So I just have a few quick thoughts on this issue, and I'll keep them brief because I don't have most of the details:
1) I wasn't aware that the players on the men's and women's national teams actually got paid at all. I mean, I assumed they got per diem and travel expenses covered and what not, but beyond that I was always under the assumption that the honor of playing for the National Team was compensation enough. That said, since apparently that's not the case, I agree that members of the men's and women's national teams should absolutely be paid the same.
2) And let's be clear, they should be paid the same regardless of how good either team is. The fact that the women are World Cup Champions and the men just failed to qualify for the Olympics should have no bearing on pay. And playing for the National Team should never be about the money, it should be about representing your country.
3) I'm a little surprised that the Men's National Team hasn't aligned themselves with the Women's National Team in this suit. I would assume that conversations were had between the two groups, wouldn't you? And I'll be honest, I think the women's case would get even more national attention if the Clint Dempseys and the Tim Howards and the Michael Bradleys were to come out and say, 'you're right, this isn't fair, we need to fix this.' You would think that would really put the pressure on U.S. Soccer to make a change. Maybe that's coming, we'll see.
4) I'll be honest, I'm disappointed that this situation has become national news. Don't get me wrong, the women's team has every right to make it national news, but why couldn't this get resolved at the lowest level? If the numbers are what the women's team claims they are, then what's the argument for U.S. Soccer not fixing the problem? And if they numbers aren't what the women's team claims, why not clarify that so the issue could be put to bed?
Showing posts with label USWNT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USWNT. Show all posts
Friday, April 1, 2016
Thursday, August 20, 2015
U.S. Women Win Again
The U.S. Women were at it again scoring goals in bunches in a 7-2 rout of Costa Rica last night. The U.S. scored 6 goals in the opening 31 minutes and outshot the Costa Ricans 28-4 on the night. Heather O'Reilly and Carli Lloyd led the attack with two goals apiece while both Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan chipped in goals as well. The U.S. women have outscored their opponents 20-4 over their last three games and have won seven straight overall. Next up for the American women are matches with Australia on September 17th in Detroit and on September 20th in Birmingham, Alabama.
USA – Carli Lloyd 7th minute
USA – Heather O’Reilly (Carli Lloyd) 13
USA – Abby Wambach (Lori Chalupny) 18
USA – Carli Lloyd (Megan Rapinoe) 20
USA – Heather O’Reilly (Abby Wambach) 23
USA – Katherine Alvarado (Own Goal) 31
CRC – Cristin Granados (Carolina Venegas) 41
CRC – Karla Villalobos (Mariana Benavides) 69
USA – Alex Morgan (Amy Rodriguez) 81
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 6 1 7
CRC 1 1 2
USA 6 1 7
CRC 1 1 2
USA – Carli Lloyd 7th minute
USA – Heather O’Reilly (Carli Lloyd) 13
USA – Abby Wambach (Lori Chalupny) 18
USA – Carli Lloyd (Megan Rapinoe) 20
USA – Heather O’Reilly (Abby Wambach) 23
USA – Katherine Alvarado (Own Goal) 31
CRC – Cristin Granados (Carolina Venegas) 41
CRC – Karla Villalobos (Mariana Benavides) 69
USA – Alex Morgan (Amy Rodriguez) 81
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
USWNT Routs Costa Rica to open Victory Tour
In their first match since their World Cup Finals victory over Japan, the U.S. Women picked up right where they left off routing Costa Rica 8-0 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Christen Press led the offense with a hat trick and Heather O'Reilly added two goals of her own. Ashlyn Harris and Hope Solo handled the goal keeping duties, while 40-year old captain Christie Rampone went the full 90 minutes in her 309th career U.S. National Team appearance. Here's the highlights.
Next up for the U.S. is another match with Costa Rica on Wednesday in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
USA – Heather O’Reilly 4th minute
USA – Christen Press 29
USA – Julie Johnston (Megan Rapinoe) 36
USA – Christen Press (Shannon Boxx) 45
USA – Meghan Klingenberg (Tobin Heath) 56
USA – Heather O’Reilly (Christen Press) 59
USA – Whitney Engen (Abby Wambach) 63
USA – Christen Press (Heather O’Reilly) 68
Next up for the U.S. is another match with Costa Rica on Wednesday in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 4 4 8
CRC 0 0 0
USA 4 4 8
CRC 0 0 0
USA – Heather O’Reilly 4th minute
USA – Christen Press 29
USA – Julie Johnston (Megan Rapinoe) 36
USA – Christen Press (Shannon Boxx) 45
USA – Meghan Klingenberg (Tobin Heath) 56
USA – Heather O’Reilly (Christen Press) 59
USA – Whitney Engen (Abby Wambach) 63
USA – Christen Press (Heather O’Reilly) 68
Friday, June 26, 2015
Two Matches to Go
In case you've missed it, the U.S. Women are two wins away from their first World Cup Title since 1999. Carli Lloyd's second half header beat China's Wang Fei for the game's only goal as the U.S. extended their shutout streak to 423 minutes and now get ready for a semifinal showdown with Germany. Here's a rundown of how the U.S. and Germany both reached the World Cup Semifinals:
USA (4-0-1)
GROUP D
W 3-1 vs Australia - Megan Rapinoe 2 (2), Christen Press (1)
D 0-0 vs Sweden
W 1-0 vs Nigeria - Abby Wambach (1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
W 2-0 vs Colombia - Alex Morgan (1), Carli Lloyd (1)
W 1-0 vs China - Carli Lloyd (2)
W 2-0 vs Colombia - Alex Morgan (1), Carli Lloyd (1)
W 1-0 vs China - Carli Lloyd (2)
GERMANY (3-0-2)
GROUP B
W 10-0 vs Ivory Coast - Célia Šašić 3 (3), Anja Mittag 3 (3), Simone Laudehr (1), Sara Däbritz (1), Melanie Behringer (1), Alexandra Popp (1)
D 1-1 vs Norway - Anja Mittag (4)
W 4-0 vs Thailand - Melanie Leupolz (1), Lena Petermann 2 (2), Sara Däbritz (2)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
W 4-1 vs Sweden - Anja Mittag (5), Célia Šašić 2 (5), Dzsenifer Marozsán (1)
D 1-1 vs France, W 5-4 (PKs) - Célia Šašić (6)
W 4-1 vs Sweden - Anja Mittag (5), Célia Šašić 2 (5), Dzsenifer Marozsán (1)
D 1-1 vs France, W 5-4 (PKs) - Célia Šašić (6)
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
Wins and Wins and Wins for the US
The U.S. is on a hot streak right now. Men's, Women's, Senior Teams, Youth Teams, everything is coming up red, white and blue. Here's a rundown of the past couple days in case you've missed it.
Women's World Cup
Megan Rapinoe scored on either side of intermission and Christen Press delivered the game winner as the U.S. defeated Australia 3-1 in their opening match of the World Cup. Hope Solo added five saves and Alex Morgan turned in an 11-minute shift off the bench as the U.S. jumped to the top of Group D. Next up for the Americans, a showdown against their former coach, Pia Sundhage, who now coaches her native Sweden. The two sides will face off on Friday night in Winnipeg. Sweden drew with Nigeria 3-3 in their opener after blowing leads of 2-0 and 3-2.
U-20 World Cup
Rubio Rubin scored the lone goal of the match and goalkeeper Zack Steffen saved a late penalty by Jarlan Barrera as the U.S. upended Colombia 1-0 and advanced the World Cup quarterfinals. MLSers Matt Miazga (NYRB), Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Marky Delgado (FC Toronto) and Bradford Jamieson (LA Galaxy) all started for the U.S., however Jamieson left 11 minutes in with an injury and Acosta was ejected following his second yellow card in the 81st minute. Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake) and Tommy Thompson (San Jose) both made appearances off the bench for the U.S. Next up for the U.S. is Serbia who edged out Hungary 2-1 in extra time. Serbia won Group D with a 2-1-0 record outscoring their opponents 4-1. Six different players have scored for the Serbians so far in the tournament.
U-23 Toulon Tournament
The U.S. capped off a successful run with a 2-1 win over England to take third place in the prestigious Toulon Tournament. The two U.S. goals both came by way of the penalty spot with Alonso Hernandez scoring in the first half and Benji Joya, who spent part of the 2014 season on loan to the Chicago Fire, scoring the game winner in the second. The third place finish tied for the best finish ever for the U.S. in the tournament tying the 1989 U.S. team that also finished in third, ironically also thanks to a win over England.
Men's National Team Friendly
Days after pulling off a stunning come-from-behind win over the Netherlands in Amsterdam, the U.S. Men were at it again doing the unthinkable and going toe-to-toe with Germany IN GERMANY, and coming away with a 2-1 win. The unlikely hero? Once again, for the second time in as many matches, Bobby Wood scored the game winner, this one on a blistering left-footed shot from outside the box that found the side netting at the far post. The U.S. also got a goal from New York City FC's Mix Diskerud who took a cross from Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) off his chest before flicking the equalizer past German keeper Ron-Robert Zieler. The U.S. men have now won three straight knocking off Mexico, the 3rd place team from the 2014 World Cup, and the 2014 World Cup Champions. Not a bad time to be clicking with the Gold Cup looming.
Women's World Cup
Megan Rapinoe scored on either side of intermission and Christen Press delivered the game winner as the U.S. defeated Australia 3-1 in their opening match of the World Cup. Hope Solo added five saves and Alex Morgan turned in an 11-minute shift off the bench as the U.S. jumped to the top of Group D. Next up for the Americans, a showdown against their former coach, Pia Sundhage, who now coaches her native Sweden. The two sides will face off on Friday night in Winnipeg. Sweden drew with Nigeria 3-3 in their opener after blowing leads of 2-0 and 3-2.
