***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (1 Viewer)

[NewlyRetired]

Opta Sports (@OptaJoe)

10/31/11 5:50 PM

9 - There have now been nine Premier League hat-tricks this season, already more than in five previous PL seasons. Glut.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Newcastle is an interesting side. They remained unbeaten and have moved into 3rd place in the table.

And yet a ton of questions are left unanswered because of a scheduling quirk that has allowed them to play 10 games and miss Man U, Man City, Chelsea, and Liverpool.

 

[jonessed]

Newcastle is an interesting side. They remained unbeaten and have moved into 3rd place in the table. And yet a ton of questions are left unanswered because of a scheduling quirk that has allowed them to play 10 games and miss Man U, Man City, Chelsea, and Liverpool.

I like them and you have to give Pardew a ton of credit for sitting on the Carrol money and still putting out a side like this, but a top ten finish for them would be a pretty good showing. They are really just starting into the meat of their schedule. Their toughest outing to this point has been Tottenham at home.

 

[Eephus]

Newcastle is an interesting side. They remained unbeaten and have moved into 3rd place in the table. And yet a ton of questions are left unanswered because of a scheduling quirk that has allowed them to play 10 games and miss Man U, Man City, Chelsea, and Liverpool.

I like them and you have to give Pardew a ton of credit for sitting on the Carrol money and still putting out a side like this, but a top ten finish for them would be a pretty good showing. They are really just starting into the meat of their schedule. Their toughest outing to this point has been Tottenham at home.

It'll be interesting to see if Mike Ashley opens his wallet in January. Newcastle has been linked with Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga but they wouldn't get him until after the African Nations Cup.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Elias noticed a statistical oddity in Eric Wynalda's career

Scored 34 goals senior year of High School

Scored 34 goals at San Diego State

Scored 34 goals in all competitions in Germany

Scored 34 goals in MLS

Scored 34 goals for the US National team

Freaky.........

 

[El Floppo]

AC Milan striker Antonio Cassano suffered a strokehttp://news.yahoo.com/milan-ease-fears-over-cassano-mystery-illness-172239175.html

 

[NewlyRetired]

Reminder that the Champions Leage games this week start 1 hour later than normal until we sync with Europe on day light savings.

 

[B Maverick]

Reminder that the Champions Leage games this week start 1 hour later than normal until we sync with Europe on day light savings.

 

[Slapdash]

Reminder that the Champions Leage games this week start 1 hour later than normal until we sync with Europe on day light savings.

I really hate this extra week of daylight savings time. Nothing like going to work when it is pitch black outside.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Good piece on Agudelo getting the Euro butt splinters right here in MLS :(

October 31, 2011

Agudelo wastes away on the bench while Red Bulls wastes potential scoring chances

By Michael Lewis

BigAppleSoccer.com Editor

The Red Bulls might as well sell Juan Agudelo to a European club because he certainly isn't getting an opportunity to develop with the Major League Soccer club.

I understand why Agudelo isn't starting. When you have the striking likes of Thierry Henry and Luke Rodgers up front and the talented Joel Lindpere and Dane Richards on the midfield flanks, there is very little room for him to start outside of an injury or a suspension.

But when the game was on the line and the team needed a goal on Sunday, it just boggles the mind that the 18-year-old Agudelo wasted away on the bench, most likely in frustration, along with some 23,000 spectators who witnessed the Red Bulls go down to the LA Galaxy. They lost, 1-0, in the Western Conference semifinal total goals first leg at Red Bull Arena this past Sunday.

Midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy, one of the heroes of the 1-0 wildcard win at FC Dallas last week (he set up the goal two minutes after stepping onto the field), replaced Luke Rodgers in the 80th minute as Richards moved up top alongside Henry.

Ballouchy can run more cold than hot.

So can Agudelo, who is still learning his craft at the professional level. But the upside is that he can make things happen and make plays that other players can't.

But as has been his habit, Red Bulls coach Hans Backe refused to use his full complement of three substitutes vs. LA. If Backe had been bold or daring, he could have replaced Rafa Marquez (now that is a real waste of talent, a topic for another column) with Agudelo with 10 minutes left in the game and have Ballouchy move to the middle.

The Red Bulls enter the second leg and the Galaxy's den on Thursday night a goal down. The Galaxy have been virtually invincible at The Home Depot Center, going unbeaten in MLS action this season (12-0-5).

Backe likes to talk about how the Red Bulls beat the Galaxy in Carson, Calif. last year, 1-0. That is true. But that was in 2010. That was then and this is now and the Galaxy is an improved team. With MLS Cup on home turf this year and the bitter memory of getting desposed as Supporter Shield winners in the opening round last year, the Galaxy players have a lot of motivation to defend and play their hearts out on Thursday.

LA starts the final 90 minutes of the total goals series a goal up. Does Backe or any Red Bulls fan in his or her right mind think that the Galaxy will go out and attack from the opening whistle at 11:08 p.m. ET on Thursday night? Knowing LA coach Bruce Arena, he will sit back and wait to counterattack. And if the Galaxy manages to grab a two-goal advantage, I would not be surprised that if Backe finally puts in Agudelo in that situation, it could very well be too late.

If Agudelo is good enough to be in the U.S. National Team pool and play for the red, white and blue, he should be at least good enough to come in off the bench for the Red Bulls late in a match.

