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Commentary England

Newcastle Bubble To Soon Burst

November 8, 2011 — by Rob Kirby

: With the Manchester teams and Chelsea the next three fixtures, Demba Ba won’t be celebrating another hat trick anytime soon.

Not long ago, Newcastle United found itself relegated to the Championship and Mike Ashley couldn’t pay someone to take the team off his hands. (Ok, that’s going a bit far.) Yet now the Magpies find themselves in third, one off the pace from Manchester United. For a few hours on Saturday, they even occupied second place. The team remains unbeaten in the league. In what reality does this make sense?

Three fixtures immediately after the international break will determine whether Toon are in the top four to stay or have been living in a boom-style bubble. If I had to bet–and I think I may check a betting site to see if I can put some money on this–the latter will prove true and they won’t get a point of the next 9. The bubble won’t simply pop, it will explode.

Newcastle are about to get their asses handed to them in swift fashion. Thus far, they’ve played three teams in the top half of the table, draws with Spurs, Aston Villa and a depleted Arsenal side even before it went down to 10 men. Their next three matches are the Manchester teams away, followed by Chelsea at St. James Park, and they no longer have Joey Barton to kickstart a red card bonanza. When facing Chelsea is your best chance of getting a point–as in singular, one–you know you’re in trouble.

Newcastle is enjoying an 11-match unbeaten run in the league, equaling its best-ever unbeaten run. Manchester City will see to it that the run ends, however. And City will very possibly execute this dreamcrusher by a mega-goalfest margin, as is their wont.

If Newcastle can make it through the Manchester City-Manchester United-Chelsea gauntlet even relatively unscathed, they will have done much to earn their position. (And I will have lost that money, wiping egg off my face as I await the hit squad sent out by the Toon Army.)

Newcastle did well to strengthen the team with Demba Ba and Yohan Cabaye, especially given the departures of former captain Kevin Nolan, José Enrique and Barton. Ba scored a hat trick against Stoke, taking his league tally to 8. Unfortunately for the Tyneside faithful, Cabaye and Sylvain Marveaux picked up injuries in Saturday’s match against Everton, and now must keep Cheik Tiote company on the sidelines.

Central defender Steven Taylor and rest of the back four have only conceded 8 goals in league play. However, in the Carling Cup, fielding mostly first teamers, they conceded 8 in three matches against lowly Scunthorpe, Nottingham Forest and Blackburn. They may very likely concede 8 to City and Manchester United alone.

Newcastle sit three points above Chelsea and Tottenham and six over Liverpool and Arsenal. Taking none from 9 could see them in an entirely new spot in the table. Liverpool will be waiting for their turn to inflict some pain, as well. When it gets to the halfway mark and Newcastle has faced everyone in the top half of the table, we’ll have a better idea of bubbles and burstings.

Commentary United States

Ready, Set, Rev Up and Get Intergalactic Dyno-mite

November 7, 2011 — by Rob Kirby

: In a huge disappointment to fans of dreadlocks everywhere, no white men with dreads are likely to hoist the MLS Cup this year.

Los Angeles will host the Houston Dynamo for the 2011 MLS Cup on November 20, as both teams won their conference finals by a two goal margin last night. Unfortunately for Houston, the Galaxy remains undefeated at home in 2011.

The Galaxy struck first in its 3-1 victory over Real Salt Lake in the 22nd minute of the Western Conference Final. Galaxy defender Omar Gonzalez got fouled in the box and Landon Donovan converted the penalty with aplomb, putting to bed the memory of the loss to Real Salt Lake in the 2009 MLS Cup in a penalty shootout. The goal brought his career playoffs goal tally to 19. He had the all-time record before the playoffs began and now just keeps extending it.

In swift answer, RSL equalized two minutes later, when Jamison Olave headed the ball to Alvaro Saborio, who himself headed it in.

David Beckham helped put Los Angeles ahead after halftime, connecting with Mike Magee for the third time in three playoff matches. Once again, Beckham delivered the ball right into the goalmouth with his corner kick and Magee headed it in. The goal was the third goal of the playoffs for Magee, who scored five during regular season. No one in Los Angeles is complaining that he waited until the playoffs to hit his stride.

