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Relegation Fighters MLS Story Thread; Let the games begin!
Topic Started: Nov 11 2009, 01:06 AM (1,205 Views)
Lucas Weatherby
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Not much was really done, troubles connecting, starting up the game (as per usual)... and the long crawl towards the very first pre-season game. Don't think anybody's had any yet?

Myself?
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Team: San Jose Earthquakes
Manager: Lucas Weatherby (English/American)

Bit of background about myself, I'm an 'Americophile' in the words of my old Sociology teacher, which combined with my love of football, all things Port Vale (Chris Birchall at LA Galaxy, not David Beckham), drew me here. Plus I've seen Al post around the FM boards for quite some time.

I chose SJE purely on the basis of team colours, not having any real preference except maybe NY (who were already taken when I came to choose team) and DC (again, taken). New England too seemed a bit, well, English.

I propped myself into the MLS world with zero knowledge, and it showed. I didn't even know GA players do not count to the squad size. I concentrated on bringing players in positions that I needed them, sorting out my team, tactics, training and captaincy, pissing some players off in process.

At my first 'Meet the Manager' Press Conference, in true Ron Burgundy style (with a twist), I told San Jose to go fuck themselves, storming out*. One player was disappointed by my attitude, so he had to go, and he did. Told my Ass Man to pack his bags too after telling me everything he knew about the world. Replaced him with a Englishman so I had someone to eat Cumberland Sausages with for breakfast. Nearly went for the legend Jorge Campos as a ass man replacement, but the call to home was too much.

A few trades here and there, not much of note, but I had brought in Eric Avila (GA player, AMR) on a trade for Corrales to make up for bodies in the squad before shifting him on (again) to Al at Colorado Rapids for a 3rd Round draft pick sometime in the 2300s. Poor lad. I'm sure he'll like living in South Park with the cows though. And bad trading there for me, shows for my inexperience, I guess!

Going back to my love for Port Vale, a friendly at Vale Park is scheduled so I get a chance to go home and see the rents before poaching James Lawrie (if he plays and performs that is, after parking the bus for him). A ex-Vale lad, Chris Birchall was traded in for one of my better players, Ramon Sanchez.

Also in - Dube and Larentowicz trade from New England for Brandon McDonald.

On the horizon: a bid for a DP, Amoroso was tipped off to the media, much to my unhappiness. So I have competition there. Looking at other players too, a couple of midfielders on trial looking impressive to my comrades at the Buck Shaw Stadium, and some other targets with competition abroad. Scouts have been brought in and the amnesia of the board saying they won't permit scouting of any nations, but still letting me has me sending my crew on rowboats.

Looking alright then, not too many disasters and not even reached the first friendly yet - scheduled against Port Vale away (I get homesick) before the mighty Tottenham Hotspur come and visit San Jose.

Am I ready for the season? Not at all, a lot more transferring to do yet. Which, by the looks of things, is already getting me on the bad side of my fans. Will I even make the first day? Who knows..... it was just a shame to end when we were just getting going!

* will post screenshot when I get the chance, if you're interested....

PS. May have missed one or two things out on my side, but it was a great first session for 2010. Many more, please.
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Aljarov
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Colorado Rapids

"Off the record?" Al Jarov replied to Nick Thomas of wewantrapidman..."I couldn't be less enthused about taking the job at the 'Dick'. Old man Stan doesn't give a crap about the Cra-, er, I mean Rapids, he's too busy buying up Arsenal."

And it was true. Mediocrity was king in Commerce City. Despite a spanking new stadium fit for any side in MLS, the fans were staying away, passe after years of indifference from the owner. And the team? Well, not much in the way of title quality that's for sure.

"Hell yeah I'll be making changes. I doubt I'll get a DP - Stan's tighter than a gnats chuff when it comes to this team - we're still off the record right? - but I intend to rebuild with a side capable of competing and I'm aiming for the playoffs, and who knows, perhaps a cup run. I don't have any of the so-called "distractions" of the CCL or SuperLiga to worry about."

The team, outside of the original first XI, and arguably inside it too, is extremely weak. For 2009 Colorado are short an international spot that was traded away. That's going to hurt.