Hopefully, Agudelo won't take it personally. He has been mismanaged by Backe down the stretch. In fact, Backe has mismanaged the Red Bulls all season and this is just another incidence of it. Everything is more magnified in the playoffs.

Having Agudelo waste away on the bench is a crying shame.

That is certainly not a fire-able offense. But if you add up all of the other missed opportunities, missed cues, a limited number of substitutions, questionable strategy and other problems the Red Bulls have endured, you have to be blind to know that Backe has down a sub-par job of getting the most out of this team.

Like every other American league, MLS has a coach of the year. I would love to see who is rated as the 18th coach, outside of the ones who have bitten the dust already. Backe surely would be in the running for an honor no one would want to have.

Hopefully, the next coach will give Agudelo his due and playing time.

Sitting at the same podium that Backe addresses the media after Red Buls disappointments at RBA, err, I mean games, U.S. national coach Juergen Klinsmann talked about the talents of Agudelo after the 1-0 loss to Ecuador on Oct. 11.

“We see in Juan a very special talent coming through the ranks,” he said. “He's 18-years-old and has a long way to go, but he's a tremendous talent. We have two plans for him. One is for him to be here and learn from the other players in this squad and get used to a higher intensity training.

“Number two is he will be part of an Olympic team that tries to get to London next summer, and that could be his first big international tournament. Going forward he can only learn and only improve."

Well, at least one of his coaches thinks highly of Agudelo.

I would love to hear what Klinsmann thinks of one of his promising young talents getting stifled. Not playing at a European side is one thing, but not getting a whiff of action at American club is another.

What a waste. What a waste.

 

[Sebowski]

Reminder that the Champions Leage games this week start 1 hour later than normal until we sync with Europe on day light savings.

I really hate this extra week of daylight savings time. Nothing like going to work when it is pitch black outside.

So you're the guy who doesn't like an extra hour of light in the afternoon when it can really can in handy.

 

[Slapdash]

Reminder that the Champions Leage games this week start 1 hour later than normal until we sync with Europe on day light savings.

I really hate this extra week of daylight savings time. Nothing like going to work when it is pitch black outside.

So you're the guy who doesn't like an extra hour of light in the afternoon when it can really can in handy.

Still either dark or close to it when I leave the office, so it doesn't matter to me. Just find it very difficult to wake up in the morning when it is pitch black outside.

 

[NewlyRetired]

From CNNSI.com, Americans abroad

ENGLAND

Premier League

Clint Dempsey, M, Fulham -- Started, played 90 minutes and scored a 42nd-minute goal in Fulham's 2-0 victory over Wigan Athletic on Saturday. Going against the run of play, Dempsey turned on the jets to streak down the center of the field and finish off a cross from Bobby Zamora from short range to give Fulham a 1-0 lead. SEASON: 15 games, 15 starts, 5 goals

Brad Friedel, GK, Tottenham -- Started, played 90 minutes and made two saves in Tottenham's 3-1 victory over Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. SEASON: 9 games, 9 starts, 38 saves, 14 goals allowed, 2 clean sheets

Brad Guzan, GK, Aston Villa -- In the 18, did not play in Villa's 2-2 draw with Sunderland on Saturday. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start, 3 saves, 0 goals allowed, 1 clean sheet

Marcus Hahnemann, GK, Everton -- In the 18, did not play in Everton's 2-1 extra-time loss to Chelsea in the round of 16 of the League Cup on Wednesday. It marked the first time Hahnemann had dressed for a match since joining the club in late September. Hahnemann was not in the 18 for Everton's 1-0 loss to Manchester United in league play on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Tim Howard, GK, Everton -- Not in the 18 for Everton's 2-1 extra-time loss to Chelsea in the round of 16 of the League Cup on Wednesday. Howard started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Everton's 1-0 loss to his former club, Manchester United, in league play Saturday. SEASON: 9 games, 9 starts, 25 saves, 12 goals allowed, 1 clean sheet

Eric Lichaj, D, Aston Villa -- Not in the 18 for Villa's 2-2 draw with Sunderland on Saturday. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start, 1 goal

Zak Whitbread, D, Norwich City -- Not in the 18 for Norwich City's 3-3 draw with Blackburn on Saturday. SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts

League Championship

Conor Doyle, F, Derby County -- In the 18, came on as a 73rd-minute substitute in Derby County's 3-1 victory over Portsmouth on Saturday. SEASON: 3 games

Robbie Findley, F, Nottingham Forest -- In the 18, came on as a 73rd-minute substitute in Nottingham Forest's 1-0 loss to Hull City on Saturday. SEASON: 14 games, 6 starts, 4 goals

Jonathan Spector, M/D, Birmingham City -- Started, played 90 minutes in Birmingham's 1-0 victory over Leeds United on Wednesday. Spector also started and played 90 minutes in Birmingham's 0-0 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. SEASON: 14 games, 14 starts

League One

Mike Grella, F, Brentford -- In the 18, came on as a 76th-minute substitute in Brentford's 1-0 loss to Stevenage on Tuesday. Grella earned his first start of the season and played 72 minutes in Brentford's 2-1 victory over Chesterfield on Saturday. SEASON: 8 games, 1 start

