The MLS 2012 Thread

[unlikelyfan19]

D.C. United

Kits

Home

Away

Third

Ground

RFK Stadium - Capacity, Can hold up to 46,000 but usually only the bottom level is open for football matches. The capacity of the bottom level is 19,467.

Players to Watch

Dwayne De Rosario

The 2011 Most Valuable Player seems to just get better with age. At 33 years old the attacking midfielder scored 13 goals and 5 assists in only 18 games.

In this league I haven’t seen anybody better than Dwayne De Rosario...For me, he’s the face of this league - Thierry Henry

Charlie Davies

The player who was in a horrific car accident before the 2010 world cup scored 11 goals last season and is still trying to get back to a normal life. He is on loan with D.C. and his contract actually belongs to Sochaux.

Fan Facts

The District Ultras are known for hand painting signs for each specific match of the season.

<br /><br />-- Fri Mar 16, 2012 10:31 am --<br /><br />

Pretty great stuff unlikelyfan. Who do you think win the title?

Honestly man I haven't a clue. That's kind of the motivation for doing this. I am a city fan first and foremost and have never bothered to pay attention to my very own domestic league. I have been following English football since I was around 14 years old ( I am 28 now) and have been a city fan for almost 10 years. I am not really a fan of any specific team but I just kind of want something else to watch as well. Especially when summer hits and everything dries up, the MLS is in full swing! So it will give me something to do until August.

 

[Ovo]

Portland Timbers for me. Got family in Portland and went to a game last year against D.C Utd.

 

[alky313]

Portland Timbers for me. Got family in Portland and went to a game last year against D.C Utd.

Cracking fans. Watching videos of Sounders on YouTube.

 

[unlikelyfan19]

Houston Dynamo

Kits

Home

Away

Ground

BBVA Compass Stadium - Capacity, 30,000

Brand new $100m stadium to open on May 12th.

Render-

Currently -

Players to Watch

Will Bruin

The 6ft. 2in striker (1.88m) left Indiana University a year early as part of Generation Adidas. In his last (Basically Generation Adidas is a program that encourages excelling athletes to leave Uni early and are usually gifted with a higher starting salary as rookies.) As a rookie he scored 5 goals in 25 appearances. Not an amazing stat but at 22 years old and a year under his belt he looks to be one of the hotter prospects for youngsters around the league. People are saying don't be surprised if he has an amazing year.

Fan Facts

Dynamo Diesel is the club mascot was selected from an online poll on the clubs website after students of the Art Institute of Houston submitted various ideas. (Bit of a stretch there.)

 

[unlikelyfan19]

Montreal Impact

Kits

Home

Away

Ground

Saputo Stadium - Capacity, 20,341

Before

After

This stadium was opened in 2008 with a capacity of 13,034 but when they announced they would be joining the MLS they are expanding it to the above. It will not be finished until June of 2012. For now they are playing in...

Currently - Olympic Stadium, Capacity 58,000

Players to Watch

Bernardo Corradi

Need I say more? The dude from Siena is going to be 36 next week...

But seriously,

Donovan Ricketts

The 34 year old won the MLS cup last year with LA Galaxy and then was moved on to Montreal in the offseason. He is a very talented goalkeeper and was named Goalkeeper of the Year in 2010. He missed a lot of the championship season injured so expect him to come back with a chip on his shoulder after being traded.

Fan Facts

The majority of residents (67%) of Montreal are french speaking. When I went to there website I had to spend 2 or 3 minutes finding the English button. One of those nuances of North America that make it such an interesting part of the world. Taking a quick look at some of their supporter groups and Ultra's most of the songs and chants are in french as well. They are going to be a fun club to watch in a few years time. Hell, it looks like they are going to be a fun club now...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1B4nBoU_24[/youtube]

 

[unlikelyfan19]

New England Revolution

Kits

Home

Away

Ground

Gillette Stadium - Capacity, 68,000 but 20,000 for soccer.

Since 2006 the revolution have been planning their own soccer specific stadium that will house 25,000 people. Robert Kraft who owns the team, also owns the New England patriots as well as Gillette Stadium itself. So you can see why he is not necessarily in a rush to have the new stadium built...

