Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Some News for Wed Aug 17, 2011

STARTERS

We received word late this afternoon that long time MLS star Jimmy Conrad will announce his retirement on Thursday. He is currently at Chivas USA, but had his hay-day in San Jose and Kansas City. Not to mention that he is one of the most entertaining of all players to ever grace the league.

dN

Rangers completed a deal today to buy Alejandro Bedoya from Orebro immediately. He is on their roster for Europa League play already. He signed a 3 year contract. Here is the article from Rangers.
-He is the 4th American to play for Rangers: Claudio Reyna, DaMarcus Beasley, Mo Edu, Ale Bedoya.

dN

Juan Pablo Angel has officially moved his gear down the hall and will now wear the uniform of Chivas USA. LA gets a low round draft pick next year in exchange.

dN

Daniel McDonnell of the Irish Independent does not think much of Robbie Keane, LA Galaxy or MLS.

dN

9 Americans are available for the UEFA Europa League games tomorrow. See section below for details.

dN

2 MLS games tonight. See section below for details.

IT WAS FUN WHILE IT LASTED

After agreeing to a deal with MLS yesterday Eddie Johnson pulled out of the deal today.

TEAM USA - EL EQUIPO DE TODOS

Tim Russell of Bundesliga Fanatic does a Q & A with Thomas Dooley. This is Part 1. (Thanks to BQ for the link)

STORY OF THE DAY

Ridge Mahoney of Soccer America points out that the new policy MLS has put in place to lower the salary cap hit for young Designated Players will hurt the development of American talent by encouraging teams to sign more foreigners.
-Leave it to smart experienced guys like Mahoney to point out these subtleties to amateurs like me.

2011-12 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

LA and Seattle began group play last night with solid home wins.

Seattle went down less than 90 seconds into the game, then pretty much dominated the other 88+ minutes winning 4-1. Both teams had a player red carded for idiotic fouls. Lamar Neagle of Seattle for a terribly mistimed tackle, and Edgar Martinez of Communicaciones for supposedly throwing an elbow which I did not see on the replays at all. Comm also got robbed of a goal that just crossed the line and was not detected by the referee, that would have made it 4-2.

LA played a good Honduran team and did exactly what they needed to do to win. Josh Saunders of LA made a couple of huge saves with his feet late to preserve the win. Motagua's former Chicago midfielder Ivan Guerrero got a red card for planting the bottom of his boot straight into the chest of LA's Sean Franklin. It was not done maliciously, he just missed the ball badly.

Santos Laguna won at home, and Alajuelense pulled off a nice home upset over favored Morelia.

dN

Nick Firchau of MLSsoccer.com talks to MLS coaches about the most important things you can do for your team to have a shot at winning on Mexican soil. (Its never happened.) Dallas tries tonight.

Dallas cannot play their new striker Maicon Santos in CCL because he played for Toronto in tourney.

dN

Video highlights from all the games. Via CONCACAF.

dN

Group Stage

Round robin home & away - matches played Aug 16 to Oct 20

GROUP A
3 LA Galaxy (USA) (+2)
3 Alajuelense (Costa Rica) (+1)
0 Monarchas Morelia (Mexico) (-1)
0 Motagua (Honduras) (-2)
GROUP B
3 Santos Laguna (Mexico) (+1)
- Colorado Rapids (USA)
- Isidro Metapan (El Salvador)
0 Real Espana (Honduras) (-1)
GROUP C
- UNAM Pumas (Mexico)
- Tauro (Panama)
- Dallas (USA)
- Toronto (Canada)
GROUP D
3 Seattle Sounders (USA) (+3)
- Monterrey (Mexico)
- Herediano (Costa Rica)
0 Comunicaciones (Guatemala) (-3)

dN

Matches & Scores:
Matchday 1
-Tue Aug 16
Seattle Sounders 4-1 Comunicaciones - SS goals by Brad Evans, Mike Fucito(2) & Rigoberto Gomez(OG).
LA Galaxy 2-0 Motagua - LAG goals by Adam Cristman & Landon Donovan.
Santos Laguna 3-2 Real Espana - SL goals by Juan Enriquez, Sergio Bica(OG) & Christian Suarez. RE goals by Eder Delgado & Allan Lalin.
Alajuelense 1-0 Morelia - Ala goal by Jonathan McDonald.
-Wed Aug 17
Colorado Rapids v Isidro Metapan - 9pm CT - Live on Fox Soccer
Pumas v Dallas - 11:30pm CT - Delayed on Fox Soccer
Herediano v Monterrey - 7pm CT
-Thu Aug 18
Tauro v Toronto - 7pm CT - Live on Fox Soccer

TWITTERVERSE

Can you believe this? Philadelphia head coach Peter Nowak has joined Twitter and is digging in!! @Peter_Nowak

Today he referred to Stuart Holden as "GQ"! Nowak obviously gets Twitter.

