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All-Star Notebook: Day One Loosens The Legs
As the MLS All-Stars arrived from various points across the country and eased into their preparations for Wednesday's All-Star Game against Everton, MLS Commissioner Don Garber picked up the slack by unveiling Houston as the site of the 2010 MLS All-Star Game. Kyle McCarthy has the scoop from Park City.
Jul 28, 2009 3:43:26 AM
By Kyle McCarthy
PARK CITY, Utah – The smattering of spectators who came to the Park City Sports Complex looking for an intense training session on Monday afternoon may have left somewhat surprised at the casual kickabout that unfolded as the MLS All-Stars gathered for their first full training session.
“There were a lot of people who came in today who had played this weekend,” Colorado forward Conor Casey said. “We got a little bit of a sweat on, but it was nice and light.”
As All-Star head coach Dominic Kinnear explained after the All-Stars briefly took the field, one of his primary functions in this gig is maintaining the fitness of these players so they can return and contribute to their club sides.
“The first priority is to win, but the safety of the players is at a premium here,” Kinnear said. “You look at these guys and they are all important parts of their teams. It's important that we treat these guys with a lot of care.”
To that end, Kinnear said he plans to discuss the health of each of his players with his training staff before discerning how each player can contribute against Everton on Wednesday night. Considering 16 of the 18 players in camp will also play on Saturday or Sunday (Zach Thornton has the weekend off, while Freddie Ljungberg is suspended), Kinnear will have to find a way to juggle minutes to ensure these key players are also ready to go for their clubs at the weekend.
Houston Awarded 2010 MLS All-Star Game
MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced Houston will host the 2010 MLS All-Star Game in a Monday afternoon press conference.
“Houston's [] got a lot of momentum,” Garber said. “They're making a lot of progress on their stadium and the team continues to do very well. It's one of our most successful teams in terms of the passion of its fanbase and the interest that exists for the team in the market. We thought it would be a good environment.”
The selection also satisfies the league's desire to hold the showcase event in a southern market, perhaps in a way to entice a prominent Mexican club to provide the opposition.
The opponent could dictate which Houston venue ultimately ends up hosting the fixture. If MLS can secure Chivas (the 2003 ASG opponent in Los Angeles) or Club America as the opponent, Reliant Stadium – a venue that recently hosted a raucous and well-attended CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader involving Mexico under the SUM umbrella – would be the most likely option. Barring either of those two teams agreeing to play, the more intimate Robertson Stadium may end up as the better choice despite its occasionally shoddy playing surface.
Garber wouldn't be swayed towards either venue on Monday afternoon, despite Houston president and general manager Oliver Luck's apparent preference for the Dynamo's home venue.
“We have a couple of options,” Garber said. “I was a little surprised that Oliver went with that so early. We could play at Robertson, but if it doesn't make sense for us, we'll play at Reliant.”
Board of Governors Preview...Of Sorts
Garber held court after the press conference and discussed a wide variety of topics (a few of which are dealt with later in this space) with the handful of assembled reporters.
Although Garber discussed a few points in some detail, he didn't provide much insight on the Board of Governors meetings slated for this week.
“It's your usual league that won't talk about anything that goes on behind closed doors,” Garber said.
Garber did expand on that dismissal somewhat by providing a brief topical overview, mentioning competition initiatives and strategic discussions on digital strategy, marketing and fan development programs as items on the docket. None of those discussions are likely to lead to much in the way of substantive announcements, according to Garber.
“I don't think you'll see any decisions coming out of it,” Garber said. “It's a good time for us to do some strategic planning in a casual setting. There isn't a whole lot of guts to it.”
In Case You Were Expecting a Notable Update on CBA Negotiations...
Those strategic discussions won't include any substantive talks on the continuing negotiations between MLS and the MLS Players Union regarding a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, according to Garber.
“It won't come into it much at all on tomorrow and Wednesday,” Garber said. “We're having ongoing discussions and we'll continue to do that, but nothing will happen at this board meeting that will be in any way related to those discussions.”
Quotables
“Actually, you'd have to ask the commissioner about that. It is sort of a reward for last season, but I still think we have a lot to accomplish this season.”
– Real Salt Lake midfielder Javier Morales (through a translator), on whether his Commissioner's Pick selection this year makes up for his All-Star snub last year.
“At some point, we're going to have to step back and see if we're going a little bit too much. That's something we'll have to continue to monitor as part of our strategy over the next couple of years.”
– Garber, on the explosion in friendlies – SUM and non-SUM controlled – during the summer months.
“The quality of play (in MLS) continues to improve every year. Soccer fans are seeing a lot of high-level games and high-level competitions. We need to deliver something to that increasingly knowledgeable and passionate fan.”
– Garber, on how the quality of play needs to continue to improve in order for MLS to gain more traction among American soccer fans.
“I don't think it will dilute the quality whatsoever.”
– Garber, on the potential for talent dilution as MLS continues to add teams over the next few years. Garber cited the large international player pool and the possibility of increasing the number of international slots as reasons why the level of play won't fall as the number of teams increases.
Inactive All-Star Squad Unveiled
MLS released the 14-man All-Star inactive squad – named pursuant to the CBA – on Monday night. The full list is as follows:
GOALKEEPERS: Pat Onstad* (Houston), Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles)
DEFENDERS: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA); Frankie Hejduk (Columbus); Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS: Guillermo Barros Schelotto* (Columbus); Shalrie Joseph* (New England); Dwayne De Rosario* (Toronto FC); Ricardo Clark (Houston); Paulo Nagamura (Chivas USA); Amado Guevara (Toronto FC)
FORWARDS: Brian McBride (Chicago); Brian Ching* (Houston); Juan Pablo Angel (New York)
* - named to original All-Star team, but withdrew
PARK CITY, Utah – The smattering of spectators who came to the Park City Sports Complex looking for an intense training session on Monday afternoon may have left somewhat surprised at the casual kickabout that unfolded as the MLS All-Stars gathered for their first full training session.
