The Soccer Thread (IV)

Dos a uno now, early PK for Mexico in the second half.

But that was rather well played.

UPDATE: Wait, make that tres a uno. This kid Kellen Gulley looks pretty good for the U.S., two goals today, and that last one was a very nice finish.

 

Stoke are very difficult to beat at the Britannia. Might be the best home-field advantage in the Prem.

 

So, what did we think of this one.

In my opinion, big plusses to Brian Ching and Sasha Kljestan, Connor Casey also put in a good performance, as did Bornstein at the back.

Robbie Rogers had a bit of a Jeckyll and Hyde performance, it felt like, pretty average on the right in the first half, pretty good on the left, especially with as well as Heath Pearce was playing in the second half.

Really liked Pearce's aggressiveness down the left, and it was a great cross for Ching to get the equalizer. Kljestan deserved his goal, although he probably should have done better with a couple of chances in the first half.

Above all, though, it definitely felt like Ching was really the guy that did himself the most good when it comes to this summer, especially with this being the first game back after taking some time off for his knee.

 

D-Day for MLS today. I want to be optimistic, but fuck am I scared they're gonna drive this thing right off a cliff.

 

He also refused England call up.

 

Can't say I blame him.

 

You are right on Ching and Kljestan. I don’t know about Casey, Rogers or Pearce.

I thought Pearce worked a lot but he turned the ball over too much for my liking. Outside of his good cross to Ching for the tying goal, I was rather disappointed.

I was also rather annoyed with Rogers. There were times when I felt he could have done much better with the ball but his movement and work seemed there. I just didn’t like some of the more selfish play he demonstrated.

I think Beckerman, while running all over the field, showed that his brain just isn’t quick enough for the international level. He held the ball too long or made poor passes that didn’t go to anyone.

Last night’s game showed me that the depth isn’t there right now. I think the top performers for the US can hang. After that, you are look at a precipitous drop in talent. Injuries and cards could kill the team in certain areas.

One of things that I thought was good to see was the pace and positioning of Robbie Findley. The guy ran hard, was in solid places and tried to provide service into the box when he could. It may be a stretch, but I would absolutely love it if he started up front with Jozy next week against the Dutch.

Additionally, I get that Rimando played well for RSL in the MLS Cup Final, but he’s certainly not the answer. Perkins should have started and played.

My last thought is that Kljestan, with the awful mustache and goatee, looks to be trying to play the role of villain for the latest cowboy western movie. Yeesh, it is bad!

Yup. I’m a bit scared as well. I need opening day in that beautiful new Red Bull Arena!

Nope. Neither do I. But, that just goes to the fact that the English defense is slowly crumbling and that brings about panic.

 

A couple of things about MLS Labor (a story that makes me wish I was still a regular soccer beat jockey):

http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/02/22/mls-players-pin-hopes-on-unlikely-free-agency-concession/

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=744376&sec=mls&root=mls&cc=5901

http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/m-l-s-labor-talks-get-hot/

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/andrea_canales/02/22/mls.labor/

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/02/thursday_kickaround_41.html

The money line in Goff:

"The deadline for a new collective bargaining agreement is today. No one seems to know if that means the end of the business day or 11:59 p.m."

Oh, well as long as everyone can agree on the deadline, we're cooking.

 

Players union statement coming at 5 p.m.

Don't know if it's good news or not. I'm leaning toward not.

Edit: Rumors say strike is imminent.

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

If the strike happens prepare for the idiots to jump at the chance to mock the sport.

 

Official deadline is supposed to be midnight.

As a journalist and follower of the league since before it existed, this is a fascinating story. Right when MLS is finally establishing a firm national foothold with multiple owners instead of Anschutz holding have the teams, when the expansion is blessedly coming to an end (and before we find out just how much that dilutes the player pool), a youth system - flawed though it is - in place, and a World Cup right around the corner . . . . this happens.

I'm on board with a changing of free agency rules to benefit the players, and I'm definitely on board with raising the minimum salary so young professional soccer players actually make more than journalists beginning their careers in Podunk.

But a strike, if it cuts into scheduled games, is a foolish move by the players. It's a strange time we live in, when conceivably the NFL and NBA could also be looking at work stoppages in the near future. Maybe it does show that MLS is ready to play big-boy games . . . now all we need are some 'roid freaks and off-field legal issues.

 

Huh?