US Ladies defeat Canadian Ladies 3-0

Megan Rapinoe, Kelley O'Hara, and Abby Wambach like playing soccer

On September 22nd, the US women's team beat Canada 3-0 in a friendly in Portland. This is the second of a pair of matches against Canada; we tied the first 1-1. Abby Wambadass put in two goals in the second half, with Alex Morgan adding a third during stoppage time. You can read full coverage here.

It was an exciting, fast-paced game. Canada should have probably stuck with their first-half goalie, LeBlanc, who I thought was pretty great.

Fun fact: We're playing a 4-5-1 these days. Rapinoe on the new lineup: “I feel really good. This new system is fun and the players are interacting more on the field. It’s exciting."

The team's got six weeks off now before training starts for Olympic Qualifiers (which are in Vancouver in January).

Michael Bradley is O.K.

Apparently this is Michael Bradley...WITH HAIR

USSoccer.com has an interview up with Michael Bradley on life with his new team, Chievo Verona (Serie A! woohoo!). He started in a recent 1-0 victory against Napoli.

A few interview highlights:

ussoccer.com: What was your role in the game against Napoli?

MB: “We played 4-3-1-2. I played as one of the three defensive midfielders [Editor's note: this sounds like a lineup the US NT should try?], and I was tilted to the right. Tactically, the way the game went it meant I was dealing a lot with the attacking guys on Napoli that are out on their left side. As a team we were organized and disciplined and very committed to doing that for 90 minutes. It was definitely not our sharpest night with the ball, but we were very hard to play against. To win a game like that was good for us.”

ussoccer.com: Seen any Michael Bradley jerseys yet?

MB: “Other than the one on my back, not yet (laughs).”

You can read the full interview here.

Suggested follow-up questions:

- Michael Bradley, is there beef between you and Klinsmann or what? Or is this a Dempsey-type situation?

- When are you coming back?

- Exactly how bad are we defensively without you, Michael Bradley?

5-0

Well barca decided to win again. 5-0 to atletico Madrid. And it was a very pretty game:) Pique only played about half an hour, Puyol didn't play and iniesta and Alexis are still hurt :( But that was all okay because we have messi (: So the first goal was Xavi making a goregous pass tO Villa who controlled well and put it in... Villa has scored four in four!! He scores again! The second was a own goal that messi forced.. So really it was him. The third fourth and fifth were messi :) Ever single one of them was a ridiculOus goal. I personally liked the first and second. He is a small monster. All in all it was a great game with messi killing everyone and xavi and thiago were fantastic(:

[Updated by BFG]

Here's the embedded highlights:

Thoughts: Leo Messi is (as usual) playing on a whole other level, and I like the little dance he does after his third goal (#5 for Barca). I feel bad for the other team - this video has lots of shots on the looks on their faces after Barca scores. - BFG

You BAD!

Tehehehehhehe. Real Madrid lost today. Which means:
a. The world is good & fair place.
b. They're behind Barca on the table... though Valencia is leading...

Highlights of their loss: (for some reason I can't embed it) http://youtu.be/XUwpsrYqJa0
it's funny because it was against Llevante who they beat last year.... 8 -0
Only one can will by 8 Madrid.

Here is how the table stands:

Valencia: 9
Real Betis:9
Barca: 7
Sevilla: 7
Real: 6
Malaga: 6
Others....

Barca plays Valencia Wednesday so hopefully their lead will be short lived. Given that Barca scored 15 goals in 3 games, I'm feeling good.

8 - 0

So today Barca played poor Osuana who hasn't lost a game by such a wide margin since 1948 and whose coach said to the press afterwards that a t halftime he told his team, "focus on Wednesday, this is over." Barca won by 8. They beat Almeria by 8 last year but it was away. This was the biggest victory at the Camp Nou for 15 years. Yay! Here's how it went down.

Pep and his crazy lineups recently. Notice that Dani Alves, our beloved right back, played right wing up at the top while poor Maschy was still sitting at the back wondering if he'll ever play midfield again (I personally doubt it). Here was the lineup (3-4-3):

Valdes

Maschy Puyol (El capitan returns!!) Abidal

Xavi Busquets Thiago Cesc

Alves Messi Villa

Eventually, Adriano went in for Abi, Afellay went in for Xavi, and Maxwell went in for Puyi.

So the goal, oh the goals.

Goal One: Busquets to Alves who headed it across and watched Messi put it in (;

assist: Alves goal: Messi

Goal Two: One-two between Messi and Cesc (beautiful goal)

Assist: Messi goal: Cesc

Goal Three: Abi played Villa through. Villa touched aground goalie and hit it in

Assist: Abidal goal: Villa

Goal Four: Own Goal, Villa should have probably scored it instead... unlucky for defender

Goal Five: Xavi to Cesc who does a great little turn and passed it to Messi who just kicks it lightly in. Cesc is momentarily stunned that at Barca his team mates actually score when he gives them open nets (did I mention Arsenal lost today and scored 2 own goals)?

