MLS 2022/23 Season: Part 2

Donna Kim6 said:Anyone who actually cares about American soccer should want to see the historic clubs—the ones with real soul and die-hard fans—get back into the top flight.
Cibalia, Chicago, Zadar, Šibenik, Karlovac, Marsonia.
It’s a shame Chicago didn't pull it off and become the second major powerhouse in the city. We need a legitimate club with actual ultras, something reminiscent of those old-school legends from back in the day.

They were actually looking pretty promising for growth until they started getting all caught up in that political nonsense. Sure, the internal management played a part too, but honestly, I think that constant meddling with politics is what really cost them their soul in terms of the fan culture.

electrichawk94 said:They were actually looking pretty promising for growth until they started getting all caught up in that political nonsense. Sure, the internal management played a part too, but honestly, I think that constant meddling with politics is what really cost them their soul in terms of the fan culture.

My take? That’s the only way you could have split the fan base in a city like New York.
Left vs. right...
Especially back in the 90s.
Or the "old guard" versus the newcomers—that whole vibe. Of course, the main club and its core supporters would be incomparably stronger and larger, but eventually, even a smaller group like the Warriors would hold their own.
Because a major hub like New York definitely has the potential for that kind of split.
The same logic applies to a smaller market like Chicago.

Back in the 90s, I always used to say that the late Rođo was totally wrong about how things work in New York.
You should have just moved the team to a small town on the border of Mexico. Pull the logistics and the players from there, and every single weekend, the stadium would be packed to the rafters!

And the big rivalry between the LA Galaxy and LAFC is just a joke ☕

Donna Kim6 said:My take? That’s the only way you could have split the fan base in a city like New York.
Left vs. right...
Especially back in the 90s.
Or the "old guard" versus the newcomers—that whole vibe. Of course, the main club and its core supporters would be incomparably stronger and larger, but eventually, even a smaller group like the Warriors would hold their own.
Because a major hub like New York definitely has the potential for that kind of split.
The same logic applies to a smaller market like Chicago.

Back in the 90s, I always used to say that the late Rođo was totally wrong about how things work in New York.
You should have just moved the team to a small town on the border of Mexico. Pull the logistics and the players from there, and every single weekend, the stadium would be packed to the rafters!

I don't think so, honestly. They’ve actually lost a lot of their core group. I remember back when I was a kid, they had a really solid lineup—mostly local guys from around the neighborhood, but they pulled talent from all over the city too.
I think that’s a bad move for those Antifa types. Honestly, there aren't many people actually looking to get into a scrap over that stuff. And let’s be real—you're basically just painting a bullseye on your own forehead. 😁

I’ve been saying since the 90s that the late Roddy from HD Valley was the one who really knew how the game was played back in Chicago.
Honestly, we should just move the club to a border town like El Paso. If we set up shop right there on the edge, we could pull talent and logistics straight from Mexico. Every single weekend, the major league would be absolutely packed. It’d be non-stop action.

Man, that HD from Imotski is top-tier. Seriously good stuff. 🙏

If I were putting money down, I’d be betting on a total blowout in Columbus right now.

Man, seriously... that ref looks like he just rolled out of high school.

William Gomez5 said:If I were putting money down, I’d be betting on a total blowout in Columbus right now.

Man, seriously... that ref looks like he just rolled out of high school.

Personally, I'm taking less than 1.5... I guess. Maybe.🕺

Look, man, you could practically smell the total lack of hustle out there. It’s like they didn't even want to be on the field.

I mean, alright, fine—they finally woke up for a few minutes at the end there, but let's be real.

William Gomez5 said:Look, man, you could practically smell the total lack of hustle out there. It’s like they didn't even want to be on the field.

I mean, alright, fine—they finally woke up for a few minutes at the end there, but let's be real.

As someone who is also tied to this match professionally rather than personally, I honestly expected the players to be just as miserable dealing with this absolute nonsense as everyone else is.😬

I was sitting here thinking I’d just witnessed the absolute biggest disaster of the week, and then completely shuts me down less than twenty seconds later.

After that "tackle" in the first game, and now this "strike" in the second, I am begging you—stop using that excuse that "a sidekick to the leg is just how you get onto the bus." From here on out, save that garbage specifically for those guys from Jersey.

William Gomez5 said:If I were putting money down, I’d be betting on a total blowout in Columbus right now.

