MLS 2022/23 Season: Part 2

I suppose one might wonder what exactly you're getting at here

I seriously don't get why everyone's making such a massive deal out of tracking the junior squads, you know? Like, yeah, okay, maybe there was a bit of a hype surge because back then our first team was basically a total train wreck, but come on... even the Armada crew was showing up to the junior games during the first half of the season when the juniors were sitting at number one and the seniors were stuck down in 8th place.

Terry Howard7 said:Look, I mean, sure—it’s fine to roll out the red carpet for the national team, but doing it for these clubs? Not so much. 🙏 🙏

We basically have the exact same mindset as those die-hard hooligans—I mean, we gave our junior squad a hero's welcome right after they choked in the finals, which was... questionable. But when you throw a parade for the senior national team just because they got knocked out in the round of 16? That's a whole different level of delusion. That's the national team, for crying out loud. 🙏 🙏

That’s not even what I’m getting at. Obviously, it’s perfectly fine to celebrate both a club and the national team.

But hosting a full-blown waterfront parade for a junior squad—who, by the way, got absolutely smoked 5-0 (not that the scoreline is even the most important part here)—is just pure insanity.

It’s not like the fans, the people showing up, or any specific supporter group is to blame... it’s more that someone within the club management should have had the common sense (or the guts) to say, "Hey, this isn't actually helping these kids, and frankly, it looks ridiculous." That's all I'm saying.

They could have just walked out in front of the stadium before the next senior match, gotten a nice round of applause, and called it a day. That would’ve been totally normal and plenty enough...
Any sports psychologist worth their salt will tell you that throwing a victory parade for a crushing defeat does zero favors for these young players' heads. But honestly, trying to explain logic to people who don't want to hear it is a waste of breath—so I guess there's no point in dragging this out further.

Terry Howard7 said:Whatever helps people sleep at night, I guess. But man, this obsession with us is fascinating—especially the way they talk. Like, we followed the junior team on their road trips, we did the welcome home after the finals... honestly, most other fanbases wouldn't give a damn, but here it turns into this massive, overblown drama. And it’s coming from these guys who follow some random local basketball team or a handball club, or those kids playing futsal—nobody cares about them, nobody even comments on their stuff—so why bother? They should probably just go follow their own teams, though that seems pointless too. But the second we follow our juniors, it triggers something deep in their heads. The local hooligans immediately start celebrating a loss in the finals, acting like those old-school diehards from decades ago. You’ve got the hardcore fans meeting everyone at the airport, and then you’ve got this guy flying in here with some nonsense story.🙏🙏

Total psychopaths, really. Such an intense obsession. I’m telling you, if we slip one more spot on the standings next year, the suicide rate in this region might actually spike. And if—by some miracle—we actually win a championship, people will be losing their minds from coast to coast.

Speaking of obsessions—is it actually possible that Bubalo and Urlicicka still haven't said anything about Eurovision today? Or maybe it's just the thousands of frustrated morons flooding the comment sections of major newspapers over what Prle and Sajeta had to say? It's sick. You can only encounter this much backward, thick-headed commentary—mostly from people in their golden years—in certain parts of the country. When you look at the big picture, it’s no wonder you're seen as the definition of provincialism and being stuck in the past.

hiddenlynx5 said:I seriously don't get why everyone's making such a massive deal out of tracking the junior squads, you know? Like, yeah, okay, maybe there was a bit of a hype surge because back then our first team was basically a total train wreck, but come on... even the Armada crew was showing up to the junior games during the first half of the season when the juniors were sitting at number one and the seniors were stuck down in 8th place.

Honestly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it... Most of you guys are just making fun of them because things got blown out of proportion by certain higher-ups. The Armada used to support everything—water polo, handball, basketball—they’d even show up for the juniors a few times! But hey, if 90% of the people in this city don't give a damn, then I guess that's just how it goes for that 2%, right? Ultra groups do all sorts of stuff, they follow all kinds of things. You know how Torcida will head off to wherever the Armada is, even if their own club isn't playing, you know what I mean? Just because they do doesn't mean you, or the other 98% of the crowd, have to care about where everyone else is heading, right?

