With the 2009 MLS season now over, and attention can start turning to the off-season action, it is time for a new Q&A.
Please submit your soccer questions in the comments section below and I will answer a select number of those questions. Whether you want to talk U.S. national team, MLS, European soccer, or even some pop culture topics, good questions are always welcome.
Send your questions my way.
Michael Orozco has seen regular playing time for San Luis while they have made their run in the Mexican Apertura playoffs. He plays a position that is in some flux right now for the national team at CB, but has not been called up since the red card at the Olympics. Do you think Bradley is still holding the red card incident against him? Why do you feel he hasn’t been called up since the Onyewu injury? Do you feel he should be given another chance?
How legit is the RB’s play for Rafa Marquez? I know they’re moving to the stadium next year, but that doesnt seem realistic, although it would be a great get
Also, supposedly Feilhaber is getting looks from some bigger leagues in Germany, Spain, and Holland. What would you advise him to do come January?
Keep up the great work Ives! With everything going on with the Chile federation and FIFA, will a lockout or strike for the upcoming MLS season impact the US place in South Africa?
(SBI-The reason Chile was in trouble was because the club in question, Rangers, took the matter to court, and FIFA laws don’t allow for soccer matters to be settled by government entities. The MLS labor situation wouldn’t be an issue unless the Players took the league to court.)
Ives,
Any word on the profitibility of MLS in 2009? Outlook for 2010?
Ives,
How thoughts on if any of the top prospects in college have generated any interest from European teams? If the opportunity exists for them, do you think it’s in the best interest?
Saw one of the questions from last month mention R.R.F.C. Montegnee (the Belgium 4th division team) as an “American” team and was surprised to see they have something like 9 US players on their roster.
What’s with the team, why so many Americans?
(SBI-It’s not really a team so much as a front to cycle American players into Europe, with the hook being that it can help Americans secure European passports while developing in a pro environment. I know folks involved have sworn by it, but soccer people I talk to about it have serious reservations and questions about its validity.)
1. World Cup draw in almost a week- who do we want to get?
2. Off that, what type of team are the US team weakest against (speed and power from Africa, technical ability from Asia, physical teams from northern Europe, all around play from South America, stuffed defense and counter attacks from Southern Europe, etc)?
A Quiz
1. Fill in the blanks with the names of leagues that, quality-wise, are just above and just below MLS, respectively:
_______
MLS
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2. I’ve always been curious about who would win between club teams and national teams. Chelsea versus the US team maybe nine times out of ten goes to Chelsea, I guess, but what about, like, England versus Real Madrid? Or the US versus a mid-level Premiership team?
Ives, simple question –
Does Gooch make the roster for WC2010?
Ives, great site and thanks for all the soccer/futbol news. I was wondering what kind of rehab Gooch and Charlie Davies will be going through. How are they both doing? I haven’t really heard much from them since the injuries.
You know that new movie where if they press the button and get a million dollars but someone dies. I would press that button to get that team for USA. Literally if someone who i did not know died in the backwoods of some god awful place in this world for the USA to have that starting 11 at the world cup i would do it.
Maybe be a little facetious!! But i would consider it for about a week!!!
Philly Union – who do you think they go after for their DP, thoughts on the expansion draft on wednesday, is the stadium going to be ready by the spring…it still looks like a pile of dirt and concrete
From the Guardian:
WHAT’S IN A NAME?
“What’s the story behind Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink’s unusually area-specific name?” asks David Atkinson.
According to our research, Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was thus named because, way back in the 17th century, two farming families in the Enschede area of Holland intermarried. Both the Vennegoor and Hesselink names carried equal social weight, and so – rather than choose between them – they chose to use both.
‘Of’ in Dutch actually translates to ‘or’, which would mean that a strict translation of his name would read Jan Vennegoor or Hesselink.
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Ives,
Who are your 23 for SA? Not who you think BB will take, but who would you take?
Are you hiring? I need a job!
I never fully understood the demise of the MLS reserves. Was it all about money? Do you think it will come back? Where did all those players end up?
Ives,
What new players you think will come to the LA GALAXY next season? Who should they sign? Where do you think donovan will go?
Thank you
Ives,
What are your thoughts on Tim Howard finding his way back onto the roster of a European superpower (English Big 4, Real, Barca, Juve, the Milans, or Bayern)? I don’t know if his time at United would have soured him to the experience, but you’d have to think he’d provide an upgrade for at least half of the aforementioned clubs (Arsenal, Man U, Barca, AC Milan, & Bayern by my count). Have you heard any whispers, or could you see him making the move to one of Europe’s elite clubs (not that Everton’s too shabby) in the near future?
