http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer?disp=comments en-US http://backend.userland.com/rss 60 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:51:02 +0000 joepublic c177650@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ No buzzkill at all. You wind up having to play lots of games when you're a good team. If you're a good team, you attract better players. These are the kinds of problems you want to have.
You wind up having to play lots of games when you're a good team. If you're a good team, you attract better players. These are the kinds of problems you want to have.]]> http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/03/the_spoils_of_victory_the_cup_and_concaf#c177650 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:52:18 +0000 jimkingjr c177647@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ From the Washington Post's blog: "UPDATE: According to a source close to the situation, who requested anonymity because a decision hasn't been rendered, the discipline is not expected to include a suspension." Absent a suspension- at least three games (through the 12th, and give Dallas and KC a shot)- anything DCU does is meaningless.
"UPDATE: According to a source close to the situation, who requested anonymity because a decision hasn't been rendered, the discipline is not expected to include a suspension."

Absent a suspension- at least three games (through the 12th, and give Dallas and KC a shot)- anything DCU does is meaningless.]]> http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/03/dcu_wicks_behavior_was_unacceptable#c177647 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:33:08 +0000 ciscokid c177646@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ Point taken about the World Cup. I guess my point is we (Sounders and all teams) should push for expanded rosters and reserve team, and... We should be sure to win lots of league games the first 4 months of the season before CCL starts in August and the schedule turns nasty. 35-36 points by end of July would be a useful though not invulnerable buffer against the wear and tear of 2-3 games a week. And lets remember, no team will have to travel farther to play in Central America than we will. Potentially LOTS of long flights. Not trying to be a buzzkill, just want to start the call for bigger rosters right here right now.
We should be sure to win lots of league games the first 4 months of the season before CCL starts in August and the schedule turns nasty. 35-36 points by end of July would be a useful though not invulnerable buffer against the wear and tear of 2-3 games a week. And lets remember, no team will have to travel farther to play in Central America than we will. Potentially LOTS of long flights.

Not trying to be a buzzkill, just want to start the call for bigger rosters right here right now.]]> http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/03/the_spoils_of_victory_the_cup_and_concaf#c177646 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 22:25:29 +0000 joepublic c177645@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ 2010 is a World Cup summer. It is extremely doubtful that any of the big clubs will be doing international friendly tours. Their players will be be busy throughout June and into July; their only down time will be after that until the start of the season in August. I don't know when the MLS and players union talk again, but it would be great if they could make a deal that would expand the rosters. I suspect the Sounders will have a more robust reserve team setup by next year; seems to me they have been accumulating players and there are plenty of local PDL teams to keep them busy in the summer -- Tide, Wolves, Pumas, etc. The USL Timbers kept up a U-23 side that did very well in the PDL this past season, seems like an MLS club ought to be able to do at least as well. The name of the game long-term is player development; Chris Henderson, Darren Sawatzky and all them need to earn their money there. CL exposure won't hurt; how many other Costa Rican up-and-comers might want to give us a try after Leo Gonzalez' success? Are there other Colombian kids who would want to follow El Presidente and Montero? Would be nice to get a pipeline going. Seems to me that winning on the international stage makes that happen -- with rockin' Qwest Field home support looking muy autentico to audiences down there. Finally, re CL: It would be nice if the Sounders get grouped with the frequent champion from Trinidad & Tobago, a club known as ... Joe Public!
I don't know when the MLS and players union talk again, but it would be great if they could make a deal that would expand the rosters. I suspect the Sounders will have a more robust reserve team setup by next year; seems to me they have been accumulating players and there are plenty of local PDL teams to keep them busy in the summer -- Tide, Wolves, Pumas, etc. The USL Timbers kept up a U-23 side that did very well in the PDL this past season, seems like an MLS club ought to be able to do at least as well.

The name of the game long-term is player development; Chris Henderson, Darren Sawatzky and all them need to earn their money there. CL exposure won't hurt; how many other Costa Rican up-and-comers might want to give us a try after Leo Gonzalez' success? Are there other Colombian kids who would want to follow El Presidente and Montero? Would be nice to get a pipeline going. Seems to me that winning on the international stage makes that happen -- with rockin' Qwest Field home support looking muy autentico to audiences down there.

