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 give you an answer or give you my opinion on the subject. (Apologies for the lack of posts today. I had to go into Manhattan for some soccer-related business).
You know the drill. Send one or two questions of modest length to me and I will try to answer them by next week (key word being try). Breaking the answers up into segments has helped me finish the Q&A sessions much more quickly so you could see some answers as soon as Friday or Saturday.
Please try to limit your questions to one or two. Also, if you want to ask a pop culture question, be it movies, music or TV, you can ask one as well. No, this isn’t turning into Music By Ives, but I figured I could mix things up a bit and see how it works.
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.
Let’s get it started, Send your questions my way.
NO MORE QUESTIONS!!!! Thanks to all of you who participated.
Ives, you rule. Two questions.
1. It’s become increasingly evident to me that Garber is not taking the league as far as he used to be able to. How much longer will we keep Don Garber in the Commissioner’s role?
2. Let’s face it. MLS teams won’t get any better if they just keep playing the same old, same old style against the same 13 clubs. The play in the Champion’s League has been much better than MLS. Non-MLS clubs are much more creative and technically gifted on the ball, whereas MLS clubs just do the same old attack almost every time. MLS clubs are predictable. Should fans sit back and just accept the fact that the league and its clubs aren’t taking things like the Champion’s League seriously?
Not to mention that it makes it awfully hard to defend MLS against soccer snobs when out champion clubs can’t even beat the champs from T&T or Honduras, while USL1 clubs can. We almost always get schooled by clubs from other countries in serious competitions.
Will the USA ever produce a soccer player on par with Messi or Ronaldo or Zidane? If so, when and from what part of the country do you see this player emerging?
1. Seeing that michael bradley scores most of his goals from follow ups. Wouldn’t it benefit him as well as the rest of Team USA to start a striker who can at least put shots on goal. I don’t mind brian ching but he just can’t unleash a shot like kenny cooper. I believe just having a player that could get shots and maybe cause some spilled balls would increase the US offensive output 10 fold. Disagree?
2. With the sucess of USL in champions league should MLS Bids be lowered to 2 or 3 and at least one US based USL team be given a berth. Or perhaps and automatic berth to their champion?
What affect do you think free movies (“with limited commercial interruption!) on IMDb and Hulu.com will have on online rental companies like Netflix and Blockbuster?
With the current single entity structure, do you think a highly successful Montreal team/fans/Toronto rivalry, could provide better financial MLS stability, even if it is not a US market, nor the largest market?
Thanks for doing this website. It’s a really big asset to MLS fans.
What are the rules for Seattle’s expansion draft going to look like? Are they likely to sign anymore players before the draft and if so who?
Do you think in the next 4-5 years soccer will be a popular sport? Will MLS stadiums will be full?
Who do u feel the top ten American goal keepers are at the moment (pretending they are all at full health)?Also, Its obvious Howard is our number one while Guzan is our number 2… who do you think would be our number 3 and alternative for the world cup. I don’t see Friedel in the mix unless Howard is injured. Hesmer, Keller, Cervi (if things go well with celtic) Hahnemann, Perkins, are all names that come to mind
Oh wise Obi-Wan,
You’ve sounded very down on Freddie Adu of late. I, too, have noticed that his defense is erratic at best on the few occasions I’ve been able to see him of late (Olympics, qualifying and several USMNT matches), though I disagree with you regarding his offensive contributions.
My question is this. Should we begin worrying about Freddie and his seeming lack of commitment on the defensive end, or is this pretty normal for a kid his age who is an offensive player? Can we expect him to develop his defense as he gets older, or is this a serious flaw in his game that may hinder him for years from getting playing time at a high level?
I’ve noticed that he seems to back way off of players with the ball and just sit in passing lanes, hoping for help/ to cherry pick a bad pass. Is this simply a motivational problem with aggressiveness or does he lack the tools/ skills/ strength to take on offensive players?
I think this is so important because he IS a wonderful offensive player who will get much more playing time if BB and his club coach sees that he can be played not just as a striker but also as a midfielder who can get back and help out on defense.
Do you think Shunsuke Nakamura would be an ideal DP for seattle (which also has a huge japanese population)? If so, what are MLS’s chances of getting him?
Yes or nooooo!!!!!!!
1. Reading’s looking hot as it is right now…
1a. Do they stay on the elevator and go back up?
1b. Will Convey EVER play?
2. Germany’s looking as weak as ever… Will they get a team past the CL group stages in this year or next year’s tournament?
