USA vs. Scotland soccer

[copperfiend]

Here are the costs (in 2012 dollars), capacity, and year built of other soccer specific MLS Stadiums. Its important to realize that many are also used for outdoor concerts and have a significantly increased capacity for concerts.

Toronto-$67 million (Canadian)-22k-2007
Columbus-$40 million-20k-1999
Denver-$147 million-18k-2007-cost includes other adjacent developments
Dallas-$95 million-20k-2005
LA-$110 million-27k-2003
Kansas City-$207 million-18k-2011-I believe this includes adjacent development
Philadelphia (Chester)-$128 million-18k-2010
New York (Newark)-$213 million-25k-2010
Salt Lake-$124 million-20k-2008
Chicago-$113 million-20k-2006

I love the soccer-specific stadiums being built. I hope one day we can get a team here but I know Orlando is very high on the list for the MLS and if they can get one built, they will get the team.

[marksjax]

Adam & Ajax, I too was surprised at how quiet they were. May be it was being so out numbered and in a foreign land?
I do know many were tired due to the long flights (one guy's with multiple connections took 18hrs!).
Some were sunburned and that was the hottest day of the year so far (92 deg).
And they were def hungover!
But I think their teams play was the main reason.
They did not expect to win as well.
They were disgusted to lose to us 'Yanks", that I know.
They are a prideful group who live and die by their team. They travel the world to support them. That made an impression.

[Ocklawaha]

I did get to see Pele play when the New York Cosmo's came to town.

Not likely (at least if the Cosmos were playing the Tea Men) -  Pele played for the Cosmos in the 70s.

Oh yes, it did happen. Not being much of a Futball fan, I have no idea how, when, or why, but he came down with their team and played a little bit. At about that same time he would play for both teams, first one, then the other, as his (former?) team moved about the country. I don't recall if he played for the Tea Men that night, but it seems like he was only on the field for a very short time. It was probably some sort of marketing tool, but for the first time, it got me excited about the sport. Perhaps one of us can dig up an article.

[JaxByDefault]

Adam & Ajax, I too was surprised at how quiet they were. May be it was being so out numbered and in a foreign land?
I do know many were tired due to the long flights (one guy's with multiple connections took 18hrs!).
Some were sunburned and that was the hottest day of the year so far (92 deg).
And they were def hungover!
But I think their teams play was the main reason.
They did not expect to win as well.
They were disgusted to lose to us 'Yanks", that I know.
They are a prideful group who live and die by their team. They travel the world to support them. That made an impression.

They talk a bluster in support of their team, but the Aberdeen and Rangers fans (though oddly both from Edinburgh) we drank with before the game both thought that the US was going to win, but predicted 2-0 and 3-1.

Part of the fun of chanting is that the home fans are doing the same. When all we can muster is the occasional "USA, USA" and our stadium culture isn't exactly friendly to the more colorful language of some of the songs (both guys said that they liked to use "Your home support is shite" or "You can't sing" (to "USA,USA") to rib US supporters), it takes away half of the fun.

Tartan Army is also famous for endless rounds of "Do Re Mi" --though I've no idea why -- but I don't think they ever got it going here. Two goals down in 12' pretty much made sure that they weren't singing anymore. (They briefly lit up when they pulled one back). Outnumbered usually doesn't slow them down a bit.

Like everyone else on this board, I have high regard for the Scotland fans that made it here to JAX. They travel; they dress, they bring their banners, they're usually pretty noisy, and they're generally affable supporters (even immediately after a 5-1 thwacking). 

Speaking of thwackings: Let's just move on after that Brazil match...

[danno]

We had a couple of people ejected from our section for setting off smoke bombs  (happens every match), how they can prove it I dont know. Security also came and confiscated our inflateable sheep.

Haha - classic!  You must have been with the American Outlaws.  That was a very nice showing by AO - I could hear you loud and clear from Section 206.  I went to the tailgate at Russ Doe's and got nice video of them marching to the stadium.  They really do a great job adding atmosphere to the games. 

Actually it was a joint supporters section.... A lot of us old school guys from the mid 90's Sams Army were there as well.

[Adam W]

Looks like Fulham have filed a formal complaint against Liverpool for their pursuit of USA's finest, Clint Dempsey:

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/fulham-leave-dempsey-134809069.html

I'm sure nothing will come of this, as complaints of this sort are usually just bargaining tools - Dempsey will probably end up in Liverpool anyway, but Fulham will get some sort of concession.

It would be great to see him stay at Fulham and to see Liverpool actually face some sort of sanction, though.

