Not Enough Green Stamps To Get The Fancy Butter Dish News
"I think a lot about going to Europe. I love my life here, but one day I’d like to go back to Europe." - Landon Donovan is a Q & A on ESPN Deportes. See translation by Andrea Canales below in the Los Angeles Galaxy section.
~and~
I have been informed that Ben Olsen kissing his own wife in that new Dick's Sporting Goods ad! But the kid is not theirs. (thanks to Zach for clearing that up)
~and~
I don't care what anyone else says - Christopher Sullivan is a TV soccer commentary deity! I love that guy's knowledge & insights, without a single drop of pretense.
CONCACAF Champions Cup
Semifinals - 1st Leg Matches & Scores:
-Tue Apr 1
Pachuca 2-0 DC - Pac goals both by Luis Montes.
Match report by Steven Goff the Washington Post.
Post game notes and player ratings by Goff at the Soccer Insider.
Post game notes by Craig Stouffer of the Washington Examiner on his The Pitch blog.
-Wed Apr 2
Houston v Suprissa - live at 9pm on FSC
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
My thoughts on the match:
DC got what has become the typical treatment when MLS teams go to Mexico. They hold on for quite a while, but always seem to run out of juice at some point and capitulate the back breaking goal(s). I don't know if you can fault DC too much, but I will say that goalkeeper Zach Wells was poorly positioned for that first goal, while Gonzalo Martinez let his man run free to head home the second. Two mistakes, led to to two goals. They have a big hill to climb next week at RFK.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle looks to see if the Dynamo has what it takes to advance.
-Fallas with notes and then updated notes on his Soccer y Futbol blog. Lots of great little bits of info here!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
UEFA Champions League
Quarterfinals - 1st Leg Matches & Scores:
-Tue Apr 1
Roma 0-2 Manchester United - Man U goals by Cristiano Ronaldo & Wayne Rooney.
Schalke 0-1 Barcelona - Barc goal by Bojan Krkic.
-Wed Apr 2
Arsenal v Liverpool - live at 1:30pm on ESPN2
Fenerbahce v Chelsea - live at 1:30pm on Setanta & delayed at 4pm central on ESPN Classic
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It looked to me like Man U defender Vidic tweaked his knee pretty bad last night. No word yet on severity of injury.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MLS News
CHICAGO FIRE
Chicago's Daily Herald with an article on the one player who continues to make Chicago look good - Blanco. And to think, many thought he would be terrible for MLS.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Luis Arroyave of the Chicago Tribune on the naming of CJ Brown as team captain, and other Fire notes.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
COLORADO
Midfielder Ciaran O'Brien got a Red Card for his foul on LA's Carlos Ruiz, and today was handed an additional 1 game suspension - making it a total of 2 games. Ruiz is gonna miss at least a month.
FC DALLAS
3rd Degree ran a great April Fools story yesterday reporting that Dallas owner Clark Hunt was going to name himself as the teams new Technical Director. Pretty good one.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
So forward Carlos Ruiz suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee and had surgery on it. He will be out until around mid-May. Damn.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
And Golden Balls himself was on the Tonight Show last night. You can see the interview right here, it starts around the 18 minute mark.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The awesome Andrea Canales on her Sideline Views blog has a translation of a Q & A session that Landon Donovan did with ESPN Deportes. Part 1 and Part 2. Thanks so much to Andrea for doing this.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
RED BULL NEW YORK
Michael Lewis at Big Apple Soccer talks to Juan Pablo Angel about finally getting the season started this week.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Soccer Spin has a Q & A with Nick Garcia, defender/enforcer for San Jose Earthquakes Mk III.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The San Jose Mercury News with an article on the most talented player on the roster - Ronnie O'Brien.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Equakes also signed MLS veteran defender Eric Denton. This will not matter.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TORONTO FC
It looks like the deal for French left midfielder Laurent Robert is all but done. Yesterday I dogged him as being washed up. But I sent emails to three people who have been big fans of teams he has recently played on and they unanimously thought he still had some good qualities in the tank. They also made some comments to the effect that he might have a screw or two loose. He will be 33 shortly. Best of luck to him and TFC, they need all the help them can get in a spot like left midfield.
