SHANE STAY - Blog

mls cup prediction

10/22/2018

Prediction
2018 MLS Cup champions:
Atlanta United

The Audi 2018 MLS Cup final game is December 8, 2018.

Not the hardest decision but Atlanta - the club with the highest attendance this season - will have tough competition in the East, and, should it make the final, as I predict, either Dallas, LAFC or Sporting Kansas City will be waiting.
Should Atlanta not escape the Eastern Conference Playoffs, look for NYCFC to represent the pack, or possibly D.C. United.

Dark Horse Prediction
2018 MLS Cup champions:
D.C. United
I'm staying with Atlanta, but, should things get crazy, I'm going with D.C. United as the dark horse. It's a team that had an up-and-down year but clearly was playing well enough on the field to pose the question: "Why are they not getting better results?" With good talent to boot, including Rooney and Arriola, to name a few, keep an eye on D.C. for an interesting run in the Playoffs.

Western Conference options
2018 MLS Cup champions:
If not Atlanta, it's a toss up between Dallas, LAFC and Sporting Kansas City. This is a tough one. All three teams are highly capable of running away with the championship,

The Audi 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs will be a very interesting and exciting. Aside from dark horse conversation and Western Conference contenders, my prediction to win the whole thing is Atlanta.

Prediction occurred here around 9 AM Central Standard Time, 10-22-18.

us vs peru, correct prediction!

10/16/2018

The Four Year Review: America's Quest for the Cup

United States vs Peru
10-16-18
Friendly
Played in East Hartford, Connecticut

Prediction: 1-1
Final Score: 1-1

How do you do it Shane? It's a blessing, and a curse.

Prediction occurred here around 11 AM Central Standard Time, 10-16-18.

US vs. Colombia: starting over

10/10/2018

The Four Year Review: America's Quest for the Cup

United States vs. Colombia
10-11-18
Friendly
2-4
K. Acosta
B. Wood

Played in Tampa, Florida

The USMNT played Colombia, a third-rate South American “powerhouse” that has never won the World Cup. Technically it's a second-rate team. But, realistically it's a third-rate team, with a few salient stars that push the argument toward a second-rate or even first-rate team. But it's a third-rate team, make no mistake. It's not winning the World Cup anytime soon, even with its stars.
The US on the other hand, oiy, where do we start? Try page one: Why American Soccer Isn't There Yet. I'm too tired right now to reiterate the whole thing in one paragraph. The USMNT is searching for new players (kind of), a new coach (kind of), a new approach...which is good. It has a chance to completely start over. And start over it will. And there’s so much potential ahead. And we – the collective American landscape of soccer fans – were essentially saying the same thing in 1998, after a failed launch at the French-hosted World Cup. Here's to another 20 years!
A problem with the USMNT is simple as usual. We train our players to be 'creatively timid.' This is the case from the youth levels all the way up. It starts with the back four, who shouldn't, at times, look like frantic animals trying to avoid a car or something higher up on the food chain.
There's hope. That's for sure. A lot of the new offensive players, or somewhat new, include Green, Wood, Weah, and Acosta, to name a few. A balance needs to be struck between the back four and the new emerging talent; a balance that includes offensive contributions from the back four like never before. As I've said for a long time, the placement of a player like Bradley into center defense is exactly what the USMNT needs.
In the near future the US plays friendlies with Peru, England and Italy. I predict nothing will change in regard to the back four, and a possible emergence of Bradley back there. In regard to style, keep an eye on such transitions as 2019 moves along.

things to do list

10/9/2018

Fix online chess.
Now here’s a situation where I’m clearly winning, but the computer says no. Apparently the rules of chess say no. I say yes. I say change the damn rules! But I digress. I’m not here to get angry, throw a temper tantrum – no. I’m ready for Carlsen and they, instead, throw the rules at me. They being a computer, of course. A computer trained in the ways of stomping all over someone’s online chess dreams. A computer trained in outright heresy. A computer that needs to be overthrown. I’m gonna go watch Tron now.

mls upcoming events

9/18/2018

As a successful 2018 World Cup wrapped up in Russia, MLS has been going strong with an amazing season so far from Atlanta United and it's not over yet! Four major MLS events yet to come include:

2018 MLS Cup
2018 U.S. Open Cup
2018 Supporters’ Shield
2018 Campeones Cup

The MLS Cup is right around the corner, and a champion will emerge. Many people suspect it will be Atlanta. Though Sporting Kansas City, FC Dallas, LAFC, and both New York squads are looking good.
The U.S. Open Cup concludes later this month and the Supporters' Shield will be given to the MLS team with the best record at the conclusion of the MLS season.
The Campeones Cup is between Toronto FC and Tigres. The first of its kind, the Cup pairs the best teams of MLS and Liga MX from last year. The game is this Wednesday, September 19, 2018, hosted by Toronto and it should be exciting.

