Ahead of our game today, Dave Clark from Sounder At Heart has shared his thoughts on Seattle Sounders’ chances, their best players and the history of the club.
Scott the Red: Are you excited about the game?
Dave Clark: I’m actually not excited about the game. Friendlies are nice exhibitions and do a decent job of growing the potential fan base here, but I’m a fan of winning trophies (Seattle has two in the last two years) and would rather the organization concentrate on competitive matches while reaching out to people who will actually support a team to which they have local ties rather than one across the pond that happens to be much better, but of little significance locally.
STR: Who do you think is United’s best player?
DC: I don’t follow the Premier League closely, but I’m probably most impressed with Berbatov. It may be that I watched him win the Carling Cup with a Spurs fan and so I’ve paid a slight bit more attention to him. Park has a certain appeal as well, because he’s one of those men who plays a vital role that doesn’t seem to get the respect that he deserves.
STR: Tell us some background about your club.
DC: While the Seattle Sounders have only been in Major League Soccer for 2.5 years, there is a soccer tradition involving that name that goes back to 1974. Due to the franchise system of sports in America continuity within leagues is a bit lacking but at this level the team has won the US Open Cup (similar to the FA Cup) two straight years and is in its 5th straight appearance in the semi-finals of the same tournament. In the first season of MLS the Sounders fell one goal against either the Crew or DC United short of winning the Supporters Shield (best regular season), but the Playoffs and resulting MLS Cup have been a bit of a bother. This season the team sits in 2nd by total points in the league, is in the semi-finals for the Open Cup and will be in the Preliminary Round for the CONCACAF Champions League. The team has been good, if not great on the field. Off-field though it has been the biggest success in American soccer history outside of the New York Cosmos of the NASL. They are now averaging over 36,000 a match with strong TV ratings and sponsorship by XBox on the kits. Over Seattle’s history from the North American Soccer League to MLS they have 10 major trophies to their name.
The stadium here holds 67,000 or so people and was designed for both types of football played in the United States. It has the necessary width and length to host World Cup events and the tiniest of crowns for a true play of the ball. While it doesn’t have grass on a permanent basis it will for this game. Both the Seattle Seahawks and Sounders would love to have grass permanently but the shared nature of the pitch makes that ideal a bit difficult during the fall rainy season.
STR: Which of your players should we look out for?
DC: The players that deserve the most attention here are Osvaldo Alonso and Freddy Montero. While everyone who follows United knows about Kasey Keller, Alonso and Montero are the linchpins to success right now. Alonso plays as a defensive midfielder who is an extraordinary ball winner, decent passer and capable of a long range shot reaching net on occasion. Last off-season here he trained with Everton for a bit. Montero is a false nine who with strong technical skills, great ability to shoot in traffic and an ability to score on set-pieces from as far away as 40 yards. He’s more of a La Liga style forward than Premier League, and will likely leave for a better league someday.
STR: What are your predictions for the game?
DC: Unless United doesn’t try at all Seattle will get crushed. At best an MLS side is probably about the same quality as a mid-table Championship team and at worst a top table League Two team. But the results don’t matter, this is really an attempt to make Seattle a bit of money and expose people on both sides of the Atlantic to a new team, or two. This is soccer evangelism, and in the end a good thing. The result that matters will be finances down the road, not the scoreboard now.
————
Follow Dave Clark on Twitter for updates before, during and after the game
Man Utd News 24/7
“Traffic” haha.. love their lingo! Come on boys another good performance. Would love to see Young flourish again!!
Come On United!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just read that berba is not playing – ankle knock. Nothing serious, but for someone in his position, I would wish him as much pre-season playing time as possible
It really does seem that the American audience is beginning to take to football, bit by bit.
sorry what’s match time?? Anybody…GMT please
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2016755/David-De-Geas-day-Uniteds-No1–video.html
is ESPN Broadcasting the gameis ESPN Broadcasting the game
Seattle Sounders an Enemy ? i know it’s the name of the feature, but surely US soccer “Franchises” can never be looked at as enemies in pre-season games that are designed to get the players match fit and shamelessly push United’s merchandise ?
our enemies ? Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Barça & Real Madrid
Loving the football terminology…!
OFF TOPIC: I hope we sign someone to fit in to our midfield soon…!
Preferably Nasri and Sneijder as the former can also play on the left.
If you want money go to Citeh, if you want a place in history come to United.
This Dave Clark sound like a bit of an arsehole if you ask me.
very true gorse hill red
@Kevin GeeUnited
3am GMT mate.
Come on United! Thrash these wankers!
Dave Clark is a self absorbed fool that has almost no love for his club.
I suppose that may be because they’re only 2½ years in the MLS.
He claims ‘this is really an attempt to make Seattle a bit of money and expose people on both sides of the Atlantic to a new team’, yet he has wanked this opportunity to show his team in a good light to thousands of knowledgeable, interested football fans.
He is disinterested in United. Therefore his cunting Seattle Sounders have become possibly the most hated team in MLS history. Well done moronic Dave! Our 330 million fans don’t give a fuck about you either.
Come on United! Embarrass these ungrateful twats.
A bored, couldn’t give a damn, arsehole. Where’s the passion?!?
Too true, Smartalex
Sounds to me like someone who has only been following ‘soccer’ for a few months…. Demented bugger probably still thinks its a sport for women.
Warwick – His apathy is pathetic. Seattle sleeps, and Sounds stupefying.
Hey there good friend CedarsDevil! How are you doing?
Looking forward to seeing the lads tonight, no doubt. Come on United!
Guys I had a dream and now hopefully I can be Nostradamus. I dreamt a 6-0 scoreline.
Rooney Hat trick
Nani
Park or Jones scored – Cant remeber
Obertan – i think could have been carrick
Dreams are blurry but i hope 2/5 comes true then i can be my hero….Paul The Octopus
enemy?
BOFA
I am well my friend, sadly I do not have any sort of coverage for the match tonight, so I will be looking forward to reading the match report tomorrow morning and then hopefully watching some highlights…
Come on UNITED
CedarsDevil
I may be in the same boat. My internet connection can be fantastic or terrible, depending on
external factors, especially theft! Telephone and fibre-optic cables are considered fair game.
Sometimes I get 4000 kilobits per second; other times I get 50 bits per second!
That is 80 000 times slower!
Either way, I’m happy we’re playing, and will watch when I can.
Come on United!
No wounded the suicide rate it high in Seattle , depressing twat
Bloody hell Dave, cheer up a bit eh? You’ve got two trophies in two years and a chance to get a thrashing from the biggest football club in the world and you’re not excited? Fuck sake, some clubs are offering us a million euros for the chance to get a beating. I’m sure all the other fans aren’t as dour as Dave though.
That said, I couldn’t help but notice the Sounders ground has a bigger capacity than Anfailed.
Jus’ sayin’…
Come on guys. He’s not as bad as that West Ham fan Scott interviewed last season:
http://therepublikofmancunia.com/view-from-the-enemy-west-ham-fan-on-relegation-battles-having-one-song-and/
Anyway, Berba is out, so no Berbagasm for this Seattle fan.
Anfailed – Classic
Dave Clark 5?
What a band!
Check this out for Poops & Giggles….its the wiki page of SSN Presenter: Charlotte “sexy” Jackson
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Jackson
They get her birthday wrong and apparentlly “David Haye and Amir Khan were both rumoured to have had a threesome with Charlotte Jackson which David Haye later admitted.”
Even more funnier stuff on there.
Wikipedia is the most reliable source of info after Daily Fail, remember this http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1302303/Manchester-United-sign-Mesut-Ozil.html
Fucking Idiots.
