Photo by ISIphotos.com
HARRISON, N.J. — Putting on an entertaining show is what most hope to accomplish during an All-Star Game, but in the minds of those on the MLS side tasked with going up against Manchester United, getting a result is just as important, especially with the burn from last year's 5-2 thrashing in Houston still lingering.
"We want to change the result from what happened (last year)," Houston Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis said. "We talk about how these games are all fun and exciting and getting to be in this atmosphere, but now the league and us players, we want to make a good showing, we want to prove to them that we're growing in talent and growing as soccer players. We soak in every moment of this and have fun, but come tomorrow night, I'm going to take it pretty seriously and try and win the game."
The Red Devils have had tremendous success in their U.S. friendlies thus far this summer, beating the New England Revolution, Seattle Sounders and Chicago Fire by a combined score of 14-2.
"They've been really incredible this whole U.S. tour," Real Salt Lake midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "From last year to this year they didn't miss a beat. I think we're taking it with a little bit of a chip on our shoulder to try and right the ship and see if we can be the ones to get a result against them."
Here are a few more notes from the build up to the MLS All-Star Game:
BACKE'S APPROACH
MLS All-Star coach Hans Backe spoke of his approach to substitutions, and he appeared to lean more toward multiple substitutions on a couple of occassions as opposed to changing the flow of players repeatedly over the course of the game. Backe said that he has nine substitutes with which to work.
"I'll try to give everyone minutes, definitely, but I will try to not kill the game," Backe said. "Friendlies, sometimes you do six subs in the second half and the game is killed. So we will do perhaps four at halftime and four after 60 minutes, and that's only two times that we'll sub players, and that's less even than a normal game."
UNITED'S ADVANTAGE
Despite Manchester United being in preseason mode, the club has had opportunities to play games together over the last couple of weeks. The same can't be said for the MLS All-Stars, who will have had the luxury of two training sessions together prior to taking the field.
"To work with the tactical defending, attacking, you just have two sessions," Backe said. "It's definitely a challenge."
Added Davis: "It does take a couple days to get to know one another, play possession and knock the ball around a little bit. We have a lot of guys that are pretty experienced playing tomorrow night, so I'm confident that we can do well."
WORDS OF WISDOM
While Davis and Geoff Cameron have been around the All-Star circuit before, two of their Houston Dynamo teammates earned their first nods. Midfielder-turned-left-back Corey Ashe and goalkeeper Tally Hall are enjoying their first All-Star experiences, and Davis, a four-time All-Star had some words of wisdom to pass down to the first-timers.
"I just told them, 'You've been working your tails off, and this is the reward, so go in, soak it all up, don't let all the exterior things bother you or get you off track. Do what you want to do, be kind of selfish, put yourself forward and enjoy every minute of it, because you never know when it's going to happen again and how many times this is going to happen for you. It's not every day you get to play Manchester United.'"
For Ashe, the All-Star appearance is a full-circle event. It was against the Red Bulls earlier this season that he was converted into a left back, to help deal with Dane Richards' pace on the wing, and he returns to Red Bull Arena as an All-Star at the position. Hall, also, has had two of his better performances this season against New York.
AN ABUNDANCE OF ADMIRATION
Ask an MLS All-Star which Manchester United player he's looking forward to going up against the most, and you wind up with a collection of names.
"If I could list the whole roster I would," New York Red Bulls forward Juan Agudelo said. "It's amazing, just every single player on Man. U … I'm just honored to step on the field with them."
While the Red Devils have been touring the states for a few weeks and have gone up against the MLS All-Stars before, that doesn't take away from the amount of admiration aspect of Wednesday night's match.
"Obviously when you're playing on a field with Giggs, Rooney, Vidic, Ferdinand, that team is amazing," Beckerman said. "There's just so many names that they have. Being one of the best teams in the world, that's the type of players that you get. It's going to be a great experience and I'm sure one that everybody's really looking forward to test and challenge themselves."
Added New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry: "You are talking about one of the best teams in the world. So you can only look at them, especially playing in this league, and admire what they are doing and what they did in the past."