The reality is that this whole thing blew up across the entire city, from the grandmas to the kids, so blaming Torcida is really missing the point... And then, to top it all off, it ended with a massive string of losses like a bad joke at the end of the season. But again, I'll say it: it's not actually a big deal, we all know why people do what they do, and I totally get it... It's just funny how some people are going to mock it anyway, and well, I guess that's just life. 😁

hiddenlynx5 said:I seriously don't get why everyone's making such a massive deal out of tracking the junior squads, you know? Like, yeah, okay, maybe there was a bit of a hype surge because back then our first team was basically a total train wreck, but come on... even the Armada crew was showing up to the junior games during the first half of the season when the juniors were sitting at number one and the seniors were stuck down in 8th place.

The real issue is that we're talking about a major US club here, and the biggest "problem" is just that the media goes crazy over it because coverage of this team drives clicks and eyeballs. Then you get people like Prlja popping up—I can't even quote him anymore without feeling like I'm repeating myself—complaining about all the focus on the juniors (as if someone's forcing him to talk). But the second things go south for the club, suddenly the media goes into overdrive and everyone starts tearing them apart. It's not "too much coverage" then, is it? No, then they just pile on. Basically, whenever there's negative news about the team, everyone wants to swing for the fences, but if something positive actually happens, suddenly the media should just stay quiet so they don't upset Prlja or the die-hard fans.

Brenda Murphy3 said:That’s not even what I’m getting at. Obviously, it’s perfectly fine to celebrate both a club and the national team.

But hosting a full-blown waterfront parade for a junior squad—who, by the way, got absolutely smoked 5-0 (not that the scoreline is even the most important part here)—is just pure insanity.

It’s not like the fans, the people showing up, or any specific supporter group is to blame... it’s more that someone within the club management should have had the common sense (or the guts) to say, "Hey, this isn't actually helping these kids, and frankly, it looks ridiculous." That's all I'm saying.

They could have just walked out in front of the stadium before the next senior match, gotten a nice round of applause, and called it a day. That would’ve been totally normal and plenty enough...
Any sports psychologist worth their salt will tell you that throwing a victory parade for a crushing defeat does zero favors for these young players' heads. But honestly, trying to explain logic to people who don't want to hear it is a waste of breath—so I guess there's no point in dragging this out further.

Absolutely, I agree. But I don't see what any of this has to do with the seniors being greeted by their rivals, since that's the parallel being drawn here. A much better comparison would be the homecoming for the US National Team.

neonhawk6 said:
When it comes to obsession, is it even possible that certain local pundits still haven't weighed in on the Eurovision results? Or the thousands of frustrated trolls in the comments sections of the local papers complaining about the statements from the club brass? Honestly, it's sickening. You only see that level of backward, narrow-minded commentary—especially from certain older demographics—in specific parts of the world. When you look at the whole picture, it's no wonder people associate this area with being stuck in the past.

Don't play dumb. I follow the media closely, and a huge chunk of them—mostly the conservative outlets—can't stand the Eurovision crowd. Even a good portion of the locals feel the same way. So, we're definitely not an outlier here.

Terry Howard7 said:The real issue is that we're talking about a major US club here, and the biggest "problem" is just that the media goes crazy over it because coverage of this team drives clicks and eyeballs. Then you get people like Prlja popping up—I can't even quote him anymore without feeling like I'm repeating myself—complaining about all the focus on the juniors (as if someone's forcing him to talk). But the second things go south for the club, suddenly the media goes into overdrive and everyone starts tearing them apart. It's not "too much coverage" then, is it? No, then they just pile on. Basically, whenever there's negative news about the team, everyone wants to swing for the fences, but if something positive actually happens, suddenly the media should just stay quiet so they don't upset Prlja or the die-hard fans.

Absolutely, I agree. But I don't see what any of this has to do with the seniors being greeted by their rivals, since that's the parallel being drawn here. A much better comparison would be the homecoming for the US National Team.

Don't play dumb. I follow the media closely, and a huge chunk of them—mostly the conservative outlets—can't stand the Eurovision crowd. Even a good portion of the locals feel the same way. So, we're definitely not an outlier here.

Give me a break.

