turnerfield
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Post by turnerfield on Aug 24, 2018 15:08:35 GMT -5
We played well last weekend at Columbus. Josef and Tito both scored their goals almost all by themselves. It was sweet to see Josef pull up, calmly turn around, and feed Almiron a great ball for his goal. Should be another 3 points tonight against Orlando. I will have three TVs going at the same time with the Braves, ATL UTD, and the Falcons edit - nevermind, apparently the Falcons game is not until tomorrow.
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Post by Hart's Middle Finger on Aug 26, 2018 18:57:10 GMT -5
A good enough win over Orlando, and celebrate Josef Martinez who set the goals scores for a season record at 28.
I actually think trying to feed him to get the record hurt us a bit in that game, but now that he's got it maybe we can settle down.
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Post by Hart's Middle Finger on Sept 11, 2018 20:28:24 GMT -5
Some interesting things about the United and MLS soccer in general. So the rumor is that the United could soon be losing star striker Josef Martinez. It was even speculated that he could leave the team before the end of the season as they strive for the Supporters shield and for an MLS championship. See because of the complex rules of international transfers, the outright buying of players, MLS agreements and the sheer number of playing options available; contracts.. especially MLS contracts mean very little. So as I pondered this, it also came out that United Coach Tata Martino told Josef Martinez that he would help him get back to playing internationally. So the coach of out Atlanta United told a star player that he would do everything possible to help said star player leave the team and go play somewhere else.
It's also rumored that Miguel Almiron may be on the same path. Apparently if an international team comes a callin' then Almiron will be a walkin'.
I had never thought about MLS contracts and player movement until recently, but now that I have it seems that this is pretty detrimental to American professional soccer. In fact, I find it a bit ridiculous and it puts a pretty sour taste in the mouth of someone new to MLS. I have been a fan of soccer for awhile, but followed Arsenal and Liverpool of the Premiere League and the U.S. National teams.
If this all proves out to be fairly accurate and I watch as our MLS team becomes a minor league feeder for other clubs - selling its best players for cash and having players under contract walk away whenever someone more prestigious on the world scene comes along; my MLS fanship will wane. Seems like kind of a jacked up system in general. If the MLS can not attract and retain star top quality players, then it will forever be doomed to be a 2nd tier sport. We already have our best home grown players looking to play on European clubs, and I think all this negatively impacts the U.S. National team as well. I think USMNT will remain 2nd rate players until MLS can attract and keep top talent.
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turnerfield
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Post by turnerfield on Oct 24, 2018 22:45:06 GMT -5
We know now there's at least no more Tata next year
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Post by Hart's Middle Finger on Oct 25, 2018 6:47:59 GMT -5
99% sure no Almiron either.
They just paid another huge transfer fee for Pity Martinez from the Argentina national leagues. He is an attacking mid-fielder and he will occupy a Desigmated Player slot which puts ATL one over the limit of the number of DP's they can carry. The writing is on the wall that Almiron will be sold.
Congrats to the United for qualifying for the CONCACAF Champions league in 2019.
We are also one more win away from securing the Supporters Shield.
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turnerfield
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Post by turnerfield on Oct 25, 2018 13:04:34 GMT -5
At least the talent is slowly improving in the MLS compared to 10 years ago. It might just continue to be a slow process and still be another 10 years until it is anywhere close to as competitive as the EPL.
It is kind of a shame, because you would think drawing 70,000 fans (more than EPL matches) and the overall winning culture would be an incentive for someone like Almiron to stay, but I guess the big money and chance for stardom is still in Europe. Hard to picture Almiron getting consistent starting time at Arsenal, but it's harder for me to judge the talent in soccer. I know my roommate who is a huge Man United fan doesn't think Almiron would see much playing time on one of the major EPL teams, but he's still kind of young. I'm pretty sure in soccer there is a stat kind of like WAR in baseball that indicates overall player value and Almiron was one of the highest in the MLS all year....I just checked. It's the Audi Player Index and Almiron is second behind only Carlos Vela.
I doubt Toronto is going to make it easy for us on Sunday. It will be nice to not have to deal with the knockout round in the playoffs like last year. I think I already mentioned I was at that match last year and it was pure typical Atlanta sports.
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Post by Hart's Middle Finger on Oct 25, 2018 17:09:56 GMT -5
Toronto is going to make it very hard. This game scares me quite a bit and NYRB have a cake-walk game. It will be a shame if we don't win the Shield because of this game. We had so many chances to already have it sewn up when we just gave away points. We had 2 or 3 games where we gave up big leads late. We should have wrapped up the league title two games ago.
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Post by Hart's Middle Finger on Oct 28, 2018 16:00:32 GMT -5
and as is Atlanta.... on the verge of something great.. the team from Georgia goes sown early.... on a deflection off our own player
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Post by Hart's Middle Finger on Oct 28, 2018 16:06:41 GMT -5
Atlanta going to Atlanta
0-2
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Post by Hart's Middle Finger on Oct 28, 2018 19:34:28 GMT -5
So much Atlanta. 1-4
Pathetic....embarrassing performance.
I guess the coach has been too busy securing his next job to actually get the team ready for what could have been a historic game.
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turnerfield
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Post by turnerfield on Oct 30, 2018 15:58:16 GMT -5
All we can do is hope they care a little bit more for their first playoff round after the knockouts. I would blame the cold weather in Toronto but that's a lame excuse for soccer players.
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Post by Hart's Middle Finger on Oct 31, 2018 21:54:27 GMT -5
There is no excuse for what happened there other than an unprepared team unable to cope under the first sign of adversity.
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Post by Hart's Middle Finger on Oct 31, 2018 21:58:26 GMT -5
It really soured me. i love soccer and this franchise gave me as an Atlanta sports fan, the hope of changed fortunes here.
Nope.... same old crap so far. That Supporters Shield means as much if not more in a lot of ways than the post season tournament.
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turnerfield
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Post by turnerfield on Nov 3, 2018 22:41:37 GMT -5
That suppprters shield is a trophy and the equivalent of finishing on top of the table in all other major soccer leagues around the world. I agree with how important it was.
I'm not expecting the match tomorrow to have a huge playoff atmosphere. It's hard to picture Yankee Stadium being packed out when they have the Knicks, Giants, Jets, Rangers, and Islanders to worry about up there. The stadium always seems half empty for NYCFC.
David Villa is going to splooge all over us if we're not ready.
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turnerfield
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Post by turnerfield on Nov 3, 2018 22:54:21 GMT -5
I also have this sick thought in the back of my mind sometimes. Even if we win the MLS cup, as an atl sports fan, we still have no Super Bowl, no NBA championship, a hockey team I loved that left after getting a 2nd chance for a hockey team in the first place, and I have no conscious memory of the Braves winning the World Series because I was three years old when that happened. Compared to that, the MLS Cup seems like a participation trophy. Thanks for being a fan all these years. Here you go. The MLS Cup. You got your years of your baseball team under performing and choking and being cheap, your historically choked Super Bowl loss and other terrible years to be a Falcons fan, and you got your effing MLS Cup trophy. Beautiful.
What a terrible way to look at it lmao. Our soccer team is awesome and awesome for the city if we win. But that sick thought has crossed my mind before lmao.
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