***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (7 Viewers)

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

I wish they'd take a few minutes before each game and explain how the roles are different in an unorthodox formation (or even a normal one). How player responsibilities differ in a diamond 4-4-2 vs a normal 4-4-2 - that kind of thing.

Have to admit my USNMT knowledge is lacking these days. There are some guys in the 23 you listed I couldn't tell you anything about.

What's the consensus on Altidore now? He's looked the biz the few times I've seen him play.

And Adu? I knew he'd rebounded some, but wasn't aware that he was being seriously considered for the WC team. (I was at his much-hyped debut at RFK and really thought I was watching the next big thing. Oops)

ETA: Rimando is our 3rd string keeper? Is that depressing to other people too, or is this just more proof that I'm a little bit out of the loop?

 

[NewlyRetired]

I wish they'd take a few minutes before each game and explain how the roles are different in an unorthodox formation (or even a normal one). How player responsibilities differ in a diamond 4-4-2 vs a normal 4-4-2 - that kind of thing. Have to admit my USNMT knowledge is lacking these days. There are some guys in the 23 you listed I couldn't tell you anything about.What's the consensus on Altidore now? He's looked the biz the few times I've seen him play.And Adu? I knew he'd rebounded some, but wasn't aware that he was being seriously considered for the WC team. (I was at his much-hyped debut at RFK and really thought I was watching the next big thing. Oops)ETA: Rimando is our 3rd string keeper? Is that depressing to other people too, or is this just more proof that I'm a little bit out of the loop?

Jozy has had some growing pains but he seems to finally have found his niche on one of the best teams in Holland. At 22, if he can keep his head straight and keep getting club minutes, he could be a first choice striker for US for many years to come. Adu is obviously a huge enigma. He has had a poor (there is no other word for it) club career. Certainly no where near good enough to be considered for the national team. The problem with Adu is when he has received international minutes, he has played well. He played well for the US in the last Gold Cup and was one if the few US players to look good during Olympic Qualifying. Rimando is there only because Hamid looked weak during the Olympics. JK really likes Hamid so it would not surprise me to see Hamid in the top 3 assuming he gets over his injury quickly. Let me know if there are other players you are interested in an opinion on.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I wish they'd take a few minutes before each game and explain how the roles are different in an unorthodox formation (or even a normal one). How player responsibilities differ in a diamond 4-4-2 vs a normal 4-4-2 - that kind of thing.

Try here, this is a decent start. If you are still interested for more in depth details I am sure someone can offer a good book. http://www.soccer-training-guide.com/soccer-formations.html

 

[Steve Tasker]

We are probably about a month or so away from JK announcing his 23 for the combined 5 friendlies and WCQiers. Here is my guess, assuming all healthy (except Holden) and all available (assuming Landon does not come down with hepatitis c or some other reason to miss again)Keeper:1) Howard2) Guzan3) RimandoRight Back4) Cher5) ChandlerRight Center Back6) Gooch7) GoodsonLeft Center Back8) Boca9) ReamLeft Back10) Fabian Johnson11) Eric Lichai Utility defender12) SpectorHolding/Defensive/Central Midfielders13) Bradley14) Jones15) EduOffensive midfielders/ wide players16) Dempsey17) Donovan18) Shea19) AduForwards20) Jozy21) Herculez22) Boyd23) The most in form of Buddle/Bunbury/Sappong/Cooper/AgudeloJK also mentioned he will have a list of stand by players but won't call them into camp. Stand ByKeeper: HamidDefender: Cameron/John/CastilloMidfielders: Sacha/Beckerman/Williams/Zusi/MixForwards: See 23 above for whom is not picked as the last forward.

Torres completely off the radar? I was reading Ives this afternoon and he was all over him, even had him tabbed as a likely starter.