U-20 World Cup
Rubio Rubin scored the lone goal of the match and goalkeeper Zack Steffen saved a late penalty by Jarlan Barrera as the U.S. upended Colombia 1-0 and advanced the World Cup quarterfinals. MLSers Matt Miazga (NYRB), Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Marky Delgado (FC Toronto) and Bradford Jamieson (LA Galaxy) all started for the U.S., however Jamieson left 11 minutes in with an injury and Acosta was ejected following his second yellow card in the 81st minute. Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake) and Tommy Thompson (San Jose) both made appearances off the bench for the U.S. Next up for the U.S. is Serbia who edged out Hungary 2-1 in extra time. Serbia won Group D with a 2-1-0 record outscoring their opponents 4-1. Six different players have scored for the Serbians so far in the tournament.
U-23 Toulon Tournament
The U.S. capped off a successful run with a 2-1 win over England to take third place in the prestigious Toulon Tournament. The two U.S. goals both came by way of the penalty spot with Alonso Hernandez scoring in the first half and Benji Joya, who spent part of the 2014 season on loan to the Chicago Fire, scoring the game winner in the second. The third place finish tied for the best finish ever for the U.S. in the tournament tying the 1989 U.S. team that also finished in third, ironically also thanks to a win over England.
Men's National Team Friendly
Days after pulling off a stunning come-from-behind win over the Netherlands in Amsterdam, the U.S. Men were at it again doing the unthinkable and going toe-to-toe with Germany IN GERMANY, and coming away with a 2-1 win. The unlikely hero? Once again, for the second time in as many matches, Bobby Wood scored the game winner, this one on a blistering left-footed shot from outside the box that found the side netting at the far post. The U.S. also got a goal from New York City FC's Mix Diskerud who took a cross from Michael Bradley (Toronto FC) off his chest before flicking the equalizer past German keeper Ron-Robert Zieler. The U.S. men have now won three straight knocking off Mexico, the 3rd place team from the 2014 World Cup, and the 2014 World Cup Champions. Not a bad time to be clicking with the Gold Cup looming.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
U.S. Wins 10th Algarve Cup
The U.S. turned in yet another solid performance and rode goals by Julie Johnston and Christen Press to a 2-0 win over France clinching them their 10th Algarve Cup trophy and first since 2013. Johnston headed home a free kick by Lauren Holiday for her first international goal just seven minutes into the match, and then Press turned in a sensational individual effort just before halftime to essentially put the game out of reach. Hope Solo turned in another dominating performance in net with 7 saves including denying Amadine Henry on a penalty shot. The shutout was the 81st of Solo's career. Germany defeated Sweden 2-1 to win the 3rd place match.
Monday, March 9, 2015
U.S. Women Draw with Iceland 0-0, Head to Algarve Cup Finals
Hope Solo posted her second consecutive shutout, but the U.S. offense couldn't solve Iceland, settling instead for a 0-0 draw. Still, that was good enough to clinch Group B at the Algarve Cup and earn a place in the Championship Match against France on Wednesday. France won all three of their matches defeating Denmark, Japan and Portugal by a combined score of 8-2. They're led by midfielder Eugénie Le Sommer who is currently tied for the tournament lead with three goals. Germany and Sweden will face off for third place in a rematch of their opening match which Sweden won 4-2.
The U.S. has won the Algarve Cup 9 times since 2000 with their most recent tournament win coming in 2013 over Germany. France has never won the tournament finishing third back in 2004 and 2005.
The U.S. has won the Algarve Cup 9 times since 2000 with their most recent tournament win coming in 2013 over Germany. France has never won the tournament finishing third back in 2004 and 2005.
Friday, March 6, 2015
U.S. Women Win Again
Alex Morgan, Amy Rodriguez and Abby Wambach all scored as the U.S. defeated Switzerland 3-0 in Algarve Cup action on Friday. The U.S. is one of just two teams to win both of its opening matches and can complete a sweep of Group B with a win over Iceland on Monday. Wambach's goal was the 178th of her career and first since she netted four in the CONCACAF Championship against Costa Rica back in October. Morgan, the U.S.'s 10th all-time leading scorer, notched her 51st despite being just 25 years old, while Rodriguez's goal was her 29th.
Superman and the SoccerSmith Q&A, Episode 8
Welcome to Episode 8 of Superman and the SoccerSmith's 4-4-2 Soccer Q&A. Just in time for Opening Weekend! Here we go!
MLS
1. SoccerSmith (SS): As we kick off the 2015 regular season, give me your preseason predictions for Western Conference Champion, Eastern Conference Champion, MVP, Golden Boot, and Newcomer of the Year.
Superman (SM): Man this one is tough. With Gyasi Zardes and Robbie Keane on form, coupled with Stevie G arriving in May, I have the Galaxy winning the West, but not by much as Seattle, RSL, and Sporting KC should all be right there in the hunt. The East has gotten a whole lot better with the addition of NYCFC and Orlando City, and while I think both teams will do well with their powerful and star-studded rosters, I see this as being a two-horse race for the top spot between Toronto and New England with Toronto having the slight edge. Mike Bradley, Sebastian Giovinco, and Jozy Altidore should prove to be a hell of a trio and score a lot of goals. My early pick for MVP is Ricardo Kaka. I think he will prove invaluable in Orlando's playoff push. Golden Boot I'll say will belong to Dom Dwyer. The dude had a banner year last season and I fully expect that run of form to both continue and improve. Newcomer of the Year will be the Atomic Ant, Sebastian Giovinco. His creativity and dynamic play should be enough to earn him that title.
SS: I'm going to say Seattle wins the West. I think the Galaxy are going to be right there with them, but I think the tandem of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins is going to be that much better with a full season under their belts. Plus, they're coming into the season with a huge chip on their shoulder. LA lost Landon Donovan and Marcelo Sarvas and starts the season without Steven Gerrard so I think their midfield is going to be hurting early on and Seattle will exploit that fact. In the East, I'm going to go with the Columbus Crew. Columbus has quietly put together a solid core of Federico Higuain, Ethan Finlay, Will Trapp, Michael Parkhurst, Tony Tchani, Justin Meram and Steve Clark. And they've added Icelandic international Kristinn Steindórsson, Kei Kamara, and Argentine right back Hernán Grana into the mix. They also have the Golden Boot winner from the CONCACAF U-20 Tournament, Romain Gall, waiting in the wings. DC United is struggling with injuries, Toronto FC will have to find its identity and establish chemistry, the Red Bulls lost playmaker Thierry Henry, the expansion clubs are tough to bet on, and New England has all their eggs in the Lee Nguyen basket. Columbus could surprise some people. As for the MVP, in keeping with my picking the Crew to win the East, I'm going to go with Federico Higuain. He may not be the playmaker his brother is, but he's scored double-digit goals in each of the last two seasons, and now he arguably has his best supporting cast around him. The Golden Boot is going to go to Bryan Róchez, how's that for a dark horse candidate? Róchez is only 20, but he's coming off a 20 goal season for Real España in Honduras and now he has Kaka setting him up. Finally, for newcomer of the year I'm going to go with Kaka. This is a guy who could make a push for 20 assists, and Orlando City's success will be totally dependent on what he brings to the table.
SS: I’m going to go with no. Florida isn’t known for its attendance at pro sporting events. Think Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Rays or Miami Marlins. Remember the Tampa Bay Mutiny? How about the Miami Fusion? The Citrus Bowl may hold 65,000+, but their new stadium which will open next year will only hold 19,500 which is about the norm for soccer specific stadiums. I think it’s great that people are coming out for the opener, but we’ll see where the fans are in October and November if Orlando City’s first season is a rough one. Could the U.S. someday have 60,000 fan soccer stadiums? I suppose that’s a possibility, but let’s start with trying to win the Champion’s League.
SM: Call me optimistic, but I'm thinking that this is a sign of things to come. I realize this is the home opener, which is usually a big deal in any sport, and that Orlando has made a huge deal about filling the Citrus Bowl. I also am aware of the fact that the soccer-specific stadium that they're building will only hold 1/3 of the people that will be at the game on Sunday. But let's not forget that over 7,000 folks showed up to watch an open training session. And let's also take into account that they have sold 60,000 tickets for this game, THREE TIMES what their stadium will hold. I'm thinking that a lot of that can carry over, but I also think it depends on how much success they have. If they make the playoffs this year, be on the lookout for sellout crowds all through the 2016. You heard it here first.
USMNT/USWNT
1. SS: Christie Rampone turns 40 this summer. How much longer can she keep playing? Can she catch Kristine Lilly and her ridiculous 352 CAPs (she currently sits at 304)?
SM: Provided she stays healthy and in form, I don't see her stopping 'til she gets good and ready to. She's played professionally since 1997 and has shown no signs of slowing down or made any announcements or mentions of retirement. Part of that I'm sure is her position. Center backs may lose a step or two, but generally become better with age, much like goalkeepers. That being said, it also wouldn't shock me to see her retire this summer if the women win the World Cup. As to whether or not she can catch up with Lilly's ridiculous number of caps, well, that obviously depends on her continuing playing for a few years, as there's a significant gap between 304 and 352 and there's a bunch of younger, extremely talented women looking to get caps of their own.
3. SS: Has anyone stood out to you during the CONCACAF U-17 Tourney thus far?
SM: Joe Gallardo Jr. A hat trick against Cuba in the 5-0 rout last Friday closely followed by a goal from a free-kick against Trinidad and Tobago this week. The youngster seems to be playing up and above his age group. He's one to keep an eye on for the future.
Wild Card
1. SS: Give me five players in MLS right now that are worth the price of admission.
SM: This is the kind of research I can really get behind. 1. Ricardo Kaka. How many times have MLS fans been able to watch a bona fide Ballon d'Or winner take the field, even one that's supposedly on the back side of his career? 2. Frank Lampard. Super Frank will be joining NYCFC this summer and should make an impact the second he takes the pitch. He's won EPL titles, Champions League titles, along with several other domestic tournaments. He's basically a living legend. 3. Steven Gerrard. Another guy who is basically a living legend who will be joining the Galaxy this summer. Having come close, but never actually winning the Premier League, he will be fired up to try to bring another title to LA. 4. David Villa. Another bona fide superstar who seems to be able to score goals at will. He's won almost every trophy there is, including the UEFA Champions League, a World Cup, and the Euros. 5. Sebastian Giovinco. The Atomic Ant has an affinity for cutting and slicing up defenses, juking defenders out of their shoes before delivering killer final balls or practically unstoppable shots.
