Observations from Sigi online chat

Interesting chat with Columbus Crew coach Sigi Schmid. While I am frequently critical of MLS, there is nothing like the Crew fan base. Crew Stadium will someday be remembered as the Plymouth Rock of a real soccer culture in this country. Walking to a game, you watch the fans tailgate and juggle in loose circles all around the stadium. Every Crew corner kick has the metal rafters shaking as people stomp their feet. Beautiful atmosphere with knowledgeable, fun fans. And Amber Bock at the concessions.

Crew fans deserve a decent team, but since Brian McBride got his just desserts in the UK, it has been simply grim. Should there be optimism? A few thoughts:

• "You're always trying to look at positional needs, which are important, but you're also trying to find the best soccer players available."
• More of the latter please, Sigi. In my humble opinion, the Crew needs talent. Period. You have Schelotto, Gaven (kindof), and Marshall. That's it. If you look over the hill you'll see Frankie "I used to run fast" Hejduk and Alejandro "I score a goal every 5 games--look it up" Moreno, but that's it. Carrol's a nice addition, but not enough to turn so many close losses and ties into wins. The team simply lacks talented footballers.
  

• "The needs for us are to add a quality forward, an experienced central midfielder, like to pick up a central defender with pace."

• A sobering thought for Crew fans--basically you need to build the fundamental spine of a team.

• " We're always looking for good players. I obviously have a past history with Carlos having brought him to the league." (Schmid's comments about Dallas shopping Carlos Ruiz)
• Schmid sounds coy, even smitten by the little fish. OK, this recalls my experience when my Dallas Cowboys signed Deion Sanders. I hated Deion, but recognized he was what we needed. I hate the way Ruiz plays soccer. He is petulant, fraudulent, and pathetic. But given the right environment, he has the skills to be the difference-maker the Crew needs. For FC Dallas, he's scored 31 goals in 65 appearances. He is primed for a rebound year and could certainly help Columbus in the final third. Was it really Doc Holiday or just Val Kilmer who said "my hypocrisy knows no bounds"?
  

Agreeing and disagreeing with Ivan Gazidis

Part 1 -- Agreement:

Interestingly astute comments from Ivan Gazidis regarding the influx of South American talent being the story of MLS this year, rather than the league becoming Beckham League Soccer.

I find this very encouraging. Throwing US monies at aging international stars? We've seen that story and know how it ends. Investing in a wealth of talent in Central and South America is cheaper and has a more fundamental impact on the quality of play.

Let's be honest: while big name transfers will get MLS some play in certain media cycles, there is a core group of soccer-hungry, soccer-literate fans that MLS struggles to engage, primarily because the technical skill and quality of play is frequently poor. With properly researched scouting, MLS can have technically gifted South American players who you can feature in the league and improve that reputation, and do so with less investment and less risk.


Part 2 - Disagreement

As for Gazidis's comment:

"To me it represents a significant failure on our part that, outside of perhaps our goalkeepers, we really haven't produced a truly world class player," Gazidis said.

I think that is harsh at best. First, it depends heavily on your definition of "world class." For me, that means a player that could step into any side in the world--not always the first XI, but certainly into the first team. Have we created a field player in that class? I'd agree that we probably haven't--though I still believe Adu and Altidore may be the first in that category over the next 4-5 years as they grow into the prime of their careers.

Is that, however, a "significant failure" for a side that basically was an also-ran in international football as recently as 1990? While he had some faults, I always appreciated Bruce Arena's sufficiently long view on this sort of thing. It takes time to build world class athletes in any sport, and you can't totally ignore a sport for decades and then expect to have top class performers in a few years.

The success of DeMarcus Beasley, Clint Dempsey, Carlos Bocanegra and others is significant and shouldn't be ignored. An American playing top flight football in major European leagues no longer bears mentioning, as it did when Claudio Reyna was customarily called "Captain America" by EPL announcers because he was such a novelty.

It may take a long time to have world class players in the top flight leagues, but we are clearly taking steps in the right direction.

Congrats Houston!

Houston over the Revs in a hard fought, but hardly scintillating MLS Cup final. You have to feel bad for Steve Ralston, who looked just emotionally crushed sitting on the bench.

But there really is such a thing as a "big game"player--someone who seems energized and focused by the pressure of a cup final--and, as Steve Davis points out, Dwayne De Rosario is that kind of footballer.

Though he won't get a lot of press, Pat Onstad has again proven that he is as well.

Sadly, the jury (of public opinion, anyhow) may no longer be out on Ralston, Twellman, and this very good Revs team. Fair or not, the "Buffalo Bills of MLS" moniker is echoing across mainstream media stories and blogs alike.

Recommended reading:

• My Soccer Blog -- very nice game analysis.
• The Offside - Very thorough and on-point. One excellent point:

"...Houston deserved this championship. Nowhere was this more evident than the reactions of each team when they gave up their first goal: the Houston players nodded, clapped each other on the back, and gritted their teeth, while the Revs cursed and moaned and looked at each other in bewilderment and frustration. And remember, Houston did this without two key players in Brian Ching and Ricardo Clark, which is the hallmark of a championship team."

"To make democracy work, we must be a notion of participants, not simply observers."

Quote by Louis L'Amour, surely foreseeing the grave and noble duty of voting the the 2007 Best of US Soccer Awards.

My heretofore sporadic posting or just a general aptitude for assessing quality has led the Academy to overlook Futbol-USA, but there are a number of fine candidates available for the best US Soccer blog.