3. UEFA cup’s getting it’s name changed? Sounds like a ploy. Will it work in it’s attempt to grant meaning on the tournament?
non-yes/no… Keane’s contract looks to be getting extended at Sunderland… You’re take on his management job, and his um, run ins with well… Just about everyone?
1. Will GBS and Schmid re-sign in Columbus?
2. Will MLS continue to rely mostly on college soccer for players or will academies take over?
If Donavan goes to Bayern Munich, will he start?
If he doesn’t start, will he quit again citing missing his girlfriend and dogs?
If he doesn’t go to Munich, have you heard of any other teams showing an interest and if so who?
Finally, who is better? Lando of Deuce?
Hi Ives,
What do you think so far of season 4 of Prison Break?
Being a soccer history buff here, which starting eleven retired USA national team players (can still be playing club soccer) would you say would make the best eleven? Kind of an all star team choosing….
Who in your opinion will be the first true world-class star to emerge from the US? Is it someone like Altidore, someone from the next generation like Renken, or do you not see anyone in the current pipeline with that type of potential?
As a Newcastle Fan watching the horror show that is going on now there now what US sports organization(s)are just as messed up as they are? Enjoy the website keep up the great writing.
Ives,
As for Eddie Johnson, don’t you think it would be best for him to return to the mls? He clearly doesnt have the confidence or technical ability to stay overseas at a high level. However he could have a lot to contribute to the mls. A young american pure striker who has proven himself already in the league could provide some flash and marketability. Plus doing well and keeping fit while playing a lot could throw him back in the national team mix… what are your thoughts about it?
With the recent success of USL teams in the CCL do you think there will ever be a pre-season game that pits the MLS champs vs. the USL champs or do you think a game more like the Community Shield where the MLS champs vs. the US Open champs would be more likely? I think either of these games would be a step in the right direction for MLS. Thanks again, love the site.
VIVA SOCCER BY IVES!
Looking into a glass bulb, can you see the trio of Adu, Altidore, and Davies being a dangerous attacking triplet for the 2014 World Cup?
With the CONCACAF Champions League to help, do you think you might start a CONCACAF power rankings? What might be your current top 10 or so? (hopefully you haven’t answered this already). Thanks.
What single factor do you think will play the greatest role in improving the quality of the player pool for the US relative to the soccer powers around the world? Better athletes choosing to play and stick with the sport? More emphasis on skills? Exposure to better competition at a young age? Or will it be something more marketing/branding-related, like a higher profile for MLS–or a breakout MLS star–pulling more American athletes into the game? And on a related note, do you think the US player pool is consistently improving already?
Why is the Gold Cup played every two years? If it was every four years, it seems like the prestige would be enhanced because there would be fewer chances to win it, and it can be made into a bigger event. Really, what’s the prize for winning the 2009 Gold Cup? Pride. But the winner doesn’t get to go to the Confederations Cup.
Ives,
Why does MLS always lie about the attendance, when they post it up in the website. For every single Galaxy home game, it shows that it was 27,000. I have a hard time believing that that is the actual attendance.
Thanks
Great site Ives! It is really awesome to have a consistent perspective and opinion on soccer from an American angle, considering there isn’t much of that on a consistent basis.
2 questions:
1) The USL teams have really impressed in Champions League. If the MLS salary cap is raised, can you see a large amount of USL player signings to MLS?
2) Given the million questions on who will start for the Yanks in 2010, what players would you see as a great sources of depth for the next World Cup?
Being that you have been to the majority of MLS Stadiums covering the Red Bulls, could you rank the supporters of each team based on a combination of knowledge of the game, attmosphere and overall support of the team?
Is MLS planning on bringing in the next two expansion teams in the same year or will they stagger it?
Love the site, Ives! Its a great way to keep worktime alive!
In looking at attacking midfielder, for the 2010 world cup, can you see Donovan or Dempsey being used in that way, and perhaps Adu used as a very dependable sub coming off the bench? I know the USA is still looking for a consistent starting 11, but we also need to work on depth. Its amazing what other countries can do with their benches.
Hi Ives:What is the future for Puerto Rico Islanders since they are not in the plans for future MLS expansion unlike the Montreal Impact? I have been duly impressed with their play in both the USL and CONCACAF Champions League?
What is your take on the UEFA/FIFA vs. Poland issue? Is Poland really going to have to forfeit their qualifiers over this?
Can Freddy Adu play alongside Landon Donovan in any reasonable formation that would provide defensive cover?
Why hasn’t Bornstein been utilized as a flank midfielder?
What has been the problem with Everton’s backline this year?