Predict the top 5 or 10 MLS draft picks please.
Also, don’t you wish you could’ve interviewed Drew Carey at the MLS pregame.
Does Thierry Henry’s infamous handball make it more likely he will move to MLS in the near future? He’s taking a lot of heat in Europe and has already mentioned quitting the national team. MLS would be the perfect place to get out of the spotlight for a little while, no?
also do you think that a disagreement on this topic is why Klinsman and other coaches were not signed/have success in the US system
Ives,
1. How do you see the MLS’ quality of play progressing? I feel that the media/public attention has improved but is it correct to say that the overall quality of players, coaches and game play is improving over the past.. 5 years?.. 10 years?
2. Across the entire FIFA world what are you favorite clubs to watch/support?
3. I heard one of Bob Bradley’s main goals (..i guess every coach has this goal) was to develop a strong identity of playing style to the USMNT through the youth levels. How would you describe that “playing brand”
Thanks – Robert
you got it. Home and away, then a single game in the higher seed’s park, then the final in “nuetral” spot* (future MLS Cups might be in the higher seed’s city)
2nd that.. i wish so much that he would put some more effort into a club/city with so much potential.
what ur fav team!? i know u have one! we all know! u support someone and i wanna know who seee..(1940’s mob voice)or do u just assume the position and recieve from any coach or player that will have u?!?! I DEMAND JUSTICE!!
My question concerns the format of the expansion draft that will be held for Philly. The draft will be 10 rounds but does the order of the picks actually have any significance for the player or team the player is selected from? I don’t see why they don’t just pick ten players and then send in the list to the league office.
from the unprotected players list, who do you take if you Philly? Also, with KC putting all three of their rostered keepers on their list is that a sign they want to look elsewhere in that department?
Why would the Fire protect an aging player like CJ Brown who is looking to retire and no one would want anyway instead of a Banner or Woolard? Is there something I am missing here?
Where would you like to see Clint Dempsey play?
Is it surprising that more guys from MLS are not on the USMNT?
Ives,
Can you please explain the MLS playoff setup.
Why is it home/away in the first round, but the semifinal is a one-off?? I can understand the final being one game, but just don’t get the inconsistency of earlier rounds.
Of the unprotected players, if you were GM/Coach of the Philadephia Union, who would you draft? And who is your #1 MLS College Draft choice?
Ives .. great site!
I recall Cory Gibbs was one of the defenders in the months prior to WC 2006 that many people thought could contribute to the USMT team & then he got injured. Last I heard he was in Colorado. Is his USMT career over?
With the expansion draft coming up and a new class of graduating generation adidas players, can you offer a refresher of the program eligibilty?
Ives,
Love the site. I check it like 3 times a day. 2 Things:
1. Is the USA gonna get new kits before the world cup and if so when? I am not a fan of the current candy cane white kits and am looking forward to a new look.
2. Also, all things considered. How do you think this team would do in South Africa? (this is all pretend mind you)
Guisseppe Rossi-Charlie Davies-
Landon–Bradley–J. Jones–Clint Dempsey
Bocanegra–Gooch—Subotic—Spector
Ives, with the re-birth of the NASL and the teams who have signed up. Who exactly makes up what remains of the USL? How could this affect the US Cup?
When playing for the USMNT, I often see Tim Howard furious after a play where it looks like his defense let him down. Is he really taking it out on his defenders and is that good for morale? or is he yelling at the refs or a missed offside call?
Hello! Baseball has the world series, LA Lakers call themselves the world champions. In the spirit of American sports ignorance, shouldn’t MLS re-brand the MLS Cup as the World Cup?
What’s your gut feeling on whether we see another DP or increased minimum salary or increased salary cap. One, two, or all three?
Is there any chance we can do away with the phrase “super sub?” If not, can you differentiate when a player is going to be a super sub as opposed to when the coach is looking to insert an average sub or subpar sub?
I guess this never made sense to me. Is this a phrase that is used around the world or is only limited to domestic soccer discussions?
I don’t mean to be insulting to those using the phrase, I guess I just always thought it was a redundant expression.
How do we bring Men’s soccer scholarships to the BIG 12 and SEC?
My understanding is that there is no such thing as true player free agency within the MLS (ie: out of contract players right are still held by their former teams.) Do you think this restriction on player movement has helped or hurt the league over the years? Is it time for free agency to exist within the MLS? I expect this will be an issue in the CBA negotiations.
Can you go over how transfers work in the MLS? I’ve been trying, but just don’t get it.