Here's the keepers:

Goalkeeping: Troy Perkins, a solid MLS goalie with some US MNT experience and time abroad at QPR. With Burpo as back up, we're fine in goal. Rookie Steward Ceus is on loan for the year, but is long shot at best.

Defence: A mixed bag here, but former US MNT defender Cory Gibbs and recently acquired Drew Moor are the nucleus of a decent back line. Journeyman defender Julien Baudet, signed from Crewe, is a makeshift option, and he along with Kimura, Harvey, Palguta and Holody look destined for the door. Rob Valentino, a GA player has a chance as does the returning Ty Harden, who took 2008 off and 'retired'.

Midfield: The heart of the team is Pablo Mastroeni, but at 31 and worth $2.3m, if I could cash him in without destroying the morale of the side I would. I hope an Italian club or something makes an offer, but until then my mouth is shut and he's still the captain. Left winger Colin Clark is done for the year with an ACL and will be missed. Jamie Smith looks a reasonable option, but is slightly overpriced and might be shipped out for the right price. Mehdi Ballouchy is a dead-average playmaker, Nick LaBrocca shoudn't be starting. Greg Dalby is a solid prospect and former US U20 captain.

Attack: The big name is Conor Casey, but the overweight thug is overrated and not reliable. He'll be around, for a while, but isn't the cornerstone up top we need. Cummings is already one foot out the door...pace alone will not help this team. Garey is a poor back up while Noonan is serviceable but likely to be deployed on the right side of midfield for the forseeable.

So, with the players we have a 3-4-1-2 looks likely. I'd prefer my usual 4-4-2, but we'll have to see how the transfer market breaks down.

We've made a couple of acquisitions...shipping Harvey to Dallas in exchange for US U20 Kyle Davies. He's a nice prospect, but certainly overpaid at $160k a year on a senior deal. We also picked up GA player Eric Avila for a 3rd rounder. Both will add some depth and will likely be loaned out to an affiliate this year.

We've also been out scouting around and have identified a few nice acquisitions that might help make this side competitive. The Assman , Steve Guppy at the time though he's been demoted to coach and replaced with former US player Joe Max Moore, suggested a nice Colombian who has been signed. We also picked up a couple of higer profile free agents - Henri Camara, the Senegalese international and Malta front man, Michael Mifsud. With more arrivals expected (and a few deals flaoting round for DEV players and domestic squad players to fill out the spaces) there will be a decidedly different look to this team come 'First kick'. "Thank God for that" Jarov quipped as he walked towards the lockerrooms....
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Coasterkoa
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Los Angeles Galaxy

I come into a club who has been on the outs in the playoffs for three years now, having not qualified for the post season since winning the double in 2005. For the league's flagship club, this is unacceptable. With superstars like David Beckham and Landon Donovan, the teams surely has the two best players in the league, but two players do not make a winning team, as we've seen the past years the two have been on the field together.

That being said, the squad isn't as weak as its been in recent years. We've got a good team all across the park, but we are thin at center mid. I've decided I want to play Beckham at right mid, at least initially, and see how it goes, so that leaves our center mid options pretty thin. I was able to alleviate that by acquiring Salvadorian midfielder Ramon Sanchez in a trade that saw Chris Birchall go to San Jose. Hopefully he will be able to channel the form of Galaxy legend and fellow Salvadorean Mauricio Cienfuegos in his time with us.

In the backroom I've brought in some scouts that no one has ever heard of and sent them off around the Americas to bring me some players. Considering most of them can't tell Messi from messy, I've brought in Oliver Bierhoff as a coach, and will be my "head scout" with regards to really nailing down the talent levels the players my scouts find. I'm fine with Dave Sarachan as my assistant for now, but I'll generally have to rely on my own talents to set up most of the things at the club.

I've offered a few contracts to various players, and I've got my eyes on a few others, but I think that I've got enough quality to qualify for the playoffs and more. We've got a few friendlies to sort everything out, but I still expect to sign some players before the start of the season.