You lot are out of order!
He does sound passionate, he just doesn’t give a fuck about United. At least he doesn’t sound starry eyed and daft. If they normally fill 30K odd seats lets see how many we fill. Fair play for a Yank.
Is he related to Kurt Cobain?
@ Lloyd 3am tonite MUTV splash out £5 a month for it.
what time will the game start ?
ahh … someone already answered … thanks
I sense some racist comments here..
Please guys,this is just a FRIENDLY match up..
Why do you think United always come here for Pre Season?
There are alot of United fans in the states,and the revenues generated from these friendlies are massive..
Dont know much about the Seattle team,but they are due a beating from the world’s most valuable team..
America loves Manchester United…
Come on,you Reds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hope we play a good game and come away without any injuries. Think the sounders fan comes off as a bit of a tool, but fair play that he is focused on trophies for his team. Just needs to improve his personal skills in my opinion.
OFF TOPIC:
NICE list of quotes from other managers to celebrate Fergies 25 years. The video from the early years is a crack up as well.
http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/features/2011-07-20/fergies-25-seasons-old-trafford-tributes-rival-managers-plus-classic-video
Feeling terribly bored – where’s a troll when you need one?! Some transfer gossip could do nicely as well!
heard the game was a sellout 65,000 normally seattle ave 35,000,alot of fans will be travelling from canada,vancover is only about a hour away
captain- i can only watch it live on MUTV?
Lloyd adthe.net always shows the games
I followed the Sounders a little on ESPN when I was in New Zealand, just so I could watch some daytime football. I chose the Sounders because their fans seemd to get football the most, there was always a good atmosphere with their crowd and they were the only american fans that sang British football type songs/chants. I think Scott probably chose the wrong fan to interview.
I”m American (a new yorker), a United fan (why i’m always on ROMC), and also a MLS supporter (redbulls).
I think the knocking of this fan is a little off base. The growth in MLS is there but it takes time. Many here are calling this fan “unpassionate” but I don’t think that’s the case–he’s being realistic. The passion is there and it always will be, but the succsess of MLS depends on realism, not unbridled enthusiasm.
The MLS surged in popularity after the world cup in 1994 and what happened? Team’s where created out of the blue and forced to play in HUGE NA football stadiums. This created a sort of gimmicky atmosphere and that enthusiasm quickly wained. Imagine if WBA or Swansea had to play in the bernebeu, that’s essentially what we’re talking here. On top of it, the MLS tried to draw comparison’s with other popular US sports like NA football and basketball (kinda hard when Michael Jordan is lighting it up).
The true MLS fan’s did exactly that, stayed true and persitent. The recent growth in MLS is now a product of some realistic owners for the first time–something the fans new was in order. Remember, this league is 16 years old so the equivalent of United in say 1894!!!
The Yankees, the Manchester Uniteds, the Madrids, the Dallas Cowboys etc did not become these incredible franchises in 16 years. It will take time but it will get better.
Manchester coming to the states is great (i’m heading to the all-star game in NY), but that pomp and circumstance of united is not what is going to help MLS (it can’t hurt). This fan is realistic and more importantly smart.
Should be a good game, atmosphere will be great, don’t hate on a guy because he sounds unthrilled at the chance to play united because i’m sure he isn’t. He just wants to make sure that for every 10 united shirt they sell at the game that they sell a few sounders shirts for the local guys–can’t compain
thanks wayne,i’ll watch it there.
Love the cynicism of the guy.
Although I now think I understand the MLS far less than I did before reading it.
@Magicinthe6- Hi mate I went to your great city last year, what a great place it is . I watched United in an Irish bar I was made to feel welcome thanks a lot pal.
From the Sounders website:
“Seattle Sounders FC will host Manchester United on Wednesday, July 20, on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. The presenting partners for the Sounders FC international friendly match are AT&T and Samsung Mobile.”
(This blog post was sponsored by Vodafone in conjunction with Hyundai)
Man Utd plays tonight!!!!!!!
Good day to all Reds!
@dazbomber
Always a pleasure…the thing about nyc is that unless your a 12 foot tall cyclopse with green hair a new yorker know’s probly 30 people like you. Very welcoming place and there are some GREAT football pubs
3am in the morning! I’ll be depending on the good people of the Republik, to keep me up to date, with the score. Cheers!
lol i forgot how far apart seatle and the UK where..i’m hapilly in the middle, so say a 10 hour start
Us poor US fans will never get it. Wow hahahahahahahahaha
The early game in the UK starts at 6 am here.
@magicinthe6
Well said.
I have a question though for you.
Seeing that you are a United fan and live in NY, are you going to get behind the King and his NY Cosmos?
Will support the Red Bulls right now get in the way?
plug the hole in midfield already FFS!!
@AnomanderRake
Really a tough call….I fell in love with United in 1999 (for obvious reasons) when I was just 11 years old. When i told a “soccer” coach of mine of my new team he asked me of Cantona and i said who? After showing me hours of cantona footage I realized he was and is all that embodies United. So to that end I will always support anything that man does. Having said that, I really do care for the Redbulls and can’t see myself jumping ship. The thing about MLS that I don’t think a lot fo people in countries with far better leagues understand is just how romantic its infant nature is. It’s like a secret you keep to yourself at a superbowl party so nobody laughs at you..but when you show up at the ground and there’s only a few thousand people there you know that everybody there “gets it”. I imagine it’s what a newton heath fan might have felt like 100 years ago, or how a notts county fan feels today. There’s a lot of talk about bandwagon fan’s on here but you in the MLS there’s really no bandwagon to jump on….your just there for football. The other day at a redbull game i found myself actually a little annoyed because the stadium was filling up and i had to stay in my marked seat!
Before I go on a rant, the point is that while it may seem easy to jump teams in the MLS because “hey who cares…its the MLS” it really isn’t so. The fans who are there now football and have a great connection with their team.
Having said that, if there’s an opportunity to meet cantona at a game…I’ll be seeing some cosmos games in the future
What are you on RedScottX? Where’s the racism
@magicinthe6
Well I asked you about Cosmos because I am in the same situation you are.
In NY, loving United.. and abit of Red Bulls.
I dont think Ill give up the Red Bulls for the Cosmos. I am surely going to watch a few Cosmos games to see what Cantona does, but Red Bulls will always have whatever attention I can spare after United.
Oh btw, swithcing sweets at the Red Bulls game is awesome. Get to see different views on the same game and meet a lot of fans.
@ AnomanderRake
didn’t no you were a neighbor! Yea its fantastic. I’ll go up to the top deck just for a differenant angle, switch sides after the half…whatever. There really isn’t a bad seat in that stadium (can’t be with only 25000 capacity)
@magicinthe6
Good points man. The stick that the supporter has been getting was too much. I just didn’t think he was such a jerk.
I hope to watch the game after work. Veetle.com had the last game from MUTV, so I hope to do the same today too.
Why knock Dave Clark? Footie isn’t big in the US, so his comments are probably valid!
I’m from Seattle (living in DC for the summer) and I can kind of understand his comments. And I’d echo a lot of what magicinthe6 says.
I have a lot of friends in law school who are absolutely obsessed with the Sounders, but don’t follow the Prem at all. I respect them because they haven’t just jumped on a Barca, Chelsea or United bandwagon – although I don’t understand how they enjoy watching MLS football so much. It’s just a different mentality altogether.
I go to Sounders matches now and then, because I enjoy watching football, especially in the stadium setting, but I’d never get up at 4:45 am to watch them like I do with United.
That all said, the Sounders are on kind of a hot streak, so they should offer a little bit more than the Revolution did – or at least I hope. I’ve been exchanging emails with my friends who are going to the game and it’s been friendly banter, but I know that they are scared of being embarrassed.