Frank Simek, D, Carlisle United -- Not in the 18 for Carlisle's 3-2 victory over Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday or for Carlisle's 3-3 draw with Oldham Athletic on Saturday. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Anton Peterlin, M, Walsall -- Started, played 90 minutes in Walsall's 2-1 loss to Exeter City on Tuesday. Peterlin also started and played 90 minutes in Walsall's 2-0 loss to Milton Keynes Dons on Saturday. SEASON: 14 games, 10 starts

League Two

Jemal Johnson, F, Southend United -- In the 18, came on as an 88th-minute substitute in Southend's 3-0 victory over Barnet on Tuesday. Johnson was in the 18 but did not play in Southend's 2-0 victory over Macclesfield Town on Saturday. SEASON: 7 games, 2 starts

Jon-Paul Pittman, F, Crawley Town -- In the 18, came on as a 75th-minute substitute and scored an 84th-minute goal in Crawley Town's 3-1 victory over Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday. Pittman was not in the 18 for Crawley Town's 1-1 draw with Accrington Stanley on Saturday. SEASON: 10 games, 1 start, 1 goal (7 games, 1 start with Oxford United)



GERMANY

Bundesliga

Terrance Boyd, F, Borussia Dortmund -- Not in the 18 for Dortmund's 2-0 victory over Dynamo Dresden in the second round of the DFB Pokal (German Cup) on Tuesday or for Dortmund's 1-1 draw with VfB Stuttgart in league play Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Timmy Chandler, D, FC Nurnberg -- Started, played 90 minutes in Nurnberg's 2-1 victory over Erzgebirge Aue in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday. Chandler also started and played 90 minutes in Nurnberg's 4-0 loss to Bayern Munich in league play Saturday. SEASON: 13 games, 13 starts

Steve Cherundolo, D, Hannover 96 -- Started, played 120 minutes in Hannover's 1-0 extra-time loss to Mainz 05 in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday. Cherundolo was not in the 18 for Hannover's 2-1 loss to Borussia Monchengladbach in league play Saturday. He was suspended for the match after being sent off in Hannover's previous game. SEASON: 12 games, 11 starts

Fabian Johnson, M/D, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim -- In the 18, came on as an 83rd-minute substitute in Hoffenheim's 2-1 victory over FC Cologne in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Tuesday. Johnson was also in the 18 and came on as a 78th-minute substitute in Hoffenheim's 3-1 loss to FC Schalke 04 in league play Saturday. SEASON: 9 games, 6 starts, 1 goal

Jermaine Jones, M, FC Schalke 04 -- Started, played 90 minutes in Schalke's 2-0 win over Karlsruhe in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday. Jones also started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Schalke's 3-1 victory over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in league play Saturday. SEASON: 9 games, 5 starts

Alfredo Morales, D, Hertha Berlin -- In the 18, did not play in Berlin's 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday and in Berlin's 3-2 victory over VfL Wolfsburg in league play Saturday. SEASON: 3 games

Daniel Williams, D, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim -- Started, played 90 minutes in Hoffenheim's 2-1 victory over FC Cologne in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Tuesday. Williams also started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Hoffenheim's 3-1 loss to FC Schalke 04 in league play Saturday. SEASON: 8 games, 6 starts (1 game, 1 start with SC Freiburg)

David Yelldell, GK, Bayer Leverkusen -- In the 18, did not play in Leverkusen's 1-0 victory over SC Freiburg on Friday. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start, 1 save, 4 goals allowed

2. Bundesliga

Edson Buddle, F, FC Ingolstadt 04 -- Started, played 74 minutes in Ingolstadt's 6-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday. Buddle also started and played 80 minutes in Ingolstadt's 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in league play Sunday. SEASON: 15 games, 8 starts, 6 goals

Ricardo Clark, M, Eintracht Frankfurt -- Not in the 18 for Frankfurt's 1-0 extra-time loss to Kaiserslautern in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday or for Frankfurt's 1-1 draw with FC Ingolstadt 04 in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start

Luis Robles, GK, Karlsruhe -- In the 18, did not play in Karlsruhe's 2-0 loss to FC Schalke 04 in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday. Robles started, played 90 minutes and made three saves in Karlsruhe's 5-1 loss to Dynamo Dresden in league play Saturday. The appearance was Robles' first of the season and his first on the club level since an April 29 start for Karlsruhe last season. SEASON: 1 game, 1 start, 3 saves, 5 goals allowed

Matt Taylor, F, SC Paderborn 07 -- In the 18, came on as a halftime substitute in Paderborn's 4-0 loss to SpVgg Greuther Furth in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Tuesday. Taylor started and played 90 minutes in Paderborn's 1-0 victory over Erzgebirge Aue in league play Saturday. SEASON: 10 games, 4 starts, 4 goals

Bobby Wood, F, 1860 Munich -- In the 18, came on as a 68th-minute substitute in Munich's 3-0 loss to Fortuna Dusseldorf in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Tuesday. Wood was also in the 18 and came on as an 81st-minute substitute in Munich's 3-0 victory over MSV Duisburg in league play Sunday. SEASON: 4 games

ITALY

Serie A

Michael Bradley, M, Chievo Verona -- Started, played 90 minutes in Chievo's 1-0 loss to Bologna on Wednesday. Bradley also started and played 90 minutes in Chievo's 4-1 loss to Siena on Sunday. SEASON: 8 games, 7 starts

