Video Saturday

Most of the sweet weekend games haven't started yet, so why not kill time with some tube?

We begin with another promo clip from Wayne Rooney's Street Striker challenge show. In this clip, you get to see a bit of how the show works and meet a few of the kids. I despise and avoid most "reality challenge" programs, but I love this show!




In case you're wondering what happened to Thug Life (a ka New Mexico defender Elizabeth Lambert), ESPN has a follow-up report. She has apologized and is being suspended.




Meanwhile, CNN World Sport sits down with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and then kicks around the meaning of Chelsea's transfer ban suspension.






Finally, kicking off a random NSC run through of past World Cups leading up to next summer's tourney in South Africa, we look back at the 1974 World Cup - one that still both lights up and deeply haunts practically every Dutch person I know over the age of 40. The drama-packed final was played by two of time's greatest sides, so do enjoy this two-part mini-doc.








- Greg Seltzer

A few things...

I've lifted the F-bomb ban on Cut of the Day because it's Friday and I wanna...

#1 - In the aftermath of last night's Real Salt Lake upset of the champs, James Edward pops the surprise cork and Shawn Mitchell does the Crew autopsy.

#2 - After another loss to Benfica at home last night, Everton keeper Tim Howard knows his side is in a real scrap for the Europa League knockouts.

#3 - For those who noticed my obvious brainus interruptus in the MLS Top 5 List at S365 yesterday, I've fixed the problem.

Ya know how sometimes you just get your mind set that it's Wednesday when it's really Thursday and you don't catch on too quick and just roll along on the Thursday plan? I'm gonna claim this flub was like that. Stupid brain.

Also, my teased feature with a U.S. player I'd never interviewed before is going to be held until Monday unless I can finally get a quick word with his club coach in the next hour or two. He normally responds right away, but hasn't yet in this instance.

#4 - NSC pal Jared Montz continues his excellent podcast series by talking with Chivas USA vet Jesse Marsch ahead of their crunch playoff derby decider with Los Angeles.

#5 - K.C. Wizard Jimmy Conrad and Chicago's Logan Pause share the MLS/USSF Humanitarian of the Year award. Let's give it up for these stand up guys.

#6 - Houston Chronicle ace Bernardo Fallas looks at the Dynamo impact made by Geoff Cameron & Stuart Holden.

#7 - The Daily Herald's Orrin Scwarz reports that the Chicago Fire still have plenty of fight left in them.

#8 - Over in Spain, La Liga is getting ready to do away with their own "Beckham Rule". By the name alone, you can tell it has to do with money.

Seems to me this decision could make things difficult over the next couple transfer windows for most teams in that division not named Barcelona or Real Madrid.

#9 - The Seattle Times runs some numbers on the Sounders' expansion campaign.

#10 - Find yourself wondering about the state of USL? Well, the honchos have issued a press release to tell you what's goin' on.

#11 - If you dare, go check out the last NCAA women's defender you should ever want to face on the field... or in a dark alley... or in, say, a thunderdome. This was sent in by an NSC reader, and sweet Moses, she's gonna give me nightmares.

#12 - Finally, the ESPN crew surveys the MLS playoff road ahead with the champs out of the way...




- Greg Seltzer

Forza Italia...'Danke, aber nein danke'

*Even ardent Italophobes sometimes have to doff their cap to La Dolce Vita. The Stadio Olimpico was so sparsely attended for tonight's Roma v Fulham clash, that despite being a veggie, I thought about eating Saltimbocca alla Romana in honour of the stayaway fans.

When they consider a game meaningless, Italian tifosi vote with their feet. If that had been Old Trafford, Man U fans would have sold it out in seconds. More fool them. No wonder it's cheaper to watch football in Italy than in England, where the gullibles live. I am sure the Fulham fans had a whale of a time in the Eternal City, but though I try to get excited, Europa League group games for me remain style comparisons at best, snooze-athons at worst.

Here's a Roma fan video of the club song rendition before kick-off, with the unsold seats in the background. Bravi ragazzi! Or does it mean they only have 20,000 true followers?



*Within a scatter-gun interview, UEFA boss Michel Platini repeated his desire for national team managers to come from the country they are coaching. So that makes two of us.

*News that The FA have been stalking Werder Bremen ace Aaron Hunt sounds a little desperate, given that the boy in question has already played against England at U21 and that Fabio Capello has made a near-perfect run to the World Cup. Plus a country with three times the population of the Netherlands should have no need for foreign imports, ha ha.

Hunt, who appears to have once and for all rejected The FA anyway, would hardly have been the first auslander to wear the three lions: More than two dozen men born outside of England have represented the mother country of soccer. I well recall Cyrille Regis from French Guyana, fair-dinkum Aussie Tony Dorigo and the Jamaican twang of John Barnes. More recently, England has profited from two players who spent their formative years in other countries: Michael Owen (Wales) and Owen Hargreaves (Canada & Germany).

*Since I seem to be on a foreign language theme, let's learn Spanish with Diego, besos x

-Sean O'Conor, London

Who likes midweek goals?

These are all from the Champions League and Europa League, and they are all of superb quality...

