Saturday, September 23, 2006
Beasley Forced to Change Shoes
VIDEO: Beasley dominating at PSV Eindhoven
DaMarcus Beasley showed up for his first Manchester City game in red shoes (the color of City's archrival Manchester United, of course). Apparently he was jeered by the team's fans and changed his shoes at halftime. This week he promises to come out in the right color shoes, and may make his starting debut.
Check out the video for evidence that two years ago Beasley was the best American player in the world.
DaMarcus Beasley showed up for his first Manchester City game in red shoes (the color of City's archrival Manchester United, of course). Apparently he was jeered by the team's fans and changed his shoes at halftime. This week he promises to come out in the right color shoes, and may make his starting debut.
Check out the video for evidence that two years ago Beasley was the best American player in the world.
U.S. Keeper Update
Borussia Moenchengladbach (starting GK: Kasey Keller) is at the top of the Bundesliga.
Does this mean that Kasey Keller is "the best keeper in the world" per Alexi Lalas? Probably not, but I guess I shouldn't object as much to him staying in the US National Team mix.
Meanwhile, Tim Howard's Everton is off to a surprising EPL start. Everton currently sits in fourth place with three wins and two draws. Everton also thrashed Liverpool two weeks ago in their derby rivalry. Howard deserves some of the credit of course, but Everton's striker, signed this summer from Crystal Palace, Andrew Johnson has been the best player in the EPL this year, according to the ACTIM Stats. I need to do more research on how those stats work.
Tim Howard is the top American in the premier league, coming in 40th overall. Tim Howard is also the 2nd best goalkeeper. Reading GK Marcus Hahnemann is 5th best. Surprisingly, they both come in ahead of Brad Friedel - but due to Blackburn's slow start, I am sure Friedel has been penalized by being on a losing team.
Does this mean that Kasey Keller is "the best keeper in the world" per Alexi Lalas? Probably not, but I guess I shouldn't object as much to him staying in the US National Team mix.
Meanwhile, Tim Howard's Everton is off to a surprising EPL start. Everton currently sits in fourth place with three wins and two draws. Everton also thrashed Liverpool two weeks ago in their derby rivalry. Howard deserves some of the credit of course, but Everton's striker, signed this summer from Crystal Palace, Andrew Johnson has been the best player in the EPL this year, according to the ACTIM Stats. I need to do more research on how those stats work.
Tim Howard is the top American in the premier league, coming in 40th overall. Tim Howard is also the 2nd best goalkeeper. Reading GK Marcus Hahnemann is 5th best. Surprisingly, they both come in ahead of Brad Friedel - but due to Blackburn's slow start, I am sure Friedel has been penalized by being on a losing team.
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Coach News
Ex-England Coach Sven Goran Erikkson is being linked with the US job. Considering that England was among the most boring teams to watch at the World Cup, I'm not that thrilled.
We haven't really discussed the coach search much, here at US2010 blog, mainly because I was assuming that Jurgen Klinsmann was the guy, but that there was going to be a respectful waiting period after his divorce from Germany. This could still be the case, but it's interesting to see that the US is interested in dipping a toe into the international revolving coaches pool (tortured metaphor, I know). The beauty of Klinsmann is that he is an international coach with strong American ties. It seems like he'd be the best of both worlds. If the US is set on going with one of the international mercenaries, I'd recommend a Dutch coach. Those guys are always successful.
By the way, wouldn't it be nice to see the American soccer team back in action? The European and African teams have all begun qualifying for their continental championship, and most other countries have begun playing friendlies. Once again, not to dismiss MLS, but if the U.S. keeps deferring to the domestic league at the expense of the national team, it's going to end up hurting them both. The best thing that could happen to MLS is a strong national team.
We haven't really discussed the coach search much, here at US2010 blog, mainly because I was assuming that Jurgen Klinsmann was the guy, but that there was going to be a respectful waiting period after his divorce from Germany. This could still be the case, but it's interesting to see that the US is interested in dipping a toe into the international revolving coaches pool (tortured metaphor, I know). The beauty of Klinsmann is that he is an international coach with strong American ties. It seems like he'd be the best of both worlds. If the US is set on going with one of the international mercenaries, I'd recommend a Dutch coach. Those guys are always successful.