Ives Galarcep is one of the best soccer writers in the US, and you can't beat his blog for tremendous insight. Du Nord is the heartbeat of US Soccer blogging for my money. And This is American Soccer is a sharply and professionally presented source for in-depth news about the beautiful game in the US of A.

Get out and vote!

US-South Africa Analysis: Good, Bad, Ugly

Certainly it was a win on foreign soil, but this was a very poor effort from a young US side.

Though they didn't get much possession or many opportunities in the first quarter of the game, the US players were patient and executed a good game plan against an athletic team at altitude.

The goal was against the run of play but very well taken from a difficult angle, and the US played much better toward the end of the half.

However, I don't think it is overstating it to say the US were dreadful in the second half (for more, read on below).

Nonetheless, it is good to end the year on a win and I do like that Bob Bradley is getting a lot of youngsters in the rotation.

The GOOD:

Maurice Edu: Some of the folks commenting on Soccer by Ives were disparaging Edu early in the match, which I find bizarre. A disruptive force throughout the game, he broke up several South African attacks. Of all the midfielders, he also seemed most capable of getting the ball off his feet quickly. A nice assist on the US goal as well.

Steve Cherundolo and Carlos Bocanegra - Night and day in terms of composure in the defense between the first and second half. Notable by their absence when we were scurrying to catch up to South African attacks in the second half.

Tim Howard - Sure he didn't have too much to do, but he made a very nice save at the near post on the botched corner in the first half, and distributed the ball well (maybe I'm seeing him in a better light because Brad Guzan annoyed me so much with his aimless booting in the second half).

THE BAD

Benny Feilhaber - He looked rusty and slow throughout. It wasn't simply that he was gassed; he looked one step behind the whole match. The oft-maligned (unfairly)* Max Bretos was spot-on--Feilhaber needs to get regular playing time. At his best, he plays dynamic football marked by fast touches and quick reactions--the exact skills that get dulled while sitting on a rain-spattered bench in Derbyshire.

Heath Pearce - Purely defensively, Pearce played fairly well. Unfortunately, in the first half, as the US tried to build possession out of the back, Pearce consistently stalled the ball movement. He dwelled on the ball, completely indecisive. In the second half, he led the "tackle and clear" approach--never looking to play the ball to the feet of a teammate.

THE UGLY

The US play in the second half - Sorry, can't single out anyone for blame. No energy, no creativity, no football. Certainly, the altitude played a significant factor in the players' ineffectiveness, but I would have rather seen them return to the possession game they attempted in the first half. But with no Bocanegra or Cherundolo, they were reduced to tackling and then booting it repeatedly.

Ironically, this is more physically taxing approach because you lose the ability to control the pace of the game.

------------------
* People love to bemoan Max Bretos's announcing, but I'm always glad to have an announcer who actually knows something about soccer. There are plenty of more "polished" announcers (Dave O'Brien, Eric Wynalda, Marcelo (ug) Balboa), but they repeatedly spout statements that betray their complete ignorance of world soccer:

• "Kasey Keller is well known as the best goalkeeper in Europe"

• "Swedish superstar Freddy 'LUNG' berg").

Come on people: Max is one of us--one soccer geek made good.

Study: Soccer better exercise than running

Hmm. Does this startling finding come from the scientific think tank that discovered that men like attractive women? They plan to follow this study with an inquiry to uncover which type of jelly goes best with peanut butter.

Not a surprise to people who enjoy playing the sport, but it's nice to see some press of this for the general public.

Right again: Winning the Arsene-al way

Admit it. You thought Arsene Wenger was tilting at windmills.

Or perhaps you thought his notion of maintaining a team with a few veterans and a core of youngsters was the folly of someone who was mailing it in--already certain he was following Thierry Henry to greener pastures.

Wenger has spent the past few years racked with criticism over personnel and transfer decisions. But through it all, he was, in fact, standing with unwavering faith that his frugal but prudent purchases and his carefully nurtured starlets would meld into a side that could compete for domestic honors.

As Chelsea's all-star team gobbled up trophies and Manchester United surged back to prominence, soccer observers forgot the vision of the man who plucked Viera and Henry from frustrated obscurity and placed them amongst the world's best in their positions.

If anyone had forgotten Wenger's brilliance, they are remembering now.

An Arsenal fan could be forgiven for worrying where the team would get goals after Henry's departure, but the youngsters have stepped up to the challenge--continuing to play the flowing, beautiful football that we've come to expect, but rather that being dependent on the talismanic Frenchman to seal the deal, they're sharing the ball and players like Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie, and even the previously misfiring Cesc Fabregas are slotting away the goals.

As Wenger explained in a recent Soccernet article on the Henry transfer:

"it is natural when a player of the calibre of Thierry, they look for him first to do something, and when he is not there somebody else, it is a bit more shared."

Both Henry's injury-plagued last season and Wenger's leadership have hastened this transition, and the result is a real gift to both Gooners and fans of the beautiful game.

Mourinho no more: The ego has left the building

Tonight, Jose Mourinho has shocked the footballing world by quitting Chelsea. Certainly, given disappointing early results, rumors of a bust-up with owner Roman Abramovich, and the Special One's increasing frustration with the club, the question of whether this was a resignation or a sacking will be a sure topic for debate.

While one might resent the way Mourinho alternated between self-aggrandizing rhetoric and petulant whining, his on-field successes are unquestioned. Though it might seem easy to put together championship sides with the resources of Abramovich's bottomless wallet, Real Madrid has amply demonstrated that a team of superstars won't necessarily produce silverware.

