MLS All-Stars vs. Fulham [R] July 30

Braveheart · 07-30-2005, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soccerman

I much prefer having the AllStars play a team like Fulham. East vs West games were boring because it was all flash and nobody really cared who won (sound familiar Mr. Stern?)

I agree.

Beating Fulham 4-1 was truly fun to watch.

Garber, bring on Manchester United for next MLS ASG.

Braveheart · 07-30-2005, 04:37 PM

In ten years MLS has developed into a very solid league where a high level of soccer is played.

By securing young players from the United States and Central America and blending them with established and experienced players from around the world MLS has developed a formula which has created attractive and competative soccer for an American audience.

soccerman · 07-30-2005, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holla at ya boy

we can have the same allstar thing that the MLB has with what ever conference wins gets to have homefield advantage

Wouldn't work.
Highly unlikely that Salt Lake (or Columbus or New York or Denver) could host a late November soccer game (weather and conflict with American Football). Also the league wants the venue set far in advance (like the Super Bowl) so they can hype it.

El Chalan · 07-31-2005, 12:35 AM

that was all kinds of fun to watch. i know fulham is a middle of the table epl team, but it sure nice to watch the mls come out and run them off the field. i much prefer mls versus a world team. I went to the 2000 game and while fun the players didn't even play defense...the players actually cared today. I have really enjoyed watching the chelsea/dc and galaxy/madrid games. kind of measuring sticks for the league. Fun to see how far the league has come. Still a ways to go, but it is exciting to see soccer grow and I am excited about getting the north end involved...still dreaming about the whole stadium singing...AWESOME!!

SoccerPrime · 07-31-2005, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braveheart

I agree.

Beating Fulham 4-1 was truly fun to watch.

Garber, bring on Manchester United for next MLS ASG.

If ManU does play MLS All-Stars next year, expect it in Tampa, Florida.
Glazer basically owns the Tampa Bay Bucs' Raymond James Stadium.

PS I think that would be sweet!

Aerick · 07-31-2005, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by El Chalan

that was all kinds of fun to watch. i know fulham is a middle of the table epl team, but it sure nice to watch the mls come out and run them off the field. i much prefer mls versus a world team. I went to the 2000 game and while fun the players didn't even play defense...the players actually cared today. I have really enjoyed watching the chelsea/dc and galaxy/madrid games. kind of measuring sticks for the league. Fun to see how far the league has come. Still a ways to go, but it is exciting to see soccer grow and I am excited about getting the north end involved...still dreaming about the whole stadium singing...AWESOME!!

The defense that was played, I thought, was great on the MLS side! Hejduk did a fantastic job! Especially on that one-on-one where the Fullham forward was trying to get him turned around on the run, and Hejduk still defended it - one of the most beautifully defended plays I've seen!

El Chalan · 08-01-2005, 12:27 AM

Aerick...I think I didn't explain myself well. I meant the game against fulham was great because they played defense. Unlike the all star game in 2000...where there was no defense. :-) I love the all stars against world teams format...it seems to mean a lot more than the east versus west.

AreliusII · 08-01-2005, 02:12 PM

FC Dallas won't explain Ruiz absence
Striker was cleared to skip All-Star game for personal reasons

10:56 PM CDT on Sunday, July 31, 2005

By STEVE DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News

FC Dallas officials declined to elaborate Sunday on the issues that prevented striker Carlos Ruiz from participating in Saturday's MLS All-Star contest in Columbus.

League officials said Saturday that Ruiz, one of four FC Dallas players selected to start in the match, declined to play for personal reasons.

FC Dallas general manager Greg Elliott said Sunday that Ruiz had informed Colin Clarke, the coach for both FC Dallas and for the MLS All-Star team, Friday that he was in Guatemala and would not participate in the game.

League officials were notified and apparently satisfied that the circumstances justified the Guatemalan international's absence. The MLS All-Stars defeated Fulham, from the English Premier League, 4-1.

Elliott said Ruiz, who is expected back in Dallas today, assured team officials he would be available for Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup match in Columbus and Saturday's debut of Pizza Hut Park in an MLS match against the MetroStars.

Ruiz missed an FC Dallas game four weeks ago – without alerting the club beforehand – while in Guatemala for personal business. Club officials have not elaborated on the issues Ruiz is dealing with there.

Ruiz remained in Guatemala on Sunday and was unavailable for comment.

Teams officials say they disciplined Ruiz for missing the July 2 match but did not suspend him and declined to reveal if a fine was involved.

E-mail stevedavis [at] dallasnews.com

RSL, UT · 08-02-2005, 05:54 PM

Yes, hopefully next year MLS can entice an even bigger name team to play against our all-stars. The way they played Saturday, I think our all-stars would have given any club team in the world a good game and probably would have won. They played very well together and looked like they had played together for quite some time.