-Morgan Campbell of the Toronto Star and Dean McNulty of the Toronto Sun. I wonder what the story in the Toronto Moon will be about?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GENERAL
Beau Dure at USA Today gives us some updates with his MLS notes.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MLS Scoreboard
Week 2 Matches & Scores:
-Thu Apr 3
Chicago v New England - 7pm central on ESPN2
Los Angeles v San Jose - 9:30pm central on ESPN2
-Sat Apr 5
Kansas City v Colorado - 4pm central on Direct Kick
New York v Columbus - 6:30pm central on FSC
DC v Toronto - 6:30pm central on Direct Kick
Chivas USA v Salt Lake - 9:30pm central on HDNet
Sun Apr 6
Houston v Dallas - 2pm central on TeleFutura
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jeff Carlisle of Soccernet says that on Thursday night we get to relive one of the great MLS rivalries when San Jose makes their re-re-debut in Los Angeles!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MLS Rumor City - Don't Tease Me Bro!
English striker Michael Ricketts is in San Jose for a try out. He had a good season 5 years ago for Bolton. Since then ..... ick. (thanks to Barry at Soccer Spin for this one)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
USL First Division & PDL News
Rochester expects to have leftback Scott Palguta back in the team now that New York has decided not to sign him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Americans In Europe
One Grown Man writes about the Grown-Ass Man. Andrew Dixon at the US National Soccer Players Assoc writes about Eddie Johnson. Dixon calls himself One Grown Man. And Eddie once called himself a Grown-Ass Man, when explaining why he does not play video games.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Fulham website talks to Kasey Keller about the draw at Derby and the upcoming home game against Sunderland.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Greg Seltzer of American Soccer Daily talks to Benny Feilhaber about his chances of getting some real playing time at Derby now that the team has been officially relegated for next season.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mexico & FMF News
The always great Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union Tribune breaks down where it all went wrong for Hugo Sanchez.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
South American News
At least 5 players from Brazilian club Internacional have been diagnosed with Hepatitis A. Damn!! Stay back.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Copa Libertadores
Group Stage Matches & Scores:
-Apr 1
Santos 7-0 San Jose - Sant goals by -Domingos, Mauricio Molina(4), Kleber Pereira & Michael Quinonez.
Universidad Catolica 1-0 Dep Univ San Martin - UC goal by Julio Gutierrez.
Bamin Real Potosi 3-1 Caracas - BRP goals by Isidro Candia, Hugo Suarez & Alvaro Pintos. Car goal by .
-Apr 2
America v River Plate
Fluminense v Libertad
Sao Paulo v Sportivo Luqueno
Lanus v Estudiantes
-Apr 3
Atletico Nacional v Audax Italiano
Nacional v Coronel Bolognesi
Cruzeiro v San Lorenzo
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Group Stage Standings
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
England News
Over in England there is rumor mounting that Manchester City is about bring the hammer down on coach Sven Goren Erickson! Could it be adios for that goofy Swedish dude already?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
European News
The Telegraph lists the highest paid players in the world aka Europe.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
UEFA Cup
Quarterfinal 1st Leg Matches & Scores:
-Thu Apr 3
Leverkusen v Zenit
Rangers v Sporting
Bayern v Getafe
Fiorentina v PSV
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Top 5 Teams in each of Europe's Biggest Leagues
-Premiership-
*32 of 38 games played
76 Manchester United
71 Chelsea
70 Arsenal
62 Liverpool
57 Everton
-La Liga-
*30 of 38 games played
65 Real Madrid
59 Villareal
58 Barcelona
50 Atletico Madrid
50 Racing Santander
-Serie A-
*31 of 38 games played
69 Inter Milan
65 Roma
58 Juventus
53 Fiorentina
50 Udinese
-Bundesliga-
*26 of 34 games played
54 Bayern Munich
47 Hamburg
45 Schalke
44 Bayer Leverkusen
44 Werder Bremen
-Ligue Un-
*31 of 38 games played
67 Lyon
58 Bordeaux
52 Nancy Lorraine
49 Marseille
44 Rennes
-Eredivisie-
*31 of 34 games played
65 PSV
60 Ajax
57 NAC Breda
55 Twente
54 Heerenveen
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
World News
Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union Tribune with his weekly notes: Trophies, Red Cards & Sidelines.
~and~
I have been informed that Ben Olsen kissing his own wife in that new Dick's Sporting Goods ad! But the kid is not theirs. (thanks to Zach for clearing that up)
~and~
I don't care what anyone else says - Christopher Sullivan is a TV soccer commentary deity! I love that guy's knowledge & insights, without a single drop of pretense.
CONCACAF Champions Cup
Semifinals - 1st Leg Matches & Scores:
-Tue Apr 1
Pachuca 2-0 DC - Pac goals both by Luis Montes.
Match report by Steven Goff the Washington Post.
Post game notes and player ratings by Goff at the Soccer Insider.
Post game notes by Craig Stouffer of the Washington Examiner on his The Pitch blog.