 

[NewlyRetired]

We are probably about a month or so away from JK announcing his 23 for the combined 5 friendlies and WCQiers. Here is my guess, assuming all healthy (except Holden) and all available (assuming Landon does not come down with hepatitis c or some other reason to miss again)Keeper:1) Howard2) Guzan3) RimandoRight Back4) Cher5) ChandlerRight Center Back6) Gooch7) GoodsonLeft Center Back8) Boca9) ReamLeft Back10) Fabian Johnson11) Eric Lichai Utility defender12) SpectorHolding/Defensive/Central Midfielders13) Bradley14) Jones15) EduOffensive midfielders/ wide players16) Dempsey17) Donovan18) Shea19) AduForwards20) Jozy21) Herculez22) Boyd23) The most in form of Buddle/Bunbury/Sappong/Cooper/AgudeloJK also mentioned he will have a list of stand by players but won't call them into camp. Stand ByKeeper: HamidDefender: Cameron/John/CastilloMidfielders: Sacha/Beckerman/Williams/Zusi/MixForwards: See 23 above for whom is not picked as the last forward.

Torres completely off the radar? I was reading Ives this afternoon and he was all over him, even had him tabbed as a likely starter.

Yeah he was forgotten by me. Thanks for mentioning him. I do realize that he is getting minutes again and JK seemed to like his play before he got hurt.He could easily bump Adu in the 23 if his form is good.

 

[El Floppo]

That's ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with more information. Otherwise everything is a 4-4-2 or a 4-5-1 pretty much.

Everything pretty much is 4-4-2 or 4-5-1. Or the old 4-3-3 that I played in back in the 80s.

FIFA Formations list:

3-4-1-3

3-4-2-1

3-4-3(1)

3-5-2

4-1-2-1-2(1)

4-2-2-2

4-3-1-2

4-3-2-1

4-3-3(1)

4-4-1-1(1)

4-4-2(1)

4-5-1

5-2-1-2

5-2-2-1

5-3-2

5-4-1(1)

4-1-2-1-2(2)

4-3-3(2)

4-4-2(2)

4-1-4-1

4-1-3-2

4-4-1-1(2)

4-2-3-1(2)

4-3-3(3)

4-3-3(4)

5-4-1(2)

3-4-3(2)

Obviously.

To be fair, those are all versions of Christo's 3, plus a 3 back variation (3-4-3, 3-5-2... latter of which we used in college)

 

[El Floppo]

I'm old enough to remember when the standard lineup on a team sheet was given as 2-3-5. Two full backs, three across the middle (wing halves and a center half) and five towards the front (two wingers, two inside forwards and a center forward). Teams didn't necessarily play that way but that was the way they were usually shown.

This is exactly the formation I first played in.I'm still not entirely sure how the scores weren't in double digits every time out.

 

[El Floppo]

We are probably about a month or so away from JK announcing his 23 for the combined 5 friendlies and WCQiers. Here is my guess, assuming all healthy (except Holden) and all available (assuming Landon does not come down with hepatitis c or some other reason to miss again)Keeper:1) Howard2) Guzan3) RimandoRight Back4) Cher5) ChandlerRight Center Back6) Gooch7) GoodsonLeft Center Back8) Boca9) ReamLeft Back10) Fabian Johnson11) Eric Lichai Utility defender12) SpectorHolding/Defensive/Central Midfielders13) Bradley14) Jones15) EduOffensive midfielders/ wide players16) Dempsey17) Donovan18) Shea19) AduForwards20) Jozy21) Herculez22) Boyd23) The most in form of Buddle/Bunbury/Sappong/Cooper/AgudeloJK also mentioned he will have a list of stand by players but won't call them into camp. Stand ByKeeper: HamidDefender: Cameron/John/CastilloMidfielders: Sacha/Beckerman/Williams/Zusi/MixForwards: See 23 above for whom is not picked as the last forward.

Torres completely off the radar? I was reading Ives this afternoon and he was all over him, even had him tabbed as a likely starter.

Yeah he was forgotten by me. Thanks for mentioning him. I do realize that he is getting minutes again and JK seemed to like his play before he got hurt.He could easily bump Adu in the 23 if his form is good.

Isn't there a Germany kid named Danny somethingorother? Thought he was in there with Fabian and Wilhelm Chandler?

 

[Steve Tasker]

JK also mentioned he will have a list of stand by players but won't call them into camp. Stand ByKeeper: HamidDefender: Cameron/John/CastilloMidfielders: Sacha/Beckerman/Williams/Zusi/MixForwards: See 23 above for whom is not picked as the last forward.

Torres completely off the radar? I was reading Ives this afternoon and he was all over him, even had him tabbed as a likely starter.

