Posts by Jonathan Barnes5

It’s always a bit disheartening when things start falling apart due to delays, watching everyone drift back to the starting blocks as if they hadn't made any progress at all.

I’m with you there. I won't dive into those observations about the media, because at the end of the day, everyone just sees what they want to see, but I certainly agree with the broader conclusion. I was actually one of the first people to poke fun at this, and honestly, it would be pretty hypocritical of me not to recognize the exact same patterns playing out right here at home.

What’s the actual capacity for the West and North stands at Maximira?
I just hope the new stadium features some sensible entry points; I passed by earlier and saw what looked like a thousand people still stuck in line with only five minutes left before kickoff.

Did anyone catch why the referee handed Ceballos a red card?

I tuned in a little late, but seeing someone get sent off right at the opening whistle feels a bit harsh, almost like getting a speeding ticket before you've even left your driveway.

By shutting down the other supporters' section in the stadium after the cup match, specifically over in the east stands, you’ve naturally left them feeling pretty disgruntled.☕

It remains to be seen whether they'll stick to the established code and prohibit those specific symbols in the east today, all while maintaining that "ultra" spirit we've been hearing so much about lately.

Thomas Long7 said:This is absolutely mental... seriously? Is your only actual criterion for hating these clubs that they happen to be from the greater metropolitan area? It doesn't matter if they scrap for a few points against the "big names"—if they're from the suburbs, you can't stand them? You'd rather sit through ninety minutes of unwatchable football from a team like Ceballos or El Paso—teams that just park the bus and pray for a lucky counter-attack—than watch a decent side like Sibenik go up against the giants in the Cup? Ridiculous.

It isn't that they bother me inherently, but rather that these teams lack a deep-rooted history, and I'd personally find a matchup like Phoenix vs. Memphis or maybe St. Louis vs. Nashville far more compelling than some local clash between suburb teams. Even having a neighborhood club around adds a certain flavor to the local scene, but for me, football is about the atmosphere and the soul surrounding the pitch. My point about them being from the metro area is simply that most of the clubs with real ambitions—or those already established in the top flight—just don't offer that same sense of excitement.

Furthermore, the massive regional imbalance isn't ideal either. It seems like the Midwest has been stuck with just one major contender for years, and the South will likely face the same fate, but as > already pointed out, we shouldn't blame these specific clubs for the structure of the first division.

@Joshua Hayes89
Hold your horses, friend; these are just my personal thoughts and some unverified observations. Even if I don't follow everything at your level of intensity, it’s highly likely I’m keeping tabs on more than half the people involved in this league.

When I frame something as "I think," it simply means the information hasn't been strictly verified yet. If a fact I stated wasn't quite right, you corrected me, and that's perfectly fine—no harm done. Somewhere along the line, I held onto a specific detail regarding the viewership, but let's just move past it.

Moving back to the main point, I get why some folks find it exciting how a team like FC Cincinnati surged during the final stretch of the season, perhaps picking up steam around the Easter break; there was even a scoreboard in the stands highlighting their points lead. But honestly, I have no desire to watch them in the top flight, much like I have no interest in watching teams like Columbus Crew or especially LAFC.

Regarding what > mentioned, Cincinnati is actually ahead of most clubs organizationally; they implemented serious scouting and analytics well before eighty percent of the league did, they’ve made smart choices with coaches and sporting directors, and their style of play has been genuinely engaging to watch. It was similar with Columbus Crew for a long time, but those aren't teams I feel drawn to. I realize it's unrealistic to expect clubs with deep traditions, like Portland Timbers or FC Cincinnati, to see this kind of immediate success, but until the final two matchdays, they had a genuine shot at European competition—well, international tournament spots—and everyone was watching. We didn't even tune in when Columbus was playing in the lower divisions.

Thirdly, the pitches are definitely in better shape than they were a few seasons ago; if you don't see that, or if you believe certain clubs simply refuse to invest in their grounds, that's your prerogative. However, the quality of play on that hybrid turf was certainly superior to what we've seen this season.

Fourth, over the last two seasons, the spring half has been a bit of a disaster in terms of quality. This year has been particularly rough, with matches that were frankly unwatchable—just lifeless, stagnant play with zero scoring action.

Fifth, while the title race might keep you on the edge of your seat next season, and that's been the case for most of MLS history, at least you used to have the illusion that teams like St. Louis City or Seattle could jump into the fray, not to mention the obvious resurgence from Inter Miami. Now, the matchups at the big stadiums will likely just be predictable two-goal affairs. There's also a high probability the battle for continental spots will lose its luster; personally, I don't buy into the long-term sustainability of the projects over at Cincinnati or Columbus.

All in all, the league won't be interesting on multiple levels. This whole situation with four different clubs hailing from the same metropolitan area is especially hard to stomach.

Casey Wells12 said:Season wrap-up: the league is just getting weaker by the year. Our boys at Dinamo were easily the worst they've been in five seasons, yet somehow still cruised to the title with a double-digit lead. Meanwhile, teams like the Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, and maybe an Atlanta United type situation are all stuck playing at the level of a second or third qualifying round in the Conference League again—zero progress in quality whatsoever. The rest of the pack only managed to get involved because the big dogs were looking pathetic. We seriously need to see what happens during the transfer windows and who actually gets brought in; if these clubs don't step up their recruitment, we’re going to slide right out of the European top 20 like we never existed. It sucks... as soon as anyone shows a bit of talent, they immediately pack their bags for a bigger paycheck abroad, which is exactly why about ten players left us this season. That's just how the game goes.