FRANCE

Ligue 1

Quentin Westberg, GK, Evian Thonon Gaillard -- Not in the 18 for Evian's 3-1 victory over AJ Auxerre on Saturday. SEASON: 3 games, 3 starts, 8 saves, 3 goals allowed, 1 clean sheet



NETHERLANDS

Eredivisie

Jozy Altidore, F, AZ Alkmaar -- Started, played 65 minutes in AZ's 3-2 extra-time victory over FC Dordrecht in the third round of the KNVB Beker (Dutch Cup) on Thursday. Altidore also started and played 81 minutes in AZ's 1-0 victory over Heracles in league play Sunday. SEASON: 17 games, 13 starts, 7 goals

PORTUGAL

Primeira Liga

Oguchi Onyewu, D, Sporting Lisbon -- Started, played 90 minutes in Sporting's 2-0 victory over Feirense on Sunday. The appearance marked Onyewu's return to the lineup after a brief bout with a groin injury. SEASON: 8 games, 8 starts, 1 goal

BELGIUM

Jupiler League

Sacha Kljestan, M, RSC Anderlecht -- Not in the 18 for Anderlecht's 2-1 loss to Rupel Boom in the round of 16 of the Belgian Cup on Wednesday. Kljestan started, played 90 minutes and accounted for a goal and an assist in Anderlecht's 4-0 victory over Lierse on Sunday. Kljestan helped pad Anderlecht's lead with a pinpoint through ball down the center of the field that led to the club's second goal in the 25th minute before tapping home a shot into an empty net on a 2-on-1 for the club's third tally 10 minutes later. The goal was Kljestan's first in the run of play this season -- his other came from the penalty spot. SEASON: 16 games, 16 starts, 2 goals



SCOTLAND

Premier League

Alejandro Bedoya, M, Rangers FC -- Not in the 18 for Rangers' 2-1 victory over Aberdeen on Saturday. SEASON: 21 games, 17 starts, 4 goals (16 games, 15 starts, 4 goals with Orebro SK)

Carlos Bocanegra, D, Rangers FC -- Started, played 90 minutes in Rangers' 2-1 victory over Aberdeen on Saturday. SEASON: 13 games, 13 starts, 2 goals (1 game, 1 start with St. Etienne)

Dominic Cervi, GK, Celtic FC -- Not in the 18 for Celtic's 4-1 victory over Hibernian in the quarterfinals of the League Cup on Wednesday or for Celtic's 0-0 draw with Hibernian in league play Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Maurice Edu, M, Rangers FC -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Rangers' 2-1 victory over Aberdeen on Saturday. SEASON: 16 games, 16 starts, 2 goals

MEXICO

Primera Division

DaMarcus Beasley, M, Puebla -- Started, played 90 minutes in Puebla's 2-1 victory over Estudiantes Tecos on Wednesday and in Puebla's 3-2 victory over Club America on Sunday. SEASON: 15 games, 15 starts, 2 goals

Jonathan Bornstein, D, Tigres UANL -- Not in the 18 for Tigres' 1-0 loss to Chivas de Guadalajara on Wednesday. Bornstein was in the 18 but did not play in Tigres' 2-1 victory over Santos Laguna on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

Edgar Castillo, D, Club America -- Not in the 18 for America's 1-1 draw with Santos Laguna on Wednesday or for America's 3-2 loss to Puebla on Sunday. SEASON: 7 games, 5 starts

Joe Corona, F, Tijuana -- In the 18, did not play in Tijuana's 2-0 victory over Jaguares on Wednesday. Corona was not in the 18 for Tijuana's 0-0 draw with San Luis on Sunday. SEASON: 12 games, 7 starts, 2 goals

Michael Orozco Fiscal, D, San Luis -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in San Luis' 2-1 victory over Queretaro on Wednesday. Orozco Fiscal also started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in San Luis' 0-0 draw with Tijuana on Sunday. SEASON: 11 games, 10 starts

Herculez Gomez, F, Estudiantes Tecos -- Started, played 90 minutes in Tecos' 2-1 loss to Puebla on Wednesday. Gomez also started and played 81 minutes in Tecos' 2-0 loss to Cruz Azul on Sunday. SEASON: 15 games, 8 starts, 7 goals

Sonny Guadarrama, M, Atlante -- In the 18, did not play in Atlante's 1-0 loss to Pumas UNAM on Wednesday. Guadarrama was in the 18 and came on as a halftime substitute in Atlante's 4-4 draw with Morelia on Saturday. SEASON: 2 games

Adrian Ruelas, F, Jaguares -- Not in the 18 for Jaguares' 2-0 loss to Tijuana on Wednesday or for Jaguares' 4-0 victory over Pumas UNAM on Saturday. SEASON: 0 games

DENMARK

Superliga

Clarence Goodson, D, Brondby IF -- Started, played 90 minutes and picked up a yellow card in Brondby's 3-0 loss to FC Copenhagen in the round of 16 of the DBU Pokalen (Danish Cup) on Thursday. Goodson also started and played 90 minutes in Brondby's 1-1 draw with Aalborg BK in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 17 games, 17 starts

Conor O'Brien, M, Sonderjyske -- In the 18, came on as a 72nd-minute substitute in Sonderjyske's 2-0 extra-time victory over Hobro in the round of 16 of the DBU Pokalen on Wednesday. O'Brien was in the 18 and came on as a 79th-minute substitute in Sonderjyske's 1-1 draw with FC Midtjylland in league play Monday. SEASON: 13 games, 7 starts, 2 goals

