Some Soccer News for Fri Sep 30, 2011
STARTERS
Vancouver Whitecaps will debut at the beautifully refurbished BC Place stadium this weekend against long time rivals Portland Timbers. Should be askeptical spectacle. (Great typo - hahahahahahahaha.)
VIDEO OF THE DAY
The latest video from the Minnesota Stars follows them south to Cary North Carolina for the final game of the regular season - a must win. And they did!
dN
And if you missed it earlier this week - video of the Stars celebrating in the locker-room after the huge win that put them in the playoffs.
dN
You have no idea how much I want the team to win in Tampa so we can have 2 more home games (Semi & Finals) to sing I Am An NSC Fan more times this year!
To the tune of the Sex Pistols Anarchy In The UK:
I am an NSC fan
I am a Minnesotan
I know what I want and I know how to get it
I wanna destroy (opponents name)
Cuz IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Wanna Beeeeeeeeeeeeeee NSC
NASL SCOREBOARD
Playoffs
My team, the Stars have a huge game on Saturday night in Tampa Bay which you can watch live via the internets on the NASL website.
Quarterfinals - One-Off Series
Matches & Scores:
-Sat Oct 1
FC Tampa Bay (3) v NSC Minnesota Stars (6) - 6:30 CT
Ft Lauderdale Strikers (4) v FC Edmonton (5) - 6:30 CT
STORY OF THE DAY
Raphael Honigstein of Sports Illustrated looks at how 1st year head coach Juup Heynckes has turned Bayern Munich into such a force so quickly.
TEAM USA - EL EQUIPO DE TODOS
Brian Sciaretta of Yanks Abroad reports that FIFA has approved Fabian Johnson's change of national team affiliation from Germany to the USA.
-He is currently recovering from a back injury.
2011-12 CONCACACHAMPIONS
Matchday 5
Recap du Nord: Alajuelense shifted all the weight of Group A on to the favorites Morelia & LA with a win last night that put them in 1st place. The final matchday will give us the other 6 knockout round teams.
Video highlights from all the games.
dN
Group Stage - Round robin, home & away - matches played Aug 16 to Oct 20
Matches & Scores:
-Tue Sep 27
Toronto 1-1 Pumas UNAM - Tor goal by Peri Marosevic. UP goal by Marco Palacios.
Comunicaciones 2-2 Seattle Sounders - Com goals by Transito Montepeque & Rafael Morales. SS goals both by Osvaldo Alonso.
Monterrey 1-0 Herediano - Mon goal by Aldo De Nigris.
-Wed Sep 28
Real Espana 1-1 Santos Laguna - RE goal by Mario Martinez. SL goal by Carlos Ochoa.
Tauro 5-3 Dallas - Tau goals by Luis Moreno, Auriel Gallardo, Temistocles Perez(2) & Marcos Sanchez. Dal goals by Jair Benitez(PK) & Ruben Luna(2).
LA Galaxy 2-1 Morelia - LAG goals by Mike Magee & Juninho. Mor goal by Rafa Marquez Lugo.
Isidro Metapan 1-3 Colorado Rapids - IM goal by Alredo Pacheco. CR goals by Eddie Ababio, Quincy Amarikwa & Omar Cummings.
-Thu Sep 29
Alajuelense 1-0 Motagua - Ala goal by Jonathan McDonald.
dN
Advanced: Santos Laguna, Seattle
Eliminated: Herediano, Motagua
Standings:
GROUP A
12 Alajuelense (Costa Rica) (+3)
9 Monarchas Morelia (Mexico) (+5)
9 LA Galaxy (USA) (+3)
OUT-0 Motagua (Honduras) (-11)
GROUP B
ADV-10 Santos Laguna (Mexico) (+8)
7 Colorado Rapids (USA) (-1)
6 Isidro Metapan (El Salvador) (-6)
5 Real Espana (Honduras) (-1)
GROUP C
8 UNAM Pumas (Mexico) (+5)
7 Dallas (USA) (-2)
7 Toronto (Canada) (-3)
5 Tauro (Panama) (0)
GROUP D
ADV-10 Seattle Sounders (USA) (+4)
9 Monterrey (Mexico) (+6)
7 Comunicaciones (Guatemala) (-2)
OUT-3 Herediano (Costa Rica) (-8)
dN
The final Group Stage Matchday is Oct 18/19/20.