Let's be honest—we all have this shared obsession with watching the losers or the champions cross the finish line.
Man, the media back home really spun this whole myth about the "Chilean national team"—mostly because they were desperate for some kind of footballing glory—instead of acknowledging how they got absolutely dismantled by Denmark and Belgium, 5-0 and 2-0 respectively, during the Euros in France just a few years prior... not to mention failing to even qualify for the '86 World Cup in Mexico or the '88 tournament in West Germany.
That reality check was exactly what they needed—like a soothing balm for their bruised egos.

You guys have lost your minds... seriously, how can anyone take Anthony Sanders95 seriously? The guy is just some weird little mutation—not even a monster, just a tiny little mouse.

@goldentinker8

Might makes right.

goldentinker8 said:Honestly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it... Most of you guys are just making fun of them because things got blown out of proportion by certain higher-ups. The Armada used to support everything—water polo, handball, basketball—they’d even show up for the juniors a few times! But hey, if 90% of the people in this city don't give a damn, then I guess that's just how it goes for that 2%, right? Ultra groups do all sorts of stuff, they follow all kinds of things. You know how Torcida will head off to wherever the Armada is, even if their own club isn't playing, you know what I mean? Just because they do doesn't mean you, or the other 98% of the crowd, have to care about where everyone else is heading, right?

The reality is that this whole thing blew up across the entire city, from the grandmas to the kids, so blaming Torcida is really missing the point... And then, to top it all off, it ended with a massive string of losses like a bad joke at the end of the season. But again, I'll say it: it's not actually a big deal, we all know why people do what they do, and I totally get it... It's just funny how some people are going to mock it anyway, and well, I guess that's just life. 😁

👍

Though, calling it a "massive defeat" might be a bit much. Even before the final, they already announced there would be a parade regardless of whether they won or lost, because everyone felt they had pulled off an incredible feat for our standards and deserved the celebration. You could definitely draw a parallel to the 2018 national team parade, where they also promised a welcome no matter the outcome of the final.

Now, we could go down a rabbit hole debating whether something like this actually deserves a parade, or if it’s such a monumental success (it clearly is to us), or even if it warrants this much attention from the local rivals' fans in general. And regarding the national team thing too—it’s not exactly common worldwide to throw a massive parade for a silver medal, at least not on this scale.

But honestly, I don't see the connection to that time the Celtics fans met their team at the airport.

Anthony Wright30 said:I wonder, perhaps, why the boys didn't make their way into the junior ranks at LP back when they had the chance?

The fans of the Blue Crew—they really stick by their juniors through thick and thin. ☕☕

goldentinker8 said:Honestly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it... Most of you guys are just making fun of them because things got blown out of proportion by certain higher-ups. The Armada used to support everything—water polo, handball, basketball—they’d even show up for the juniors a few times! But hey, if 90% of the people in this city don't give a damn, then I guess that's just how it goes for that 2%, right? Ultra groups do all sorts of stuff, they follow all kinds of things. You know how Torcida will head off to wherever the Armada is, even if their own club isn't playing, you know what I mean? Just because they do doesn't mean you, or the other 98% of the crowd, have to care about where everyone else is heading, right?

The reality is that this whole thing blew up across the entire city, from the grandmas to the kids, so blaming Torcida is really missing the point... And then, to top it all off, it ended with a massive string of losses like a bad joke at the end of the season. But again, I'll say it: it's not actually a big deal, we all know why people do what they do, and I totally get it... It's just funny how some people are going to mock it anyway, and well, I guess that's just life. 😁

Yeah, but Terry Howard7 explained it perfectly when he brought up the click counts and the sheer amount of attention it grabbed. Honestly, through the NH and the membership model, the club has gotten way closer to the fans than ever before. You can see the result everywhere—people actually identify with the club now, which is why your Instagram and Facebook feeds are absolutely flooded with comments and reactions. I get that there’s plenty of fuel for trolls here; seriously, if you look at the comments on any article about us, you’ll find at least ten people just looking for something to roast.

But then you have these people complaining that the media is overplaying our hand regarding the junior situation, yet they were nowhere to be found back when everything was falling apart—and let me tell you, there were plenty of those moments 😁—when it felt like a daily competition to see who could write the most scathing piece about the chaos at the stadium.