Michael Parkhurst, D, FC Nordsjaelland -- Started, played 90 minutes in Nordsjaelland's 1-0 victory over FC Midtjylland in the round of 16 of the DBU Pokalen on Thursday. Parkhurst also started and played 87 minutes in Nordsjaelland's 1-0 loss to Lyngby in league play Sunday. SEASON: 18 games, 18 starts

Chris Rolfe, F, Aalborg BK -- Started, played 67 minutes and assisted on a goal in Aalborg's 1-1 draw with Brondby IF on Sunday. Rolfe did a tremendous job to hold the ball while fending off three defenders at different times in the corner before crossing from the left with his right foot to Lasse Nielsen for the header. SEASON: 15 games, 13 starts, 4 goals

Brad Rusin, D, HB Koge -- Started, played 120 minutes in Koge's 2-1 extra-time victory over Roskilde in the round of 16 of the DBU Pokalen on Thursday. Rusin also started and played 90 minutes in Koge's 2-0 loss to AGF Aarhus in league play on Sunday. SEASON: 11 games, 9

starts, 2 goals



NORWAY

Tippeligaen

Sean Cunningham, D, Molde FK -- Not in the 18 for Molde's 2-2 draw with Stromsgodset on Sunday. The draw, combined with Brann's victory over Rosenborg ensured that Molde will win the league title and the Champions League berth that goes along with it. With two games left in the season, Molde leads second-place Tromso by eight points and third-place Rosenborg by nine. SEASON: 2 games, 2 starts

Mikkel Diskerud, M, Stabaek -- Started, played 90 minutes in Stabaek's 2-0 loss to Aalesund on Thursday. Diskerud also started and played 90 minutes in Stabaek's 0-0 draw with Sogndal on Sunday. With two games remaining in the season, Stabaek is assured of remaining in the top flight for another season, but the club is also guaranteed of another season without European competition. SEASON: 30 games, 30 starts, 3 goals

Josh Gatt, M/D, Molde FK -- Not in the 18 for Molde's 2-2 draw with Stromsgodset on Sunday. SEASON: 27 games, 19 starts, 5 goals

 

[scoobygang]

Who's going to fire up the #1 Fan of Cyprus Soccer alias?

 

[Eephus]

Another Champions League win for Apoel Nicosia. They're sitting top of Group G with two games to play, one of which is a home game against bottom dwellers Shakhtar Donetsk.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Meh performance today from Arsenal. Park never really got into the game and Gervinho was mostly ineffective. Looked to me like the offense just never got going. Marseille looked good in the 2nd half.

 

[NewlyRetired]

This is about as subtle as a cement block to the head. Z, this any where near you?

MLS gauging interest in club playing in Baltimore

By Steven Goff

Soccer fans in the Baltimore area have begun receiving an MLS-commissioned survey to gauge interest about a team playing there through expansion or relocation.

The survey alarmed supporters of D.C. United, which has failed to find a replacement for RFK Stadium in Washington and is entertaining proposals from Baltimore.

“We are busy looking ahead to the future of our league,” MLS chief marketing officer Russ Findlay wrote in the e-mail. “As a part of this planning, we are conducting research in Baltimore to help determine the viability of the market as a potential future home of an MLS club.”

Fans are asked, among other things, how likely they would be to attend matches if a current or new team moved into a soccer-specific stadium in the Westport area of Baltimore.

More.....

The state of Maryland, city of Baltimore and Maryland Stadium Authority have approached United about moving into a proposed venue in Westport, which is near Oriole Park at Camden Yards and M&T Bank Stadium. The plan is still in the very early stages.

However, “we’ve been saying this could happen,” United President Kevin Payne told the Insider. “This isn’t a game. This is serious. This isn’t a bluff. Part of it is trying to understand what that means for our business.

“From our point of view, it’s just due diligence. You have to understand your options. We’re trying to understand the depth of interest in Baltimore.”

United has spent all 16 MLS seasons in Washington but club officials have said playing at 50-year-old RFK is not economically viable. Talks with D.C. officials have shown no signs of progress. Buzzard Point in Southwest D.C., near Nationals Park, has been the club’s primary focus. Previous negotiations, involving Poplar Point in Anacostia and then Prince George’s County in Maryland, collapsed.

The survey also asks fans: If you could influence any of the following MLS teams to relocate to Baltimore, which team would you rather have move to Baltimore?

Columbus Crew

D.C. United

FC Dallas

New York Red Bulls

Philadelphia Union

No preference

By Steven Goff | 05:26 PM ET, 11/01/2011

 

[Mjolnirs]

Looks like another Champions League game day and no Bayern.

Man U v Otelul Galati and Real Madrid v Lyon being shown live and replayed about 10 times over the next 24 hours.

Never mind, I found it ... Bayern v Napoli is showing 28 freaking hours later on Thursday night!

 

[Eephus]

Meh performance today from Arsenal. Park never really got into the game and Gervinho was mostly ineffective. Looked to me like the offense just never got going. Marseille looked good in the 2nd half.

A draw isn't a bad result. They still can advance with a win over Olympiakos regardless of what happens vs. Dortmund.