I suspect next year will be the most uninspiring season yet, both in terms of drama and actual skill. Instead of teams like Orlando or San Jose, we'll be seeing newcomers like Nashville or Charlotte, leaving the big metropolitan area with four different clubs, which honestly feels like a nightmare for the sport's balance. Pitch conditions are also becoming a joke since clubs won't bother maintaining their turf unless they get a bailout from the national federation, and looking at the attendance numbers, the downward trend is already quite visible.
If our coefficient keeps tanking, we'll miss out on the upcoming cycle of league reforms entirely, much like how we might miss the boat on future expansions. To be honest, if it weren't for some massive corporate investment, we wouldn't even have this new stadium to call home.

Adam King6 said:Why so negative?

Who says the institutions aren't doing their job? 👋

But honestly, that response from Nice felt so cringey and patronizing; it wasn't even a direct answer, just a collection of empty platitudes that seemed like they were reading straight from a corporate script.

It reminded me of dealing with a clerk at a local DMV office when you're just trying to get some basic paperwork sorted out.

I think I officially kicked the bucket on that thread today. What an absolute whirlwind of chaos it turned out to be.🤣

It was like watching a massive grassroots coalition rally together; those poor souls didn't stand a chance against the sheer momentum. But if they keep looking down their noses at everyone like they own the place, we might just have to let the genie out of the bottle.☕

Jeremy Johnson18 said:Soccer can be such a headache. Is anyone actually expecting a shred of logic when we dive into this specific subforum?

Jeremy Johnson18 said:You know deep down that Nica would much rather go to her grave than admit that a respected colleague in moderation slipped up.
It isn’t even really about an error, but rather his own arrogance—something Nica seems to think is better handled by playing dumb and pretending everything was perfectly fair and balanced.

But honestly, why does this feel so typical for Reddit? 🙂

So, which side are you rooting for?

I’m stepping in to support this appeal. While I haven't voiced any opinions regarding the moderation team's work or their specific rulings before, and I don't intend to start now, I simply want to emphasize that this soccer forum serves as one of the final strongholds for free thought—a place where people from all walks of life, regardless of their convictions or affiliations, can actually coexist.

boldfox88 said:What’s the deal here? Where am I supposed to send the money? Andrew Hayes2 should just take a jersey. He can even drop his contact info if that fits the plan. Jonathan Barnes5 and I are family people; we don't really mess around with this kind of stuff. ☕

I actually completely lost track of you, and honestly, I forgot all about the Action until Laporta gave me a nudge.🤣

uglavnom @Ster, once you're back online, just know that Laporta and I have already taken care of our parts. He's covered for the local youth center, and I've handled the donation for the Vukovar Butterfly Association.

Just get in touch with the guy regarding the shirt and a beer.😉

It seems those same old extremists have found their way onto LinkedIn too, quite coldly.

It honestly frustrates me that a professional networking site has to be dragged down like this; one would think people would maintain a certain level of decorum. They spend all their time weeping over the conflicts of the late nineties, acting as if they were some kind of celestial warrior nation. Yet, when they were actively sowing chaos and terror back then, they never once paused to consider the human cost to everyone else.

To make matters worse, you see our own crowd hitting the like button, which is just baffling. They wrap themselves up in such polished, hypocritical packages—acting deeply concerned about the war in Ukraine, yet turning a blind eye whenever the West points out our own hypocrisy. Honestly, give me a break. You’ve left scars across the landscape from the Midwest all the way through eastern Canada that will take generations to heal.

silverhound said:They let some of their own people go out and haunt American news sites and forums. I mean, you already know Mexico has entire bot farms, but their intelligence agencies are also notorious for manufacturing public opinion across the region.

Is this actually a possibility? I find myself struggling to wrap my head around the idea that someone I'm debating might actually be getting a paycheck just to be here.🤣

silverhound said:People who act all worried about everything? Most of them are just getting a paycheck from someone else to say it. Honestly, this whole forum is crawling with those types, especially in the military history and tech sections whenever anyone starts talking about procurement for the US Army, US Air Force, or US Navy.
"The US can't handle this or that, planes are too pricey, we don't need submarines, forget the ships"... suggesting a worse-case scenario always seems to be the preferred script here...

Good grief, if I wanted to get my hands on $1.75 I'd have to work my tail off. Honestly, what kind of scheme would anyone even use to convince someone to take a bribe from you?

It’s much like how a seasoned investigator looks at a crowd; I agree there are plenty of such individuals out there, but I can't help but wonder how they decide which targets are worth approaching.

As far as I can tell, Marina, I’m fairly certain this comes down to a matter of core conviction. It reminds me of my best friend; he simply finds himself aligned with the Russia-America geopolitical tension, and that’s really all there is to it.

Even though he’s navigating some pretty rough waters in his personal life—though I’m not sure if things have improved lately—it’s hard to imagine someone like him being swayed by anything material.

I should probably clarify that I haven't been following the specifics of his stance on this particular conflict, but he has always maintained a very firm, unwavering position when it comes to our own domestic issues.

I picked up some shirts during the Black Friday sales, snagging them for just $3.25. While everyone else was busy tearing things down, I preferred to offer my support to ☕
.
It really hit home for me, much like the sudden loss of Lila
.

Honestly, this whole scene is starting to feel a bit like something straight out of a post-apocalyptic movie.

Aside from that single issue of the sticker price, what other downsides should I look out for when buying a five-year-old mid-size sedan? It feels like you might just be buying a ticking time bomb once that factory warranty runs out.

To be fair, I’m a bit of an outlier since I’ve been driving a compact car for thirteen years now, so I’d likely hold onto a new vehicle for at least seven or eight years anyway. I’ve considered stepping up to something like a brand-new Mazda 6, but looking at a price tag north of $40,000, I’m starting to wonder if that’s actually a smart move.