Yeah he was forgotten by me. Thanks for mentioning him. I do realize that he is getting minutes again and JK seemed to like his play before he got hurt.He could easily bump Adu in the 23 if his form is good.

Isn't there a Germany kid named Danny somethingorother? Thought he was in there with Fabian and Wilhelm Chandler?

Danny Williams. I assumed he was the "Williams" that Andy mentioned above.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Torres completely off the radar? I was reading Ives this afternoon and he was all over him, even had him tabbed as a likely starter.

Yeah he was forgotten by me. Thanks for mentioning him. I do realize that he is getting minutes again and JK seemed to like his play before he got hurt.He could easily bump Adu in the 23 if his form is good.

I just didn't know if you knew something I didn't, like he was hurt or something. I was surprised to see them so high on him, but I was unaware that he's apparently in good form right now.

 

[NewlyRetired]

JK also mentioned he will have a list of stand by players but won't call them into camp. Stand ByKeeper: HamidDefender: Cameron/John/CastilloMidfielders: Sacha/Beckerman/Williams/Zusi/MixForwards: See 23 above for whom is not picked as the last forward.

Torres completely off the radar? I was reading Ives this afternoon and he was all over him, even had him tabbed as a likely starter.

Yeah he was forgotten by me. Thanks for mentioning him. I do realize that he is getting minutes again and JK seemed to like his play before he got hurt.He could easily bump Adu in the 23 if his form is good.

Isn't there a Germany kid named Danny somethingorother? Thought he was in there with Fabian and Wilhelm Chandler?

Danny Williams. I assumed he was the "Williams" that Andy mentioned above.

Yes Danny Williams is the Williams I listed above in the stand by midfielders. I should use full names in the future

 

[NewlyRetired]

Dempsey with 2 goals in the first half against Bolton. I think that puts him at 15 for the year in the EPL?

 

[NewlyRetired]

Bradley scored today for for Chievo. I believe this is his first Serie A goal.

I read on twitter this is the first American international goal scorer in Serie A since Alexi Lalas.

Rossi has scored in Serie A

 

[NewlyRetired]

Slight edit on my part to account for his second goal after this tweet occurred

OptaJack (@OptaJack)

4/7/12 10:36 AM

15 - Clint Dempsey has now scored 15 goals in the Premier League this season; more than any other Fulham player in a single PL campaign.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Blackburn and Wigan both lost today keeping Bolton 1 point out of the relegation zone.

 

[El Floppo]

Wigan deserved better, IMO.

But I'm glad their loss is Bolton's gain, for the US player's future.

 

[Christo]

Wigan deserved better, IMO.

But I'm glad their loss is Bolton's gain, for the US player's future.

You got that right.Wigan's and Blackburn's losses are good fro Bolton and QPR!

 

[jonessed]

Rough for Wigan. How does a lineman miss somebody a yard offsides? It boggles the mind.

 

[Ursa M]

Rough for Wigan. How does a lineman miss somebody a yard offsides? It boggles the mind.

It boggles the mind when you're spectating, not so much when you're the linesman. I used to be one at semi-pro level and it's not quite as easy as it looks, especially when the ball is whipped in from a position near you where you have to move your head and adjust your focus to see the point where it lands / where it's going. Basically, you need to be able to watch both places at once since the thing that matters is where the players were when the ball was kicked. It's further complicated by the modifications to the offside law about whether a player is taking part in the play or not.

 

[Christo]

NACHOS!

 

[NewlyRetired]

LA visits KC today at 4pm eastern on ESPN. Should be an interesting game.

 

[NewlyRetired]

23) The most in form of Buddle/Bunbury/Sappong/Cooper/Agudelo

This list may come more into focus in the next couple of weeks. Cooper is playing well and is now leading MLS in scoring (6, tied with his running mate Henry). NY is scoring like crazy right now (12 goals in a little over 2.5 games) so this is likely to slow down. As a side affect, this is likely to keep Agudelo's playing time way down. Over at KC, Sappong has replaced Bunbury as the starting striker.

 

[jonessed]

Rough for Wigan. How does a lineman miss somebody a yard offsides? It boggles the mind.