Finally, re CL: It would be nice if the Sounders get grouped with the frequent champion from Trinidad & Tobago, a club known as ... Joe Public!
]]> http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/03/the_spoils_of_victory_the_cup_and_concaf#c177645 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:09:18 +0000 erpskaderp c177642@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ with the CL berth, i don't see the Sounders trying to line up more than one int'l friendly. Visiting teams from Mexico and latin america for the CL will more than make-up for the loss of a couple "sexy" clubs from europe. plus...the CL games will have purpose. imagine, once we get this ship going, the Sounders winning the CL and facing a Barcelona or a Man U in a tournament that means something! can't wait. up the sounders! means something! can't wait.

up the sounders!]]> http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/03/the_spoils_of_victory_the_cup_and_concaf#c177642 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:04:59 +0000 jimkingjr c177641@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ Don- I expect a couple of dark days in print- except maybe capsules covering the weekend's league action- I just hope they let you see the light of day through next week. Of course, here's hoping to news on the Wick's front... I propose we arrange something informal, bringing many sports together. Maybe involving heroes of Seattle sports. Something like he's in goal, facing Randy Johnson's "Mr. Snappy", while fending off Ken Easley. Could probably sell a few tickets at Qwest for such an exhibition- no need of $2 beers...
Of course, here's hoping to news on the Wick's front... I propose we arrange something informal, bringing many sports together. Maybe involving heroes of Seattle sports. Something like he's in goal, facing Randy Johnson's "Mr. Snappy", while fending off Ken Easley.

Could probably sell a few tickets at Qwest for such an exhibition- no need of $2 beers...]]> http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/02/open_cup_final_discussion_forum#c177641 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:59:03 +0000 jimkingjr c177640@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ What really irritated D.C. "fans" was the promise of $2 beers- then waiting twenty to forty minutes in the wrong line and having to buy $10 beer. Way to go D.C. United! Let's rub salt in the wound on the 12th!
Let's rub salt in the wound on the 12th!]]> http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/03/the_spoils_of_victory_the_cup_and_concaf#c177640 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:38:06 +0000 ciscokid c177639@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ Yeah, whatever. Game's over, attendance frenzy can be put to bed. Bottom line is we won the cup, and we earned it by doing it on the road, which only adds to the satisfaction. I just hope the players union and the ownership review and reinstate reserve teams or expanded rosters for 2010 so MLS teams in these international competitions can represent a little better. I feel a bit for DC United because their schedule has been brutal the last month and I don't know that Seattle would fare much better with our current roster limitations. Priorities are touchy things: Most fans would say that the league and playoffs are most important priority. Hardcore and Euro-centric fans take a slightly different view and might argue that it's worth giving up a bit of the MLS for a chance to represent internationally. DC seems to have taken the MLS priority track but they are struggling both in and out of league which irritates all DC fans. Seattle will likely have CCL, Open Cup for sure and the League games. Plus maybe a friendly or two. Already, Open Cup looks like the least important competition of the three since we just won it. Hopefully, we won't have to make the hard choices DC had to make this year without a reserve team available. Still excited about the opportunity but under the current circumstances we have to realize that it comes at a competitive cost somewhere along the line.
I just hope the players union and the ownership review and reinstate reserve teams or expanded rosters for 2010 so MLS teams in these international competitions can represent a little better.

I feel a bit for DC United because their schedule has been brutal the last month and I don't know that Seattle would fare much better with our current roster limitations.

Priorities are touchy things: Most fans would say that the league and playoffs are most important priority. Hardcore and Euro-centric fans take a slightly different view and might argue that it's worth giving up a bit of the MLS for a chance to represent internationally.

DC seems to have taken the MLS priority track but they are struggling both in and out of league which irritates all DC fans.

Seattle will likely have CCL, Open Cup for sure and the League games. Plus maybe a friendly or two. Already, Open Cup looks like the least important competition of the three since we just won it.

Hopefully, we won't have to make the hard choices DC had to make this year without a reserve team available.

Still excited about the opportunity but under the current circumstances we have to realize that it comes at a competitive cost somewhere along the line.