Here are the games for the MLS teams:
-Tue Oct 18
Dallas v Toronto - 7pm CT
Seattle Sounders v Monterrey - 9pm CT
-Wed Oct 19
Santos Laguna v Colorado Rapids - 7pm CT
-Thu Oct 20
Motagua v LA Galaxy - 9pm CT
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Amy Lawrence of the Guardian with five things we learned from the Champions League this week.
Matchday 3 is Oct 18/19.
BIG EUROPEAN CLUB MATCHES
Matches & Scores:
-Sat Oct 1
Everton v Liverpool - the Liverpool derby - blue v red
Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich - is #4 Hoff strong enough to stop the Red & White Machine?
Inter v Napoli - a big test for the newly rejuvenated Inter
-Sun Oct 2
Juventus v Milan - now we find out if Juve is for real
Tottenham v Arsenal - the North London derby
PSG v Lyon - tied for first place in France
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla - is one of these two going to at least try and stay with the leaders?
Fulham v Queens Park Rangers - a minor London derby
Official preview of the weekend ahead in the Barclays Premier League.
HMMMMM, VERY INTERESTING
Rob Hughes of the New York Times feels that Barcelona lost some of their specialness by accepting giant money from Qatar to buy the front of their shirts.
STAT OF THE DAY
3 midweek MLS games this week averaged 18,854 fans. Impressive!
FACT OF THE DAY
@PeterHirdt of the Elias Sports Bureau: Zac MacMath of Philly v Bill Hamid of DC last night was the 1st time two 20 year old Keepers had ever faced off in MLS.
PODCASTS
The Jared Montz Podcast today welcome's guest former New England player and current TV commentator Taylor Twellman. Download or listen here.
MLS MATCHES, SCORES & STANDINGS
WEEK 29
Matches & Scores:
-Wed Sep 28
Sporting Kansas City 2-1 Columbus Crew - SKC goals by Kei Kamara(PK) & Own Goal(Julius James). CC goal by Emilio Renteria.
Venue: LIVESTRONG Sporting Park
Atten: 17,838
Real Salt Lake 0-3 Chicago Fire SC - CF goals all by Marco Pappa.
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium
Atten: 20,762
-Thu Sep 29
Philadelphia Union 3-2 DC United - PU goals by Sebastian Le Toux(2) & Michael Farfan. DCU goals by Dwayne DeRosario & Andy Najar.
