News is slowing down right now due to tomorrow’s big international clash between US and Mexico. I have another list of links hyping that game. Aside from that I only have a couple things of note that are worth a look tonight.

Montreal Expansion Too Quick?

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I have to agree with Duane Rollins on this matter, Montreal may be at a big disadvantage when it comes to their expansion bid into the league.

I wonder, however, if a 2011 entry is the best thing for Montreal fans. Although the kneejerk reaction among non-Toronto Canadian fans will always be to dismiss the possibility of Toronto success, you cannot ignore the fact that the Reds will have a five year head start on The Whitecaps and any other team that comes into MLS in 2011 With five years of collecting the best Canadian talent willing to play in MLS Toronto could, ironically, increase its advantage over Montreal and Vancouver during the first couple years of those city’s MLS play. Add to that the fact that Vancouver will be chasing domestic talent as well – and has the advantage of its academy system (Montreal is the only one of the three Canadian fully pro teams that doesn’t have an academy) and it’s hard not to see the Impact struggling.

The lack of academy is one thing to worry about but the lack of quality Canadian talent that Toronto should have a strong hold over both Vancouver and Montreal is a whole other thing. Until Canadians count as domestic players league-wide and other roster limitations are lifted it could be very tough on an expansion club like Montreal.

While we all know Montreal will be in the league before Rollins brings a good point up, should Montreal be better off waiting until 2012 or 2013? It may be…what do you think?

Cutting Out The Middle Man

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Match Fit USA has a piece tonight that is nearly spot on with how we are seeing players pass MLS for Europe. There was a time not long ago that saw MLS as a stepping stone to bigger and better things but now it looks like we are seeing players skip that step straight to Europe. Instead of seeing the Clint Dempseys and Tim Howards start in MLS we are getting close to see them move straight to Europe if the proper development systems don’t get in place soon enough.

We Sell Energy Drinks

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A lovely parity on the DC promotion We Win Trophies. Worth a look because its painfully funny for New York fans.

US-Mexico Hype: 24 Hours

Mexico Could Lose Major Broadcasting Money

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Had to mention this one more than the typical hype below. Should Mexico fail to reach the World Cup next year it could be majorly rough for their broadcasters who have TV rights to the Cup. They could see as much as 30% decrease in profits. Yikes.

Now for the usual hype articles:

Donovan Undisputed Leader (ESPNSoccernet)
Risks Abound for US Lineup at Azteca (NYT Goal Blog)
Azteca Profile (New York Times)
USA-Mexico Preview (Yanks Abroad)
An Open Letter to Mexican Soccer Fans (Steve Davis’ Daily Soccer Fix)
US Has the Upper Hand (Nick Green at DailyBreeze.com)
Road to 2010: The CONCACAF Hex (NYT Goal Blog)
Editors Discuss the Rivalry (Goal.com)
Tickets Being Sold For As Much As 5000 Pesos (Link)
Bradley is a World Cup Coach (Soccer Insider)

How and where to watch the game:

Television Broadcast
mun2 and Telemundo, 3 p.m. CT

Pregame Television Coverage
ESPN SportsCenter 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Special, 2:30 p.m. CT

ESPN Deportes Futbol Picante, 2 p.m. CT

Online Broadcast
terra.com and futbolestelar.tv

Online Coverage
ussoccer.com’s MatchTracker

Radio Broadcast:
Futbol de Primera Radio Network(fdpradio.com)

At the Bar:
Official U.S. Soccer Bars

A lot can easily change between now and the year 2012 in Major League Soccer. But after yesterday’s comments in Montreal made by MLS commissioner Don Garber, the league may be expanding more now than we really had ever thought it would.

When addressing the expansion probability for Montreal on a day that they opened their new stadium (Stade Saputo), Garber said his usual 18-club league by the next few years but did add that they feel like they could do more than that. He didn’t explain how many more cities or how long of a time frame for that.

The main point he made was that the league is going to take their time and get it right. Team values are going up as well as the expansion fees for these cities. The cities in the mix are just hoping to cash in on the fun before its too late here.

Now this isn’t a talk about the league expanding too quickly or things that need to be in place for the league to expand to 18 or even 20 clubs. We know those things and will be able to point them out at another time. I’m sure MLS is looking at the long-term picture of the league here and is hoping to finish shaping the league’s expansion over the next five to 10 years. I just wanted to take time today and throw out what each city has to offer and what still needs to be done with each.

The latest rounds of expansion have easily been the best the league has seen in it’s short history. Getting clubs in towns like Toronto, Seattle and Philly were key for the league. Its paid off too as Toronto continues to sellout their stadium, Seattle has reportedly gotten between 15,000-16,000 season ticket holders for next year, and Philly is nearing in on the 6,000 season ticket total for when they start in 2010.

Its obviously a good thing for cities like Montreal, Portland and Vancouver to be in the spot light in recent weeks for various reasons. Each are hoping to be one of those next two expansion cities but just as the other hopefuls they all have work to do.

Garber said they would know where they want to go within the next year. So don’t be too shocked to see cities pop up in the discussion over the next couple of months, especially before the All-Star game. Each will want to put their best foot forward in hopes to get that next bid for the 17th and 18th spots in MLS.

So let’s break it down about what each has to offer MLS (no particular order here either). I may miss a point or two so feel free to comment on them below. Continue Reading…

You know the more I look into this whole expansion to Montreal, the more I get behind it. Sure, I think it should still be a few more years away but after seeing the final product of the new Saputo Stadium today, I’m thinking an expansion bid for the city could come sooner than that.

As you will see below, for a USL side this is a quality stadium. Hell, even for a few MLS teams this would be a quality stadium. Its a cozy 13,000 seat stadium with plenty of room for expansion. Obviously that will have to happen for them to get an expansion bid into MLS.

From looking at the photos, this looks like a blue version of BMO Field in Toronto. I’d like to see exactly how they will add another four to eight thousand seats for when they could join MLS in a years though. It looks like one endzone would easily have to get worked on and maybe add seats in the corners to round out the stadium a bit. Either way I like this little stadium and I bet it will be one of the better venues in the US and Canada for soccer. Continue Reading…