This will be the thread to discuss actual Bucks games; sometimes this is call the PBP ("Play-by-play") thread.


2008 PDL Schedule unveiled
http://www.uslsoccer.com/home/223056.html

PDF version of 2008 PDL Schedule [+]
http://www.uslsoccer.com/docs/home/PDL2008Schedule.pdf

2008 USL PDL Regular Season Schedule

Day Month Date Visiting Team @ Home Team Time (ET)

Saturday May 17 West Virginia Chaos @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM

Wednesday May 21 Michigan Bucks @ West Michigan Edge 7:00 PM

Saturday May 24 Fort Wayne Fever @ Michigan Bucks 4:00 PM

Monday May 26 Michigan Bucks @ Cleveland Internationals 7:00 PM

Friday May 30 Michigan Bucks @ Cincinnati Kings 7:30 PM

Sunday June 1 Michigan Bucks @ West Virginia Chaos 7:00 PM

Wednesday June 4 West Michigan Edge @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM

Saturday June 7 Cleveland Internationals @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM

Thursday June 19 Toronto Lynx @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM

Saturday June 21 Michigan Bucks @ Kalamazoo Outrage 8:00 PM

Wednesday June 25 Michigan Bucks @ Chicago Fire 7:00 PM

Saturday July 5 Cincinnati Kings @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM

Wednesday July 9 Michigan Bucks @ Fort Wayne Fever 7:00 PM

Saturday July 12 Chicago Fire @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM

Wednesday July 16 Kalamazoo Outrage @ Michigan Bucks 7:30 PM

Sunday July 20 Michigan Bucks @ Toronto Lynx 4:00 PM

There are two 4:00 start times. I can't figure out why for the May 24 home match; but for the July 20 match in Toronto: could it be the PDL match in the afternoon, and an MLS match at night?

Shouldn't there be a separate thread for each game?

Am quite relieved to see our series with the Fire intact. Also pleased to see that we won't be playing Cleveland a gajillion times.

I may drag wife & child to see the Cincy game on 5/30; we've got friends just outside of Dayton we haven't seen in awhile.

Am praying the 5-year old's t-ball doesn't get in the way of any of these games.

My opinion was that most of the postings should be in an existing thread, instead of creating new threads for each game, each news item, etc.

Game details here (even the e-mails from the Bucks that are game reviews); roster details in the "roster past-present-future" thread; general news in the "official news" thread.

Bucks versus Derby County

The Bucks season-ticket holders brouchure (which I picked up at USA) lists a game against the EPL's Derby County, tentatively set for July 7. (Of course, by that time, they will be the Championship side Derby County.)

It also lists a game against the Crew date TBD.

The Bucks will start selling VIP season tickets at College Cup 1 on March 29, says the flyer.

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7939120/Derby\'s-American-owners-see-good-investment
Derby's American owners see good investment
This article plays the "it's nowhere to go but up" angle, but I did chuckle on how the new owner Andy Appleby is trying to "NBA-ize" the fan experience and revenue-generation at the matches: American-based e-mails, seating by the benches at a price, more powerful music for the player entry, a "high-five line," and charging to have your kids be flag-bearers (which includes tickets to the next game).

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/7954524/Jewell-sphinx-he\'ll-go-for-Ghaly
Jewell sphinx he'll go for Ghaly
Derby boss Paul Jewell has hailed the recent performances of Hossam Ghaly and revealed he will try to sign the on-loan Egyptian in the summer. The 26-year-old, who is currently on loan from Spurs until the end of the season, has made nine appearances for the club following his arrival in early January.

FSC Derby County main page
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/soccer/team?categoryId=5026

Derby County official site
www.dcfc.co.uk

Could this be the future of our Bucks? Over in KZoo the Outrage have partnered up with Sheffield Wednesday I think. Seems to be all the rage(pun not intended) these days.

Was there anything else in that brochure worth mentioning? Ticket prices maybe?

Nope, no ticket prices listed. The flyer talks of the kids camp (going on this week), the league schedule, sponsorships, the college cups, the Crew affiliation, and general blurbs about the team.

They might be waiting to know EXACTLY how many seats are in there before listing prices. When I was there on Tuesday, about 2/3 of the seating was installed; there were 320 VIP seats done with more waiting to install, and one whole set of bleachers waiting for seats. As I said, they would start selling season tiks on March 29.

Nice to have Derby County owned by a Detroit group, eh?

If they do a full exhibition tour of North America, I was wondering what other teams would be a good matchup for them. I thought of the Canada national side; If Canada gets by their first round of St. Vin and Gren (which could be one tough out), then a July match before the Concacaf round-of-12 would benefit them.

A match against the MLS All-Stars? That would be a bit of a stretch. (Has the ASG opponent been announced?) Does the USL have an ASG this year?

So Roger Faulkner, our very own Ignition announcer, is on the Derby County board? Another interesting local connection to DC. http://www.dcfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/TheBoard/

Will they set up a season ticket package for the herd?

Derby County screwed Benny Feilhaber