2018 MLS All-Star Game Presented by Target (vs. Juventus) (Atlanta, Aug 1)
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Fuck MLS and fuck the ASG if him and parkhurst aren't suspended. If not, we should have villa show up, train, then go "ouch" and leave.
James Sands starts at CB in the MLS Homegrown Game vs. Tigres U20s at 8 PM on Univision and Twitter.
When a MLS squad looks like this, that's when the league has made it.
I didn't watch the game, only read the recap article on MLSSoccer.com and watched the highlight video and a couple of interesting things:
- The Homegrowns were up 1-0 and then started a play from the GK that went all the way out and resulted in a goal for the HGs. However, it went to video review and there was an infraction by the HG keeper for some kind of "double-dribble" (honestly, I won't pretend to know much about this, but this is what the commentary was on the highlight video - since I don't know specifics about this rule, I won't comment on that). This review overturned the goal, and lead to an indirect free kick for Tigres just inside the box, for which they converted. So instead of 2-0 for the HGs, it was 1-1.
- Second, The goal the HGs did score was off of a set piece. Carleton curled in the ball, and Sands knocked it down with his head straight to a wide open Fraser who finished it. It was a decent ball by Carleton, and in my biased view, a much better play by Sands knocking it down to the open man. Yet, there is no mention of Sands doing this in the recap article. And Carleton won the game's MVP honors (now, again, I didn't watch the game, so he very well may be deserving of this. All I'm saying, is if it was only due to that assist, I credit Sands more).
- Sands is one of two players that went full 90 in this one for the HGs.
I just watched this portion of the game. It took 7+ minutes from the time the goal scored until play resumed after VAR. Some of that was due to play resuming with a free kick in danger territory, but still, that just kills a game for fans.
Seven minutes of nothing. Thanks VAR, and thanks everyone who ever asked for VAR.
As for the violation, I admit to knowing little about it also. But the GK dropped the ball as if he was going to kick it, then reconsidered mid-move and caught it off the bounce. Then he rolled it to one of his players. Warshaw noticed it immediately and called it a double dribble. Several Tigres players signaled immediately as well. The ref waved play on. Why it took so freaking long to see it on the VAR when it was completely clear is a mystery.
Probably because the ref himself didn't completely understand the rule.
I just watched this.
I understand Sands got an assist, but it looks absolutely to me like a Tigres defender knocked the ball down with his head. Warshaw thought so too.
I just rewatched it again and you may be right, it's kinda hard to tell IMO.
In the regular highlights it looks like it makes it over the first defender's head:
And then in another video with a side angle, it looks like it almost has to be coming off of Sands:
So, this got me curious enough to go look up the laws of the game. The rule is that a goalkeeper can't use his hands after releasing the ball but before it has been touched by another player. I guess releasing it from grip for a punt counts.
Sands does deserve an assist.
I looked more at the TV feed. Never saw this angle, but I found another that shows the ball go past the Tigres player, either just ticking his head or missing it. it then appears to hit Sands almost in the face. I think his main accomplishment was not ducking away because it was about to hit his nose. The stop frame DVR function isn't good enough to see exactly what happened, but I think it ended up hitting either just below his face, or maybe he turned a bit and it hit the side of his head, because he didn't even rub his nose.
Yeah, after you pointed it out, I thought it does go off the defender's head, and then accidentally clicked on a wrong video, but it ended up having the side angle and the one where it looks like it goes off of Sand's face.
The Athletic has posted a piece called "How To Bring The Fun Back To The MLS-All Star Game". For those of you with a subscription, the link is: https://theathletic.com/453373/2018/07/31/how-to-bring-the-fun-back-to-the-mls-all-star-game/
The upshot is, forget these dumb exhibitions against depleted pre-season Euro teams and go back to Eastern Conference vs. Western conference while reinstating the silly skill games.
The upshot is, forget these dumb exhibitions against depleted pre-season Euro teams and go back to Eastern Conference vs. Western conference while reinstating the silly skill games.
Do it after the season - after the cup final. Or even in the run up to the final after most teams have been eliminated - but minus the stars still competing for the MLS Cup. In a warm environment so it’s also a vacation for the players in the beginning of the winter. That way, fans of all the teams eliminated still have a reason to tune in for an E/W match of their players - 22 from each conference keeps the majority of fans involved, especially after the commissioner’s picks add players from untapped teams.
Yup, exactly what I’d do and I’d say San Diego is a perfect spot weatherwise and has a big empty stadium they could use for this.
I would honestly just do a skills competition as the All-Star event. We don't need a game -- especially if we're going to shoe-horn it in like this. Just do a skills competition. Dribbling competition, passing competition, crossbar challenge, hardest shot on target, PK competition, crossing challenge -- there are a lot of cool events that would be fun to watch.
If we want to do a full game, it should be on a Saturday and the entire league should have the week off. It's ridiculous that players have to exert themselves in a midweek game, miss the week's practices, then expect them to be ready to play three days later.
I was just thinking this too! You were watching the interview they showed on ESPN?
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