@ always be closing,
please can ypu kindly read the posts above that post i made..
Thank you.
@ always be closing,
please can you kindly read the posts above that post i made..
Thank you.
Barca agreed fee for sanchez, going to sign fabregas while fergie is playing a waiting game with regards to signing a CM. Sure feels gd to be a barca fan, winning team with exciting signings, is fergie waiting for Barca to decline?
@ rucien
I imagine SAF could give two shits if Barca signed Sanchez seeing as how we’d already signed our winger. The only reason he’d look up if Fabregas goes is that Arsenal become that much weaker. He’s not losing sleep over what a La Liga outfit’s doing, seeing as how at most we may play them twice next season.
Tired of this “let’s get level with Barca” business. Yeah, they’re the best team on the planet but who cares what they do unless it directly impacts us.
20 > 4
They are adding options to their already best team on the planet while we havent even gotten our replacement yet, the warning signs were there before scholes left but fergie refuse to act when he could have save both time and money when sneijder was surplus in real.
@ RedSeattle
I agree with you. I enjoy MLS but would i wake up at 8am hungover every saturday morning to watch them like I do United…Probably not. Would i skip work for a champions league game at 3pm? Probably not.
I don’t think they’re comprable though. As United Fan you want trophies, quality football, blistering Premier League pace and big European night. As an MLS fan you sort of have to root for the entire league not just your team. Take Beckham. He doesn’t help the Redbulls win any games, but if he gets some more MLS coverage on ESPN then I’m happy for it. If Henry can help fill the stands at a wednesday night game in Kansas City then good. 10 years ago an MLS fan just wanted the league to stay afloat. Now the MLS fan wants constant growth and progress. The US is the biggest market in the world and capturing 10% of the domestic sports interst would rival most European nations.
On top of just supporting the league though, i think a true foreward thinking fan needs to condsider the region as well. If (obvioulsy not possible) the MLS teams played in uefa champions league (they’d be destroyed) then you’d have bigger players taking the chance knowing that they will eventually play on the largest stage. The CONCACAF is a joke. The Latin american nations just don’t have the same marketing expertise to make it work. What would be nice is a restructing, to allow Connembol teams to play Concacaf teams…so you’d get the Boca Juniors, the Corinthians, the River Plate etc.
@rucien – I understand your frustration, but you need to be patient. Plus we have already signed 3 really good players.
Wait it out. Fergie knows best. If he signs a CM is because he found the right player. If he doesn’t, is because he hasn’t found it – end of!
“I’ve got young players coming in that I hope will take inspiration from what we experienced in the Champions League and challenge Barcelona,” Ferguson said.
What he really meant: Hey we lost but they are the best team, time is our only advantage as they will decline.
“They are an exceptionally good team. But that does not mean it can never be achieved. Barcelona is a team of its time and it’s a fantastic cycle for them.
What he really meant: 3rd time lucky?? Winning the best team needs alot of luck.
“We will try to move on and get above them, but the target is to be in Munich (for the Champions League final) in May next year. Only then, if it’s Barca, can we assess how we are able to cope with that.”
What he really meant: Let’s make it 5 finals in 4 years but if we meet Barca again, tough luck!
rucien – Grow up you little spoilt child. Cunts like you piss me off.
ididnotzeeit – Spot on fella.
@ rucien
It’s my understanding, Ferguson wanted Sneijder as part of the Ronaldo deal but the player didn’t want to come to England. Seems he may have saved time, money and aggravation by not bothering with a player that didn’t want to be here.
Now that he’s achieved what he could at Inter and the club are looking to sell, he’s (SAF) made his interest known again, it’s now a matter of $ AND once again, whether the player wants to come here or not.
If Sneijder doesn’t want to come to United, or he decides he wants more money, or both, than he can get fucked.
rucien – Yaeh it also “sure feels good” to be a United fan having wrapped up our historic title. What the fuck is wrong with you? Fabregas. So fucking what. The cunt is always injured and aint gonna get a sniff there anyway. Sanchez? Ha. Greedy little fat meathead cunt.
Doom! Doom! Doom! We made history last season but we’ll never win another game because a club in another league got the better of us twice in five years! The end is nigh! Oh no, we’re not spending obscene amounts of cash on over-rated prima donnas! Doom! Doom! Doom! Oh how I wish the greatest manager in football would come on the internet and take transfer and tactical advice from people who’ve been ‘supporters’ less time than he has spent on the team coach. We’re doomed i tell you! Let’s all support the bitters instead!
If you are interested in Barca, go watch barca. They play about 12 though games a year. Me I could care less. Everyone is betting Barca will be in the final next year, but you can never know. My view is we focus on our team. Does United play well enough to get 20. Will we make the FA cup final, something many of our younger lads have not won. Will we be contending in Europe? If so, who will we play. Come next May, we might be up against Barca in the final. But it could be Milan, Madrid, Bayern as well. It shows not honor to overly big up on other team. We need to look after ourselves. That is all I am interested in.
Can anyone please confirm if the match will be telecasted in India?
I doubt it but still……
I will enjoy watching United pick this team apart. “Soccer” here in the States is gaining popularity, which is good. I’ve always disliked the mentality of clubs here, where it’s money first then success. This guy interviewed sounds like a dick, and if he does echo the sentiment of Sounder fans then I do hope we obliterate them tonight. I will definitely be watching. In answer to some questions out there, the game will be on ESPN. Let’s go Reds!!
I will enjoy watching United pick this team apart. “Soccer” here in the States is gaining popularity, which is good. I’ve always disliked the mentality of clubs here, where it’s money first then success. This guy interviewed sounds like a dick, and if he does echo the sentiment of Sounder fans then I do hope we obliterate them tonight.
@ Btmcmul1
“I’ve always disliked the mentality of clubs here, where it’s money first then success.”
I take it you’re not a Wenger fan either then?
@Rucien
Fergie is not waiting for Barca to decline. He is waiting for you to show up in front of him and give him your brilliant ideas on what he can and could have done…
Go on then…
… he is polishing his trophies and waiting.
@rucien – I can tell you haven’t been watching COPA AMERICA, where Pastore, Neymar and Sanchez all flopped and got a reality check. The press over-hyped these 3 players and they did nothing when they are suppose to be 30-50mil each. Fuck that!
I would get Forlan back rather than Sanchez in a heart beat. Venezuela’s Tomas Rincon had him in his back pocket all night on sunday. Same with Neymar when they play in the group stages. I wouldn’t mind having someone like Rincon at United. He plays for Hannover 96 in germany. Crack of a CM!
I’ll be dreaming about this game.
Willie
As will I my friend!
Firstly, I couldn’t give a flying fuck about who Barcelona are signing or who they are tapping up next. I am a Manchester United supporter, couldn’t care less about any other club but this one. Barcelona lost 2-0 at home to fucking Hercules, they ain’t invincible by any stretch of the imagination.
Secondly, I see Super Wesley’s name being mentioned again on this site. So I’ll share my opinion on him again. World class football player, would benefit our attacking play very much, but not ‘needed’. I hope we do sign him becuse he’s fantastic, and the majority of ‘sources’ claim he wants a move to United. We shouldn’t however expect him to lower his wages to join us, because why should he, he’s got it greatin Milan. Basically, pay him what he’s on now and give Inter the 35 million. If he wants more money then let’s leave him alone. If he accepts an equal wage or even compromises on a smaller contract, then welcome to Old Trafford Wesley Sneijder.
