When I "get together with the guys" to play soccer, I usually play right back. When I do, I usually end up with a sore neck because I have to resort to the "wooden Indian" approach to defending, so my neck gets sore watching strikers run by me and score.
I hate to see what this kid would do to my statuesque defending. I would probably get relegated from right back to "left out".
Friday, February 20, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
It's Hardly a First...
... but I could be wrong about the Beckham thing. Apparently AC Milan offered a mere $3 million transfer fee to MLS/LA Galaxy for Beckham's continued services at the San Siro. MLS basically told AC Milan to put up or shut up by last Friday's deadine with a real offer. AC Milan didn't. Friday came and went, and the MLS and LAG bigwigs who would need to sign off on any deal promptly went on vacation. All of this of course could be negotiating brinksmanship, but right now I would say there is better than even odds Beckham will still be playing in LA after his loan to AC Milan expires as scheduled in March.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Dos a Cero!!!
My thoughts about last night's USA-Mexico match.
I first started watching the US Men's National soccer team way back in the 1970's. Back then, we were a minnow among minnows. The team was composed of college players, and as bad as much of US College soccer is now, US college soccer was a podunk backwater back then. The team was lucky to get the ball, much less get a sniff at goal. We now have a team that can play with any team in the world, including the winners of the 2006 World Cup, Italy. And now we regularly beat Mexico everywhere except for at the Azteca in Mexico City, where even mighty Brazil loses. We beat Mexico last night. It feels good.
That said, we did get a little lucky. Mexico missed a couple sitters early on. I wish I had a dollar for every time one of our midfielders passed the ball under little or no pressure to a Mexico player. Our crosses were, in a word, wretched.
The first US goal, on a corner kick, was a nice goal but you have to admit it was a high, floating corner that defenses usually have little trouble dealing with. Donovan gets a head on it banging it back into the scrum, where another header on goal results in a rebound and a fat, beach-ball sitter for Bradley to bury. Mexico does seem to have some trouble with the US physical presence in the box.
The second US goal, in the 90th minute, was the result of Bradley getting a lot of space in the middle of the attacking third owing in part to the fact that Mexico was more than preoccupied with Donovan, keeping 2 or 3 players near him in the US attacking zone. Bradly waltzes up and has a go from 25 yards, and the low, driven shot skips under the Mexican keeper and into the back of the net. It was a bit of a soft goal from the keeper's perspective, but not the howler some make it out to be. The keeper got there laterally, but could't get down far enough once he got over and the ball skips under him.
But the result was really sealed before that late goal, with Rafa Marquez being sent off for a late high challenge on US goalkeeper Tim Howard. The straight red was harsh. At most it should have been a yellow. But the red was given, and off Marquez went.
As for the players, Tim Howard did some good (albeit lucky a time or two) shot-stoppng and controlled his box well. Our central defenders, Onyewu and Bocanegra, were solid. Frankie Hejduk defended well and did an overall good job getting up the right flank and getting the ball to our mids. He was lucky, though, not to get carded for at least one of his studs- up, two-footed tackles. Yeah, he got the ball first, but most refs will be pretty quick to show you some yellow for those. Pearce was steady on the left, but not very effective carrying the ball forward.
In the midfield, I hate to say it but Beasley looks like he has lost a step. He was an offensive threat, though, and he was unafraid to run at people. Sacha Kljestan I thought had an off night. Not much impact. Clint Dempsey looked out of sorts, though he did get a threatening shot off that their keeper did well to stop. He played like he was jet-lagged overall. Michael Bradley, what can you say. Two goals. Man of the Match. Landon Donovan made things go and kept multiple Mexican defenders busy all night. We should note Bradley scored his second because Donovan charges up the left side with the ball, and draws four, count 'em FOUR Mexican defenders. He lays off to Bradley, who has ten yards to charge up, wind up, and let go with a rasping shot that flashes under the lunging Keep for the brace and 2-0 scoreline.
Brian Ching, the lone striker up front, was not very effective. He drew a couple deep fouls, which was good, but I thought he should have been subbed out at the half. He was visibly gassed by the hour mark. He was totally spent when he finally was subbed out late for Jozy Altidore, who played very well in his few minutes.
A nice win against our biggest rival on the continent. It feels good. The soda, the wings, and the nachos tasted all the better for it. Clearly the US is a deserved favorite to qualify for the Word Cup. But lets not get carried away. Unless we get a whole lot better with our possession game, we are looking at an early exit from the WC group stage. You pass the ball to the other team as much as the US did tonight against a world powerhouse team like Spain, Italy, Germany, or Brazil, and you are looking at getting shredded for 4, 5, or 6 goals.
But that is then, this is now.
Dos a cero. I like the sound of that.
I first started watching the US Men's National soccer team way back in the 1970's. Back then, we were a minnow among minnows. The team was composed of college players, and as bad as much of US College soccer is now, US college soccer was a podunk backwater back then. The team was lucky to get the ball, much less get a sniff at goal. We now have a team that can play with any team in the world, including the winners of the 2006 World Cup, Italy. And now we regularly beat Mexico everywhere except for at the Azteca in Mexico City, where even mighty Brazil loses. We beat Mexico last night. It feels good.
That said, we did get a little lucky. Mexico missed a couple sitters early on. I wish I had a dollar for every time one of our midfielders passed the ball under little or no pressure to a Mexico player. Our crosses were, in a word, wretched.
The first US goal, on a corner kick, was a nice goal but you have to admit it was a high, floating corner that defenses usually have little trouble dealing with. Donovan gets a head on it banging it back into the scrum, where another header on goal results in a rebound and a fat, beach-ball sitter for Bradley to bury. Mexico does seem to have some trouble with the US physical presence in the box.
