[retired_google]

Originally posted by PMLF:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Jason the Yank:
I think it'll be a mirror of the rules for the US teams. Canadians would count as domestic players, US players would count as foreigners for them.

I say that "I think" because there's been some grumbling that if that's the case then you theoretically could wind up with the Canadian national team playing in MLS under the Toronto name.

If they do what you said, then they should not take part in the draft.

Anyway, adding them under sepcial rules kind of defeats the purpose of the MLS as their players won't help the US Team (as they will be Canadians).

I don't follow much the Canadian Nat'l Team. How many of their top players still play in either or in the USA?

Because these players would naturally be the target for Toronto if they try to sign Canadian Nat'l Team players. </BLOCKQUOTE>

It's a question that still has to be resolved.

[retired_jo12289]

Originally posted by Jason the Yank:
New format to decide the MLS representatives to the CONCACAF Champions Cup (it's now the Supporter's Shield winner -- which goes to the team with the best record in the regular season -- and the MLS Cup winner. If a team does a Supporters Shield/MLS Cup double, then the 2nd representative to the Champions Cup is the team with the 2nd best record in the regular season)

Ah, I did wonder - on FM at the end of the regular system, it said 'DC United have won after having the best regular season record', but didn't actually say what they'd won

Just started the 2006 season on me game too and moved into the much more suitable Bridgeview. Soldier Field looks an amazing stadium, but 60,000 for MLS? Can't see that happening really.

As for the Toronto thing, is there no way of naturalising Canadians so that they don't count as foreigners?

I know the idea of the foreigner limit is to stop teams just bringing in quality from overseas and help American players get better, but I can't really see a huge clamouring for Canadians' signatures cos they're not exactly world beaters, are they?

[retired_google]

County council spits fire at RSL owner (Salt Lake Tribune)

Pre-season success helps confidence (Salt Lake Tribune)

Growth in American soccer parallels world parity in other sports (Soccer Times)

Miami company takes stab at professional soccer (Miami Today)

Miami FC, Romario talking (Miami Herald)

OBrien may come to L.A. (Long Beach Press-Telegram)

Experienced Adu looking to improve on disappointing second pro season (Charleston Post and Courier)

Rowan's work has just begun on MLS deal (Bridgeton News)

Argentine says he's more like a sweeper than a 'keeper (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Sarachan has Fire on move as season beckons (Chicago Tribune)

Dallas to field 'A' team against Mexico's Atlas (Dallas Morning News)

[retired_google]

Originally posted by HopOnBaby:
Just started the 2006 season on me game too and moved into the much more suitable Bridgeview. Soldier Field looks an amazing stadium, but 60,000 for MLS? Can't see that happening really.

Soldier Field is fine, but like most of the American football stadiums rented for soccer it's definitely not appropriate. Even if you get 25,000 people there (a very good crowd for soccer), it looks horrible in a 60,000 seat stadium. More than that, scheduling is a bear (no pun intended ) because the soccer team is the secondary tenant. The NFL team didn't have to submit its schedule until July, and the dates they picked usually would force the Fire's 2nd half of the season to be completely revised. And then of course there's how terrible the field becomes in October after you get 300-pound linemen moving up and down the field, digging their cleats into the surface for traction.

As for the Toronto thing, is there no way of naturalising Canadians so that they don't count as foreigners?

I know the idea of the foreigner limit is to stop teams just bringing in quality from overseas and help American players get better, but I can't really see a huge clamouring for Canadians' signatures cos they're not exactly world beaters, are they?

There's been some talk in the past of a 'NAFTA rule', whereby all players from the NAFTA trade area (Canada, US, Mexico) would be treated as domestic players, similar to how EU players are treated in Europe. But nothing's come of that.

The concern about Canada is not so much because of the current situation, IMO, but what a regular place to play could do for them. The rise of the US national team parallels the establishment and growth of MLS. If you figure it would have a similar effect on Canada, then you could get a situation where Toronto/Canada national team becomes a dominant team in the league.

At the moment, there are 3 Canadian teams in the 2nd division USL. So any Canadian national team players in that league are likely to be distributed among multiple teams. (Daaaaave could probably fill in the info about how foreign players are treated in the USL)

[retired_jo12289]

Originally posted by Jason the Yank:
There's been some talk in the past of a 'NAFTA rule', whereby all players from the NAFTA trade area (Canada, US, Mexico) would be treated as domestic players, similar to how EU players are treated in Europe. But nothing's come of that.

