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Category: The Angle
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2017 FiftyFive.One Best Of Reader Poll: Soccer Edition
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: 2017 FiftyFive.One Best Of Reader Poll: Soccer EditionIn the summer of 2017, we conducted the first FiftyFive.One Reader Poll. We wanted to hear from our readers and listeners to get a sense of who you are and what you like. Favorite Minnesota Soccer Icon Christian Ramirez Runner-up: Buzz Lagos Since he arrived in Minnesota in 2014, Christian Ramirez has been scoring goals…
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League of Lawsuits: Good Riddance to the NASL
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: League of Lawsuits: Good Riddance to the NASLIn the midst of another round of turmoil for the North American Soccer League (NASL), fingers have been pointed by the league and by others to seek a source of blame. But as Alex Schieferdecker writes, there is only one party to blame: the NASL. In high-profile, public-interest lawsuits, there is such a thing as a…
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MIAC Kicks off 50th Men’s Soccer Season Sept. 13 (Part 1)
Continue Reading: MIAC Kicks off 50th Men’s Soccer Season Sept. 13 (Part 1)This is part one of a two-part series looking at the history of Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) men’s soccer, now in its 50th year, and a preview of the 2017 season. The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) kicks off its 50th season of men’s soccer Wednesday, Sept. 13, with 4 p.m. games featuring St.…
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U.S. Soccer’s Pyramid Is Falling Apart
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: U.S. Soccer’s Pyramid Is Falling ApartLast week, FiftyFive.One broke the news that the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) would not let NASL retain its division two status for 2018. It was just the latest in the lower division disasters in American soccer history. Wes Burdine argues that USSF has neglected its role by creating the illusion of a divisional pyramid and…
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Minnesotan Sean Boyle & U.S. Paralympic National Team Take on the World (Championships)
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Minnesotan Sean Boyle & U.S. Paralympic National Team Take on the World (Championships)Just over 20 months ago, Minnesotan Sean Boyle began recovery from a ventricular cavernous malformation (VCM) around his brain stem that left him stuck in a hospital for three months. The would-be future professional goalkeeper had just begun his college pursuit of his goalkeeping dream when his injury cut his career short. That is, until last…
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Pro/Rel Has Little to Offer Mid-Sized Cities
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Pro/Rel Has Little to Offer Mid-Sized CitiesLast weekend, New York Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch made some waves by saying, in an ESPN interview with Taylor Twellman, that he supported promotion and relegation (pro/rel) in American soccer. When asked for a reason, Marsch said, “because I think it just raises the stakes and gives so much hope to some of…
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Trust the Process?
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Trust the Process?As Minnesota United has been building its roster before MLS and now as a team in MLS, there has been a frustrating lack of results. If fans are going to “trust the process,” just what is that process? One of the unique aspects of American sports is the process of “tanking,” by which a team…
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Minnesota Gophers: Season Preview
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Minnesota Gophers: Season PreviewThe Minnesota Gophers kick off their 25th season on Friday. After a storied 2016 season that saw the team finish as double Big Ten champions, how will this year shape up? Each year, the Big Ten coaches are polled in the preseason on who is favored to win the conference championship. Even after their success…
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Big Question: Why Sign Forward Brandon Allen If He’s Not Getting Playing Time?
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Big Question: Why Sign Forward Brandon Allen If He’s Not Getting Playing Time?The Big Question is a new series here at FiftyFive.One to look at a topic or idea within Minnesota soccer with a critical eye and to promote discussion and debate. We want to hear from you with your thoughts on today’s question: “Why sign forward Brandon Allen if he’s not getting playing time?” Embed from…
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VAR (Again) and a Wild Saturday for MLS Referees
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: VAR (Again) and a Wild Saturday for MLS RefereesSaturday happened to turn into a very interesting night for referees in Major League Soccer… it was probably a good thing the Loons had the night off thanks to Atlanta’s new stadium not being ready. One can only wonder how Adrian Heath would have dealt with the madness. (Let me start by saying this is…
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Ins and Outs: How Did Minnesota United Fare in the Transfer Window?
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Ins and Outs: How Did Minnesota United Fare in the Transfer Window?The dust is still settling on the summer (secondary) MLS transfer window. After yesterday’s moves Minnesota can still snap up free agents, but there won’t be any international (inbound) signings. The 2017 squad, then, looks to be mostly solidified. So what have we learned after the transfer window? Lesson one: the great Scandi-sotan experiment is…
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A Unique Argument About VAR
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: A Unique Argument About VARFor all of the pro/con arguments about Video Assistant Referees (VAR) that have taken place this summer, Saturday’s Minnesota United vs. Seattle Sounders game provided an instance where VAR proved a far more complicating component to the match than likely anybody ever anticipated. To say that video review is going to change the way the…
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Three Things: Minnesota United vs. D.C. United
Categories: The AngleContinue Reading: Three Things: Minnesota United vs. D.C. UnitedLast Saturday, the Loons erupted from their 360-plus-minute scoreless streak and unloaded four goals on a no good, very bad, terrible D.C. United team. It was a cathartic performance back to front. All the Loons who needed to score (Christian Ramirez, Abu Danladi, and Miguel Ibarra) scored. All the Loons who were missed on international…