SS: Oh boy, who knows? If given the opportunity, he could probably get his career on track, but as we’ve discussed before, Adu seems to get in his own way when things aren’t going right for him. Will he be humble about this opportunity and work his butt off or is he expecting a starting job to be handed to him? I honestly can’t even begin to guess how this plays out. At this point, Adu is just as likely to play in the Champions League as he is to end up teammates with Austin Berry in South Korea’s second division.
SM: Freddy Adu is a special case. He's played for no less than 10 separate club teams and he's still only 25. I'd venture to say that's a record. Possibly not one anyone would like to have, but a record nonetheless. In the will he/won't he game, at this point, I honestly wouldn't know where to lay my money. Much like you said, at this point he's just as likely to end up at Real Madrid as he is the New Orleans Jesters.
That's all for this week, folks. Follow us on twitter at @cjleonard03 and @SoccerSmith15.
MLS
1. SoccerSmith (SS): As we kick off the 2015 regular season, give me your preseason predictions for Western Conference Champion, Eastern Conference Champion, MVP, Golden Boot, and Newcomer of the Year.
Superman (SM): Man this one is tough. With Gyasi Zardes and Robbie Keane on form, coupled with Stevie G arriving in May, I have the Galaxy winning the West, but not by much as Seattle, RSL, and Sporting KC should all be right there in the hunt. The East has gotten a whole lot better with the addition of NYCFC and Orlando City, and while I think both teams will do well with their powerful and star-studded rosters, I see this as being a two-horse race for the top spot between Toronto and New England with Toronto having the slight edge. Mike Bradley, Sebastian Giovinco, and Jozy Altidore should prove to be a hell of a trio and score a lot of goals. My early pick for MVP is Ricardo Kaka. I think he will prove invaluable in Orlando's playoff push. Golden Boot I'll say will belong to Dom Dwyer. The dude had a banner year last season and I fully expect that run of form to both continue and improve. Newcomer of the Year will be the Atomic Ant, Sebastian Giovinco. His creativity and dynamic play should be enough to earn him that title.
SS: I'm going to say Seattle wins the West. I think the Galaxy are going to be right there with them, but I think the tandem of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins is going to be that much better with a full season under their belts. Plus, they're coming into the season with a huge chip on their shoulder. LA lost Landon Donovan and Marcelo Sarvas and starts the season without Steven Gerrard so I think their midfield is going to be hurting early on and Seattle will exploit that fact. In the East, I'm going to go with the Columbus Crew. Columbus has quietly put together a solid core of Federico Higuain, Ethan Finlay, Will Trapp, Michael Parkhurst, Tony Tchani, Justin Meram and Steve Clark. And they've added Icelandic international Kristinn Steindórsson, Kei Kamara, and Argentine right back Hernán Grana into the mix. They also have the Golden Boot winner from the CONCACAF U-20 Tournament, Romain Gall, waiting in the wings. DC United is struggling with injuries, Toronto FC will have to find its identity and establish chemistry, the Red Bulls lost playmaker Thierry Henry, the expansion clubs are tough to bet on, and New England has all their eggs in the Lee Nguyen basket. Columbus could surprise some people. As for the MVP, in keeping with my picking the Crew to win the East, I'm going to go with Federico Higuain. He may not be the playmaker his brother is, but he's scored double-digit goals in each of the last two seasons, and now he arguably has his best supporting cast around him. The Golden Boot is going to go to Bryan Róchez, how's that for a dark horse candidate? Róchez is only 20, but he's coming off a 20 goal season for Real España in Honduras and now he has Kaka setting him up. Finally, for newcomer of the year I'm going to go with Kaka. This is a guy who could make a push for 20 assists, and Orlando City's success will be totally dependent on what he brings to the table.
2. SM: Austin Berry, the 2012 Rookie of the Year has been sent on loan to FC Anyang, which is in the second division of the South Korean K league. Not precisely what I'd call progress. Can Berry get his career back on track or are we going to be asking "whatever happened to that guy?" at some point in the future?
SS: Do you think anyone foresaw this at the end of the 2012 season? It’s a long fall from MLS Rookie of the Year to South Korea’s second division. Anyhow, as far as whether or not he can put his career back together? Hard to say. Berry may have damaged his reputation with comments he made about the Union coaching staff in a recent interview: “[Jim Curtin’s] the new coach. It’s his first situation where he’s had to deal with something like this. [Chris] Albright probably wasn’t supposed to have this position for a couple more seasons… It is guys in new positions, not knowing how the league works and not really knowing what’s going on.” Now Curtin (152 starts over 9 MLS seasons) and Albright (22 CAPS for the U.S., a Best XI selection in 2005 and 3 MLS Cups) aren’t exactly nobodies. And to suggest that these guys have less of an understanding of how the league works than Berry probably wasn’t Berry’s best play, which may also be why he’s getting loaned to South Korea’s 2nd Division and not somewhere better. That said, reputation aside, yes Berry’s career can recover from this. Berry isn’t a washed up 30-something, he’s only 26. And this is a loan, not a transfer. I have to assume he’s going to start for FC Anyang, otherwise this move wouldn’t make much sense for either party (FC Anyang is limited to four international players on their roster). If he goes there and performs, perhaps helping Anyang get promoted to the K League Classic, maybe that will get him back into someone’s good graces stateside.
SM: What has my attention most is the destination. Professional athletes have spoken out of turn about their coaches and what not since pro sports were a thing. The second division in South Korea seems a bit excessive to me if he's going on a loan spell as a sort of punishment. That being said, I think you're spot-on about his potential for a return. If he helps FC Anyang to get promoted and is suddenly the best player in their league, perhaps we'll see him back in a MLS jersey sooner rather than later.
3. SS: Who will score more goals this season: David Villa, Jozy Altidore or Chris Wondolowski?
SM: David Villa. Wondo is a poacher, Jozy is a back-to-goal, hold up play type of guy, but David Villa seems to be able to do it all. To me he's more of a complete forward who can score in any way and that will lead to him scoring more goals.
SS: I think you could really make a case for all three of them. Wondo is going to get his. We saw this last year even when San Jose was abysmal and now they're much improved. Altidore will be getting fed by Michael Bradley and Sebastian Giovinco which certainly won't hurt his case. But I'm with you, and would have to pick David Villa. All things being equal, he's just better. And if he had a full season of Frank Lampard, I think you'd be hard pressed to argue that he wouldn't be the favorite to win the Golden Boot. Even without Lampard, he'll still have Mix Diskerud, so I think he'll finish the season in the high teens slightly ahead of Wondo and Jozy.
SS: Do you think anyone foresaw this at the end of the 2012 season? It’s a long fall from MLS Rookie of the Year to South Korea’s second division. Anyhow, as far as whether or not he can put his career back together? Hard to say. Berry may have damaged his reputation with comments he made about the Union coaching staff in a recent interview: “[Jim Curtin’s] the new coach. It’s his first situation where he’s had to deal with something like this. [Chris] Albright probably wasn’t supposed to have this position for a couple more seasons… It is guys in new positions, not knowing how the league works and not really knowing what’s going on.” Now Curtin (152 starts over 9 MLS seasons) and Albright (22 CAPS for the U.S., a Best XI selection in 2005 and 3 MLS Cups) aren’t exactly nobodies. And to suggest that these guys have less of an understanding of how the league works than Berry probably wasn’t Berry’s best play, which may also be why he’s getting loaned to South Korea’s 2nd Division and not somewhere better. That said, reputation aside, yes Berry’s career can recover from this. Berry isn’t a washed up 30-something, he’s only 26. And this is a loan, not a transfer. I have to assume he’s going to start for FC Anyang, otherwise this move wouldn’t make much sense for either party (FC Anyang is limited to four international players on their roster). If he goes there and performs, perhaps helping Anyang get promoted to the K League Classic, maybe that will get him back into someone’s good graces stateside.
SM: What has my attention most is the destination. Professional athletes have spoken out of turn about their coaches and what not since pro sports were a thing. The second division in South Korea seems a bit excessive to me if he's going on a loan spell as a sort of punishment. That being said, I think you're spot-on about his potential for a return. If he helps FC Anyang to get promoted and is suddenly the best player in their league, perhaps we'll see him back in a MLS jersey sooner rather than later.
3. SS: Who will score more goals this season: David Villa, Jozy Altidore or Chris Wondolowski?
SM: David Villa. Wondo is a poacher, Jozy is a back-to-goal, hold up play type of guy, but David Villa seems to be able to do it all. To me he's more of a complete forward who can score in any way and that will lead to him scoring more goals.
SS: I think you could really make a case for all three of them. Wondo is going to get his. We saw this last year even when San Jose was abysmal and now they're much improved. Altidore will be getting fed by Michael Bradley and Sebastian Giovinco which certainly won't hurt his case. But I'm with you, and would have to pick David Villa. All things being equal, he's just better. And if he had a full season of Frank Lampard, I think you'd be hard pressed to argue that he wouldn't be the favorite to win the Golden Boot. Even without Lampard, he'll still have Mix Diskerud, so I think he'll finish the season in the high teens slightly ahead of Wondo and Jozy.
4. SM: Orlando City has sold 60,000 tickets to their home opener against NYCFC this Sunday. Considering the rapid rise of the MLS the past few seasons, do you see this type of attendance becoming the norm?