Hitting the post proved a popular pastime. Kyle Beckerman nailed the post in first half stoppage time, Robbie Keane did so a couple times, and Fabian Espindola hopped on the bandwagon just a minute after Magee’s goal, nearly replicating the first quick-response equalizer that would have made it 2-2.

However, Los Angeles killed off the game in the 68th minute when Donovan found Keane on the left side. Keane cut past Olave and buried the ball in the back of the net to make it 3-1. As Los Angeles prepares for the possible departure of Beckham, perhaps the fans are witnessing the emergence of Keane, who had an outstanding match.

In the Eastern Conference Final, the Houston Dynamo defeated Kansas City 2-0 in Kansas City to book its third MLS Cup appearance in six years. They won the first two in 2006 and 2007. To semi-coin a phrase, the team will seek to make it third time still lucky.

Dynamo talisman Brad Davis (“the left-footed Beckham”) exited the scoreless first half with a quad injury, but Andre Hainault and Carlo Costly compensated for his absence. Hainault capitalized on a Kansas City botch job of defending a long free kick in the 53rd minute. Houston then put men behind the ball in numbers, defended tenaciously and waited to hit Kansas City on the counterattack. And right before game’s end, Luis Carmargo served up a great pass to Costly, who had only the keeper to beat.

The sole American MLS Cup contender in the U.S. national team, Donovan will travel home after the game against France, skipping the Slovenia friendly, to allow time to rest and prepare for the cup final. Keane also heads off on international duty, to captain his Ireland side against Estonia in Ireland’s bid to qualify for the European Championship for the first time since 1988. Despite recent fitness questions, he plans to play both legs.

Houston’s Hainault rejected the October call-up to play with Canada against Puerto Rico in order to focus on the playoffs. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he received no invitation this time around.

Houston beat Los Angeles handily a month back, but that was on Houston’s home soil. An undefeated L.A. home record tells a story of its own. But records, like rules, were meant to be broken.

Commentary United States

Fringe American Exports Make Mexican Playoffs

November 6, 2011 — by Rob Kirby

: DaMarcus Beasley and the other high-profile American exports miss out on the Mexican league playoffs.

With the number of American soccer players plying their trade south of the border, it’s surprising only three will see time in the Primera Division playoffs. (Americans in the Mexican league will receive deeper analysis and description at a later date, once the off-season transfer dust settles.) Perhaps it sounds harsh, but the extant Americans hardly merit writing home about, though. No Herculez Gomez, no Michael Orozco Fiscal, no Marcus DaBeasley.

Herculez Gomez, on fire of late, suffered a huge loss with Estudiantes Tecos 3-0 to Querétaro away, the team’s third loss in a row. Before the losing streak, Gomez had scored 5 in eight matches. His brace in the first 16 minutes against Santos Laguna in late October may have put him in contention for a recall to the U.S. team, but it couldn’t change the fortunes of his club team. No playoffs.

Iffy U.S. international Orozco Fiscal of San Luis Potosi participated in the trouncing of Toluca 5-1 on Saturday, but too little, too late. No playoffs.

U.S. international DaBeasley, a player rejuvenated by the move to Puebla, out. (See below.) No playoffs.

For those who made the grade, Miguel Ángel Ponce, of Sacramento, CA, connected with the goalscorer with a low cross to notch the first goal in Guadalajara’s 2-2 tie with Pachuca, securing first place. Guadalajara play Querétaro in the quarterfinals.

Tuzos also made the playoffs, and José Francisco Torres will too, assuming he recovers from a broken foot. He’s got some time to heal, but not much. The quarterfinals begin November 16. Truth be told, it’s probably too soon.

Jonathan Bornstein and the Tigres UANL beat Beasley’s Puebla 1-0 on Sunday. Beasley saw yellow. No good. No good at all. Bornstein didn’t even play. In fact, he did not play once during the regular season.

So, realistically, one American has a chance at seeing playing time in the playoffs. Miguel Ángel Ponce, quarterfinal it up for the country, brother. Both countries, rather, as the Mexican-American has chosen the Mexico national team over the U.S. squad.

In any case, commiserations on the regrettable last name, Ponce.

