According to numerous media outlets, Frank Lampard was never owned by New York City Football Club, despite reports in July that he was their property on loan at Manchester City. In no way am I directing any blame at Mr. Lampard... this will be my biggest rant to date. The Third Rail, NYCFC's supporter's group, has released a very tame statement "denouncing" City Football Group and their handling of the Lampard business. This is how I would have done things:
Dear Members,
As you well know, we have been lied to by our "club", New York City FC, about the very reason we are all season ticket holders and once-proud supporters of this joke of a club. From henceforth, we will not be affiliated with New York City FC, nor will we give them another second of our time or money. In fact, I will be in touch with our ticket rep on January 2nd to demand answers about the Lampard situation. If I do not hear an acceptable answer, I will ask all of you to turn in your tickets for your money back. You will then be free to support whatever other club you wish to support. This has been a good 6-month ride, but don't blame me, blame NYCFC.
Statement:
We at the Third Rail are disgusted and appalled at the mishandling of the Frank Lampard situation by New York City Football Club and City Football Group. Beause of this, we will no longer affiliate with New York City FC. We apologize for any inconvenience to all of you, and we will attempt to get your money back if you hand in your season tickets to us.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Open Letter to New York City's Political and Business Leaders
To Whom it May Concern:
Your newest soccer team, New York City FC, has made a tremendous PR blunder by writing a check their mouths couldn't cash: signing Frank Lampard... only to have him stolen by Manchester City FC until the end of the Barclays Premier League season in May. I do not need to tell you how special New York is as a city to the United States and to the world, and your sports teams should be some of the best in the world at their sports. With that said, I think it is time that you publicly condemn every fan of NYCFC and the owner of City Football Group, the parent company of NYCFC, Manchester City, and Melbourne City in Australia, for taking an action in tremendous bad faith to the city that deserves (and needs) the best players in the world playing in Yankee Stadium (for the time being, until they get a stadium of their own). Even though this may be hard for most of you, I would also like a few words said against the Yankees for not showing any spine in their part of the deal to bring a soccer team to the New York city limits. In response to the disrespect, I would urge you strongly to support the one soccer team in New York that bows to no one, and the one that has brought the likes of Pele, Beckenbauer, and Chinaglia to New York to finish their soccer careers: the New York Cosmos. Yes, they play on Long Island, but if New York City got behind them and supported them without fail, they could get the first modern-day soccer-specific stadium in the city limits. Yes, they play in the "second division", but there is no second division without a system of promotion and relegation to define the divisions.
I hope this letter finds you well, and may all of you have a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
J.T. Dulany
Your newest soccer team, New York City FC, has made a tremendous PR blunder by writing a check their mouths couldn't cash: signing Frank Lampard... only to have him stolen by Manchester City FC until the end of the Barclays Premier League season in May. I do not need to tell you how special New York is as a city to the United States and to the world, and your sports teams should be some of the best in the world at their sports. With that said, I think it is time that you publicly condemn every fan of NYCFC and the owner of City Football Group, the parent company of NYCFC, Manchester City, and Melbourne City in Australia, for taking an action in tremendous bad faith to the city that deserves (and needs) the best players in the world playing in Yankee Stadium (for the time being, until they get a stadium of their own). Even though this may be hard for most of you, I would also like a few words said against the Yankees for not showing any spine in their part of the deal to bring a soccer team to the New York city limits. In response to the disrespect, I would urge you strongly to support the one soccer team in New York that bows to no one, and the one that has brought the likes of Pele, Beckenbauer, and Chinaglia to New York to finish their soccer careers: the New York Cosmos. Yes, they play on Long Island, but if New York City got behind them and supported them without fail, they could get the first modern-day soccer-specific stadium in the city limits. Yes, they play in the "second division", but there is no second division without a system of promotion and relegation to define the divisions.
I hope this letter finds you well, and may all of you have a wonderful holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
J.T. Dulany
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
You Start the Hype Train, I'm Not On Board
— Stars and Stripes FC (@StarsStripesFC) December 23, 2014
I sincerely think this tweet means absolutely nothing unless it had been paired up with a press release. Zelalem would be a great addition to the US squad for the future, but overhyping him as the next big thing is misguided. And to think that an emoji of an American flag is enough to cause this much uproar over a subject? That's ludicrous. Again, let's wait for an official announcement before getting behind this tweet and running with fake headlines.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Reaction to the MLS State of the League Address
First of all, I'll provide you with a link to the video at the end of the blog for all of you to watch it.
First, Don Garber touched on the MLS Cup Final to be played on December 7 between New England and LA. Next, he talked about Landon Donovan retiring and Thierry Henry leaving MLS and how thankful he is to have had such great players playing in MLS. Not surprised, given that this is a State of the League address. However, He also said that Henry was "the first person who believed" that MLS would become "one of the rising leagues in the world." More reaction later.
Next, he talked about the World Cup and how MLS benefitted from it. However, the MLS World Cup bump was almost non-existent when it comes to butts in the seats. He also talked about MLS players in the development system and how that is the backbone of the national team. He also said that if Canada fails to qualify for the World Cup during his tenure as commissioner, he'll feel like he failed in his job. It is NOT the responsibility of MLS to develop players. That belongs to the clubs themselves. That's one part he fails to recognize.
Anyway, Twitter user @SomeCosmosFan has more reaction to this in his Twitter timeline, so I will direct you to him.
Here is what I would've said:
"Thank you to our teams, sponsors, and supporters. Major League Soccer has failed you all in the way we do business. I promise as commissioner that will change immediately. No, allocation money is NOT a hard concept to understand, and all of you should see what goes into the money. Secondly, I will ask the MLS accounting team to open our books... all of them, so all of you supporters can see our financial statements, and I welcome all clubs to do so as well. 2014 was a great year due to the World Cup, let's make 2015 even better. And, by 2020, MLS will turn over a new leaf and establish promotion and relegation, giving back all franchise fees and allowing clubs to be clubs. Thank you."
First, Don Garber touched on the MLS Cup Final to be played on December 7 between New England and LA. Next, he talked about Landon Donovan retiring and Thierry Henry leaving MLS and how thankful he is to have had such great players playing in MLS. Not surprised, given that this is a State of the League address. However, He also said that Henry was "the first person who believed" that MLS would become "one of the rising leagues in the world." More reaction later.
Next, he talked about the World Cup and how MLS benefitted from it. However, the MLS World Cup bump was almost non-existent when it comes to butts in the seats. He also talked about MLS players in the development system and how that is the backbone of the national team. He also said that if Canada fails to qualify for the World Cup during his tenure as commissioner, he'll feel like he failed in his job. It is NOT the responsibility of MLS to develop players. That belongs to the clubs themselves. That's one part he fails to recognize.
Anyway, Twitter user @SomeCosmosFan has more reaction to this in his Twitter timeline, so I will direct you to him.
Here is what I would've said:
"Thank you to our teams, sponsors, and supporters. Major League Soccer has failed you all in the way we do business. I promise as commissioner that will change immediately. No, allocation money is NOT a hard concept to understand, and all of you should see what goes into the money. Secondly, I will ask the MLS accounting team to open our books... all of them, so all of you supporters can see our financial statements, and I welcome all clubs to do so as well. 2014 was a great year due to the World Cup, let's make 2015 even better. And, by 2020, MLS will turn over a new leaf and establish promotion and relegation, giving back all franchise fees and allowing clubs to be clubs. Thank you."
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