Assist: Cesc goal: Messi

Goal Six: Messi chips it high to Xavi who scores with a great chip (also super pretty)

Assist: Messi Goal: Xavi

Goal Seven: Cesc goes through the defense (lucky rebound) and unselfishly gives it off to Villa who scores (I've noticed that Cesc is almost too unselfish...)

Assist: Cesc Goal: Villa

Goal Eight: This was all Messi. He just does stuff.

Assist: Cesc Goal: Messi

So. Messi got a hat trick && two assists. Cesc got a goal & 3 assists. And everyone else decided to chip in. Ohh and Villa with the actually scoring goals!!! Things look promising for Barca right now. When they are at there best (& when Messi is at his best) they won't get beaten. Here are some player ratings as well: http://www.totalbarca.com/2011/matches/the-ratings-fc-barcelona-8-0-ca-osasuna/#more-88884

And here are the highlights-

And added bonus. Really great video. Seriously watchh it. Its's mind boggling

Don't sugar coat it, Cesc

"I want to be in a club that is able to win the big titles year after year and I don't see that kind of future for Arsenal...I respect that Arsenal don't have the same financial opportunities as the others, but it was part of my decision to leave that I find it hard to see Arsenal winning the Premier League or Champions League in the near future."

- Cesc Fabregas quoted in The Guardian

Victor Valdes, You in Danger!

From the Barca - Real Sociedad game yesterday:

Who is this man, Brek Shea?

Take that Brek Shea!

Klinsmann's called him up for the last three games. He plays for FC Dallas (but the Premier League may come calling), is seven feet tall, and seems to enjoy experimenting with his hair.

Now Brek Shea will try to impress you:

Pretty cool, but maybe that's only going to work against Kansas City. What else can you do, BrekShea?

Good one, Brek Shea.

Some photos from the FCB - Man U friendly

July 3oth

2-1 Man U. (Nani and Owen for Man U, Thiago for Barca)

Here's a match highlights video too!

Barca by the second half was playing with I believe only two of their starters. The Argentines were MIA; Pique, Puyol, and Xavi were all out as well. (I wish I had a shot of those guys on the sidelines watching the game. Pep I guess wanted them in some kind of 'uniform' so they all had matching khaki shorts and big white Keds and matching collared t-shirts.)

On the Man U side, Rooney only played the first half and Park and Rio Ferdinand not at all. Still totally worth the drive though.

Match highlights: US MNT v Belgium

Dempsey's back!!! He missed the Mexico and Costa Rica friendlies (was getting settled in for the season at Fulham - there's no problem between him and Klinsmann).

This was a classic "Thank God for Tim Howard" game. Our defense was...accommodating. But on the upside, we're taking more shots. None went in (save for a header by Edu that got disallowed for some mysterious reason) but this is a good development.

Brek Shea and Agudelo are still a little rough around the edges but really exciting. They're so aggressive, something we've been a little low on. And they're both young; I think Shea is twenty and Agudelo is eighteen. By 2014 they could be awesome, especially with Dempsey and Donovan holding down the center.

Lineup on the US side:

1-Tim Howard;

2-Steve Cherundolo, 4-Clarence Goodson, 5-Carlos Bocanegra (capt.), 3-Timmy Chandler;

6-Maurice Edu, 10- Jose Torres (15-Jeff Larentowicz, 76), 8-Clint Dempsey;

7-Robbie Rogers (14-Kyle Beckerman, 46), 9-Jozy Altidore (18-Juan Agudelo, 46), 11-Brek Shea

US Men's Team Loses 0-1 to Costa Rica

Hi! I'm Edgar Castillo!

But the guys seem to like their new coach. From the NYT:

After Friday night’s 1-0 loss, the United States is 0-1-1 under Klinsmann. Yet in the earliest stages of his tenure, victories are secondary.

“We’re buying into his system and his ideas,” defender Carlos Bocanegra, the team captain, said. “We’re going in with an open mind and that’s the most important thing.”

Klinsmann seeks to combine a more energetic pace with a greater emphasis on possession and creativity. Those elements almost put the United States ahead early.

Some relatively new faces in the 4-3-4 lineup:

Tim Howard;
Timmy Chandler, Michael Orozco Fiscal, Carlos Bocanegra (capt.), Edgar Castillo
Maurice Edu, Landon Donovan, Jose Torres;
Robbie Rogers (Sacha Kljestan, 66), Jozy Altidore (Juan Agudelo, 63), Brek Shea

Next game is tomorrow against Belgium.

infinita tristeza

I am so lonely, alone, if you do not pay attention to me I will die