 

[bentley]

What should we make of the names on the list on the Baltimore survey? I thought some of those clubs got a pretty fair amount of support.

 

[NewlyRetired]

What should we make of the names on the list on the Baltimore survey? I thought some of those clubs got a pretty fair amount of support.

Make nothing of it. It was the poorest designed smoke screen ever. The survey is only about DC.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Meh performance today from Arsenal. Park never really got into the game and Gervinho was mostly ineffective. Looked to me like the offense just never got going. Marseille looked good in the 2nd half.

A draw isn't a bad result. They still can advance with a win over Olympiakos regardless of what happens vs. Dortmund.

No real complaints here, and I don't think they played poorly. 4 points from the Marseille matches is definitely a good result for them. I just thought they played a slightly-frustrating match today; they weren't at their best.

 

[Tick]

The ESPN podcast guys said about the Chelsea-Arsenal game, "It was madder than a box of frogs."

Please tell me that's a common phrase in England.

 

[LHUCKS]

Edson Buddle, F, FC Ingolstadt 04 -- Started, played 74 minutes in Ingolstadt's 6-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday. Buddle also started and played 80 minutes in Ingolstadt's 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in league play Sunday. SEASON: 15 games, 8 starts, 6 goals

Buddle is possibly the most overlooked player in the recent history of American soccer. Bradley Sr. really screwed the pooch not getting him more involved in 2010.

 

[Eephus]

Edson Buddle, F, FC Ingolstadt 04 -- Started, played 74 minutes in Ingolstadt's 6-0 loss to Bayern Munich in the second round of the DFB Pokal on Wednesday. Buddle also started and played 80 minutes in Ingolstadt's 1-1 draw with Eintracht Frankfurt in league play Sunday. SEASON: 15 games, 8 starts, 6 goals

Buddle is possibly the most overlooked player in the recent history of American soccer. Bradley Sr. really screwed the pooch not getting him more involved in 2010.

He helped a lot in that 6-0 defeat.

 

[Sebowski]

Meh performance today from Arsenal. Park never really got into the game and Gervinho was mostly ineffective. Looked to me like the offense just never got going. Marseille looked good in the 2nd half.

A draw isn't a bad result. They still can advance with a win over Olympiakos regardless of what happens vs. Dortmund.

No real complaints here, and I don't think they played poorly. 4 points from the Marseille matches is definitely a good result for them. I just thought they played a slightly-frustrating match today; they weren't at their best.

What scared me about Arsenal today was it was a glimpse of how bad their final third can look without RVP. If RVP goes down for a decent stretch, they're ####ed. Park was terrible up top.

 

[jonessed]

Meh performance today from Arsenal. Park never really got into the game and Gervinho was mostly ineffective. Looked to me like the offense just never got going. Marseille looked good in the 2nd half.

A draw isn't a bad result. They still can advance with a win over Olympiakos regardless of what happens vs. Dortmund.

No real complaints here, and I don't think they played poorly. 4 points from the Marseille matches is definitely a good result for them. I just thought they played a slightly-frustrating match today; they weren't at their best.

What scared me about Arsenal today was it was a glimpse of how bad their final third can look without RVP. If RVP goes down for a decent stretch, they're ####ed. Park was terrible up top.

Van Persie's run hasn't changed the fact that their defense sucks and their midfield is mediocre. RVP doesn't have to go down, he will inevitably gravitate back to his mean (which for RVP is still pretty damn good) and they will struggle once again.It's pretty unbelievable that he is single-handedly keeping this team in contention. Amazing really.

 

[Sebowski]

Meh performance today from Arsenal. Park never really got into the game and Gervinho was mostly ineffective. Looked to me like the offense just never got going. Marseille looked good in the 2nd half.

A draw isn't a bad result. They still can advance with a win over Olympiakos regardless of what happens vs. Dortmund.

No real complaints here, and I don't think they played poorly. 4 points from the Marseille matches is definitely a good result for them. I just thought they played a slightly-frustrating match today; they weren't at their best.

What scared me about Arsenal today was it was a glimpse of how bad their final third can look without RVP. If RVP goes down for a decent stretch, they're ####ed. Park was terrible up top.

Van Persie's run hasn't changed the fact that their defense sucks and their midfield is mediocre. RVP doesn't have to go down, he will inevitably gravitate back to his mean (which for RVP is still pretty damn good) and they will struggle once again.It's pretty unbelievable that he is single-handedly keeping this team in contention. Amazing really.

The first 20-30 minutes of the Arsenal-Chelsea game I getting pissed at RVP. It seemed like he was playing like he had to do everything on his own. Turns out he does.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Steve Ralston is the people's choice to succeed Steve Nicol as head coach of the New England Revolution. The Houston Dynamo assistant coach will interview for the job in the coming days or weeks, according to the Houston Chronicle. "The Revolution requested permission, and we granted it," Dynamo president Chris Canetti said.Ralston played for the Revolution from 2002-12, appearing 202 times. He featured in the midfield during the team's glory years and remains a fan favorite. Injuries forced him to retire in 2010 and he began his coaching career immediately thereafter. He is currently in his second year as an assistant to Dynamo head coach Dominic "The process has begun, and when we're set to name a coach we'll make that announcement," Lizz Summers, New England's director of communications, said.Ralston is familiar with some players on the roster, but there has been a significant turnover in the Revs' locker room since he left in 2010. He is an attractive candidate for the job because of his experience as a player and coach.He is Major League Soccer's all-time leader in assists and minutes played. He played for and coached under the league's two most successful coaches of the last decade in Nicol and Kinnear.Houston is involved in the MLS playoffs, so if Ralston received the Revs' coaching job, he would not be able to accept before Houston finishes the season.

