The USA World Cup bid has a lot going for it.  Stadiums in abundance.  Infrastructure up to the task.  The capacity to make enough money that even FIFA should drool at the possibilities.  Aside from that pesky "just hosted in 1994" problem, there are no holes in the American bid.  If FIFA chooses to go in another direction, it won't be because the United States isn't the best place to hold the 2022 World Cup. (Warning: lots of images below)

I'm going to go ahead and assume that you've seen the wonderful video tribute to the USMNT's World Cup run entitled "Dying Bravely."  If you haven't, stop what you're doing and watch it now.  It's worth every second of its eleven minute run time.  The video above is part 2 - the link goes to the full version.

Please bear with me on the P-League standings for another few days. I've been traveling quite a bit and haven't had access to the spreadsheet with the tally.

San Jose Earthquakes - 1
Philadelphia Union - 0

FC Dallas - 1
New York Red Bulls - 2

Real Salt Lake - 1
Chicago Fire - 1

Columbus Crew - 1
Seattle Sounders FC - 1

Houston Dynamo - 2
Toronto FC - 0

Colorado Rapids - 2
New England Revolution - 2

LA Galaxy - 2
DC United - 1

Chivas USA - 1
Kansas City Wizards - 2

Per Buzz at the 3rd Degree, Schellas Hyndman let slip at practice today that MLS rosters will expand to 30 next year.  This is fairly big news on the back of word that the schedule will be 34 games long (in a 32 week span); the more players teams have to compete with multiple fronts, the better.

Local news has roused me enough to interrupt my hiatus. The ongoing saga of DC United and their no-hope stadium situation was enough to necessitate comment. I'm the worst hiatus-taker ever. Sue me.


Per Steven Goff of the Washington Post, DC United apparently spoke with Rockville, MD city officials (Montgomery County) about the possibility of putting a stadium for the club on the site of a struggling municipal golf course. This is good news, if only because it indicates that United's leadership is on the hunt; the problem, as usual, is that the talks are almost certain to go nowhere (which Goff relates with caustic humor).

This past winter, five MLS teams hired coaches.

For the second time this year, one of them was fired.

For the second time this year, it was one with previous MLS experience.

Curt Onalfo and Preki have a trend in common. Their teams have progressively gotten worse. This leads me to this question; is MLS player talent passing MLS coaching and front office talent?

In 2007, Onalfo led KC to a fifth place finish in the East with 40 points; in 2008, a fourth place finish (42); in 2009, a sixth place finish (33). In 2010, he was fired when DC was in 8th place on pace for a mere 20 points.

Similarly, in 2007, Preki, using a team largely put together by Bob Bradley, led Chivas to finish first with in the west with 53 points. In 2008, they finished second (43). In 2009, they finished fourth (45). In 2010, Toronto was on pace for 35 points.

If the trend stopped there, it wouldn’t be much of a trend, but looking at current list of MLS coaches, a couple of other names stick out; Frank Yallop and Steve Nicol.

Yallop won two MLS Cups with San Jose in their first incarnation, but in two seasons with the Galaxy and now three with the new Earthquakes has yet to secure better than fifth place in the West.

Nicol’s success in New England is well documented, but trend of the Revolution since the advent of the Designated Player Rule doesn’t look that much different than that of Preki.

Looking back at video from MLS matches four years ago, the difference in playing level compared to today’s matches is clear. The competitive balance in MLS ensures a certain level of equality. So, teams or managers that have been on down trends while the league as a whole has been on an uptrend likely have institutional questions. But, it is not a question of designated players, as RSL and Columbus have both proven effective without them, while teams like DC and Toronto have struggled with them. It is not a question of being on the frugal side, as a resurgent Dallas is now showing. It is primarily a question of effectively culling talent from a growing foreign and domestic talent pool and implementing game plans to be competitive.

