I'm excited that ESPN/ABC is taking such a massive step with its coverage. I expected something like this considering they showed all of Euro '08 and since they have picked up EPL/La Liga matches. I hope it works out for them and we'll get even more soccer on the major channels in the future.
1.28.2010
TV Coverage for the WC
I'm excited that ESPN/ABC is taking such a massive step with its coverage. I expected something like this considering they showed all of Euro '08 and since they have picked up EPL/La Liga matches. I hope it works out for them and we'll get even more soccer on the major channels in the future.
1.25.2010
Davies on his way back?
1.20.2010
1.15.2010
So, there's a new MLS team?
1.11.2010
Landon rocks it out in the PL, scares Brits
Landon Donovan arrived on Merseyside stating that he would act as a spy for his country. The United States are one of England’s opponents in the World Cup and Donovan is their most crucial player, having made 120 appearances and scored 42 goals.
Was Donovan’s statement that he was here to do more than play an admission that he would spend a considerable amount of time on the bench? After all, there is a limit to how effective a player can be while on a three-month loan deal.
And Donovan, while a superstar in his home country, has had opportunities in Europe before — and failed to shine. At 17 he signed for Bayer Leverkusen but the culture shock proved too debilitating and he returned to his home country on loan. If his name has any resonance among fans in the United Kingdom it will probably be because of his criticism of David Beckham as a poor leader and team-mate at Los Angeles Galaxy.
It was a surprise to see Donovan in the starting line-up at the Emirates Stadium against Arsenal. He had not played for a month and began training with Everton only the previous weekend. Then the snow came and interrupted his efforts to integrate and as David Moyes, the Everton manager, explained, he was the last type of player he needed on Saturday because players with low body fat cope less well in freezing conditions.
But our first sight of Donovan was not of him in the dugout compiling a dossier about English football but of English fans making notes about him. It was a remarkable debut and Moyes confirmed that he had not seen a debutant fit in so smoothly before.
“Donovan did very well,” Moyes said. “From what I have seen of him his football’s simple, quick, lively and he was intelligent today. He tracked people back and we know he can play off the front or wide. I thought he made a good contribution.”
The Californian underlined that the US team England will face in South Africa will not be onedimensional. Donovan is highly intuitive and adaptable. He was one of the more composed players at the Emirates and brought a studied intelligence to Everton’s frenetic, while effective, endeavour.
Donovan has long held an ambition to perform in the Premier League. The only surprise is that it has taken this long for the 27-year-old to be offered a chance. He is often berated for failing to impress on the big stage — he missed his penalty in the MLS Cup final this year — but he passed a stern test against Arsenal. Fabio Capello should pay heed.
Cross-posted from The Times Online (Pete would have posted this himself, but his work hates soccer bloggers)
1.07.2010
Mark Intro.
Back in the day, I played for: Manassas Sockers, Manassas Cannons, OHS, Keg Runners
Favorite Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Favorite National Teams (other than U.S.): Germany, Brazil
Favorite Players (no longer playing): Diego Maradona, Karl Heinz Rummenigge, Pierre Littbarski, Lothar Matthaus, Paul Gascoigne
Favorite Current Player: Luka Modric
Favorite Current U.S. Player: Jozy Altidore
Favorite U.S. Players (no longer playing): Tab Ramos, Claudio Reyna.
Martin Tyler: Great soccer commentator or the greatest soccer commentator? Great. I’m so excited he is doing games for ABC/ESPN in ’10, it will make for a much better viewing experience. But the greatest soccer commentator was Toby Charles.
Worst U.S. broadcaster: Like worst US Left Back, too many to choose from.
Bike or flip throw? Flip Throw (see best matches live below)
Local soccer pub: British Bulldog
Favorite Soccer Book: How Soccer Explains the World
Best soccer matches I've seen on TV: 1982 World Cup Semi Final (W Germany/France), 1986 World Cup Final (Argentina/W Germany), 1990 World Cup 2nd Round (W Germany/Holland), 1998 WC Quarterfinal (Holland/Argentina), 2002 WC 1st game (US/Portugal), 2006 WC 1ST Round (US vs Italy), 2008 Carling Cup Final (Tottenham/Chelsea)
Best soccer matches I've seen live: 1983-1986? George Mason Soccer win in OT with a flip throw-in, any of the ’94 WC games at RFK,1996 Olympics US vs Portugal at RFK, 2002 US/Mexico “Friendly” at Invesco
Much awaited part 2
First a little background: I believe that during the Confed Cup, Bradley unleashed his plan for how we would beat the top teams. I think it was based on other sides looking to pull in their defenders in on the attack. So he countered with putting 2 extremely fast and energetic forwards up front. This does 2 things: First, it tires out the defenders. There is nothing more tiring than chasing around someone faster than you for 90 minutes. Also, when they do pull that defender in the attack, we send our Usain Bolts the other way when you lose the ball. Thus 3-0 over Egypt, 2-0 over Spain; 2-0 halftime lead over Brazil. It's hard to argue with that kind of success.
Now this only really works when you have 3 players (Davies, Altidore, Donovan) with that kind of speed. It changes everything when you replace one of them with a slower player for 2 reasons. First off, Davies, Donovan, and Altidore are all about the same speed so they can keep up with each other during that kind of attack. Adding a Dempsey or a some of those yahoos from the MLS just leaves them in the dust. Second, without the double speed threat up front, teams can just adjust the defense to Altidore's side and pull the defender from the other side in on the attack without any consequence.
Now I know this will never happen, but this is what I would do: Put the only other fast player I know we have upfront on the left, Freddy Adu. I think he's been playing out of position at midfield. Put him on an island up front where he can use his speed and can run at players and only have to beat 1 and have 40 yards in front of him after that. Also, he's left footed. This will keep that triangle of speed that even the top teams could not handle.
So to recap Keith's 2010 USMNT lineup
Howard
Spector Demerit Guch Bradley
Donovan Bocanegra Feilhalber Dempsey
Altidore Adu
Introduction-Bernardo
Favorite Teams: National Sides: USMNT; Holland
Club Sides: Arsenal; anyone playing Tottenham
Favorite Players: Current= Kaka; Cesc Fabregas; Charlie Davies
Past players= Ruud Gullit; Tab Ramos
Soccer Pub: Summers in Arlington =famous for their breakfast menu: 1) American Breakfast or 2) British Breakfast