Projected Starting Lineup:
GK: Ricketts
DL: Dunivant
DR: Franklin
DC: Berhalter
DC: Gonzalez
ML: Lewis
MR: Beckham
MC: Kovalenko
MC: Sanchez
ST: Donovan
ST: Buddle

Looks pretty strong, eh?
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kee1108
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Trouble In Salt Lake City?

In an attempt to bring glory to Utah, Real Salt Lake hired long time Regulation Fighter veteran Mr. Ricky Lung as their new manager. Unfortunately, things did not seem to go well from the get go. Commissioner Al Jarov sent a short notice to Mr. Lung to inform his appointment, but Ricky did not have his blackberry with him and got the message late and thus showed up late on his first day of work. If this does not seem to be enough trouble for you, Ricky also forgot all his documents at home and have to redownload everything from an Internet server. This made him missed the first meeting entirely. On top of these, Ricky Lung was out of the soccer world for quite a few years, wandering between other major sports, so he is not up to par on what is going on in the soccer world now.

Without further flaming on him, he definitely knows the game, so it will not take him long to get back into the routine. While most managers already had the head start, Ricky will try to do most of the catch up in his spare time before the next meeting just to even up the count.

Here are some information about newest Real Salt Lake manager:

Name: Ricky Lung
Age: 26
Ethnic Group: Chinese
Nationality: Canadian

Career: Accounting
Sports: Soccer, Football, Basketball
Hobbies: Photoshop, Flash. Web Design

"...I am grateful that I have an opportunity to get back to MLS. I am eager to get this time to glory with all I have up my sleeves. Long story short, the team can expect 100% effort from me. I will take the next few days evaluating the roster and go front there..."
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Nevermore
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Team: New York Red Bulls
Manager: Luis Henao

Well, I'm a Colombia living in New York, I love the sport and luckily found my way to the Giants Stadium. This team definitely is way below its potential and my master plan is to take it there. There is also a lot of death weight lying around that I would love to get rid of. Also, we need to improve our staff as soon as possible.

So far, we only have two new players. We exchanged Stammler for Bobby Boswell, a player a little bit more versatile. The other is former Colombian international Alexander Viveros, a free transfer that can solve the DL problems immediately.

I'm planning to bring a couple more names. I still have room for one international more and expect to use it well. I don't plan to bring too many new faces, just one or two more.

Let's see what the first games of preseason brings and definitely what areas need more attention.
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andaos
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Team: Columbus Crew
Manager: Oscar

Determining to prove myself, My destination was on a foreign land that i never coached before: The MLS. Columbus came knocking on my door and offer me the job to take Columbs crew to Glory. I accepted and now there is only two things in my mind: Money and Fame.

The squad
I think the squad needs some reinforcements as well as i need to sell someplayers. i need a bit more centre midfielders and one more strikers. My best player would be Schelloto but i can't rely on him for everything that is why i am looking for other reinforcements. i only got one good striker and he is alejandro moreno and is not getting younger. i will be looking to add a bit more players and staff members. No players set to sign yet as i haven't been in the job for too often. But i will be looking for reinforcements in different countries with my scouts and hopefullly they will recommend some good reinforcements

This season goal
as i am new to mls i will be looking this first season to adapt as quickly and play some good football. But i will try at least to qualify to mls playoffs.
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Darkhail
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FC Dallas

The number one question most people have asked me since I accepted the job as manager is "where did they find you?". My answer is always the same, they must have picked my name out of the telephone book.

The FC Dallas team is one filled with talent but that has a problem stringing the wins together and grinding out results continuously throughout the season.

One of the first to arrive on the training grounds first thing in the morning to avoid the soon to be expected media crew, I set about looking at the team and for ways to decrease our already tight wage packet. Before I dance before the media and claim that this is the job of dreams.

Keepers: We have three solid keepers in Dallas, Sala, Burse, and Lambo (A hopeful for the future).

Outfield: After taking a good hard look at the rest of the team I realized exactly how versatile and adaptable the FCD team was. With a very talented midfield, and a fairly solid backline, my only major concern is up top.

As for my staff, I decided to give everyone a chance to convince me they should stay, as well as adding a few key members to the coaching and scouting staff.

