(More of) Your Questions Answered

Good afternoon all. I have your third installment of the most recent Q&A ready to roll, with the final questions set to be answered on Thursday.

Here they are, more of your questions answered:

EDB- Why does the MLS use the playoffs to determine draft position and alocations but not for determing the teams for commpetitions? It's like your punished for doing well in the playoffs if your not a top seed.

IVES- You have to have some balance, with some rewards for playoff success and some for regular season success. Winning MLS Cup is its own reward, but also secures you plenty of tournament opportunities. That said, having the best regular season record should lead to something.

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AT- Do you think MLS will ever modify the timetable of its season to coincide with the European leagues?

IVES- I never see that happening. Trying to play through the winter in the USA would be a bit of a nightmare.

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JUAN- Ives, how about an update on the EPL Fantasy League? You said several times you were gonna do one and you never did. And how about a MLS Fantasy League?

IVES- The SBI Fantasy EPL League is going strong with more than 230 teams, though I'm not sure how many are still competing.

Here is the Top 10:

1. Red Rockets (Justin Laurence)
2. Landed Gentry (Rem Stone)
3. FC Alcapurrias (Juan Guzman)
4. Old_Army (Kevin Belmont)
5. LoneStar SC (Peter Welpton)
6. Langfield Pimp Hands (Brandon Rollins)
7. Oversleepham (Matthew Guay)
8. CF Pachucacabras (Michael Larimer)
9. Erm....United (Rick B)
10. FC Epikoinos (Eric Anderson)

And if you were wondering how I'm doing, SBI United is in 12th place. Not bad at all.

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SEVEN- 1. The MLS off-season is too long. Are there any plans to lenghten the regular season?

2. How are the Galaxy players compensated for their world tour? Is it a way of circumventing the cap?

3. Will the league ever recognize FIFA international dates?

IVES- 1. With expansion pushing the number of teams to 18 MLS will have to add more games to the schedule. That said, I can't imagine the season would extend much more than a few weeks, say early March to mid November.

2. I was asking the same question recently and have been told that there should be no extra compensation. I need to get verification of this to know for sure.

3. It doesn't look like it, though I wish they would.

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CRAIG- Real Salt Lake have added Olave, Borchers, Joy, Kovalenko, Cordoba, Deuchar, and their draft picks in the off-season. That is nearly half their roster spots. How do you see them placing this year?

IVES- I'm really not convinced about the collection of players RSL has put together. I know they've been busy and made over their roster, but I'm not quite sure if the improvement will be enough o be taken seriously as a contender. That said, the West is wide open, with only Houston looking like a lock to excel this year. If Jason Kreis finds the right combination RSL could potentially sneak into the west playoffs, but the East is so strong I think we will see another 5-3 split in playoff spots. Will RSL be one of the three? I'm not sold.

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SETH- Starting with the U-23s who aren't in qualifying (Bradley, Spector, Feilhaber, Rogers, etc.) and adding the 3 overage players of your choice allowed in Olympic rules, who would your starting lineup be? And how much would they have beaten Cuba and Panama by?

IVES- Here's my take:

---------Altidore-----Donovan--------

Adu----------------------------------Zizzo

------------Edu-------Bradley------------

Sturgis---Subotic--Bocanegra---Spector

-----------------Guzan--------------------

As for how much they beat Panama or Cuba by, who knows? This squad would have done better, that's all I can say.

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CRAIG- A rather frivolous one, but,

What's your favorite MLS team badge?
What about your favorite MLS Jerseys?
What MLS players jerseys do you own or would you buy?

IVES- Don't really have a favorite badge but at a quick glance I think the Revs and FC Dallas logos are pretty good. Jerseys? I think Houston's is pretty good. The LA navy uniform is pretty nice. As for MLS jerseys, I don't own any and I doubt I would buy one.

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HENRY- How do we get Fox Soccer Channel to broadcast at least one Copa libertadores game per week. Id rather watch that than another dream team re-run. or that stupid show with the fans calling the game.

IVES- That's a good question. Maybe a letter-writing campaign? Fox does have the rights (I think). It would be a matter of assigning an English-language broadcast team to do it.

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BRYANT- Any news on the Crew DP front?

IVES- Haven't heard a peep out of Crew camp but I can't imagine Columbus's off-season activity concluding with the acquisitions of Niko Hernandez and (potentially) Gino Padula. I know there are rumors of some Central Americans being on the Crew radar but I don't see any of them being a designated player.

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ANDREW D- Thanks for taking my question by the way. Do you see Brad Guzan moving across the pond this summer affter a failed attempt during the winter transfer window? Is it possible he could be heading back to villa again? I've read a few places that villa are still interested in him and are planning on spending some cash come the summer.

IVES- I'm not sure how Guzan's work permit status would change in the summer. Perhaps Villa could make a better case that Guzan will be a starter once Scott Carson goes back to Liverpool. I could see him considering that Celtic move (because Artur Boruc has to be out of there come the summer.)

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DMEE- Ives, I'd really love to get your opinion on the current state of the TV analysts here in the US. I hate watching US games on FSC, because I know I'll have to listen to Bretos, Sullivan, and now Miles. But even when games are on ESPN (besides CL) we are subject to announcers that specialize in other American sports. I'm confident there are many capable analysts out there. So I guess my question is how can I get Bretos' job?