The equation is not that simple. NYRB play in the open cup, and there is a much greater chance that they have some fans in the arena for the rest of the season (= $$$$) and remainder of Soler/Backe era. That seems unlikely now if you’ve watched any games recently. Just in my own small circle, I know many longtime Metros fans that are giving up their season tickets next year. And by the way, most MLS teams do take the Open Cup seriously, out of respect for the league, the USA, and their fans. The Scandanavian management of NYRB are complete outliers in that respect. So instead, now they will go earn a few million at Arsenal, and lose many times more that over the next few seasons in lost ticket and merchandise sales. Nice strategy.
They tried not to score but the Seattle reserves played just two in the back, a 2-5-3. Sigi took all the blame, but I would hang the assistants, subs are their responsibility.
Revenge Factor = MLS 5-2 in a spanking of the pre-season team
the “weak side” part is very eurodouchy
+1
+1
i didn’t have a problem when NYRB played all reserves in their Open Cup loss.. but the coach not even showing up??!!? thats not respectful.
Booked schedule is a poor excuse with the roster expansion from last year and reserve league back.. do a better job of developing your young players and integrating them into the squad.
EPL teams almost exclusively use reserves and young kids for Carling Cup and early FA cup..
Not everyone who thinks Manchester United, who is one of the best teams in the world, will handily beat an “all star” MLS team who hasn’t trained together at all is a euro-troll. You’re kind of a tool for thinking such. Just because someone favors a foreign team over the precious MLS doesn’t make them a euro-troll. I say 4-2 United…
Not a head scratcher really:
all star game and friendlies = $$$$$$$
Open Cup = ¢¢
I wish teams took the open cup more seriously, but the fans vote with their dollars…
Backe cites schedule congestion as the reason for throwing in the towel in the Open Cup quarterfinal. But the congestion is due in large part to exhibitions (All-Star Game and two RBNY exhibition games in London). This league still makes you scratch your head sometimes.
MLS will come out strong in the first half. 2-2 at half time (Henry, Wondo, Macheda, Nani) and then Man U will take over after the half, winning in 4-2 on a brace from Rooney. Call Atlantic City!
I appreciate the All-Star game. It’s not a bad American twist to the game… Do you guys remember the PK’s to decide games? Aye!
As for the haters, it’s my opinion that they are mostly British. Granted the big Euro leagues are a step up compared to MLS, but they respect the league and what it is, and where it’s come from. The Brits have a “superiority” complex, where everything not EPL is inferior.
A few hundred years ago, our forefathers gave the Brits the finger…When it comes to football, I do the same!
Good… because the All-Star game is on Wednesday!
+50,000
even with the poor defensive selections, they are not Seattle’s 3rd String backline….or even Chicago’s who lost 3-1 in a tough match.
MLS- 4 Man U- 3 in an open contest
Thursday clinic is fine by me since the MLS All Star Game will be on Wednesday =0)
Dale, from an MLS perspective then, I guess it’s good the game is Wednesday! 🙂
Why would United take the foot off the pedal at 5? Did you not watch them drop 7 on Seattle’s reserves?
I’ve heard FAR more complaints about the MLS ASG from MLS fans than anything. Non-fans and haters generally aren’t as negative about it.
he better…fans want to see him…a shame donovan is out tho
euro-troll
I like it….and use the friendlies as incentives to stay sharp for the upcoming second half of the season
Hernandez is coming in as a sub most likely, he’s not out of form considering he only had a month off, this is pre-season…I hope he gets like 30 minutes at least.
I’m ok with keeping the allstar game and maybe even the friendlies, but the teams really need a two week break from regular league play.
The allstar game is great publicity, but getting blown out by ManU with our “all stars” playing is not.
United 5 MLS 1. All-stars are a weak side, not familiar with one another. United will take their foot off the pedal at 5 goals. The selections and scheduling by MLS are truly baffling.
The All Star Game has been a major success in soccer as has in other American sports. The games are always entertaining with big crowds.
I think last year was the first time MLS has ever lost in regulation.
Agreed. Or just do away with this mess altogether. It only provides fuel to the MLS haters’ fires.
Hernandez just joined the team and likely won’t play.
MLS needs a 2 week all-star break for friendlies and the ASG…The All Stars need more than just 2 training sessions together
Man-U is going to put up a clinic on thursday, El Chicharo is back just in time…