Thirdly, Looking forward to the game tonight. Get a little sleep in and set the alarm for the early hours to switch on MUTV. Excited to see De Gea, Jones, Young and anyone else who features. Hoping for a Rooney goal just to get a glimpse of how extraordinary he will be this season. Generally buzzing for the game.
@ididnotzeeit
Haha! Never sir.
Of course i’m interested in Barca, we were so close yet so far from CL trophy on two occasions. Rivalry breeds healthy competition and we have alot of room for improvement. Pegging yourself against the best to see where you stand is what motivates one to improve, not going about doing one’s own business and hope for the best outcome when it does happen.
Right I’ve not read everything and have not the time unfortunately
But I will say this:
Manchester United belongs to everyone – no one person can have United more than the next man woman or child – and no one has any right to claim United over any one else either.
United is a privilege to us all – wherever we are that follow our team.
That was Sir Matts vision and it has become Sir Alex Ferguson’s every year on in.
19
To ROM, for anybody who was awake for the last match, I post this question: Were there any decent streams available online to view the match?
I don’t want to wake up early in the morning only to find no streams available to watch the match. Can anybody who saw the previous match tell me this?
The Fly – Spot on mate. Why concern ourselves with what other clubs are doing? That is summat Fergie has never done. He just makes sure our house is in order. Yeah gonna go get my swede down at half ten then set alarm for half two.
Correction – Tomas Rincon plays at Hamburg not Hannover
Wait I have something else to say.
And no matter what win or lose create history for the right reason or the wrong reason the shirt that represents this football club – Manchester United – is a shirt of unequalled and unparalleled defiance.
What is next? – we have a challenge to meet. I accept failure and success equally – in fact as a human being I am learning that failure is that bolt to rise and become better still. If fear is that endemic that one chooses to just stop supporting Manchester United then how sad. This club is far bigger than that. We lost a team once we are still standing. A European cup final loss to Barca is nothing in comparison. We’ll come back someway or another. That is Manchester United.
19
@ Bilaji – Myp2p.eu is a good source for streams.
@RedSeattle, Thanks mate. I use that site always but I would specifically like to know whether streams were up for the last game. For usual season games, I know there are many streams up and running for me to watch. But I am not sure about pre-season games which is why I asked ROM for help.
lol@AnomanderRake at 17:35.
MG at 17:54 …. spot on, mate.
Have we bought any cunt yet?
God I’M fucking Bored……..
I don’t particulary care about Barca at the moment. For all we know, someone else might knock them out before we do. However, I wouldn’t say our squad is stronger now compared to last season. The goalkeeper issue aside, we’ve added players in areas where we were already strong (Jones at CB, Young on the wing, Kiko and Danny in attack), but we haven’t strengthened the areas where we lost players. At full back and at central midfield. Cleverley will take Gibbo’s place, but we don’t have a direct replacement for Scholes or for Fletcher in case his virus problems persist. I know Jones can play at CM, but he doesn’t strike me as the Fletcher or Scholes type. More like a good back up in case Carrick is injured.
WHAT ???, magicinthe6, orez, Buster II, RedSeattle,
Thanks for all mentioning that the criticism of Dave Clark has been over-the-top.
As possibly his harshest critic on this thread I recognise that my opinion is based on limited material and with no real understanding of MLS and the States. My views remain the same, but I accept that those who differ are more able to judge.
Dave Clark – I still think you’re a twat, but I’m probably wrong.
MG
Top post, and as sir Alex always says ‘We do it the Manchester United way’
@Tony – no signings yet. But there’s a game tonight and we’ll probably see De Geas and Jones debut.
That’s something that should cheer you up, annit?
Cedars – Lol.
Devil310
Who is De Geas? Have I missed out on another signing?
No De Gea debut or Jones. or Berbatov for any anyone interested in that last one
@Cedars – deGeas is Sneijder in disguise. Shhhhhhhh. Don’t tell anybody.
@ cedars – Yes. You know…Tall skinny scarecrow-looking fellow. He’s alright –
lol – hate typos
Slim – No Sneijder either.
Devil310
LOL, no worries I am the worst here with them bloody typos!
Cyril
Our secret, thanks for the inside info
Who’s the Black Cyril? Red Cyril’s alter ego?
come on lads, cut the guy some slack!!
What do you expect him to say. He’s being realistic! It’s a merchandising tour) As a die hard Untied fan, born and raised in Manchester ( dad was on Utd reserves back in the 50′s) but now living on the west coast I can tell you that Seattle is a football loving town. I went to the game last time they were in Seattle and I swear the whole town turned out for them! The stadium is magnificent too, right down town!
BUT, I get tired of the patronising and sad to say, ignorant attitude that so many English fans have towards US “soccer” ( btw that’s an expression invented by the English FA – Association football, not by Americans!)
It’s a long slow burn and soon enough US teams will start destroying Premiership teams. The players here are faster and stronger and US sports science is light years ahead of Euro stuff but the money is not there…. yet.
When I came here 30 years ago you couldn’t find a game of pick up footy to save your life..now there isn’t a piece of grass in sight that isn’t filled with people playing “football” i.e soccer..at all hours of the day.
It’s just a matter of time. The MLS is only 10 years old, audiences are growing each year and the fans are just as passionate but this being America it’s all about business and it case you hadn’t noticed US “soccer ” speak is all over England.. i.e stats are now huge “completed passes”, “yards run” etc.e, “assists”, PK’s, “penalty shoot outs”, not to mention the names and random numbers on shirts.. that’s all American invention so love it or hate it ( I sorta hate it! ) it’s already happened.
The premiership is huge in the US. United are massive here and well loved. So please can we just be glad that all the top US players would rather play in England than any other country.. and United have a few on their books, and try to stop talking down your nose every time you mention US Football.
oh and I loved this.. Man Shitty were in San Francisco last weekend and you couldn’t give tickets away. 11.000 people in a 50,000 seater stadium. Even the Mexican fans couldn’t be bothered! Uniteds game today… sold out 70.000!
and finally F*** the Glazers!
@smartalex – I completely agree. He seems like a douche. I actually have a difficult time going to Sounders matches because I just want to watch the football. I’m not there to ham it up and miss half of the game because I’m posing with my friends in our Sounders shirts (I don’t own any).
I don’t think I’d ever want to hang out with the guy, but I am familiar with his type and can kind of understand why he has the perspective he does. He seems to care a lot about the Sounders, but you can tell that he’s insecure because his football knowledge is limited and he has a chip on his shoulder that many American football fans do.
@ smartalex
Yea its cool. The thing is, this guy isn’t exaclty the most inspirational fan i’ve ever heard, and to be honest its borderline apathetic. But in the “the states” (i think thats so funny) you have to be careful with your MLS support. The mls supporter is like an evangelist, trying to convert his beer-helmet wearing NA football friends to take a second look at “soccer.” But you have to be careful, come off to enthusiastic and they look at you like some crazy south american guy banging a drum and throwing flares on the field covered in war paint.
Its a culture thing too in terms of American support for football. My father watched baseball, his father watched baseball, and his father watched baseball etc etc. Most of the people who grew up loving soccer in this country had foreign born parents. So at times, sad to say, soccer can be seen as an “ethnic” sport. Which is laughable because 90% of US kids play soccer during there youth, only to switch the the big 4 (MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL) during their highschool years.
Clearly I’m passionate about this subject lol
Has anyone read Soccernomics? By Simon Kuper? Its really good, kindof like freakonimcs meets football
Willie
Cyril has his own one man clique, he changes colors to talk to himself
3-0 United of course
In other news, tiny tears has revealled his ambition to one day manage the Rent Boys…
Even reading this fucking cunts’ quotes makes me want to throw up, I can’t imagine if I ever had to hear him in person. Jesus, the guy has to be one of the most disgusting human beings in all of sport. At least Tiger was shagging porn stars and not his Caddy’s missus.