Chelsea didn't always play beautiful football, but Mourinho brought a tactical awareness, leadership, and vision that generated results.

Nonetheless, it appears Abramovich is doing his best George Steinbrenner, Al Davis, or Jerry Jones impersonation. The Soccernet report and others out of London suggest he resented Mourinho's refusal to fully incorporate Andrei Shevchenko into his plans and desired a more flowing, attacking style than the Portuguese manager delivered.

The net result, I believe, will be that Chelsea will no longer be competitive for Premiership or European honors. Already the Blues have surrendered points to fellow competitors Liverpool . And no matter who Abramovich brings on board, will he have the ego, the sheer force of personality necessary to navigate the billionare in the owner's box and the multi-millionaires in the locker room and steer the Blues to consistent success?

Finally, on a personal note:
Objectivity is difficult for me here, as the decline of the Blues and the ascendancy of an Arsenal side built on very different (and, of course, purer) principles is, quite simply, a sublime convergence of events.

So long as we can avoid the nightmare scenario of Abramovich poaching Arsene Wenger, all will be well.

Given the Frenchman's history of unwavering fidelity to a signed contact, it seems I can sleep well and enjoy the next few days of the British Footballing press whipping themselves into a lather.

Phenomenal Soccer Analyst - Jozy Altidore

Jozy Altidore wrote a New York Times blog piece about US Soccer fans' impatience with young players. It is very well written and incredibly insightful. A must read.

Arsenal 2: Fulham 1 Analysis

Analysis is bulletized below--first an observation:

Every American soccer fan has had this experience: you're alone watching the television, and in a moment of high drama, your team scores a crucial goal.

In the ritual, communal experience of being a sports spectator, we're used to leaping, screaming, and generally losing control in with a crowd of fellow fans. But, there are no teeming fans, so you go absolutely crazy, all by yourself, in the basement, surrounded only by laundry.

Usually, this sort of behavior is reserved for USMNT games, but those of us who have a favorite EPL team know the beauty and ridiculousness of this behavior when you have to set an alarm clock to watch the game.

I got up at 7:00AM this morning to watch Arsenal's season opener against Fulham. While I always root for the "America East" Cottagers when they aren't playing the Gunners, I absolutely lost control when Arsenal came back with two late goals to clinch 3 points that seemed so utterly out of reach at the 80th minute.

A few thoughts:

• It was fantastic to see Brian McBride wearing the captain's armband for Fulham. Even while I was watching him in the stands at Crew games, I always thought he deserved a real run at it in Europe, given all he had sacrificed and all the blood he'd spilled for the Red, White, and Blue. It is really gratifying to see him getting the respect he deserves. For my money, one of the most influential players in the history of the USMNT.

• Jens Lehman is slowly becoming Fabien Barthez--capable of dazzling saves and mindblowing gaffes.

• For most of the game, it felt like a re-run of last year with regards to the Arsenal play. They dominated possession for long stretches, utterly controlled the pace of play, put together jaw-dropping and inventive attacking movement, then squandered chances in front of goal.
  

• Carlos Bocanegra really had no complaint on the penalty. One of the angles clearly showed him dropping a shoulder into the onrushing Kolo Toure.

• Clint Dempsey looked sharp and confident when he was on the pitch. Late on, he squirted wide a shot that could have sealed the game for Fulham.
  

• There is obviously considerable excitement about the maturing Theo Walcott, but except for a few blistering runs down the wing, he looked tentative today. With the vacuum created by Henry's absence, there is a tremendous opportunity for many of these young Gunners to step up and really make this team their own. They need to rise to the occasion.

• While Tony Warner was clearly Fulham's Man of the Match, he was considerably aided by a competent and dogged Fulham defense, who held together much of the day despite being besieged. Zat Knight deserves special praise for his physical presence, aerial control, and constant pressure on Arsenal attackers to make their many chances on goal as rushed as possible.
  

• Nicklas Bendtner was in the thick of everything after coming on. The teenager didn't get a goal today, but he might be the "fox in the box" that Francis Jeffers never proved to be.

• I hope so, because I won't be convinced that Arsenal is really in consideration for the title chase until they show that they can prove they can marry their precision to production, and play football that has more than just beauty to show for it.
  

My sentiments exactly...

Due to spending vacation time with the family and out in the great outdoors, I didn't get to see most of the Copa America action and so I won't attempt to extensively blog commentary about something about which I can't actually provide original insight. Nonetheless, I've absorbed the various reports and highlights and real-time blogs and I think Jack Bell's piece (found via du Nord) sums up perfectly my view on the Copa America experience. This isn't profoundly different from what I've said in previous posts, but offers great player assessment and the basic gist of my view on this event:

"Of course it would have been wonderful, great, a feather in the cap of U.S. soccer if the American team had made it to the knockout round, or gone a bit farther. But it really does not matter where the U.S. team finished. Or how.

Did we insult our hosts? Maybe. Does it matter? Not to me. It is time to move on."

Well said, and thanks to the exploits of the U-20 Nats, it is easier to move on.

US-Argentina: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

I have a sneaking suspicion that while the mainstream sports media met the Gold Cup victory with a gaping yawn, US soccer stalwarts may hear about this result tomorrow. The phrase "without most of its regular starters" may be omitted from those references to the US Team.

I had a 9:00 PM EST conference call for my job, so I followed along with Ives Galarcep's hilarious running commentary. I watched the second half on the Univision live webcast. On a related note, I love the internet.