]]> http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/03/the_spoils_of_victory_the_cup_and_concaf#c177639 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 20:01:22 +0000 hellomouthbreathers c177638@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ DC looks like they had to almost give away tickets to get people to the Open Championship, I thought they were bragging about how they deserved the game because they were a strong draw. http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/03/the_spoils_of_victory_the_cup_and_concaf#c177638 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:13:38 +0000 Don Ruiz c177636@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ Unless something happens with Wicks, etc., there might not be any in-print news over the next couple of days because the Sounders don't return to training until Monday. However, we'll certainly be back to our full week of previews leading up to the next league game and this stretch run of the playoff race. And I expect no dark days at all on the blog. http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/02/open_cup_final_discussion_forum#c177636 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:55:55 +0000 jimkingjr c177635@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ More importantly- let's hope print coverage doesn't disappear for a week, with no game until September 12th- and PLEASE follow up on any disciplinary action against Wicks. http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/02/open_cup_final_discussion_forum#c177635 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:57:26 +0000 thriceallamerican c177633@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ Totally understand, Don, and it was obvious that the big graphics were something long-planned. I just at least wanted the Sounders headline to mention the hardware. But I guess beggars can't be choosers. And WE WON so I'll stop complaining now... :-) http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/02/open_cup_final_discussion_forum#c177633 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:54:41 +0000 Don Ruiz c177632@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ Thanks for the nice words, TAA. Unfortunately, the display of the story was almost unavoidable due to timing. Sometime way back in the summer -- probably even before the Sounders qualified for the final -- the newspaper was planning its coverage for this kickoff week of the college and high school football seasons. The decision was made to do our big UW preview on Sept. 2, our big WSU preview on Sept. 3. Sometime later -- but still well in advance -- those big display boxes for the UW and WSU stories were prepared. And once those things were down, the rest of the page was pretty well set regardless of result: Sounders win, Sounders loss, even a Felix Hernandez no-hitter would have been tough to adjust for. So, unfortunate. But certainly no TNT disrespect to Sounders fans intended. http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/02/open_cup_final_discussion_forum#c177632 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:43:33 +0000 thriceallamerican c177628@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ DR, what's up with the TNT's handling of print coverage for the win? Your (great-as-always) article was placed well below the fold, with an innocuous "Sounders beat DC"-esque headline. We won the Open Cup, here, editors!!! Big deal! Not just another game...let's show some pride! http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/02/open_cup_final_discussion_forum#c177628 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:34:47 +0000 wasobelle c177621@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ i like to WIN whenever. and failing that i want to lose having played REALLY REALLY well. yukky playing is no fun to watch. anyone see the women's professional league last weekend? THAT was a pleasure to watch. any hey, they won too (against sweden) lee
anyone see the women's professional league last weekend? THAT was a pleasure to watch. any hey, they won too (against sweden)
lee]]> http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/01/title_877#c177621 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 05:19:09 +0000 wasobelle c177619@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ rubbish what a crock and after all, neiner neiner neiner (a san diego 'chant' my favourite ex taught me.) lee lee]]> http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/01/title_880#c177619 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:46:29 +0000 Ray Brassard c177618@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ Sounders returning on a charter to Boeing Field, welcome the boys home: King County International Airport 7277 Perimeter Road South Seattle, WA 98108 Terminal B. Parking Lot. 2 am.
King County International Airport
7277 Perimeter Road South
Seattle, WA 98108

Terminal B. Parking Lot. 2 am.]]> http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/02/open_cup_final_discussion_forum#c177618 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 04:39:52 +0000 Ray Brassard c177617@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ Sounders are set to arrive in between 2-2:30 am at Boeing Terminal B. Show up and give them a giant welcome home party!! http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/02/open_cup_final_discussion_forum#c177617 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:55:26 +0000 tigatfo c177616@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ And they put 17000 (so they say) in the stadium. We would have had 30000+. http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/01/title_880#c177616 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 03:51:49 +0000 elmocatt c177615@http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/ And with the Sounders' next MLS match . . . v. DC at RFK on Sept 12, hopefully the team will keep this level of play going. Should be a real interesting rematch. Thsi great performance makes the terrible performances we have seen recently in MLS play even more frustrating . . . as we all know the team could play much better than it had been. As for Wicks, he has been having some real anger issues recently - He went after his own defender Chris Burch in the DC match v. Chi on saturday - they almost came to blows - he has been kind of out of control recently.
Thsi great performance makes the terrible performances we have seen recently in MLS play even more frustrating . . . as we all know the team could play much better than it had been.

As for Wicks, he has been having some real anger issues recently - He went after his own defender Chris Burch in the DC match v. Chi on saturday - they almost came to blows - he has been kind of out of control recently.]]> http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/soccer/2009/09/02/open_cup_final_discussion_forum#c177615