26-05-2015, 19:40
(This post was last modified: 26-05-2015, 19:42 by Ska'dForLife-WBA.)
So, anyone missing football yet? 
As always, we'll be embarking on our pre-season in mid-July, and although some fixtures have yet to be arranged, I'm getting the thread in nice and early so I can add them as they're announced, and we can keep up some chitchat about general football matters in the meantime.
![[Image: 10514724_746889008702723_4462938273667837744_n_8.jpg]](http://s17.postimg.org/7yomlp6in/10514724_746889008702723_4462938273667837744_n_8.jpg)
Though Orlando City are newcomers to MLS in 2015 (and I'll point out here for everyone's reference that the league is indeed called "MLS" - Major League Soccer - not "the MLS", because saying "the Major League Soccer" would be incredibly silly, and anyone I catch using a definite article before the acronym henceforth will be boiled alive), the club has actually been in existence since 2010, and enjoyed considerable success in the lower leagues before being allowed to join the top tier. They've made an adequate start to their inaugural MLS season, though success at home has been quite elusive; they've won only one match at the Fruit Bowl Citrus Bowl at the time of writing, putting league heavyweights LA Galaxy to the sword. As expected, star signing Kaka has still got the magic touch, though at times I wonder whether his presence on the pitch actually makes things more complicated for Orlando, given that the rest of the team just doesn't look on the same wavelength as the Brazilian half the time. Aside from Kaka, familiar figures in purple include former Stoke defender Brek Shea, and former every-club-in-the-solar-system defender Sean St Ledger. Additionally, a lesser-known danger man to watch is twenty-year-old Canadian striker Cyle Larin, whose pace, positional instinct and finishing are already attracting interest from Premier League scouts.
Though Orlando are still gelling as a team, every MLS club views beating Premier League visitors as a worthy scalp, and this will be Orlando's first opportunity to do so. Plus they're under the tutelage of none other than assistant coach Anthony Pulis Junior. I'm telling you, if the pair of them don't have a full-blown Skywalker/Vader bust-up on the touchline within half an hour, I'd ask for my money back.
![[Image: heinemann.jpg]](http://s10.postimg.org/47tdsz8rt/heinemann.jpg)
Charleston Battery (a name which, I'm relieved to report, derives from the city's historical naval defences rather than the favoured form of spousal abuse in the locality) are a team currently plying their trade in the third tier of US football, the United Soccer League. If this sounds like the rough equivalent of the South Glamorgan Pensioners League Division Seven, be warned: football in America is an odd creature, and the USL actually serves in part as a reserve league for MLS, with clubs affiliating themselves to "big" teams to develop their youth (for this season, Charleston are tied to MLS's Houston Dynamo). The standard of football is more or less on a par with League One or Two in this country - as opposed to the upper Championship/lower Premier League standard of MLS - and so, like fellow USL side Sacramento Republic last summer, we should have the quality to see Charleston off. However, the club has a proud tradition of pulling off upsets against MLS sides in the US Open Cup (the American equivalent of the FA Cup) and beating us would be an extra feather in the cap for them.
Players to watch include Jamaican defender O'Brian Woodbine, purely on the basis that he has the best name in football since Bernt Haas. I know very little about the rest of the team, aside from the fact that they have a kit like Hull City, and play by the sea like Hull City, and are probably slightly better than Hull City.
![[Image: c6fxf.jpg]](http://s22.postimg.org/wjtd0qwyp/c6fxf.jpg)
A couple of days later we face further USL opposition in the Richmond Kickers of Virginia (affiliated with local baseball team the Richmond Hitters, local NFL team the Richmond Throwers, and local hoopla team, the Richmond Tossers). Much like Charleston, Richmond enjoy pulling off their fair share of US Open Cup giant-killings, and their fans are proud of the fact that the club predates most MLS teams, having been founded in 1993. Players to watch include English striker Matthew Delicate, purely on the basis that he has the best name in football since O'Brian Woodbine.
As always, we'll be embarking on our pre-season in mid-July, and although some fixtures have yet to be arranged, I'm getting the thread in nice and early so I can add them as they're announced, and we can keep up some chitchat about general football matters in the meantime.
