I've never heard of them? but as a soccer fan I've been watching USAMNT and DC United mostly and Olympiacos and Greek MNT when I can get it, I have no idea about big time Euro players for the most part.
Messi and MLS
- Thread starter Fk_Pitt
- Start date
Rooting against a player because of the school he chose is moronic. Tribalism is a mental disorder.
I think Madden’s statement is one to consider, but doesn’t entirely apply here. Maybe a few die hard Barcelona fans, if there are any in KC, would buy tickets to see their legends play. But any significant uptick in a Messi-less Miami ticket sales would be due to the team itself being better as a whole. Not because of the two players mentioned above.
If I watched every game just to root against him, I'd agree. I just "hope" he sucks. I dont seek out watching him. Any local player that goes to PSU, I hope the worst for. I could understand a Pitt fan rooting for Porter to be good since they are a Steeler fan. I am not a Steeler fan so I hope he sucks. I dont like local kids dissing Pitt. Maybe I shouldn't take it personally but I do.
I dont think its KC Barca fans buying tickets. I think you get 1000 general soccer dad/families buying tickets in KC to see Alba and Busquets. The equivalent of the Century/Beadling families in KC. They are coming out to see them. Miami hates sports so they aint coming
Again. Just because a kid chooses another school, it’s not dissing Pitt. That kid is doing what he thinks is best for him, not for a Pitt fan base. And furthermore he has no Pitt in his blood. My kid, my wife, and I all sat in a Pitt coaches office and was offered. We all bleed blue and gold. But my kid chose another opportunity because it felt right at the time and Pitt didn’t. It’s never personal. And it’s their future. Their lives. Don’t be a simpleton.
I don't think just because you have kids in local soccer clubs, even the better ones, that you'd necessarily know these players. Yes, they like soccer, mostly their own kids soccer.
I just think Penn State is an evil place, man. If he chose Ohio State, I wouldn't care as much. Its a gross, gross place and our biggest rival. Any kid from Pgh that chooses to leave home to play at our rival, I wish the worst for. Go play at OSU and I'll be good with that.
Wishing bad stuff on a guy because of the school he attends is evil too. and personally, I think you and so many here over the top with this Penn State is evil stuff. I have a number of friends that went there, they don't have horns or rape children and goats, one does have a JoePa cardboard cutout in his basement and has little Penn State helmet Christmas ornaments on his tree, but I make fun of that and he laughs. They went to Penn State, but they are just normal people, THE SAME AS PITT PEOPLE, WHO ARE ALL THE SAME AS WVU, these are sports rivals, but no the people aren't different, I know, I also have MANY WVU friends and relatives, back in the day we'd go to the Brawl or watch on TV TOGETHER.
I didn't say PSU grads are evil. The cardboard cutout is sick though. I'd stay clear of that guy. PSU is a sick, cultish place that covers up rape.
the cardboard cutout is pretty sick
it's creepy, life-size, like Old JoePa is standing there ready to escort your child to the 2nd Mile
I certainly never bought a ticket to see them in particular play. Or almost anyone else in Barca. The one exception was Cesc Fabregas because he was the only player I personally knew. He was a part-time starter the first year I started going to Barcelona for 2 or 3 months at a time, and I bought tickets to a match against Malaga after I saw him listed in the starting lineup (which they used to release the morning of the match). Messi didn’t play, but Cesc scored a hat trick and assisted on both goals by A Sanchez. Not a bad night.
Cesc also was scheduled to start against PSV Eindhoven in a Champions League match and I bought tickets for that on game day. Went with Masha’s brother, his first ever Barca game. Cesc didn’t score, but Messi had a hat trick. Only time I ever saw him score 3 goals.
Totally off subject, but there is a new series on Netflix called “Who Is Erin Carter?” It is absolutely awful, but I watched the whole thing because it is shot in Barcelona. And probably 85% of it is shot in Casteldefells, where Messi, Suarez, Cesc and many other Barca players have homes. Absolutely beautiful place. Live in the hills 5 minutes or less from a gorgeous beach.