Let's begin with a thunderbolt from Liverpool's Ryan Babel. I'm tellin' ya, Rafa... don't sell this one away on the cheap.




Atlético Madrid's Sergio Aguero rescues his side a point against Chelsea with a choice free kick.




Hapoel Tel Aviv's Avihai Yadin opens the scoring at Rapid Vienna to help shoot his side to the top of their group.




It wasn't near enough to beat Basel, but CSKA Sofia's Todor Yanchev shows quick thinking on and with his feet (:38 mark).




Marseille's Benoit Cheyrou piles on with a nasty inside-out piledriver.




Genoa's Giuseppe Sculli is the coolest man on the field to lash a stoppage time winner against Lille.




Let's finish things up with a proper insurance tally, sweetly tucked in by Anderlecht's Jonathan Legear.




- Greg Seltzer

Marshall repeats as top MLS defender

Columbus center back Chad Marshall has trophy-cased his second straight MLS Defender of the Year prize.

Seeing as how he suits up in a few hours to decide the Crew's first round playoff tie, the award celebration will be either delayed and heightened or subdued.

- Greg Seltzer

A few things...

I think headaches should be outlawed on Wednesdays. I mean, you are as far removed from the most recent weekend as you are from getting to the next one. That's enough misery. A headache on Wednesday is overkill. I vote "no" on Wednesday headaches. What say you?

#1 - Chivas USA netminding monster Zach Thornton was tabbed as the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year for a second time today. Considering his other such citation came 11 years ago, it seems safe to say that he could end up bringing home the Comeback Player of the Year trophy as well.

Also today, Revs ace and St. Louis homeboy Steve Ralston picked up the league's fair play award.

#2 - As promised, my chat with Koblenz keeper David Yelldell, who is actually much more eager to land a USMNT call-up than he lets on here - must be his modest German side doing that.

Tomorrow at S365, I will have an interview bit with a guy who is already answering 'Nats calls on a regular basis. And, it is actually a player I had somehow yet to interview until the other day. I wonder if you can guess who it is.

#3 - Don't look now, but we may soon have another U.S. pool player taking part in Europa League. Celtic #3 keeper Dominic Cervi has been moved up to #2 with Artur Boruc's injury, with the Hoops petitioning UEFA to allow the American to be registered for the aforementioned competition.

So yes, he is one red card or injury away from being the starter at Parkhead. Tomorrow night, he will be on the bench for Celtic's vital Group C visit to Hamburg.

#4 - The Washington Examiner's Craig Stouffer draws up a list of possible candidates to be D.C. United's new coach. Something tells me they jump at Richie Williams if New York lets him get away.

#5 - Attention all Kansas City folk, I have two announcements!!

First, Wizards keeper Kevin Hartman will visit Lewis and Fox Hill elementary schools on Monday afternoon to talk about the importance of reading and sign autographs for the kids. He will also be bringing along a copy of his children's book Boots Saves The Day for a reading.

Secondly, K.C. defender Jimmy Conrad will be at Nebraska Furniture Mart on Saturday from 1-3 PM to sign autographs.

There is nothing overly inspirational or important about that last appearance... I just really wanted to announce that Jimmy Conrad was going to be at a place called "Nebraska Furniture Mart" because I'm childish and that sort of thing amuses me.

#6 - 101 Great Goals brought this up today, and I gotta admit to being left scratching my head raw over the same thing last night: why on Earth was AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato's potential winning goal against Real Madrid disallowed last night? Anyone? Buuuueller?
#7 - You can scratch that Aaron Hunt-for-England talk that popped up recently. He sure has.

#8 - ESPN's Frank Dell'Apa takes stock of the ongoing U.S. bid for World Cup 2018 or 2022.

#9 - NSC pal Adam Spangler talks to the dynamic Soccernomics duo of Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski.

#10 - Max over at Association Football opines that Robin van Persie, and not Cesc Fabregas, is the key Arsenal figure. Until they bring in a proper replacement for Manu Adebayor, I'd have to agree.

#11 - CNN has a report on the final of the Gaza Dialogue and Tolerance Cup, with the state of the game in Palestine as the larger picture.

#12 - Finally, Wayne Rooney's Sky TV show Street Striker is back this week, and we have a sweet promo video. Since most of you won't be able to watch the competitions, I'll keep an eye out for particularly sweet clips from the show this season.








- Greg Seltzer

U.S. U-17's bounced by Italy (UPDATED)

The game is in the 20th minute and U.S. ace Jack McInerney has just seen a penalty kick saved by the the Italy keeper.

As always, you can follow along at the U.S. Matchtracker or watch on ESPN360.

Back with the major updates only, followed by the wrap...

--

29'

Beretta puts Italy ahead 1-0.

--

HALFTIME 1-0 Italy

A few stats: the U.S. is up in possession (53-47%) and shots on goal (3-1), but has committed 13 fouls to Italy's four - which includes the penalty handball. Let's see who has the composure in the second half.

--

49'

Italy netminder Bardi pushes a McInerney drive to the woodwork. Perhaps the third time will be a charm?

51'

Palodichuk ties it up from a corner kick. All square, 1-1!!