So my assessment is partial and abbreviated:

THE GOOD:

• Lionel Messi - The vision, pace, skill--just breathtaking. In a short period of time in the second half, he changed the entire pace of the game and overwhelmed the US defense.

• Justin Mapp (before he stopped moving altogether around minute 70): Eddie Gaven plays like he knows he's Eddie Gaven. Justin Mapp plays like he thinks he's Cristiano Ronaldo. I like that about him. Sure it makes him try ridiculous things, but he does have talent and I admire his moxie.

• The Univision Commentators: By the time Kyle Beckerman came on, I swear my High School and College Spanish started to come back to me. I also realized that the key to selling soccer to US fans is to obscure the lack of scoring by saying "Goal" 45 times after each score. Throwing in "Golazo" for anything more than a side-footed goal can't hurt either.
  

THE BAD:

• DeMerit and Conrad - Maybe they were great in the first half, but the second looked like I feared it would. The second goal was a keystone cops affair, with these two well-meaning and basically solid defenders falling over each other faced with the pacy and skilled Argentine attack. The third was an embarrassment. While Wynne played matador defense on the cross, you would have thought that someone could have marked the only guy in the box as he surges forward into the middle of the penalty area. Against many teams, even many good teams, I'd be fine with these guys. Playing these skillful, fast South American teams, they're going to get eaten alive.

THE UGLY:

• Not to repeat myself, but I'm going to stick with "I'd like to ask again why the farce that is Taylor Twellman's National team career cannot be mercifully ended." I didn't realize he was on the pitch until he was substituted.
  

FINAL ANALYSIS:

As I've said before, we're not going to win, so Bradley needs to use this competition to determine who he wants to take to battle in the future against this sort of competition in qualifying and World Cup matches. It's not that I don't want to win, I just know that we would struggle with our best team, and this side isn't even close.

So while the half I saw was basically an utter disaster, I really can't get too worked up over it. This should be the most difficult game of the group stage. Hopefully they can make some adjustments and put out a better showing Monday.

Beasley to Rangers

DaMarcus Beasley is staying in the UK by signing today with Rangers F.C. While it is good to see Beasley playing Champion's League football next year, I have reservations about the move.

Some will remember that pundits on both sides of the Atlantic questioned Claudio Reyna's switch to Ibrox due to his susceptibility to injury. While that has always been a concern for Claudio, commentators were particularly concerned due to the physical nature of play in Scotland.

Given Beasley's small frame and his tendency to draw hard fouls from slower defenders, He could have plenty of bruises to match his new uniform. At this point in his career, I'm not sure if Beasley needs to get toughened up.

There is certainly potential for Beasley and for the Rangers. He'll provide needed pace to the Rangers attack, and the player can certainly expect silverware if he stays for a few seasons. I just hope his skills and health aren't squandered in the process.

Mustering the strength to talk about the Henry Transfer...

It is done and dusted and Arsenal's talisman is gone.

Thank goodness for the thrilling Gold Cup final and the US result or this may have been a truly depressing weekend. 16 million quid seems a pittance for the man I unequivocally insist is the world's best striker. I had hoped for getting Etoo as part of the package, but alas, it is cash on the barrel head only. This scenario is troubling for two reasons:

It suggests the quite cerebral Henry was not convinced of Arsenal's near-term ambition. While the Gunners are clearly stocked with young talent, they've lacked the steadying and consistent contribution from senior players in the midfield and in the attack outside of Henry and Gilberto. Given their injury problems and the frenetic fixture schedule for top flight English clubs, success has far too often relied on gifted but untested youngsters.

It seems clear Henry wanted assurance that the team would be spending to bring in more established star talent, and the front office is too mired in bickering to give any comfort in that regard. Not a good sign for Gooners.

It suggests doubts regarding Arsene Wenger's future. Henry was quite clear that the fact that Wenger hadn't signed an extension to his contract weighed mightily in his decision. Wenger is clearly none-too-pleased at the David Dein resignation and the Kronke disputes, and he is always a man in high demand. With one of the world's transcendent talents in your side, silverware always seems within your reach. Now, even with all the brilliant youngsters at his disposal, his loyalty will be tested.

Having seen Bergkamp, Viera, and Henry fall to the wayside, I must admit that my own enthusiasm for the 07-08 season is desperately waning. I hope for good news on the managerial contract and transfer fronts.

USA's Copa America Preview - Roster Strategy

The USMNT will get 3 nights to bask in the glow of their supremacy over CONCACAF (in your face, Guadalupe) before they face a whole new ball game in the Copa America. Many supporters (including yours truly) wanted the US to take on the Copa America challenge so that our top players could get experience in significant international competition.

What I had in mind, of course, was making sure Drew Moor was battle tested.

OK, so maybe the Copa America roster isn't loaded with household names (Charlie Davies, por examplo), but if Bob Bradley played the Gold Cup to win it, he's playing Copa America to throw some young American talent into the crucible and see who has true quality. I don't disagree with his approach. It is a major competition, but we're not going to win it, so why burn up Landon Donovan when he could be slotting away David Beckham crosses on Sportscenter? Get the youngsters in there and let them mix it up.

So what's the skinny?

• A significant concern with this roster is the lack of pace in defense. Conrad, DeMerit and company are solid defenders who are strong in the air and good positionally, but they really risk getting skinned by pacy South American attackers.

• Ricardo Clark will also be tested. He looked very sharp in the Gold Cup final, but he and Olsen are the only midfielders with a bit of an edge to them. They'll need a disruptive bulldog to keep from being overrun, so hopefully he'll step up.