Players to Watch

Shalrie Joseph

The 33 year old born in Granada has spent pretty much his entire career with the revolution. Playing in 243 games so far and scoring 36 goals. He was named to the MLS best XI in 2005, 2007, 2008, and 2009. He missed a lot of the 2010 season because of substance abuse. This is one of the few guys I have watched in the MLS and he reminds me so much of Yaya. This lumbering presence in the midfield that everything seems to go through. Both defensively and offensively. You will enjoy watching this guy.

Fan Facts

Three supporter groups occupy the north end of the stadium nicknamed "The Fort". One of those supporter groups is called "The Midnight Riders" in reference to the ride of Paul Revere in the revolutionary war.

 

[VinceYoungisaBLUE]

Great topic glad someone decided to make it

 

[DalbeyINUK]

Portland Timbers for me. Got family in Portland and went to a game last year against D.C Utd.

Cracking fans. Watching videos of Sounders on YouTube.

Portland is where I'm from and let me tell you I've rarely seen anything like the fans we have here outside of the Ultra's in Europe.

I just wish I could get tickets! Number 5000 in line for season tickets. We're sold out for years from now dag nabit.

During the off season we signed Kris Boyd, who I'm sure many here will know, to lead the line and he's doing a bang up job through the first match of the season as well I'm excited about our young prospect Darlington Nagbe. Seems to have a real flair and touch in midfield.

I like as well how John Spencer is molding the team. He's trying to put a very fluid ball movement style in place adding in the ability to hoof it up as well.

Timbers will never come close to City for me but it is nice having a local team to follow and hopefully find tickets for the odd match here and there.



As to the MLS as a whole, I'm frankly quite worried about the level of physicality that's allowed here. You have to mug someone to get a foul. I'm worried it's going to drive anyone with a little flair and creativity out just because they don't want to get the crap beaten out of them.

 

[RMoreau35]

Portland is where I'm from and let me tell you I've rarely seen anything like the fans we have here outside of the Ultra's in Europe.

Great to see someone else on the forum from Portland...

I got to say Timbers games are so fun to go to and I am excited for the season, although it is very hard to watch the MLS when I've been spoilt by the Premier League.

 

[unlikelyfan19]

New York Red Bulls

Kits

Home

Away

Ground

Red Bulls Arena

Probably my favorite ground in the MLS. The double deck and steep inlcines to the seats keep spectators on top of the field creating a great atmosphere. Some soccer specific stadiums in the states have fallen short trying to create a traditional european feel. This however is not one of them. Also similar to what is going on at eastlands, they built a new stop for the subway system so fans can travel and not have to worry about parking, always a plus!

Players to Watch

Juan Agudelo

The colombian born american citizen is, in my opinion, one of the first american youth players that looks to have that "it" factor. Lots of pace and flair for being only 19 years old. I feel like this season still might not be his break out season however. I think he will still fade in and out of the starting lineup. Expect big things from him in 2013. (He very well could have an amazing season this year, this is only my guess.) Expect to see him in either Spain or England though in the next 3-4 years.

Fan Facts

People on here might remember the name Hans Backe who is the head coach of the Red Bulls. He was an assistant under Sven Goran Eriksson here at Manchester City. He then followed Sven to Mexico before taking the head job at Notts County in 2009.

 

[blink922]

The Red Bulls are screwing Agudelo. He really needs to secure a starting spot this year to aid his development or else they should sell him to a club that will play him.

 

[MC_fan_in_Texas]

i live about a hour away from FC Dallas, so I can do a write up on them if yall (see I am from Texas) don't mind...don't want to step on anybody's toes...

 

[KansasCITY]

Sporting Kansas Ciiittttyyyy! :)

top of the league!

 

[Aguero_Element]

Watched la galaxy vs dc united before, was good. Is on espn soon if anyone wants to watch highlights.


American commentary is interesting, not sure of I prefer it to english....

But English is droney and cynical

 

[Bigga]

Ahh, Shalrie Joseph!

I remember raving about this guy 4/ 5 years back, saying he controlled the mid like Patrick Vieira. Thought he could make the step up if someone came in for him. On BM, all I ever got was 'he plays in a sh*t league', 'why's nobody signed him if he's that good?' blah blah blah!

So many sheep that stuck to watching Prem footy back then!