Venue: PPL Park
Atten: 17,963
-Sat Oct 1
Houston Dynamo v Chicago Fire SC - 3:00PM CT on Telefutura
Venue: Robertson Stadium
Toronto FC v New York Red Bulls - 6:30PM CT on FOX Soccer
Venue: BMO Field
New England Revolution v Seattle Sounders FC - 6:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Gillette Stadium
Colorado Rapids v FC Dallas - 8:00PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
LA Galaxy v Real Salt Lake - 9:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: The Home Depot Center
San Jose Earthquakes v Sporting Kansas City - 9:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Buck Shaw Stadium
-Sun Oct 2
Columbus Crew v DC United - 3:00PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Crew Stadium
Vancouver Whitecaps FC v Portland Timbers - 3:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: BC Place
CD Chivas USA v Philadelphia Union - 7:00PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: The Home Depot Center
dN
EJECTIONS:
Kyle Beckerman - Salt Lake - red card
dN
Standings:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
44 Sporting Kansas City (31 GP) (+7 GD)
43 Philadelphia Union (30 GP) (+7 GD)
42 Houston Dynamo (31 GP) (0 GD)
41 Columbus Crew (31 GP) (-4 GD)
39 New York Red Bulls (30 GP) (+5 GD)
38 DC United (29 GP) (+1 GD)
36 Chicago Fire SC (30 GP) (0 GD)
30 Toronto FC (31 GP) (-23 GD)
27 New England Revolution (30 GP) (-15 GD)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
*61 LA Galaxy (30 GP) (+22 GD)
*54 Seattle Sounders FC (30 GP) (+17 GD)
51 Real Salt Lake (30 GP) (+12 GD)
46 FC Dallas (30 GP) (+3 GD)
42 Colorado Rapids (31 GP) (+1 GD)
37 Portland Timbers (30 GP) (-7 GD)
35 CD Chivas USA (31 GP) (+1 GD)
31 San Jose Earthquakes (30 GP) (-7 GD)
22 Vancouver Whitecaps FC (29 GP) (-20 GD)
*Playoff berth
MLS SUPPORTERS SHIELD STANDINGS
61 LA Galaxy (30 GP) (+22 GD)
54 Seattle Sounders FC (30 GP) (+17 GD)
51 Real Salt Lake (30 GP) (+12 GD)
IF THE MLS PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY
The 10 teams:
Philly moves up to #2 in the East pushing Columbus dangerously into the Wild Card spots. The Crew hosts DC on Sunday.
WEST
1 LA Galaxy
2 Seattle Sounders
3 Real Salt Lake
EAST
1 Sporting Kansas City
2 Philadelphia Union
3 Houston Dynamo
WILD CARD
1 FC Dallas
2 Colorado Rapids
3 Columbus Crew
4 New York Red Bulls
MLS TEAM & PLAYER NEWS
General News
Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph has an honest to goodness interview with Colorado owner Stan Kroenke. Yes, it is mostly about the little team he owns in London called Arsenal, but there there is a lot of Kroenke philosophy to interest MLS fans.
Steve Davis of the Daily Soccer Fix feels that MLS owners need to give more value to playoff spots by making them scarce. I know, easy concept. But Davis is right, they don't seem to grasp that.
Alexi Lalas at the Mirror picks Brek Shea of Dallas as his MVP.
CHICAGO FIRE
Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle looks at the great second half to the season Dominic Oduro is having. He struggled in Houston last season.
CD CHIVAS USA
The team will honor recently retired player Jimmy Conrad at their game on Sunday night.
COLUMBUS CREW
No team in the playoff hunt has fallen as badly as the Crew in the last month. After spending a good chunk of the 2nd half of the season at #1 in the East they are now down to the Wild Card positions, with New York, Chicago and DC not far behind.
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Chronicle reports that full/centerback Andre Hainault has told Canada that he will not report to the national team for 2 upcoming World Cup qualifiers because he wants to help Houston qualify for the playoffs more.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
The Times posts a transcript of head coach Sigi Schmid's weekly press conference.
TORONTO FC
MLSsoccer.com tells us about a "Town Hall meeting" the teams management held with fans.
MLS RESERVE LEAGUE
Matches & Scores:
-Sat Oct 1
Houston Dynamo v Chicago Fire SC
Toronto FC v New York Red Bulls
-Sun Oct 2
Colorado Rapids v FC Dallas
Columbus Crew v DC United
-Mon Oct 3
LA Galaxy v San Jose Earthquakes
Vancouver Whitecaps FC v Portland Timbers
-Thu Oct 6
FC Dallas v Sporting Kansas City
-Sat Oct 8
Real Salt Lake v Chicago Fire SC
dN
Standings Etc.