I couldn’t think of a better “leader” to take over at the Garden Shed after Villas-boas and whoever the next 15 managers are at the club, get axed by Roman.
Man, there’s not many out there that I “hate” but he ranks right up there.
ididnotzeeit – Terry is a fucking cunt mate. Yeah talking about managing Chelsea one day. Fuck off you dodgy bastard. Only last night he was on sky saying how Modric has being disrespectful to Spurs. Oh the irony. This from a man who had sleepless nights last year over joining City. Even gives seal of approval on signings. I despise the bastard.
King Eric
I actually think that JT managing the rent boys one day is a good thing……. It will ensure their demise to hell
City are ready to pay the release clause in Aguero’s contract. It’s depended on the cunt leaving for another club. I fancy the cunt to leave for Madrid. Good riddance!
Now we have Barca trolls WTF,Barca is a total piss take something seriously dodgy about that team.Flat broke have to get bank loans to pay wages rank 26th on the worlds richest list,yet every year spend 80mill on players and pay mega wages.Something wrong with the picture
magicinthe6 … I don’t see “soccer” challenging any of the major sports in this country in the foreseeable future. The thing here is that there’s a whole fucking eco-system built around those major sports, that extends from high school right the way through college and into the major leagues. Colleges make shit loads of money out of those sports — I am still struggling to comprehend how BIG college sports are here. College basketbaket, Americam football and baseball are bigger — much, much bigger — in terms of attendance, money and popularity and media cioverage than MLS. Hell, even their annual draft programs are major, nationally televised events.
I know many colleges also have “soccer” programs, but honestly, they’re a small beer in comparison.
I’ve lived here for 11 years, and my youngest son has played “soccer” since he was 6. He’s now turning 16. He played recreational for a while, then Select, and would move into Competitive if we could afford it. He plays high schol (sorry, varsity) as well. The new season is just gearing up. What we’ve seen this year is an almighty drop off in numbers. The way it’s organized in my area, teams generally go from U14 to U16 — there’s not usually an U15 side. Last year was his first of two in U16. Of the dozen or so clubs in our immediate area, nearly all had two U16 teams and some had three. This year, though, most of them are struggling to field even one U16 team. I don’t know why this year would be different to last year (you’d think there’d be just as many kids coming through from U14), but it is.
But one thing is consistent: after U16, it falls right off. Too many kids are simply focused on the major sports — not because they have hopes of ever turning pro, but because that’s where the college scholarships are. There are scholarships for “soccer” too, but not nearly as many, and they are not nearly as generous. The bottom line is that in this country, most people expect to go to college, yet the costs are crippling. (In CA, UC has just raised its fees again, for the second time this year. It’s now estimated that, for in-state students, tuition and board cost about 30k a year. If you want to go on to a master’s, as many do, you’re looking at a quarter million, easy. And that’s in-state. For out of state students, it’s double or more.) So if you have any athletic ability at all, a sports scholarship is worth shitloads — but why would you choose “soccer”?)
Sorry, rambling. It doesn’t matter to me. My oldest two went back to Australia for college/university, and this little fella will go there too, so they can stick their college fees and the college sports and their scholarships where the sun don’t shine ….
Does espn broadcast different events in different areas because the only game on tonight (for me anyway) is world football challenge but it’s the real Madrid game. I already checked espn3 and they’re not showing it online either.
@RedSeattle and magicinthe6
Football or athletics. In Africa most men play football, some run.
Where the colonialists settled in number, there is also rugby and cricket.
Golf, tennis, hockey, whatever.
It’s all about the football. The most important aspect of life for a supporter of Kaiser Chiefs or Al-Ahly or Zamalek or any other club. Football is life.
Every single one of those supporters knows of Manchester United.
CLearly very different to Seattle, where many will chose not to know that United are there.
However, Dave Clark is a Sounders fan, and has a football website, sharing the very same internet as RoM with it’s thousands of supporters. United are giants in football in every way. All the Sounders fans have watched United, and know of Sir Alex. They undoubtedly consider our Manager to be the greatest that ever lived. Why is Clark so dismissive of United?
Dave Clark says: I’m actually not excited about the game. (United are) of little significance locally.
smartalex says: Twat.
Red New Yorker … yeah, ESPN aren’t showing this one. Fox Soccer Channel has it. If you don’t have access to Fox Soccer, look for a channel called GALA — it’s some Spanish channel. They are showing it too, though expect the commentary to be in Spanish of course. Channel setups vary, but I have DirecTV in CA and GALA is channel 404 on there. Hope this helps.
I don’t get Clark’s comments either. Fuck him. He doesn’t deserve us.
I second smartalex
@ statesideaussie
Thanks I don’t have fsc, so this helped a lot.
StatesideAussie
You still down under buddy, or have you gone back to the US?
adthe.net show all utd games
In America, the game is on Fox Soccer Channel
I third Cedars.
I assumed Clark was talking about not playing friendlies mid-season while they’re challenging for top spot in their division, but I don’t quite understand what he’s saying either with regard to that, either. It’d make sense if he were worried about potential injuries, just like we tend to be when it comes to Cup games.
The latest post at this Clark guy’s site makes me wish that author was interviewed over Clark: http://www.sounderatheart.com/2011/7/20/2284940/seattle-sounders-manchester-united-friendly-trophies-not-friendlies#storyjump
@Willie – Black Ops Cyril is just me undercover… or using another device. For some reason it wont put my website address when I use my phone, which of course everybody knows is at:
http://agentoffergie.blogspot.com/2011/07/tea-with-roman.html
Cedars … back in the US mate!
@StatesideAussie – Just wanted to say thanks for telling me about Bundy’s relationship to Seattle the other day, I used it on my blog. Greatly appreciated.
Cyril – Black ops? Lol.
You would expect the Sounders to know Ryan Giggs, he’s from whales.
Off Topic:
But when will Hernandez meet up with the rest of the squad?
@smartalex
Agree with your last post. To be clear, this seattle fan is probably playing dumb to win some favor in his own mind.
The facts are that everybody in the US know about United. Most who know about United know about Sir Alex. Some know about Cantona, and less so Busby or any other great in the past.
It’s funny, I know a great deal about European football, I consider myself quite knowledgeable. So when i ask another american who their “favorite club” its the usual suspects…”ManU” (FFS), Barcelona, Madrid, Chelsea.
But ask them about Munich, ask them about “the lions roar” at the Camp Nou. Ask them about “Mes Que Un Club” or what it means to be a Catalolian and they just don’t get.
This guys know’s of Manchester but he doesn’t know ABOUT manchester. To be honest, he probably is an unemployed english major who enjoys going to the sounders games so he can drink microbrew beers, smoke clove cigarretetes, and then go home and “blog” about how great the night was with all his “mates”
There everybody…..you did it, I tried defending him, but you’ve turned me around–f*ck him
Lets all be friendly, after all its just a friendly and at United we are friendly with most………
Having said that lets go out and smash them buggers and show them how proper ‘soccer’ is played
Even if its just a friendly, C’Mon UNITED
In fairness to Dave, I expect he knows as much about the Premier League as I know about NFL. That is: The San Francisco 69ers and the Washington Foreskins.
RedSeattle
Thanks for that link, it certainly is less ungrateful. Also, you get a better feel for where Dave is coming from. He doesn’t want mid season friendlies.
Not wanting visitors is quite different to being rude to them. Whether or not he is right to not want us, the fact remains that we are not welcomed by him at all.
