Nights like last night's 0-2 Sounders defeat at Saprissa are so hard.
For the first 35 or so minutes of the match, I sat here in my living room with a confident smirk on my face. The Rave Green were having their way with the Costa Ricans and a goal felt imminent. Then, Leo kicked through a loose ball and his cleats ran into an opposing player. Intentional or not...warranted or not, that single moment all but effectively ended the Seattle Sounders run in the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League.
It was a harsh turn of events for all of those that bleed Raven Green. Lucky for all of us, we still have so much yet to play for this season. With the U.S. Open Cup FINAL at Qwest Field on October 5th and the MLS playoffs beckoning, the stretch run is just beginning. Some other thoughts:
- I am really looking forward to getting Blaise back on the pitch for our offense. After Leo's red card last night, his presence still wouldn't have mattered. However, we need the big Swiss striker to hold the ball up this weekend against a stout Columbus Crew.
- Another tactical change that Sigi seemed to allude to last night was his inclusion of El Flaco into central midfield. It was interesting especially considering that down a man, I thought a defensive minded Nate Sturgis was surely meant to stay in the match until the end. However, El Flaco was inserted for Sturgis to create an offensive spark. His influence and class certainly gave the Sounders a glimmer of hope last night despite being down a man for 50+ minutes. I would love to see a midfield that looks like this come Saturday: Zakuani, Alonso, Flaco, and Nyassi.
- I heart Ossie Alonso and his PK attempt last night was well taken. However, after Fredy Montero was fouled to cause the PK, I was shocked to see Ossie be the one to step up and take the shot. Fredy was given the armband last night as a sign of his maturing leadership on the team. Now, I wonder who emphatically a Montero PK conversion would have even furthered that leadership on the team.
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On a totally unrelated Sounders note- check this video out: Dying Bravely. It's going to tug at your heartstrings if you are any kind of a USMNT supporter. Until next time...
- DTRT
Showing posts with label Champions League. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Champions League. Show all posts
9.15.2010
3.20.2010
Sounders season preview cont...
So I decided a while back that I wouldn't finish my season preview until a the MLS-Union labor negotiations were decided. However, this morning I woke up to read Grant Wahl's tweet about a deal was set to be announced later today! So here are my much abbreviated season predictions for the 2010 Seattle Sounders FC campaign (leaving off from my earlier predictions- a 3-1-2 start; 11 pts):
5/1- v. Columbus (prediction = loss) Columbus is coming off a favorable showing during CONCACAF Champions League action and I feel this form is going to continue on into the early MLS season. Probably our toughest fixture at home in the early going.
5/8- v. LA Galaxy (prediction = win) I originally had this as a draw, but being that Donovan will probably be at USMNT pre-World Cup camp- I feel good about our chances to get a favorable result at home.
5/15- @ NY Red Bull (prediction = draw) I feel that NYRB will be a MUCH improved team this year. Angel was not at full fitness for the majority of last year and that hurt their attack immensely. There are still some question marks about their back line, but in their new Red Bull Arena I can only see a draw here for our first trip there.
5/22- v. San Jose (prediction = win) We had a very favorable record against the Earthquakes last year...until they smacked us around in SJ, 0-4. Something tells me the Sounders are going to remember this and get some revenge.
5/29- @ Colorado (prediction = draw) We had a favorable draw result last year in our trip to Colorado. The Rapids have a dangerous offensive team led by oft-called upon USMNT striker, Conor Casey, but I feel a draw coming out of this fixture.
6/5- v. NE Revolution (prediction = draw) We struggled mightily against New England last year in both our matchups. MF Sharlie Joseph is amongst the best in the league and should have probably won the MVP over Landon Donovan last year. A draw here would be disappointing, but likely.
6/10- v. DC United (prediction = win) This is the last fixture doe us before the World Cup break. This fixture last year produced the MLS game of the year in my opinion. However, in the end it was a frustrating draw. I feel we can go into the break on a high note.
6/27- @ Philadephia (prediction = draw) This will mark the opening of the Union's new PPE Park. The home team and supporters will be jacked for this match, but I feel we can sneak out with a draw due to our defensive quality.
7/4- @ LA Galaxy (prediction = loss) Depending on how far that the USMNT gets in the World Cup, Donovan may or may not be back in the lineup for LA here. Either way, we outplayed LA in this fixture last year...it's very hard to do that in back to back years away from home.
7/11- v. FC Dallas (prediction = draw) This match pits two of the best up and coming teams in the Western conference. A draw seems fair here.