SS: I’m going to go with no. Florida isn’t known for its attendance at pro sporting events. Think Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Rays or Miami Marlins. Remember the Tampa Bay Mutiny? How about the Miami Fusion? The Citrus Bowl may hold 65,000+, but their new stadium which will open next year will only hold 19,500 which is about the norm for soccer specific stadiums. I think it’s great that people are coming out for the opener, but we’ll see where the fans are in October and November if Orlando City’s first season is a rough one. Could the U.S. someday have 60,000 fan soccer stadiums? I suppose that’s a possibility, but let’s start with trying to win the Champion’s League.
SM: Call me optimistic, but I'm thinking that this is a sign of things to come. I realize this is the home opener, which is usually a big deal in any sport, and that Orlando has made a huge deal about filling the Citrus Bowl. I also am aware of the fact that the soccer-specific stadium that they're building will only hold 1/3 of the people that will be at the game on Sunday. But let's not forget that over 7,000 folks showed up to watch an open training session. And let's also take into account that they have sold 60,000 tickets for this game, THREE TIMES what their stadium will hold. I'm thinking that a lot of that can carry over, but I also think it depends on how much success they have. If they make the playoffs this year, be on the lookout for sellout crowds all through the 2016. You heard it here first.
USMNT/USWNT
1. SS: Christie Rampone turns 40 this summer. How much longer can she keep playing? Can she catch Kristine Lilly and her ridiculous 352 CAPs (she currently sits at 304)?
SM: Provided she stays healthy and in form, I don't see her stopping 'til she gets good and ready to. She's played professionally since 1997 and has shown no signs of slowing down or made any announcements or mentions of retirement. Part of that I'm sure is her position. Center backs may lose a step or two, but generally become better with age, much like goalkeepers. That being said, it also wouldn't shock me to see her retire this summer if the women win the World Cup. As to whether or not she can catch up with Lilly's ridiculous number of caps, well, that obviously depends on her continuing playing for a few years, as there's a significant gap between 304 and 352 and there's a bunch of younger, extremely talented women looking to get caps of their own.
SS: Let's start off by saying what she's accomplished thus far is nothing short of amazing. 300+ CAPs with the U.S., a 3-sport star in college (basketball, soccer and lacrosse), 4 World Cups (1 Championship) and 4 Olympic Games (including three Gold Medals) and that's just to name a few of her accolades. Then you factor in that she's done all of this despite having two kids, tearing an ACL in 2001, and being diagnosed with Lyme Disease in 2010. So given that she's more or less unstoppable, I'm inclined to say that Rampone could still be the U.S. Captain at 47 while suiting up for her 7th World Cup. How could you honestly bet against her? Pretty sure I'm going to have to find a spot for her on my Mount Rushmore, especially when she gets her 400th cap in 2023.
2. SM: Sacha Kiljestan has made no secret of the fact that he wants back into the National Team picture. With the load that he will be carrying in New York, can he perform well enough to play his way back into the squad?
SS: Sacha’s got his work cut out for him. He played just one match for the U.S. in 2014 and that was on the heels of his best season in Europe when he scored 9 goals across all competitions for Anderlecht. He’s 29 so you have to figure his window for contributing at the international level is closing. But, he’s playing in a big market with a striker who tied the MLS single season scoring record a year ago. If Kljestan helps Bradley Wright-Phillips enjoy similar success in 2015, and the Red Bulls are in the playoff hunt, you’d have to think his name will come up.
SM: I swear it's like we share a brain sometimes. I like Sacha. I love his attitude and work rate. His commitment level is up there with anyone you can name. But the hard fact for him right now is that we are very full in the middle of the park. Lee Nguyen, Clint Dempsey, Mix Diskerud, Michael Bradley... All of these people are capable of playing behind the striker in the role that Kljestan will be playing in New York. And that's just the shortlist in truth. If Sacha can create magic at Red Bull arena and get BWP scoring goals like a madman, I agree he's got a legitimate shot at another call-up. But it seems to me like unless he plays well above and beyond even his own expectations, the 'stache may not get another cap for the Red, White, and Blue.
SS: Sacha’s got his work cut out for him. He played just one match for the U.S. in 2014 and that was on the heels of his best season in Europe when he scored 9 goals across all competitions for Anderlecht. He’s 29 so you have to figure his window for contributing at the international level is closing. But, he’s playing in a big market with a striker who tied the MLS single season scoring record a year ago. If Kljestan helps Bradley Wright-Phillips enjoy similar success in 2015, and the Red Bulls are in the playoff hunt, you’d have to think his name will come up.
SM: I swear it's like we share a brain sometimes. I like Sacha. I love his attitude and work rate. His commitment level is up there with anyone you can name. But the hard fact for him right now is that we are very full in the middle of the park. Lee Nguyen, Clint Dempsey, Mix Diskerud, Michael Bradley... All of these people are capable of playing behind the striker in the role that Kljestan will be playing in New York. And that's just the shortlist in truth. If Sacha can create magic at Red Bull arena and get BWP scoring goals like a madman, I agree he's got a legitimate shot at another call-up. But it seems to me like unless he plays well above and beyond even his own expectations, the 'stache may not get another cap for the Red, White, and Blue.
3. SS: Has anyone stood out to you during the CONCACAF U-17 Tourney thus far?
SM: Joe Gallardo Jr. A hat trick against Cuba in the 5-0 rout last Friday closely followed by a goal from a free-kick against Trinidad and Tobago this week. The youngster seems to be playing up and above his age group. He's one to keep an eye on for the future.
SS: The U.S. has gotten hat tricks from Gallardo and Joshua Perez so far in the tournament, but I'm going throw out a name of a guy who hasn't scored yet instead. Christian Pulisic, the U.S.'s #10, has four assists through three matches and has truly been the catalyst of the U.S. attack. A product of the Borussia Dortmund youth system, he appears to be the total package already tallying 18 goals for the U.S. despite not turning 17 until this September.
4. SM: Carli Lloyd basically took over at halftime of the women's opener against Norway in the Algarve Cup this week. She scored a wicked left-footed shot and calmly buried a PK to give the Ladies a 2-1 win. Is she on your shortlist for best player of the tournament right now?
SS: I’m not sure I’m ready to go that far. Don’t get me wrong, I’m stoked about her Woman of the Match performance against Norway, but there’s a lot of great teams here, and three other players who netted braces on Match Day 1, two of whom did so without the benefit of a PK and against the #1 team in the world. I think your best player of the tournament is going to be someone from Group A. With Sweden, Brazil, China and Germany all in the same group (the worst team in the group coming in at #13 in the world) there’s a lot of opportunities for players to deliver signature performances, and whoever wins that group is going to have earned it.
SM: Agreed to a point. Her comments after the game amounted to her being tired of losing, tired of being written off as an also-ran, and being a veteran and leader on this team were excellent in my opinion. Those comments along with the black eye she got in a closed-door friendly show the fire and desire she has to win. I'm looking for her to make even more of an impact as this tournament goes on.
SS: I’m not sure I’m ready to go that far. Don’t get me wrong, I’m stoked about her Woman of the Match performance against Norway, but there’s a lot of great teams here, and three other players who netted braces on Match Day 1, two of whom did so without the benefit of a PK and against the #1 team in the world. I think your best player of the tournament is going to be someone from Group A. With Sweden, Brazil, China and Germany all in the same group (the worst team in the group coming in at #13 in the world) there’s a lot of opportunities for players to deliver signature performances, and whoever wins that group is going to have earned it.
SM: Agreed to a point. Her comments after the game amounted to her being tired of losing, tired of being written off as an also-ran, and being a veteran and leader on this team were excellent in my opinion. Those comments along with the black eye she got in a closed-door friendly show the fire and desire she has to win. I'm looking for her to make even more of an impact as this tournament goes on.
Wild Card
1. SS: Give me five players in MLS right now that are worth the price of admission.
SM: This is the kind of research I can really get behind. 1. Ricardo Kaka. How many times have MLS fans been able to watch a bona fide Ballon d'Or winner take the field, even one that's supposedly on the back side of his career? 2. Frank Lampard. Super Frank will be joining NYCFC this summer and should make an impact the second he takes the pitch. He's won EPL titles, Champions League titles, along with several other domestic tournaments. He's basically a living legend. 3. Steven Gerrard. Another guy who is basically a living legend who will be joining the Galaxy this summer. Having come close, but never actually winning the Premier League, he will be fired up to try to bring another title to LA. 4. David Villa. Another bona fide superstar who seems to be able to score goals at will. He's won almost every trophy there is, including the UEFA Champions League, a World Cup, and the Euros. 5. Sebastian Giovinco. The Atomic Ant has an affinity for cutting and slicing up defenses, juking defenders out of their shoes before delivering killer final balls or practically unstoppable shots.
SS: I can't disagree with any of those selections, but I'll throw out five other names just to keep this interesting. 1. Lee Nguyen. This guy's got an absolute hammer shot, and while he may never get a legitimate opportunity with the U.S., he's certainly an exciting player to watch. 2. Kyle Beckerman. As far as holding midfielders go, this guy plays the position as good as anyone. As both a distributor and a disruptive defensive presence, he's worth watching. 3. Robbie Keane. Ireland's all-time scoring leader and most CAP'd player is the reigning league MVP and even at age 34 is still a threat to score tallying over 20 goals for the Galaxy last year between the regular season and playoffs. 4. Michael Bradley. Arguably the best America has to offer right now. Nobody works harder on the field than he does. 5. Bill Hamid. Arguably the future of U.S. Goalkeeping, Hamid was a big reason DC won the East last year, and you saw how much of a difference it made not having him in net for DC's first leg Champions League match against Alajuelense.
2. SM: Freddy Adu is reportedly in talks with two separate teams in the Swedish Allsvenskan. Considering his recent exploits and the long list of teams he's represented, can he finally nail down some regular playing time and get his career back on track or is this just another stop on his interesting career?
