With the Major League Soccer season underway and the USSF-sanctioned second tier league, the North American Soccer League (NASL), scheduled to kick-off this weekend, its time again to visit the promotion-relegation debate. Top leagues around the world use the promotion-relegation system to create a competitive environment in their domestic leagues. In not-so-shocking fashion, U.S. Soccer… Continue reading Is it Time for Promotion/Relegation in American Soccer?

Although FC Dallas dropped points for the first time this season, their scoreless draw against Seattle still saw them stay undefeated, and remain the top team in MLS with 10 points. At the other end of the spectrum, Chicago Fire entered the weekend without a single point, but took all three from their match against… Continue reading Revs, Fire Get First Victories, Dallas Stay Top: MLS Review, March 28 – 29

The human mind is drawn to dichotomies. Apples and oranges; night and day; Yankees vs. Red Sox. In MLS, few single local rivalries reach the fever pitch of other, longer standing grudge matches in American sports (with the probable exception of Seattle and Portland; any rivalry that elicits chants of “We eat children!” can’t be… Continue reading MLS Conferences: How Much Better is the West?

Major League Soccer announced on Wednesday that Minnesota United will become the league’s 23rd franchise three years from now, beginning play in the 2018 season. The already vibrant community of Twin Cities soccer fans will be thrilled by this news, especially those within the city limits; Minnesota United, who currently play out at a sports… Continue reading Predictions for Minnesota United FC in MLS

After losing in the MLS Cup final in extra time to the Los Angeles Galaxy, the New England Revolution are again expected to be a force this season. Through three games, though, they have been anything but. The Revs have earned just one point in three matches, which somehow doesn’t explain just how much they’ve… Continue reading Explaining The New England Revolution’s Slow Start

If last week’s action saw new boys Orland and NYC light up the highlight reel, this weekend saw their stars fade, while two of the league’s veteran teams continued to excel. One, the Vancouver Whitecaps, excelled at the expense of Orland City, as their new signing Octavio Rivero continued his blistering, goal-per-game start to the… Continue reading FC Dallas Continue To Impress: MLS Review March 21 – 22

New York City FC are off to a strong start in their inaugural season in Major League Soccer, earning four points from their first two matches to find themselves in a tie atop the Eastern Conference standings. But, unlike European soccer, where there is no salary cap so long as you can avoid losing too… Continue reading Three Reasons For NYCFC’s Strong Start In MLS

Sample size is important. Whether you’re evaluating a young sporting talent, or interviewing strangers about their favorite cupcake and beer pairings, the more data you have on the table, the better. For this reason, some might be quick to call buzz surrounding Vancouver Whitecaps new striker Octavio Rivero mere hype, seeing that he’s only played two… Continue reading Octavio Rivero: The Uruguayan in Cascadia You Need to Know

In the second week of MLS action, both league debutantes, Orlando City and NYC FC, secured their maiden victories, with the latter recording a convincing win over last year’s Eastern Conference Champions, NE Revolution. In the West, the San Jose Earthquakes stymied Seattle’s momentum in a thrilling 3-2 victory, while the LA Galaxy stole a… Continue reading Villa Thrills, Seattle Stumbles, and Dallas/Perez are Top: MLS Review for March 13-15

One of the highlights of a very exciting first week of MLS action was the return of Jozy Altidore, who celebrated his move back to the league with two goals in Toronto FC’s 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. It was a great day for Altidore, and for fans of TFC, who are looking to… Continue reading Can Jozy Altidore Turn It Around In Return To MLS?