• One hope is that the painfully underrated Kyle Beckerman can step up in this tournament. He does so much for his team in MLS, and I feel like he's capable of a lot more.

• In attack, it's pretty soft. Twellman should lead all strikers in the tournament in shots off goal. Eddie Johnson should excel, but will meander hopelessly and then give up on runs. I happen to be a Hercules Gomez fan, but there's no Donovan, Beasley or Dempsey to make things happen in the scoring third for players like Gomez. This could be the time for Justin Mapp to become that creative force. At this point, however, our best hope for goalscoring is 5 or 6 25 yard volleys from Benny Feilhaber during the tournament.
  

Now the main challenge is finding these games on TV.

Gold Cup Final - The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

A great performance by the National Team in an engaging and well-played final. Though it was hardly a home game for the US, the partisan crowd created an electric atmosphere. And despite the fact that Soldier Field looks like a spaceship eating the Parthenon, it is a great venue for a soccer game.

OK right to it:

THE GOOD:

• Benny Feilhaber's Goal -- Without digging too deeply into the memory banks, I can't remember a higher quality strike since maybe Jovan Kirovski's rocket in a friendly against Germany in the late 90s. As I've said before, the kid is dripping with class and it is hard to imagine a better feeling than launching a thunderbolt to win a final in your first senior team competitive final.

• While I know it was a quiet performance until his injury, Jonathan Spector continues to impress--so confident and composed on the ball and he reads the game very well. I initially blamed him for being out of place on the first goal, but reviewing the play, he was sliding over to mark Blanco for a slow-to-recover Bocanegra. He made the right decision to address the more immediate threat, and couldn't do anything to stop the magical play by Castillo.

• Speaking of which, Nery Castillo mesmerized the spectators and anyone marking him today. He sliced through the US team on several occasions with remarkable pace and close control. A special player.

• Carlos Batres and his officiating crew deserve considerable praise. Excellent officiating is required for an excellent game and this crew kept control of an emotionally charged final but still let the men settle the game on the pitch. They called more bookings against the US and over twice as many fouls, but they accurately called the game while allowing for physical play by both sides. Bravo.

The BAD:

• The USMNT new penchant for turning easy wins into nailbiters. In the worst examples, Ching and Beasley faced open goalmouths and spurned chances in which missing the back of the net carried a high degree of difficulty. For so long in this game, a well-organized Mexico defense and the freakishly athletic Oswaldo Sanchez made the US team work hard for any chances. Given a chance to finish off the game, they were woeful in front of the goal. Speaking of which...

• I know he wasn't in the game very long, but I'd like to ask again why the farce that is Taylor Twellman's National team career cannot be mercifully ended. Unless the USMNT is going to be playing (a) vastly weaker competition, (b) the Colorado Rapids, or (c) Norway, he's not helpful. Short, wasteful, and usually physically overmatched.
  

THE UGLY:

• Injuries to Mexican Players - Obviously everyone's prayers should be with Jose Andres Guardado and his family. Moreover, if anything spoils the win, it is the injury to Jared Borgetti; while Oscar Bravo played well in his stead, Borgetti is a talismanic player for El Tri and it would have been good to have seen him finish the match.

• Hugo Sanchez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco's post-game antics. Sorry to be harsh here, but this just solidifies the reputation of two classless, washed-up jokes. Blanco has made a career of being a jerk to officials (and teammates, and reporters, and coaches...). And while I understand Sanchez has to be stressed as he waits for a slip of paper roughly the same shade as his polo shirt, he sullied the ending to a fine game by harassing a fine officiating crew. Good riddance.

A final to remember and an promising tournament for this transitional USMNT. Copa America will prove a much starker challenge, but for today, it is a result that re-asserts the US team's regional dominance.

Gold Cup Final Roundup and Thoughts

Great previews from trusted names:

• Ives
• Wahl
  
• Jeff Carlisle

In short, "I have a bad feeling about this."

Maybe it is the back spasms I'm suffering through or the sharp pain somewhat lower caused by my Arsenal team facing a future without Thierry Henry and David Dein and possibly sans Monsieur Wenger. Maybe it is that this transitional version of the USMNT gives me fits with its dodgy defending. But I don't feel as confident as I have in recent years going up against El Tri.

As Carlisle notes, much of the US attack has been, and will need to be, focused around the Donovan and Beasley, who with Dempsey have produced some really fine counterattacking soccer in spots during this tournament. And with a surprisingly strong Frankie Hejduk suspended, a young defender (I hope and expect Jonathan Spector) will be asked to step into Frankie's shoes--providing solid defending, timely runs, and twelve-yards-behind-the-goal crosses.

more tomorrow...

Congrats to USWNT and U-20 team!

Some usual suspects (Lilly and Wambach) tally goals for the US in a comprehensive victory over Brazil.

Also, in a game I didn't get to see, the U-21 team, apparently with a fine contribution from Freddy Adu, beat Chile 2-1 in their final warm-up before the U-20 World Cup.

Fashion analysis - you bet

Honestly, Gold Cup analysis is forthcoming...

Nearly as significant, Slate (consistently one of the best reads on the web) has an accurate, knowledgable, and funny analysis of the woeful history of USMNT strips.

Why Landon Donovan May Choose Club over Country

During Sunday's US-Ecuador match, Eric Wynalda suggested that Landon Donovan was disingenuous when he said he was so excited about the L.A. Galaxy's season that he was considering skipping out on the summer tournaments. Wynalda said Donovan's reasoning was "an excuse" and seemed to imply that Donovan was ducking the "important" games in the summer tournaments.

