Cascadia Saint Posted 7 March, 2014 Share Posted 7 March, 2014 Starts tomorrow. The quality of play has definitely improved in the last couple of years, but I still find it hard to watch a game between two teams I have no interest in. Which would be every other team other than the mighty mighty Timbers. Seriously though, the Timbers play some decent stuff - not a million miles away from our own possession based pressing game. And it's an awesome laugh at the games. Every match sold out, standing allowed in the seated areas, cracking atmosphere, great local beer available to drink anywhere in the stadium. (They even send people around selling it to you IN your seat...) I'd rather be at St Mary's but it'll do. Any other ex-pats actually follow their local team? Any over-eager brits follow the MLS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nta786 Posted 7 March, 2014 Share Posted 7 March, 2014 meeh... To me, it's a retirement for has been footballers. I'm sure the league is exciting and the atmosphere is good though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cascadia Saint Posted 7 March, 2014 Author Share Posted 7 March, 2014 The beer helps, i must say. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasiak-9- Posted 7 March, 2014 Share Posted 7 March, 2014 The problem for building a real 'soccer/football' culture (which lets be frank, thrives on there being a bit of an 'edge') in the US is the lack of away fans because of the size of the country. It'll never be as big as their main three sports but in a country of 300m people which cares far more passionately about sport than we do as a whole (and yes, that is dead true btw) it really doesn't have to be in order to be relatively successful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rasiak-9- Posted 7 March, 2014 Share Posted 7 March, 2014 Oh and the other thing is that they should just have a straightforward league instead of this whole 'playoff' trope they love to include in their sports. Always annoys me that. I follow the NBA and you get some cracking games, but its all completely undermined by the fact that when two good teams play each other in the regular season it literally doesn't matter. And of course anyone who's got any chance of winning the thing could never possibly miss out on the playoffs. Imagine if the top 8 at the end of the Premiership season played a knock-out cup competition and Manchester United were in no worse a position to win the competition than the top four? Awful. (although incidentally I realise that hypothetical would certainly solve our nothing-to-play for syndrome completely!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rut Posted 8 March, 2014 Share Posted 8 March, 2014 I struggle to get into the MLS cos I don't have a team I can go and see (easily). At least this year I have a hatred of all things Seattle so I'm 'anyone but them'. Plus I've got a fantasy team. Anyone else got one? (it's very similar to the official Prem one if you play that). Did a bit of research & joined a few leagues - it should help be care a bit more - we'll see. I created a league called 'Southampton'. So far it's only me in it. If someone else joins it - would this mean we just play each other every week? If it is and you win it then the beers are on me one night. Anyway - the blurb is as below: >>> Joining the league couldn't be easier. Simply use this link and you'll be added automatically after you've entered the game: http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/my-leagues/239/join/?autojoin-code=1316-239. You shouldn't need the league code, but just in case here it is: 1316-239. >>> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cascadia Saint Posted 8 March, 2014 Author Share Posted 8 March, 2014 The problem for building a real 'soccer/football' culture (which lets be frank, thrives on there being a bit of an 'edge') in the US is the lack of away fans because of the size of the country. It'll never be as big as their main three sports but in a country of 300m people which cares far more passionately about sport than we do as a whole (and yes, that is dead true btw) it really doesn't have to be in order to be relatively successful. That was definitely the strangest difference for me, seeing anywhere from 3-25 away fans tucked up into the top corner of the stadium, on the opposite side from the main loud supporters end. Singing 'we don't hear a ****ing thing' To some plucky souls that you have no chance of actually hearing seems a little sad... It's a bit like watching the few in league 2... That said, we're 'lucky' enough to have a noxious rival only 3 hours away. The hideously fluorescent Seattle Sounders always bring a massive contingent down, and there's actually something resembling a derby atmosphere. They too have a fishy nickname. They too have a fishy nickname, Skates - meet the Flounders. There's something about small flat flappy fish that suits ****ty football