The Soccer Thread (IV)

USMNT reportedly to face Turkey on May 29 in Philadelphia in last tune-up before leaving for South Africa 2010.

 

Looks superior to Home Depot Center, which should be the idea with these things. Just keep making them better and better.

 

It goes without saying that I'll be there.

Goff seemed uncertain as to whether it would be Turkey or Ireland. I think that I would rather Ireland given the type of opposition that the USA would meet in the World Cup.

He also mentions a match up in Hartford, CT (which I would also likely attend if the date was good).

 

All these photos of the NYRB stadium and Pastor has yet to point out exactly where his seat is located?

 

That would make the pre-WC run-up Honduras-El Sal-Netherlands-Turkey so far. I'd normally say I hope it's not fully fleshed out yet, but given the rate at which potential call-ups are dropping, maybe a light workload isn't a bad idea. Turkey would be better than Ireland, if only because I don't see England being as defensive as the Irish would be (assuming Trapattoni is still in charge).

For comparison's sake, the build-up to 2002 was South Korea (1/19), the Gold Cup (Cuba, El Sal, Canada, Costa Rica, 1/21 to 2/2), @ Italy (2/13), Honduras (3/2), Ecuador (3/10), @ Germany (3/17), Mexico (4/3), @ Ireland (4/17), Uruguay (5/12), Jamaica (5/16), Netherlands (5/19). In 2006, it was Canada (1/22), Norway (1/29), Japan (2/10), Guatemala (2/19), @ Poland (3/1), @ Germany (3/22), Jamaica (4/11), Morocco (5/23), Venezuela (5/26) and Latvia (5/28).

 

I would expect there to be at least one more in May, probably the Wednesday before the Turkey game.

Be surprised if they have more than that though.

 

Why do you say that -- cost concerns? Lack of FIFA match days?

I'm surprised they haven't even lined up the requisite Mexico friendly yet. That's almost de rigeur by this point.

 

Lack of FIFA matchdays, the start of the MLS season, ruling out any 'B' team games, and the extension of the European season to May 22 with the CL Final.

 

Seedorf might have scored the cheekiest goal of the year. ManUnited up 3-2, though in the final minutes.

 

I'm in the last row of Section 107. Where that is... I don't know. I have yet to walk inside the stadium.

They did a tour where we were able to pick out our seats but the day that I was supposed to go I was on a flight to China. My friends went and picked my seat out for me.

Based on the 3D Seat Selector and some of the information I got from my friend... If you look at the picture just above, the very first seat you see dead center at the bottom is section 107. I think the box you see in the lower left is either a luxury box or a press box. In either case, I'm in the first row just in front of that. I should be opposite the giant Red Bull logo. The seats are pretty much in line with the 18 yard box.

 

Was worried I'd seen my own Hank Gathers moment tonight at a non-league game. About a minute into second-half stoppage time, one of the visitors' substitutes was suddenly on the ground after a ball went out for a throw, not seemingly having been touched at all. After a few seconds, one of his teammates, looking slightly panicked, told the home team's coaching staff to call for an ambulance. 'It's his heart.'

The player in question had apparently had some sort of scan done just a few weeks ago, so this was evidently a known problem. After a few minutes, they got him on a stretcher and were in the process of carrying him off, when suddenly they stopped and started shouting to him to squeeze someone's hand, or to respond at all. He spent a couple of scary minutes not moving at all, as the training staff begged him for a response. Finally, his legs did move, and he was eventually carried off. As he went back to the touchline, the home team's manager said 'He was gone. He was really gone.'

The referee played out the final couple of minutes of stoppage time, largely to everyone's bemusement, and as we walked out to the parking lot, you could hear the siren in the distance, then see the ambulance heading into the ground. I'm assuming he'll be alright, but I'll be checking various forums and Web sites until I do find out.

Scary stuff, and not anything I hope to see again.

 

The Baby-Faced Assassin. One of my all-time favorite nicknames.