Some say “Thanks”, to which others say “You’re welcome.”
Some don’t say thanks or you’re welcome. To them I say, fuck off cunt!
Out of curiosity, does anyone from the UK actually like American Football?
For all of those cursing me
Here’s the test. If your team is so much more important in Seattle, why will the crowd be dominated by green? This isn’t Boston, Chicago, New York or DC.
This is a city that really loves our local team, a team contending for trophies in our own league. I see no reason why I should care for a team based in a foreign country, in a league that plays at 7AM my time when I have a team right here.
… in the friendliest possible way.
I hate American sports, sorry. I’ve tried over the years, to get into Basketball and baseball, just doesn’t do it for me. It’s not soccer either! Lol.
magicinthe6
Your question was UK specific so I will not answer!
magicinthe6
All is relative. Hating liverpool doesn’t excuse shooting your neighbour who supports them.
It’s usually better to retain him as a long term foe. Spice adds to life.
As King Kenny would say: Ah fuckin’ luv mah fitba but ah canna be daein’ wi’othar shite.
Seriously,most folks follow basketball more than the American footie..
Outside the states,American footie is a no-no..
@ wayne i agree there is something dodgy about the rich list we are near the top yet £700 mill in debt . Why dont the greeks ask those fucking ugly glazers to give them a dig out.that should be fun
basketball is alright
baseball is exactly the same as rounders, rubbish
american football is ridiculous. best thing about it is the half time show, and even then they can get that wrong. but when it’s u2, springsteen, the who, you can’t go wrong. i just can’t follow the rules at all.
ice hockey is mental. mental in a great way, people smashing fuck out of each other with the ref’s permission.
yea american football has a lot of rules i’ll give you that
it’s one of those things where you really can’t replicate. You can get a couple buddies to play bball or some guys to play footie but getting 22 guys in full gear and a whole football field with a ref just doesn’t happen.
hard to understand why its fun until you’ve literally destroyed someone on the field (or even been destroyed)
@ The Fly
Hockey = Only professional sport that allows Bare-Knuckle Boxing…how is that not fucking great?
Barca Protocol = Allow Bare-Knuckle Boxing and field Vidic
Remove him from the pitch for 5 minutes (as per hockey rules) after every fight. 18 Barca players (including subs,) 90 minutes, 5 minute penatly/fight. Do the math, by extra time in the second half it’d be United’s starting XI vs Pep Guardiola on the touch line.
Problem Solved?
The gentleman in me would say lets go out and have a friendly kick about lads, enjoy the day…
The die hard screwed up Stretty red boiled devil in me says, take that space needle and shove it up their asses
Friendly mu fuck
ya ya its my not mu……. bloody typos getting boring now
GIGGLE….. CONCHITA…. GIGGLE ….FUNNY AS FUCK
Ice hockey? If I want to watch people swinging bats at each other, I just walk down to the bottom of my street. At the weekend of course. That’s when the drinking starts.
TonyBee
That was funny as fuck I agree!
who win’s in a fight, Lebron James or Vidic (vidic has had 3 shots of vodka)
American Football is quite the sport gents, just saying.
Sunday tradition in my household AND on this side of the pond, the footy matches are done and dusted by 1pm est when the “throwball” starts up, perfect fit.
Great game, great athletes and as passionate a fan base as you’ll see in NA.
Can’t imagine if there was ever sanctioned tailgating prior to a United vs Bitter derby. Amalgomate all the pubs in Manchester into a field resembling a gypsy colony?…fuck me, you’d have bedlam, it’d be pure madness.
James Cann. Sonny Carleone!
NFl is all about the betting only reason its the number 1 sport,baseball is fucking boring,ok live on a nice night couple of dogs and a few beers,basketball season is to long and the game itself overrated.Hockey was great in the 80′s but now the powers to be trying to get rid of the fighting and hits,ruining the sport
I’m a long time reader of Sounder At Heart, come over to read this interview, and I want to give ya’ll a little perspective on why Dave feels this way:
Last year, the Sounders played three friendlies mid-season, which many fans felt contributed to our early elimination from CONCACAF Champions League (having the group of death didn’t help, either). Dave and a number of others have pushed the concept of “trophies not friendlies” pretty hard, because we want to see our boys win the MLS Cup, the Supporters Shield (really more important, IMO), and the Champions League. Because of that, a lot of us are worried, in general, about the impact of friendlies on our league play. While United is a great team coming off of an historic season, we are within a point of topping our league table, and that is our first priority. As one of you said earlier – ultimately, success, not money, matters most. This game will make a shit-load of money for both teams, but the outcome doesn’t impact our success as a team, very much. That’s why Dave is sorta blowing the game off – if we win, it will (rightfully) be considered a fluke, and if we lose (which we will), it will be a master-class in stellar soccer. Either way, our strength as a team isn’t impacted. The only reason to be excited about this game, for a real Sounders fan, is the chance to see ya’ll play live and to cheer our boys on. Needless to say, for people like Dave who don’t follow the EPL, only the second matters.
That said, I think most of us (Dave included) look forward to welcoming United to green hell tonight. I’m a little disappointed that we won’t see Chicharito, but this is going to be a fun match. I think you will be surprised by how much of the stadium is in Rave Green, not Red, tonight.
Good luck!
ididnotzeeit
Good point, I forget that there’s no tailgaiting, or drinking in the stadiums for that matter, in the UK. The tailgaiting can get intense with the NFL and there is ALWAYS fights. The difference is the shear size of the US. You guys can get on a train and be in london in hours and support united. I’ts a little different to travel 3,000 miles across country for a 3 hour game…so home crowds dominate in american sports
Unlike most people from my part of the world, I quite like the yanks. Their sports, though, are quite another story.
Basketball is fairly okay, American football is retarded while baseball to me is no more than a crude ripoff of cricket.
And who the fuck calls football ‘soccer’?
@magicinthesix
No contest. Vidic will destroy him!
On the other hand, The da silvas vs lebron and you got yourself a brawl.
I did have Wayne Gretzky ice hockey for the mega drive, many a moon ago.
dela – I love the country. Been to Florida 8 times. Just don’t like the sports. Soccer lol.
dela (and to all the englishmen on here)
“Paradoxally, the origin of the word soccer comes from…you guessed, England. But in order to fully understand what I’m talking about, keep reading ahead as I’ll share some of the beautiful history of soccer. ”
http://www.soccer-fans-info.com/origin-of-the-word-soccer.html
@ Devil310
Bullshit mate. Lebron just showed in the finals, he can’t handle double coverage!
thats funny as all hell
willie I got off the boat in Edmonton when gretzky and the oilers dominated hockey,fun game to watch in them days then money ruined it
Watchin the twins play golf for the first time on MUTV (free till kickoff) – bloody hilarious! They’re so flippin cute I want to bite their bums!
@ ididnotzeeit – LOL…..and not only that, but he will quit before actually getting beaten!
For 99% of us Sounders FC fans, we’re incredibly excited about the match. We’re very much looking forward to our club being watched around the world and for the world to see how passionate we are.
I do understand where Dave’s coming from and know he loves the club, but as I said, most of us ARE excited for tonight.
Oh surprise. Pritch with another negative comment. Cheer the fuck up lad. We aren’t seven hundred million in debt. Last I heard it was around three hundred and sixty million. Chump change when you consider what the club is worth.
No offence to our posters across the pond but I hate american sports. Only thing I did like was in the eighties were the pony trainers with the big fold over tongues in different american football teams colours. I had the miami dolphins ones. Anyone else remember them? Probably not I would imagine.
@ Soundersfan
Don’t worry chap, even if Chicharito WAS playing, you still souldn’t see him!
