The Soccer Thread (IV)

Whoa! That means if they get hit with injuries or whatever they can't do anything. The next transfer period is January 2010 and the offseason? So they can't sign anybody until January 2011? Is that right?

Either way that's a harsh ban, but rightfully so.

 

Bad news for Jozy, Hull signs Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink on a free.

 

Correct. January of 2011. And the January transfer window carries with it the handicap of players having already played in the Champions League.

 

I'm not really sure that is so bad for Jozy. Jan sucks. The most memorable article written about him came in January and it said, "Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has more letters in his name than goals scored... his first name."

 

Maybe Chelsea will turn to the young kids it's already poached from other academies.

 

My prediction: They'll appeal and it will probably end up being a one window ban.

 

FACT!

 

But what if there was? Aberdeen manager Mark McGhee bemoans the lack of cheap, available talent.

 

Tomorrow is Soccer Saturday!

Up first, we have Scotland v. Macedonia (ESPN360.com) at 10:00 am. That should be a good showing as Scotland needs a win (they also need a new coach as this one blows) to keep their hopes alive for coming in second in the group.

In the afternoon, we’ll have the USA v. El Salvador (ESPN Classic) at 8:00 pm. I’ll split my time between two bars and some place to give me a meal in the afternoon.

I was supposed to be in Salt Lake for this game but a very recent occurrence cleared that out of my schedule. Oh well. I’ll be in DC for the USA v. Costa Rica game as we’re chartering a bus again. If anyone is in the North Jersey region and wants to join me on that bus it is only $85 and it includes a game ticket. All are welcome. Me + 4 hour bus ride + bevy = Good times.

So what are we looking at for tomorrow’s line-up? I believe that Gooch is out due to card accumulation. Who starts in his spot? Do they push Bocanegra back into the middle? Who plays outside then?

How about the middle of the field? Does Bradley go with Bradley and Feilhaber? Does he sacrifice defense for some more firepower?

All I’m going to say is that anything less than a 3-0 win will disappoint me.

Sadly, McGhee is sort of correct. There is plenty of “talent” out there. The problem is finding it on the cheap. I could see Edson Buddle helping Aberdeen. The problem is that MLS won’t sell Buddle for less than a million. Aberdeen doesn’t have that money to spend on transfers so, Buddle loses out on potential wages (assuming Aberdeen would be able to pay him more than MLS) and Aberdeen loses out on the ability to sign a striker.

I only look at this as a viable option because a similar situation existed with Nacho Novo. Novo came to Scotland and played for Raith Rovers for a season before having the SPL team Dundee pick him up. After a season there, Rangers nabbed him.

Similarly, Andy Dorman was barely getting playing time with New England Revolution. He heads across the pond and is one of if not the best player on St Mirren. There were rumors prior to the offseason that Rangers were looking at him as a viable option in the midfield.

Dorman is over there because his contract ended. The other reason is that he has a UK passport.

In total, as much as I want MLS to succeed, I do like having Americans playing all over the world (though I know Dorman isn’t really American). MLS just doesn't make it easy for that to happen.

 

I'll be happy with a 1-0 win, because the three points are foremost.
But I do believe this should be an attack-minded lineup because a draw doesn't cut it. Jozy up front, Feilhaber in the middle.
I'll accept Jozy as a 55th-minute sub if that's the plan, but I'm not sure that I wouldn't rather see Casey out there than Ching. Casey against the best looks out of place, but in the MLS All-Star game at Rio Tinto he was fabulous for 90-plus minutes. If he were just out there to go hard for 55 and try to set up Davies, would that work for anyone?

 

US match is on ESPN Classic, no HD.

 

I’m not opposed to Casey starting. I thought that he might not be 100% though. In that case, Altidore definitely gets the nod.

I don’t want Ching starting. I want the US to go for the jugular. Quash El Salvador and then have T&T looking on with fear of Wednesday.