MLS 2022/23 Season: Part 2

And this plane is flying straight and low right over the stadium... looks pretty damn threatening to me.

That’s a direct flight to Miami

Twelve spots for 20 bucks? Did I seriously read that right?

stormygardener15 said:Twelve spots for 20 bucks? Did I seriously read that right?

The guys over in Mexico would charge $80 for that same amount of space.

Zachary Bennett4 said:The guys over in Mexico would charge $80 for that same amount of space.

Well, that’s exactly why I’m asking...

Samuel Lopez9 said:And this plane is flying straight and low right over the stadium... looks pretty damn threatening to me.

And then you've got that whole flock of hostile crows hovering just behind the south stands...

Morgan Hill84 said:That’s a direct flight to Miami

Well, looking at the flight path and those ExxonMobil towers... I guess this plane is likely heading toward Dublin or maybe somewhere in Ireland.😢

bluebison47 said:Well, looking at the flight path and those ExxonMobil towers... I guess this plane is likely heading toward Dublin or maybe somewhere in Ireland.😢

Nah, he's just circling back toward Florida because someone had the nerve to insult him at a roadside diner in Tennessee.

boldbadger1 said:Nah, he's just circling back toward Florida because someone had the nerve to insult him at a roadside diner in Tennessee.

The coach claims what happened to Mark was a huge blow to him. A fighter and a symbol of a generation? Please. More like a total fraud.

Or maybe it was just a flying van sent over by the Mišković sisters as a little voluntary contribution!

Garcia:

I was actually in talks with some folks over at Alavesa—they were the ones who first introduced me to the Istria region as part of their latest project. They kept showing me these glossy renders of the stadium and some sort of luxury campsite, and honestly, on paper, the whole thing looked incredible.

Turns out, reality isn't quite matching the sales pitch, but whatever. I had already made the trip, so I wasn't about to just pack up and head home.

What a mess. 🕺

Maybe even Robi took over Rudes based on those Kranjce renders. 😬

Full interview here

I don't know, maybe it’s just me, but I feel like you just don't see those kinds of fighters anymore. Real, consistent people. You know, those street-level heroes who actually stand by their word—players with real grit, like what you'd see from guys like LeBron James or Tom Brady or someone actually legendary. People who were forged right here on these American streets, in a city that doesn't just exist, but actually builds character and turns kids into real adults. Nowadays... I don't know, everything feels different.

If Alaves actually makes it into the Premier League, they’ll be eating quite well.

Not long ago, we were discussing our colleagues from the East Side and our local favorites, Orient, specifically looking at their unique perspectives and their genuine shot at making it up to the big leagues.
Well, today the club president sat down for an interview and dropped some rather illuminating insights. I thought I’d pass along a few key takeaways:

"You had one of the largest budgets in the league this season, didn't you?"

"– That is precisely what weighs most heavily on my heart. We operated with a fairly substantial budget this season, yet our results failed to reflect that investment. Of course, there aren't strict rules governing that correlation, but in principle, those indicators should serve as our guide. We have been in discussions with several new sponsors, but we have to remain realistic about the economic climate across the United States, which will undoubtedly ripple through our local economy very soon. I have to be extremely cautious with the budget moving forward, and frankly, that is going to be a massive challenge. I took over leadership during a period defined by constant upheaval—first the sudden onset of the pandemic and lockdowns, then the conflict in Ukraine, followed by the energy crisis, and now this looming financial instability and recession. This difficult global landscape has been a constant shadow hanging over us."

"Didn't the club outspend Orient this season in an attempt to secure first place and earn promotion?"

"– I don't believe anyone else in the Second Division spent more this season than we did, exceeding six hundred thousand dollars, which was our total budget. And in our specific case, that figure doesn't even account for stadium maintenance or utility overheads."

"Given the club's financial standing, the facility, the organization, the tradition, and the loyal fanbase... do you feel there is a lack of ambition within the club? No one is claiming Orient must aggressively hunt for first place at all costs, but why shouldn't we set our sights a little higher and act with more courage?"

"– Considering how well-ordered and organized this club is, we absolutely ought to have greater ambition and a larger appetite for success. However, when you string together a series of victories and climb the standings, momentum takes over. Your hunger grows—you start to crave more. Naturally, the reverse is true when you hit a slump. What truly frustrates me is complacency. In my own company, we don't allow ourselves to settle into a comfort zone. Whether things are going well or poorly, everyone remains focused and feels the pressure. That is exactly how a professional environment should function, and that applies to the players as well. Certain aspects of our culture need to evolve, and the responsibility lies with us to drive that change," stated Matijas.

There you have it. At this point, the season is effectively over; I think we've all said everything there is to say to one another. It feels right to draw the curtain on this chapter. Accordingly, let's close this thread and prepare to open a new one for the upcoming season.

