Soccer

The Host: Happy birthday Eddie Johnson! We have all gathered here at our local Fuddruckers to (1) sample the “better beef” and (2) celebrate the amazing feats you have committed with your feet over the last 26 years. While you have not always been a favorite of Bob Bradley, you are still well liked by people like myself, who have had the pleasure of playing as your “avatar” on one of the many FIFA video games. They always make you very fast.

The Toast: And, that’s because you are fast EJ! Lighting-fast, come to think of it. But, you’re first touch is a bit suspect, and your shooting is… well… Oh, wait, this is the toast section. I need to get back to praising you instead of braising you. I don’t know Eddie, what else can I say? You burn the bad defenses during qualifying, but I have never seen you step up against the big boys. You are quick as a cat, but you aren’t known for your vision or accuracy.  Read more... (3 words, 4 images, estimated 1 secs reading time)

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After last night’s round of quarter final fixtures, Arsenal, Barcelona, Inter Milan and CSKA Moscow take to the pitch tonight in what is expected to be another fascinating night of football. Last night Bayern Munich beat Manchester United 2-1 at the Allianz Arena a remake of the final 11 years ago where Manchester beat Bayern with a similar score margin.

Tonight however, focus shifts to the most anticipated fixture of the quarter finals. Arsenal welcome reigning champions Barcelona to Emirates stadium. Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas remains a concern though. The Spanish international and playmaker is suffering from a leg injury that might keep him out of this crucial fixture.  Read more... (358 words, 3 images, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

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photo credit: wjarrettc

All we want for X-Mas is a good match.

A report is out that the “Red Devils” will play the MLS All-Stars this year for the traditional “let’s try to prove we’re as good as European Soccer instead of just proving American Soccer is good too” game.  Oh, I mean, the MLS All-Star Game.

Actually, I think playing United is a pretty deft move as long as the MLS markets it right.  We’ve only got two options here:

1.  Let’s try to prove we’re better than them–even though the 2 stars of the MLS Cup Final now play in Europe, or…  Read more... (329 words, 4 images, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

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photo credit: Gabyu

Lyon sought AND destroyed yesterday.

Lyon defeated Bordeaux 3-1 in their Ligue 1/Champion’s League match yesterday that represents the first leg of their set in the Champion’s League.  With Bordeaux so far out in front in Ligue 1 you wonder whether they are tired, just didn’t have it in them, or they just got bitten by the one team that has their number.  Either way–3-1 in aggregate is not a very good draw.  Read more... (315 words, 4 images, estimated 1:16 mins reading time)

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MLS Power Rankings (03/31) – Last Week’s Rank In Parenthesis  Read more... (413 words, 3 images, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

1. Columbus Crew (1): GBS proved he’s still got it in a 2-0 win over Toronto.
2. LA Galaxy (2): It wasn’t pretty, but a 1-0 win over NER keeps them at #2.
3. Seattle Sounders (3): They looked darn good, but they did play the Union.
4. Real Salt Lake (6): A 4-0 win? Maybe their road woes are a thing of the past?
5. Houston Dynamo (4): Kinnear’s bunch dug deep for a road tie against Dallas.
6. Colorado Rapids (9): A very nice win on the road for Smith’s squad vs. CHV.

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If you read the scoring stats for the Champion’s League this season you’ll see the following:

Cristiano Ronaldo – 7

Wayne Rooney – 4

Michael Owen – 4

Leo Messi – 4

If you read the shots stats you’ll see that Leo Messi and Ronaldo both have taken 32 shots this Champion’s League cycle–but does that mean that Ronaldo’s Real Madrid offense is more potent?  Does that mean Leo Messi isn’t very accurate?

Well, it potentially means that Leo Messi isn’t shooting very accurately since he’s got 3 less goals on the same number of shots–however, we don’t know the exact situation of every shot–nor do we for Ronaldo.  Read more... (337 words, 5 images, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)

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The Girls: In Episode II of our series on the greatest US WNT of all-time, I will be treating you to the tale of the #5 team on the list, the 2008 US Women’s National Team. They had finished third at the previous World Cup, and many people believed divisions within the team could have (or already had) destroyed it. But the team turned out to be (or at least played like they were) far less broken than many thought. They had heart and they won the Gold medal.  Read more... (280 words, 5 images, estimated 1:07 mins reading time)

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No more Becks, but still plenty to see.

The MLS Regular Season is here and we have so much to look forward to.  The Galaxy are sans Becks and Donovan–did I mention they both took loan deals in Europe so they could get the hell away from the MLS?  Oh, and that was after they lost the MLS Cup to RSL.

RSL gets a chance to defend their title in the new position of being “not the dark horse”.  I mean, when they were trying to squeak into the playoffs and then through the playoffs I was riding their train because I thought it would be a nice “upstart” story, but I didn’t think they would win the whole thing.  Read more... (331 words, 5 images, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)

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After a weekend of exciting league fixtures that saw unexpected results in the EPL, Serie A and La Liga, our attention shifts back to the Champions League where German club Bayern Munich host Manchester United at the Allianz Arena tomorrow night in the one of the two quarter finals fixtures.

The match which will kick-off at 1945GMT is the first of a two leg tie in what is bound to be a case of de javu for Sir Alex Ferguson. Both clubs have a history in the Champions League with their most recognizable meeting coming in the 1999 final which United won 2-1.  Read more... (399 words, 4 images, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

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