TWITTERVERSE 2

Also from the world of Twitter is OptaJack - the official stat machine of MLS. They are constantly laying out interesting, odd and useful facts. @OptaJack

IE: "No team has scored fewer goals at home than the Chicago Fire, scoring just 9 times at Toyota Park." - or - "Set Plays - Corners, Throw-ins, Free Kicks, and Penalties - make up 35% of the goals scored."

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Why does Fox Soccer choose the two lesser CONCACAF Champions League games featuring MLS teams last night and tonight to show live?

I know Seattle and Colorado fans might be offended by that. But LA last night and Dallas tonight are playing much tougher opponents, and those are the games I want to see live, not delayed.

So who chooses what gets shown when?

DO YOU REALIZE

David Conn of the Guardian looks at the acute (obscene) rise in English Premier League ticket prices since the formation of the league 20 years ago. Inflation has gone up 77% in that time. The cheapest ticket to watch Manchester United has gone up 700%. The cheapest ticket to watch Arsenal has gone up 920%. Oof.

Two season's ago I went to watch Southampton in League One (third division) and I sat in a seat about 30 rows up from the field, near the top of the 18 yard box - the price was $40.

MLS MATCHES, SCORES & STANDINGS

WEEK 23

Matches & Scores:
-Wed Aug 17
New England Revolution v Houston Dynamo - 7:00PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Gillette Stadium
Sporting Kansas City v Portland Timbers - 7:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: LIVESTRONG Sporting Park
-Thu Aug 18
Chicago Fire SC v DC United - 8:00PM CT on ESPN2
Venue: Toyota Park
-Sat Aug 20
New England Revolution v New York Red Bulls - 6:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Gillette Stadium
Columbus Crew v Philadelphia Union - 6:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Crew Stadium
Houston Dynamo v Real Salt Lake - 7:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Robertson Stadium
FC Dallas v Seattle Sounders FC - 8:00PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Pizza Hut Park
Colorado Rapids v CD Chivas USA - 8:00PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Portland Timbers v Vancouver Whitecaps FC - 9:00PM CT on FOX Soccer
Venue: JELD-WEN Field
LA Galaxy v San Jose Earthquakes - 9:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: The Home Depot Center
-Sun Aug 21
Chicago Fire SC v Toronto FC - 6:00PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Toyota Park
Sporting Kansas City v DC United - 7:30PM CT on Galavision
Venue: LIVESTRONG Sporting Park

MLS SUPPORTERS SHIELD STANDINGS

Any more points gained by LA or lost by Vancouver and the Whitecaps will be the first team eliminated from the race. Chicago(5), New England(3) and Toronto(1) are only a few more points from that same ignominious feat.

48 LA Galaxy (25 GP) (+15 GD)
43 FC Dallas (25 GP) (+8 GD)
42 Seattle Sounders FC (25 GP) (+8 GD)
40 Colorado Rapids (26 GP) (+5 GD)
37 Columbus Crew (24 GP) (+4 GD)
36 Real Salt Lake (22 GP) (+13 GD)
34 Philadelphia Union (24 GP) (+8 GD)
31 Houston Dynamo (24 GP) (+1 GD)
31 New York Red Bulls (25 GP) (+4 GD)
30 DC United (22 GP) (0 GD)
30 Sporting Kansas City (23 GP) (+2 GD)
30 CD Chivas USA (24 GP) (+4 GD)
26 Portland Timbers (23 GP) (-8 GD)
25 San Jose Earthquakes (24 GP) (-6 GD)
23 Toronto FC (26 GP) (-21 GD)
21 New England Revolution (24 GP) (-13 GD)
20 Chicago Fire SC (23 GP) (-7 GD)
18 Vancouver Whitecaps FC (24 GP) (-15 GD)

MLS TEAM & PLAYER NEWS

CHICAGO FIRE

Sam Stejskal of MLSsoccer.com introduces us to the Fire's new academy signing Kellen Gulley. He is a big dude.

FC DALLAS

The team's website has their regular Q & A with head coach Schellas Hyndman.

HOUSTON DYNAMO

Midfielder Colin Clark did not travel with the team to Foxborough for tonight's game due to a slight knee injury.
-Let's hope it is not serious. He has already had major surgery on both knees.

REAL SALT LAKE

Fullback Chris Wingert looks to be out for as much as 6 weeks with a badly fractured wrist.
-The team signed free agent Blake Wagner as insurance while Wingert is out.

On the good side Javier Morales is aiming for a Oct 1 return from his severly broken ankle.