“There were a lot of people who came in today who had played this weekend,” Colorado forward Conor Casey said. “We got a little bit of a sweat on, but it was nice and light.”
As All-Star head coach Dominic Kinnear explained after the All-Stars briefly took the field, one of his primary functions in this gig is maintaining the fitness of these players so they can return and contribute to their club sides.
“The first priority is to win, but the safety of the players is at a premium here,” Kinnear said. “You look at these guys and they are all important parts of their teams. It's important that we treat these guys with a lot of care.”
To that end, Kinnear said he plans to discuss the health of each of his players with his training staff before discerning how each player can contribute against Everton on Wednesday night. Considering 16 of the 18 players in camp will also play on Saturday or Sunday (Zach Thornton has the weekend off, while Freddie Ljungberg is suspended), Kinnear will have to find a way to juggle minutes to ensure these key players are also ready to go for their clubs at the weekend.
Houston Awarded 2010 MLS All-Star Game
MLS Commissioner Don Garber announced Houston will host the 2010 MLS All-Star Game in a Monday afternoon press conference.
“Houston's [] got a lot of momentum,” Garber said. “They're making a lot of progress on their stadium and the team continues to do very well. It's one of our most successful teams in terms of the passion of its fanbase and the interest that exists for the team in the market. We thought it would be a good environment.”
The selection also satisfies the league's desire to hold the showcase event in a southern market, perhaps in a way to entice a prominent Mexican club to provide the opposition.
The opponent could dictate which Houston venue ultimately ends up hosting the fixture. If MLS can secure Chivas (the 2003 ASG opponent in Los Angeles) or Club America as the opponent, Reliant Stadium – a venue that recently hosted a raucous and well-attended CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader involving Mexico under the SUM umbrella – would be the most likely option. Barring either of those two teams agreeing to play, the more intimate Robertson Stadium may end up as the better choice despite its occasionally shoddy playing surface.
Garber wouldn't be swayed towards either venue on Monday afternoon, despite Houston president and general manager Oliver Luck's apparent preference for the Dynamo's home venue.
“We have a couple of options,” Garber said. “I was a little surprised that Oliver went with that so early. We could play at Robertson, but if it doesn't make sense for us, we'll play at Reliant.”
Board of Governors Preview...Of Sorts
Garber held court after the press conference and discussed a wide variety of topics (a few of which are dealt with later in this space) with the handful of assembled reporters.
Although Garber discussed a few points in some detail, he didn't provide much insight on the Board of Governors meetings slated for this week.
“It's your usual league that won't talk about anything that goes on behind closed doors,” Garber said.
Garber did expand on that dismissal somewhat by providing a brief topical overview, mentioning competition initiatives and strategic discussions on digital strategy, marketing and fan development programs as items on the docket. None of those discussions are likely to lead to much in the way of substantive announcements, according to Garber.
“I don't think you'll see any decisions coming out of it,” Garber said. “It's a good time for us to do some strategic planning in a casual setting. There isn't a whole lot of guts to it.”
In Case You Were Expecting a Notable Update on CBA Negotiations...
Those strategic discussions won't include any substantive talks on the continuing negotiations between MLS and the MLS Players Union regarding a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, according to Garber.
“It won't come into it much at all on tomorrow and Wednesday,” Garber said. “We're having ongoing discussions and we'll continue to do that, but nothing will happen at this board meeting that will be in any way related to those discussions.”
Quotables
“Actually, you'd have to ask the commissioner about that. It is sort of a reward for last season, but I still think we have a lot to accomplish this season.”
– Real Salt Lake midfielder Javier Morales (through a translator), on whether his Commissioner's Pick selection this year makes up for his All-Star snub last year.
“At some point, we're going to have to step back and see if we're going a little bit too much. That's something we'll have to continue to monitor as part of our strategy over the next couple of years.”
– Garber, on the explosion in friendlies – SUM and non-SUM controlled – during the summer months.
“The quality of play (in MLS) continues to improve every year. Soccer fans are seeing a lot of high-level games and high-level competitions. We need to deliver something to that increasingly knowledgeable and passionate fan.”
– Garber, on how the quality of play needs to continue to improve in order for MLS to gain more traction among American soccer fans.
“I don't think it will dilute the quality whatsoever.”
– Garber, on the potential for talent dilution as MLS continues to add teams over the next few years. Garber cited the large international player pool and the possibility of increasing the number of international slots as reasons why the level of play won't fall as the number of teams increases.
Inactive All-Star Squad Unveiled
MLS released the 14-man All-Star inactive squad – named pursuant to the CBA – on Monday night. The full list is as follows:
GOALKEEPERS: Pat Onstad* (Houston), Donovan Ricketts (Los Angeles)
DEFENDERS: Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA); Frankie Hejduk (Columbus); Jimmy Conrad (Kansas City)
MIDFIELDERS: Guillermo Barros Schelotto* (Columbus); Shalrie Joseph* (New England); Dwayne De Rosario* (Toronto FC); Ricardo Clark (Houston); Paulo Nagamura (Chivas USA); Amado Guevara (Toronto FC)
FORWARDS: Brian McBride (Chicago); Brian Ching* (Houston); Juan Pablo Angel (New York)
* - named to original All-Star team, but withdrew
Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS
Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for
Goal.com. He also covers the New England Revolution for the Boston
Herald and MLSnet.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at
kyle.mccarthy@goal.com
and follow him on Twitter by clicking here.
For
more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS
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