Predicted season record up to this point: 6-3-7 (25 points)
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While I'm predicting soccer matches...here is my take on the upcoming UEFA Champions League matchups:
Barcelona v. Arsenal- This draw will produce some of the most fluid and beautiful soccer of the year. Either way, Barca is the best club in the world and will outlast Wegner's young and promising club. (Barcelona, 4-2 agg)
CSKA Moscow v. Inter Milan- Jose Mourinho has Inter playing extremely well and there may not be a MF in better form at the moment than Dutch international, Wesley Sneijder. Too much Italian quality here for the Russians. (Inter Milan, 3-2 agg)
Lyon v. Bordeaux- This all-French quarterfinal has two in-form clubs pitted against each other. These two clubs are also fighting with a slew of other clubs for the Ligue Un championship during this time. I have watched both of these clubs and Lyon impressed me the most with their timely finishing. It will be close though. (Lyon, 4-3 agg)
Manchester United v. Bayern Munich- What a tremendous draw this is for a quarterfinal. Rooney v. Ribery. English football supporters v. Bundasliga Supporters. I feel that ManU will win its fourth straight EPL title this year, however Bayern Munich has been in world class form. They haven't lost a league match since September! I'm going for the upset here. (Bayern Munich 5-4 agg)
5/1- v. Columbus (prediction = loss) Columbus is coming off a favorable showing during CONCACAF Champions League action and I feel this form is going to continue on into the early MLS season. Probably our toughest fixture at home in the early going.
5/8- v. LA Galaxy (prediction = win) I originally had this as a draw, but being that Donovan will probably be at USMNT pre-World Cup camp- I feel good about our chances to get a favorable result at home.
5/15- @ NY Red Bull (prediction = draw) I feel that NYRB will be a MUCH improved team this year. Angel was not at full fitness for the majority of last year and that hurt their attack immensely. There are still some question marks about their back line, but in their new Red Bull Arena I can only see a draw here for our first trip there.
5/22- v. San Jose (prediction = win) We had a very favorable record against the Earthquakes last year...until they smacked us around in SJ, 0-4. Something tells me the Sounders are going to remember this and get some revenge.
5/29- @ Colorado (prediction = draw) We had a favorable draw result last year in our trip to Colorado. The Rapids have a dangerous offensive team led by oft-called upon USMNT striker, Conor Casey, but I feel a draw coming out of this fixture.
6/5- v. NE Revolution (prediction = draw) We struggled mightily against New England last year in both our matchups. MF Sharlie Joseph is amongst the best in the league and should have probably won the MVP over Landon Donovan last year. A draw here would be disappointing, but likely.
6/10- v. DC United (prediction = win) This is the last fixture doe us before the World Cup break. This fixture last year produced the MLS game of the year in my opinion. However, in the end it was a frustrating draw. I feel we can go into the break on a high note.
6/27- @ Philadephia (prediction = draw) This will mark the opening of the Union's new PPE Park. The home team and supporters will be jacked for this match, but I feel we can sneak out with a draw due to our defensive quality.
7/4- @ LA Galaxy (prediction = loss) Depending on how far that the USMNT gets in the World Cup, Donovan may or may not be back in the lineup for LA here. Either way, we outplayed LA in this fixture last year...it's very hard to do that in back to back years away from home.
7/11- v. FC Dallas (prediction = draw) This match pits two of the best up and coming teams in the Western conference. A draw seems fair here.
Predicted season record up to this point: 6-3-7 (25 points)
..................................................................................................................
While I'm predicting soccer matches...here is my take on the upcoming UEFA Champions League matchups:
Barcelona v. Arsenal- This draw will produce some of the most fluid and beautiful soccer of the year. Either way, Barca is the best club in the world and will outlast Wegner's young and promising club. (Barcelona, 4-2 agg)
CSKA Moscow v. Inter Milan- Jose Mourinho has Inter playing extremely well and there may not be a MF in better form at the moment than Dutch international, Wesley Sneijder. Too much Italian quality here for the Russians. (Inter Milan, 3-2 agg)
Lyon v. Bordeaux- This all-French quarterfinal has two in-form clubs pitted against each other. These two clubs are also fighting with a slew of other clubs for the Ligue Un championship during this time. I have watched both of these clubs and Lyon impressed me the most with their timely finishing. It will be close though. (Lyon, 4-3 agg)
Manchester United v. Bayern Munich- What a tremendous draw this is for a quarterfinal. Rooney v. Ribery. English football supporters v. Bundasliga Supporters. I feel that ManU will win its fourth straight EPL title this year, however Bayern Munich has been in world class form. They haven't lost a league match since September! I'm going for the upset here. (Bayern Munich 5-4 agg)
3.11.2010
"Real" waste of money...for now.