SS: Oh boy, who knows? If given the opportunity, he could probably get his career on track, but as we’ve discussed before, Adu seems to get in his own way when things aren’t going right for him. Will he be humble about this opportunity and work his butt off or is he expecting a starting job to be handed to him? I honestly can’t even begin to guess how this plays out. At this point, Adu is just as likely to play in the Champions League as he is to end up teammates with Austin Berry in South Korea’s second division.
SM: Freddy Adu is a special case. He's played for no less than 10 separate club teams and he's still only 25. I'd venture to say that's a record. Possibly not one anyone would like to have, but a record nonetheless. In the will he/won't he game, at this point, I honestly wouldn't know where to lay my money. Much like you said, at this point he's just as likely to end up at Real Madrid as he is the New Orleans Jesters.
That's all for this week, folks. Follow us on twitter at @cjleonard03 and @SoccerSmith15.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Carli Lloyd Leads U.S. Women to Win Over Norway
Carli Lloyd struck twice in the second half as the U.S. opened the Algarve Cup with a 2-1 win over Norway. Lloyd, who will be 33 this summer, scored 15 goals for the U.S. in 2014 and now has 63 goals in her international career. The U.S. now gets ready to take on Switzerland on Friday. The Swiss won their opener against Iceland 2-0.
Monday, March 2, 2015
Superman and the SoccerSmith Q&A, Episode 7
Welcome to Episode 7 of Superman and the SoccerSmith's 4-4-2 Soccer Q&A. Better late than never! Here we go!
MLS
1. Superman (SM): Opening weekend is almost upon us. Which fixture are you most interested/excited to see as the MLS season gets underway?
SoccerSmith (SS): Here's my top 5 for Opening Weekend in no particular order: (1) LA Galaxy vs Chicago (3/6). The Fire made substantial upgrades this offseason and I'm curious to see how it'll translate in terms of on-field success. They get a big test out of the gates, and a positive result could really set the tone for their season. (2) Seattle vs New England (3/8). East meets West in a battle of powerhouse clubs from a year ago. Seattle is doubtlessly seeking more hardware after winning 2 of 3 major titles last season while New England just missed winning the MLS Cup. Lots of big names in this one too with Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins, Lee Nguyen, Juan Agudelo, Charlie Davies, and more. (3) FC Dallas vs San Jose (3/7). I see the Quakes as a potential sleeper this year after a disappointing 2014, and I want to see what they can do against a playoff team like FC Dallas. Dallas meanwhile got a new keeper in Dan Kennedy who could be poised for a huge season now that he's playing for a contender after years with Chivas USA. (4) Vancouver vs Toronto FC (3/7). Toronto brought in Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco this offseason. Are they finally a playoff team? They get an immediate test with a match against the Champions League-bound Whitecaps who finished 2014 as the top ranked Canadian franchise. (5) Orlando City vs New York City FC (3/8). The league's newest clubs debut against each other as Kaka, Mix Diskerud, David Villa and Brek Shea will all be on display.
SM: Yes to all of those and I'll add one more in Sporting KC vs. The New York Red Bulls. The return of Roger Espinoza coupled with an in-form Benny Feilhaber, Dom Dwyer, and Graham Zusi vs. Sacha Kljestan, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Dax McCarty should make for some very entertaining watching.
2. SS: Portland just lost midfielder Ben Zemanski to a torn ACL. He will now join injured teammates Will Johnson and Diego Valeri on the Timbers sideline to start the season. Given how deep the Western Conference is shaping up to be this year, can Portland stay competitive despite this rash of injuries?
SM: We all know that the west is unimaginably competitive. Almost every team seems to be a legitimate playoff contender. Having said that, no team is immune to the injury bug and the biggest problem most squads have is depth. So if Portland can manage to not drop too many points early and stay mid-table until everyone gets fully fit, they can make a playoff run. However, if they dig themselves too deep a hole in the first part of the season, it could be a disastrous year for the Timbers faithful.
SS: My gut says it's too much to overcome, but soccer's one of the rare sports where you don't have to be the better team on a given day to come away with a win. If Portland gets some lucky/fortunate results early on, they can contend. That said, if I'm a betting man, I'm not picking Portland to finish in the Top 6 in the West this year. Right now I see them behind LA, Seattle, Kansas City, Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas, Vancouver, and my sleeper team, San Jose. So if they're going stay in the hunt, they'll need a lot to go right for them.
3. SM: Tommy Thompson is only 19 and has already had a loan spell, been called back, and earned a starting spot for San Jose. So far this preseason he seems to be vastly improved over his rookie year, accounting for several goals and assists so far. Can he be the spark that pulls San Jose out of the basement and back in playoff contention?
SS: So I picked the Quakes as my sleeper team in the West this year, partly because of Thompson, but also because of the moves they made this offseason and the fact that they caught a lot of bad breaks last year. We've seen glimpses of Thompson's playmaking ability both in the recent CONCACAF U-20 tourney, as well is in MLS, but I still don't think he's quite put it all together, and he might still be a year or two away from being a big-time playmaker. Fortunately, the Quakes are going to be more than just Thompson and Wondo this year. Adam Jahn had a monster preseason, Matias Perez Garcia will be in the mix all year in the midfield, the defense is revamped and healthy, and Swiss International Innocent Emeghara was brought in to boost the offense. I do think this will be a big year for Thompson's development and if he does make the leap, it just strengthens my previous argument about San Jose's potential in 2015.
SM: I like where you're going with this, and I'll raise you this: Tommy Thompson's major problem last season was his finishing. He'd make some incredible moves, get himself into space, and either scuff his shot or play a poorly-weighted pass. This preseason has seen him up his game quite a bit so far. If he can hold form and even improve, he could be the creative force to push this team forward and maybe into the playoffs.
4. SS: Preseason games are just exhibitions so you can't read too deeply into anything that happens during them, but give me one player and one team, whose performances have stood out, good or bad.
SM: Kaka and Orlando City. Orlando City already seem to have clicked as a team and are playing with a defined style, and Kaka's performances have been nothing short of masterful. Little wonder he's been named captain of the squad, his poise and leadership speak volumes.
SS: I'm going to go with San Jose's Adam Jahn. After getting limited to just 4 regular season appearances in 2014, his second season in MLS, Jahn exploded for 7 goals this preseason. Will he be a factor for the Quakes in 2015? That remains to be seen, but in terms of preseason numbers, Jahn was far and away the league's most prolific scorer. As far as teams go, I'm going to say Montreal. Despite an influx of new personnel, the Impact went down to Mexico and defeated Cruz Azul in an exhibition match and nearly pulled off a stunning upset of Pachuca in the Champions League before settling for a draw with two huge away goals. Is this a sign of things to come for the new look Impact? Regardless, they've certainly made a statement with their work south of the border.
USMNT/USWNT
1. SM: Hope Solo had been reinstated. Is this good as she's the obvious first choice keeper for the women or will her off-field antics be a more of a distraction than her play is worth?
SS: We haven't seen anyone really challenge Hope Solo for her spot as the number one option and with the World Cup looming, I think this a case of the U.S. trying to field the most talented squad. I would have to imagine that there have been some closed door meetings with Solo and the Coaching Staff to address her behavioral issues, and I'm sure the decision to reinstate her wasn't one that was taken lightly. My guess is that she's fairly committed to trying to win the World Cup, something she hasn't done in her career, and that she'll be on her best behavior through the summer. There's a lot of veteran leadership on this U.S. team, and I think that, provided no new scandals arise, they can handle the distractions that Solo's already created and move past them.
SM: Agreed. So long as she stays on her best behavior we should be fine. The squad is very deep with veteran leadership and I would also bet a week's pay on there being a long conversation between her, US Soccer and the coaching staff. With the Algarve Cup around the corner and the Women's World Cup this summer, here's to hoping she keeps her nose clean so she can also continue keeping clean sheets.
2. SS: If Chris Wondolowski's career were to end today, how would you remember him?
SM: I would like to say that I would remember his goals in the Gold Cup in 2013 or the various friendlies he's featured in. I would like to say that I'd remember his very impressive scoring record in MLS while playing for what some consider to be a sub-par team. I would like to say that I would remember the fire and passion he played the game with. Unfortunately the biggest thing I'm going to remember him for is the miss inside the 6 at the World Cup last summer. The guy was brought to Brazil because of his obvious talent as a goal poacher; someone who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. However when it came time to showcase said talent and carry his country into the next round, he missed a sitter. I still have a ton of respect for the guy, but anytime someone says 'Wondo' to me, that's the first thing that will come to mind.
SS: It's a shame that he missed that shot, and for the majority of U.S. fans, that's what he'll be remembered for. If he had somehow scored there, or atoned for the miss somewhere else in the match, he has one of the best stories in U.S. soccer history. Wondo was the 41st player drafted in 2005 after a successful career at Chico State. He wasn't picked until the fourth round going after players like Steven Rhyne, Sasha Gotsmanov, Benjamin Benditson, Mike Lookingland, Aaron Pitchkolan and Eugene Sepuya. Still, he made the squad starting his career with the original San Jose Earthquakes and moved with them to Houston. He played on two MLS Cup winning sides in 2006 and 2007, but saw just limited minutes. In his first 5 MLS seasons, he appeared in just 53 regular season matches scoring only 7 goals. And then things changed. Given a chance to play every day for the new San Jose Earthquakes in 2010, Wondo came out of nowhere lead the league in scoring. He followed that up two years later with a record tying 27 goals and a career high 7 assists. He played the majority of the 2013 season with a broken foot because that's just who he is, and barring a huge setback, he'll eclipse the 100 goal mark in 2015. There is not a player in the league who does more with less, and to me he's the epitome of American Soccer. He's the hardest working guy on the field, the consummate underdog, and yet he's found success everywhere he's played. You can argue that National Team success has eluded him, but he has 9 goals in 27 matches for the red, white and blue and if you want to nitpick, he has more national team goals for than Claudio Reyna (8 goals in 111 CAPs), Tab Ramos (8 goals in 81 CAPs), John Harkes (6 goals in 90 CAPs), Taylor Twellman (6 goals in 30 CAPs), Herculez Gomez (6 goals in 24 CAPs), Roy Lassiter (4 goals in 30 CAPs), Jermaine Jones (3 goals in 50 CAPs), or Benny Feilhaber (2 goals in 41 CAPs), and more than Freddy Adu, Juan Agudelo and Charlie Davies combined (8 total goals in 52 CAPs). There is only one player in U.S. Men's soccer history (Willy Roy) to score more goals in fewer appearances than Wondo and he retired from the international scene in 1973. My heart literally breaks for him every time I think of the Belgium game, but he's owned that miss, and to me, he's a guy you want to root for.