MEXICO
Mexico - Primera Top 8 Standings (10 of 17 games played):
18 Jaguares (+3) (19 GF) - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 v Atlas
18 Cruz Azul (+3) (13 GF) - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 at Santos Laguna
18 Guadalajara (+1) - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 v Queretaro
17 Tigres (+7) - NEXT: Sun Oct 2 at Tijuana
17 Pumas (+2) - NEXT: Sun Oct 2 v America
15 Atlante - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 v Pachuca
14 Santos Laguna (9 GP) (+3) - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 v Cruz Azul
14 Queretaro (+1) - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 at Guadalajara
EUROPE
Reuters reports that women and children will be allowed into Turkish Super Lig matches for free in an effort to quell the rise of hooligans.
BRAZIL
Brazil - Serie A Top 5 Standings (26 of 38 games played):
49 Vasco - NEXT: Sun Oct 2 v Corinthians
47 Corinthians - NEXT: Sun Oct 2 at Vasco da Gama
46 Sao Paulo - NEXT: Sun Oct 2 v Flamengo
45 Botafogo (25 GP) - NEXT: Sun Oct 2 at Atletico GO
41 Fluminense - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 v Santos
2 big games coming this weekend as Vasco and Corinthians face off, and then Sao Paulo hosts 6th place Flamengo.
BIG PIMPIN
"England tend to perform like a cheap battery."
Simon Kuper of the Financial Times will have an update coming for his last book Soccernomics that looks closer at the track record of England under Fabio Capello. Here are his thoughts on the topic in the update.
dN
And look out for a review of Kuper's brand new book Soccer Men on Monday here at du Nord.
Vancouver Whitecaps will debut at the beautifully refurbished BC Place stadium this weekend against long time rivals Portland Timbers. Should be a
VIDEO OF THE DAY
The latest video from the Minnesota Stars follows them south to Cary North Carolina for the final game of the regular season - a must win. And they did!
dN
And if you missed it earlier this week - video of the Stars celebrating in the locker-room after the huge win that put them in the playoffs.
dN
You have no idea how much I want the team to win in Tampa so we can have 2 more home games (Semi & Finals) to sing I Am An NSC Fan more times this year!
To the tune of the Sex Pistols Anarchy In The UK:
I am an NSC fan
I am a Minnesotan
I know what I want and I know how to get it
I wanna destroy (opponents name)
Cuz IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Wanna Beeeeeeeeeeeeeee NSC
NASL SCOREBOARD
Playoffs
My team, the Stars have a huge game on Saturday night in Tampa Bay which you can watch live via the internets on the NASL website.
Quarterfinals - One-Off Series
Matches & Scores:
-Sat Oct 1
FC Tampa Bay (3) v NSC Minnesota Stars (6) - 6:30 CT
Ft Lauderdale Strikers (4) v FC Edmonton (5) - 6:30 CT
STORY OF THE DAY
Raphael Honigstein of Sports Illustrated looks at how 1st year head coach Juup Heynckes has turned Bayern Munich into such a force so quickly.
TEAM USA - EL EQUIPO DE TODOS
Brian Sciaretta of Yanks Abroad reports that FIFA has approved Fabian Johnson's change of national team affiliation from Germany to the USA.
-He is currently recovering from a back injury.
2011-12 CONCACACHAMPIONS
Matchday 5
Recap du Nord: Alajuelense shifted all the weight of Group A on to the favorites Morelia & LA with a win last night that put them in 1st place. The final matchday will give us the other 6 knockout round teams.
Video highlights from all the games.
dN
Group Stage - Round robin, home & away - matches played Aug 16 to Oct 20
Matches & Scores:
-Tue Sep 27
Toronto 1-1 Pumas UNAM - Tor goal by Peri Marosevic. UP goal by Marco Palacios.
Comunicaciones 2-2 Seattle Sounders - Com goals by Transito Montepeque & Rafael Morales. SS goals both by Osvaldo Alonso.
Monterrey 1-0 Herediano - Mon goal by Aldo De Nigris.