Commentary Schedule Tactics

What to Watch This Weekend: Athletic Bilbao-Barcelona, Guardiola Visits Bielsa

November 6, 2011 — by Suman

We’ve been remiss in posting our weekend TV guides the past couple weeks. This weekend we offer a belated and truncated version, consisting of a single match that’s kicking off in just a few hours: La Liga’s late match on Sunday, Athletic Bilbao hosting FC Barcelona, kicking off at 8pm in “la Catedral de futbol” Estadio San Mamés (which corresponds to 2pmET; televised in the US on ESPN Deportes, and also available via ESPN3.com).

Why only this match? Well, there weren’t any other matchups in England or across the continent this weekend that stood out as must-see TV. But this one is interesting on multiple levels.

There is the fact, of course, that it’s Barcelona, who we maintain you should watch whenever you get a chance. As we’ve heard ad nauseum, they are the greatest side of our era, featuring the best player of our time. Actually, featuring a number of the best players of our time—eight Barca players were among the 23 on the shortlist for this year’s Balon d’Or . In addition to the 3 finalists for last year’s award–Xavi, Iniesta, and award-winner Messi–also on the shortlist are Cesc Fabregas, David Villa, Dani Alves, Gerard Pique and Eric Abidal. (To be fair, Real Madrid wasn’t far behind with 5 nominees–Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas, Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso, and Mesut Ozil.)

But it’s not only Barcelona. It’s also Athletic Bilbao–the Basque team which aspires to be one of the “alternatives” to the Barcelona/Madrid axis of hegemony in La Liga, which is newly managed by a crazy genius Argentine whom Pep Guardiola considers one of his managerial inspirations–to whose house in Argentina Guardiola made a pilgrimage when he was considering a career as a manager.

His name is Marcelo Bielsa, his arrival in Bilbao was highly anticipated, and his tenure there started terribly: two draws and three losses in their first five league matches. But they started to turn it around at the beginning of October, which prompted both of the Guardian’s cerebral football columnists Sid Lowe and Jonathan Wilson to devote columns to Bilbao under Bielsa.

Here is Sid Lowe’s column from Oct 3:

Marcelo Bielsa is a little less loco this morning. His Athletic Bilbao team won a game on Sunday and not just any game but the Basque derby:Real Sociedad versus Athletic Bilbao under the midday sun on the Bay of Biscay, Euskadi’s biggest match and one of Spain’s, too.

For the Argentine manager’s nickname is “loco Bielsa”–an eccentric genius who before this season had not managed in Europe, aside from an aborted stint at Espanayol back in 1998. But in the intervening 12 years he made his mark managing first his country’s national team (1998-2004) and then rival Chile’s (2004-2011); he resurrected the latter, taking them to 2nd in South American qualifying for South Africa, and Zonal Marking called “Bielsa’s Chile the most tactically-exciting side” going into that World Cup.

But Lowe describes how although Bielsa’s arrival was highly anticipated in Bilbao, Athletic has a formidable tradition and identity that he’s had to adapt to:

Spaniards are fond of telling you – if you are English anyway – that Athletic is the most English of clubs.

Visit San Mamés and it is hard to disagree. Athletic is the home of the giant defender and the battering-ram striker, of rain and mud, and roaring fans, of long balls and powerful headers. It is summed up in arguably the most famous remark ever uttered in Spanish football history, when José María Belausteguigoitia shouted: “Give me the ball, Sabino, I’ll flatten them” and promptly flattened them.

That was at the [1920] Antwerp Olympics and came to define the “Red Fury”, the Spanish style that was Basque. Bielsa was trying to change the approach; he was also trying to change one hundred years of history, and at the proud club that probably feels its history more keenly than any other.

Jonathan Wilson’s Guardian Sport Blog post addresses “The Question: Is Marcelo Bielsa’s model right for Athletic Bilbao?” and in typical Wilsonian fashion focuses on Bielsa’s tactics. Though he also alludes to Athletic Bilbao’s identity as the most English of Spanish clubs:

Athletic is a club with a clearly defined style of its own. The bowler-hatted figure of Fred Pentland, the Englishman who coached them through the glory years of the 20s and early 30s, still looms over the club, as an exhibition in the museum at San Mames makes clear. He first instituted a direct approach, favouring a robust, “English-style” centre-forward, a tradition that endures in the shape of Fernando Llorente, a remarkable combination of finesse and muscularity.