I think Wynalda is off the mark here. While some may suggest Donovan has underperformed in big games (Luis Bueno has a good counterargument on Sideline Views), he has never been one to avoid the spotlight or refuse a challenge. Because of the "flop in Europe" chip he has on his shoulder, I'd argue Donovan has actually been quick to put himself in the limelight of the big games.

If Donovan skips the summer tourneys, it won't be because he's afraid of the bright lights--it'll be because he knows the real stage is going to be in Los Angeles when the Beckham show comes to town.

As I've said in the past, the Beckham bet may or may not pan out for MLS, but for a few shining weeks, there will be more MLS highlights on Sportscenter than you've ever seen before: Beckham entering the stadium, Beckham taking free kicks, Beckham looking great while he loses a footrace with Jim Curtain, Beckham making a perfect cross that Tyrone Marshall shanks into row H.

For all his love of country, Donovan knows that the world soccer press will be focused on Tinseltown when Goldenballs lands at LAX. You can't have Santino Quaranta and Chris Albright soaking up all the reflected glory.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying he's just a publicity hound--far from it. But it would be understandably galling to Donovan to work so hard, to be the heart and soul of that team for so long, then have to be away playing for the Gold Cup while Beckham becomes the face of the franchise, at least for the passing sports fan.

If the Beckham experiment actually succeeds on the pitch and in the general sporting conscious Donovan wants--and probably deserves--to be part of the story.

USA 3 - Ecuador 1 Analysis

A nice performance by the USMNT, though the scoreline didn't necessarily reflect the overall performance.

THE GOOD:

Landon Donovan - Obviously Donovan was fantastic today. His goals were all superbly taken, but he contributed in many other ways as well--making really intelligent and timely runs off the ball, tracking back in defense, organizing the US attack. The only real negative was his service from dead ball situations, which was fair at best. One of his best performances.

The New Guys - I'm not saying that Benny Feilhaber and Michael Bradley look ready to play in qualifiers, but I thought they both looked like very cultured, solid footballers in the midfield. Feilhaber looks to have real class--vision and creativity that has more substance than style. Though obviously very skillful, he didn't look for the "Hollywood Ball", but rather kept his head up and sparked several chances with balls into space. In addition, Bradley made an immediate and lasting positive impact, which brings me to...

Bob Bradley's Halftime Adjustment - The US team sorely lacks creative attacking central midfielders, so I'm always sad to see Donovan going up front, especially when our flank players were clearly out-of sorts. But this was more than just replacing a poorly performing Eddie Johnson with Donovan. Brian Ching held up the ball very well, and his old buddy Landon made very smart runs off the his old San Jose teammate. Moreover, Bradley clearly gave his son direction to focus on possession and distribution--making only a few targeted runs into the attack. The result was that the central midfield grew much more solid, possession increased, and Donovan was free to terrorize the Ecuadorian back line. An overall team adjustment that won the game.

I don't want to see Donovan up front every game, but it was the right adjustment for this situation.

Steve Cherundulo -- While the US defense struggled today, Cherundulo kept it all quiet on the Ecuadorian left side.

THE BAD:

Clint Dempsey and DaMarcus Beasley - DaMarcus appeared frustrated by the matchup with De La Cruz, who appeared not only stronger than DMB, but easily as fast. However, DaMarcus appeared to improve as the game wore on, and his assist to Donovan on the third goal was inch-perfect.

Dempsey had an industrious, but very poor performance. His footwork seemed pretty solid, but his passing was dreadful. He squandered several opportunities with simply mis-played passes.

THE UGLY:

The US Central Defense -- Onyewu and Conrad looked like the Keystone Cops, especially in the first half. Initially, their line was too high and it was continually breached. Even once they settled in, they were too passive at the point of attack--doing nothing to stand up attackers or close off passing lanes into space. They were always reacting to the fast, skilled Ecuadorian attackers.

In their defense (pardon the pun), Feilhaber was continually lost defensively--standing around while yellow jerseys poured around him. Obviously, he'll learn over time, but you could easily see how the situation improved as Bradley entered the game and provided additional cover for central attacks.

The US Attackers -- While Donovan was very sharp, the other US attacking options played very poorly. Ching had a very good game in several facets, but didn't challenge the goalkeeper enough. Johnson's touch betrayed him. Beasley didn't contribute much, and Dempsey missed an absolute sitter. I'm not even going to talk about Twellman. We still lack an attack consistently able to create chances and forwards who can finish them.

OVERALL:

B- - The Ecuadorian team faded badly in the second half and made us look much better, but there were several bright spots--none less than Donovan playing with such purpose and influence.

Crew defeat the Hoosiers

The Crew's unbeaten streak in the pre-season hit 10 with a defeat of the Indiana Hoosiers. And unlike previous Crew unbeaten streaks, we're actually winning games (8-1-2 overall this pre-season.)

Crew Season Preview, part 1

Take a look at Steve Davis of ESPN.com's Crew Season Preview

He makes the fairy obvious points about the Crew's newfound riches in the goalscoring department and the question mark in goal. A couple of early observations:

1) If talent didn't improve at all, you'd have to think the Crew will be better if only, let's say, 1/2 of the team suffers serious injury. Last year, they filmed an episode of Gray's Anatomy in the Crew locker room.

2) I'm surprised he didn't talk more about the central midfield situation. Though early signs are good, with Ned Grabavoy looking sharp and some really exciting performances from Stefan Miglioranzi, there's always a danger of trying to fix your goalscoring problems with finishers, only to find that your true deficiency was in service and control from your midfield players.

