MLS - 2012 Season

[SoCalJoe]

The league is opening this weekend so it's time for our season long thread. The product has gotten better every year, new stadiums are now the norm (if only DC would get it's act together), and the interest has gone way up. I hardly paid attention until the last season or two but will be getting down to the Home Depot Center for a match for sure.

Really looking forward to seeing my Portland Timbers take the next step and getting Kris Boyd should help. Jeld Wen will be sold out and rockin as always so the home form will be good, but they were worse than Fulham away last year so that's where the improvement must come from.

[Clevelandmo]

Looking forward to this season's drama myself. I'm going to see Columbus take on Vancouver in April, probably the only MLS match I'll see live. Joe I have a soft spot for the Timbers myself. I really like Spencer as a coach at the atmosphere at Jeld Wen is certainly something I'd llike to see first hand. Crazy fans but not as militant as those in Seattle. Also, Darlington Nagbe is a local Cleveland boy and I met him over the holidays - he could not be sweeter. After Boyd scored his first goal in preseason he said hoisting the log "was a little strange at first . . . it was something new for me thats for sure". You mean the Rangers dont do that when they score?

My prediction - after finishing last in 2011, Vancouver will make the playoffs.

[HatterDon]

I may have to begin a NASL thread, as San Antonio has professional football for the first time since our USL2 team left town last century. Our season begins April 21. Hoping Matt can come along to a couple of matches, but several people have said to me, "Don, when the Scorpions start playing, lets go to a match and you can explain the game to me. Sigh.

[DCHeather]

Go ahead and start one Don.

I just hope DC can put together a good season.

[AggieMatt]

Another season, another attempt by me to get into this league. I watched more MLS matches last year than any other year, and that was in large part due to the compelling, entertaining football I saw from Portland at home. Having a rooting interest always helps, so maybe I've found an MLS club to support.

[articbob]

I'm with Don. We have Carolina Railhawks out here, so an NASL thread would be nice. Since Vancouver took our coach (Martin Rennie) and he took quite a few Railhawks with him. I guess I'll be supporting the Vancouver Railhawks (Whitecaps) this year. But I'm actually looking forward to the U.S. Open Cup more than the season.

[MisterF]

Let's go Crew!

BE MASSIVE!

[DCHeather]

If the season opener was anything to go by, it's going to be a long season for DC United. That midfield play was awful. The only one who had a decent game was Hamid, and he'll be gone for a stretch of the season due to the Olympics (along with Kitchen).

Another team of mine that lost in closing minutes of stoppage time. Sigh.

[MisterF]

Watching a little Timbers/Union this evening. The atmosphere is incredible. MLS needs to bottle up whatever is going on in that city and give some to the rest of the league.

Crew have a great supporters section but nowhere near the crowd at the Timbers. Doesnt even feel like an MLS match.

[jumpkutz]

Agreed, F. The home supporters are loud, energetic and just plain into it. And pretty decent singers, to boot.

[nevzter]

Saw Wondo net the loan goal with my boy (his first match ever, although I think he was more entertained by the pre-match fireworks) on Saturday. Go 'Quakes!!!

[SoCalJoe]

Saw Wondo net the loan goal with my boy (his first match ever, although I think he was more entertained by the pre-match fireworks) on Saturday. Go 'Quakes!!!

Awesome Nev. Snacks and fireworks and a day out w/the little one...priceless.

Timbers smacked around Philly in the 2nd half 3-1 (Boyd w/the go ahead goal). Very proud to say my first ever attended soccer match was in that stadium back in the mid 70's (the old NASL), and even prouder that they took what was then a rickety old AAA baseball stadium (Portland State University used it for their football team also) and transformed it into what it is today.

[HatterDon]

Agreed, F. The home supporters are loud, energetic and just plain into it. And pretty decent singers, to boot.

Loved it when they sang "Your Are My Sunshine" -- ah, the never-ending search for sunshine in the PNW.


I can't believe that Kris Boyd has elite status though. There wasn't a single Championship side that wanted him and he couldn't cut it in the Greek league. Nice goal, though.

[nevzter]

Ummm. The MLS Holy Grail just lost at home to Toronto to get knocked out of the Champs League. And from the 30 minutes in the 2nd I saw live, LA were piss poor with Keane missing a one on one with the keeper that would've leveled. Albeit the keeper saved, but the shot was weak.

Well, Toronto carries the MLS flag now - seeing as how Seattle (ouch) and LA (embarrassing loss) threw in the towel.

[Clevelandmo]

Well, Toronto carries the MLS flag now - seeing as how Seattle (ouch) and LA (embarrassing loss) threw in the towel.

Not a fan of Toronto, too arrogant. At this point, I'm rooting for Hercules. Two more goals tonight, He's on fire woo hoo!!!