The Daily Dirt, July 28: Lucky Star

Tonight, the MLS All-Stars take on Arsenal in San Jose. In yesterday’s interview with USMNT and MLS legend Brian McBride, he talked about preferring the old East vs. West model for the game and I agree. It was fun with 10 teams in the league, it would be even better now with so many more teams and players to choose from.

The current format is this strange in-between of being a celebration and being competitive. We’ll always remember Pep Guardiola blowing up at Caleb Porter after some hard tackles a few years ago. You can’t win with this format. If the MLS All-Stars get smoked by Manchester United, then the league is inferior. If they beat the opponent, then the excuse is that the opponent is in preseason. I think the league has just outgrown this format.

Do an East vs. West format, mic up some of the players, and make it fun. Give players bonuses for nutmegs or ridiculous skill moves. Do a Panna competition at halftime to be the MLS version of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. My money would be on Nacho Piatti in that one...

I know some will hate the All-Star Game just because the Premier League doesn’t do it. That’s okay, it’s definitely an American thing. It’s a fun, mid-season celebration of the league. Keep it on the fun side and it can be a valuable tool for the league.

Domestic

Jason Kreis thinks Orlando could “represent over time, the absolute ideal MLS club.” (MLS)

Kreis is also not holding back about his thoughts on NYCFC (The Mane Land)

Mexico’s U20’s defeat the MLS Homegrown Team 2-0 in San Jose last night (MLS)

Stoke City defeats Orlando 2-1 in an international friendly in Florida (The Mane Land)

Was a 2015 US Open Cup game the beginning of the end for Sigi Schmid in Seattle? (World Soccer Talk)

It took a while, but the Sounders finally present Nicolas Lodeiro to Seattle (Sounder at Heart)

MLS partners with SeatGeek to give fans more opportunities to buy tickets (Bloomberg)

A peak at the proposed 2017 USL competition structure (Scratching the Pitch)

Tim Sullivan explores whether the USL should take a “less is more” approach (Louisville Courier-Journal)

International

Atletico Nacional of Colombia win the Copa Libertadores over Independiente del Valle of Ecuador (ESPN FC)

Bob Bradley has emerged as the bookmakers’ favorite for the Hull City manager job (Hull Daily Mail)

Joao Rojas with a rocket for Cruz Azul in Copa MX action:

Local

Prepare for the start of the Falcons’ training camp today with the FalcFans podcast (The Falcoholic)

The Braves added a power hitting prospect (Talking Chop)