But he describes Bielsa’s model as potentially complementary to this direct approach–a style of “vertical football” defined as “getting the ball forward quickly without necessarily resorting to aimless long balls”–but combined with hard pressing high up the pitch (more on this tactical philosophy much further down below, and also in a Zonal Marking post from August titled “Bielsa set to thrive in Bilbao“).

Commentary United States

Showdown in the MLS West

November 6, 2011 — by Rob Kirby

The MLS Cup final approaches ever closer, but first there’s the small matter of divisional showdowns. Real Salt Lake and Los Angeles duke it out tonight in Los Angeles (9:00 EST, ESPN), after Sporting Kansas City and the Houston Dynamo kick things off in Kansas City (5:30 EST, Fox Soccer Channel). Then, after the two U.S. international friendlies against France and Slovenia (November 11 and 15), East and West face off on November 20.

Anything can happen in the playoffs, but smart money tips the victor of the MLS Western Conference final to hoist the cup. The Los Angeles Galaxy and Real Salt Lake finished the regular season first and third, respectively. Kansas City and Houston finished in the East’s top two spots, but only fifth and sixth overall. A massive 16 points separated first and fifth. The gulf in quality between divisions is huge. Simply put, the fixture between Los Angeles and Salt Lake will almost undoubtedly decide the outcome of the playoffs. In fairness, however, Kansas City and Houston both managed to take points off both Los Angeles and Real Salt Lake during the regular season, so there’s always a chance.

The Los Angeles Galaxy booked their spot in the conference final by knocking out the New York Red Bulls 2-1 in the home fixture, both goals coming off dead balls, both involving David Beckham—a corner and a penalty kick. (The former England international also provided the assist in L.A.’s 1-0 first leg victory in New Jersey.) Red Bulls’ Luke Rodgers had drawn first blood, doing well on an excellent through ball from Thierry Henry in the 4th minute that tied everything up on aggregate, but ultimately it didn’t matter. The Red Bulls couldn’t find another and they couldn’t defend what they had. The Galaxy’s Mike Magee scored a second goal in as many games, and Donovan converted the penalty to further his record as all-time highest scorer in the playoffs (18 total). Beckham delivered a classic corner kick for the first and earned the penalty that set up the second. Red Bulls, cup contention, no more. Blame the Brit (or perhaps the defensive frailties). In the final year of his five year contract, Beckham’s going full tilt for the cup, having never yet won the silverware (L.A. Galaxy lost the 2009 MLS Cup final on penalties–to Real Salt Lake, no less). He’s playing excellent soccer despite a back injury. The fans who once heckled him after the loan stints at AC Milan now write banners pleading with him to stay.

Real Salt Lake can thank their goal scoring ability in the first leg (3-0) for securing passage to the conference finals. Seattle led the league in goals during the regular season, but three goals was always a big ask, even at home. They nearly pulled it off, though, winning the second leg 2-0. Kasey Keller pulled off save after save and went out fighting, but the men in lime green sherbet ultimately faltered. The defeat puts an end to Keller’s 20 year career between the sticks, domestically and in Europe. Seattle vs. Los Angeles would have been a tasty fixture, but the goal deficit was too much to overcome, even with Salt Lake missing both first choice centerbacks. Both Jamison Olave and Nat Borchers exited with quad injuries in the first leg at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Los Angeles conceded the fewest goals in the league, 28, but they lost at Salt Lake 4-1 in March, so nothing is a foregone conclusion on that front. Of note, the Galaxy remains undefeated at the Home Depot Center, with 9 straight home victories, 10 clean sheets and a scoring differential of 30-9 in 2011, so Real Salt Lake will most likely need to stage an encore performance, except at Los Angeles, this time. Fortunately, forwards Alvaro Saborio and Fabian Espindola have shown they have what it takes to do so. And with Kyle Beckerman marshalling the midfield, with Argentinian Javier Morales moving runs on the wing, they can certainly make things happen.

