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MLS weekend preview: Montreal, Seattle and Toronto enter playoff grind MLS weekend preview: Montreal, Seattle and Toronto enter playoff grind
(35 minutes later)
MLS should best Mexico before setting sights on European eliteMLS should best Mexico before setting sights on European elite
This past Wednesday at the Soccerex conference, to the muted guffaws from even the most ardent Major League Soccer supporters, league commissioner Don Garber reiterated his bold claim that MLS would be considered among the best leagues in the world by 2022. Yet this time, on Sky Sports News HQ, Garber went a little further.This past Wednesday at the Soccerex conference, to the muted guffaws from even the most ardent Major League Soccer supporters, league commissioner Don Garber reiterated his bold claim that MLS would be considered among the best leagues in the world by 2022. Yet this time, on Sky Sports News HQ, Garber went a little further.
“I do believe in 10 years’ time or less, people will think of us like Serie A, La Liga, and hopefully the way they think about the Premier League,” Garber said. “If we continue to do things right and stay to our plan.”“I do believe in 10 years’ time or less, people will think of us like Serie A, La Liga, and hopefully the way they think about the Premier League,” Garber said. “If we continue to do things right and stay to our plan.”
Related: Carl Robinson hopes global travels can spur Canadian success in MLS
At around the same time Garber set his sights on European football, a short video quickly made the rounds in US soccer social media circles, a TV Azteca ad promoting October’s Concacaf Cup match-up between bitter rivals the United States and Mexico. Featuring Republican party presidential candidate Donald Trump, the spot brilliantly uses his controversial anti-Mexican remarks to underscore Mexico’s influence on American soccer, with shots of former Chicago Fire player Cuauhtémoc Blanco and recent LA Galaxy addition Giovani dos Santos.At around the same time Garber set his sights on European football, a short video quickly made the rounds in US soccer social media circles, a TV Azteca ad promoting October’s Concacaf Cup match-up between bitter rivals the United States and Mexico. Featuring Republican party presidential candidate Donald Trump, the spot brilliantly uses his controversial anti-Mexican remarks to underscore Mexico’s influence on American soccer, with shots of former Chicago Fire player Cuauhtémoc Blanco and recent LA Galaxy addition Giovani dos Santos.
The video was not only widely shared by Mexico supporters but many American fans as well, delighted at the pointed jab from a longtime foe whose diminishing prospects at the national team level haven’t hindered their success against the US when it comes to club football. Mexican teams continue to frustrate MLS in competitions like the Concacaf Champions League; when the Montreal Impact lost to América in this year’s CCL final, it sparked a debate over whether MLS’s stingy single-entity model, with $60,000 minimum salaries and allocated roster budgets under $4m, could compete with Liga MX’s more laissez-faire wage bill.The video was not only widely shared by Mexico supporters but many American fans as well, delighted at the pointed jab from a longtime foe whose diminishing prospects at the national team level haven’t hindered their success against the US when it comes to club football. Mexican teams continue to frustrate MLS in competitions like the Concacaf Champions League; when the Montreal Impact lost to América in this year’s CCL final, it sparked a debate over whether MLS’s stingy single-entity model, with $60,000 minimum salaries and allocated roster budgets under $4m, could compete with Liga MX’s more laissez-faire wage bill.
Curious viewers tuning in this weekend can see for themselves how far MLS has to go to compete with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Yet while the MLS commissioner’s Euro-focused bluster was intended in part to convince skeptical sponsors at home, competitively speaking, rising to the standard of Mexican club soccer is a more realistic and fruitful goal.Curious viewers tuning in this weekend can see for themselves how far MLS has to go to compete with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Bayern Munich. Yet while the MLS commissioner’s Euro-focused bluster was intended in part to convince skeptical sponsors at home, competitively speaking, rising to the standard of Mexican club soccer is a more realistic and fruitful goal.
Impact look good on paper, but can they beat LA away?Impact look good on paper, but can they beat LA away?