[fsquid]

He seems to have burnt the bridges at Fulham sadly.  Don't know why he wants to go to Liverpool, he'll just end up back in the Europa League which he's already played in.

[Adam W]

He seems to have burnt the bridges at Fulham sadly.  Don't know why he wants to go to Liverpool, he'll just end up back in the Europa League which he's already played in.

I don't quite see the attraction. The money, maybe? I suppose it's possible Liverpool may finish in the top 4 this season, but I'd be surprised if they did.

I could appreciate it if maybe one of the "bigger clubs" came after him - and even though Liverpool are still considered a big club, I don't think they will be achieving at that level before Clint has to retire. He's a good player, but not really good enough to play for one of the top 4 at this point.

If he were smart, he'd stay at Fulham for a couple more years and see what happens. Then he can look forward to a few seasons in MLS.

I like Dempsey and I think he fits in well at Fulham. I'd hate to see him make a stupid move (a la Robbie Keane) and piss away his final years in the Premier League.

[Adam W]

My sources (and by "sources" I mean Eurosport/Yahoo) are reporting that Dempsey may have just signed with Spurs.

As a Spurs supporter, I'm very pleased with that, assuming the price was right. I would've preferred Moutinho, but there still just under 2 hours to go...

[JaxByDefault]

He did indeed and best of luck to him.

As a Fulham fan, I'm trying not to let the past few weeks of sitting out and turning his back on the side that brought him to the Premiership negatively affect my admiration. It won't affect my cheering on the Cottagers in the Haynes stand, but it does raise the question of whose name to get on a new FFC kit.

...and now, on to the taunting:  "Clint Dempsey announced today he no longer wanted to play Championship football by signing with Spurs."   

Nope, too soon. Still hurts.

[Adam W]

Well, to be fair, at least with Spurs he gets a chance to potentially play in the Europa League (which is more than he would've gotten this year at Fulham) 

I really don't know why he chose Spurs, to be honest - I think it came down to the window was about to shut, Fulham had rejected Liverpool's offer and he panicked b/c he had pretty much told Fulham to f*ck off. So he made the short trip across town (or to Essex, as it were).

Two Fulham players in the transfer window was a pretty good score for Spurs. But you guys got Berbatov and Huddlestone (apparently) - so not too bad overall, I don't think.

[JaxByDefault]

While Fulham have made great gains with Petric, Berbatov, and few others, I'm pretty gutted to see Dembele and Demps go. I was assuaged a little earlier in the summer when it looked like Dembele was headed up the road to that other SW6 club that I'll be decent enough not mention by name to a Tottenham supporter -- but alas.

I'm not terribly impressed with getting an injured Huddleston. Should I be? (No, really. I'd love to know if I'm underestimating him.)

Deuce played a Europa final with Fulham, so I'm not sure a run there with Spurs will impress him unless they win the cup. He does have a theoretically better chance of Champions League play trading his White for Lily White, but AVB at the helm with an odd assortment of new players is quite the wild card.

While it's a good pick up for you all, Dempsey is only there because LFC made an incredibly poor decision not to pony up a decent amount of cash. He was left with offers from Villa and Sunderland which were unattractive for both the player and the club (he so rudely slagged off); Spurs bid was basically his savior. Fulham made some cash before he went free next year and Jol didn't have to work to restore him in the side. Win for Spurs, Win for Deuce, Draw for FFC, and Loss for FFC supporters.

[Adam W]

Yeah, the Europa League's basically a joke - I don't imagine Spurs will make it much of a priority of it this year. Last year they pretty much just played their kids and concentrated on the league. And still only managed a fourth place finish at the end of the day.

As far as Huddlestone goes - he should be healthy now. But he hasn't played forever, so it's hard to see how well he's going to play. When he was on form, he was quite a good player for Spurs. He works well as a holding midfielder but has a really powerful right foot - his passing (and shooting, strangely) is often compared to that of a quarterback in the NFL. I'm sad to see him go and happy that it's only a loan!

In other US team news, I saw Carlos Bocanegra left Rangers for Racing (on a loan deal, I believe). Good for him and good for the USA. I'd think the Segunda Division has to be a better class of competition than the Scottish Third Division!

[JaxByDefault]

The Bocanegra move is good, especially if he can get an extension next year seeing as how Racing Santander is usually a La Liga Primera side and should move back up. I think all of the US players made it out of the Rangers implosion, didn't they?

[Adam W]

The Bocanegra move is good, especially if he can get an extension next year seeing as how Racing Santander is usually a La Liga Primera side and should move back up. I think all of the US players made it out of the Rangers implosion, didn't they?

Yes, I think so, thank god.