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It’s Q&A Time

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Good afternoon folks. It is that time again. Time for you to send your soccer questions my way and time for me to try and either find you an answer or give you my opinion on the subject. It has been nearly two months since the last Q&A so I’m sure there are plenty of new questions you are interesting in asking.

You know the drill. Send one or two questions of modest length to me and I will try to answer them by next week. There have been problems getting the Q&A sessions finished because we surpass 100 questions so be warned ahead of time. If you get one of the first 50 questions in then chances are you’ll get your answer sooner, but after 50 it could take me a week or it could take me two weeks. With a long trip back home from Guatemala looming on Thursday, I am going to try and knock out some of the questions for this Friday (yes, I know, you don’t believe me. It’s okay.)

Also remember to check out the Q&A archives. Chances are if you aren’t a regular reader and you have a question, I may have already answered your question before. If you submit a question and I don’t answer it then it’s because I have answered it before.

Lastly, be sure to check in here tonight for coverage of the World Cup qualifier between the United States and Guatemala. I will be at the game and praying the wireless internet I’ve been hearing about at the stadium is actually there. If it is, you can rest assured I will give you a detailed account of the match.

Now, back to the Q&A. Let’s get it started, Send your questions my way.

Comments

  1. Given his soccer connections around the world, how much do you think Sunil Gulati is smarting over the fact that the Mexican Federation was able to hire a “name” coach while he was stymied by Klinsmann? Do you think this will make him try harder to land a name-brand coach the next time around?

  2. Any insight as to why Altidore was used so sparingly by Nowak in the Olympics? How would you rate Nowak’s Olympic performance including roster choices?

  4. Ives,

    I remain a big Superliga fan. Do you MLS and the Mexican First Division could EVER combine to form one North American league with Fall and Spring games tended to be played up North and Winter games tended to be played down South?

    I think it would be great to watch more Mexican-US club matches. What other benefits do you see? And what are the obstacles that would prevent this combined league from forming?

    Tim

  5. Any news on ESPN getting a soccer channel together? I’ve seen them take ownership of the Champions League, even playing some of the preliminary games last week. And with their push for the Euros I could see ESPN being the North American Destination for elite level European soccer in english.

  7. Ives,

    Do you think New England should have brought an A average squad (rather than a mixed squad) to DC for the US Open Cup match? Afterall, the Open Cup is now worth a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League in 2009…

  8. Ives, last spring you said Convey was gone from Reading. What do you think now and what are his prospects for getting back on the MNT? Do you think he can overcome his knee injury?

  9. Ives,

    If the Red Bulls could take back any trade they have made the past four years, which one would it be: Ricardo Clark for allocation; Marvell Wynne for second round pick and partial allocation; or another trade?

    At this point, which forward should the Red Bulls get: Kandji or someone else?

  10. Ives,

    I plan on going to the world cup in 2010. Whats the best way to go ahead and put my name on a list for some tickets?

  11. Ives,

    Thanks as always for answering our questions. It’s 2009 and the Red Bulls can go after two DPs because Juan Pablo has decided to go back to his old club in Argentina. Who do the Red Bulls go after (Thierry Henry, etc.)? And who do the Red Bulls get?

  12. Ives,

    RSL is in your hands. What would you do (who would you sign) to bolster the squad and go for the gold?

  13. Which US male olympic player most improved his value in Bejing 2008. I am torn, but I keep coming back to Marvell Wynne.

  14. Ives

    I have a few question to ask, 1) why can there be a segment where we can talk about soccer and show some of the mls game and talk about tastic. 2) why Bob Bradley don’t call some of the guys that play in the USL there are some good players there too. and last why the mls don’t raised the salary cap now that they are going to start charging 50 million for a franchise.

    Thanks

  15. Ruud Gullit…..great coach or greatest coach?

    Also did you have a happy thanksgiving. I only ask because I assume this will be answered around that time.

    Only kidding of course love the site.

  16. Ives,

    Similar to Bob in KC’s question.

    What is the structure of MLS’s revenue?

    What percent typically is attendance/concessions, Advertising, TV, etc?

  17. Ives,

    Whatever happened to that Michael Videira kid that New England drafted?

    I heard he got hurt but was planning on looking for work in Europe when he healed.

    Did that happen?

  18. What is your assessment of the financial health of MLS? Which $ generator (TV, attendance, transfer fees, advertising, stadium) is most critical to the ultimate success of the league.

  19. What is your take on MLS expansion – near term and long term? (with regards to ‘final’ number of teams, which cities, a 2nd NY team, timeline for a 2nd division – even without relegation, etc.)

  20. If Conor Casey stays healthy and continues scoring, netting 9-10 goals for the season, do you think he’d be re-considered for the Nats this winter since he appeared to be the heir apparent to McBride prior to all the injuries that derailed his career?

  21. How dangerous would it be for me and a group of friends to go down to the azteca for the away leg of the hex? are there tickets sold just for American fans? would we have to dress in mexican colors to not be killed or am I over hyping the danger?

  22. Hello Ives,

    1) Does the USL have any restrictions on the number of foreign players allowed on a team’s roster?

    2) What is more important for the development of MLS in the next 5-10 years: more DP signings or more skilled, veteran signings at a non DP cost (i.e. Huckerby, Van den Bergh, Schelotto, etc.)?

  23. Ives,

    It’s summer 2006 and your wife is 8 months pregnant and next week is the World Cup. You have tickets. Do you go or do you stay home?

    I was in this predicament and “opted” to stay home.

  24. Hey Ives,

    With Obama showing more weakness in the past month, exhibiting glaring ignorance in his foreign policy responses, his far fetched solutions to energy (inflate my tires?!), and his rather ambiguous domestic policy being exposed, has your opinion changed? Is McCain becoming more appealling?

