photo from CDSOCCER.com
Roberto Brown was not good enough for Fernando Clavijo. But he’s been good enough for Montreal of the second flight, USL leading the Impact to the league semifinals and now more importantly scoring two goals to give the Impact a huge road three points in Honduras against Olimpia in the CONCACAF Champions League. This was the third game in a stretch which will see Montreal play six games in eleven days, all the matches being either Champions League or USL playoff games. This point is precisely why when MLS fans complain about fixture congestion I cannot help but laugh at them.
Throwing out the result of a dispirited and quite frankly completely overmatched DC United team who right now is the laughing stock of the Champions League, Matchday three was very good for MLS and USL sides. (DC did play much better tonight than they have in the previous two Champions League matches but I recall a time not so long ago where DC would automatically get a result at home in an international competition. Besides Cruz Azul was playing its second eleven) Houston became the first MLS team ever to get a result in a competitive match in Mexico City with a 4-4 draw at Pumas. Puerto Rico continued an unbeaten streak of 17 games with a hard fought 2-2 draw in Guatemala against Municipal, and as discussed above Montreal beat Olimpia on the road.
Back to Brown. For my money he was the Rapids most dangerous player early last season. I saw him in person at DSG Park and was amazed by his skill off the ball. But for whatever reason, after making a big deal about signing him, Clavijo let him go after about 10 matches. Rather than go back to Panama, he latched on in USL with Montreal (as by the way many quality foreign players who get waived in MLS have in the past) and he has made a remarkable impact, no pun intended on the Quebec based club.
As things stand now, three MLS/USL teams have a very good chance of advancing to the knock out stages of the event. That’s something we all can be proud of.
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Roberto Brown was out of shape and isn't missed in Colorado. They're happy with Conor Casey.
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Fixture congestion helps USL. They are more used to it!
So the results they have achieved are illegitimate. They are not professionals. Only MLS players are pros. So the fact that they have less money and theoretically should have less depth helps them!
Maybe MLS should lower the salary cap?
Man I hope Garber compensates you well. You are like Baghdad Bob.
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USL has shown well. The players have taken advantage of this exposure. But I couldn't help to point out that playing off of one or two days rest is nothing new for these teams. Something virtually no other fully professional league does on a regular basis. Any win on the road is impressive (ask Panathinaikos and Chelsea) and these Central American teams can be dangerous, but I'd bet Montreal has a higher payroll, something few here seem to have in perspective.
I don't know where you think I'm getting this stuff. Maybe MSL should pay me to give them talking points? :)
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Clavijo made a mistake. Is this shocking considering he did nothing but make mistakes in his tenure?
Montreal also has Matt Jordan who was quality for many years in MLS. He saved the game last night for the Impact.
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Besides, there are many cases of Premiership and other European club sides getting a Sunday - Tuesday / Wednesday - Saturday run due to Cup or European commitments. It happens all over the world. It's usually considered a trapping of success. If you don't want that frequency of matches, it'll be taken away from you quickly. Additionally, don't US colleges follow a weekend-heavy schedule? And isn't that where a large number of MLS players come from? This isn't new to any North American player!
MLS has no excuse for their poor showing compared to USL clubs. From earning the opportunity to represent their country, to group qualifiers, to the group stage itself, USL sides have consistently earned results; MLS sides have consistently embarrassed themselves.
KARTIK - Time to change this to USL TALK. Turns out the "a League" is the real "A" League in North America!
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It's rare in Europe to not have 2 off days. Usually games are rescheduled or managers put out reserves for 1 of the games.
MLS needs an excuse only if you think this tournament is worth the effort. I'm still not convinced that its time has come. For some teams to win it will take something like 14 games (assuming the elimination rounds are 2-legged). That's half a pro season right there. When exactly did MLS redefine its business model to account for that? The games draw squat and don't pay for themselves. Mexican teams are putting out reserves too. The market just isn't anywhere close to justifying such a prolonged event. And it's not going make any difference in the next MLS player going to Europe (Edu, Altidore, Guzan did just fine without this "showcase").
Someone tell Seattle the're going to the wrong league already ...
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