General Soccer Thread

[TabascoElvis]

Real Madrid has signed a 7-year-old soccer prodigy from Argentina who goes by the name Leo -- just like Lionel Messi.

Leonel Angel Coira signed with the Spanish club and will begin training Sept. 6, Madrid spokesman Juan Tapiador told The Associated Press on Monday.

Coira told the Argentine sports daily Ole last week that his idol is Messi, the Barcelona forward who is also Argentine and goes by the name Leo. Coira said he prefers to pass rather than score. He already has a Facebook page featuring photos of his visit to Real Madrid.

Madrid reportedly made the push to sign Coira because Spanish league rival Atletico Madrid was also pursuing the youngster.

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_ ... ngel-coira

[robbotis]

Jozy has been legally able to drink for 8 months.

Hopefully, he can drink better than he can score goals.
Cause he sure sucks at scoring.

How many does he have to score at AZ this year for you to get back on board or at the very least not write him off?

Just curious, because it looks like he'll be getting his chances this year.

[/youtube]

That was nice. I know he's young and has the tools.
He hasn't had the results. Hopefully he proves me wrong w/ an awesome season and springboards his career!

[thrill]

Big MLS news.
NBC and NBC Sports (Versus) have acquired MLS and USMNT rights.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2 ... dcast-deal

NEW YORK - Major League Soccer (MLS) and the NBC Sports Group today announced a three-year media rights agreement, which commences at the start of the 2012 MLS season. The partnership calls for 45 MLS games and four U.S. Men’s National Team contests to be televised live across both NBC and NBC Sports Network each season. This marks the first rights deal for the newly-named cable channel that will be re-branded from VERSUS on January 2, 2012. The announcement was made today by MLS Commissioner and Soccer United Marketing CEO Don Garber and Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group.

“Everyone at the NBC Sports Group is thrilled to begin this partnership with Major League Soccer,” said Lazarus. “MLS is a perfect fit for our new group, and we are uniquely positioned to help grow soccer in the United States with extensive coverage on NBC Sports Network, significant programming on the broadcast network and our growing digital platforms. Additionally, this agreement complements the partnerships that five of our regional sports networks have with their local MLS teams.”

Each season, NBC will broadcast two regular-season MLS games, two playoff games and two appearances by the U.S. Men’s National Team, marking the first time four MLS matches will be broadcast on English-language network television since 2002. The NBC Sports Network will televise 38 regular-season games, three playoff games and two U.S. Men’s National Team matches. All telecasts on NBC and NBC Sports Network will consist of pre-game and post-game coverage. According to the agreement, the NBC Sports Group obtains digital rights across all platforms and devices for the games it televises.

I'm not sure what this means for FSC and ESPN's MLS coverage or USMNT coverage, but it's great news. Higher production value and more games televised nationally. I'm very excited.

[lukethedrifter]

I'm wondering if soccer interest may just be getting the critical mass necessary to become a major US player.

[thrill]

It's difficult for MLS because it doesn't just compete for relevance with other sports. It competes with better leagues around that world that are incredibly easy to follow and watch from over here. Because of that MLS will always be regional, much like hockey. The National Team and soccer in general as a nebulous interest in the world wide club game like the EPL, Spain, Mexico or Italy for example will obviously only get bigger as technology, globalization and latino immigration continues to grow.

[robbotis]

I'm wondering if soccer interest may just be getting the critical mass necessary to become a major US player.

It's getting there, and this TV certainly will only help.

[MrSaigon]

It's difficult for MLS because it doesn't just compete for relevance with other sports. It competes with better leagues around that world that are incredibly easy to follow and watch from over here. Because of that MLS will always be regional, much like hockey. The National Team and soccer in general as a nebulous interest in the world wide club game like the EPL, Spain, Mexico or Italy for example will obviously only get bigger as technology, globalization and latino immigration continues to grow.

The good thing though, is that leadership of MLS is aware of that. When you hear commissioner Don Garber speak, he says now they aren't focused on winning NFL or NBA fans so much as winning soccer fans here in North America who just aren't into MLS. While they can't replicate the quality of play (but I think it will continue to get better, especially as teams get better at developing youth) they can at least approximate the experience and culture--just look at the new clubs of the last few years. It will be regional, but there is a lot of room for success and possibility in this region.

I think fans of other sports will trickle in pretty steadily. Or in the case of Portland, flood in. Also, Isn't soccer still the most played youth sport in America? Everyone's kids are playing, tons of people played as kids.

I was happy to see the TV deal, especially since--for some reason--FSC isn't available to me in HD.

[thrill]

I don't disagree, but your experience in Portland isn't typical. Other new cities won't be like that. No heritage MLS cities are even like that.

[MrSaigon]

I don't disagree, but your experience in Portland isn't typical. Other new cities won't be like that. No heritage MLS cities are even like that.

No. And it remains to be seen how long cities like Seattle, Philly, or Portland beyond the Army will sustain. Portland and Seattle, though, will remain strong MLS/Soccer cities, if I had to guess. Can't speak for Philly. Though not outstanding, the support is probably good enough in major cities as it is, but MLS needs to find the right kind and size of market for teams to expand or relocate to. Canada seems to be good.

[MrSaigon]

Another question, and a good one for this board:
The choice of Portland over St. Louis was an absolute slam dunk for the league, right? Obviously I'm very biased here, but Portland has brought a lot of great attention to the league.