*wouldn’t
f’in thumbs
It’s like my fellow Sounders say. It’s cool to see the most valuable club in the world come in and play in our corner of the world, but in the end it is our team we come to see. Please think better of us when you flip on the telly in the morning and see a stadium filled mostly with green. And I swear to god, if this game costs us a trophy, I’ll be pulling for Man City the rest of my life.
Sorry, I do like American baseball caps. Does that count? Lol.
First off, most all footy fans in Seattle have massive respect for United and are actually excited they are here for a friendly. It should be a good time for all.
That said, you guys need to lay up on Dave a bit. He might of come off as a twat but he’s really not. Go check out his blog and you might understand him a bit more. He is passionate in his Sounders support (he does run a pretty popular Sounders blog after all), he’s just not that passionate about friendlies. Nothing wrong with that. To each their own. And there are actually quite a bit of people that prefer not to play friendlies at all while in the middle of our season. And I do see their point somewhat. League play over friendlies and all. Especially when we’re in the middle of three cup runs (league, domestic, and champions league). Honestly, would you like it if United took time off to play Sounders in a friendly while in the middle of your league, domestic, and champions league runs?
Chicago Bears since 83
God Bless Walter Payton – The Bears could do with a Ditka and a Fridge at the moment
And no they have nothing to do with Seattle
As dull as Dave is he is nothing compaired to that “Tool” from CITY. Mancini does my head in, always in the press talking about other clubs players, disrespectful and above all blinded. Money wont buy you love!
I would love it, love it if the finished 5th next year!
I’m re-watching The Wire (3rd time) and Bubbles is looking for Omar Little.
He tells some trashed old junkie, who replies “Omar?”
Yeah.
“You wanna get with Omar you need to stand out on one of ‘em corners with a big-ass package You’ll be talkin to that nigga soon enough”
Cyril … cheers mate. love your blog by the way, but haven’t read it for a while.
King Eric,
I too had a pair of pony’s in the eighties!
mine were white and red with a black stripe – well cool!!
Tears you apart. Spot on mate. That smug cunt mancini takes the piss. Got ideas well above his station. What the fuck are they doing? Refusing a bid of forty fucking million for that fathead ugly judas cunt and at the same time bidding for aguero? Fucking amateurs. Also had to laugh at sky just now. Rentbot arse licking cunts. “Chelsea make a bid for lukaku. One of the most in demand strikers in european football “. Oh do me a fucking favour. A belgium correspondent said a few week back he is nowt special. Sixteen goals in nearly forty games in a piss poor league. Fucking jokers. Sky at the minute is full of attention seeking smalltime clubs. Spurs city chelsea et al fucking rent a mouths. You don’t see our lads giving it large.
AlfREDo. Ha ha. Another one who remembers them. I think they were called Pony quarterbacks.
@magicinthe6 I’m aware Soccer comes from ‘AsSOCiation’ football, thing is the Football Association aren’t exactly loved amongst reds. Long story. Best not to go there lol
Dave Clark … well, it’s good that you love your own team, and I think that most people on here would respect that. And no-one’s asking you to love United. But still, your apathy seems strange.
You say it’s a meaningless exhibition against a team based in a different country.
Well guess what, pal. Our team is also playing tonight in a meaningless exhibition against a team based in a different country (er, that would be you guys), and yet we’re all excited. Why? Because we will get to see our boys play, and we don’t need any other reason than that. Yes, in our case, the excitement is built up a bit because we haven’t seen much of them recently, and also, because we may see some of our new players for the first time. But the bottom line really isn’t that much different.
DAVE! DAVE! Your our wife now DAVE! Stupid yank twat!
Lol, ‘Linebackers’ if I remember rightly King Eric!
AlfREDo. Ha. Yeah you are right mate.
Just seen interview with Phil Jones. Top lad. A stocky well built lad as well.
XOL
good point
It’s funny, only the FA would punish its best horse (united). Its counterintuitive. Most leagues tout there best revenue earners, will even bend the rules for them (which some idiots argue wiht united) but not the FA. Its like the old-world aristocracy just can’t imagine how a scottish dockworker can become the greatest manager of all time by doing it the RIGHT way
I remember American soccer, I mean football getting a bit of attention back in the mid 80s.I had a black LA burglars shirt.
Even our man David Gill criticises the FA and he’s on the board. He spoke to parliament requesting independent disciplinary procedures instead of the F.A. Not heard anything since.
Regarding the fan Dave Clark. I might cut him some slack. I posted earlier that he could use some lessons in interpersonal communications and I stand by that. But he might have a point that we could all take on board.
Imagine we get handed a friendly in the middle of Feb, in the midst of 4 games in 14 days.
His team is pushing for 1st in his division and he is rightly worried. If you take it on value to league position, the lad has a point. None of us would be too pleased if the glazers had us adding a nonsense game in the midst of a tricky run of league fixtures. Just saying that we might cut the man a bit more rope on this.
There is a reason why Dave and fans like myself aren’t terribly excited for this match. This is a friendly in congesting our schedule when we are juggling 3 competitions. Our rosters are not that large so those of us that want trophies tend to take mid season friendlies like this with less enthusiasm. If it was pre-season, we would love it. But when we just advanced to the next round of the US Open Cup last week and beginning our CONCACAF Champions League campaign next Tuesday a friendly does seem to pale in comparison in the grander scheme of Sounders season. I wish Seattle would try to just get two big European clubs to have a friendly in seattle instead of throwing the Sounders into a friendly during a busy time of the season. Would a Man U fan care about a mid-season friendly in the middle of a campaign for 3 trophies?
It’s not just that this game comes in a packed set of fixtures, but also that it comes right before starting the (albeit Concacaf) Champions League for FCS. Any red fan would be just as Bleh if there was a meaningless friendly against a preseason team (like Brazil preparing for the Confederations cup or something) right before MUs first Champions League game in Kiev (or somewheres)…
StatesideAussie – If your team was in the middle of league play, you might not be so excited for it. There is nothing wrong with giving a much higher priority to league play over a midseason friendly. The game should be fun, but it ultimately the match that took place in Seattle 4 days ago against Colorado and the match that takes place in Seattle 6 days from now against Panama City matter much more to a diehard Sounders fan than this exhibition. If this game took place in the middle of the Sounders offseason, I think you’d find guys like Dave much more excited for it.
NobbysTeeth says:
DAVE! DAVE! Your our wife now DAVE! Stupid yank twat!
_____________
It’s “you’re” not “your”. So I guess *you’re* the stupid twat.
I don’t normally correct people like this, but you look foolish calling someone stupid when you can’t even use proper grammar.
Crazy American. Fair play though. I’d be fucked off if we had to play a friendly mid season. What’s he jibber jabbing about. The don’t seem to do footy like we do. Play offs and that. How the he’ll do they tell who’s the best? Go about thier sport funny those yanks.
Just had a read. What a crock of shit. No team can be relegated because it would be a breach of contract on the franchise owner. What is the point in American footy? You’re doing it wrong Dave the Seattle fan.
A question was asked earlier about American sports, well the only one I can remotely associate myself with would be basketball. Not that I like the game by any means just that its the number one sport in what is tiny excuse of a country that I call home. In fact we are ranked 24th in the world and have qualified for the last 3 world cups, a tournament that hosts only 16 teams….. Not bad, but I still do not give a fuck about the game!
All you people attempting to insult Dave are way off base and are jumping to conclusions.
Of course this game is interesting, but it is nowhere near as important as the trophy games being played. This is the middle of the regular season for the Sounders. It is a friendly that ultimately means little.