3) On a personal note only tangentially related to the story, Frankie Hejduk's return has a lot of people happy. However, while his experience in German and International football make him a competent MLS player, I'll go to my grave saying he's one of the most grossly overrated players ever to don the USMNT strip.

He's a phenomenal "effort" guy who made up for talent deficiencies with work rate and pace. Now that he's getting old (ouch --he's 4 months younger than me) the pace is fading and he'll be a cagey veteran with a 50/50 chance of putting a routine cross into the 6th row.

I'm back...

Man, I've been gone for a while. Illness. Work. Changing computers. That pretty much sums it up. Now I'm back and ready for a new MLS season.

Congrats US Women's National Team!

Congratulations to the US Women's National Team for their success in the Four Nations Cup in China. They won the Four Nations Cup for a record fifth time with a 2-0 win over China.

Check out some good post-game quotes on My Soccer Blog.

Soccer Specific Stadia and Real Salt Lake's blues

Brian Garrison of An American's View on Football/Futbol/Soccer has a really nice piece on the funding being pulled out from under Real Salt Lake's stadium plan. He lays out not only the consequences of the deal falling through, but also the domino effect of RSL either being contracted or sold and rebranded.

First, I'll say that breaking ground on a stadium before you have funding is like reporting on where some big American center back will transfer before you see him with a new jersey. Rolling the dice.

Secondly, this is a real shame for the RSL fans. It's bad enough they've had to suffer with that name--the jarring collison of poetic Castilian and prosaic, um...well...Salt Lake.

I realize I've been really spoiled as a Columbus Crew fan that I always watch my MLS games in a soccer-specific stadium. I remember one particular evening before a game with D.C., walking with some friends through the parking lot, waving at tailgaters, dodging the errant juggling of teenagers, and watching parents and their children kicking soccer balls around the field. It was twilight, and in the distance, you could see the whole stadium aglow and hear the fans chanting and stomping the bleachers. The stadium was in full voice, and kids were buzzing with excitement to see Freddy Adu.

My friend and I looked at one another and didn't have to say a word. This was soccer and this was the U.S. We never thought we'd actually see the day, but it was beautiful.

Saints be praised! Onyewu still not going to Chelsea!

After CNN, SoccerTimes, and others reported the Gooch deal to Marseille done and dusted, he shows up on Tyneside getting a physical to secure a loan to Newcastle. Or so they'd have us believe.

Honestly, I need to remember to never trust European football media on transfer news. If ESPN's Buster Olney says that your favorite middle reliever is going to the Padres next week, then you can safely start buying hats and jerseys. For soccer transfers, believe it when you see the guy holding a jersey up at a press conference.

To be fair, the European footballing media has a herculean task; they've got to monitor transfer activity across dozens of leagues, hundreds of teams, and thousands of players. So, basically, I'm not going to be shocked if we see Gooch smiling in a Kashima Antlers strip tomorrow morning.

While I have some opinions about how Onyewu will fit in at Newcastle, I'm holding my tongue until I see the jersey shot.

The obligitory Beckham post...

If you haven't already, check out David Mosse's excellent article on Beckham-palooza

Any American soccer fan should be delighted by the wave of publicity that Beckham has brought to the sport in the US mainstream media. The publicity has been more about Beckham as a personality than Beckham as a footballer (not a new trend in his career), but if his celebrity is bringing attention to the game, so be it.

As a player, Beckham has been undoubtedly overhyped. His highlight set-piece goals and flair for the dramatic have long belied a very limited set of skills. Mosse reproduces George Best's famous and blunt assessment:

"He cannot kick with his left foot, he cannot head a ball, he cannot tackle and he doesn't score many goals. Apart from that, he's all right."

Beckham has certainly been very influential in games for club and country, but he's not going to control a game like less-publicized MLS imports like Marco Etcheverry or Carlos Valderrama.

However, while Beckham's talent has been overstated, he's not the complete slouch some detractors would suggest. He still has a truly remarkable right foot that should provide plenty of Sportscenter material. Sampling a few swerving, physics-defying free-kick highlights may keep casual sports fans from changing the channel instinctively when they see the Galaxy on the television.

Beckham has played regularly and successfully at the very top level of European football, and with that experience, he'll make the Galaxy better. He'll distribute the ball well, and the improvement on set pieces alone will pick up points for the Galaxy.

For me, the most fascinating sideplot in the Beckham invasion should be seeing how he and Landon Donovan coexist. I haven't seen too much written about the interplay (there's a brief mention in a long piece on Better Sports).

Andrea Canales indicated a positive reaction from Donovan, who thought he'd have much to gain from Beckham's service. However, Donovan has positioned himself as the leader and face of the team, and while the reticent Beckham is unlikely to challenge Donovan for the captain's armband, he will certainly nudge Landon from the spotlight.

The success of Beckham's move is hard to predict. From a publicity standpoint for soccer in the US, early evidence suggests it will be a success. For the reasons noted above, I also believe it will be good for the Galaxy. Beckham will be a good teammate and a hard worker as he tries to carve his place in the American sports landscape.

Will it be good for MLS? That's harder to tell. If Beckham piles up goals and assists and provides enough highlights to keep turnstiles spinning and casual sports fans watching, then it will be a success. Sadly, however, if Beckham greatly improves the LA side, but his contributions don't show up on the stat sheet, then the mainstream sports media may brand his signing as a very expensive failure.

