Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Stop - Start - Stutter News

From everything I can tell, Chicago is the destination of Zidane should he sign with AEG, not Los Angeles.


MLS games coming up mid-week:
Wed April 25
-Kansas City v Toronto - 7pm on Direct Kick
Thurs April 26
-Dallas v New York - 7pm on ESPN2
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I have 2 MLS observations today:
-Jason Kreis is not cutting it as a defensive midfielder for Salt Lake. He is not providing enough cover for the defenders, and not enough push forward for the offense. I know he is the team captain, but they have to make a change. But what do they do?
-Which team is gonna hit the panic button and sign Kasey Keller? Colorado or Salt Lake. They both could use him badly.
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MLS has named Chivas USA forward Maykel Galindo as the Player Of The Week.
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Very interesting stat from Soccer America: New York's Clint Mathis' red card last weekend was the seventh of his MLS career, tying Ivan McKinley's all-time MLS record.
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Still no word on whether or not Columbus forward Andy Herron will be punished for that awful elbow he laid on the face of New England's Jay Heaps, but Frank Dell'apa of the Boston Globe says it was discovered later that Heaps suffered a concussion in the incident. To make things worse, Herron denied he hit Heaps, and even told Heaps after the game that someone else did it! Insane. It's all on tape buddy. Or maybe Herron has a split personality, and "the other one" did it. Could be.
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Midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto, aka Bill, is in Columbus to take a physical exam, sign his contract and meet his new teammates & fans. He will be in attendance at the US Open Cup match tonight. He will not be able to play until his work permit is finalized which usually takes a couple of weeks.
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Newest Red Bull Juan Pablo Angel is also in the USA and is awaiting his work visa too.
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The hype machine around Red Bulls young striker Jozy Altidore builds with every great game he plays. Ives Galarcep of the North Jersey Herald gets a jump on the inevitable "Jozy to Europe" speculation.
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Michael Lewis of Big Apple Soccer examines the team depth of the Red Bulls.
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Frank Dell'apa of the Boston Globe joins in heaping praise on Bruce Arena for the early season success of his Red Bulls. I agree, he is a GREAT coach. And he has an even GREATER name.
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Turns out RSL's Andy Williams did not break his leg in a bad tackle by Sacha Klejsten. Lucky, very lucky. But he will miss at least a month with a bad sprain.
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In other injury news, it looks like Chivas USA defender Carlos Llamosa will miss the rest of the season after tearing up his knee. At his age, does this mean he is done for good? He was a top notch and beloved player at his peak.
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Andrea Canales at LA Soccer News talks to the 3rd player to hit 100 goals in MLS - Ante Razov, who did it last weekend.
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Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle talks to Dynamo coach Dom Kinnear about his teams struggles through 3 games.
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Morgan Campbell of the Toronto Star looks at the lack of MLS coverage on Canadian television. TFC coach Mo Johnston says his players don't know much about the other teams in the league, cuz they can't watch em.
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Dean McNutly of the Toronto Sun checks in with TFC coach Johnston to see if he is set with his roster for now.
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Last week I posted a note that Chicago Fire fans in "Section 8" were going to be searched for smoke bombs, flairs, beer etc when entering Toyota Park, but at the last minute on Saturday the plan was abandoned. The Chicago Daily Southtown with the story on why that security plan was pulled. It's a good one. And it's nice to see someone stick up for the fans. My twin brother from a different mother Ben Burton is quoted in the story too! Excellent.
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Windy City Soccer with an article on Chicago Fire second year defender Dasan Robinson who played a big role in his teams win over KC on Saturday.
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Nick Green of the LA Daily News makes the claim that both the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA are lacking credibility with their fans these days.
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Steve Davis at Soccernet with a review of Week 3 in MLS.
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Houston Chronicle Week In Review.
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US Open Cup - MLS qualifiers. (The 4 teams who did not make the playoffs last year get underway first.) Here are those two games:
Tuesday April 24
-Columbus v Los Angeles (winner takes on New York)
Saturday April 28
-Salt Lake v Colorado
-Next round dates still to be determined.
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Several players are out injured for LA tonight: Quavas Kirk Tyrone Marshall & Santino Quaranta. Defender Troy Roberts is out long term and will be having hip surgery.
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The Hampton Roads Pilot newspaper with a story on the sadly silent Virginia Beach soccer stadium, since the Mariners folded a month ago.
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The USA U17 ’91 team is once again playing in the Ballymena International Tournament in Northern Ireland.
-Team USA is in Group B along with Scotland, Czech Rep & Ireland.
-Group A is Canada, Finland, Northern Ireland and Switzerland.
-Here is the USA group schedule & scores:
Monday - USA 1-1 Scotland - USA goal by Parker Walsh on an assist by Dersu Albolfathi.
Tuesday - April 24 v Czech Republic
Wednesday - April 25 v Republic of Ireland
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Here is the roster for the USA U20 team that will play a friendly v Argentina on May 15.
G:
Alec Dufty (Evansville)
Chris Seitz (Salt Lake)
D:
Amaechi Igwe (New England)
Quavas Kirk (Los Angeles)
Jesus Padilla (Guadalajara)
Nathan Sturgis (Los Angeles)
Julian Valentin (Wake Forest)
Tim Ward (Columbus)
M:
Freddy Adu (Salt Lake)
Jalil Anibaba (Davis HS, CA)
Bryan Arguez (DC United)
Rodrigo Lopez (Chivas USA)
Danny Szetela (Columbus)
F:
Josmer Altidore (New York)
Robbie Rogers (Columbus)
Johann Smith (Carlisle United)
-It's still real early though, so expect changes to this roster.
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Yanks Abroad talks to DaMarcus Beasley who says he is done at PSV and wants to stay at Man City.
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YA also looks at the unfortunately long list of Americans who could get relegated in England this season.
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Last Friday Soccernet posted an update to USA & Watford defender Jay DeMerit's blog. I have to say that this kinda thing on websites is the best! Way better than another opinion piece on the" topic of the week". But Soccernet does such a lousy job of promoting Jay. I go to their site nearly every single day, and yest somehow missed this one. It should be loud and proud. So if anyone from Soccernet reads this, we want MORE JAY DEMERIT, promoted properly, and we want less wire reports listed at the top of the page!
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Kristian Dyer at Soccernet checks in with USA & Reading midfielder Bobby Convey who is recovering from knee surgery.
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CONCACAF Champions Cup final second leg match (with first leg score included):
Wed Apr 25-
Pachuca v Guadalajara (2-2)
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Copa Libertadores - this is the final week of the group stage:
Apr 24
Gremio - Cerro Porteno
Deportes Tolima - Cucuta Deportivo
Apr 25
Necaxa - Alianza Lima
Sao Paulo - Audax Italiano
River Plate - Colo Colo
LDU Quito - Caracas
Apr 26
Toluca - Cienciano
Boca Juniors - Bolivar
-Flamengo, Santos, Colo Colo, Caracas, Libertad, America, Parana, Nacional, Velez Sarsfield & Defensor Sporting have advanced to the knock out stages. 6 more will join them this week.
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UEFA Champions League Semifinals - Matchday 11:
Tues April 24
Manchester United v AC Milan - 1:30pm central on ESPN2
Wed April 25
Chelsea v Liverpool - 1:30pm central on ESPN2
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I don't know what is dumber in this article - the picture of David Beckham wearing a Cincinnati Reds hat or the news that former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell has named her daughter Bluebell. I guess I gotta go with the poor daughter's name being the dumber of the two. At least Beckyspoo can take the hat off.
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The Washington Post has a review of the Zidane film that just showed in DC. You can search back through du Nord for a lot of coverage of the film when it played in my city, Minneapolis. This review is from an artistic point of view, and I think it's pretty right on.
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If find this is kinda odd, but Sports Illustrated has a Q & A with ESPN announcer Tommy Smyth. Odd in the fact that SI & ESPN are competing corporate sports giants.
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David James got his 142nd career clean sheet in the Premiership last weekend, breaking the old record held by long time Arsenal & England keeper David Seaman.
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Ghana & Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien was arrested at 5am Monday morning on suspicion of drunk driving. Not good. And not at 5am. Oof.
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Portugeuse soccer legend Eusebio has had heart surgery to unclog blocked arteries.
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The Times of London has a few words with new Liverpool owner Tom Hicks.
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FIFA.com has a Q & A with Czech & Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.
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Portsmouth are looking to build a new stadium. They have played in their current home, Fratton Park, for 108 years. I took in my first English game at that place. The place was horrible then (although I loved every second of it), and that was 20 years ago.