Ins & Outs: Within the first week players have already started to move, while I am willing to let most of the players have their chance to prove themselves, a few players never had their names tacked to their lockers. Among those were Dario Sala whom I sold to Independiente for an acceptable fee of 55 thousand pounds (of which the greedy MLS board stole 33%). While MLS was counting their pennies I was busy making trades with San Jose. I took the talented Corrales in exchange for the GA Eric Avila. Even before the news of the transfer broke I was at it again this time trading USA U20 Kyle Davies for the Colorado Rapids player Harvey.

While just under a week has passed we have already setup a number of high priority friendlies with foreign clubs throughout the world, making this off season a busy one. However, there is no time to stop and think as several players have been offered contracts and with players like Cunningham possibly looking for an exit only time will tell how the season will go.
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Aljarov
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Aljarov
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Colorado Rapids

"It was a tough break....and I'm not complaining. The boys did well and deserved something out of this game". Jarov, it seemed, was upbeat after the Rapids went down 1:0 at Chivas USA.

"We set up to counter attack, and with Chivas offering little, that messed with our game plan a little. Sure, it was a pretty ugly game, but I'm a little disappointed at Pickens....he only faced 1 shot and it got by him. That's not good enough from a position I considered us to have relatively good strength".

After a few final tweaks, Colorado confirmed it's roster with 9 new faces on the main roster, and several more away at the affiliate in USL2, Maryland. "It was clear we needed depth, both in reserve and even in the starting line up. " Casualties of the new regime included Ballouchy, Cummings (to RSL), Diz (waived), LaBrocca (to Seattle) and as previously mentioned, Jordan Harvey to Dallas.

At full strength, here's how the new look Rapids line up....it's a 3-4-1-2:

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With 4 new faces in the starting line up, the team looked like it was struggling to gel. "I'm a firm 4-4-2 guy" stated Jarov, "but the team just isn't built like that at this point in time. I'll likely try and find a solid DL to give balance to the back line in order to open up more options. I recently failed in a couple of bids to bring a leftsided player in, so we'll see how the hunt goes".

For now, Jarov and the Rapids turn their attentions to their home opener, which will apparently be sold out, against KC...."must win. I hate to sound melodramatic this early in the season, but if we're to be competitive this season we'll need to take the max from the majority of our home games".
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Nevermore
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Media and fans alike were really concerned about the lack of signings. Just four players arrived to the Big Apple. 2 of them, obscure Colombian players in their 30s and a even more obscure ML that immediately was loaned out to our affiliate NYFC.

But our friendlies showed that team was ready to make any doubt disappear. A noisy victory against Philly made clear that we have a strong attack in spite of having few strikers.

The season started in Seattle and we had a comfortable victory against a rival still finding his form and strategy. 3-1 (Let's pretend that nothing else happened <_< ) and both Kandji and Angel looking sharp.

Henao commented after the match: "The season has just started. Great performances are not enough to win the league. We need to keep the form."

Now, we're expecting New England, a team that I really want to beat.
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andaos
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Transfers:
IN-
Jeff Larentowicz (trade moffat for)
Jeff Cunnigham (trade for emmanuel ekpo)
Cristaldo(for free)
Humberto mendoza-colombian young defender that my scout was able to pick up.(450k)
Jorge lopez caballero(for free)
Out-
moffat
andy iro
frankie Hejduk
emmanuel ekpo

With the start of the season i had to confront the ever difficult houston dynamo in away match.

Eric bunner made a mistake and let one of houston mids steal the ball while the golie was out and easily shot for home. 1-0. landin(houston DP) had three other chances alone with golie and somehow managed to miss leaving the game 1-0 at half time. Immediately i replace emilio renteria with cunnigham at the front pairing up with moreno.

The half time teamtalk payoff well as 10 minutes after start moreno manage to get away from defender and manage to receive pass to be alone with golie and it was 1-1. reaching around the 70ths minute a corner took place which a defender of houston head the ball away from the center of the box but hardworking midfielder oughton immeadiatly grabbed that ball and close to the box and shotted a powerful striker to make 2-1.

