dropkickshanahans

Well we can never be too sure with our recent late season collapses. I feel more confident that this team will hold on though, considering the circumstances.

And that lead, slowly but surely, is getting larger. If we keep playing aggressive, I agree. Well most likely be up against New York or Boston in the ALDS though. Not sure which one I'd rather face first. Probably Boston first, since I think a 7 game series against New York would be better for us in the ALCS than playing Boston in a 7 game series.

I believe all they have to do is restructure some contracts into bonus money so they can get under. Not 100% on this though. Oakland is still $15.25 mil over even after losing Nnamdi. Apparently they still have to pay his remaining contract since they opted out on him.

Good. He should use that time to make his skin thicker.

tl;dr yes I'm pumped. At least he's here now rather than later. He's going to have his work cut out for him though, although he has the right mentality according to his quotes. He said all the things I wanted to hear, such as kids need to grow up kicking the ball around similar to how kids are easily accessible to basketball pick-up games. It's something you grow up with and is a part of our culture, and that's why we sport the best players on our olympic basketball team and the NBA of course. The same goes for other countries with their soccer; there's a reason why countries like Brazil, England, Germany, etc. are way better than us, it's because it's in their culture and they grew up playing it. Also, teens need to be trained better. Hopefully he has control over that in the U-17 and up. We need an identity, which he admits will be tough because of the melting pot of our culture, but has expressed we need more latin influence, which I'm more than happy with. He also admits that even though we performed well in the World Cup, we're still not that good, saying something like "they need 10 Landon Donovans before they're considered contenders." I agree with this as well. We just seemed to overachieve and be inconsistent most of the time. I think he was hired at the right time. Our miracle run in the World Cup kicked things off, MLS is started to get more popular and is getting tons of TV coverage and even expanded with a couple more teams, the USWNT had even higher ratings if I recall, and so the movement begins. If he can really make things happen with our youth development and install a system similar to Germany's (since I do believe he had control over their youth to make them what they became last year, could be wrong though), then I don't care how crappy they play in the short-term, as long as it makes us better in the future. And with our culture accepting soccer more and more, hopefully it makes his job somewhat easier. We'll have a long ways to go though, but I believe he's a step in the right direction.

Wright - Delmas - Spievey - Houston Levy - Tulloch - Durant KVB - Williams - Suh - Avril Front 7 looks set. Front 4 has great depth with SLH, Fairley, Jackson, etc., and should be top 5 level again this season. We should also hopefully crack the top 10 in run defense after rounding out the LB corps and having Tulloch. Passing D will be our weakness again, but it should be improved from last year. Let's just hope teams don't make a fool of Tulloch too much on coverage. I like the Wright signing though; looks to be another reclamation project like Houston was. He was a good player until he fell off the map last season after being destroyed by Anquan Boldin. The kid has talent, but he'll get exposed without a good D-line which the Browns didn't have, so he should fit in fine here and play solid. I was a little irritated we missed out on Joseph, but hey, you can't grab them all. We did really good this offseason. I feel good about the season. I really believe Stafford can win the division for the Lions, but even if he's injured and the depth and talent we finally have on our team, 8-8/9-7 wildcard is a good estimation, considering the losses Chicago and Minnesota took in the offseason. With Stafford for all 16 games, I really believe they can go 11-5/12-4.

Anywhere. Literally.

I doubt it. If they still had Vokoun then I'd say 10 more wins should do it for them to get in but now I'm doubting it with him gone, despite their upgrades elsewhere.

Start your Ingines, Brandon. You'll be on a road trip out of Detroit soon.

Story Thoughts?

Congrats, Kenny, on becoming a citizen of the Master Country.

This is a very good deal IMO. Now Kronwall's ready to take over Rafalski's role at the #2 spot, and we have what I think is pretty good defensive depth. Might not be the same firepower as when we had Rafalski but I still like the corps, plus it's only a 2 year deal if things don't work. EDIT: Forgot White is a righty. I wonder if he'll play #2 or not? Nah, who am I kidding.

Top 4 is different from Top 2 as quoted by VM.

Last I heard Calgary and NYR were the front-runners.

STOP SAYING THAT! I don't believe I heard Holland or anyone say that at all.

Agreed.

Looks more like Kronwall replaced him to me.

Yes, on the defensive side, but I think we're fine with the forwards.

Ah, I thought you meant the forwards.

I know this question wasn't directed at me but we probably don't need anyone since we had the 2nd best offense last season. Although, barring a trade, we might need one.

Forgot about his concussions, I believe he had one during the playoffs too didn't he?

This is going to cost an awful lot.

He would be that sniper I'd like them to get. I'd like him cheaper than $5-5.5 though.

They need Hudler, and we have just the Hudler they're looking for.