3. SM: Klinsmann is targeting yet another German-American in Ashton Gotz. The 21-year-old only recently broke into his mid-table side, Hamburger SV's, first team. Do you see him as a viable option at right back, or is Klinsmann showing a bit more of his European bias?
SS: Honestly I haven't seen much of Gotz so it's hard for me to really say if he's National Team material or not. I don't want to get too excited about his potential until he gets his citizenship paperwork sorted out. My understanding is there's some issues with that based on his relationship with his father or something. So yeah, until he's actually eligible, I have a hard time adding him into the conversation about who our right back should be. As for Klinsmann's bias, let's face it, if you play in the Bundesliga, and you're eligible to play for the U.S., Klinsmann's history suggests he's going to call you.
SM: I think we may have shared a brain on this one. It seems to me that if you're a young-ish guy who's playing any position in the Bundesliga (and almost any level of that particular league) and has even the loosest ties to an American family, you're probably going to get a call from Jurgen. I haven't seen this guy play either but he only recently broke into the first-team at a side that is currently involved in a relegation battle. I realize that doesn't always speak to the talent level of a player but this one seems a bit of a reach for me. Time will ultimately tell of course, but it seems to me that there are more viable options out there.
4. SS: The 25-woman roster for the upcoming Algarve Cup is out. What do you think of it? Any surprises?
SM: None that I can see. I like this squad. Carli Lloyd is a creative force in the middle, Tobin Heath is a threat on the wing, Ali Krieger and Becky Sauerbrunn along with Rampone and Klingenberg are as good as any defenders in women's soccer and Hope Solo, despite her off-field issues, is still the best woman between the sticks on the planet. Did I mention our forwards? Do I need to? Abby Wambach scores for fun at this tourney and with Alex Morgan, Christen Press, and Sydney Leroux all making the trip this is a squad I can get behind.
SS: The one thing that strikes me as being strange is that we're traveling with 10 defenders and just 7 midfielders. Normally, I'd think we'd have that the other way around. The only explanation I can think of is that we haven't settled on which defenders we're going to move forward with and this tourney is going to pair the ten down to a final seven or eight for the World Cup. The only real omission I noted was that backup keeper Nicole Barnhart isn't traveling with the team and we're instead sending Ashlyn Harris and Alyssa Naeher to back-up Hope Solo.
Wild Card
1. SM: Ronaldinho Gaucho has played on almost every stage imaginable. His current team in Mexico, Queretaro, is currently in 14th place in Liga MX. The 34-year-old has expressed interest in playing in MLS recently, would you like to see him here and if so, what team could use him the most?
SS: I'm kind of indifferent on Ronaldinho coming here. I don't think he should be aggressively targeted by teams, but at the same time, I don't think we should be turning him away either if he comes knocking on doors. He's getting up there in years, but he's obviously still good enough to play in Liga MX, which is arguably still a better league than MLS so that speaks to his abilities. I could see him being a fit with the Red Bulls to fill some of the void left by Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry or perhaps Orlando City alongside fellow Brazilian Kaka. Bottom line though, for the right price, there's probably not a ton of teams that would say no to his services.
SM: Personally I would love to see him in MLS. Ronaldinho brings something to the table that seems to be missing in a lot of leagues around the world nowadays: Flair. He's got more tricks up his sleeves than a ton of guys half his age and he's not afraid to use them. He tries things in games that most pros won't and more often than not he pulls them off. And I think that would be great for the MLS. A legendary guy who plays with a smile on his face and is a certified show-off? Sign him, MLS.
2. SS: Who is going to win the 2015 CONCACAF Champion's League?
SM: At this point I'd say Club America. They simply are too deep and seem to have the ability to turn it up a notch when it counts. I would love to say that DC United can turn it around or Montreal can make it happen but I just can't see either one pulling it off.
SS: After watching Leg 1, I think America is definitely looking like the favorite. They had no trouble dispatching a pretty good Saprissa team. That said, I wouldn't sleep on the other remaining Costa Rican sides as Herediano and Alajuelense are both proving to be tough outs.
That's all for this week, folks. Follow us on twitter at @cjleonard03 and @SoccerSmith15.
MLS
1. Superman (SM): Opening weekend is almost upon us. Which fixture are you most interested/excited to see as the MLS season gets underway?
SoccerSmith (SS): Here's my top 5 for Opening Weekend in no particular order: (1) LA Galaxy vs Chicago (3/6). The Fire made substantial upgrades this offseason and I'm curious to see how it'll translate in terms of on-field success. They get a big test out of the gates, and a positive result could really set the tone for their season. (2) Seattle vs New England (3/8). East meets West in a battle of powerhouse clubs from a year ago. Seattle is doubtlessly seeking more hardware after winning 2 of 3 major titles last season while New England just missed winning the MLS Cup. Lots of big names in this one too with Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins, Lee Nguyen, Juan Agudelo, Charlie Davies, and more. (3) FC Dallas vs San Jose (3/7). I see the Quakes as a potential sleeper this year after a disappointing 2014, and I want to see what they can do against a playoff team like FC Dallas. Dallas meanwhile got a new keeper in Dan Kennedy who could be poised for a huge season now that he's playing for a contender after years with Chivas USA. (4) Vancouver vs Toronto FC (3/7). Toronto brought in Jozy Altidore and Sebastian Giovinco this offseason. Are they finally a playoff team? They get an immediate test with a match against the Champions League-bound Whitecaps who finished 2014 as the top ranked Canadian franchise. (5) Orlando City vs New York City FC (3/8). The league's newest clubs debut against each other as Kaka, Mix Diskerud, David Villa and Brek Shea will all be on display.
SM: Yes to all of those and I'll add one more in Sporting KC vs. The New York Red Bulls. The return of Roger Espinoza coupled with an in-form Benny Feilhaber, Dom Dwyer, and Graham Zusi vs. Sacha Kljestan, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Dax McCarty should make for some very entertaining watching.
2. SS: Portland just lost midfielder Ben Zemanski to a torn ACL. He will now join injured teammates Will Johnson and Diego Valeri on the Timbers sideline to start the season. Given how deep the Western Conference is shaping up to be this year, can Portland stay competitive despite this rash of injuries?
SM: We all know that the west is unimaginably competitive. Almost every team seems to be a legitimate playoff contender. Having said that, no team is immune to the injury bug and the biggest problem most squads have is depth. So if Portland can manage to not drop too many points early and stay mid-table until everyone gets fully fit, they can make a playoff run. However, if they dig themselves too deep a hole in the first part of the season, it could be a disastrous year for the Timbers faithful.
SS: My gut says it's too much to overcome, but soccer's one of the rare sports where you don't have to be the better team on a given day to come away with a win. If Portland gets some lucky/fortunate results early on, they can contend. That said, if I'm a betting man, I'm not picking Portland to finish in the Top 6 in the West this year. Right now I see them behind LA, Seattle, Kansas City, Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas, Vancouver, and my sleeper team, San Jose. So if they're going stay in the hunt, they'll need a lot to go right for them.
3. SM: Tommy Thompson is only 19 and has already had a loan spell, been called back, and earned a starting spot for San Jose. So far this preseason he seems to be vastly improved over his rookie year, accounting for several goals and assists so far. Can he be the spark that pulls San Jose out of the basement and back in playoff contention?
SS: So I picked the Quakes as my sleeper team in the West this year, partly because of Thompson, but also because of the moves they made this offseason and the fact that they caught a lot of bad breaks last year. We've seen glimpses of Thompson's playmaking ability both in the recent CONCACAF U-20 tourney, as well is in MLS, but I still don't think he's quite put it all together, and he might still be a year or two away from being a big-time playmaker. Fortunately, the Quakes are going to be more than just Thompson and Wondo this year. Adam Jahn had a monster preseason, Matias Perez Garcia will be in the mix all year in the midfield, the defense is revamped and healthy, and Swiss International Innocent Emeghara was brought in to boost the offense. I do think this will be a big year for Thompson's development and if he does make the leap, it just strengthens my previous argument about San Jose's potential in 2015.
SM: I like where you're going with this, and I'll raise you this: Tommy Thompson's major problem last season was his finishing. He'd make some incredible moves, get himself into space, and either scuff his shot or play a poorly-weighted pass. This preseason has seen him up his game quite a bit so far. If he can hold form and even improve, he could be the creative force to push this team forward and maybe into the playoffs.
4. SS: Preseason games are just exhibitions so you can't read too deeply into anything that happens during them, but give me one player and one team, whose performances have stood out, good or bad.
SM: Kaka and Orlando City. Orlando City already seem to have clicked as a team and are playing with a defined style, and Kaka's performances have been nothing short of masterful. Little wonder he's been named captain of the squad, his poise and leadership speak volumes.
SS: I'm going to go with San Jose's Adam Jahn. After getting limited to just 4 regular season appearances in 2014, his second season in MLS, Jahn exploded for 7 goals this preseason. Will he be a factor for the Quakes in 2015? That remains to be seen, but in terms of preseason numbers, Jahn was far and away the league's most prolific scorer. As far as teams go, I'm going to say Montreal. Despite an influx of new personnel, the Impact went down to Mexico and defeated Cruz Azul in an exhibition match and nearly pulled off a stunning upset of Pachuca in the Champions League before settling for a draw with two huge away goals. Is this a sign of things to come for the new look Impact? Regardless, they've certainly made a statement with their work south of the border.