"Houston created more dangerous chances but was never able to make them in to goals. Yes, i was fortunate to win but a win is a win", said oscar in the conference.

Final score Houston 1-2 Columbus Crew
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Aljarov
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THE AXE FALLS

MLS impatience strikes as San Jose and New England simultaneously euthanize their managers.

Gone are Lucas and Cristian who had seemingly fallen asleep at the wheel so early in their respective tenures.

In come Keven Gagnon and ???????....accepting applications now, some candidates include Sigi Schmid, Dom Kinnear and....YOU?!
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MolsonGoalie41
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So there I was on about to enter my new job, the dream I had always wanted I was about to go in and coach on a major league team. I figured they were not calling me up to coach on the big team; I would have to spend some time coaching the Wolves maybe one day get me to a Premier Job. Finally my hard work of being a underclass assistant for college and a bench coach for high school paid off. I rushed in to the office, have to admit I never knew the Blackhawks had their offices at the practice field of the Bears but that didn’t detour me. I walked right in was handed a contract and met with the owners. Of course using the lines owners will want to hear, I expect heart, headwork combined with European like flair. In his mind thinking from Canada, to the USA, the U.P. to a coach in a big city thoughts race though his head about coaching Chris Chelios. Then he meets his coaching staff and gets a tour.

Assistant: You know for being a coach at Chelsea I never heard of you.
E.T.: Only a goalie coach der. Tend to get shoved in the background Eh?
Assistant (hearing the accent for the first time wonders): So it went well working with Peter Czech then?
E.T.: Peter Check who is that?
Assistant: *laughing* Only the Czech Republic national goalkeeper
E.T.: ha very funny, everyone knows that’s Voukon is the Czech republic Goalie, next you will tell me Johnny Canuck is in the running for the Vancouver team.
Assistant: What Pete did you coach?
E.T.: Pete Sell was his name a bit small he was a back up but I coached him up against Manchester.
Assistant: Manchester?
E.T.: Yeah Chelsea and Manchester is a huge rivalry only 5 miles apart we share the same ice but that is common in High School Hockey.

*Assistant than shakes his head realizing its going to be a long year*
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FCD_Greg
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The owners hate it when I reference the club as The Wiz to the media. I guess they ditched that name after '96, something to do with trademark or some other business-y suit BS. But since winning both the Supporters Shield and the Cup in 2000, this club has accomplished absolutely nothing of value. I was brought here to change the consistent trend of mediocrity, so I intend on doing that my way. The first step? Fire every single member of the previous staff and bring in my own regime.

When I took over, the club was lead by former Argentinian International Claudio Lopez. For my money he's one of the top 5 players in this league. Beyond him, the team is built around American midfielder Davy Arnaud. This is not the kind of player successful teams are built around. In the back, veteran Jimmy Conrad leads the way. Last season he almost lead the team in goals. Not only is he a dominant MLS CB, but he's the emotional leader of the club and a true captain.

As a big believer in an offensively minded, technically skilled midfield, I had only one option with the MLS's salary cap: giving has-beens a second chance. I quickly signed midfielders Tchiressoua Guel (over 80 caps for the Ivory Coast), Gustavo Figueroa (capped Ecuadorian), and Ervin Skela (over 60 caps for Albania), all of whom are well into their 30's. The three of them are now my starters alongside veteran Argentinian holding midfielder Santiago Hirsig.

Up top I've paired Josh Wolff, who has a boatload of experience with the U.S. Nats, with Lopez.

In the back I brought in capped American Nick Garcia to pair up with Conrad. Besler and Jewsbury are at fullback and capped American Kevin Hartman in goal.

It took one press conference for me to call the team the Wiz and get called into the owner's office to get chewed out. Today, we're 4-3-2 and 2nd place in the Eastern conference. The owner just smirks when he hears me call the team the Wiz now. Funny how winning brings people together.

It's a LONG season and we're only 1/3 of the way through. The goal is still to simply win a playoff spot, we have no delusions of grandeur concerning supporters shields or Cup Finals. That said, I don't think there's a soul in this country that would have pegged us for 2nd place in the conference at this point in the season.

The Wiz are back, baby.
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Aljarov
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