-Wed Sep 28
Real Espana 1-1 Santos Laguna - RE goal by Mario Martinez. SL goal by Carlos Ochoa.
Tauro 5-3 Dallas - Tau goals by Luis Moreno, Auriel Gallardo, Temistocles Perez(2) & Marcos Sanchez. Dal goals by Jair Benitez(PK) & Ruben Luna(2).
LA Galaxy 2-1 Morelia - LAG goals by Mike Magee & Juninho. Mor goal by Rafa Marquez Lugo.
Isidro Metapan 1-3 Colorado Rapids - IM goal by Alredo Pacheco. CR goals by Eddie Ababio, Quincy Amarikwa & Omar Cummings.
-Thu Sep 29
Alajuelense 1-0 Motagua - Ala goal by Jonathan McDonald.
dN
Advanced: Santos Laguna, Seattle
Eliminated: Herediano, Motagua
Standings:
GROUP A
12 Alajuelense (Costa Rica) (+3)
9 Monarchas Morelia (Mexico) (+5)
9 LA Galaxy (USA) (+3)
OUT-0 Motagua (Honduras) (-11)
GROUP B
ADV-10 Santos Laguna (Mexico) (+8)
7 Colorado Rapids (USA) (-1)
6 Isidro Metapan (El Salvador) (-6)
5 Real Espana (Honduras) (-1)
GROUP C
8 UNAM Pumas (Mexico) (+5)
7 Dallas (USA) (-2)
7 Toronto (Canada) (-3)
5 Tauro (Panama) (0)
GROUP D
ADV-10 Seattle Sounders (USA) (+4)
9 Monterrey (Mexico) (+6)
7 Comunicaciones (Guatemala) (-2)
OUT-3 Herediano (Costa Rica) (-8)
dN
The final Group Stage Matchday is Oct 18/19/20.
Here are the games for the MLS teams:
-Tue Oct 18
Dallas v Toronto - 7pm CT
Seattle Sounders v Monterrey - 9pm CT
-Wed Oct 19
Santos Laguna v Colorado Rapids - 7pm CT
-Thu Oct 20
Motagua v LA Galaxy - 9pm CT
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Amy Lawrence of the Guardian with five things we learned from the Champions League this week.
Matchday 3 is Oct 18/19.
BIG EUROPEAN CLUB MATCHES
Matches & Scores:
-Sat Oct 1
Everton v Liverpool - the Liverpool derby - blue v red
Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich - is #4 Hoff strong enough to stop the Red & White Machine?
Inter v Napoli - a big test for the newly rejuvenated Inter
-Sun Oct 2
Juventus v Milan - now we find out if Juve is for real
Tottenham v Arsenal - the North London derby
PSG v Lyon - tied for first place in France
Atletico Madrid v Sevilla - is one of these two going to at least try and stay with the leaders?
Fulham v Queens Park Rangers - a minor London derby
Official preview of the weekend ahead in the Barclays Premier League.
HMMMMM, VERY INTERESTING
Rob Hughes of the New York Times feels that Barcelona lost some of their specialness by accepting giant money from Qatar to buy the front of their shirts.
STAT OF THE DAY
3 midweek MLS games this week averaged 18,854 fans. Impressive!
FACT OF THE DAY
@PeterHirdt of the Elias Sports Bureau: Zac MacMath of Philly v Bill Hamid of DC last night was the 1st time two 20 year old Keepers had ever faced off in MLS.
PODCASTS
The Jared Montz Podcast today welcome's guest former New England player and current TV commentator Taylor Twellman. Download or listen here.
MLS MATCHES, SCORES & STANDINGS
WEEK 29
Matches & Scores:
-Wed Sep 28
Sporting Kansas City 2-1 Columbus Crew - SKC goals by Kei Kamara(PK) & Own Goal(Julius James). CC goal by Emilio Renteria.