Some MLS organizations have navigated these new waters well, while some have severe leaks, or have capsized completely. To me, the initial hirings of Onalfo and Preki were inconsistent with where the league is going. As much as anything, their firings are a sign that the league is growing faster than the management and coaching.

With news that the Russian Premier League is moving to the same schedule as non-Scandinavian Europe, those pushing for MLS to adopt the same calendar have yet another opportunity to voice their opinions. And for the first time, they may actually have a leg to stand on. With this switch, which will occur by extending the 2011 season to likely play each opponent club three times, Russia will become the coldest country to play a fall-winter-spring season.


To date, the standard for playing in Europe appeared to be an average high of 40 degrees. Very few matches in Europe occur in cities when the average high is below 40 degrees. This average temperature is never even approached in Mediterranean climates like Spain and Italy. The averages in France, England and most of Scotland never reach this temperature. Germany and the Netherlands keep their leagues at 18 teams allowing them take a brief break during their coldest days. The more extended breaks in Denmark and Ukraine are accomplished by the same means for the same purpose.


Because Russia has only a 16 club top flight, their premier league can, and likely will, take a two month winter break. However, nearly every city housing a Russian Premier League club has average highs in both December and February that are below freezing. As such, it will become the first league to regularly host games at temperatures below freezing. This move has implications on the possibility of moving the US to a fall-winter-spring schedule.


A lot more went into the decision to have a spring-summer-fall league in MLS than just the weather, but the ramifications of the Russian move should be monitored. With a 20 team league on the horizon, MLS would not be able to schedule a winter break and continue to have a balanced schedule. Therefore, matches would need to be played throughout the winter. Currently, half of the teams in MLS play in cities with average highs in January of below the old standard of 40 degrees. New England, Chicago, and Toronto, all have addition months under 40 degrees. The addition of Montreal will increase these numbers and place a team in the league that has three months (December, January, and February) of average highs below freezing. Additionally, Toronto average high in January and February is below freezing.


There is a lot of talent in the Russian Premier League and, like MLS, it has the capacity to grow as a league. If the added demands and increased injury risk of playing so many cold weather matches drives talent out of the league, it may serve as a warning if MLS were ever to attempt the move. However, if the Russian league continues to attract top talent and grow, the weather may no longer be an excuse to not move to a fall-winter-spring schedule for MLS.

The answer to life, the universe, and everything

My brief break (becoming briefer by the day, by the way) does not include forgoing my American Soccer Show duties, so here's the new episode I forgot to post yesterday. Zach and I are back after our Labor Day holiday to talk Bob Bradley, the October friendlies, Brian McBride, the USA World Cup bid, news out of Division 2, and Landon Donovan needing a rest.

Hello all. Jason here. 

As much grief as we've given FC Dallas around here for their paltry attendance and apparent inability to leverage a beautiful new soccer-specific venue into real home support, there's no doubt that they're doing plenty right. The team sits solidly in a playoff spot after a spectacular run of form and their academy system is producing young talent at an impressive rate. I'm still uneasy about the Hunt Sports Group (and AEG for that matter) holding on to two teams, and I doubt Clark Hunt is quite the titan of industry his father was, but it would be unfair to claim that they're not making an effort.

Being a Philadelphia Union season ticket holder, I received an email from team President Tom Veit this evening. Most of it, clearing up some issues which had arisen regarding security and flow of foot traffic, was warmly received. I welcome that sort of communication between the brass and the fanbase. It shows they're aware of the problems that exist and are working to remedy them.

I'm rarely one to pile on, and lord knows every blogger and their mother have commented on this particular story, but what the hell - it's too good to pass up.


The Timbers planted their flag in Sounder Land via a billboard this week; the advert in question is the latest shot fired in a rivalry that has everyone with an interest in MLS drooling in anticipation for 2011. Timbers and Sounders fans just plain don't like each other, and their mutual animosity will finally be on display at the top level next year. From a neutral standpoint, the two (presumed) matches between the clubs next year will be must watch events.