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MLS All-Star Game: Match Night Commentary

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The 2011 MLS All-Star Game kicks off tonight, with the MLS All-Stars taking on English Premier League champions Manchester United at Red Bull Arena (8:30pm, ESPN).

The MLS All-Stars will be looking for a measure of revenge after last year's 5-2 MLS All-Star Game loss, though this year's squad is a stronger one than the 2010 edition. Thierry Henry, David Beckham and Faryd Mondragon are just some of the standouts bolsterig this year's All-Star Team.

SBI will be providing commentary on tonight's match so please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Tonight's commentary is after the jump):

 

Comments

  1. I drove two hours each way last Saturday night to see my beloved Dynamo get thumped by Chivas USA, so yeah I’m a eurosnob. Why would I comment on this thread if I was a so-called “euro-snob”? Can we just put that term to rest already?

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  2. I dunno, they’ve played poorly twice against Man U. No shame in that. They’ve held their own against other “real” teams from Europe in the past. I think much ado is being made of nothing in a lot of circles tonight.

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  3. How is the MLS copying NBA or MLB? How does ANY of them copy one another?

    NBA = all NBA players one conference vs the other for nothing

    MLB = all MLB players one league vs the other for something

    MLS = MLS players vs a club team

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  4. Football is not a sport where you can throw a bunch of guys together at the last minute, no matter how good they are, and hope to get a good result against a world class side. Lest anyone forget, this similar Manchester United side was obliterated by Barcelona in the Champions League final and they were an actual team made up of superstars that played together all year. This game was fun in many ways, but MLS needs to re-think the idea of bringing in a real team. Maybe pull a Euro All-Star team together from the various World Football Challenge teams? Or maybe go up against the US National team? As for the game, it should serve as a reminder of the massive gulf in individual talent between the better players around the world and what passes off as MLS All-Stars. On the other hand, Beckham looked like he could play for Man Utd right now.

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  5. Yes, but at least manage to get one goal in your own event. The opposition must change. Chicharito is a great draw, but 2 years in a row is silly. After drawing such a big crowd for Real Madrid, LA scheduled them again and it also backfired. Greed is not good…lol.

    And there were some quality MLS finishers that didn’t play in this one. It would have been fun to see a guy like Hassli. Donovan, Davies, Shea, Casey. Quality playmakers like Morales and Ferreira also.

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  6. These MLS players DO NOT REGULARLY play on the same team or train together.
    Almost all of the goals Man U scored were caused by the fact that lapses occurred by guys that don’t play together and don’t have an understanding of what their teammate will or will not do on specific plays.

    A powerhouse side like Man U will always pounce on every mistake and take advantage.

    MLS still has miles to go, but, I was very happy to see we played kinda the sexy way.

    (Too bad MLS is lacking quality “Finishers” just like the national team).

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  7. I have a strange feeling the soccer media is going to spin this to back MLS decision, how sad. Yes fans are entertained by United, but they also want some level of competition and proficiency. This format does not work.

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  8. MLS needs to avoid scheduling one of the Top 3, beacuse they are virtually unbetable by any team outside of them. (Madrid, Barca, Man U). MLS All STars can beat any other club team.

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  9. Let the excuses flow! I’m sure our hard hitting media and core of sympathizers (ex-players) will really blast this and the rest of the MLS performances this summer. Hooray mediocrity!

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  10. We need to stop these exhibition games, MLS All Stars. It looks really bad for the league. We need to concentrate on the season and win CONCACAF CUPS.

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  11. ManU players not celebrating, basically just laughing at the whole experience. How does this improve American soccer, other than another big sellout? Maybe just answered my own question. I won’t be watching next year.

    All-Star Game has become a farce. Go back to East vs. West

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  12. Thank God it’s over. The worst of the MLS games. Becks was the only MLS player with professional skills today. MLS/Garber/Media say so what, this is entertainment, not for me. The score doesn’t bother me, the inability to play with a decent level of proficiency doesn’t turn me on.
    Perhaps United against Chelsea for the next AllStar game.

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  13. Glory hunting, rubes who couldnt name 3 people on the club… I dont care if you are free to like whoever you want… at least have SOME sort of connection to the team other than liking the color red, or having so little confidence, you need to support a winning team…. F*** em, thanks for the cash, now piss off.

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  14. What a pointless pointless game…why does MLS have to copy NBA, MLB, etc.

    How can I get excited about this league? Conferences, playoffs, Jabulani, no promo/relegation…Donnie Garber, please go!

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  15. I think this MU team is better prepared for the EPL season than last years team! Besides Barca, Real, Chelsea, Liverpool, Bayern, and a few other teams, I don’t think too many teams can keep up with MU… I don’t think MLS should feel embarrassed. MU is just that much better than anything MLS has to offer…. $$2.5 million/team vs. $$1.3 billion/team… who do you think is going to win?!?!?!

    If anything, it shows the amount of technical (financial) skill that MLS still needs to achieve to compete at the world stage.

    MU just made a boat-load of $$ on this US trip!!!

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  16. God. This entire affair is just embarrassing. They have the commentators making excuses for the league and trying to add dramatic effect to this disaster. I look forward to Ives telling all of us “eurosnobs” that we don’t know what we’re talking about. And going on to make ridiculous excuses as per usual.

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  17. +1. Also love how Backe hasn’t subbed in Agudelo until now, as if to prove a counterpoint to the MLS. Game was a joke. If the MLS keeps on overhyping this kind of stuff, only to dramatically underperform, they aren’t doing themselves any good as they go after this pipe dream of making the MLS a top league in the world. At least they have some more shallow BS lined up (Keller).

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  18. Cummings got worked in the first half on the MLS right flank. that was the formation, and he was exposed out there. Bravo did much better on the left flank digging in more defensively

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