9 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Any word on the rumors that CD Chivas USA may soon be moving out of the HDC and to a temporary facility (while a Chivas Stadium is built) elsewhere in the LA area due to the poor terms of its leasing agreement with AEG? I think Cue or someone dropped a hint of that or something.

Also why do you think Zidane will go to Chicago instead of LA Galaxy?

6:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Stop - Start - Stutter

Brucio ... you having trouble with your car?

7:05 PM  
Blogger brucio said...

" Lightning Striker said...
Stop - Start - Stutter
Brucio ... you having trouble with your car? "

no no
its pure alliteration
stop start stutter stammer steam stay stand stamp stroll stagger strip stream stray strong strangle
its easy once you start

8:50 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good to hear, Brucio, some might think the last two headings meant you were driving a real nice car with fuel delivery problems ;)

Those that know you know better.

Peace and futbol, my friend. See you friday for the game on FSC, I hope.

9:00 PM  
Blogger brucio said...

as for zidane in chicago.....
here is the latest of several hints that have been floating around
this one is from the new york times article on sunday about aeg owner phil anschutz:

Mr. Leiweke says AEG is now in talks to bring a second international star to the Chicago Fire, another of Mr. Anschutz’s soccer teams. “We are working on a deal right now,” he says, before suggesting whom he is trying to snare. “There are only four players that move the needle: Ronaldo. Beckham. Zidane. Ronaldinho.”

9:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

has ussoccer.com been working for everyone? in the one or 2 months it has just abruptly stopped working. anyone else have this pblm?

5:37 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Du Nord, I recently discovered your blog through the link from EPL Talk. And I am hooked-I read it every day-great coverage of MLS!
Keep it up!

9:52 AM  
Blogger brucio said...

i have never had a problem with the u.s. soccer site

and

yer welcome
i appreciate the kind words

2:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i am sort of confused about your beckham/hat geri/bluebell commentary... why is beckham wearing a reds hat an issue or even comparable to naming your child bluebell?

since their was no link provided, here are my two theories:
1) beckham is playing for la.
response - tons of athletes wear other cities jerseys and hats, i doubt any of them care what initial is on their hats.
2) you do not like the reds or think they suck.
response - they are a quality team right now and are the oldest and one of the most storied franchises in baseball.

help a brother out

9:15 PM  

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