Why do the “little” always revel in the failures of “bigger and powerful”?
According to memory and my (typical) shockingly accurate calculations, nine out of ten casual sports fans will typically root for the underdog during the Super Bowl. The common reason is to see the big, bad favorites fail and to see the team that less people expect to win…WIN.
This same principle applies to all of the “big” sports franchises in the world as well: Yankees, Red Sox, Lakers, etc. These teams are ones that you either love or hate. Most people really could care less who these teams are playing- they just want the "other" team to win. It is a true rarity to find people who simply feel “eh” about any of those teams. The reason these clubs are vilified are the same reason everyone is fascinated by epic celebrity falls from grace (please see Woods, Tiger; Lohan, Lindsey or Spears, Britney) - MONEY. They have literally tons of it. Most of us do not. Either way, we normal, little folks always seem to be fascinated by these failures, sins or…ahem…indiscretions.
This brings me to Spanish “super club”, Real Madrid. During last summer’s international transfer window, newly appointed Real president, Florentino Perez, spent $340 million to upgrade a roster that had not been living up to the traditional standards expected from Real supporters. Thus four of the world’s best players, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema, were purchased to become the new “Los Galácticos” and lead Real to European glory. Well, yesterday they failed..at least for this year.
French power, Lyon, eliminated Real Madrid in Real’s backyard 2-1 (on aggregate) to advance in the UEFA Champions League. Even though Lyon has won seven consecutive French Ligue 1 trophies, it is still an upset of epic proportions in world soccer. This upset is equally being welcomed by and has fascinated the vast majority of soccer fans across the world. The reason, of course, is the same reason the world simply cannot follow the Tiger Woods saga enough. The “big and powerful” have fallen.
The old adage, “money doesn’t buy happiness”, can definitely be applied to sports. Sports fans see it year in and year out. However, for every 2003 Florida Marlins team, there are ten big money winners- especially in sports without salary caps. Soccer is no different. This obviously is supported by recent history. When you throw enough money at something, championships will be won. The fact that the Yankees and Lakers are the incumbent champions in their respective sports proves that. Other examples of celebrity recovery support this as well (i.e. Britney, Kobe and sooner rather than later- Tiger).
So even though free-spending Real Madrid has been denied European glory this year, enjoy the “little win” now. History dictates that they will spend more and eventually, buy their European trophy soon enough.
According to memory and my (typical) shockingly accurate calculations, nine out of ten casual sports fans will typically root for the underdog during the Super Bowl. The common reason is to see the big, bad favorites fail and to see the team that less people expect to win…WIN.
This same principle applies to all of the “big” sports franchises in the world as well: Yankees, Red Sox, Lakers, etc. These teams are ones that you either love or hate. Most people really could care less who these teams are playing- they just want the "other" team to win. It is a true rarity to find people who simply feel “eh” about any of those teams. The reason these clubs are vilified are the same reason everyone is fascinated by epic celebrity falls from grace (please see Woods, Tiger; Lohan, Lindsey or Spears, Britney) - MONEY. They have literally tons of it. Most of us do not. Either way, we normal, little folks always seem to be fascinated by these failures, sins or…ahem…indiscretions.
This brings me to Spanish “super club”, Real Madrid. During last summer’s international transfer window, newly appointed Real president, Florentino Perez, spent $340 million to upgrade a roster that had not been living up to the traditional standards expected from Real supporters. Thus four of the world’s best players, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema, were purchased to become the new “Los Galácticos” and lead Real to European glory. Well, yesterday they failed..at least for this year.
French power, Lyon, eliminated Real Madrid in Real’s backyard 2-1 (on aggregate) to advance in the UEFA Champions League. Even though Lyon has won seven consecutive French Ligue 1 trophies, it is still an upset of epic proportions in world soccer. This upset is equally being welcomed by and has fascinated the vast majority of soccer fans across the world. The reason, of course, is the same reason the world simply cannot follow the Tiger Woods saga enough. The “big and powerful” have fallen.
The old adage, “money doesn’t buy happiness”, can definitely be applied to sports. Sports fans see it year in and year out. However, for every 2003 Florida Marlins team, there are ten big money winners- especially in sports without salary caps. Soccer is no different. This obviously is supported by recent history. When you throw enough money at something, championships will be won. The fact that the Yankees and Lakers are the incumbent champions in their respective sports proves that. Other examples of celebrity recovery support this as well (i.e. Britney, Kobe and sooner rather than later- Tiger).
So even though free-spending Real Madrid has been denied European glory this year, enjoy the “little win” now. History dictates that they will spend more and eventually, buy their European trophy soon enough.
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