The Soccer thread (Part II)

Saturday's LA at NY match was one of the most exciting soccer matches I have ever covered, nine goals scored, 66,000-plus in attendence, MLS couldn't have scripted it any better (oh and some Beckham guy played the full 90 minutes)

 

That was a very dodgy penalty that gave Chelsea a point. I wouldn't expect that ref to get many other high profile games any time soon, he butchered that match very well.

 

Unfortunately, Sky says McBride will be out three months: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11681_2671577,00.html

 

Hmm...

Could a return to MLS be not far behind for McBride?

 

If by behind, do you mean ahead?

He'll play out the season, then make his decision. No sense leaving Premiership money on the table to come back to one of a couple gawdawful MLS clubs (Chicago or Columbus).

 

I just want to say that Saturday was awesome. I am still feeling the effects.

Rangers kicked-off at 10am and won 7-2. Then we went straight to the stadium and ate food and drank more beer. Between the Peruvian chicken, Chinese scallion pancakes, burgers, dogs and spicy chicken that we grilled up, I'm just not sure if I had eaten so good.

Oh and the game rawked. Hard.

 

My thoughts from the Beckham event at the Swamp:

-- I usually arrive between an hour to two hours before the game to tailgate and I have my pick of where to park. I got there four hours before game time and could barely find a spot at the edge of my usual lot. The Man United-AC Milan match was the last time that there was this type of a buzz for a soccer game.

-- Every corner kick and free kick that Becks took had the crowd standing and cheering.

-- Dane Richards and Landon were fantastic. Cletus was very good, especially on the first goal by Jozy.

-- The only question with Jozy now is where he goes in Europe. The if (yes) and when (about 2 hours after the winter window opens) are not even issues. I'm hoping that he goes to a team like PSV or Ajax, where he can develop for a couple of years.

-- It may not have been a game for the purist or of fans of competent goalkeeping, but if you weren't entertained by the game, you didn't want to be.

 

The ref was horrible. I think I was hit with a yellow card and I was just sitting on my couch.

 

May be just me, but I think McBride would like playing with Schelotto in Columbus. All that team needs is a consistent scorer.

 

You're right about that. Schelotto is a great set-up guy, but that team struggles to put it in the net. I was at the game Saturday against D.C. and the Crew blew at least 6 chances in the second half — two of which should have been sure things.
It is nice to see the Crew playing better though, with a willingness to obtain some players as well.

There was also more than 21,000 at the game — part of the three-game Beckham ticket package — but it was a great atmosphere. It was loud all night and a good match.

 

I was watching the game online, Columbus is very close.

 

great thing about MLS this season is a very deserving team or two (Columbus? Chicago? L.A.?) will miss the playoffs, meaning the playoffs should be very well played and competitive, will hurt the league when L.A. doesn't make it, but wait til next season when that team has Beckham for a full season, don't see them missing ut three years in a row

anyone else see Donovan heading to San Jose this offseason? just a thought, by the way, I talked to him for the first time after the game Saturday and he seemed like a realy cool guy, too bad he gets so much critisism because he seems like one of the good guys in sports ...