Much more to come as MLS winds down, and European Club soccer is just underway.

For more book info, visit:

Meyer & Meyer Sport
Cardinal Publishers Group

us against mexico

9/12/2018

The Four Year Review: America's Quest for the Cup

US vs Mexico
9-11-18
Friendly
1-0
T. Adams

Played in Nashville, Tennessee

A wins a win.
Dave Sarachan should be commended for placing a new team on the field.
One thing lacking – as usual – from the USMNT was the ability of the back four to enjoy possession, utilize the two-man game and hence dominate the game with the best possession possible. When this is achieved, then and only then can the midfielders and forwards enjoy more scoring opportunities. Essentially, the most important players on the field are the back four, and ours are still not as skillful as they should be. Convert taller center mids to center defenders. Convert select forwards to outside defenders. Case closed.

us against brazil: don't ask

9/8/2018

The Four Year Review: America's Quest for the Cup

United States vs Brazil
9-7-18
Friendly
0-2

Played in MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, New Jersey

How bout don't ask, don't tell? Leave it to Bill Clinton.
Did the US display advanced knowledge of the two-man game? Nope.
Did the US exude creative dribbling? Nope.
Did the US outside defenders get a single shot on goal? Nope.*
Were the US central defenders instrumental in developing the attack with skillful, confident, "I want the ball back" possession-oriented passing? Not even close.
Was the US athletic, and did it put up a good fight? Oh yeah!
The best thing about the game? Coach Sarachan’s brave choice to go with new, young, virtually untested players, as opposed to pulling in vets who’ve already had a chance to fail.
There is absolutely no change in the USMNT from eight years ago, at this very stadium, against Brazil in what happened to be Neymar’s first game for Brazil. This should be the most amazing and frustrating thing for any American soccer fan. It serves as a firm reminder that the USMNT is no where near winning a World Cup. The United States is literally the best in every other sport in the world, besides soccer. Eight years is a long time. It's much longer than that though. It's generations of this same result. In terms of US to Brazil, it’s still Larry Holmes to Muhammad Ali. We’re just a sparring partner that never gets to see the ball; we don't get to punch the champ; he punches us. The solution: Sever all ties with English teams and this love affair of sending up-and-coming players to Fulham, such as Dempsey from past years, and Ream today. Instead, keep the top players in MLS, then loan them to Brazilian clubs in the off-season. Problem solved. It doesn’t matter if “Brazil has terrible managers.” I’m done trying to fix it, let Brazil fix it. No one man can fix this. This is so out of control that every news outlet on American TV should literally run ongoing stories featuring this "failure to launch" of the USMNT program which is older than most people have been alive. It's the last American athletic frontier, and the way Brazil handled the US last night is like we are stuck in a horse and buggy while there's an option on a Ferrari.
On the flip side, Brazil is criticized for World Cup failures, in part, because all its top players go to Europe. Possibly they should rethink and keep their top players at home with giant contracts, however they can pull it off.
US Soccer – and Earnie Stewart and the President and whoever coaches – should literally work out player-loans with Brazilian clubs. Veterans or no veterans, this showing yesterday is indicative of why the USMNT will not win the World Cup for many years to come.

*If they did, I wasn't paying attention. Btw, corners don't count.

things to do list

9/4/2018

Correct the world of chess computer referees.
So here we have a case where I’m clearly winning. (Which – in chess – is usually the case; I'm a bit of a chess genius ((so I've been told by certain people, and by certain people I mean me)). It's my cross to bear.) Notwithstanding, the computer took it upon itself to jump in (as computers can do from time to time, as they want to be respected by making bad decisions). And no doubt, out of the blue, it declared this game a “Draw!” Sure, right. There’s no rule in chess that can possibly convince me this is a draw. If there is such a rule, then, with all due respect, that rule-maker is a complete idiot. Bill Joy is right. Computers are taking over…I would add: They’re wrong, and they have attitudes.

can usmnt learn from atlanta united (in time for 2022)?