Venue: LIVESTRONG Sporting Park
Atten: 17,838
Real Salt Lake 0-3 Chicago Fire SC - CF goals all by Marco Pappa.
Venue: Rio Tinto Stadium
Atten: 20,762
-Thu Sep 29
Philadelphia Union 3-2 DC United - PU goals by Sebastian Le Toux(2) & Michael Farfan. DCU goals by Dwayne DeRosario & Andy Najar.
Venue: PPL Park
Atten: 17,963
-Sat Oct 1
Houston Dynamo v Chicago Fire SC - 3:00PM CT on Telefutura
Venue: Robertson Stadium
Toronto FC v New York Red Bulls - 6:30PM CT on FOX Soccer
Venue: BMO Field
New England Revolution v Seattle Sounders FC - 6:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Gillette Stadium
Colorado Rapids v FC Dallas - 8:00PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
LA Galaxy v Real Salt Lake - 9:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: The Home Depot Center
San Jose Earthquakes v Sporting Kansas City - 9:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Buck Shaw Stadium
-Sun Oct 2
Columbus Crew v DC United - 3:00PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: Crew Stadium
Vancouver Whitecaps FC v Portland Timbers - 3:30PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: BC Place
CD Chivas USA v Philadelphia Union - 7:00PM CT on Direct Kick
Venue: The Home Depot Center
dN
EJECTIONS:
Kyle Beckerman - Salt Lake - red card
dN
Standings:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
44 Sporting Kansas City (31 GP) (+7 GD)
43 Philadelphia Union (30 GP) (+7 GD)
42 Houston Dynamo (31 GP) (0 GD)
41 Columbus Crew (31 GP) (-4 GD)
39 New York Red Bulls (30 GP) (+5 GD)
38 DC United (29 GP) (+1 GD)
36 Chicago Fire SC (30 GP) (0 GD)
30 Toronto FC (31 GP) (-23 GD)
27 New England Revolution (30 GP) (-15 GD)
WESTERN CONFERENCE
*61 LA Galaxy (30 GP) (+22 GD)
*54 Seattle Sounders FC (30 GP) (+17 GD)
51 Real Salt Lake (30 GP) (+12 GD)
46 FC Dallas (30 GP) (+3 GD)
42 Colorado Rapids (31 GP) (+1 GD)
37 Portland Timbers (30 GP) (-7 GD)
35 CD Chivas USA (31 GP) (+1 GD)
31 San Jose Earthquakes (30 GP) (-7 GD)
22 Vancouver Whitecaps FC (29 GP) (-20 GD)
*Playoff berth
MLS SUPPORTERS SHIELD STANDINGS
61 LA Galaxy (30 GP) (+22 GD)
54 Seattle Sounders FC (30 GP) (+17 GD)
51 Real Salt Lake (30 GP) (+12 GD)
IF THE MLS PLAYOFFS STARTED TODAY
The 10 teams:
Philly moves up to #2 in the East pushing Columbus dangerously into the Wild Card spots. The Crew hosts DC on Sunday.
WEST
1 LA Galaxy
2 Seattle Sounders
3 Real Salt Lake
EAST
1 Sporting Kansas City
2 Philadelphia Union
3 Houston Dynamo
WILD CARD
1 FC Dallas
2 Colorado Rapids
3 Columbus Crew
4 New York Red Bulls
MLS TEAM & PLAYER NEWS
General News
Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph has an honest to goodness interview with Colorado owner Stan Kroenke. Yes, it is mostly about the little team he owns in London called Arsenal, but there there is a lot of Kroenke philosophy to interest MLS fans.
Steve Davis of the Daily Soccer Fix feels that MLS owners need to give more value to playoff spots by making them scarce. I know, easy concept. But Davis is right, they don't seem to grasp that.
Alexi Lalas at the Mirror picks Brek Shea of Dallas as his MVP.
CHICAGO FIRE
Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle looks at the great second half to the season Dominic Oduro is having. He struggled in Houston last season.