 

[Moe.]

Gonna be awful weather tonight for the Rapids-Sporting match. I don't know what kind of an impact that'll have on the crowd, as of this morning there were still ~500 tickets left.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Gonna be awful weather tonight for the Rapids-Sporting match. I don't know what kind of an impact that'll have on the crowd, as of this morning there were still ~500 tickets left.

The weather seems to have been horrible for almost every playoff game so far. I am sure there will be some no shows tonight in the crowd but they will likely still sell out. Someone mentioned that the club tweeted this afternoon the SRO tickets were going on sale. I have not confirmed that though so take with a grain of salt.

 

[NewlyRetired]

LA cut a deal with the local college to up their reduced capacity from 15k to 20k for the NY second leg. They will be providing shuttles so that the parking impact is not affected.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Clint Dempsey was named the US Player of the Year for 2011 finally breaking a string of 4 straight wins by Landon. Howard came in second in the voting.

Here is a list of the previous years winners

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Player_of_the_Year

 

[NewlyRetired]

In MLS playoff games tonight

KC hosts Colorado at 8 eastern on FSC

Sea hosts RSL 10 eastern on ESPN2

 

[NewlyRetired]

Bill Hamid is training with WBA now that DC's season is over. Like Shea, I don't see how he could ever acquire a work permit even if he wowed them. Unless Timmy loses a leg, there is no way Hamid is going to get enough caps to help the permit process.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11698/7286658/Baggies-look-at-USA-keeper

 

[El Floppo]

Clint Dempsey was named the US Player of the Year for 2011 finally breaking a string of 4 straight wins by Landon. Howard came in second in the voting.Here is a list of the previous years winnershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Player_of_the_Year

amazing McBride never won that.Dempsey seems the clear-cut choice this year though... happy it wasn't given by default to LD again.

 

[El Floppo]

oh yeah- #### Marquez.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Clint Dempsey was named the US Player of the Year for 2011 finally breaking a string of 4 straight wins by Landon. Howard came in second in the voting.Here is a list of the previous years winnershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_Player_of_the_Year

amazing McBride never won that.

no Friedel, or Harkes or Ramos along with no McBride.Harkes, Fridel and McBride at least came in second. Ramos never finished better than 3rd.

 

[NewlyRetired]

oh yeah- #### Marquez.

Lets assume NY does not beat LA tomorrow night and assume that Backe gets fired.Do they keep Marquez next year or use that huge salary on two solid DP level players?

 

[NewlyRetired]

This looks lovely. 40 degrees and steady rain..

I was going to recommend casual viewers watch for KC's Graham Zusi as he is an up a coming attacking midfielder and will likely get called in January to camp cupcake but the weather may make the game a total mess.

 

[Sebowski]

oh yeah- #### Marquez.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Garber all but admitted during the half time interview that yet another tweak is coming to the DP rule. No useful information was given about team 20, just same ol we need to figure out the stadium in NY stuff.

 

[Good Posting Judge]

Soccernet reporting that Real Madrid is getting Neymar in the summer for ten bazillion dollars.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/978467/santos-star-neymar-to-join-real-madrid-for-L53m?cc=5901

 

[El Floppo]

oh yeah- #### Marquez.

Lets assume NY does not beat LA tomorrow night and assume that Backe gets fired.Do they keep Marquez next year or use that huge salary on two solid DP level players?

Marquez pretty clearly didn't give a #### this year. Whether that was Backe, or on him, I don't know- although Id guess the latter.I don't see Marquez magically becoming interested in playing much differently next year, so management would be foolish not to offload him as best they can

 

[El Floppo]

Seattle needing a major miracle at this point.... but I wouldn't put it past them.

 

[El Floppo]

Seattle needing a major miracle at this point.... but I wouldn't put it past them.

 

[El Floppo]

Good piece on Agudelo getting the Euro butt splinters right here in MLS :(

October 31, 2011

Agudelo wastes away on the bench while Red Bulls wastes potential scoring chances

By Michael Lewis

BigAppleSoccer.com Editor

The Red Bulls might as well sell Juan Agudelo to a European club because he certainly isn't getting an opportunity to develop with the Major League Soccer club.

I understand why Agudelo isn't starting. When you have the striking likes of Thierry Henry and Luke Rodgers up front and the talented Joel Lindpere and Dane Richards on the midfield flanks, there is very little room for him to start outside of an injury or a suspension.

But when the game was on the line and the team needed a goal on Sunday, it just boggles the mind that the 18-year-old Agudelo wasted away on the bench, most likely in frustration, along with some 23,000 spectators who witnessed the Red Bulls go down to the LA Galaxy. They lost, 1-0, in the Western Conference semifinal total goals first leg at Red Bull Arena this past Sunday.

Midfielder Mehdi Ballouchy, one of the heroes of the 1-0 wildcard win at FC Dallas last week (he set up the goal two minutes after stepping onto the field), replaced Luke Rodgers in the 80th minute as Richards moved up top alongside Henry.

