The Beautiful Game: November 2009

November 30, 2009

Word is Charlie Davies recovery has been 'fantastic' so far. Or so an SBI blog post would have me believe.

That's great news for the kid.

I'm hoping Robbie Findley can develop to fill in that role in which Davies was beginning to excel.

To the links:

Zlatan makes an El Clasico splash. [CCTV]
Philly Union takes 10 in the expansion draft. [Goal.com]
Sounders FC lose fan-favorite Seba Le Toux. [Seattle Times]
New American league called NASL. [Unprofessional Foul]
Jack Warner/Brazilian prez back English W.C. big. [SkySports]
Chile almost lost its W.C. bid, but didn't. [Goal! NY Times]
Chicago fired Denis Hamlett a while back. [WV Hooligan]
Centenary World Cup in Uruguay/Argentina? [ESPN]
Ben Olsen retired. Not much of a surprise. [Goff]
85 hooligans arrested in Germany. Yikes. [SI]
Bent makes racism claim over Twitter. [Guardian]
Inter Milan fan falls, now in a coma. [IM Scouting]
One man's opinion of the world's top 25. [Soccer Source]
Handball forced TH14 to consider quitting. [Reuters]
World Cup absentees best XI. [Footy Factor]
Iniesta is awesome, minus the dive. [Dirty Tackle]
Goalie booked for saving a cat. WTF. [Off the Post]

VIDEO: Sigh...

Uruguayan beach soccer player, you have lost my respect.

Or that dude's scream does some damage.

Back to transfers

It's been a while, but the transfers never stop:

Anelka wants a new Chelsea deal.
Chicago picks up options on McBride and Brown.
Seitz to the Philly Union.
Aberdeen can't afford Stuart Holden.
More interest in Benny Feilhaber.
Toni looking at a buncha teams.
Milan says Huntelaar is not for sale.
Micah Richards to Manchester United.

Lot of American stuff in there. Weird.

VIDEO: Coupet leg snap

Watch at your own risk!

These compound leg fractures are like a drug. You know they're not good for you, but you can't help but indulge.

Monday photo gallery

1. Tevez tennis -- via Futbolita

2. Pele gallery -- via Life Magazine

3. Cheryl? Is that you? -- via Kickette

4. Seattle saves! -- via TiAS

5. Henry handball gallery -- via Guardian

6. Crazy W.C. sign -- via Dirty Tackle

7. Asthma attack -- via Footy Factor

VIDEO: Akon and the stars

Lotta dancing going on at Drogba's Foundation's charity ball.

Ballon d'Or final 10

We know the winner is going to be Messi, but to preempt the Tuesday announcement, a top 10 was released.

In some form of alphabetical order:

No Italians, no Germans, no Frenchmen and Barca is certainly well represented (five of 'em with current or recent connections).

VIDEO: Bullard's goal celebration

After a late game-tying PK, Hull's Jimmy Bullard had this incredible performance (which, of course, mocked his coach's infamous halftime talk on the pitch).

It's the talk of the league.

King Drogba (EPL roundup)

Colossal matchup in the Premiership yesterday, and it was none other than Didier Drogba that stole the show in Chelsea 3-0 win against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.

Two absolutely incredible goals for the striker keeps the Blues five points clear atop the EPL table and most people's pick as the top team in the world.

A couple trophies are certainly in store for Carlo's squad.

I certainly expected more from the Gunners, and to be fair, they deserved that goal early in the second half that would have made it 2-1.

Manchester United and, surprisingly, Liverpool each earned three points over the weekend. With Avram Grant in charge, Portsmouth still remains in the drop zone.

Here are the results:

Saturday
Blackburn 0-0 Stoke City (A: 25,143)
Fulham 1-1 Bolton (A: 23,554)
Manchester City 1-1 Hull City (A: 46,382)
Portsmouth 1-4 Manchester Utd (A: 20,482)
West Ham 5-3 Burnley (A: 34,003)
Wigan 1-0 Sunderland (A: 20,447)
Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham (A: 39,866)

Sunday
Wolves 0-1 Birmingham (A: 26,668)
Everton 0-2 Liverpool (A: 39,652)
Arsenal 0-3 Chelsea (A: 60,067)

VIDEO: Enjoy that corner kick

Turkish soccer fans can get a bit excited about their big games...

November 24, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving weekend

November 22, 2009

Real Salt Lake, your MLS champ

I picked against them every step of the way, so hats to RSL.