8/2/2018

US vs Mexico is upcoming, on September 11, 2018. How indicative will this USMNT performance be for the program moving forward? Minus the men’s team in the recent World Cup this is a great opportunity to get back into the swing of things, to showcase new talent, such as the possibility of Sargent and Weah, and get ready for upcoming Gold Cups and the eventual qualification process for World Cup 2022 in Qatar, which is right around the corner.
If anything, the USMNT should steal from Atlanta United, a team that is currently sweeping MLS off its feet with excitement, pure offense and goals left and right. How is Atlanta accomplishing such a thing? For one, they have the passing wisdom of Nagbe in the midfield, and he’s surrounded with offensive talent, not defensive, safe-playing, steady, boring players that keep games close.
If anything can be learned from Spain (2008-2012), it’s that offensive players (who would ordinarily be thought of as terrible individual defensive players) are perfect defenders because if they control the game with possession, then theoretically it’s always easy to retain the ball (because the opposing team, once they attain possession of the ball, is so overwhelmed with not previously having it, and they end up acting erratically, trying to do too much, forcing things, eventually turning the ball over).
Atlanta is also a team that is predominately under six feet tall. See my book Why American Soccer Isn’t There Yet, as I explain that a tactic like this – using players under six feet tall, as opposed to taller players, over six feet tall – is beneficial for a team’s success in the modern era. As a result, Atlanta is not relying on an aerial attack, instead seeking to swarm its opponent with skillful interplay, which is always more advantageous in soccer (over the course of a season, or in an extended tournament like the World Cup).
I predict good things will be around the corner for the USMNT should they go this route.
From a US perspective, there is plenty of time to literally field a team that can win World Cup 2022. What's certain, many interesting games are soon to follow.

world cup 2018: honorable mention

7/28/2018

With about two weeks past since the World Cup final, by all accounts, it’s time to reflect, and look ahead.

Honorable Mention
A friendly message for the teams that didn’t qualify for World Cup 2018:

Holland…wow. You? You of all people didn’t make it? Say hello to Italy.

Tibet…we weren’t expecting much. Better luck next time.

Congo…ditto.

India and Thailand…Oiy. Do you actually play soccer? Wait, I’m told you do. So, apparently, you play the game. Let’s try to work on that, huh. For starters: Literally make Neymar a citizen of your country. India, btw, the Las Vegas odds of you winning the World Cup would be a number with so many zeros behind it which not even Ramanujan could figure out.

Canada…I don’t know where to start with you guys.

Puerto Rico…You’re technically a US state, territory, or whatever, and, more importantly, a member of CONCACAF, and you just played the USMNT for the first time in 2016. I’m not blaming you, but that’s just weird. It took that long to play the US? Really? And to the US: It took that long to play Puerto Rico? C’mon. Weird. Totally weird. For so many reasons. First of all, you’re an ally. Secondly, you would think everyone in CONCACAF would have played one another at least once in the past seventy odd years. But, back to the World Cup: You had absolutely no chance to get in. Keep trying, though! By keep trying I mean: I seriously doubt you’ll get into World Cup 2022, and probably the next fifty World Cups after that. That's the truth, and you know it. Should you make it, I'll be the first to say congratulations. But let's get real. That's probably not gonna happen.

Back to India…guys, stick with cricket.

Back to Thailand…stick with, whatever it is you do.

Paraguay…based on your previous World Cup record, are you really surprised? When you do make it, no one really pays attention anyway.

Finland…good old Finland. Do you play soccer? Maybe if you lesson your extreme and fascinating worship of Conan O’Brien you can devote more time to the game. But I understand that’s asking a lot.

Scotland…where do we start?

Luxembourg…oh boy.

Yemen…I would consult the coaching authority of Steve and Doug Butabi.

Mongolia…the mighty Mongolians. Egh, maybe not so much. That is, when it comes to soccer; but when it comes to quilts, oh yoi yoi, are they good. Regardless, yes, they have a team. And yes, they’re still strutting like John Travolta over their 8-0 trouncing of the Northern Mariana Islands in 2016, along with their 2-0 win over the always dangerous, Sri Lanka. Some of you may be wondering about Mongolia. Do they really play soccer? Because after all, you never hear about them, ever. Well, here’s the thing. Most players, if not all, have chosen to disregard the allure of teams like Manchester United and Barcelona, instead, opting to stay at home, competing in the Mongolia Premier League. As of 2017, Mongolia acquired the coaching services of German-born, Michael WeiB. With a little work, and a few tune-up games with Cambodia, Nicaragua and Finland, along with the goal-scoring exploits of Monkh-Erdeniin Togoldor, Naranbold Nyam-Osor and Soyol-Erdene Gal-Erdene, who knows, the World Cup final of 2022 might read: Brazil versus Mongolia.

Lebanon…the mysterious land of ancient Phoenicia – the land of secrets. Well, it’s no secret why you didn’t qualify. Just sayin’.

Oceania…you had a half chance to make it. For whatever reason, FIFA gave you half a chance to get one team in. And you didn’t qualify. It’s not the same without you. New Zealand, Tahiti, and others, stay with it! You’ve got something productive going on. Whatever that is, I have no idea.
To all the others that didn’t make it: Keep trying, no matter how futile your efforts may be. And we’ll see you in four years!