Popular Now:
Americans Abroad Major League Soccer MLS USMNT
Top Stories

It’s Q&A time

by

Good morning folks. If you’re stuck at home watching the snow fall like me, I feel your pain. If you are in Hawaii or any place else where the tempurature is above 50, I hate you (okay, not really).

It is that time again, time for you all to submit your questions for the latest Q&A session. Just post your soccer-related questions below and I will provide my answers, opinions and suggestions next week (I’m shooting for Monday).

Please remember, as always, keep the questions from being too long, limit your questions to two at the most and please consult previous Q&A sessions so we don’t get the same questions being asked over and over (If anybody asks about John O’Brien I am banning them from the site. Okay, I’m half kidding).

Fire away!

Comments

  1. I know you get tired of answereing this question but is promotion/relegation ever going to be a possibility. Or once we hit 18 teams is the growth of the league over. With so many cities interested anything over a 20 team league would be horrible especially if we stay in the conference format.

  3. Ives,

    What were the motives behind Osario’s 2 year deal? Was that more of a Red Bull philosphy (choice) or JCO’s?

    It just feels like he is out of here after that contract, or has aspirations for bigger clubs. (I know he has to show he is good before he moves on).

    Also, DVB has to be worried about his roster spot, right?

    thanks,
    Dan

  5. Ives you’re the best!
    1. What is your up to date prediction on where Jozy will end up once he is transfered and will he go in the summer or winter window?

    2. Do you think the new team in Philly will hurt ticket sales for the New York Read Bulls? It does seem like quite a few soccer junkies who would have travled north might just hold out until things start up in Philly. At this rate the stadium in Philly will be done before the Red Bulls get their act together!

  8. Is my perception correct that Jonathon Spector generally goes under the radar when discussing the future of the U.S. national team unlike other young defenders like Jonathan Bornstein have? If so, why? Though he is not always a starter, he is still young and has generally established himself as a reliable defender on a Premiership team that is not likely facing relegation.

  9. Ives,
    Regarding Conde do you feel it is worth losing Dane Richards to acquire Conde? Metros/RBNY have traded away young midfielders in the past who have gone on to have good careers. Is it worth the risk of losing a possible young and talented midfielder to fill a hole that could be fixed by other means.
    Chris

  10. Thanks for the CONCACAF Abroad Report each week. With so many Canadian players on teams overseas, why isn’t their national team more of a force in CONCACAF qualifying?

    Any inside info on status of Bobby Convey’s knee or when Eddie Johnson might start to get playing time at Fulham?

    Thanks!

  11. 1. If you were Benny Feilhaber’s agent/manager/advisor, what would you suggest for him to get some quality PT?

    2. How far do you think the U-23’s will go at the Olympics?

  12. Hey Ives –

    1. Do you see a future of the Superliga with the advent of CONCACAF Champs. League? It seems that the not-so-popular sport in America is now very crowded: MLS league schedule, Open Cup, Champs League, Superliga, Pan-Pacific, plus other friendlies.

    2. With all of this congestion, do you think CONCACAF will follow the rest of the world and change the Gold Cup to every four years instead of every two years? It just makes sense since the FIFA Confederations Cup is every four years.

    Thanks.

  14. Ditto Nike G: What are the prospects for a real league system in American soccer?

    So I’m in Birmingham AL. What MLS team should I consider my team? The closest one is probably Columbus(!).

  15. With Philly looking like a lock for 16, where can we expect expansion to go? I’m from St. Louis and absolutely want a team, but how good of an idea is all of this expansion? We already will have 3 new teams in 3 years. In your opinion, is there enough talent, money, and interest to support an 18-team league 4-5 years from now?

  18. Can you start blogging from a cafe or pub or something so that SBI Mafia members can stroll by and come hang w/ Don Ives every now and then?

    Real question:

    You think Barca will sell out GS again? I think in 06, Ronaldinho’s popularity is what did it. Now, his popularity has been waning, along with his form, and even though Henry is in the picture, it might only bring in 50-60k. What’s your estimation?

  19. Less of a question, more of a request: I would be interested to see a feature on obtaining tickets for European games without getting fleeced. That is, tips for American fans who are planning their trips to Europe and would like to attend a game. (Sample teams of interest: Fulham, Villareal, Benfica.) Thanks.

  23. You mentioned a while back of the MLS allowing its clubs to have minor affiliated teams outside of its market (i.e. Cities that do not have teams). Any developments concerning this? Thanks Ives.