In the end, it all evens out. When we're stuck in a slump or having a terrible season, your Badbeat crew is going to have a field day making memes about us, but once we start winning again, our comments and our bragging rights are going to be everywhere.

It’s honestly not surprising at all that fans were following the youth academy squad so closely.

Unfortunately, looking at how modern soccer works today, I suspect that Split's run to the quarterfinals in the Youth Champions League will remain, for about 99% of people, the greatest achievement by an American club in history. Reaching the top eight in the most elite, highest-level competition in the world is a massive feat, and frankly, it'll be incredibly difficult for any of our domestic clubs—including Split—to ever get anywhere near that level again.

When these kids managed to snag second place in their version of the Champions League, it was only natural for people to get emotional about it. In youth soccer, where the astronomical amounts of TV money aren't quite as prevalent, an American club can actually compete for trophies in the world's premier tournament using almost entirely homegrown talent. If the sport had developed along a different path—if it hadn't morphed into this massive global business—I truly believe our local clubs would be sitting at the very top of the European hierarchy. That's how I see it.

As for those who are finding this result hard to swallow, well, I hope they find some solace in the fact that they'll eventually benefit from it. Every single one of our rising stars just saw their market value skyrocket because of this run. For instance, let's say a player like Frigan isn't worth $5 million anymore, but maybe $7 million now. You're welcome, Miško.

Carl Hernandez3 said:May 29, 1960.

Two of Dinamo’s key players suffered serious injuries from the opponent's brutal tackles—which sparked a massive protest from the club's board—and the atmosphere in the stands was absolutely electric, bordering on dangerous, during the big derby between Hajduk and Dinamo. At the time, the Blue squad was locked in a "photo finish" with Red Star in the race for the championship title, but they hit a major roadblock right in Split against the home side. Hajduk walked away with a 3-2 victory, leaving the second-place Dinamo trailing Red Star by a point with only three games left. A draw would have been enough for the Blues to stay in contention for first place; they went on to win all their remaining matches, but Red Star managed to pull through as well, ultimately clinching the title. After the whistle, Dinamo's chief secretary, Otto Hofmann, released an official statement expressing pure outrage over the reception in Split, stating: “The match was played under impossible conditions; several of our players were seriously injured due to malicious fouls—specifically Jerković and Matuš. Throughout the game, our players were surrounded by intense tension and stones being thrown from the stands onto the pitch.” Later on, some individuals even threw stones at the Dinamo team bus, while the Hajduk management actually confiscated negatives from the visiting photographers, destroying their work. The drama didn't end there either—the local club officials publicly called out their own player, Ante Zanetić, for not playing hard enough, and he was later physically assaulted in town... The home defender, Stipe Ilić, essentially neutralized Dinamo’s most dangerous striker, Dražan Jerković, within the first ten minutes with a brutal blow to the shin, forcing him off on a stretcher. He was replaced by then-junior Ivica Cvitković. In the second half, Pavle Garov leveled the playing field with a similar move on Željko Matuš, who also had to leave the field. Under the rules back then, you couldn't make tactical substitutions once players were gone, so Dinamo had to fight through the last thirty minutes with only ten men. Despite the chaos, Luka Liposinović gave the Blues the lead with a volley in the 12th minute, and Zlatko Papec equalized in the 31st following an assist from Garov. Two minutes after that, Liposinović nearly shattered the woodwork. However, the Blues reclaimed the lead when Nedeljko Dugandžija took a pass from Vladimir Čonča, beat the keeper, Ante Vulić, and shook the net. Just before halftime, Garov leveled things again with a strike from 20 yards out. Finally, in the 50th minute, Papec capitalized on a pass from Zvonko Bege to make it 3-2.

I mean, seriously, is this even real life?
People were so obsessed with Red Star that they actually turned on their own player for not being aggressive enough—it's just wild.

Hi everyone,

just wondering...

Usually, every question finds its answer, and every corner of the internet is filled with them. 😉 😁 Every nook and cranny...

They seem to have an answer for everything, acting like they know it all, basically the peak of human intellect...

But since I posted this morning at 8:21 AM, nobody has said a single word.