Man, seriously... that ref looks like he just rolled out of high school.

And besides, was there even any 6+ action yesterday?

Samuel Lopez9 said:And besides, was there even any 6+ action yesterday?

🤣🤣

Today could actually be quite interesting down at the City Park—interesting, and honestly, pretty emotional too, I suppose.

placidcanyon50 said:Today could actually be quite interesting down at the City Park—interesting, and honestly, pretty emotional too, I suppose.

👍

It’s placidcanyon50 here, and honestly, you hit the nail on the head. I just watched that video posted above—the one serving as a farewell tribute to the City Stadium. I have to admit, it really got to me. It was beautifully crafted, dignified, and incredibly moving.
It was actually so touching that it nearly distracted me from the excitement of the upcoming match itself. 😁

I don't want to get bogged down in the specifics right now—it doesn't really matter if we're talking about third or fourth place. What matters is that everything goes smoothly, that both the fans and the players can simply soak it all in, and let the better team take the win. The most important thing is that you all get to say goodbye to your longtime home in the right way. In our history here in the States, we haven't actually seen many situations quite like this—where a club gets to bid farewell to its old stadium in such a graceful, natural, and healthy manner, all while preparing to move into something newer, better, and more modern. So, please, breathe it all in and enjoy every moment today. 🙂

In what alternate universe would you expect teams like the LA Galaxy or Orlando City to have fans like these?
And honestly—it’s about time someone convinced Marko Livaja to sing a little anthem dedicated to his old club.
They really need to bring back some of those classic powerhouse vibes—maybe something like bringing the spirit of the old Lakers or the Bulls back to their glory days—and then everything will be just fine.

The true essence of an urban rivalry lies with teams like ☕
.
It’s about time Americans—after decades of watching watered-down versions of what a derby should be—witnessed a genuine metropolitan clash. I’m talking about a real, visceral confrontation, not those manufactured, hype-driven spectacles you see in cities like New York or Los Angeles that try way too hard to manufacture intensity where none exists.

There’s nothing left of Orient under this leadership—it's just a satellite branch for our bitter rivals.

🤣 🤣

It doesn’t even matter; that isn’t even the deciding factor here. The real prerequisite is the existence of a specific group of people who simply cannot stand to see their city's rival succeed. And let me tell you, such a group exists.
You also need a certain—how should I put this?—historical, geographical, or even identity-based component that allows you to differentiate one side from the other and break away from imposed behavioral patterns. And all of that, heavens, it all exists, if we don't even get into the messy business of history, drawn lines, and borders.
There is nothing wrong with one side constantly feeling neglected in favor of the other, or with there being past grievances or old mistakes that can serve as the foundation for a compelling narrative.

It is obvious that the Orient is merely a backdrop here, a necessary element to complete the equation, and its aura is so symbolic that one might occasionally wonder if it even truly exists. But it does. Yet, in terms of sheer scale, St. Pauli is just as small and essentially insignificant compared to HSV, much like Rayo Vallecano against Real Madrid, or Rad against the "Eternal" clubs, or perhaps Cracovia compared to Wisla—to use similar examples from closer to home or further afield.

Perhaps. It isn't out of the question that we might see this same dynamic play out in a city like San Diego in the near or distant future. Based on my own experiences climbing the stands at a game back in '96, soaking up the raw energy of the crowd and the entire atmosphere of that single match... honestly, words can't quite capture it. You simply have to experience it firsthand to truly convey the magic.

I’d love to see Orient back in the MLS first division for a local derby. The atmosphere would be electric, especially at a place like Rujevica or definitely over at Krimeja. But let’s be real—management doesn't have any actual ambition, plus the infrastructure is a mess. There’s just no room at Krimeja to modernize anything.

Morgan Hill84 said:I’d love to see Orient back in the MLS first division for a local derby. The atmosphere would be electric, especially at a place like Rujevica or definitely over at Krimeja. But let’s be real—management doesn't have any actual ambition, plus the infrastructure is a mess. There’s just no room at Krimeja to modernize anything.

What use is ambition when you're broke? Seriously. Even the one club from this city currently in the top flight wouldn't even be playing at this level if some private investor hadn't swooped in to bail them out, yet here you guys are, Ethan Jones5, rambling about another team.

At the end of the day, Orijent being in the top tier is plenty for them—if not actually a bit much.