Basically, all you ManU fans are calling us “Yankee twats” because you expect to see us grovel and kiss the ground in front of the “great ManU.”
Sorry, but as you’ll see from the crowd tonight, we’re not going to do that.
m.u 7-0 ss ….great game play….great score…rooney hatrick…owen opener….diuop n obertan score….what a great game…..well done….
What a nobjocky this chap is
Smartalex – no worries mate, and your right, he is being Sarky, I just understand where he’s coming from. He’d rather see his Club promoting themselves locally so they can fill their stadium every game. 30k supporters a week average ain’t bad for a 60k odd capacity ground. Its his sovereign right not to give much of a fuck about United
Looks like an important player for them came off injured as well, which makes the point, plus getting spanked 7-0 in the middle of a Cup run can’t be good for morale, even for happy go lucky Yanks!
John:
The crowd and general demeanor of Sounders fans was down right disgusting and a mar to the great game we all love. After being physically assaulted, we (myself and teenage brother) had to leave the game at half time b/c of the threat of the crowd in the Sounders supporters section. Trying to prove that they would not grovel and kiss the ground United walk on, the abuse only got worse as the Rooney et al piled on the goals. After leaving the grounds (we voiced our experience to the proper authorities) we encountered two other sets of fans who needed security to protect them from the Scouse of the MLS.
Despite all of that, the many Mancunians I shared pints and songs with were brilliant. We out sang every pub we crawled into. Glory, Glory….
As someone who is a UK- based United diehard but has also lived in the US for many years at one point, and travels there five times a year on business, some of the comments on this thread really sadden me. Er…that’s all. Except that American football is a fine sport with a huge history and much subtlety, whatever some Brits may think. (And the Steelers are gods, natch). Let’s enjoy the fact that 67,000 people enjoyed a fun match, hope that the Sounders bounce back, and for us United fans, use this as more positive evidence of an exciting season ahead. Too difficult? Not really.
WFW, I’m sorry that occurred to you.
Claiming, however, that you limited experience is representative of all Sounders fans is rather disingenuous.
Also, your post doesn’t add up. You state that you left the game at half time, but then mention “it only got worse as the goals were piled on.” Those are mutually exclusive statements.
Admittedly, I have little respect for American ManU fans. They’re the equivalent of bandwagon Yankee/RedSox fans in baseball. Picking the largest behemoth to root for is rather sad.
Mind of no mind.Correction your a fucking stupid pedantic yank twat.Pissed the silly little sounders!
@WFW… yeah, if you sit in the Supporters End section of the stadium, you are going to probably catch some crap from the drunk kids. Why don’t you try reading your managers quotes after the match where he praises the idea that about 20k ManU fans can sit all over the stadium in the middle of 40K Seatttle fans without much issue.
And by the way, this game was pretty stupid on many levels. Rooney probably wipes his ass with the amount of money our reserve back line makes in a year. The guys in the second half probably average $36 to $50k per year. Rooney probably made that in a day or two. Right now we can not be helped by the fact that our league has a salary cap that does not allow us to buy good players. Aside from that, our first team did a pretty damn good job in the first half. Then the kids came on and got schooled.
WFW, you should know better than to go to the supporters section in the other club’s colors. That treatment would be similar in pretty much any stadium you were to go to. There are 65,000 other places to watch the game from in that stadium, and you chose the single one that would cause the most issues? I’d wager to bet you’ve never been to a pro soccer match in your life. Certainly not in the EPL or anywhere else in Europe. I don’t even buy your story; as has already been pointed out, leaving at halftime and having the abuse get worse as the goals piled up are mutually exclusive statements.
NobbysTeeth – I love the irony of how you call me stupid when you’re still too stupid to know the difference between “your” and “you’re”.
Dave Clarke is an idiot. I hope United supporters don’t think his views are in line with the majority of Sounders’ fans. I am a Sounders fan because I live in Seattle and they are my home team, but I follow United even more closely than the Sounders because they were the first team I ever saw play on TV and they caused me to fall in love with the game. This was years before the Sounders came into existence in their current form.
I, and most Sounders fans who actually play and understand the game (which, unfortunately, does not include our biggest “supporters group”), were very excited to see United come to Seattle. It is always a pleasure to see the game played the right way; something we just don’t get with the Sounders and the MLS. American football just doesn’t have the talent. Our best athletes play a different version of football, or they play basketball. Maybe one day the LeBron James’s of the US will decide to play real football and we will start to make progress. Until that happens, we will always be a second tier football nation.
But I hope United supports know that the true football fans in Seattle loved having the experience of having United in town, regardless of what the moron Dave Clarke says.
I was at the game last night with 67,000+ of my closest friends and neighbors and thoroughly enjoyed it for many reasons:
1. Seeing the skill of the MU squad was a thing of beauty to watch.
2. Seeing my Sounders make a respectable showing during the first half against such talent — down 1-0 at the half — was a pleasant surprise.
3. Having Sounders fans and MU supporters intermingled throughout the stadium with no fighting, etc. was gratifying. I hadn’t even thought about this point until Sir Alex commented specifically during a post-game show about this situation and wished aloud that such was (still) the case during EPL and other games on that side of the pond.
4. 67,000 fans at a US soccer event (40,000+ of us rooting of course for the Sounders) who cheered and sang the whole time was phenomenal beyond words for me personally. As a boy, I attended many games in San Diego for the two NASL franchises there. As the numbers at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Sockers_(NASL)#Outdoor show, attendance was pathetic in view of what the game has become here in Seattle (we average 36,000+ per home game). What the numbers don’t show is that we had nothing in the way of cheering, singing (non-existent actually), or level of fan support that is the norm during Sounders games.
On a somewhat-related point, in an earlier comment the fact was noted that some decades ago one would never observe a pick-up game happening at a local park or open lot in the States. I’ll attest to the fact that in my Seattle neighborhood and many like it around the area and indeed in many parts of Washington State, pick-up games are regular occurrences.
MLS is by no means the EPL or anywhere close at the moment. Compared to the state of the sport in the US during the 70s and 80s, it is on its way there at some point if the popularity of soccer continues as it has become in this city and in other places where MLS (or even lower-level USL and PDL) franchises exist.
Seattlefan.
It’s a friendly. The only reason you care is that you jumped on the ManU bandwagon years ago. Most Sounders fans aren’t ManU fans. We actually care about our team does in trophy games, and couldn’t give two shits about ManU. Subbing in our scrubs during half time proved that management had the same opinion.
Good day.
John.
You jumping on the fact that I like Man U is to be expected. But I appreciated the Barcelona and Chelsea games as well, and I hate those two clubs. I am a fan of the sport and I enjoy watching a team that plays it well. I know it’s a friendly. But I also know that it really does not hurt the Sounders’ chances of winning any trophies. In fact, I would bet it seemed like an easy day for the starters; being that they only played 45 minutes. They have just as much of a chance of getting hurt in training as they do in playing 45 minutes of a friendly. If you think this friendly is going to hurt their chances of winning the Open Cup, then you don’t think to highly of their chances in the first place.
Good day to you as well.
SeattleFan – The fact that this game doesn’t hurt our chances is only because we got lucky. Philly rescheduled their game against us that was supposed to be played today (7/23), because it interfered with their friendly against Real Madrid. So yes, there is not really any reason to be bitter about this specific game, but it still sucks to true Sounder supporters that the MLS gives priority to friendlies over league matches, as demonstrated in both Philadelphia and Vancouver this season, when those teams moved around dates to accommodate friendlies over league matches.
You two seem to have missed that Brad Evans was in fact injured during the game. We don’t know how long he is out, but he tends to lose several games for such things.