Deserved champions. They were the better team on the night and had to best three great teams along the way.

I'll by busy for a couple days, look for the updates comes Wednesday.

November 21, 2009

VIDEO: Fake interview with Phil Brown

Entertaining enough.

November 20, 2009

In a boot LINKS

How hurt is David Beckham? TMZ got the shot of his right foot in a boot.

This league relies on him so much for exposure and interest that one has to wonder, how injured is the guy really?

We may never know.

Here are some links:

German police reveal match-fixing. [Yahoo!]
FIFA charges Egypt over bus attack. [USA Today]
Fighting teammates kicked off team. [ESPN]
UAE club forward dies at practice. [BBC]
Don Garber does a Q&A with Wahl. [SI]
And another with some fans. [The Seattle Times]
Expansion protection deadline nears. [SBI]
Bellamy not far from retirement? [Guardian]
Ben Olsen in the same boat? [Goff]
Want to see another mock W.C. draw? [UF]
AWOL Ghana boys in trouble. [Goal.com]
Slovenian PM stuck shining shoes? [Reuters]

VIDEO: Soccer brawling

Could probably link to one of these every other day.

Transfer moving

Might be working out my own (apartment) transfer in the next couple days, but on to the pros:

Phil Neville says he'll never go to Man. City.
Blackburn dude loaned to QPR.
Stuart Holden has big-league interest.
U.S. U-17s do too.
Beckham never considered leaving MLS.
Valencia again says it won't sell its stars.
Aguero to Chelsea another inch closer?

Ole.

Friday's photo reel

1. Last look at the Needle -- via The Seattle Times

2. Small confetti burst -- via The Original Winger

3. Portugal's soldiers? -- via ONTD

4. How can she see? -- via Kickette

5. TH14's revised Wikipedia -- via The Spoiler

6. An M. Bison lookalike? -- via WAAtP?

VIDEO: MVP talks to Allen Hopkins

Your 2009 MLS most valuable players is...

Landon Donovan.

Well deserved, he was the best player in the league this season. And he's led his team to the MLS Cup.

He's been in this league too long and won too many titles for this to be his first, but here's hoping it is his last as well.

It's time for this guy to take his talent to a higher level. American fans don't get to root for too many players in the world's top leagues.

He needs to be one of them.

But first he needs to win the championship.

VIDEO: USMNT reaction to Denmark loss

Last postgame comments from Bob and the boys in 2009.

My World Cup draw

Who can wait a month? I had to speculate the pots and make my own groups:

GROUP A -- South Africa, Greece, North Korea, Paraguay
GROUP B -- Brazil, Slovenia, Honduras, Nigeria
GROUP C -- Germany, Denmark, New Zealand, Uruguay
GROUP D -- Spain, Slovakia, USA, Ghana
GROUP E -- Argentina, Netherlands, Mexico, Cameroon
GROUP F -- Italy, Serbia, South Korea, Chile
GROUP G -- France, Portugal, Australia, Algeria
GROUP H -- England, Switzerland, Japan, Ivory Coast

How about that Group E, eh? It might be fun to watch Mexico try to survive that one.

Putting Brazil, Germany and Spain on the same side could make the knockout round very interesting.

Ivory Coast would be well set-up for a deep run.

The USMNT wouldn't, but who's expecting one anyway?

*pinch*

VIDEO: PressPass reaction

Still the talk of the town

Thierry Henry's legacy will never be the same. Like when Brett Favre started his rope-a-dope with retirement.

Both will forever be honored greats, but each will have a little negativity added to their reputations.

There were all sorts of stories on the wire yesterday regarding Le Hand.

Ireland's FA is requesting a replay (too little, too late), Robbie Keane is blasting people left and right (go down swinging guy), the losers are even getting sympathy from the French (wild), politicians are weighing in (to get votes), the video-replay debate is now in full force (do it) and, finally, one story suggest soccer plays can never be trusted (probably true).

Still can't believe the goal stood.

Fabio Cannavaro can't believe TH14 celebrated the goal, knowing he cheated.

VIDEO: Arsenal dudes dress up

And scare people.

Good times.

November 19, 2009

VIDEO: Clinical finish

By a goalie! 101 Great Goals is right, who doesn't love watching a keeper score...?

Lambert speaks and LINKS

Remember that New Mexico womens soccer player Elizabeth Lambert that displayed some 'roid rage a couple weeks ago against BYU?

Well she got all dolled up for a New York Times story in response to that game.