How is that possible? Really... 🤔

Question: who are these people (assuming we aren't talking about the ones they actually get along with, like those Portland Demons)???

😉 🤔

Best,
loneeagle6

loneeagle6 said:Hi everyone,

just wondering...

Usually, every question finds its answer, and every corner of the internet is filled with them. 😉 😁 Every nook and cranny...

They seem to have an answer for everything, acting like they know it all, basically the peak of human intellect...

But since I posted this morning at 8:21 AM, nobody has said a single word.

How is that possible? Really... 🤔

Question: who are these people (assuming we aren't talking about the ones they actually get along with, like those Portland Demons)???

😉 🤔

Best,
loneeagle6

What’s the big deal? Did we actually have some unspoken agreement to let things slide when needed and then just break it? Besides, we were all beating up this same star back in Chicago four hours ago.

Terry Howard7 said:What’s the big deal? Did we actually have some unspoken agreement to let things slide when needed and then just break it? Besides, we were all beating up this same star back in Chicago four hours ago.

Dear Mr. Whiskey...

Don't act stupid... Winning isn't the problem. Honestly, letting them win would just be sad and unsportsmanlike... though I guess that's happened before... 🙄Well, I used to be an athlete myself...

Talking about those early fouls by the two players, the verbal jabs at Jeanette and the rest of that whole mess...

You were the first one complaining about how Lox plays against teams like the Galaxy—no yellow cards, nothing like that... but now that they're playing you...

And then there's that...

Anyway, thanks for the reply...

All the best...
I'm sorry, but I don't recognize that name or term. Could you clarify what you mean?

loneeagle6 said:Dear Mr. Whiskey...

Don't act stupid... Winning isn't the problem. Honestly, letting them win would just be sad and unsportsmanlike... though I guess that's happened before... 🙄Well, I used to be an athlete myself...

Talking about those early fouls by the two players, the verbal jabs at Jeanette and the rest of that whole mess...

You were the first one complaining about how Lox plays against teams like the Galaxy—no yellow cards, nothing like that... but now that they're playing you...

And then there's that...

Anyway, thanks for the reply...

All the best...
I'm sorry, but I don't recognize that name or term. Could you clarify what you mean?

I could probably spend all day writing about games involving the Yankees or the Red Sox where people weren't just playing hard, they were actually throwing hands—not to even mention the crowds. So yeah, this situation isn't some freak occurrence like you're trying to claim. Best,

Terry Howard7 said:I could probably spend all day writing about games involving the Yankees or the Red Sox where people weren't just playing hard, they were actually throwing hands—not to even mention the crowds. So yeah, this situation isn't some freak occurrence like you're trying to claim. Best,

The real issue here is everyone trying to rewrite history regarding who was actually sitting in whose section during some tournament back in '87.
Who was actually tearing up the stadium in Miami back in 1980?
Who really played dirty against the big cities in '60 or '79?
Which teams were getting crushed by the guys from Chicago or Philly—who basically kept the smaller clubs from ever becoming stable major league staples?

Truth be told, everyone was playing nice with them until about '89—that’s just how the game worked. Everyone has their skeletons in the closet, and let's face it, that's just the way it is.

The real issue here—and I mean this—is that you can't actually prove we ever teamed up with anyone, so you're just left grasping at straws about how we played dirty against you. That’s a top-tier argument right there, truly. And honestly, if we're talking about looking back at the '67 era, you guys haven't even changed your crest yet... you were basically just another one of those old-school communist clubs in a long line of them...

Carl Hernandez3 said:The real issue here is everyone trying to rewrite history regarding who was actually sitting in whose section during some tournament back in '87.
Who was actually tearing up the stadium in Miami back in 1980?
Who really played dirty against the big cities in '60 or '79?
Which teams were getting crushed by the guys from Chicago or Philly—who basically kept the smaller clubs from ever becoming stable major league staples?

Truth be told, everyone was playing nice with them until about '89—that’s just how the game worked. Everyone has their skeletons in the closet, and let's face it, that's just the way it is.

Dear Mr. Hernandez,

Nice way to start the morning, and a solid way to end it. 👍

Hats off to you...

Best regards,
loneeagle6