Only 9 teams make the playoffs. They are 6 points behind DC for 9th place but have 2 games in hand. They are currently, still in 14th out of 15h. Need to go 5-2-1 the rest of the way. Its doable.
I'll root for DC then, that's my team, with no star players, lol, screw the Messi circus
Even though I've only watched 1 game this year, since they took them off of local TV.
They change the playoff format every year though so I cant even keep up with that.
Messi didnt play vs Bolivia. Some say he may be injured. Others say he doesnt like to play in LaPaz due to the altitude. Now he's got a turf game Saturday in Atlanta.
BTW, didnt realize the LaPaz elevation is more than twice Denver. Wow!
Last week we had an ISO auditor in for a surveillance audit who was born in Boliva. At one point we were talking about where she was from and while she didn't name the city, she was from La Paz. As she said, when she was born (she mostly grew up in Texas but her parents are currently living back in Bolivia) it was the largest city in the country. Today it is only the 3rd largest city in the country, because as she describes it all of the young people are moving away to the cities on the plains that are at a much lower elevation because no one wants to live up that high in the mountains, with all that brings.
I always heard it was a tough place to play due to the elevation so Im thinking "Mile High" but holy crap. No wonder Messi didnt play
Quito, Ecuador is another one that is at really high elevation. Not nearly as bad as La Paz, but much higher than Denver.
Business decision though. They won 3-0. Probably felt he wasnt needed. 6 teams directly qualify and have like a 90% at a 7th if that team can beat a shit Asian, CONCACAF, African, or Oceania team in the playoff. So with an MLS game, may have correctly decided it wasnt worth it. Now will he play on the Atlanta turf?
Does he play in the Open Cup Final? I’m thinking he doesn’t start. Things are really getting tight in the MLS schedule. Probably not a good night for Miami tonight. They are going to win, but Charlotte and Montreal winning doesn’t help things and it’s looking like NYCFC may win too and Red Bulls may get a result.
You’re probably right that they can stand to lose one more game, provided it’s against Orlando or Cincy. But their run in vs NYCFC, Chicago and two against Charlotte are musts.
Holy cow. Philly just came from 2 goals down to draw even with Charlotte in the 96th minute. Some of the worst defending I have ever seen and the worst penalty you’ll ever see. Not sure what the defender was doing or thinking.
This takes 2 much needed points away from Charlotte.
This takes 2 much needed points away from Charlotte.
Well I spoke to soon. Montreal also dropped 2 points in the 97th minute via a penalty.
So to summarize, Charlotte and Montreal, 2 teams ahead of Miami in the table, both took penalties in the 97th minute of their matches to drop points.
That is some crazy stuff.
So to summarize, Charlotte and Montreal, 2 teams ahead of Miami in the table, both took penalties in the 97th minute of their matches to drop points.
That is some crazy stuff.
Both Messi and Alba left the game midway through the first half injured, so yeah, even though the won, not a good night.
Ugh. I didn’t watch as I watched the Charlotte game but I saw he came off early. I figured it was just fatigue and coming out with a 2-0 lead. That sucks.
Came out in the first half of a game for something like the 8th time in his career.
He came out of the Ecuador game a few minutes early, people were downplaying it, but he hasn't played much since.
He's not playing Sunday. My guess is that if he's able, he'll play in the Cup final, even for just a half.
It shows what effect Father Time can have even on the GOAT. I can remember when Pep would try to rest him and he would wave away the substitution while the player was warming up. And, it’s not because he wanted more goals. This is a guy who is letting other Miami players take the PKs.
At Barcelona, when Suarez was in a slump, he let Suarez take a PK which he missed. The next time they got a PK, Messi took it and instead of going for goal he passed it to Suarez who scored a bunny from 6 meters out to get him out of his scoring drought. I think they changed the rule after that one.
At Barcelona, when Suarez was in a slump, he let Suarez take a PK which he missed. The next time they got a PK, Messi took it and instead of going for goal he passed it to Suarez who scored a bunny from 6 meters out to get him out of his scoring drought. I think they changed the rule after that one.