It boggles the mind when you're spectating, not so much when you're the linesman. I used to be one at semi-pro level and it's not quite as easy as it looks, especially when the ball is whipped in from a position near you where you have to move your head and adjust your focus to see the point where it lands / where it's going. Basically, you need to be able to watch both places at once since the thing that matters is where the players were when the ball was kicked. It's further complicated by the modifications to the offside law about whether a player is taking part in the play or not.

He was in line and the ball didn't come from anywhere near him. There is no excuse for missing such an easy call. Ivanovich was walking back, it's not like he bolted from an onside position.He blew it and I actually think he knew he was in trouble when the ref came over to acknowledge that he was sure. He hung his head like a beat dog.

 

[Ursa M]

Rough for Wigan. How does a lineman miss somebody a yard offsides? It boggles the mind.

It boggles the mind when you're spectating, not so much when you're the linesman. I used to be one at semi-pro level and it's not quite as easy as it looks, especially when the ball is whipped in from a position near you where you have to move your head and adjust your focus to see the point where it lands / where it's going. Basically, you need to be able to watch both places at once since the thing that matters is where the players were when the ball was kicked. It's further complicated by the modifications to the offside law about whether a player is taking part in the play or not.

He was in line and the ball didn't come from anywhere near him. There is no excuse for missing such an easy call. Ivanovich was walking back, it's not like he bolted from an onside position.He blew it and I actually think he knew he was in trouble when the ref came over to acknowledge that he was sure. He hung his head like a beat dog.

I'm not arguing with you at all - I haven't seen the incident in question. My comments were by way of observation is all. It isn't quite as easy as it looks.ETA: Certainly looked offside on Youtube.

 

[prefontaine]

Rough for Wigan. How does a lineman miss somebody a yard offsides? It boggles the mind.

It boggles the mind when you're spectating, not so much when you're the linesman. I used to be one at semi-pro level and it's not quite as easy as it looks, especially when the ball is whipped in from a position near you where you have to move your head and adjust your focus to see the point where it lands / where it's going. Basically, you need to be able to watch both places at once since the thing that matters is where the players were when the ball was kicked. It's further complicated by the modifications to the offside law about whether a player is taking part in the play or not.

He was in line and the ball didn't come from anywhere near him. There is no excuse for missing such an easy call. Ivanovich was walking back, it's not like he bolted from an onside position.He blew it and I actually think he knew he was in trouble when the ref came over to acknowledge that he was sure. He hung his head like a beat dog.

I'm not arguing with you at all - I haven't seen the incident in question. My comments were by way of observation is all. It isn't quite as easy as it looks.ETA: Certainly looked offside on Youtube.

While I don't disagree with your point that being an asst is much harder than it looks, that was a brutally bad call and how it only "looked" offside on youtube, suggesting there is any doubt, is unclear to me. He was two steps off with no visibility issues. If you are correctly positioned, that is not a particularly difficult call. And rather unfortunately, that blown call could have a massive impact on a number of club fortunes. Feel bad for Wigan but they may not be the only victim here as it may end up meaning as much to Newcastle, Arsenal, or Spurs as to Bolton, QPR, and Blackburn.

 

[Ursa M]

Rough for Wigan. How does a lineman miss somebody a yard offsides? It boggles the mind.

It boggles the mind when you're spectating, not so much when you're the linesman. I used to be one at semi-pro level and it's not quite as easy as it looks, especially when the ball is whipped in from a position near you where you have to move your head and adjust your focus to see the point where it lands / where it's going. Basically, you need to be able to watch both places at once since the thing that matters is where the players were when the ball was kicked. It's further complicated by the modifications to the offside law about whether a player is taking part in the play or not.

He was in line and the ball didn't come from anywhere near him. There is no excuse for missing such an easy call. Ivanovich was walking back, it's not like he bolted from an onside position.He blew it and I actually think he knew he was in trouble when the ref came over to acknowledge that he was sure. He hung his head like a beat dog.

I'm not arguing with you at all - I haven't seen the incident in question. My comments were by way of observation is all. It isn't quite as easy as it looks.ETA: Certainly looked offside on Youtube.