CD CHIVAS USA
The team will honor recently retired player Jimmy Conrad at their game on Sunday night.
COLUMBUS CREW
No team in the playoff hunt has fallen as badly as the Crew in the last month. After spending a good chunk of the 2nd half of the season at #1 in the East they are now down to the Wild Card positions, with New York, Chicago and DC not far behind.
HOUSTON DYNAMO
Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Chronicle reports that full/centerback Andre Hainault has told Canada that he will not report to the national team for 2 upcoming World Cup qualifiers because he wants to help Houston qualify for the playoffs more.
SEATTLE SOUNDERS
The Times posts a transcript of head coach Sigi Schmid's weekly press conference.
TORONTO FC
MLSsoccer.com tells us about a "Town Hall meeting" the teams management held with fans.
MLS RESERVE LEAGUE
Matches & Scores:
-Sat Oct 1
Houston Dynamo v Chicago Fire SC
Toronto FC v New York Red Bulls
-Sun Oct 2
Colorado Rapids v FC Dallas
Columbus Crew v DC United
-Mon Oct 3
LA Galaxy v San Jose Earthquakes
Vancouver Whitecaps FC v Portland Timbers
-Thu Oct 6
FC Dallas v Sporting Kansas City
-Sat Oct 8
Real Salt Lake v Chicago Fire SC
dN
Standings Etc.
MEXICO
Mexico - Primera Top 8 Standings (10 of 17 games played):
18 Jaguares (+3) (19 GF) - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 v Atlas
18 Cruz Azul (+3) (13 GF) - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 at Santos Laguna
18 Guadalajara (+1) - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 v Queretaro
17 Tigres (+7) - NEXT: Sun Oct 2 at Tijuana
17 Pumas (+2) - NEXT: Sun Oct 2 v America
15 Atlante - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 v Pachuca
14 Santos Laguna (9 GP) (+3) - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 v Cruz Azul
14 Queretaro (+1) - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 at Guadalajara
EUROPE
Reuters reports that women and children will be allowed into Turkish Super Lig matches for free in an effort to quell the rise of hooligans.
BRAZIL
Brazil - Serie A Top 5 Standings (26 of 38 games played):
49 Vasco - NEXT: Sun Oct 2 v Corinthians
47 Corinthians - NEXT: Sun Oct 2 at Vasco da Gama
46 Sao Paulo - NEXT: Sun Oct 2 v Flamengo
45 Botafogo (25 GP) - NEXT: Sun Oct 2 at Atletico GO
41 Fluminense - NEXT: Sat Oct 1 v Santos
2 big games coming this weekend as Vasco and Corinthians face off, and then Sao Paulo hosts 6th place Flamengo.
BIG PIMPIN
"England tend to perform like a cheap battery."
Simon Kuper of the Financial Times will have an update coming for his last book Soccernomics that looks closer at the track record of England under Fabio Capello. Here are his thoughts on the topic in the update.
dN
And look out for a review of Kuper's brand new book Soccer Men on Monday here at du Nord.
posted by brucio at 16:50
3 Comments:
Bruce
I would have agreed with you about making the playoff spots more "scarce" but look at all the action going on. Only one team is deemed out of the hunt. If there were only 8 or 6 teams yes it would place more value in regular season games, but you would be missing all the drama now. Plus you get all the drama with the top teams chasing the supporters shield.
Also, I'm guessing that as they add more teams the spots will stay the same.
Love the playoffs best idea ever. Europe should do this as well. If there were no playoffs, than the only teams worth watching are LA SS and RSL.
It's exciting to read that Fabian Johnson is committed to the US. Bruce, have you heard anything recently on Timothy Chandler? I hope Loew isn't too persuasive.
Chandler has said he wants to play for the USA. Loew has said he is not interested. Rumor dead!
Expect Chandler to be on American soil this Monday to train for the next two friendlies.
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