List of Confirmed Friendly Fixtures
Wednesday, 15th July: The Fruit Bowl The Citrus Bowl, Orlando
Orlando City FC
Though Orlando City are newcomers to MLS in 2015 (and I'll point out here for everyone's reference that the league is indeed called "MLS" - Major League Soccer - not "the MLS", because saying "the Major League Soccer" would be incredibly silly, and anyone I catch using a definite article before the acronym henceforth will be boiled alive), the club has actually been in existence since 2010, and enjoyed considerable success in the lower leagues before being allowed to join the top tier. They've made an adequate start to their inaugural MLS season, though success at home has been quite elusive; they've won only one match at the Fruit Bowl Citrus Bowl at the time of writing, putting league heavyweights LA Galaxy to the sword. As expected, star signing Kaka has still got the magic touch, though at times I wonder whether his presence on the pitch actually makes things more complicated for Orlando, given that the rest of the team just doesn't look on the same wavelength as the Brazilian half the time. Aside from Kaka, familiar figures in purple include former Stoke defender Brek Shea, and former every-club-in-the-solar-system defender Sean St Ledger. Additionally, a lesser-known danger man to watch is twenty-year-old Canadian striker Cyle Larin, whose pace, positional instinct and finishing are already attracting interest from Premier League scouts.
Though Orlando are still gelling as a team, every MLS club views beating Premier League visitors as a worthy scalp, and this will be Orlando's first opportunity to do so. Plus they're under the tutelage of none other than assistant coach Anthony Pulis Junior. I'm telling you, if the pair of them don't have a full-blown Skywalker/Vader bust-up on the touchline within half an hour, I'd ask for my money back.
Friday, 17th July: Blackbaud Stadium, Charleston
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery (a name which, I'm relieved to report, derives from the city's historical naval defences rather than the favoured form of spousal abuse in the locality) are a team currently plying their trade in the third tier of US football, the United Soccer League. If this sounds like the rough equivalent of the South Glamorgan Pensioners League Division Seven, be warned: football in America is an odd creature, and the USL actually serves in part as a reserve league for MLS, with clubs affiliating themselves to "big" teams to develop their youth (for this season, Charleston are tied to MLS's Houston Dynamo). The standard of football is more or less on a par with League One or Two in this country - as opposed to the upper Championship/lower Premier League standard of MLS - and so, like fellow USL side Sacramento Republic last summer, we should have the quality to see Charleston off. However, the club has a proud tradition of pulling off upsets against MLS sides in the US Open Cup (the American equivalent of the FA Cup) and beating us would be an extra feather in the cap for them.
Players to watch include Jamaican defender O'Brian Woodbine, purely on the basis that he has the best name in football since Bernt Haas. I know very little about the rest of the team, aside from the fact that they have a kit like Hull City, and play by the sea like Hull City, and are probably slightly better than Hull City.
Sunday, 19th July: City Stadium, Richmond
Richmond Kickers
A couple of days later we face further USL opposition in the Richmond Kickers of Virginia (affiliated with local baseball team the Richmond Hitters, local NFL team the Richmond Throwers, and local hoopla team, the Richmond Tossers). Much like Charleston, Richmond enjoy pulling off their fair share of US Open Cup giant-killings, and their fans are proud of the fact that the club predates most MLS teams, having been founded in 1993. Players to watch include English striker Matthew Delicate, purely on the basis that he has the best name in football since O'Brian Woodbine.
Classic Match
Portland Timbers 2-3 West Bromwich Albion
Friendly: 21st July 2011
Our last proper tour of the United States threw up this minor gem, which was genuinely one of the most enjoyable Albion friendlies I've ever watched. Cracking atmosphere courtesy of the Timber Army, and literally the greatest thing Gabriel Tamas has ever done sober. (Presuming he actually was, of course).
Hope that's given everyone something to look forward to in these dark and difficult weeks. As stated above, further previews on the way shortly for our other friendlies.
"I would rather spend a holiday in Tuscany than in the Black Country, but if I were compelled to choose between living in West Bromwich or Florence, I should make straight for West Bromwich." - J.B. Priestley
![[Image: 155137002_bullidibumm_1_Nhgg_K2309.jpg]](http://s27.postimg.org/dff6wdrg3/155137002_bullidibumm_1_Nhgg_K2309.jpg)
![[Image: article_2016053_0_D0_F7_E8_D00000578_896_634x386.jpg]](http://s1.postimg.org/4exki49nz/article_2016053_0_D0_F7_E8_D00000578_896_634x386.jpg)
![[Image: farmer_pitchfork_17156053.jpg]](http://s4.postimg.org/kb3y6uob1/farmer_pitchfork_17156053.jpg)
pretty please?