While I don't disagree with your point that being an asst is much harder than it looks, that was a brutally bad call and how it only "looked" offside on youtube, suggesting there is any doubt, is unclear to me. He was two steps off with no visibility issues. If you are correctly positioned, that is not a particularly difficult call. And rather unfortunately, that blown call could have a massive impact on a number of club fortunes. Feel bad for Wigan but they may not be the only victim here as it may end up meaning as much to Newcastle, Arsenal, or Spurs as to Bolton, QPR, and Blackburn.

Certainly was blown, no doubt about it at all. And your point about the ramifications is also spot on too.

 

[El Floppo]

Rough for Wigan. How does a lineman miss somebody a yard offsides? It boggles the mind.

It boggles the mind when you're spectating, not so much when you're the linesman. I used to be one at semi-pro level and it's not quite as easy as it looks, especially when the ball is whipped in from a position near you where you have to move your head and adjust your focus to see the point where it lands / where it's going. Basically, you need to be able to watch both places at once since the thing that matters is where the players were when the ball was kicked. It's further complicated by the modifications to the offside law about whether a player is taking part in the play or not.

 

[El Floppo]

23) The most in form of Buddle/Bunbury/Sappong/Cooper/Agudelo

This list may come more into focus in the next couple of weeks. Cooper is playing well and is now leading MLS in scoring (6, tied with his running mate Henry). NY is scoring like crazy right now (12 goals in a little over 2.5 games) so this is likely to slow down. As a side affect, this is likely to keep Agudelo's playing time way down. Over at KC, Sappong has replaced Bunbury as the starting striker.

For the first time that I've seen in his career (caveat- I haven't exactly followed every game in his career), Cooper is actually holding the ball up and playing like a real target forward. Still not seeing him winning the ball in the air as much as a guy his size should, but he's winning the ball on the ground, keeping defenders off of it more than two touches and finding his teammates in useful situations- even in traffic. A huge step up in a short time from the preseason and opening games and I hope it continues. His play is creating the space and time that's allowing Henry to push further up the field and not have to continuously drop deeper and deeper to get the ball.re: BullStars, I also really the confidence with which the defenders are playing the ball around. It will undoubtedly burn them more than once, but in this little stretch of wins/goals it's their play that's establishing the offensive rhythm that's allowing Henry and Cooper to find the later balls from the MFs.

 

[NewlyRetired]

23) The most in form of Buddle/Bunbury/Sappong/Cooper/Agudelo

This list may come more into focus in the next couple of weeks. Cooper is playing well and is now leading MLS in scoring (6, tied with his running mate Henry). NY is scoring like crazy right now (12 goals in a little over 2.5 games) so this is likely to slow down. As a side affect, this is likely to keep Agudelo's playing time way down. Over at KC, Sappong has replaced Bunbury as the starting striker.

For the first time that I've seen in his career (caveat- I haven't exactly followed every game in his career), Cooper is actually holding the ball up and playing like a real target forward. Still not seeing him winning the ball in the air as much as a guy his size should, but he's winning the ball on the ground, keeping defenders off of it more than two touches and finding his teammates in useful situations- even in traffic. A huge step up in a short time from the preseason and opening games and I hope it continues. His play is creating the space and time that's allowing Henry to push further up the field and not have to continuously drop deeper and deeper to get the ball.

A bunch of the soccer media in Twitter was saying the exact same thing about Cooper today. For his entire career he has always shifted out wide, bringing himself away from goal. Almost as if he thought he was more Ryan Giggs than Jan Koller.Supposedly John Spencer had a coronary trying to get through to Cooper last year to park his large body closer to goal but he never did which led Spencer to all but give him away for nothing to NY.Now all of a sudden in the last 4 or so games its like a bright light went off. Granted it is likely the first time he has ever had a Henry to feed him balls in the box but still no one can seem to figure out where his change in style came from all of a sudden after so many years. He has some obvious skills with his feet but not good enough to pretend his body type should ever be a wide player.The goals alone should provide him the impetus to continue and if he does, he is going to find himself part of the National Team setup in this cycle as he is still just 27.

 

[NewlyRetired]

And speaking of target forwards, while he is certainly not a gifted player by any means, every time I watch CJ Sappong play, I am so impressed at such a young experience level at how well he can hold the ball with his back to goal.

