All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

Crass, the e-mail traffic has been fast and furious about the trip. I'm not flying with the other guys, which hopefully means that I will be mildly well rested and sober when I reach Frankfurt.

 

Interesting theory. However, rest and sobriety should waite until you are back in The States! That was my motto upon departing for San Fran.

Oh and Barry Ferguson wished us luck.

 

Better us than the English, as far as he's concerned.

My critical mistake on every trip which I've taken to Europe has been having a couple of drinks on the plane to fall asleep. But I never sleep, so I show up tired, dry, cranky and with a slight hangover. This time, I'm getting up early (not really an option anyway with my daughter's sleep habits), exercising, not drinking and hopefully I will sleep. The problems are that I have a huge train commute from the Shore (where my wife and daughter will be) through Penn Station to JFK. At a minimum, I need to leave 4 1/2 hours before my flight. Plus, I transfer through London, so my sleep will be no more than the 5 hours of the first leg.

 

Alexi Lalas, making friends wherever he goes. I know that they are on a poor run, but they won the title last year.

 

Shit, that's a GREAT move.... the only thing worse than firing Steve Sampson is knowing that somewhere, Thomas Rongen is awaiting the phone call to offer him the job.

(I realize Rongen is currently employed. But he's my favorite example of a shitty coach who, no matter how gawd-awful he actually is, still manages to find work in MLS.)

 

The move isn't totally surprising. If Big Red waited until later in the season, the Gals' World Cup players would be back and they might've started winning again. Best to nip it in the bud now and be done with him it.

As for wRongen, MLS GMs love retreads. Apparently, if you don't "know" the MLS system, you're too much of a risk. That's why coaches like Dan Gaspar, Bob Lilley and Brian Bliss don't get hired, while Fernando Clavijo gets second and third chances....

 

Does anyone else feel like today is akin to Christmas Eve.

 

Man, I missed this thread for a few days...

Big Buckin'... Yes, oh hell yes. I'm jonesing right now like a guy that went two days without his needle fix. I've had my US jerseys all sorted out in a row and been wearing one after another each day.

Bari, Zizzer, Hanzo... Sampson is a shit coach. I have no problem with this move. And now Yallop is in. Interesting that just a few months ago he said no the the Red Bull job and now yes to the Galaxy job. Very interesting. Oh well.

Webster... Enjoy your flight. I don't normally sleep much either. I try to drink before going on the plane, not really on it though. I'll be looking forward to reading your report upon return.

 

Great comparison! I can't stop thinking about the World Cup. My entire life for the next month revolves around the games. I was supposed to leave town Saturday morning, but I switched my plans to Friday night so I could be at my parents' house to watch Saturday's games!

 

I'm getting my work to pay for an extra night in the hotel just so I'll have access to a TV around noon....muwahahaha. ;D

 

If you need something to tide you over, ESPN Classic is showing the Portugal and Mexico games today ... 2 and 4 p.m. ET, IIRC.


Here's to stopping traffic in Europe all over again. ;D

 

I used to watch the California Surf as a kid. I was 7 or 8 when the Surf played the Pele-led Cosmos. We went to it, but I barely remember the game. I do vaguely remember the sense of excitement everyone had watching Pele.

Ah, the NASL.