-Wed Apr 2
Houston v Suprissa - live at 9pm on FSC
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
My thoughts on the match:
DC got what has become the typical treatment when MLS teams go to Mexico. They hold on for quite a while, but always seem to run out of juice at some point and capitulate the back breaking goal(s). I don't know if you can fault DC too much, but I will say that goalkeeper Zach Wells was poorly positioned for that first goal, while Gonzalo Martinez let his man run free to head home the second. Two mistakes, led to to two goals. They have a big hill to climb next week at RFK.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Bernardo Fallas of the Houston Chronicle looks to see if the Dynamo has what it takes to advance.
-Fallas with notes and then updated notes on his Soccer y Futbol blog. Lots of great little bits of info here!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
UEFA Champions League
Quarterfinals - 1st Leg Matches & Scores:
-Tue Apr 1
Roma 0-2 Manchester United - Man U goals by Cristiano Ronaldo & Wayne Rooney.
Schalke 0-1 Barcelona - Barc goal by Bojan Krkic.
-Wed Apr 2
Arsenal v Liverpool - live at 1:30pm on ESPN2
Fenerbahce v Chelsea - live at 1:30pm on Setanta & delayed at 4pm central on ESPN Classic
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It looked to me like Man U defender Vidic tweaked his knee pretty bad last night. No word yet on severity of injury.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MLS News
CHICAGO FIRE
Chicago's Daily Herald with an article on the one player who continues to make Chicago look good - Blanco. And to think, many thought he would be terrible for MLS.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Luis Arroyave of the Chicago Tribune on the naming of CJ Brown as team captain, and other Fire notes.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
COLORADO
Midfielder Ciaran O'Brien got a Red Card for his foul on LA's Carlos Ruiz, and today was handed an additional 1 game suspension - making it a total of 2 games. Ruiz is gonna miss at least a month.
FC DALLAS
3rd Degree ran a great April Fools story yesterday reporting that Dallas owner Clark Hunt was going to name himself as the teams new Technical Director. Pretty good one.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
LOS ANGELES GALAXY
So forward Carlos Ruiz suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee and had surgery on it. He will be out until around mid-May. Damn.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
And Golden Balls himself was on the Tonight Show last night. You can see the interview right here, it starts around the 18 minute mark.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The awesome Andrea Canales on her Sideline Views blog has a translation of a Q & A session that Landon Donovan did with ESPN Deportes. Part 1 and Part 2. Thanks so much to Andrea for doing this.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
RED BULL NEW YORK
Michael Lewis at Big Apple Soccer talks to Juan Pablo Angel about finally getting the season started this week.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
Soccer Spin has a Q & A with Nick Garcia, defender/enforcer for San Jose Earthquakes Mk III.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The San Jose Mercury News with an article on the most talented player on the roster - Ronnie O'Brien.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Equakes also signed MLS veteran defender Eric Denton. This will not matter.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
TORONTO FC
It looks like the deal for French left midfielder Laurent Robert is all but done. Yesterday I dogged him as being washed up. But I sent emails to three people who have been big fans of teams he has recently played on and they unanimously thought he still had some good qualities in the tank. They also made some comments to the effect that he might have a screw or two loose. He will be 33 shortly. Best of luck to him and TFC, they need all the help them can get in a spot like left midfield.
-Morgan Campbell of the Toronto Star and Dean McNulty of the Toronto Sun. I wonder what the story in the Toronto Moon will be about?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
GENERAL
Beau Dure at USA Today gives us some updates with his MLS notes.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MLS Scoreboard
Week 2 Matches & Scores:
-Thu Apr 3
Chicago v New England - 7pm central on ESPN2
Los Angeles v San Jose - 9:30pm central on ESPN2
-Sat Apr 5
Kansas City v Colorado - 4pm central on Direct Kick
New York v Columbus - 6:30pm central on FSC
DC v Toronto - 6:30pm central on Direct Kick
Chivas USA v Salt Lake - 9:30pm central on HDNet
Sun Apr 6
Houston v Dallas - 2pm central on TeleFutura
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Jeff Carlisle of Soccernet says that on Thursday night we get to relive one of the great MLS rivalries when San Jose makes their re-re-debut in Los Angeles!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
MLS Rumor City - Don't Tease Me Bro!
