Thursday, November 17, 2011

Some Soccer News for Thu Nov 17, 2011

EDITORIAL NOTE: I will be in LA beginning tomorrow afternoon to personally witness MLS Cup 2011, so the illustrious King of the Plains People Graham Fox will helm the du Nord company truck on Friday, and the Jester-Midwester Exemplar of Salisbury Paul Demko will enlighten you all on Monday. I will be back to entertain you on Tuesday of next short week.

DU NORD AT THE CONTROLS

du Nord at the Controls - LA Soundtrack - new music mix at Spotify.

With MLS Cup in Los Angeles this weekend I thought what we really needed was my Ultimate LA Music Mix on Spotify! Rock it now!

STARTERS

The du Nord 2011 MLS Best 11 & Player Of The Year.

dN

Has anyone else heard this rumor: Friendly Wed Feb 29 USA at Italy in Genoa?

dN

The MLS 2011 Most Valuable Player will be announced on Friday afternoon, and Dwayne DeRosario is the heavy favorite.

dN

The CONCACAF Olympic qualifying games next spring will be shown on Universal Sports Network & Telemundo.

NSC MINNESOTA STARS 2011 CHAMPIONSHIP GEAR

Get your NSC Minnesota Stars 2011 NASL Champions Gear! Its now available!!!

STORY OF THE DAY

Daniel Girard of the Toronto Star asks a simple question: Is anyone better than Dwayne De Rosario?

You could make a strong argument that DDR has been the best player in league history.

MLS CUP PLAYOFFS

Final
Match & Score:
-Sun Nov 20
LA Galaxy v Houston Dynamo - 8:00pm CT on ESPN
Venue: The Home Depot Center - Carson CA

dN

What are the two teams records since Aug 1?
-Houston Dynamo: 9W - 2L - 4T (Last 5: 5W - 0L - 0T)
-LA Galaxy: 10W - 3L - 1T (Last 5 games: 4W - 1L - 0T)

dN

LA and Houston played twice this year in the league, with each team winning at home. Although the game in Houston was at the very end of the regular season and the Galaxy brought their second string.

-May 25
LA Galaxy 1-0 Houston Dynamo - LAG goal by Landon Donovan (PK).
Venue: The Home Depot Center

Video highlights of the game.

Lineups:
LA Galaxy: Donovan Ricketts, Sean Franklin, Omar Gonzalez, A.J. DeLaGarza, Todd Dunivant, Chris Birchall (Jovan Kirovski 89), Landon Donovan, Juninho, Michael Stephens, Juan Pablo Angel (Mike Magee 61), Chad Barrett (Miguel Lopez 74).
Subs Not Used: Gregg Berhalter, Paolo Cardozo, Frankie Hejduk, Josh Saunders.
Houston Dynamo: Tally Hall, Hunter Freeman, Bobby Boswell, Andre Hainault, Corey Ashe (Mike Chabala 46), Brad Davis (Je-Vaughn Watson 61), Lovel Palmer, Geoff Cameron, Colin Clark, Will Bruin, Koke (Cam Weaver 74).
Subs Not Used: Jason Garey, Kofi Sarkodie, Jermaine Taylor, Tyler Deric.

Cards:
LAG - Sean Franklin (caution; Delaying a Restart) 87
HD - Je-Vaughn Watson (caution; Reckless Foul) 90

-Oct 23
Houston Dynamo 3-1 LA Galaxy - HD goals by Adam Moffat, Bobby Boswell & Carlo Costly. LAG goal by Jack McBean.
Venue: Robertson Stadium

Video highlights of the game.

Lineups:
Houston Dynamo: Tally Hall, Andre Hainault, Bobby Boswell, Geoff Cameron, Corey Ashe, Danny Cruz (Colin Clark 81), Luiz Camargo, Adam Moffat, Brad Davis, Brian Ching (Carlo Costly 63), Calen Carr (Will Bruin 76).
Substitutes Not Used: Hunter Freeman, Jermaine Taylor, Je-Vaughn Watson, Tyler Deric
LA Galaxy: Donovan Ricketts, Frankie Hejduk (Ryan Thomas 76), Gregg Berhalter, Dasan Robinson, A.J. DeLaGarza, Hector Jimenez, Chris Birchall, Dan Keat, Michael Stephens, Jovan Kirovski (Chad Barrett 62), Jack McBean.
Substitutes Not Used: Paolo Cardozo, Sean Franklin, Juninho, Miguel Lopez, Brian Perk.