  25. re EPL’s Bottom 3 – Predictions as to whether Reading and/or Fulham can avoid relegation. If they can’t, do you see some of the Americans moving teams, and if so to where? Another EPL, MLS, Spain . . .

  28. Hi Ives,

    This is a more personal question for you, how are you liking in new site compared to your old site? Are things working out as well as you had hoped?

    Thanks!

  29. Ives:

    What is the situation with Heath Pearce? Apparently his time with Hansa Rostock is over, where do you see him going?

    Thanks.

  30. Hi Ives, not sure if this has been asked yet, but what level do you see the MLSs salary cap being raised to in next year’s collective bargaining?

  31. hypothetical question:

    if soccer ever becomes a popular sport in this country, and all the expansion is said and done, do you think the MLS will ever go into a relegation format?

  32. 1 – What are the chances Red Bull trade or release another player before the season commences?

    2 – Whom are they looking at as their present and real CAM options?

    3 – What are the chances of another New York franchise appearing within the next 5 years?

  33. Hey, as a follow up to Dominick’s question,

    Any insight on other potential US Friendlies, like, such as, for example, England?

    Also, any idea where we will play Spain?

    (subtle reference to Ms. Teen SC)

  34. What is DC going to do with their second DP slot? It seems too late for this year, and any thoughts on the new DC stadium?

  35. Would the league accept a fan based association ownership situation like Barcelona or the Green Bay Packers if they could raise sufficient funds?

    If so, how much capital do you think the league is requiring for an ownership group to have (obviously about $30Mil for the price of a team, but they must want to see additional working capital)?

  36. Hi Ives 2 questions.

    1. Do you have any idea what salary Babayaro will be on, if he finally signs for the LA Galaxy? In England he was earning at least $1-1.2 million a year, possibly much more. I find it strange that he would accept a substantially lower salary e.g. $200k. How can this team afford him and Xavier etc

    2 Why does MLS ban transfer fees inbetween MLS teams? It seems like a good ‘trade’ for obtaining a player. e.g. NYRB could pay Chicago $500k for Conde etc

  37. What ever happened to the all state teams you did a few months ago? Tough thing to do being two years away, but your ideal starting 11 for the 2010 world cup based on nothing else except your pure guess as to who will develop and/or shrink away during the next 24+ months. Thanks.

  38. Looking into your magic globe who do you see not making the playoffs this year? San Jose and Toronto still seem to be obvious choices. How about the Galaxy? They were horrible last year. Can the magificant trio of Beckham, Donovan and Ruiz save their season by themselves? That defense looked nonexistant Wednesday.

  40. Hey Ives– Why hasn’t Neven Subotic been called in with U-23’s? Nowak has shown that there is a lack of depth at the CB poisiton at that level after being forced to move Maurice Edu back there. Where’s the love for one of the best young defenders playing in Germany?

  41. Will we see a RBNY-RB Saltzburg final this year? Is there anyone on the Salzburg roster who would be a good fit for NY?

    Thanks
    Mark

  42. With Philly looking like a lock for 16, where can we expect expansion to go? I’m from St. Louis and absolutely want a team, but how good of an idea is all of this expansion? We already will have 3 new teams in 3 years. In your opinion, is there enough talent, money, and interest to support an 18-team league 4-5 years from now?

  43. It certainly seems as though Osorio is freeing up cap space, i.e. Dema trade. Do you think he knows exactly who he wants and how much he needs to get them or do you think he is just anticipating needing the space?

    Can a Conde trade happen? And is Conde holding out at this point?

  44. How does the addition of Philly to the league impact the schedule of adding another NY team? What other cities have the best chance at making the cut before the lockdown?

  46. Ives,

    Off all the foreign sigings so far, which non-high profile player that has been signed do you think will have the biggest impact?

  47. Ives, with Philly on board MLS will have expanded by three clubs over three years. Do you see the league holding off on further expansion for a while to allow the talent pool to catch up, or are they aggressively looking to add a 17th and 18th club?

  49. The old Stand-By Red Bulls’ Questions…

    – Any leads on who Osorio is targeting for attacking midfielder or the other positions (defender, winger)?
    – Stadium & Training Facility Construction Update?

    Thanks Ives!

  50. Do you find Red Bull is more restrictive than Metro about information? If so, how does it effect you reporting? I ask this because other writers recently have come out and said MLS is not media friendly and forthcomng as other US sports.

Comments are closed.