The Soccer Thread (IV)

Apparently so! What an amazing finish!

 

Ditto. Even if Mexico doesn't make the title game, it's still too convenient.

So much for accountability ...

 

So if Mexico say loses in the quarters, does his suspension go through the WC qualifiers?

 

And the whole of England gets to revel in non-defeat. Woo.

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Proof that not every club in England is drunk with money (or the pursuit thereof):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/jul/12/bradford-city-season-tickets-supporters

Good on Bradford, though I wonder how long goodwill and creativity can win out over the bottom line.

 

Probably long enough, I would think. That kind of money won't get them to the Premiership, or probably even the Championship. But it should be enough to keep them from facing any fears of relegation, and maybe produce the occasional promotion challenge. If they were to go up, they'd probably come back down, but with that sort of fan loyalty engendered, it wouldn't be a huge blow.

 

Yes it would.

 

Becks responds to Wahl book.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=660348&sec=mls&cc=5901

 

USA v. Panama on Saturday in Philly... I'm stuck in.

Yes. The same goes for Michael Bradley who absolutely needs the US to win one more game, I think.

 

Becks says in all his years, in England, Spain, wherevere, he never was criticized as being unprofessional.
That's because he wasn't.
But with the Galaxy, it was. It might have been wrong for Landon to air out his issues in a book, but that doesn't mean he was wrong. Let's not forget that it's not the accuser who had the problem here. Don't make the whistleblower the scapegoat.

 

Bradley's suspension is done. It was for 4 games, but the fourth game won't be enforced as long as he is a good boy for a while. Regardless, the final against Brazil and the first two Gold Cup games completed the suspension.

 

EPL fantasy league time!

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Best to all.

 

Two types of reactions:

- The U.S. soccer fan says: "Way to go, Landon! Don't let that prima donna get away with disrespecting our league!"
- The overseas soccer fan says: "Who is Landon Donovan? That three-time Bundesliga (or two and a half time, if you prefer) washout?"

The truth is probably somewhere in the middle. Beckham saying that no one has ever ripped him like this before does give one pause, since he has indeed played for arguably the biggest club in England, Spain and Italy. Hell, one huge reason why his MLS signing was so important is that virtually everyone who has ever played with him, swears by him as a teammate. And had he liked it here, he could have influenced others to come to MLS. He was so important because he had that rep as a good guy.

Donovan may be completely correct regarding Beckham's attitude going sour here; a game I saw in New York in July displayed an often frustrated Beckham, like any other player just playing and seeing his passes not become goals. Nothing too notable.

A game in Chicago a month later showed a man whose body language said, "Get me the hell out of here."

I don't doubt that Beckham's time with LA went bad (though the "Why doesn't he pick up the CHECK?!?!?!" question is definitely on the whiny side, and Donovan's even slight reluctance to give up the armband for a man who has captained England in two World Cups was more of the same).

But ultimately the word of Landon Donovan will only be enough to sway U.S. fans, and English supporters who dislike Beckham already.