IVES- All I can say about tv soccer analysts in this country is that there are some I like and some I can't stand. As for how you get Max Bretos' job, I believe that's a message for Mr. Bretos.

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EVAN- My question is what do you think of Sinisa Ubiparipovic? Will he be getting starts this year in NY? I watched some of the games that he played in last year with NY and he looked pretty good. I also saw in some of your lineups for friendlies and such and it looked like he was playing a more defensive or holding mid role. At Akron he played a more attacking role and did it well, so where do you see him playing?

IVES- Not everyone can make the transition from college playmaker to pro playmaker. Not many can actually, but Ubi certainly has skill and can hold the ball and pass well so I see him getting mintues this year. I don't see him in an attacking role, but in a holding role with the freedom to get forward when he can.

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JON- How does compensation (if any) work for non-senior national teams. U-17, U-20, U-23?

IVES- There is no financial compensation for youth teams.

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MATT- Unfortunately, this question is purely hypothetical: If Landon were to go to Europe, how big of a club do you think he could play for? And what kind of transfer fee might he fetch?

IVES- I think Landon would be a mid-table La Liga signing in the $5 to $7 million range (price adjusted for the plummeting dollar.)

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ANDREW- What do you think of Kenny Mansally, his chances of seeing serious PT this year and putting up numbers? Related, what happened with Adam Cristman as he seems to have gone out of favor slightly with both nicol and nowak? Argenis Fernandez, do you have any idea what type of player this kid is, all i know is he's 5'6" 120 lbs.

IVES- I see Mansally starting and posting 10 goals this year. I've heard nothing but great things about his pre-season. As for Cristman, I have never been sold on him. I just think he is limited. Along those lines, I don't think it's a case of him falling out of favor as much as people seeing his limitations.

As for Fernandez, I'm very curious about what forward that size can do in MLS.

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GIACOMO- Are there soccer blog writer groupies, and are they of the calibur of high price politician escorts?

IVES- If there are any I haven't met them yet, but I hear the Olympic Qualifier streaker is an SBI Mafia member (okay, I'm kidding).

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JEFF- No matter what some people say, soccer is growing very nice in America. What do you think is the key to push soccer into the "major" sports tier in America (read: What would make soccer more appealing to mainstream America)?

What would help more:
a. More DP's in the MLS
b. More "big time" international friendlies
c. More MLS v. EPL/La Liga/Serie A games
d. Something I haven't thought of

IVES- There's no quick fix to bringing in the mainstream American sports fan but building stadiums and spending more money on players is a step in the right direction toward building something for the long-term. The soccer fans are out there, it's a matter of improving the product to a point that more and more of those fans connect with MLS.

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NIC- A number of cities are interested in getting an MLS team, including St. Louis, Atlanta, Miami, New York City, Portland, Vancouver, and Montreal.

How long do you think it will be until investor groups from one or more of these cities seek to buy existing MLS franchises such as Columbus, Chivas (which seems to be an anemic franchise), or Kansas City (especially if they don't get their Missouri stadium or interest wanes from OnGoal) with the intention of moving them instead of pursuing an expansion franchise?

IVES- I think that is going to happen sooner than later. I see Chivas USA and Columbus being primed for sales. It would be disappointing to have Columbus move because of the established fanbase there but you have to wonder how long Hunt Sports keeps two teams. Chivas USA has about two more years to figure things out before it is time to consider selling. If they can't draw fans when they're winning, how will they ever be successful?

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ROCCO- 1) Angulo update with the Revs.

2) How is the new Red Bull practice facility in Hanover progressing?

IVES- Angulo has left New England and won't be signing with the Revs. As for the RB practice facility, I inquired about that this quick and was basically told there was no news on it. Not exactly the most promising news.

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CT- Red Bull Park? Pics? Progresss?

IVES- The last I heard were that wooden piles were being driven into the ground before the foundation was going to be poured. Progress is, in fact, well under way.

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EL CUERPO- 1. With Altidore's youth and the inability for any player other than Donovan or Dempsey to really being able to step up at forward, do you think it might be possible for Brian McBride to come out of international retirement and help the MNT in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers?

2. Do you think Michael Bradley would have as significant of a role for the MNT as he does now if his father was not the head coach? It seems Bradley has a permanent starting role when he is available and I wonder if Bob would ever start Clark and/or Edu in his son's place.

IVES- 1. I'm sure McBride COULD come back and be an effective national team player, I just wonder how motivated he will be to come back. I know Tab Ramos did something similar during the 2002 World Cup qualifying cycle but I can't see the US team having that much trouble in the first group stage. Also, given his age and recent major injury I wonder if he will want to take any extra pounding. Now, if the US gets into trouble in qualifying I can see him answering the call.

2. Bob Bradley starts the best players, period. The idea that Bradley starts his son because he's his son is ridiculous. Have you seen the year Michael Bradley has had in Holland? How is anyone even question this anymore? Edu and Clark are quality players but right now I see Michael Bradley being a cut above both of them. Maybe this will become a bit clearer when he makes his big transfer move this summer.

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WARREN- Any updates on Red Bull Park?

IVES- See above.