Garber wasn’t the only one in MLS to talk big this past week. Ahead of the Montreal Impact’s visit to California to play the LA Galaxy, Montreal midfielder Ignacio Piatti spoke to reporters about the team’s long-term chances and his return from injury.Garber wasn’t the only one in MLS to talk big this past week. Ahead of the Montreal Impact’s visit to California to play the LA Galaxy, Montreal midfielder Ignacio Piatti spoke to reporters about the team’s long-term chances and his return from injury.
“Now, I think that, when Laurent Ciman, [Ambroise] Oyongo and Venegas are back, this is a very, very good team. We have to keep going to enter the playoffs. I think that, if we’re all together, we can win MLS.”“Now, I think that, when Laurent Ciman, [Ambroise] Oyongo and Venegas are back, this is a very, very good team. We have to keep going to enter the playoffs. I think that, if we’re all together, we can win MLS.”
In any other league, a club only inches above the red playoff line that only just sacked their head coach would have no business mentioning a cup run. But this is MLS, and on paper at least, Piatti has a point. Didier Drogba demonstrated what he’s capable of last week, scoring a hat-trick on his first Montreal start in a 4-3 win against the Chicago Fire, and Justin Mapp has finally returned to the side after missing almost the entire season with an elbow injury. Finally, Montreal has two games in hand over their Eastern Conference neighbours Toronto FC; a run of form now would go a long way to securing a postseason berth.In any other league, a club only inches above the red playoff line that only just sacked their head coach would have no business mentioning a cup run. But this is MLS, and on paper at least, Piatti has a point. Didier Drogba demonstrated what he’s capable of last week, scoring a hat-trick on his first Montreal start in a 4-3 win against the Chicago Fire, and Justin Mapp has finally returned to the side after missing almost the entire season with an elbow injury. Finally, Montreal has two games in hand over their Eastern Conference neighbours Toronto FC; a run of form now would go a long way to securing a postseason berth.
Nevertheless, the away fixture against the Galaxy is for most teams the most daunting date on the calendar. Despite the upbeat talk, Montreal’s win last week was their first in four matches, while LA will be looking to atone for their 1-0 shock loss to the San Jose Earthquakes two weeks ago. Piatti and co still need to go a long way to prove that what looks good on paper also looks good on grass.Nevertheless, the away fixture against the Galaxy is for most teams the most daunting date on the calendar. Despite the upbeat talk, Montreal’s win last week was their first in four matches, while LA will be looking to atone for their 1-0 shock loss to the San Jose Earthquakes two weeks ago. Piatti and co still need to go a long way to prove that what looks good on paper also looks good on grass.
Seattle Sounders face bogey team without their head coachSeattle Sounders face bogey team without their head coach
Every club has their bogey team, and for whatever reason the Seattle Sounders haven’t fared well of late against the San Jose Earthquakes, losing two of their three matches this season at home at CenturyLink Field. Even worse, their third match is for (nearly) all the marbles; Seattle, though buoyed by last week’s vital 2-1 win over Toronto FC, are still in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, with the Quakes only three points behind them with a game in hand. Seattle will also be without their iconic coach, Sigi Schmid, still recovering from unknown, and potentially serious, health problems.Every club has their bogey team, and for whatever reason the Seattle Sounders haven’t fared well of late against the San Jose Earthquakes, losing two of their three matches this season at home at CenturyLink Field. Even worse, their third match is for (nearly) all the marbles; Seattle, though buoyed by last week’s vital 2-1 win over Toronto FC, are still in a three-way tie for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference, with the Quakes only three points behind them with a game in hand. Seattle will also be without their iconic coach, Sigi Schmid, still recovering from unknown, and potentially serious, health problems.
Even so, there are good reasons to think the Sounders will prevail. The Clint Dempsey/Oba Martins pairing is finally back in business after a long absence, combining for the club’s two goals last weekend and giving the Sounders their second consecutive league win. Meanwhile the once red-hot Quakes were stilled in a disappointing 2-1 home loss to the suddenly interesting Philadelphia Union.Even so, there are good reasons to think the Sounders will prevail. The Clint Dempsey/Oba Martins pairing is finally back in business after a long absence, combining for the club’s two goals last weekend and giving the Sounders their second consecutive league win. Meanwhile the once red-hot Quakes were stilled in a disappointing 2-1 home loss to the suddenly interesting Philadelphia Union.