Ballouchy can run more cold than hot.

So can Agudelo, who is still learning his craft at the professional level. But the upside is that he can make things happen and make plays that other players can't.

But as has been his habit, Red Bulls coach Hans Backe refused to use his full complement of three substitutes vs. LA. If Backe had been bold or daring, he could have replaced Rafa Marquez (now that is a real waste of talent, a topic for another column) with Agudelo with 10 minutes left in the game and have Ballouchy move to the middle.

The Red Bulls enter the second leg and the Galaxy's den on Thursday night a goal down. The Galaxy have been virtually invincible at The Home Depot Center, going unbeaten in MLS action this season (12-0-5).

Backe likes to talk about how the Red Bulls beat the Galaxy in Carson, Calif. last year, 1-0. That is true. But that was in 2010. That was then and this is now and the Galaxy is an improved team. With MLS Cup on home turf this year and the bitter memory of getting desposed as Supporter Shield winners in the opening round last year, the Galaxy players have a lot of motivation to defend and play their hearts out on Thursday.

LA starts the final 90 minutes of the total goals series a goal up. Does Backe or any Red Bulls fan in his or her right mind think that the Galaxy will go out and attack from the opening whistle at 11:08 p.m. ET on Thursday night? Knowing LA coach Bruce Arena, he will sit back and wait to counterattack. And if the Galaxy manages to grab a two-goal advantage, I would not be surprised that if Backe finally puts in Agudelo in that situation, it could very well be too late.

If Agudelo is good enough to be in the U.S. National Team pool and play for the red, white and blue, he should be at least good enough to come in off the bench for the Red Bulls late in a match.

Hopefully, Agudelo won't take it personally. He has been mismanaged by Backe down the stretch. In fact, Backe has mismanaged the Red Bulls all season and this is just another incidence of it. Everything is more magnified in the playoffs.

Having Agudelo waste away on the bench is a crying shame.

That is certainly not a fire-able offense. But if you add up all of the other missed opportunities, missed cues, a limited number of substitutions, questionable strategy and other problems the Red Bulls have endured, you have to be blind to know that Backe has down a sub-par job of getting the most out of this team.

Like every other American league, MLS has a coach of the year. I would love to see who is rated as the 18th coach, outside of the ones who have bitten the dust already. Backe surely would be in the running for an honor no one would want to have.

Hopefully, the next coach will give Agudelo his due and playing time.

Sitting at the same podium that Backe addresses the media after Red Buls disappointments at RBA, err, I mean games, U.S. national coach Juergen Klinsmann talked about the talents of Agudelo after the 1-0 loss to Ecuador on Oct. 11.

“We see in Juan a very special talent coming through the ranks,” he said. “He's 18-years-old and has a long way to go, but he's a tremendous talent. We have two plans for him. One is for him to be here and learn from the other players in this squad and get used to a higher intensity training.

“Number two is he will be part of an Olympic team that tries to get to London next summer, and that could be his first big international tournament. Going forward he can only learn and only improve."

Well, at least one of his coaches thinks highly of Agudelo.

I would love to hear what Klinsmann thinks of one of his promising young talents getting stifled. Not playing at a European side is one thing, but not getting a whiff of action at American club is another.

What a waste. What a waste.

Agudelo- from what little I've seen of him live, including this recent US v Ecuador game- is an obvious highlight in waiting when he's on the ball. His composure and confidence going forward is astonishing... enough to constantly make me forget just how young he is. But his savvy off the ball is routinely lacking- even though he's working hard, he doesn't know when or where to make his runs and hasn't figured out how to best compliment his team-mates with his movement off the ball... yes, hucks, the work that leads to better spacing for the team which overall makes the team play better.

I'll admit to being as frustrated as everybody else when watching on TV how little time he gets for the StarReds, especially considering how good he looks when he gets the ball at his feet. TV doesn't allow us to see what's happening off the ball, but it's been telling this season watching Henry's body language with Agudelo when they're paired up. I've seen Henry routinely and evidently frustrated towards Agudelo onscreen- and I have to assume it's because of what Agudelo isn't doing when he doesn't have the ball as he doesn't react to Rogers in the same way, even when Rogers displays his inferior ball-skills (compared to Juan).

I dunno what the best solution is- ship him off somewhere in Europe that can afford him (which means a biggish club in a major league) and hope that they somehow ignore his deficiencies and let him play/get-loaned out or play reserve side games while training with a full squad of world class players? or let him learn the game comfortably at home from a master in Henry and a journey-man hard-worker (worthwhile skills to be learned there too) in Rogers?

I do agree that Backe's player management has been pretty poor. Even though I agree with him that Agudelo shouldn't be starting, I still think he should be getting offensive players on the field at the 60-70 minute mark rather than with less than 10 minutes left. And yes- Agudelo should be seeing the field for those last 20+ minutes to help give his team a boost if they need a goal. I like Balouchy a lot and would prefer to see him and Agudelo both go into games rather than see Marquez jog lightly around and #####, #####, #####.

 

[LHUCKS]

who has the advantage if this goes to kicks?

 

[LHUCKS]

Great save by Keller!

 

[NewlyRetired]

Seattle needing a major miracle at this point.... but I wouldn't put it past them.

What a fabulous game. It is litterally non stop action.