Pretty interesting stuff.

Now the links:

Don't fart in the refs face. [Sports Rubbish]
Atletico fined 150 euros. What's the point? [Reuters]
Aragones and Real Madrid? [SI]
Pitch invader gets $180K fine. [BBC]
D.C. goalie Josh Wicks getting surgery. [Can. Press]
Detroit wants an MLS team. [MLive.com]
Eto'o giving out watches. [Guardian]
Worst to wear the No. 10. [Goal.com]
West Ham lingerie inspired by Katy Perry. [SSN]
Dude blames transfer for injuries. [ESPN]
Talking with Nick Rimando. [The Offside Rules]
Galaxy cancels Germany tour. [LA Galaxy]
Preki to be introduced as TFC coach. [SBI]
Top best Pies midfielders stuff. [WAAtP]

VIDEO: Costa Rica/Uruguay sideline fight

Could've been worse. Security ruined what could've been a great YouTube clip...*

(* - tongue in cheek)

Thursday's photo shoot

1. Lama loves Barca -- via The Original Winger

2. Beach W.C. ladies -- via Part-time Pundit

3. RSL invade the Needle -- via The Soccer Insider

4. England dogs suit up -- via EPL Talk

5. MLS Cup comes to the 206 -- via The Seattle Times

6. Yeesh, this ain't pretty -- via Unprofessional Foul

8. Ahhhhhh! Neither is this! -- via Off the Post

8. Anderson? Explain yourself -- via Kickette

VIDEO: ESPN hyping some MLS Cup

1. Greatest moments

2. PressPass preview

3. Talking with J. Kreis

Skim transfers

Really not a lot out there today, but we'll make the most of it:

Eduardo gets a new deal with Arsenal.
Marseille talking about to the troubled Ben Arfa.
Dzeko will be allowed to leave Wolfsburg.
City won't be getting Gattuso, says agent.
Robinho has told his City teammates that he wants to go to Barcelona.

No mas.

VIDEO: Cracker of a goal!

Just once in my life, I would love to know what this feels like...

Gallery of international day

The Guardian had a great collection of photos from Wednesday's action. I wanted to share a few of my favorites...

1. Setting the scene

2. Shevchenko's last stand?

3. Flash!

4. Setting fire to the competition

5. Fun day for the French

6. Kiddie fans rule

7. Anti-riot squad in Sudan

8. Irish grief

9. Algerian joy

10. Unlucky Irish

VIDEO: Jeff Cunningham's goal

Certainly this will only help his cause with the national team.

There's something about a guy that isn't spectacular, but gets the ball in the net.

USMNT loses to Denmark

I was pleasantly surprised to see the U.S. beating Denmark 1-0 at the half when I was able to tune in yesterday.

Jeff Cunningham with the goal? That was hard to comprehend too.

I must have been a bad luck charm because right after a starting watching, Denmark couldn't stop scoring and the Danes eventually pulled out the 3-1 win.

I'm not gonna read too much into this one, with a large number of reserves playing in this one. Hopefully Bob is seeing who can't cut it at the highest level -- like the entire U.S. defense.

Clearly the depth of quality American talent ain't much. It's gonna be quite the accomplishment to get out of the W.C. group stage.

VIDEO: Talking World Cup

Tommy Smyth rightfully goes off

Alexi Lalas talks predictions

The unlucky Irish

Thierry Henry is the villain of the soccer world today. He will be for a while.

In one of the shadiest moves on the big stage in recent memory, the French legend (after being offside) intentionally handled the ball in setting up the game-winning goal to send his country to the World Cup, and unfairly end Ireland's dreams.

After the game he admitted to the handball. He should have apologized for cheating.

The last 10 minutes of this game need to be replayed immediately. Within an hour of the final whistle, FIFA president Sepp Blatter should have demanded action. This cannot stand, but of course it will.

No surprise Robbie Keane opened up and blasted FIFA afterward. I would too.

Ugh. I'm still furious.

The other UEFA playoffs winners were Slovenia in a shocker over Russia, Greece got by the Ukraine and Portugal bested Bosnia.

Algeria (thanks to a cracker of a goal) and Uruguay locked up the final two berths and the final 32 are set.

Africa: South Africa, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Algeria.
Europe: England, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Italy, Holland, Serbia, Slovakia, Switzerland, Greece, Slovenia, Portugal, France.
North America: Mexico, U.S.A., Honduras.
South America: Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay.
Asia/Oceania: Australia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, New Zealand.