5 points behind DC for the last spot but with 2 games in hand. 6 games left. I think they need to go 4-1-1. That puts them on 44. DC has 4 left. Probably need them to go 2-1-1. Beat RBNY and NYCFC at home and then lose to Vancouver and draw Austin on the road.
Miami can probably afford to lose to Orlando Sunday without Messi. Then they need to beat NYCFC at home and then Chicago at Soldier Field, which will feel more like a neutral site game and not a true road game. Come home and draw 1st place Cincy. Then it comes down to the last 2 games vs Tepper FC. Sweep them and go to the playoffs.
BTW, the crowd for Miami/Toronto was bad. Maybe 20% empty in the smallest stadium in MLS. Miami is the worst sports town in America.
DC is not the concern. It’s NYCFC. They play Toronto tonight and will presumably win and pass DC in the playoff race. At the same time, Miami has a real tough task tonight playing a good Orlando team (I guess but what do I know) without Messi. So after tonight if the chalk holds up, Miami will be 6pts behind.
It’s a real predicament because Miami’s MLS season could hinge on next Saturday’s matchup between them and NYCFC. Yet, they have a midweek Cup Final to play. Any way you slice it, next weeks game is a must win for Miami. Can’t afford to go 9 points behind them for that playoff spot. After that NYCFC has Chicago on the schedule and another 3pts to gain there.
Gotta hope for some strange happenings tonight.
They might have their sights on Montreal too.
I don't know how severe his injury is, but I'm wondering whether Messi will try to play at least a bit in the Cup final and then kind of shut it down. He's played a lot of minutes in the past year.
If he does keep trying to play, he's going to miss at least one remaining MLS game because of his Argentina games in October.
I dont understand the need for these guys to play in the US Open Cup Final. Its at home. Its against Houston. They could win without them. Bring them on in the 2nd Half if need be. Winning the Cup does nothing. They are already in CCL next year anyway. They have NYCFC at home on Saturday, which is a massive game. They only trail them by 5 points for the playoff spot but have 2 games in hand. If they beat them, they trail by 2 points with those 2 extra games to play so you would have to say that at that point, they'd be the "favorite" to make the playoffs over NYCFC.
Rest everyone tomorrow and beat NYCFC. The playoffs equals more home games and more money for Miami and Apple TV.
Yeah agree. But when you get a chance to add a trophy to the case, priorities shift. You have to admit, Messi winning our oldest US competition is a pretty cool thing. But, in the grand scheme of things, it’s just not that important. Cool yes. Important no.
If I’m Tata though, he doesn’t play.
Tata said Alba is doubtful but Messi is a game time decision. My guess is that he plays a half.
Soccer has an obsession with trophies and playoffs are largely a foreign concept. He already has the record for trophies and I'm guessing he wants one more. This is especially true if he knows his body won't make it through the playoffs (plus WC qualifiers).
No, winning the cup gives the franchise a cup, something for their trophy case, a type of national championship. I might be mistaken, but Miami is a very new team, so I doubt they have ever won anything. If I was a fan of that team, I'd want them to take that cup seriously and go all out to win it.
This^^^
That team's trophy case is probably EMPTY, I don't see why it isn't important? Is it not important because of what? Money?
Isn't the US Open Cup the equivalent to the FA Cup in England? Do the EPL teams say that is not important? I'm just curious, I don't know what the English think about that?
I agree. When you have a chance to win a trophy you try to win the trophy. Especially if you've made the championship game. This isn't a best of seven or something where they are going to have to win several games to win it. It's a one off.
To quote our pal Herm Edwards, "you play to win the game."
As for EPL teams in the FA Cup, the big clubs frequently use the early round games to play their bench. Many of them play their backup goalies in Cup competitions, especially in the early rounds but sometimes all the way through. But by the time they get towards the end of the competition and the chance to win the trophy is right there in front of them they all take Herm's advice and they play to win the game.
