cubaricho

They announced the attendance before half-time on TV. Dunno how much that matters but they generally don't announce it until the 70-80th minute.

http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/3379/hughton.jpg He was genuinely happy for Enrique. The way you would be for your friend.

I don't think he only cares about football, I think he cares about the club. Yeah, definitely a more succinct way of saying what I really wanted to say.

Had a thought about this while watching the match today. I think he gains respect in the squad because he's ...I don't want to say "one of the lads" but he's just a genuine football guy and I can only assume that the team senses that. He cares as much about the sport as they do and they equally love it. Obviously this doesn't cover all of the facets of management (and more specifically man-management) but it's a good place to start. The grin on his face after Enrique scored was priceless.

Fucking Shola Ameobi man. When he came on I thought "fuck" then he scores what turns out to be a pretty great goal and that back heel was just . On cloud nine for Enrique. Someone buy that man a drink.

To be honest, the ref's have a hard enough job trying to run a match without having to memorize who has/has not scored goals for a club.

They're not doing too bad either for having started the season at -10. They're only 12 points off a playoff spot. Could easily be in with a shout of going up the Championship.

Not really a huge fan of MoN myself. I don't enjoy watching Aston Villa play. They pull out some big wins but in effect, MoN to me is just another Allardyce with a bit more flair. He sets his teams up "not to lose" first and win second.

DC United have a great following. Check out the Super Eagles and La Barra Brava and La Norte. Three great support groups.

Mentioned this in the MLS thread but I'd like to take a look at Fredy Montero, he does the business in the MLS and might be able to take the step up (and is still relatively young).

I'm not sure that the powers that be would ever do a promotion/relegation system for MLS/soccer in America but there has been a lot of buzz about it over the past few years from purists who are more and more getting involved with soccer in America. This whole debacle with the USL/NASL might be just the distraction needed to get this kind of system off the ground though, especially if they can work out a way where teams won't be too affected by being relegated (the only one the owners might agree). Another issue will be that MLS learned from their first go-round and want to expand the newest incarnation very slowly (unlike last time where they didn't and ended up imploding themselves). Like I said, I don't know if it'll happen I just wouldn't be totally surprised for the whole situation right now with competing brands to MLS to turn into some form of a new MLS structure.

I've heard that after Vancouver and Portland start their franchises ('11) they are only going to add one/two more teams. I have a feeling they'll go to Montreal and St. Louis (or may somewhere in the South). Montreal is almost a shoe-in though - their stadium is great and the city really supports them well. I've been to a few matches there and while it's kind of small, there is always a great atmosphere. Montreal's stadium: http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/8105/stadesaputo01.jpg

They may be the authentic ones? There are two levels. The "real" ones are like $100 and the replica kits are like $70. Cant we (NUFC fans) only get replica's? As far as I know, unless you go on ebay and get a match worn shirt you're not really getting the real thing. To be honest though, I think the authentic kits you get from the MLSStore/clubs/etc only really just have the necessary badges and aren't really made of any different material.

Some clubs from the USL announced they were going to start playing in a new NASL league and then the proverbial shit hit the fan so US Soccer stepped in and is making a division that all of the teams can play in for one season to keep soccer going at that level while they figure it all out. I wouldn't be surprised if the outcome were to merge everything into one huge division ala England/Football League. There's been a lot of talk about relegation in MLS and I think having all of these other "second rate" leagues (USL/NASL) feuding might be a good opportunity for the MLS to step in and make it all one big league like mentioned above. It might prove just the distraction/crap shoot needed to get this thing going. They even call this one-season league "Division 2"

And on a side note, last I heard they brought the Rowdies (Sam Allardyce played for them in 83 and now coached by Kenny Daglish's kid) franchise back this season and are playing in the temporary USL/NASL league (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USSF_Division_2) for this season. On a side note, I think that this USSF Division 2 league is the first step in getting some relegation/promotion type system down. Nothing has really been said about it, but I wouldn't be surprised if something came of it to give the MLS season a "real" feel where something is actually on the line.

hah, my roommate has a Mutiny kit, although I think it's a striped one? Either way, it's a Valderrama kit. Just looked at it, it looks like this: http://img547.imageshack.us/img547/3374/carlosvalderrama2.jpg

My favorite kits in MLS are the Crew (from last season), the Union, and the Rapids (for their simplicity). http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7580/yhst7886178794556921002.gif mmmm

They may be the authentic ones? There are two levels. The "real" ones are like $100 and the replica kits are like $70.

Is it impossible not to go out for a week or two while the bandages are on?

There's going to be a nice little derby-type atmosphere (at least as much as you can get in the US) between Portland-Seattle-Vancouver. It's going to be good for the sport (which is why they announced those two as expansions from what I gather, there is a lot of history between the three clubs).

Wow that was quick thinking on that header by Montero. I wouldn't mind if we took a punt on him over the summer.

Excited to get into the MLS hunt with people like you! Moving to Portland at the end of the year and they are getting the '11 expansion team. Will be nice to have a bit of local top-flight football to watch. well, if you're used to watching the premiership, 'topflight' is very generous! who will you follow until 2011? Always had a soft-spot for the Rapids but I don't really watch all that much MLS. Will probably at least catch a few more matches this season in preparation for 2011.

Me too. Love the way they empty out of the pubs at the same time and march through the city towards the stadium singing their songs. They really love soccer there. Hoping it's the same in Portland when I move there.

Excited to get into the MLS hunt with people like you! Moving to Portland at the end of the year and they are getting the '11 expansion team. Will be nice to have a bit of local top-flight football to watch.

Noticed him come on as well when I was watching the match and he did indeed look up for it. A shame that his team was already up 4-0 and wasn't really eager to get on the end of anything.