USMNT/USWNT
1. SM: Hope Solo had been reinstated. Is this good as she's the obvious first choice keeper for the women or will her off-field antics be a more of a distraction than her play is worth?
SS: We haven't seen anyone really challenge Hope Solo for her spot as the number one option and with the World Cup looming, I think this a case of the U.S. trying to field the most talented squad. I would have to imagine that there have been some closed door meetings with Solo and the Coaching Staff to address her behavioral issues, and I'm sure the decision to reinstate her wasn't one that was taken lightly. My guess is that she's fairly committed to trying to win the World Cup, something she hasn't done in her career, and that she'll be on her best behavior through the summer. There's a lot of veteran leadership on this U.S. team, and I think that, provided no new scandals arise, they can handle the distractions that Solo's already created and move past them.
SM: Agreed. So long as she stays on her best behavior we should be fine. The squad is very deep with veteran leadership and I would also bet a week's pay on there being a long conversation between her, US Soccer and the coaching staff. With the Algarve Cup around the corner and the Women's World Cup this summer, here's to hoping she keeps her nose clean so she can also continue keeping clean sheets.
2. SS: If Chris Wondolowski's career were to end today, how would you remember him?
SM: I would like to say that I would remember his goals in the Gold Cup in 2013 or the various friendlies he's featured in. I would like to say that I'd remember his very impressive scoring record in MLS while playing for what some consider to be a sub-par team. I would like to say that I would remember the fire and passion he played the game with. Unfortunately the biggest thing I'm going to remember him for is the miss inside the 6 at the World Cup last summer. The guy was brought to Brazil because of his obvious talent as a goal poacher; someone who always seems to be in the right place at the right time. However when it came time to showcase said talent and carry his country into the next round, he missed a sitter. I still have a ton of respect for the guy, but anytime someone says 'Wondo' to me, that's the first thing that will come to mind.
SS: It's a shame that he missed that shot, and for the majority of U.S. fans, that's what he'll be remembered for. If he had somehow scored there, or atoned for the miss somewhere else in the match, he has one of the best stories in U.S. soccer history. Wondo was the 41st player drafted in 2005 after a successful career at Chico State. He wasn't picked until the fourth round going after players like Steven Rhyne, Sasha Gotsmanov, Benjamin Benditson, Mike Lookingland, Aaron Pitchkolan and Eugene Sepuya. Still, he made the squad starting his career with the original San Jose Earthquakes and moved with them to Houston. He played on two MLS Cup winning sides in 2006 and 2007, but saw just limited minutes. In his first 5 MLS seasons, he appeared in just 53 regular season matches scoring only 7 goals. And then things changed. Given a chance to play every day for the new San Jose Earthquakes in 2010, Wondo came out of nowhere lead the league in scoring. He followed that up two years later with a record tying 27 goals and a career high 7 assists. He played the majority of the 2013 season with a broken foot because that's just who he is, and barring a huge setback, he'll eclipse the 100 goal mark in 2015. There is not a player in the league who does more with less, and to me he's the epitome of American Soccer. He's the hardest working guy on the field, the consummate underdog, and yet he's found success everywhere he's played. You can argue that National Team success has eluded him, but he has 9 goals in 27 matches for the red, white and blue and if you want to nitpick, he has more national team goals for than Claudio Reyna (8 goals in 111 CAPs), Tab Ramos (8 goals in 81 CAPs), John Harkes (6 goals in 90 CAPs), Taylor Twellman (6 goals in 30 CAPs), Herculez Gomez (6 goals in 24 CAPs), Roy Lassiter (4 goals in 30 CAPs), Jermaine Jones (3 goals in 50 CAPs), or Benny Feilhaber (2 goals in 41 CAPs), and more than Freddy Adu, Juan Agudelo and Charlie Davies combined (8 total goals in 52 CAPs). There is only one player in U.S. Men's soccer history (Willy Roy) to score more goals in fewer appearances than Wondo and he retired from the international scene in 1973. My heart literally breaks for him every time I think of the Belgium game, but he's owned that miss, and to me, he's a guy you want to root for.
3. SM: Klinsmann is targeting yet another German-American in Ashton Gotz. The 21-year-old only recently broke into his mid-table side, Hamburger SV's, first team. Do you see him as a viable option at right back, or is Klinsmann showing a bit more of his European bias?
SS: Honestly I haven't seen much of Gotz so it's hard for me to really say if he's National Team material or not. I don't want to get too excited about his potential until he gets his citizenship paperwork sorted out. My understanding is there's some issues with that based on his relationship with his father or something. So yeah, until he's actually eligible, I have a hard time adding him into the conversation about who our right back should be. As for Klinsmann's bias, let's face it, if you play in the Bundesliga, and you're eligible to play for the U.S., Klinsmann's history suggests he's going to call you.
SM: I think we may have shared a brain on this one. It seems to me that if you're a young-ish guy who's playing any position in the Bundesliga (and almost any level of that particular league) and has even the loosest ties to an American family, you're probably going to get a call from Jurgen. I haven't seen this guy play either but he only recently broke into the first-team at a side that is currently involved in a relegation battle. I realize that doesn't always speak to the talent level of a player but this one seems a bit of a reach for me. Time will ultimately tell of course, but it seems to me that there are more viable options out there.
4. SS: The 25-woman roster for the upcoming Algarve Cup is out. What do you think of it? Any surprises?
SM: None that I can see. I like this squad. Carli Lloyd is a creative force in the middle, Tobin Heath is a threat on the wing, Ali Krieger and Becky Sauerbrunn along with Rampone and Klingenberg are as good as any defenders in women's soccer and Hope Solo, despite her off-field issues, is still the best woman between the sticks on the planet. Did I mention our forwards? Do I need to? Abby Wambach scores for fun at this tourney and with Alex Morgan, Christen Press, and Sydney Leroux all making the trip this is a squad I can get behind.
SS: The one thing that strikes me as being strange is that we're traveling with 10 defenders and just 7 midfielders. Normally, I'd think we'd have that the other way around. The only explanation I can think of is that we haven't settled on which defenders we're going to move forward with and this tourney is going to pair the ten down to a final seven or eight for the World Cup. The only real omission I noted was that backup keeper Nicole Barnhart isn't traveling with the team and we're instead sending Ashlyn Harris and Alyssa Naeher to back-up Hope Solo.
Wild Card
1. SM: Ronaldinho Gaucho has played on almost every stage imaginable. His current team in Mexico, Queretaro, is currently in 14th place in Liga MX. The 34-year-old has expressed interest in playing in MLS recently, would you like to see him here and if so, what team could use him the most?
SS: I'm kind of indifferent on Ronaldinho coming here. I don't think he should be aggressively targeted by teams, but at the same time, I don't think we should be turning him away either if he comes knocking on doors. He's getting up there in years, but he's obviously still good enough to play in Liga MX, which is arguably still a better league than MLS so that speaks to his abilities. I could see him being a fit with the Red Bulls to fill some of the void left by Tim Cahill and Thierry Henry or perhaps Orlando City alongside fellow Brazilian Kaka. Bottom line though, for the right price, there's probably not a ton of teams that would say no to his services.
SM: Personally I would love to see him in MLS. Ronaldinho brings something to the table that seems to be missing in a lot of leagues around the world nowadays: Flair. He's got more tricks up his sleeves than a ton of guys half his age and he's not afraid to use them. He tries things in games that most pros won't and more often than not he pulls them off. And I think that would be great for the MLS. A legendary guy who plays with a smile on his face and is a certified show-off? Sign him, MLS.
2. SS: Who is going to win the 2015 CONCACAF Champion's League?
SM: At this point I'd say Club America. They simply are too deep and seem to have the ability to turn it up a notch when it counts. I would love to say that DC United can turn it around or Montreal can make it happen but I just can't see either one pulling it off.
SS: After watching Leg 1, I think America is definitely looking like the favorite. They had no trouble dispatching a pretty good Saprissa team. That said, I wouldn't sleep on the other remaining Costa Rican sides as Herediano and Alajuelense are both proving to be tough outs.
That's all for this week, folks. Follow us on twitter at @cjleonard03 and @SoccerSmith15.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Superman and the SoccerSmith Q&A, Episode 6
Welcome to Episode 6 of Superman and the SoccerSmith's 4-4-2 Soccer Q&A. Better late than never! Here we go!
MLS
1) Superman (SM): In your opinion, are the Galaxy the favorites to win the west, and ultimately the cup, or can someone else de-throne Bruce Arena's squad?
SoccerSmith (SS): First, let’s note that LA didn’t win the West last year, Seattle did. And Seattle did so despite missing Clint Dempsey and DeAndre Yedlin for the World Cup while LA was with Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan and Gyasi Zardes all year. Seattle’s since lost Yedlin, and LA essentially traded Donovan for Steven Gerrard, but I think Seattle has to enter the season as the regular season favorite. If we’re talking MLS Cup, I think LA gets the edge because Seattle has yet to translate regular season accolades into postseason success while LA obviously has. That said, there are a lot of teams that will be a threat this year so I’d venture that it’s going to be pretty wide open.
SM: While I agree with you on the West being wide open this season, I seriously think it's the Galaxy's to lose. Steven Gerrard, even at his "advanced age," is still a world-class player with a real European pedigree and this really looks to be Zardes' breakout season. Seattle played tremendously and didn't have Dempsey and Yedlin for a period last summer, but now they don't have Yedlin at all and I'm not certain they've adequately replaced him. I think it'll be a tight race, but ultimately so long as they stay consistent, LA has the best chance at winning both the West and the Cup in my opinion.
MLS
1) Superman (SM): In your opinion, are the Galaxy the favorites to win the west, and ultimately the cup, or can someone else de-throne Bruce Arena's squad?