teams. Vancouver are also close enough to bring a decent amount, and all 3 sets of supporters have an unofficial trophy won by the team who gains the most points in head to head games between the 3 teams, called the Cascadia Cup. Something to play for seperate from the league and cup competitions. Other west coast teams always bring a few fans up, and it's always the die hard supporters groups that make the effort. The likes of Los Angeles and San Jose always have a few miscreants, so it's fun to watch them try to appear menacing. It's awesome watching them try and start fights with supporters who are more interested in drinking beer and growing beards. Our fans might be known as the timbers army but they're a pretty pacifistic lot. It usually attracts fans who aren't too big into other American sports, and a lot of them watch a lot of European football - The Prem, La Liga and the Bundesliga especially. It's extremely easy to stick your nose up at, as a fan of 'real' football, with 'real' history and 'real' fans, but it is what it is. In portland especially there's a real passion for the team and despite how silly some of the chants and songs might be it's just 'different'. If you were watching a match in some other far flung country you might expect some differences and strange customs, and that's all it is here. As far as the play offs go... They need the tv money, and nobody wants to watch teams with nothing to play for half a season. The play offs keep a lot of teams in with a chance for a lot longer. Again, it is what it is. People wouldn't go if it wasn't fun, and it is, so go soccer! I can taste the beer (and the rain) already.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cascadia Saint Posted 8 March, 2014 Author Share Posted 8 March, 2014 I struggle to get into the MLS cos I don't have a team I can go and see (easily). At least this year I have a hatred of all things Seattle so I'm 'anyone but them'. Plus I've got a fantasy team. Anyone else got one? (it's very similar to the official Prem one if you play that). Did a bit of research & joined a few leagues - it should help be care a bit more - we'll see. I created a league called 'Southampton'. So far it's only me in it. If someone else joins it - would this mean we just play each other every week? If it is and you win it then the beers are on me one night. Anyway - the blurb is as below: >>> Joining the league couldn't be easier. Simply use this link and you'll be added automatically after you've entered the game: http://fantasy.mlssoccer.com/my-leagues/239/join/?autojoin-code=1316-239. You shouldn't need the league code, but just in case here it is: 1316-239. >>> Cheers mate. I will set up a fantasy team sometime before tomorrow afternoon! I think my timbers friend / full-on southampton convert usually has a team so I'll see if he can join too. I don't mind the city itself, but the Seattle sports teams can **** right off. And that includes the 'world champion' Seahawks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rut Posted 8 March, 2014 Share Posted 8 March, 2014 Cheers mate. I will set up a fantasy team sometime before tomorrow afternoon! I think my timbers friend / full-on southampton convert usually has a team so I'll see if he can join too. I don't mind the city itself, but the Seattle sports teams can **** right off. And that includes the 'world champion' Seahawks... There's currently 3 people in 'Southampton' now (me & 2 other ex-pats). All first timers. Like I said it's she same as the Prem one in that once you set up a team you can enter multiple leagues. Here is a link with lots of auto-joins to other leagues: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/02/24/head-head-classic-join-top-leagues-today-and-promote-your-own-earn-free-priz Liked your bit above about the MLS. Enjoy the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint George Posted 8 March, 2014 Share Posted 8 March, 2014 The problem for building a real 'soccer/football' culture (which lets be frank, thrives on there being a bit of an 'edge') in the US is the lack of away fans because of the size of the country. It'll never be as big as their main three sports but in a country of 300m people which cares far more passionately about sport than we do as a whole (and yes, that is dead true btw) it really doesn't have to be in order to be relatively successful. I wouldn't be so sure of that.....I'd say that Soccer could certainly overtake Baseball, maybe even as soon as the next 10-15 years......Soccer seems to be the sport of choice for most kids that aren't cutting it in Football or freaky enough to make it in Basketball. Wish we had a MLS team down here, but just about every public park and school field is marked out for soccer now...Hell you can even see Soccer goals on Football fields.....That didn't happen just 6 or 7 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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