It’s like they’re trying to hide from the spotlight in the MLS; look at them over at the Seattle Sounders. Clearly, that coaching spark just fizzled out completely. Honestly, I’m starting to get a bad feeling. After three straight losses, I’m worried that whole inspiring quarterfinal run is about to be snuffed out entirely.

By the way, playing two matches for a cup final feels like a total waste—it almost devalues the whole tournament.

hiddencyclist112 said:Not long ago, we were discussing our colleagues from the East Side and our local favorites, Orient, specifically looking at their unique perspectives and their genuine shot at making it up to the big leagues.
Well, today the club president sat down for an interview and dropped some rather illuminating insights. I thought I’d pass along a few key takeaways:

"You had one of the largest budgets in the league this season, didn't you?"

"– That is precisely what weighs most heavily on my heart. We operated with a fairly substantial budget this season, yet our results failed to reflect that investment. Of course, there aren't strict rules governing that correlation, but in principle, those indicators should serve as our guide. We have been in discussions with several new sponsors, but we have to remain realistic about the economic climate across the United States, which will undoubtedly ripple through our local economy very soon. I have to be extremely cautious with the budget moving forward, and frankly, that is going to be a massive challenge. I took over leadership during a period defined by constant upheaval—first the sudden onset of the pandemic and lockdowns, then the conflict in Ukraine, followed by the energy crisis, and now this looming financial instability and recession. This difficult global landscape has been a constant shadow hanging over us."

"Didn't the club outspend Orient this season in an attempt to secure first place and earn promotion?"

"– I don't believe anyone else in the Second Division spent more this season than we did, exceeding six hundred thousand dollars, which was our total budget. And in our specific case, that figure doesn't even account for stadium maintenance or utility overheads."

"Given the club's financial standing, the facility, the organization, the tradition, and the loyal fanbase... do you feel there is a lack of ambition within the club? No one is claiming Orient must aggressively hunt for first place at all costs, but why shouldn't we set our sights a little higher and act with more courage?"

"– Considering how well-ordered and organized this club is, we absolutely ought to have greater ambition and a larger appetite for success. However, when you string together a series of victories and climb the standings, momentum takes over. Your hunger grows—you start to crave more. Naturally, the reverse is true when you hit a slump. What truly frustrates me is complacency. In my own company, we don't allow ourselves to settle into a comfort zone. Whether things are going well or poorly, everyone remains focused and feels the pressure. That is exactly how a professional environment should function, and that applies to the players as well. Certain aspects of our culture need to evolve, and the responsibility lies with us to drive that change," stated Matijas.

There you have it. At this point, the season is effectively over; I think we've all said everything there is to say to one another. It feels right to draw the curtain on this chapter. Accordingly, let's close this thread and prepare to open a new one for the upcoming season.

Everyone is to blame except management. 🤣He claims they have the biggest budget in the league, yet they can't even crack the TOP 3.

neonfalcon16 said:It’s like they’re trying to hide from the spotlight in the MLS; look at them over at the Seattle Sounders. Clearly, that coaching spark just fizzled out completely. Honestly, I’m starting to get a bad feeling. After three straight losses, I’m worried that whole inspiring quarterfinal run is about to be snuffed out entirely.

By the way, playing two matches for a cup final feels like a total waste—it almost devalues the whole tournament.

I might be wrong, but this feels like the classic scenario where we’re already locked into last place. If that's the case, we're looking at a very boring season ahead.

I just hope they don't go the typical route of blowing the entire budget just to fly straight up to the third division. There’s nothing worse than that. I'd much rather we be a bottom-tier club with a solid young squad than burn through cash only to end up in the red—especially when staying in the league barely pays off anyway.

neonfalcon16 said:It’s like they’re trying to hide from the spotlight in the MLS; look at them over at the Seattle Sounders. Clearly, that coaching spark just fizzled out completely. Honestly, I’m starting to get a bad feeling. After three straight losses, I’m worried that whole inspiring quarterfinal run is about to be snuffed out entirely.

By the way, playing two matches for a cup final feels like a total waste—it almost devalues the whole tournament.

I'm with you there. And honestly, playing at a neutral site seems pretty stupid when you consider how small the stadiums are and what a nightmare the logistics for the fans will be. I mean, maybe we should just pick one venue and go with a Davis Cup style home/away setup instead.

Zekić signed with the Celtics.

ruggedowl13 said:I'm with you there. And honestly, playing at a neutral site seems pretty stupid when you consider how small the stadiums are and what a nightmare the logistics for the fans will be. I mean, maybe we should just pick one venue and go with a Davis Cup style home/away setup instead.

If they go with two matches, the logistical nightmare of managing fans and having zero security will be even worse.🤷

It’s not just bad; it’s pathetic. The only upside is that they'll squeeze out more cash and maybe make the final slightly more marketable.

Besides, if they can't even manage to hold a game without riots breaking out, they shouldn't be hosting anything at all.

Or they should just move the Final Four to Saudi Arabia—I'm sure the Commissioner could grease some palms there and rake in a massive payday while he's at it.☕