Eastern Conference supporters may feel the focus on the West gives them short shrift, but realistically, the MLS Cup final begins tonight, and not in Kansas City. Upsets happen, but Los Angeles has the best defense in the league, coupled with Beckham, Magee, Donovan, Chad Barrett and Robbie Keane leading the attack, anchored by Juninho in midfield. They look unstoppable. Of the three teams in contention to stop them, Salt Lake has the best shot. And so it begins this evening.

Commentary Video

202 Messi Goals–Video

November 4, 2011 — by Rob Kirby

Leo scores 202 goals for Barcelona. Incedible.

Pelé, in a recent interview, called Lionel Messi the best of the current generation, but saved the ultimate all-time-best plaudits for himself, referring to himself in the third person throughout (naturally). The royal we, we were amused.

Messi has been incredible for Barcelona. Less so, perhaps, for his home country but give the guy a break. Perhaps that makes Messi and Pelé inversions of one another, in a way. Pelé, meet Bizarro Pelé, or perhaps the other way around.

Regardless, check out these 202 Messi goals, no filler. Credit, I believe, goes to Jack McRobert, as his name fills the upper right hand corner annoyingly and conspicuously throughout. (Subtle.)

Question: The musical accompaniment, does it drive you crazy or not? Discuss.

I recently checked myself into a piano trauma hospital. I’m not saying there’s a direct causal connection. Except I am.

Commentary News

Brek Shea To Train With Arsenal

November 4, 2011 — by Rob Kirby

Arsenal disregards all conventional wisdom and messes with Texas. For a month, at least.

Brek Shea’s season may have ended when the New York Red Bulls knocked FC Dallas out of playoff contention last week, but the 6’3” winger will spend a month training with Arsenal after the upcoming international friendlies in France and Slovenia (November 11 and 15). The Texas native has been linked with a move to Europe and has publically stated he would like to ply his trade in Europe one day. If he impresses, perhaps Arsenal will make an offer Dallas cannot refuse.

According to Dallas FC, “The decision to send Shea to train with the Gunners was made after USA head coach Jurgen Klinsmann encouraged his MLS-based players to spend the off-season training overseas to enter January camp in top shape.”

Shea, 21, scored 11 goals in 31 league appearances in 2011.

Without a doubt, Dallas does not want to lose Shea. He still has three years on his contract. But the MLS season doesn’t start up again until March. Perhaps a loan deal could be in the cards.

Update, 11/10:

Wenger mooted the idea that Shea may play a game with the Arsenal reserves, if possible.

Wenger told ArsenalTV: “(He’ll) practice with the top team when it’s possible, practice with the best prospects of the club as well outside the normal sessions and have a contact with top level football in the world and there’s no better place than the Premier League to do it.”

Commentary United States

The Bullfight Resumes at the L.A. Slaughterhouse

November 2, 2011 — by Rob Kirby

The Red Bulls misinterpret the phrase, "Show some fight, boys." Felled by an air punch after the final whistle, Rafael Márquez pulled off an Academy Award-worthy performance, while Stephen Keel (hand on face) boringly falls from an actual punch.

The L.A. Galaxy takes to the pitch Thursday night at home (11 p.m. ET, ESPN2) with a one-goal lead in the second leg of the MLS Western Conference semi-finals, having beaten the New York Red Bulls 1-0 in New Jersey on Sunday.

One might ask why an Eastern seaboard team finds itself in the Western conference side of the playoffs. The reason’s too long and too boring to go into. (In briefest explanation, New York won a 2-0 Wild Card round victory against FC Dallas the previous Wednesday.)

Mike Magee scored the lone goal against his former club, meaning the Red Bulls must win by a scoreline of 2-0, 3-1, etc. in order to progress outright. (Scoring, as with the Champions League, is done on aggregate.) Alternately, they must win by one in regular time, which would force 30 minutes of overtime. If still level on aggregate at 120 minutes, the team that shoots penalties best wins.