Cards:
HD - Andre Hainault (caution; Reckless Foul) 43
HD - Danny Cruz (caution; Reckless Foul) 44
LAG - Jovan Kirovski (caution; Reckless Foul) 49
HD - Carlo Costly (caution; Shirt Removal) 75

dN

General Playoff News

The Original Winger asked 11 people inside the soccer world, players, coaches, journalists etc, to recall their fondest MLS Cup memories - And I got to be one of those 11 for a day. How did I get on this list?
-Sacha Kljestan – Anderlecht
-Martin Rogers – Yahoo! Sports
-Jimmy Conrad – Fox Soccer
-Adam Spangler – This Is American Soccer
-Robbie Rogers – Columbus Crew
-Rob Stone – ESPN
-Taylor Twellman – ESPN
-Bruce McGuire – du Nord
-Josh Saunders – Los Angeles Galaxy
-Nick Rimando – Real Salt Lake
-Brian Dunseth – BP_TOW, Fox Soccer

dN

Dominic Kinnear and Bruce Arena both get a chance to win 3 MLS Cups as a head coach. No one else has done it yet. One of them will be there first.

dN

How cool is it that 2 great young goalkeepers are leading their teams into the final with one great performance after another.

dN

Scott French of ESPN gives us the history of MLS Cup games that have been played in Los Angeles.

dN

Brian Straus of Sporting News looks at how both teams got to the pinnacle of the season. With good video interviews.

HOUSTON DYNAMO

Video: The Road to MLS Cup - Houston Dynamo

dN

Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Chronicle writes about Houston figuring out how to win on the road last in the season, just in time.

dN

Ortiz on the Dynamo's underdog status.

dN

Glenn Davis of Fox Sports Houston on the Dynamo's set piece prowess.

LA GALAXY

Video: MLS Cup 2011 LA Galaxy

dN

Kevin Baxter of the LA Times says the Galaxy feel they know how to deal with being a heavy favorite.

dN

Scott French of ESPN builds the case for the Galaxy being an all-time great MLS team.

dN

Alexi Lalas at the Mirror ponders Beckham losing MLS Cup again and what that would do for his image.

dN

Mark Ogden of the Telegraph talks to Robbie Keane who says he will NOT go out on loan from the Galaxy during the offseason.

PREDICTION OF THE DAY

Houston almost pulls off the miraculous upset in the MLS Cup final on Sunday, but LA steals it. Controversy abounds! That is my prediction.

TEAM USA - EL EQUIPO DE TODOS

Michael Adubato of Yanks Abroad talks to Clint Dempsey about the two recently completed friendlies and his position on the field.

RISE AND SHINE: THE JAY DEMERIT STORY

See the documentary film on the big screen of Jay DeMerit's travels through the soccer world. From small town jock to Premier League captain and World Cup starter.

And the hits just keep on coming! MORE MORE MORE screenings have been added!

Details here

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Matchday 5 next week on Nov 22 & 23.

ADV: Barcelona, Milan, Real Madrid

OUT: Dinamo Zagreb, Otelul Galati, Viktoria Plzen, Villarreal

FIFASCANDALIZATIONINGS

Reuters reports that Sepp Blatter really does love the taste of shoe leather. He again cranked his whole foot up and into his mouth yesterday when he denied that there is any racism taking place on the soccer fields of the world and that if two players have a confrontation they should shake hands and declare the matter resolved.
-He later claimed he was misinterpreted and then went on to make the same statements to other news outlets.
-He really is a special kind of idiot.

Al Jazeera has a video interview with Blatter in which he says several stupid things.

dN

An amazing back and forth between Manchester United and England star Rio Ferdinand and Sepp Blatter has taken place on Twitter over the past 24 hours:

rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand
@SeppBlatter your comments on racism are so condescending its almost laughable. If fans shout racist chants but shake our hands is that ok?

rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand
@SeppBlatter to say what you said about racism in football spoke volumes of your ignorance to the subject.

SeppBlatter Joseph S Blatter
Racism and discrimination of any kind have no place in football. I have said this many times before, and I will say it again and again

FIFA Statement

rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand
Fifa clear up the blatter comments with a pic of him posing with a black man..I need the hand covering eyes symbol!!

SeppBlatter Joseph S Blatter
@rioferdy5 The ‘black man’ as you call him has a name: Tokyo Sexwale. He has done tremendous work against racism and apartheid in Africa...

rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand
@SeppBlatter I guess you now have the full support of all the women, gay community + people against racism in football....

rioferdy5 Rio Ferdinand
@SeppBlatter If we want 2 stamp out racism in society a football pitch is a good place to start-loved by billions of people around the world


















BIG EUROPEAN CLUB MATCHES

Matches & Scores:
-Sat Nov 19
Manchester City v Newcastle United - We know Man City is for real, but this is when we find out if #3 Newcastle are too.
Bayern Munich v Dortmund - #1 in Germany hosts #2
Monchengladbach v Werder Bremen - #4 in Germany hosts #3
Valencia v Real Madrid - #3 v #1 with 4 points between them
-Sun Nov 20
Chelsea v Liverpool - two big spenders who want to show their quality
Juventus v Palermo - two teams that want to be taken seriously
Napoli v Lazio - the high powered home team takes on the surprising #2
Besiktas v Galatasaray - one of the most intense rivalries in the world

DO YOU REALIZE

The Economist looks at David Beckham's value to Major League Soccer.