I didn't include Mayhico in my suggestion, because they're a more advanced nation, in footballing terms, and could lead to an invasion of cheap Mayhicans at the expence of Americans

[Skoooby]

Originally posted by Jason the Yank:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by furtherseemsforever:
Hey man, I might be slightly adverse to posting regularly about MLS goings on but this is always my first stop for the latest news. Sometimes I'll try to check a story out from a less, shall we say, 'local' source having read it in here first but if its any consolation I doubt you will ever be talking to yourself.

I never really post about stuff (esp. in the off-season) as a couple of the other American guys can get a little jumpy about their teams. Thats cool though, there are raw nerves all over American sports let alone with MLS. Although, I remember one guy having a Chappelle-based quote from Wayne Brady in his sig. Cool that.

Anyways, Andrew K is bound to be gutted as he probably started last season thinking, like most other FCD fans, that they could go all the way. &lt;------the safest of all safetys

AND! To top it all off, I dont even have a team to support anymore. 1869 can bite me. I might go Red Bull.

It's not just you, and it's understable why you'd be hesitant to chime in. It's the US-based posters like Andrew K, Gambit and Andy Jordan

(and it's Andy Jordan with the Chappelle sig) </BLOCKQUOTE>
I'm a bit confused on what I'm being accused of here.

[retired_google]

Originally posted by HopOnBaby:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Jason the Yank:
There's been some talk in the past of a 'NAFTA rule', whereby all players from the NAFTA trade area (Canada, US, Mexico) would be treated as domestic players, similar to how EU players are treated in Europe. But nothing's come of that.

I didn't include Mayhico in my suggestion, because they're a more advanced nation, in footballing terms, and could lead to an invasion of cheap Mayhicans at the expence of Americans </BLOCKQUOTE>

Actually, that's fairly unlikely because Mexico is a high-paying league. One of the reasons you hardly ever see Mexicans go play in Europe (or Argentina) is because they can already get a big payday at home.

You're even seeing more Argentines and other South Americans going to Mexico because of wages (and the fact that Mexican clubs rarely have trouble with getting the paypackets out on time. Which was one reason cited by the Argentine Christian Gomez when asked why he signed with MLS)

PMLF would be more up on the situation in South America than me of course, but I think he'd confirm that view.

[retired_google]

Originally posted by Andrew K:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by Jason the Yank:
<BLOCKQUOTE>Originally posted by furtherseemsforever:
Hey man, I might be slightly adverse to posting regularly about MLS goings on but this is always my first stop for the latest news. Sometimes I'll try to check a story out from a less, shall we say, 'local' source having read it in here first but if its any consolation I doubt you will ever be talking to yourself.

I never really post about stuff (esp. in the off-season) as a couple of the other American guys can get a little jumpy about their teams. Thats cool though, there are raw nerves all over American sports let alone with MLS. Although, I remember one guy having a Chappelle-based quote from Wayne Brady in his sig. Cool that.

Anyways, Andrew K is bound to be gutted as he probably started last season thinking, like most other FCD fans, that they could go all the way. &lt;------the safest of all safetys

AND! To top it all off, I dont even have a team to support anymore. 1869 can bite me. I might go Red Bull.

It's not just you, and it's understable why you'd be hesitant to chime in. It's the US-based posters like Andrew K, Gambit and Andy Jordan

(and it's Andy Jordan with the Chappelle sig) </BLOCKQUOTE>
I'm a bit confused on what I'm being accused of here. </BLOCKQUOTE>

You rarely post about stuff anymore.

[Skoooby]

Starting today I'm in full MLS mode as I'll be going to see FCD v Atlas tonight.

So I should be posting more. MLS offseasons tend to be a bit boring as I don't know the players in the draft and the player moves are usually complete unknowns.

As far as FCD has done this off-season. I'm very happy we signed local product Kenny Cooper Jr. (his father played for the Tornados). Ruiz, Mina and Cooper makes for some great depth up top. It's sad to see EJ leave without completely blossoming for Dallas, as we waited and waited, but he's leaving soon and we got the allocation from him we would get in August.

Our backline still looks weak. Our midfield still lacks a left-side, but I figure O'Brien, a motivated Ruiz, on the rise Nunez, and an on the mend Mulrooney will provide for a good attack.

[retired_google]

Originally posted by Andrew K:
Starting today I'm in full MLS mode as I'll be going to see FCD v Atlas tonight.

So I should be posting more.

\o/

MLS offseasons tend to be a bit boring as I don't know the players in the draft and the player moves are usually complete unknowns.

That's true. Usually it's like "We need a striker this offseason. Okay, we've taken one in the draft. Good move for us."