World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

[Jimjamesak]

I think that's how other countries do their development teams.

Including here. MLS Reserve teams play in USL Pro.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Including here. MLS Reserve teams play in USL Pro.

German reserves play no higher than 3rd Liga, and I think Spanish clubs simply have to stay a level below their senior team. Not too sure about others.

[FreshFish]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

I notice the various stations of the NBC networks are trying to make a splash out of "Championship Sunday" in the EPL, running all ten games live at the same time. Too bad for them that most of the results are already locked in place. No mystery about relegation, and all Man City needs is a tie to guarantee 1st place.

[MountieBoyOz]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Looks like Blatter is going for a fifth term. Looks like the screwing of the USA and England continues.

http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2...ident-in-2015/

[joecct]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

EPL standings if you only count goals by English players.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2...92.mobile.html

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Klinsmann releases preliminary 30-man World Cup roster

Random thoughts:

17 of the 30 players have last names beginning with the letters A through E. Weird.

DeAndre Yedlin has crazy hair.

Very disappointing that Stuart Holden has had such bad luck with injuries. If healthy he'd be preferable to any number of these guys.

No Eddie Johnson, no Tim Ream, no Brek Shea, no Jose Torres, no Sacha Kljestan.

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

USMNT PRELIMINARY WORLD CUP ROSTER

GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (11) : DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Timmy Chandler (Nürnberg), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (10) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union), Julian Green (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jones (Besiktas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (6) : Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Agreed that it's a shame that Holden has had such terrible luck with injuries. He deserves a spot, if he were healthy.

Snubs? You could make an argument for Ream or Shea, but otherwise I'm not seeing anything all that egregious.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Shea is mediocre and has had a terrible year. He deserves to be left out.

[FreshFish]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Interesting to see Donovan listed as a "forward." I've generally seen him listed as a "mid-fielder."

[Jimjamesak]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Glad Eddie Johnson is not going. He is a Locker Room Cancer. Killed the Sounders last year with his *ing about his contract.

[Jimjamesak]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

MLS Announces new TV contracts with Univision, ESPN, and Fox.

Worth about $90 million ($75 million from ESPN and Fox and $15 million from Univision) a year. Each network gets one exclusive game a week in a specific time slot, Univision gets Friday night on UniMàs, ESPN gets Sunday night at 5 pm Eastern on ESPN2, Fox gets Sunday night at 7 pm Eastern on Fox Sports 1. Rest of the games are on local TV on Saturdays with ESPN getting digital rights for ESPN3.

So, MLS goes back to Fox and leaves NBC. The good news is that they have guaranteed time slots, no wondering when the games will be on.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Good for FS1, bad for NBCSN. Probably good for ESPN, but I honestly don't give a **** what's good for ESPN.

I wonder what properties NBCSN needs to start looking at in the near future to help shore up what's starting to look too much like the old Vs. lineup.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

I wonder what properties NBCSN needs to start looking at in the near future to help shore up what's starting to look too much like the old Vs. lineup.

Well, I mean, the Premier League is a pretty big differentiator from what they had on Vs., no?

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: World Soccer XXV - the run up to the World Cup

Well, I mean, the Premier League is a pretty big differentiator from what they had on Vs., no?

Fair point. You could also add college hockey (not that that's much of an addition, other than for our needs), but that's pretty much it. It's otherwise still the same mix of small-scale eastern college football, cycling, F1, piddly college basketball and nature shows.