English striker Michael Ricketts is in San Jose for a try out. He had a good season 5 years ago for Bolton. Since then ..... ick. (thanks to Barry at Soccer Spin for this one)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
USL First Division & PDL News
Rochester expects to have leftback Scott Palguta back in the team now that New York has decided not to sign him.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Americans In Europe
One Grown Man writes about the Grown-Ass Man. Andrew Dixon at the US National Soccer Players Assoc writes about Eddie Johnson. Dixon calls himself One Grown Man. And Eddie once called himself a Grown-Ass Man, when explaining why he does not play video games.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Fulham website talks to Kasey Keller about the draw at Derby and the upcoming home game against Sunderland.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Greg Seltzer of American Soccer Daily talks to Benny Feilhaber about his chances of getting some real playing time at Derby now that the team has been officially relegated for next season.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Mexico & FMF News
The always great Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union Tribune breaks down where it all went wrong for Hugo Sanchez.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
South American News
At least 5 players from Brazilian club Internacional have been diagnosed with Hepatitis A. Damn!! Stay back.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Copa Libertadores
Group Stage Matches & Scores:
-Apr 1
Santos 7-0 San Jose - Sant goals by -Domingos, Mauricio Molina(4), Kleber Pereira & Michael Quinonez.
Universidad Catolica 1-0 Dep Univ San Martin - UC goal by Julio Gutierrez.
Bamin Real Potosi 3-1 Caracas - BRP goals by Isidro Candia, Hugo Suarez & Alvaro Pintos. Car goal by .
-Apr 2
America v River Plate
Fluminense v Libertad
Sao Paulo v Sportivo Luqueno
Lanus v Estudiantes
-Apr 3
Atletico Nacional v Audax Italiano
Nacional v Coronel Bolognesi
Cruzeiro v San Lorenzo
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Group Stage Standings
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
England News
Over in England there is rumor mounting that Manchester City is about bring the hammer down on coach Sven Goren Erickson! Could it be adios for that goofy Swedish dude already?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
European News
The Telegraph lists the highest paid players in the world aka Europe.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
UEFA Cup
Quarterfinal 1st Leg Matches & Scores:
-Thu Apr 3
Leverkusen v Zenit
Rangers v Sporting
Bayern v Getafe
Fiorentina v PSV
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Top 5 Teams in each of Europe's Biggest Leagues
-Premiership-
*32 of 38 games played
76 Manchester United
71 Chelsea
70 Arsenal
62 Liverpool
57 Everton
-La Liga-
*30 of 38 games played
65 Real Madrid
59 Villareal
58 Barcelona
50 Atletico Madrid
50 Racing Santander
-Serie A-
*31 of 38 games played
69 Inter Milan
65 Roma
58 Juventus
53 Fiorentina
50 Udinese
-Bundesliga-
*26 of 34 games played
54 Bayern Munich
47 Hamburg
45 Schalke
44 Bayer Leverkusen
44 Werder Bremen
-Ligue Un-
*31 of 38 games played
67 Lyon
58 Bordeaux
52 Nancy Lorraine
49 Marseille
44 Rennes
-Eredivisie-
*31 of 34 games played
65 PSV
60 Ajax
57 NAC Breda
55 Twente
54 Heerenveen
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
World News
Mark Zeigler of the San Diego Union Tribune with his weekly notes: Trophies, Red Cards & Sidelines.
posted by brucio at 16:18
6 Comments:
100% agree about Christopher Sullivan. I don't understand why people criticise him - he always knows what he's talking about, he's enthusiastic, humble, and doesn't over-talk or get emotional/crazy about things.
Dittos on Sullivan. I was singing his praises two years ago with the occasional match he would get. But more than that, whenever I saw him interviewed I end up saying, "Damn, that boy knows his stuff".
Brucio, do you find it odd that the "New Meadowlands" they are building to replace old Giants Stadium in NJ has a lot of interesting features (color changing skin like Allianz stadium in Germany, expandable for soccer dimensions, etc) - BUT the surface will be two seperate (Jets/Giants) versions of FIELDTURF. Not grass. This make any sense? You spend a billion effing bucks on a stadium and then you can't afford the upkeep of the real stuff?!? When Barcelona comes to town you have to get the glue-on temporary grass?! Who is making this call? I find this profoundly depressing.
Alex
Re: Donovan. If/when they fire Lalas this summer and start building for the future, I sure hope he pushes for a move overseas and not to SJ.
I am also 100 percent with you on Sullivan. The accent is a joy to try to figure out and his analysis is usually spot on. He doesn't embarrass himself and doesn't insult the intelligence of his viewers. The Red Barber of soccer commentary (though of course Barber was more of a play-by-play guy, now wasn't he?)
Wow, I'm glad to see the enthusiastic response to Christopher Sullivan. I don't understand what the haters want from the man, but I'm impressed with his insight _every game_, which is the mark of a great color man. He doesn't take games off.
If you go to bigsoccer, you'll learn that he's a clueless tool, of course. Delightful. Let's keep eating our own.
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