HMMMMM, VERY INTERESTING

Australian Four Four Two has words from LA Galaxy president Tom Payne comparing MLS to the A-League.

FACT OF THE DAY

2012 FIFA International Dates

Feb 29 - Friendly match day
Jun 1-5 - International match days
Jun 8-12 - International match days
Jun 8-Jul 1 - UEFA EURO 2012 Poland/Ukraine
Jul 26-Aug 11 - Men's Olympic Football Tournament London
Aug 15 - Friendly match day
Sep 7-11 - International match days
Oct 12-16 - International match days
Nov 14 - Friendly match day

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Jonah Friedman and Nick Firchau of MLS give us a video tour of some of LA's soccer highlights.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Thierry Henry training with Arsenal this week. And who is that in back ground? Ah yes, Brek Shea, the boy with the wet pet ferret.















MLS TEAM & PLAYER NEWS


NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

Kyle McCarthy of the Herald on the hiring of Jay Heaps as the team's new head coach.

Frank Dell'Apa of the Globe sees the risk in hiring Heaps, who has no coaching experience. But the Revs are up for taking the chance.

Scott Coen of MassLive.com with an article on Western Massachusetts' native Heaps.

NEW YORK RED BULLS

Thierry Henry is back in London doing some offseason training with his hold team Arsenal.
-Video from Arsenal of Henry training and coach Arsene Wenger talking about him.

TORONTO FC

The Star reports that ownership of TFC's parent company Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment is very likely to change hands.
-The Globe & Mail continues the story.

USL NEWS

The Austin Aztex of the PDL hired Paul Dalglish to be there new head coach.

USA U23/OLYMPIC TEAM

Several stories emerged from the just ended U23/20 training camp in Duisburg Germany.
-Michael Adubato gets the lowdown from youth director Claudio Reyna who played a big part in coaching this recently ended training camp.
-Brian Sciaretta catches up with John Anthony Brooks.
-Scott Peterson asks Jared Jeffrey about his development.
-Andrew Vorce talks to Conor Doyle.

Greg Seltzer of MLSsoccer.com on Charles Renken.

Two videos from US Soccer to see:
-Terrance Boyd is a real handful as a forward, as you can see in this goal he scored for the USA this week.
-Video interviews with players as the camp wraps up.

AMERICANS IN EUROPE

Brian Sciaretta of Yanks Abroad talks to Michael Parkhurst about his new contract at Nordjaelland.

AMERICANS IN MEXICO

Tom Marshall of MLSsoccer.com introduces us to attacking midfielder Ricardo Bocanegra who was born in the USA (but only spent his first month here) and had a breakout season at Atlas.

MEXICO

Laguilla - Quarterfinals

Matches & Scores:
1st Leg
-Sat Nov 19
Queretaro v Guadalajara
Morelia v Cruz Azul
-Sun Nov 20
Chiapas Jaguares v Santos Laguna
Pachuca v UANL Tigres

2nd Leg matches one week later.

EUROPE

David Hytner of the Guardian talks to Samuel Eto'o about his surprise move to an unknown club in Russia this past summer.

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE

Matchday 5 - Thu Nov 24.

BRAZIL

Recap du Nord: With now only 3 games left to play this season #1 Corinthians got a huge win while #2 Vasco could only draw and that gives Corin a 2 point lead at the top. Fluminense also won and remain 3rd, but closer to that 2nd place. 4th place Fig play tonight, while Bota lost yet keep their #5 position.

Serie A Top 5 Standings (35 of 38 games played):
64 Corinthians (18 W) - LAST: Wed Nov 16 W 0-1 at Ceara - NEXT: Sun Nov 20 v Atletico Minero
62 Vasco da Gama (17 W) - LAST: Wed Nov 16 D 1-1 at Palmeiras - NEXT: Sat Nov 19 v Avai
59 Fluminense (18 W) - LAST: Wed Nov 16 W 5-4 v Gremio - NEXT: Sun Nov 20 at Figueirense
*56 Figueirense (15 W) - NEXT: Thu Nov 17 at Flamengo - NEXT: Sun Nov 20 v Flamengo
55 Botafogo (16 W) - LAST: Wed Nov 16 L 2-1 at America Mineiro - NEXT: Sun Nov 20 v Internacional

ARGENTINA

Tim Vickery of ESPN says the Argentina national team sags heavy under the weight of their history.

dN

Primera Division - Apertura - Top 5 Standings (14 of 19 played):
32 Boca Juniors - NEXT: Sat Nov 19 v Racing Club
24 Racing Club - NEXT: Sat Nov 19 at Boca Juniors
23 Lanus (+5) - NEXT: Sat Nov 19 v Arsenal
23 Atletico Rafaela (+1) - NEXT: Sat Nov 19 at Colon
21 Tigre (+3) (16GF) - NEXT: Sat Nov 19 at Newell's Old Boys
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