The second US goal, in the 90th minute, was the result of Bradley getting a lot of space in the middle of the attacking third owing in part to the fact that Mexico was more than preoccupied with Donovan, keeping 2 or 3 players near him in the US attacking zone. Bradly waltzes up and has a go from 25 yards, and the low, driven shot skips under the Mexican keeper and into the back of the net. It was a bit of a soft goal from the keeper's perspective, but not the howler some make it out to be. The keeper got there laterally, but could't get down far enough once he got over and the ball skips under him.
But the result was really sealed before that late goal, with Rafa Marquez being sent off for a late high challenge on US goalkeeper Tim Howard. The straight red was harsh. At most it should have been a yellow. But the red was given, and off Marquez went.
As for the players, Tim Howard did some good (albeit lucky a time or two) shot-stoppng and controlled his box well. Our central defenders, Onyewu and Bocanegra, were solid. Frankie Hejduk defended well and did an overall good job getting up the right flank and getting the ball to our mids. He was lucky, though, not to get carded for at least one of his studs- up, two-footed tackles. Yeah, he got the ball first, but most refs will be pretty quick to show you some yellow for those. Pearce was steady on the left, but not very effective carrying the ball forward.
In the midfield, I hate to say it but Beasley looks like he has lost a step. He was an offensive threat, though, and he was unafraid to run at people. Sacha Kljestan I thought had an off night. Not much impact. Clint Dempsey looked out of sorts, though he did get a threatening shot off that their keeper did well to stop. He played like he was jet-lagged overall. Michael Bradley, what can you say. Two goals. Man of the Match. Landon Donovan made things go and kept multiple Mexican defenders busy all night. We should note Bradley scored his second because Donovan charges up the left side with the ball, and draws four, count 'em FOUR Mexican defenders. He lays off to Bradley, who has ten yards to charge up, wind up, and let go with a rasping shot that flashes under the lunging Keep for the brace and 2-0 scoreline.
Brian Ching, the lone striker up front, was not very effective. He drew a couple deep fouls, which was good, but I thought he should have been subbed out at the half. He was visibly gassed by the hour mark. He was totally spent when he finally was subbed out late for Jozy Altidore, who played very well in his few minutes.
A nice win against our biggest rival on the continent. It feels good. The soda, the wings, and the nachos tasted all the better for it. Clearly the US is a deserved favorite to qualify for the Word Cup. But lets not get carried away. Unless we get a whole lot better with our possession game, we are looking at an early exit from the WC group stage. You pass the ball to the other team as much as the US did tonight against a world powerhouse team like Spain, Italy, Germany, or Brazil, and you are looking at getting shredded for 4, 5, or 6 goals.
But that is then, this is now.
Dos a cero. I like the sound of that.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Feb 11, 2009: The Real Super Bowl
USA-Mexico in Columbus, baby. I am so there. (Via satellite, that is). Here are some fond replays from previous "Super Bowls".
Oh, on that first goal, that silky, curling, outside-of-the-boot early-ball assist by Clint Mathis was just exquisite. Soccer is the only sport in the world called "the beautiful game". Lovely, sumptuous, gorgeous passes like that, culminating in a riveting run and goal are just captivating.
Then there is this one.
Beeeeeeeeeasly!
Oh, and how about this one.
Landon turns on the jets. Gotta love it.
Oh, on that first goal, that silky, curling, outside-of-the-boot early-ball assist by Clint Mathis was just exquisite. Soccer is the only sport in the world called "the beautiful game". Lovely, sumptuous, gorgeous passes like that, culminating in a riveting run and goal are just captivating.
Then there is this one.
Beeeeeeeeeasly!
Oh, and how about this one.
Landon turns on the jets. Gotta love it.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
Beckham Gone for Good
It doesn't matter what the contract says. David Beckham is staying with AC Milan, case closed. He is obviously happy there. He is playing well, and playing on a team loaded with international soccer superstars. He knows he does not have much time left to play at such a high level, so Beckham coming back to the woeful LA Galaxy for even 6 months just to send pinpoint crosses in to forwards who have no idea how to finish them, or, perhaps, to get hurt, is out of the question.
Some say MLS should hold out for a $15-20 transfer fee. Ain't gonna happen. MLS will be told they are getting $8-10 million and they better be happy with that or else they quite possibly will get nothing.
But it is not likely to come down to that. Bruce Arena can see the handwriting on the wall. Il Bruce knows he needs to fix his porous backline, and he needs bodies and the money to pay them to do that.
Beckham cannot afford to waste any more time with the dreadful Galaxy or, I hate to say, the mediocre level of play in MLS. And the Galaxy/MLS cannot afford to lose the chance to re-sign Beckham later when he is done in Europe for good.
So Beckham goes, MLS gets some kind of face-saving transfer fee, and hopefully the Galaxy will at least become competitive.
Some say MLS should hold out for a $15-20 transfer fee. Ain't gonna happen. MLS will be told they are getting $8-10 million and they better be happy with that or else they quite possibly will get nothing.
But it is not likely to come down to that. Bruce Arena can see the handwriting on the wall. Il Bruce knows he needs to fix his porous backline, and he needs bodies and the money to pay them to do that.
Beckham cannot afford to waste any more time with the dreadful Galaxy or, I hate to say, the mediocre level of play in MLS. And the Galaxy/MLS cannot afford to lose the chance to re-sign Beckham later when he is done in Europe for good.
So Beckham goes, MLS gets some kind of face-saving transfer fee, and hopefully the Galaxy will at least become competitive.
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