KC did not play great today by any means but are still perfect on the year now at 5-0-0. They have so many relatively young players coming of age at the same time and then plugging in an 11 year veteran like Convey is perfect, especially when Bobby is still only 28 years old.

 

[NewlyRetired]

re: BullStars, I also really the confidence with which the defenders are playing the ball around. It will undoubtedly burn them more than once, but in this little stretch of wins/goals it's their play that's establishing the offensive rhythm that's allowing Henry and Cooper to find the later balls from the MFs.

The turn around in the team is remarkable. I swear they were one game away from Backe being fired, but in that game he made three huge changes which transformed the team at 3 levels. Conde in back, Marquez in the middle and Cooper up top were all plugged in and I think they have won 3 straight with 13 goals scored in the 3 games.They are going to have to find some other contributors for scoring though. The team has 14 goals this year and Henry and Cooper have 13 of them.

 

[NewlyRetired]

The team some were dubbing as the greatest in MLS history before they kicked a ball are now in dead last place in the Western Conference.

LA has to turn this around sometime right?

This year may turn out to be much tougher than anyone imagined for LA.

First they lose Gonzo, their only real CB

Then they start the season horribly

And this summer both Becks and Keane are going to be missing games due to the Olympics and Euro's, and Landon may miss some games as well with the US.

 

[El Floppo]

23) The most in form of Buddle/Bunbury/Sappong/Cooper/Agudelo

This list may come more into focus in the next couple of weeks. Cooper is playing well and is now leading MLS in scoring (6, tied with his running mate Henry). NY is scoring like crazy right now (12 goals in a little over 2.5 games) so this is likely to slow down. As a side affect, this is likely to keep Agudelo's playing time way down. Over at KC, Sappong has replaced Bunbury as the starting striker.

For the first time that I've seen in his career (caveat- I haven't exactly followed every game in his career), Cooper is actually holding the ball up and playing like a real target forward. Still not seeing him winning the ball in the air as much as a guy his size should, but he's winning the ball on the ground, keeping defenders off of it more than two touches and finding his teammates in useful situations- even in traffic. A huge step up in a short time from the preseason and opening games and I hope it continues. His play is creating the space and time that's allowing Henry to push further up the field and not have to continuously drop deeper and deeper to get the ball.

A bunch of the soccer media in Twitter was saying the exact same thing about Cooper today. For his entire career he has always shifted out wide, bringing himself away from goal. Almost as if he thought he was more Ryan Giggs than Jan Koller.Supposedly John Spencer had a coronary trying to get through to Cooper last year to park his large body closer to goal but he never did which led Spencer to all but give him away for nothing to NY.Now all of a sudden in the last 4 or so games its like a bright light went off. Granted it is likely the first time he has ever had a Henry to feed him balls in the box but still no one can seem to figure out where his change in style came from all of a sudden after so many years. He has some obvious skills with his feet but not good enough to pretend his body type should ever be a wide player.The goals alone should provide him the impetus to continue and if he does, he is going to find himself part of the National Team setup in this cycle as he is still just 27.

fwiw- what I've seen of him so far this year, what I've liked of him has been less that he's pushing up on the last defender, but more that he's getting the ball closer to center stripe and his holdup play is allowing his teammates to reshape in a more offensive manner- MFs and outside backs have time to push up the field and Henry can start making his runs at goal, instead of drifting deep into the central third just so he can sniff the ball.Richards and Miller have been pushing up very well in this time. And oh yeah- Ballouchy looked really good today, particularly pairing with Dax (who killed himself plugging all the holes on both sides of the ball and consistently played the smart, quick ball) and even Marquez. Funny- Marquez actually seemed a little quiet to me, and still gave the ball away too cheaply/uncaringly for my liking. Or maybe I'm just pissed at El Tri and the only way I can get back at them is to be critical/catty about him.

 

[El Floppo]

The team some were dubbing as the greatest in MLS history before they kicked a ball are now in dead last place in the Western Conference.LA has to turn this around sometime right? This year may turn out to be much tougher than anyone imagined for LA.First they lose Gonzo, their only real CBThen they start the season horriblyAnd this summer both Becks and Keane are going to be missing games due to the Olympics and Euro's, and Landon may miss some games as well with the US.

damn- I wanted to watch the game.So wth is going on with the Gals? Are they just in a run of not converting chances after maintaining possession? Or are they getting outplayed? It's pretty jawdropping how bad a start they're having. The CL thing is the worst of it for me, given that they represented the best option (or so I thought) of the US finally breaking through to the Club Cup.

