MLS Atlanta President Darren Eales shared his thoughts on how the new team will likely be constructed when it takes the field for the first time in 2017.
Eales, formerly of Tottenham, sat down with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last month in a wide-ranging interview.
Q: Anyone in mind for the first Designated Player?
A: No. but hopefully one of the strengths I’ve got is the contacts in Europe.
Q: What about the position of the Designated Player?
A: No, but all good teams are built on the spine. To extrapolate from that, it would be safe to say that it is unlikely that it will be a right back. You want center halves, center midfielders, center forwards to be strong.
You look at the great teams, they have a strong spine.
Q: Do you have a preferred playing style?
A: Yes. I think that’s something that becomes part of the blueprint. It’s something we develop as we think toward 2017.
It’s safe to say it will be attacking football. You want to have something that is successful and styles change, themes change, but high pressing, attacking football is the way to go. It plays into the strengths of what we will have. It’s hot in Atlanta in the summer. If you can be a fit team that’s able to do that you can grind other teams down. The fact that it will be artificial turf surface, that lends itself to a younger, hungrier team.
West Bromwich, Tottenham, teams I was at, were both known for playing an attractive brand of football. We’d rather win 4-3 than 1-nil. That’s not a bad way to be.
MLS Cup: Though he didn't play much of a part in the result, Landon Donovan retired a champ by virtue of Los Angeles' 2-1 win over New England in the MLS Cup on Sunday.
The Galaxy took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Gyasi Zardes in the 52nd minute before the Revs tied it on goal by Chris Tierney in the 79th minute. In extra time, Robbie Keane did what he has done all season in winning the league’s MVP award – scored a goal, this time in the 111th minute. The title is Los Angeles’ fifth, the most among MLS teams.
It was also Donovan’s sixth MLS title.
“There were moments [this season] where I didn’t want it to end like it was going to [with the Galaxy not in the title game],” Donovan was quoted as saying on www.mlssoccer.com. “It would’ve been sadder for it to end like that. For me, it’s perfect.”
Great read: If you missed it last week, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl penned this excellent piece on MLS Commissioner Don Garber.
Highlights include:
- The league is losing more than $100 million annually, something he is determined to fix;
- He wants to make the league's process and machinations more transparent, something inspired by the Jermaine Jones' saga earlier this year;
- He doesn't regret his response to Jurgen Klinsmann's comments about MLS earlier this year.
Women's World Cup: The U.S. women on Saturday were drawn into the "Group of Death for the 2015 Women's World Cup in Canada.
The U.S. is in a group that includes Australia, Sweden and Nigeria. The women will open against Australia on June 8 in Winnipeg. The U.S. is 46-6-11 against the other three teams, so it should still advance, but it may not be as easy as in past years. Sweden is No. 5 in FIFA’s world rankings, the Aussies are No. 10 and Nigeria is No. 35.
More on Silverbacks: The NASL is assuming more of a stewardship role with the Silverbacks than as owners. The team will absorb the expenses and receive the revenues while it looks for a ownership group dedicated to keeping the franchise in the metro Atlanta area, league commissioner Bill Peterson said on Friday.
Peterson said the goals for the franchise this year are to be competitive, build on the existing fanbase and to find that ownership group. The Silverbacks finished last in the NASL’s combined standings during the recently finished spring and fall seasons, 32 points behind league leaders Minnesota.
Peterson said Silverbacks President Andy Smith will run the franchise for the NASL, which will take a mostly hands-off approach. However, he said the league will spend the necessary money to purchase players to make the team competitive. Last season the Silverbacks had one of the lower player payrolls in NASL.
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