Monthly Archives: December 2013
Points in League Table vs Possession with Purpose Attacking Index – How close do they match?
For those who have followed my analyses this year you should be familiar with my Possession with Purpose research and my PWP Attacking Index. In case you haven’t read any information on it before here’s a quick description… this Index was developed to quantify an empirical ranking system that leverages team performance indicators and other ratio’s developed from those […]
New England – You say you want a Revolution?
Not many teams in MLS last year had a turnaround like the Timbers did, but one of them – from the right coast of America surely did. And for those clued in this should not have come as a surprise. All told, in 2012, the only real piece lacking in New England were strikers – […]
Chivas USA – A “Real” Goat Parade!
Change for change sake would have been a likely title for this team as well – but for all the wrong reasons… Like 2012, Chivas USA simply didn’t perform very well – the season started with Head Coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola and on May 29 Jose Luis Real Casillas replaced him. At that time […]
DC United – Divided they fell…
How does a team win more games in the US Open Cup than they did the entire season of MLS? Amazing, simply bloody amazing – DC United defeated Philadelphia 3-1, New England 3-1, Chicago (away) 2-nil and of all teams, Real Salt Lake (away) 1-nil to win the US Open Cup last year. All told […]
San Jose – Do they know the way?
Like Chicago, it was a tough season for the Earthquakes as they just missed making the playoffs. And no doubt some find it intriguing that Yallop got sacked (early June) and now finds himself leading the effort in Chicago! However viewed by others I find it odd that the Chicago press were offering up that […]
Chicago Fire – Change for change sake?
According to the Major League Soccer standings the sixth best team in the Eastern Conference this past year was Chicago. Not true for the purist – in head to head matches, strictly between Eastern Conference teams, Chicago was actually fourth best with 38 points, New York had 48, Sporting KC 47 and New England 42, […]
Timbers off-season already on full speed…
Not a week has gone by and already the squad is taking shape for next year; here’s how things look today with the move of Sal Zizzo to Sporting KC while Zakuani and Villafana are added after round #1 of the MLS Re-entry draft… Goalkeepers Under Contract: Donovan Ricketts and Jake Gleeson – Offer made […]
Timbers to play in CONCACAF in 2014!
Straight off the press release from MLS… Forwarding on behalf of MLS Communications: CONTACT MLS Communications, +1- 212-450-1262/1292 TIMBERS TO COMPETE IN 2014-15 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE, CONCACAF APPROVES AMENDMENT TO QUALIFICATION PROCESS FOR U.S. CLUBS Portland to join Sporting KC, New York Red Bulls and D.C. United to represent MLS next summer NEW YORK (December […]
Porter takes MLS Coach of the Year Honors
Caleb Porter was announced today as the Major League Soccer 2013 Coach of the Year. Quite an accomplishment given just one year in the League; for some telling statistics comparing the Timbers of last year to this year click this link to read the Timbers Official News Release. What’s not included but critical to this year […]