A win for Seattle at the Avaya Stadium would put them back on course after a very difficult summer; a loss against their Western Conference playoff rivals would put them right back on very shaky ground.A win for Seattle at the Avaya Stadium would put them back on course after a very difficult summer; a loss against their Western Conference playoff rivals would put them right back on very shaky ground.
Will Vanney play it safe with Giovinco?Will Vanney play it safe with Giovinco?
It’s been a running concern for Toronto FC fans all season, almost to the point where mentioning it would be tantamount to wishing it.It’s been a running concern for Toronto FC fans all season, almost to the point where mentioning it would be tantamount to wishing it.
“What if Sebastian Giovinco gets injured?”“What if Sebastian Giovinco gets injured?”
The nightmare scenario seemed to play out when “Seba”, who has scored or assisted 27 of the club’s 45 goals, came off the field in the 51st minute against the Montreal Impact on 29 August with an adductor injury. The player, who had featured in nearly every Toronto FC game this season, had only just received a call up from the Italian national team, and the team reassured fans his recovery would be swift.The nightmare scenario seemed to play out when “Seba”, who has scored or assisted 27 of the club’s 45 goals, came off the field in the 51st minute against the Montreal Impact on 29 August with an adductor injury. The player, who had featured in nearly every Toronto FC game this season, had only just received a call up from the Italian national team, and the team reassured fans his recovery would be swift.
Now, however, coach Greg Vanney is faced with a conundrum as the team host the New England Revolution, who sit three points ahead of Toronto in the Eastern Conference: start Giovinco, or hope that home advantage plays out in TFC’s favour and keep him rested ahead of their road trip to New York City FC this Wednesday. With several other players returning from injuries or international duty, playing it safe this weekend may help the club in the final stretch.Now, however, coach Greg Vanney is faced with a conundrum as the team host the New England Revolution, who sit three points ahead of Toronto in the Eastern Conference: start Giovinco, or hope that home advantage plays out in TFC’s favour and keep him rested ahead of their road trip to New York City FC this Wednesday. With several other players returning from injuries or international duty, playing it safe this weekend may help the club in the final stretch.
DC United hope to open parachute against ColoradoDC United hope to open parachute against Colorado
Ben Olsen isn’t a happy man. The DC United coach didn’t mince words when speaking with reporters as the club got back to training after a bye week. Despite faring well in the midweek in the CCL, United have dropped three straight in MLS, the latest a crushing 3-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls in the Atlantic Cup.Ben Olsen isn’t a happy man. The DC United coach didn’t mince words when speaking with reporters as the club got back to training after a bye week. Despite faring well in the midweek in the CCL, United have dropped three straight in MLS, the latest a crushing 3-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls in the Atlantic Cup.
“I haven’t [forgotten about the loss],” Olsen said. “It still pisses me off. Hopefully it still pisses our guys off. I don’t care what we take into the next game. It’s got to be better than what we showed in New York.”“I haven’t [forgotten about the loss],” Olsen said. “It still pisses me off. Hopefully it still pisses our guys off. I don’t care what we take into the next game. It’s got to be better than what we showed in New York.”
That last point is obvious, of course. Less obvious is how “being pissed off” will translate to an improved performance, though conventional footballing wisdom holds that it does do the trick. Certainly playing the Colorado Rapids might help, a team fresh off a 2-0 loss against the Vancouver Whitecaps – though they’re no pushover despite languishing near the bottom of the Western Conference. With their Supporters’ Shield bid slipping away and the Red Bulls nipping at their heels, United will hope their grinding, once-effective style of football sees them through.That last point is obvious, of course. Less obvious is how “being pissed off” will translate to an improved performance, though conventional footballing wisdom holds that it does do the trick. Certainly playing the Colorado Rapids might help, a team fresh off a 2-0 loss against the Vancouver Whitecaps – though they’re no pushover despite languishing near the bottom of the Western Conference. With their Supporters’ Shield bid slipping away and the Red Bulls nipping at their heels, United will hope their grinding, once-effective style of football sees them through.