With a one-goal lead, Los Angeles can play for a tie at home and advance. Unfortunately for New York, no team has defeated the Galaxy at home this season, due largely to defensive stalwarts Omar Gonzalez and A.J. DeLaGarza. The Galaxy has won 8 straight at home, kept 10 clean sheets and outscored its opponents 28-8 in 2011. Unbeaten in 18 straight regular-season home games overall, Los Angeles enjoys the fourth-longest home record streak in the history of the MLS.

The Red Bulls trailed the Galaxy by 21 points and nine places in the standings at end of regular season. Were Kansas City to be adjudged “Western,” the Eastern Conference leader would have slotted in at fifth in the Western conference. It calls into question the legitimacy of having separate conferences, with one so far superior to the other. For now, however, it’s the system in place.

In the first leg, English superstar David Beckham, 36, in the fifth and final year of his MLS contract, served up a perfectly looped assist with pinpoint delivery for Magee to nab the match winner. Beckham finished second in the league with 15 assists and finds himself in realistic contention for league MVP. As does Landon Donovan, who scored 12 goals (tied for fifth in MLS) and holds the record as all-time highest goal scorer in MLS postseason. The Beckham Experiment may just conclude with an MLS Cup trophy, after all.

However, as long as Thierry Henry can walk and kick a ball, it’s unwise to entirely count out the Red Bulls. He played tenaciously on Sunday, a bit overly aggressively, even, and his leap into the air for a powerful bicycle kick showed him a 34-year-old with yet more gas in the tank. At 14 goals, he racked up the league’s third highest goal tally in the regular season, and his strike in the match against Dallas helped book a spot in the conference semi-finals.

Recent absentees Donovan and former Spurs man Robbie Keane (or, Roibeárd Ó Catháin, for those who speak Irish) have returned from injury, recovering from a quad strain and adductor injury, respectively. Both look likely to start Thursday, having suffered no setbacks in the first leg. Red Bulls managed to contain and shut them down on Sunday. They’ll likely need an encore performance to have any hope of progressing.

Goalie Josh Saunders notched his ninth shutout in 19 matches this season for the Galaxy, who lost 2-1 to the RBNY earlier this month at the Red Bull Arena. The Red Bulls need goals, but Saunders and the L.A. back four don’t often concede.

The defensive story on the New York side reads quite differently. Confusion over Keane and/or Magee being offside in the 14th minute of the first leg played a not insignificant part in the goal. And central defender Tim Ream dubiously tried to out-Terry John Terry, tripping himself up and faceplanting into the ragged pitch a day after the Chelsea captain’s farcical rendition in England. As for transfer rumors linking Ream to Arsenal, West Brom or Everton, even aside from the klutzy faceplant act, the Red Bulls conceded the most goals (53) in the league this season. Hardly compelling credentials.

The commentators made a meal of Henry facing Keane for the first time since Henry’s double handball denied Ireland the 2010 World Cup by setting up a William Gallas goal, but they predicted the wrong scufflers on that one.

Instead, a postmatch melee erupted at the final whistle involving the Galaxy’s Donovan (alleged trash talker), Adam Cristman (shover) and Brazilian midfielder Juninho (face elbower) against Mexican defender Rafael Márquez (ball thrower, puncher and Academy Award hopeful) and defender Stephen Keel (face elbowee) from Red Bulls. Donovan may or may not have said something snipish to Márquez, who grabbed the game ball and fired it at Donovan’s leg. Bodies closed in, Cristman shoved Marquez, who retaliated with a punch, later falling down from a phantom air blow. Juninho, meanwhile, delivered an actual punch to Stephen Keel’s face. Márquez and Juninho both earned red cards and now miss out on Thursday’s match.

Juninho’s lone goal against Honduran club Motagua fired the Galaxy into the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals in March 2012. The Galaxy will face one of Salvadorian club Isidro Metapan, Seattle Sounders or Toronto FC. The loss of Juninho, on loan from São Paulo, in the current match presents L.A. with a selection headache, while many in the Red Bulls fanbase see the erratic Márquez missing out as a plus.

Real Salt Lake awaits in the Western Conference finals, having sealed a 3-2 aggregate win over Seattle Sounders, who went into last night’s second leg with a three goal deficit. Both teams shut each other out on home soil, but Salt Lake’s 2-0 victory last night fell just short of forcing extra time.

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