By the way, wouldn't it be nice to see the American soccer team back in action? The European and African teams have all begun qualifying for their continental championship, and most other countries have begun playing friendlies. Once again, not to dismiss MLS, but if the U.S. keeps deferring to the domestic league at the expense of the national team, it's going to end up hurting them both. The best thing that could happen to MLS is a strong national team.
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Rumor of the Day
Real Madrid tried to move for Oguchi Onyewu at Thursday's transfer deadline.
Now that the transfer window is closed, we're going to have to start to write about other things. (it does reopen in January, however).
Now that the transfer window is closed, we're going to have to start to write about other things. (it does reopen in January, however).
Friday, September 01, 2006
Transfer Madness
Yesterday was the transfer deadline day for European soccer leagues and one (1) American made a significant move. Otherwise, it was heartbreak and often confounding disappointment for the rest of those looking for a change of scenery.
Here are the players that were expected or rumored to be going places before the deadline ended (and their ultimate fate):
DaMarcus Beasley - loaned to Manchester City
Clint Dempsey - Charlton Athletic 1.5 million dollar bid rejected by MLS
Eddie Johnson - Real Sociedad loan bid rejected by new Kansas City Wizards owners
Oguchi Onyewu - turns down Middlesbrough move and 4.77 million dollar bid by Fullham reportedly turned down by Standard Liege
Josh Wolff - transfer to Derby trashed after UK Home Office denies grant of a work permit.
A world where Onyewu and Dempsey would have been added to the already increasingly American-friendly EPL would have been a brighter one and would be even brighter with Eddie Johnson being the first American to play in Spain.
One glimmer of hope for the U.S. in 2010 is the first-team minutes that Beasley will be getting at Man. City. Man. City has already beaten Arsenal this year but needs reinforcement on the left flank, apparently. They have already become tied for my favorite EPL team with Reading and the prospect of two Americans in their midfield (Reyna is their holding midfielder) is extremely appealing for U.S. fans.
MLS is getting hammered because it didn't move anyone to Europe but MLS certainly has a right to keep players if the league doesn't feel it's getting market value for them. It even has a right to overvalue players for marketing and development reasons. However, I think the league is underestimating the marketing value of having strong U.S. participation in Europe and is sending a message to younger soccer players that if they want to play in Europe, they should follow the DeMerit route rather than the MLS one.
Sources:
Grant Wahl covers the scuppered Wolff and Johnson moves
The always excellent Yanks Abroad.
Here are the players that were expected or rumored to be going places before the deadline ended (and their ultimate fate):
DaMarcus Beasley - loaned to Manchester City
Clint Dempsey - Charlton Athletic 1.5 million dollar bid rejected by MLS
Eddie Johnson - Real Sociedad loan bid rejected by new Kansas City Wizards owners
Oguchi Onyewu - turns down Middlesbrough move and 4.77 million dollar bid by Fullham reportedly turned down by Standard Liege
Josh Wolff - transfer to Derby trashed after UK Home Office denies grant of a work permit.
A world where Onyewu and Dempsey would have been added to the already increasingly American-friendly EPL would have been a brighter one and would be even brighter with Eddie Johnson being the first American to play in Spain.
One glimmer of hope for the U.S. in 2010 is the first-team minutes that Beasley will be getting at Man. City. Man. City has already beaten Arsenal this year but needs reinforcement on the left flank, apparently. They have already become tied for my favorite EPL team with Reading and the prospect of two Americans in their midfield (Reyna is their holding midfielder) is extremely appealing for U.S. fans.
MLS is getting hammered because it didn't move anyone to Europe but MLS certainly has a right to keep players if the league doesn't feel it's getting market value for them. It even has a right to overvalue players for marketing and development reasons. However, I think the league is underestimating the marketing value of having strong U.S. participation in Europe and is sending a message to younger soccer players that if they want to play in Europe, they should follow the DeMerit route rather than the MLS one.
Sources:
Grant Wahl covers the scuppered Wolff and Johnson moves
The always excellent Yanks Abroad.