  25. Hi Ives, I’m a relative newcomer to soccer (watched my first game during the 2006 World Cup) and I’m very interested in watching some old USMNT games. I remember growing up and watching classic superbowls on espn or some other channel, and while I hate american football, I found the sense of history intriguing. I know that a lot of other sports fans use the history of the sport as a way to connect with it. What I’m wondering is this: why doesn’t ESPN or FSC show old USMNT games instead of that stupid soccer drama? Is it a question of rights?

    thanks,

    -tom

  26. Yes or no, to keep things simple?

    1) Red bull makes the eastern conference final?

    2) Ireland qualifies for WC 2010?

    3) USA gets out of the group stage in 2010?

  30. Love the Site Ives. Just wanted your opinion on something to give the MLS regular season more bite, wanted to know how crazy it seems. Not chances of it happening, just concept. What about adopting the A-league’s Major and Minor semi-final concept? Top two in each conference play the Major Semifinal; Winner advances to the Conference final. Loser plays the winner of the Minor Semifinal (3 vs. 4). And then the subsequent winner of that match advances to a one off conference final. It would add only a week to the season and provide incentive to move up the table from 3-4 into the top two. Just a thought. have a safe trip back

  31. Ives,

    It seems that the US is now producing young players with some decent skill and ability. We are gonna be forced to hire qualified competent coaches soon as it becomes clear the problem is with us, and not the players anymore. What can we do to keep the good ole boy club intact?

    Especially at youth level where my loyatlies really are, and it’s money, not the US Nats.

    Thanks for the help.

    Dan Flynn

  32. You mentioned that you didn’t think Pat Noonan would have liked to return to New England. Why not?

    Also, what are your thoughts on Adam Christman? Is he another Jason Garey, or do you see promise in him?

  33. Great job Ives. two part question regarding the state of soccer in Los Angeles. 1. What do you think Sacha Klejstan’s chances for a move to Europe and 2. with Bruce Arena getting full control at the Galaxy do you see this helping team succeed or leading to failure

  34. I am just curious as to why no Americans have tried or attempted to play in the Argentinan or Brazilian leagues. I figure that if the US player would want to become more of a technical player, that those 2 leagues would be ideal. Is it the language barrier, money, etc… I would love to see an American playing for Boca Juniors or Sao Paolo.

  35. Ives, Who are some of the top US youth prospects (Jerome, Edwards, Gyau, Martinez, Renken?), and when might we start to see some of them going pro? Do observers think the US pipeline is getting stronger?

  37. if the U.S. and Columbia ever met in the World Cup final, who would you be rooting for?

    I have that same dilemma with the U.S. and Bolivia, but my fears wont be realized any time soon so ha!

    also, how hard would it be to get a job working at a newspaper covering an MLS team with a straight up first year out of college (UCSD) with a journalism and economics double major?

    my plan is bulletproof so far:

    1) graduate from college

    2) apply for job

    3) ????????

    4) PROFIT!!!!!!!!

    but more seriously though, my dream job would be the former job of Marc de Grandpre as GM of RBNY, is that an impossible dream?

  38. The question about the top 11 current US players leads to a larger question. Consider only non-naturalized players (i.e. no Thomas Dooley etc.). Who, in your opinion, are the best 11 field players that the U.S. has ever produced? Consider these players “when healthy and in their prime”, for example in my opinion John O’Brien does belong on such a list because, when healthy, he was one of the best 11 players the U.S. has produced.

  40. If his season continues as good as it’s been so far, would you see Charlie Davies possibly transferring to a larger club, or even a quality 2nd tier league such as the Dutch or French leagues?

  41. If there was one thing you could change about the MNT (strategy, player callups, coaches, development system, anything), what would you change?

  42. For the Yanks Abroad section, what defines an American? I realize the question sounds stupid, but given that some players are opting to play for other national teams are they still considered American. I’m not questioning their citizenship or their patriotism or any of that junk, I just mean in a soccer/FIFA stance should we still talk of them as American’s abroad.

  43. What is your all-time starting XI? And if you could meet any soccer player in the world today, who would it be and why?

  45. Love your site, Ives. It seems as if the MLS places a host of restrictions and disincentives which inhibit teams like the Red Bulls from developing young players. Can you please explain the rules about MLS teams developing and signing their own players and tell me why on Earth MLS would place disincentives on teams wanting to develop their own talent when young, homegrown talent is exactly the product the league and the National team is lacking? Is it the case that:

    a) MLS is ignorant and shortsighted

    b) MLS is corrupt

    c) MLS has some reasoning that escapes me.

    Thank you.

  46. Ives,

    I take it since you have FSC you watch the Fox Football Fone-In? I was just wondering what your thoughts were on Nick Webster and Steve Cohen? Have you listened to World Soccer Daily? I don’t like how they rip MLS like they do and of course since Steve is bias towards Chelsea he always rips into Liverpool. Thanks again for all you do!

  48. Ives,

    Are you familiar with organization of the youth leagues beginning when they are 4 or 5 going all the way to U-18? It seems like the US Youth Association is trying to have a very structured system for the very best players. The biggest problem with the system now is the cost to the parents. It doesnt awlays end up with the best kids in the soccer acadamies, its the kids whose parents can afford to shell out the 4 or 5 thousand bucks a year.

  49. I’m really perplexed on this one. Considering every national team game seems to be listed as his “last chance,” why do you think Bob Bradley keeps calling in Eddie Johnson when at least a few other fowards (Cooper, Buddle, and Altidore) are better options?

Comments are closed.