 

[NewlyRetired]

The team some were dubbing as the greatest in MLS history before they kicked a ball are now in dead last place in the Western Conference.LA has to turn this around sometime right? This year may turn out to be much tougher than anyone imagined for LA.First they lose Gonzo, their only real CBThen they start the season horriblyAnd this summer both Becks and Keane are going to be missing games due to the Olympics and Euro's, and Landon may miss some games as well with the US.

damn- I wanted to watch the game.So wth is going on with the Gals? Are they just in a run of not converting chances after maintaining possession? Or are they getting outplayed? It's pretty jawdropping how bad a start they're having. The CL thing is the worst of it for me, given that they represented the best option (or so I thought) of the US finally breaking through to the Club Cup.

It is hard to say. IMO it is a combo of things1) They don't want to admit it but Gonzo covered up a glaring hole in the middle of their defense. It makes me wonder what Gonzo will be like if he gets paired with a decent center back at the Nats level. 2) Even as experienced players they may have been reading too many of their press clippings3) Preseason might actually mean something. Having Landon, Juninho, and Keane miss pretty much the entire preseason put the team way behind everyone else, which screwed up the CCL and the start to the season. 4) The Buddle who sometimes plays like he is on drugs is back with a vengeance. Twellman speculated that he looked so out of it today that he must be injured and mentioned that he did not practice much in the build up to the KC game.

 

[NewlyRetired]

KC is the first team to be 5-0-0 in MLS since the 1996 Galaxy. (The Gals also did in one other year but that was via the old shoot out/overtime crap).

IMO, the two best MLS teams square off next week. First place in the East (KC) hosts first place in the West (RSL)

 

[Moe.]

Ashley Young should be drawn and quartered for that. What a ####### joke.

 

[TLEF316]

It was a missed offside too.

I wish they would have replay on scoring and penalties.

 

[Moe.]

It was a missed offside too. I wish they would have replay on scoring and penalties.

Yeah clearly offside and a blatant dive. I'm not really sure how the linesman missed that.

 

[TLEF316]

Its just too big of a play to rely on one mopey linesman's split second decision.

Now, the ref was the one who called the pk, but it should never have even happened

 

[TLEF316]

Scholes' passing has been unreal today.

 

[TLEF316]

and he scores. Stud.

If he said he was open to it, he should be a no-brainer for Euro 12

 

[Steve Tasker]

Scholes' passing has been unreal today.

The dip/bounce on that shot was absolutely perfect, too.

 

[Christo]

Valiant effort by QPR! but in the end too much "talent" on display for the other two teams playing on the day.

 

[Mjolnirs]

With Dortmund's 3-1 victory over Wolfsburg and Bayern's 2-1 victory over Augsburg, the showdown for top spot in the Bundesliga is set.

Borussia Dortmund 20-6-3 66 66:22 +44Bayern München 20-3-6 63 69:19 +50
This Wednesday at 2pm live on Gol TV - Bayern München at Borrusia Dortmund. It should be a pretty exiting match.

 

[Ursa M]

Arsenal vs City in one minute. On this rides whether the EPL Championship remains a competition or not (although strange things can still happen and City vs United is yet to be played).

 

[Christo]

Great defending by Vermaelen

 

[jonessed]

Song pretty lucky he's still even in the game after taking out Toure. That was definitely his second yellow beckoning.

 

[Steve Tasker]

I like to think that I'm not a blind homer, but how was that not a straight red to Balotelli? Not even a yellow? That is a brutal, brutal non-call.

I can agree that Song could've been booked for that challenge on Toure, I agree, but I'm just baffled that Balotelli wasn't booked AT ALL.

 

[El Floppo]

If Scholes could play against 10 every week, he'd be in the running with Messi, etc for player of the year. /hyperbole. But then he has to play against 11 and his yeloow card inducing lack of pace glares. Still love him though... Platonically.