been a good while since we opened the floor for questions from our readers, but now is a good time to do just that. For those who don’t remember the format, it’s simple. Submit your question in the comments section below and I will answer questions in an SBI post later this week.

Want to discuss the MLS playoffs? Have a bone to pick about the MLS awards finalists? Feeling a little nervous as the USMNT prepares for World Cup qualifying? Have a question about college soccer or the NASL? Send your soccer-related questions my way and I will answer them later this week.

Send your questions my way.

Comments

  1. Not sure if my first attempt was submitted – curious thought on how much of Jozy’s stats and performance are due to how much Giovinco shoots (~180 times – 50 more than next highest) – which does not leave a lot for Jozy (37 shots all season in 25 games…)

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  2. How much of the disappointment folks have with Jozy – do you feel is due to Giovinco’s shooting so often (~180+ shots this year – 50 more than anyone else in the league) with a 12% scoring rate

    Compared to Jozy – who had only 37 shots total in ~ 25 game – but with a ~35% scoring rate.

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  3. Landon Donovan posted a pic in his FB page in a Galaxy kit saying “first day back in training…” Is he coming back?! 😉

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  4. Can you explain the big deal about the Thursday-Sunday schedule of the Europa League versus the Wednesday-Saturday schedule of the Champions League. I read how clubs like Arsenal would be better off finishing dead last than being third and going int Europa. If clubs view the Europe League as beneath them just say so but I don’t see the difference from a schedule perspective.

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  5. Is there any real advantage gained by switching the youth teams from a school year based schedule to a calendar year schedule? Changing the cutoff month doesn’t seem to me to make any difference. The bias will just affect a different group of players. I do like the idea of the small players national team. What are your thoughts on these changes?

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  6. Do you have any update on Onyewu? Last I heard he was injured while training for NYCFC. Is he still trying to make a come back with NYCFC? Is he looking for another team? Or has he decided the injuries were too much to overcome?

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  7. Do you think that there’s validity to the connection between the USMNT’s bad run and the fact that most of our senior players have come back to play in MLS? Is our quality declining?

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  8. One more for NASL. Considering the rules and stipulations concerning league status in the US, do you believe that the NASL will continue to exist and improve as a league, especially over the next five or so years? Thanks for the Q and A…

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  9. I say that the winner of the FC Dallas vs Seattle game/series on Sunday night will eventually win the MLS Cup when it’s all said and done. Agree, disagree, general thoughts?

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  10. What’s up with Yedlin? He was subbed last game. Was he throwing up a sinker or was it tactical and we should expect him back in the starting line up next weekend?

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  11. This is more a suggestion than a question, but I would like you to revisit your old USMNT predictions for upcoming players and report on how they are doing now. You have promoted various players, like Gayu, and Gatt, and Nagbe, and Shea, and many others. I would like to know how they are doing now.

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  12. Why can’t individual MLS clubs negotiate their own kit contracts? I know the league has made a deal with Addidas, but all the unis seem fairly unimaginative outside of the color schemes. 20 yrs back, each team did do their own endorsement deals. I recall Reebok, Puma and Nike in those first years.

    Wouldn’t it be better for Addidas to compete with Nike, Umbro, Under Armour, et al?

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  13. The past season for RBNY has been a far cry philosophically from the RBNY we have known since 2006. Low spending, void of aging euro “stars” and now apparently shopping stadium naming rights. Where will the line be drawn for this renaissance? Could we see the club abandon its corporate identity all together?! (Change in name/crest)

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  14. Heard that AS Roma is interested in signing Perry Kitchen. Seeing how Garcia reduced MB4’s playing time, how do you think Kitchen will fit in Roma? Could you see him playing right away?

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  15. When does Nagbe make the move overseas? And when can we hope to see players like Nagbe, Finlay, and the like start to get incorporated into the national team? If not Nagbe, who is the next MLS player to make the move abroad?

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  16. Any chance that you ever send me a USMNT scarf, bearing your signature of course, for winning* the WC camp roster selection contest (SBI Show 139, min. 25)? #Scarfgate

    *According to my repeated analysis of comments/rosters before the official roster was announced.

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  17. Re USMNT and “new” prospects ala Nagbe… does it really make sense to call up Nagbe if you’re going to continue to play the same style of soccer or do you wait and pull up several new people and change to more of a possession style at the same time?

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  18. How soft was the “foul” that lead to the Sounders winner. Seemed purdy soft and no replay…
    Speakin of no replay, what about the Adi elbow to Besler and the Borchers body check to Dwyer. I recall that ol Willie Johnson said that before arriving in Timberlandia, they were know to be a team that would buckle under physical pressure (not a direct quote). Seems that the Timbers have toughened up a bit since then!
    Speaking of Johnson, do see Timbers bringing in Jermain Jones to replace him? I know he was captain but does he really fit team chemistry? #askthesbishow

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  19. Also, is there any real rumblings of Klinsmann losing the locker room. From the outside looking in, I don’t see how it could not be happening, but wondering if there is any real talk, and it is just not being reported to protect the players?

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  20. Hey Ives, two questions.
    1) Given that Gerrard stays at LA, how do you think he will be able to perform next year in light of his age? Will his partnership with Juninho ever be as good as the Juninho-Sarvas combo?

    2) In your estimation of things, has Klinsmann lived up the expectations and goals that he’s set for himself? Either way, is he still an effective enough head coach to justifiably hang on to, rather than getting a new head coach and keeping him on as technical director, or just outright firing him?

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  21. I don’t think that I’m alone in saying that too many MLS uniforms are derivative, and too similar to each other. The only difference is in the color schemes.

    One thing that the nascent MLS got right (talking about 20 yrs back) was allowing Reebok and Nike to compete in kitting out some of the squads. I’m not saying that their uniforms were better designed, some of the inaugural kits were hurtful on the eyes. That said, why can’t each team and ownership group negotiate their own contracts for home and away kits?

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  22. where do you foresee Freddy Adu heading off to next?

    How are some of the NASL teams able to afford such high profile players, i.e., Raul, Senna, etc? Their attendances are so low! Where’s the revenue coming from???

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  23. Ives, don’t have a question, just a suggestion. In the old website layout each comment had a time-stamp, but with this new format there is no time-stamp (only the date). You should have the time-stamp added back on.

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  24. At what point do you think Klinsmann will be fired?
    Also, where do you see Jason Kreis ending up? Is a return to RSL possible? Or is a reunion with Garth Lagerway in Seattle likely?

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  25. Do you expect any surprise inclusions on the WC Qualifying roster? Perhaps someone along the lines of a Nagbe, Feilhaber, or Finlay?

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  26. Do you think Altidore stays in Toronto? I think a smart move for them would be to drop him and pick up Cubo if possible

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  27. Do you think we will see Bob Bradley sign with a new team in the next few weeks as the Norwegian season ends? Where do you think it might be?

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