All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

Arena will be on Sunday's ESPN2 broadcast of the Eastern Conference final (DC v KC) with... Eric Wynalda!

Ives Galarcep's Blog

 

I am listening to the Rangers v. Maccabi Haifa game over the web. Suddenly, with just a few minutes in the game remaining at Ibrox, a spectator came running onto the field with a Palestinian flag! He handcuffed himself to a goal post and it took about 15-cops to get him out of there.

Crazy stuff going on. I am really hoping to see video of this.

 

Over/under on references to Arena's 1996 DC United team: 12

 

I'm sitting watching a cracking Chelsea-Spurs game, and up come the West Ham-Arsenal highlights at halftime. Haven't invetigated further, but Wenger and Alan Pardew had to be seperated on the touchline after the Hammers scored a late winner. There were two officials pulling them apart. My guess is Pardew called Wenger something nice and complimentary.

 

GB -- the second half of Chelski-Spurs game is super intense. Great work by the announcers as well.

 

Webster -- ab-so-lut-ely. Spurs taking the lead, Terry getting sent off, Robben hitting the post, this has been a belter. It's been end-to-end for the last 10 minutes. Great point by the commentators as well; 16 years since Spurs beat Chelsea in the league.

Three weeks today: Man United vs. Chelsea. That game becomes huge now with Spurs win today.

 

A bit of a weak second yellow on Terry -- I wonder if he said something. He didn't seem too upset. As much as I love my Red Devils, I'll admit that Eissen is an awesome player and Kalou is going to be something special.

A heck of an hour of sports for me -- I caught Lance and his posse running up 1st Ave, my daughter conveniently fell asleep on the walk back to my apartment and I saw the second half of this game.

 

I think he had to say something. Graham Poll is, imo, the best ref in England. He's FIFA level, so I have no problem with it. I'm sure there'll be a reason given in the match report.

 

How on Earth does Peter Nowak yank Freddy Adu at the 60-minute mark Sunday?
Adu was in many ways his best player for the first hour Sunday and certainly the most dangerous. Nowak got exactly what he deserved when Gomez wound up being the one who couldn't last the full 90. I've heard some people push Nowak for the U.S. national team as coach. If that happens, I go for an Irish passport pronto.

 

I am sorry that I cannot comment on the DC/Revs match. I was passed out drunk by that point. I had a miserable morning watching my Gers which required pint after pint as a follow up.

I will comment that Nowak is an over-rated coach. I don't want him anywhere near the US National Team. They will sign Kilnsmann and hopefully, in my opinion, the top assistant position should go to Steve Nicol, head coach of the Revs. This guy knows talent and has been able to create a roster of superb quality.

 

In a way, with all the pedigree he has coming from the Liverpool line in England, I'm surprised Nicol has never been brought up for a Premier League or SPL managerial position. He seems to have everything you'd want, but no-one on the other side of the Atlantic seems to notice.

 

Nicol doesn't have any relevant coaching experience outside of the United States. I'd think that reality would prevent most, if not all, EPL teams from even considering him. Now, SPL (outside the Old Firm, of course) might be a different story. But I'm not sure Nicol would want to go back.