Yanks in FA Cup Action

Yanks Abroad runs down the long list of Americans in action in FA cup ties this weekend. As I'm typing this, it looks like Brad Friedel has just posted a clean sheet in a 4-0 drubbing of Luton.

Saints be praised! Onyewu not going to Chelsea!

According to SoccerTimes, Oguchi Onyewu is on his way to Marseille.

I think this is a very good move for Gooch, and only about 15-20% of my opinion is shaped by the fact that I don't want to see him lining up against my Gunners next year.

Gooch apparently has no interest in riding the pine, regardless of how luxurious the seat. Reportedly, Onyewu turned down a Real Madrid offer earlier this year due to concerns over playing time. Similarly, Chelsea can't honestly offer a long run in the starting eleven. After all, the main reason for their defensive weakness of late has been the injury to John Terry, and the captain is set to return to action against Nottingham Forest on the weekend.

There are a number of stong players in the Chelsea defense, and when making the move from second-tier European football to the big leagues, it's best not to make that transition in an extremely competitive situation.*

Meanwhile, at Marseille, the defense has been spotty and needs a strong player. While they have been rampant in January, they have averaged more goals conceded than scored in October, November, and December.

Admittedly, I'm no expert in French soccer, but the only promising Marseille defensive prospect in my estimation is Taye Taiwo. Gooch will be on a very successful club with a strong reputation, and will have a chance to make a long run in the side.

Moreover, the simmering spat between vainglorious manager Claudio Ranieri and the Chelsea board suggest there could be changes in the future for the Blues, and that's not a good situation for someone from a non-traditional footballing country who is trying to make his mark.

Unlike many young American footballers, Gooch seems to be very deliberate in his career choices and with the promise of playing time, medals, and Champion's League soccer, Marseille seems the perfect place for Onyewu to develop into a top class defender.

*Although Onyewu played for Metz around 2002, he had very few first team appearances, so this is really his first real step into big league European football.

Marc Connolly: The Top 15

Marc Connolly: The Top 15

Marc Connolly reviews the Top 15 most important soccer players to this generation. I have little to add because I think his analysis is spot-on.

The one that got away...

Ives Galarcep reports on Giuseppe Rossi scoring on his debut for Parma

I really don't have much of an opinion on Rossi, except for being fascinated by how much American soccer fans loathe him (check out the comments on Ives's blog).

First, USMNT fans are hypocritical if we attempt to criticize a player for switching national team allegiances from the country of his birth. After all, some of the biggest names on the USMNT have been imports. Focusing only on modern era players (sorry Hugo, Werner, and Joe), there is a pretty long list of US players who have spurned their native soil to play in the red, white, and blue. A few notables:

Freddy Adu (Ghana)
Roy Wegerle (South Africa)
Thomas Dooley (Germany)
Jeff Agoos (Switzerland)
Earnie Stewart (Holland)
Tab Ramos (Uruguay)
Brian Quinn (Northern Ireland)
Preki (Serbia)
Fernando Clavijo (Uruguay)

And of course this neglects to mention several imported flops (David Regis) and, of course, Brad Friedel (based on interviews you hear with Brad, it appears his hometown of Lakewood, Ohio is actually an outlying borough of Kilkenny).

Some of these soccer imports came to the US because they couldn't play for their national teams. Some had American connections. Some came for college or the way of life. Regardless, they basically wanted to choose the best footballing situation for themselves, and FIFA's rules don't make that too hard.

In the end, it isn't moral indignation that causes US fans to hate Rossi. It basically comes down to two reasons:

1) The position he plays -- we desperately need quality strikers, and he could help us immensely. If he were a right back, the sentiment wouldn't be so severe.

2) The country he's chosen -- his parents were first generation immigrants, so it's hard to berate the kid for choosing Italy, but the Azzurri already has such a wealth of skilled footballers, that it's a little like hearing that Donald Trump won the Lottery. You have to grumble a bit.

So basically, he's off my radar, but US fans should really give the kid a break.

Captain America Returning Stateside?

Soccernet.com reports that former USMNT captain Claudio Reyna has been released by Manchester City and appears to be heading to the regrettably named New York Red Bulls. Reyna has long claimed he would someday return to the US and play in MLS, and it's certain to be a warm homecoming for the Jersey boy.

Is this good for Reyna? Of this, there is little doubt. Claudio has a home in NY, grew up in Jersey, and will be working for Bruce Arena, his old college and USMNT coach. And from a sporting perspective, even in his footballing dotage, Reyna will undoubtably shine in MLS. While he has never been flashy, he is a player with real class and a wealth of experience at the highest levels. His tackling, composure on the ball, vision, and leadership automatically set him at the top of the class of MLS midfielders.

But will it be good for MLS? With Beckham, Reyna, and the rumor of Edgar Davids, MLS fans have to be worrying about a US soccer league again becoming world football's Old Folk's Home. The lackluster runouts of Lothar Matthäus and Youri Djorkaeff are enough to worry some MLS stalwarts that the league's "Beckham Rule" could become a way for past-their-prime European stars to have a farewell tour across the pond.

In this case, however, I think the concern is misplaced. Nothing in Reyna's past suggests he'd treat this as merely a paycheck. He has always demonstrated a sense of responsibility for US soccer success, and turning around a perpetually underachieving New York franchise would be a substantial part of his legacy.

And unlike Matthäus or others of his ilk, Reyna will feel an obligation to US soccer, and will understand the importance of building a good team in a huge sporting market.

One thing is for certain, Reyna deserves a better curtain call for casual US fans then his unfortunate gaffe against Ghana, and I believe he'll grasp the opportunity and run with it.