MLS OFFENSIVE STATS LEADERS

As of Wed Aug 17

Goals:
12 Thierry Henry
11 Landon Donovan
10 Eric Hassli
10 Brek Shea
9 Dwayne De Rosario
8 Charlie Davies
8 Chris Wondolowski
7 Justin Braun
7 Camilo
7 Jack Jewsbury
7 Shalrie Joseph
7 Nick LaBrocca
7 Andres Mendoza
7 Dominic Oduro
7 Chris Pontius
7 Maicon Santos

Assists:
11 Brad Davis
10 David Beckham
8 Davide Chiumiento
8 Dwayne De Rosario
8 Sebastien Le Toux
7 Kyle Beckerman
7 Dane Richards
7 Mauro Rosales
6 Omar Cummings
6 Ante Jazic
6 Jack Jewsbury
6 Patrick Nyarko
6 Jan Gunnar Solli

NASL SCOREBOARD

Matches & Scores:
-Wed Aug 17
Carolina RailHawks v NSC Minnesota Stars
-Sat Aug 20
Montreal Impact v Minnesota Stars
Carolina RailHawks v Fort Lauderdale Strikers
FC Tampa Bay v Puerto Rico Islanders
-Sun Aug 21
FC Edmonton v Atlanta Silverbacks

dN

Standings (as of Sun Aug 14):
*44 Carolina RailHawks (+22 GD) (20 GP)
38 Puerto Rico Islanders (+8 GD) (21 GP)
31 FC Tampa Bay (+4 GD) (21 GP)
28 NSC Minnesota Stars (+2 GD) (20 GP)
28 Fort Lauderdale Strikers (+2 GD) (21 GP)
26 FC Edmonton (-7 GD) (21 GP)
- - - OUT OF PLAYOFFS - - -
19 Montreal Impact (-2 GD) (21 GP)
12 Atlanta Silverbacks (-27 GD) (21 GP)

*Secured playoff birth

AMERICANS IN EUROPE

Greg Seltzer of MLSsoccer.com with an article on Jonathan Spector and his new team Birmingham.

dN

Game Action:

ENGLAND - Championship League
Conor Doyle - Derby County - Wed Aug 17 v Blackpool
Robbie Findley - Nottingham Forest - Tue Aug 16 - came on as a sub in the 57th min as they won 0-1 at Doncaster.
Mike Grella - Leeds - Tue Aug 16 v Hull

dN

Coming Up:

UEFA - Europa League - Playoff Round - 1st Leg
-Thu Aug 18
Sacha Kljestan - Anderlecht - at Bursaspor
Mo Edu - Rangers at Maribor
Michael Parkhurst - Nordsjaelland v Sporting
Oguchi Onyewu - Sporting at Nordsjaelland
Clint Dempsey - Fulham v Dnipro
Dominic Cervi - Celtic v Sion
Jonathan Spector - Birmingham at Nacional
Jozy Altidore - AZ at Aalesund
Steve Cherundolo - Hannover v Sevilla

MEXICO

Left fullback Carlos Salcido has left Fulham to return to Mexico where he will play for UANL Tigres.

SPAIN

Super Cup
Matches & Scores:
2nd Leg
-Wed Aug 17
Barcelona v Real Madrid (2-2) - 4pm CT on GolTV

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

The final stage of qualify will take place on Aug 16/17 and 23/24 - Play-Off Round matches & scores.
-The 10 winners advance to the group stage.

Matches & Scores
1st Leg
-Tue Aug 16
Kobenhavn 1-3 Plzen
BATE 1-1 Sturm
Twente 2-2 Benfica
Arsenal 1-0 Udinese
Lyon 3-1 Rubin
-Wed Aug 17
Wisla Krakow 1-0 APOEL
Maccabi Haifa 2-1 Genk
Dinamo Zagreb 4-1 Malmo
OB 1-0 Villarreal
Bayern 2-0 Zurich

dN

The draw for the group stage will take place on Thu Aug 25.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

Playoff Round - the final round before the group stage. Aug 18 & 25. Matches & Scores.

BRAZIL

Brazil - Serie A Standings (16 of 38 games played):
34 Corinthians (10 W) - NEXT: Wed Aug 17 at Atletico Mineiro
34 Flamengo (9 W) - NEXT: Thu Aug 18 v Atletico GO
32 Sao Paulo - NEXT: Thu Aug 18 at America Mineiro
30 Vasco - NEXT: Wed Aug 17 at Avai
28 Botafogo - NEXT: Wed Aug 17 at Internacional

COLOMBIA 2011 U20 WORLD CUP

Official World Cup website - tournament runs Jul 29 - Aug 20.

Semifinal

Matches & Scores:
-Wed Aug 17
Portugal v France - 5pm CT on ESPNU
Mexico v Brazil - 8pm CT on ESPNU

dN

Final

Match & Score:
-Sat Aug 20
Semifinal winners

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