SoccerSmith (SS): First, let’s note that LA didn’t win the West last year, Seattle did. And Seattle did so despite missing Clint Dempsey and DeAndre Yedlin for the World Cup while LA was with Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan and Gyasi Zardes all year. Seattle’s since lost Yedlin, and LA essentially traded Donovan for Steven Gerrard, but I think Seattle has to enter the season as the regular season favorite. If we’re talking MLS Cup, I think LA gets the edge because Seattle has yet to translate regular season accolades into postseason success while LA obviously has. That said, there are a lot of teams that will be a threat this year so I’d venture that it’s going to be pretty wide open.
SM: While I agree with you on the West being wide open this season, I seriously think it's the Galaxy's to lose. Steven Gerrard, even at his "advanced age," is still a world-class player with a real European pedigree and this really looks to be Zardes' breakout season. Seattle played tremendously and didn't have Dempsey and Yedlin for a period last summer, but now they don't have Yedlin at all and I'm not certain they've adequately replaced him. I think it'll be a tight race, but ultimately so long as they stay consistent, LA has the best chance at winning both the West and the Cup in my opinion.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
U.S. Women Get First Win of Year Versus England, 1-0
Alex Morgan's 50th career goal was all the U.S. needed as they held off #6 England 1-0 in a friendly in Milton Keynes on Friday. The 25 year old Morgan becomes the 10th U.S. women's player to reach 50 goals, but still has a ways to go before she catches Mia Hamm (158) or teammate Abby Wambach (177).
Next up for the U.S. Women is the Algarve Cup in March. The U.S. opens the tournament against Norway on the 4th.
Next up for the U.S. Women is the Algarve Cup in March. The U.S. opens the tournament against Norway on the 4th.
Superman and the SoccerSmith Q&A, Episode 5
Welcome to Episode 5 of Superman and the SoccerSmith's 4-4-2 Soccer Q&A. Better late than never! Here we go!
MLS
1. SoccerSmith (SS) - Tim Cahill's marriage with the New York Red Bulls has drawn to a mutual conclusion with the Aussie Captain headed to China after signing a contract with Shanghai Shenhua. Looking back on his three seasons in the Big Apple, would you call his time in MLS a hit or a miss?
Superman (SM) - Is mixed bag an option? 14 goals in 62 appearances isn't exactly lighting it up for a forward, especially one who was getting designated player money. Having said that, he's never been anything but complimentary to the club, the fans, and the league and is regarded as have helped to grow the sport and the league in this country, so there's that. At the end of the day, however, I think it comes down to production and he didn't produce near enough for the level of play expected from him.
MLS
1. SoccerSmith (SS) - Tim Cahill's marriage with the New York Red Bulls has drawn to a mutual conclusion with the Aussie Captain headed to China after signing a contract with Shanghai Shenhua. Looking back on his three seasons in the Big Apple, would you call his time in MLS a hit or a miss?
Superman (SM) - Is mixed bag an option? 14 goals in 62 appearances isn't exactly lighting it up for a forward, especially one who was getting designated player money. Having said that, he's never been anything but complimentary to the club, the fans, and the league and is regarded as have helped to grow the sport and the league in this country, so there's that. At the end of the day, however, I think it comes down to production and he didn't produce near enough for the level of play expected from him.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Superman and the SoccerSmith Q&A, Episode 4
Welcome to Episode 4 of Superman and the SoccerSmith's 4-4-2 Soccer Q&A. Let's get right to it this week!
MLS
1. SoccerSmith (SS) - Who will have a bigger impact in MLS this season: Edson Buddle or Dwayne DeRosario?
Superman (SM) - Well this is a tricky one considering that technically neither one of them has a team right now. That being said, Edson Buddle is currently in camp with LA and is also 33 years old while DeRo is not in anyone's camp and is 36, which is old, even by MLS standards. Buddle scored 42 goals in 87 appearances with the LA Galaxy in his time there from 07-10. While I don't see him regaining that type of form again, I do think there could be a place for him to play the wily old vet alongside a young and talented forward who could benefit from his experience.
SS - I don't know how much Zardes stands to benefit from Buddle's experience considering he already plays alongside Robbie Keane, but I think you're right (at this point) that Buddle will have the bigger impact this season. That said, I'll be shocked if DeRo doesn't end up somewhere by the start of the season. He just scored a pair of goals for Canada, and while one was a PK, the other wasn't, so he can obviously still play. If I'm Montreal or Vancouver and I'm headed to the Champions League, I'd give the Canadian international a shot just to add depth and experience and a championship pedigree to my roster. But we'll see. Silence on the line for DeRo right now. As far as Buddle goes, if he can stick with the Galaxy, he'll give them more depth up top which is ideal for another club with Champions League aspirations. You also have to figure that both Keane and Zardes stand to miss time for International Duty, and Buddle is a proven commodity that could probably provide the occasional start alongside Alan Gordon. You can't have too many options, and if Buddle is willing to accept a reduced role, I think he could be a nice find for LA.
MLS
1. SoccerSmith (SS) - Who will have a bigger impact in MLS this season: Edson Buddle or Dwayne DeRosario?
Superman (SM) - Well this is a tricky one considering that technically neither one of them has a team right now. That being said, Edson Buddle is currently in camp with LA and is also 33 years old while DeRo is not in anyone's camp and is 36, which is old, even by MLS standards. Buddle scored 42 goals in 87 appearances with the LA Galaxy in his time there from 07-10. While I don't see him regaining that type of form again, I do think there could be a place for him to play the wily old vet alongside a young and talented forward who could benefit from his experience.
SS - I don't know how much Zardes stands to benefit from Buddle's experience considering he already plays alongside Robbie Keane, but I think you're right (at this point) that Buddle will have the bigger impact this season. That said, I'll be shocked if DeRo doesn't end up somewhere by the start of the season. He just scored a pair of goals for Canada, and while one was a PK, the other wasn't, so he can obviously still play. If I'm Montreal or Vancouver and I'm headed to the Champions League, I'd give the Canadian international a shot just to add depth and experience and a championship pedigree to my roster. But we'll see. Silence on the line for DeRo right now. As far as Buddle goes, if he can stick with the Galaxy, he'll give them more depth up top which is ideal for another club with Champions League aspirations. You also have to figure that both Keane and Zardes stand to miss time for International Duty, and Buddle is a proven commodity that could probably provide the occasional start alongside Alan Gordon. You can't have too many options, and if Buddle is willing to accept a reduced role, I think he could be a nice find for LA.
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
Superman and the SoccerSmith Q&A, Episode 3
Welcome to Episode 3 of Superman and the SoccerSmith's 4-4-2 Soccer Q&A. Let's get right to it this week!
MLS
1. SoccerSmith (SS) - Seattle Sounders 2nd round draft pick Tyler Miller opted to sign with SVN Zweibrücken of the German 4th Division instead of signing an MLS contract. Miller was quoted as saying “I have always followed European soccer, I knew that’s where many of the top players were, and thought if I could get over there, who knows what could be possible… I want to play in the best league in the world, currently that is in Europe.” What do you think of his decision?
MLS
1. SoccerSmith (SS) - Seattle Sounders 2nd round draft pick Tyler Miller opted to sign with SVN Zweibrücken of the German 4th Division instead of signing an MLS contract. Miller was quoted as saying “I have always followed European soccer, I knew that’s where many of the top players were, and thought if I could get over there, who knows what could be possible… I want to play in the best league in the world, currently that is in Europe.” What do you think of his decision?
Monday, October 27, 2014
Wambach Nets Four in U.S. Rout
The Legend of Abby Wambach continued this weekend as she scored four more goals and added an assist in the CONCACAF Women's Championship capping off a perfect tournament for the U.S. Women. Carli Lloyd added a goal and a pair of assists as the U.S. steamrolled overmatched Costa Rica 6-0.
For the tournament, the U.S. outscored their opponents 21-0 in five matches getting 7 goals from Wambach and 5 more from Lloyd who was named the tournament's best player. Seven other Americans scored at least one goal. Here are the match highlights:
Mexico defeated Trinidad and Tobago 4-2 in extra time behind a pair of late goals from Charlyn Corral to take third place in the tournament and clinch the region's final World Cup berth.
For the tournament, the U.S. outscored their opponents 21-0 in five matches getting 7 goals from Wambach and 5 more from Lloyd who was named the tournament's best player. Seven other Americans scored at least one goal. Here are the match highlights:
Mexico defeated Trinidad and Tobago 4-2 in extra time behind a pair of late goals from Charlyn Corral to take third place in the tournament and clinch the region's final World Cup berth.
Friday, October 24, 2014
U.S. Women World Cup Bound
With a 3-0 win over rival Mexico, the U.S. Women have punched their ticket to the 2015 World Cup in Canada. Carli Lloyd led the offense with a pair of goals in the first half while Christen Press added an insurance goal in the second. The U.S. will now take on Costa Rica who edged Trinidad and Tobago in the other semifinal in penalties. The tournament final will be held on Sunday at PPL Park, the home of the Philadelphia Union.
Here's highlights of the goals:
Here's highlights of the goals:
Thursday, October 23, 2014
She Kicks Like a Girl
And boom goes the dynamite! I know we posted this with the highlights yesterday, but this one deserves a second look. Hats off to Meghan Klingenberg. Not a bad way to score your first international goal.
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
U.S Women Clinch Group - Advance to Semifinals
Abby Wambach scored 2 more goals, while Carli Lloyd, Meghan Klingenberg, Christen Press and Morgan Brian all scored 1 as the U.S. routed Haiti 6-0 to finish a perfect 3-0 atop Group A in the first round of the 2014 CONCACAF Women's Championship. The U.S. now advances to the semifinals where they'll face Mexico on Friday. Costa Rica, the winner of Group B, will take on Trinidad & Tobago in the other semifinal match. Klingenberg's goal was the first of her international career. Lloyd and Press each added assists. Here are the highlights:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)