57'

Back to the chase... Iemello puts Italy back ahead 2-1.

--

FULL TIME 2-1 Italy

Despite some late pressure, the U.S. U-17's head home with a round of 16 loss to Italy.

UPDATE: The highlights are up.


- Greg Seltzer

Nudge-nudge, wink-wink, say no more!

U.S. Soccer is inviting nominations for four "Best of 2009" categories, including (ahem) Best Soccer Blog, until November 20th.

As they say, a nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat. Eh, eh?



- Greg Seltzer

Video Tuesday

A little lunchtime viewing for you all...

Let's begin with ESPN's MLS playoff first leg wrap, just in case you missed some of it.




Yesterday we saw the MLS Goal of the Year nominees, and now it's time to run down the Save of the Year candidates.




Seattle FC's Sebastien Le Toux is helping to teach English. I now also want to see MLS players on Sesame Street, CreaTV, Mythbusters, Ghost Hunters and Extreme Home Makeover.




As always, we look back at MOTD2's 2 Good 2 Bad.




We got back to ESPN to talk Champions League for two glamour teams in a pickle: Liverpool and Real Madrid.




Finally, Portugal ace Cristiano Ronaldo just can't even bear the thought of missing out on World Cup.





- Greg Seltzer

What USMNT squad would I call up?

BAM!

G - Guzan, Howard, Perkins

D - Bocanegra, Marshall*/Califf/Gibbs, Castillo, Cherundolo, Conrad, Goodson, Pearce, Spector

M - Bradley, Beckerman*/Cronin, Cameron*/McCarty, Dempsey, Donovan*/Beasley/Bedoya, Feilhaber, Torres, White

F - Altidore, Casey, Cunningham, Findley*/Cooper


The players marked with an asterisk may or may not be available, depending on MLS leg two results this week. I have thus given at least one alternate choice, listed in order of preference.

And yes, that Beasley. If Donovan isn't around, we could use another veteran attack presence with speed - and let's face it, the guy needs games.

UPDATE: I've had several people ask why I omitted the possibility of Holden, who is still on playoff duty. It's nothing against this or certain other excluded players, but some guys still going in MLS probably need a break. I don't want to get more players injured right before they head into the offseason.

Discuss...


- Greg Seltzer

MLS awards finalists named

I thought this deserved its own post. The full MLS awards list and announcement schedule is in the article, listed below are the glamour prizes, with my balloted winner marked by an asterisk:

Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists

Kasey Keller – Seattle Sounders FC
Donovan Ricketts – Los Angeles Galaxy
*Zach Thornton – Chivas USA

Comeback Player of the Year Finalists

Brian McBride – Chicago Fire
Ben Olsen – D.C. United
*Zach Thornton – Chivas USA

Visa Defender of the Year Finalists

Geoff Cameron – Houston Dynamo
*Jhon Kennedy Hurtado – Seattle Sounders FC
Chad Marshall – Columbus Crew

Rookie of the Year Finalists

Stefan Frei – Toronto FC
*Omar Gonzalez – Los Angeles Galaxy
Chris Pontius – D.C. United

Coach of the Year Finalists

Bruce Arena – Los Angeles Galaxy
Sigi Schmid – Seattle Sounders FC
Robert Warzycha – Columbus Crew

Newcomer of the Year Finalists

Kasey Keller – Seattle Sounders FC
Freddie Ljungberg – Seattle Sounders FC
*Fredy Montero – Seattle Sounders FC

Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player Finalists

Jeff Cunningham – FC Dallas
Landon Donovan – Los Angeles Galaxy
*Shalrie Joseph – New England Revolution


- Greg Seltzer

A few things...

How fun must it be to work on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia? This show is like Seinfeld with the evil turned up to 11. Sometimes, the best comedy of manners is the one without any (also see Curb Your Enthusiasm)...

#1 - A few local all-stars hook us up with the view heading into respective first round deciders:

- Bernardo Fallas on HOU/SEA
- Nick Green on LA/CHV
- Shawn Mitchell on CLB/RSL

#2 - Meanwhile, Fire coach Denis Hamlett was fuming a bit over Shalrie Joseph's alleged "space acquisition skills" on the game one winner. He is also still crossing fingers over the defense firm of Conde & Segares.

#3 - The Salt Lake Trib's Michael C. Lewis looks at the daunting RSL task: a result against the cornered champs in Columbus.

I'll be direct on my feelings: the way the Crew are struggling in attack, I really think one away goal may just do the trick for a draw.

#4 - Daily Fix-er Steve Davis offers up his first leg MLS XI. Hard to argue too much.

#5 - From the "no surprise" file: Tigres left back Edgar Castillo has revealed his call-up for the upcoming pair of USMNT Euro-friendlies with fellow World Cup 2010 invitees Slovakia and Denmark.

Psst! Edgar! Don't forget your passport!

Just joshin', EC. But seriously, I'll have the 20-23 guys I feel should make up that squad here at NSC tomorrow morning.

#6 - Koblenz keeper David Yelldell missed out this week with a thigh knock, but the club is hoping he'll be back this weekend. I just spoke to David, and I'll have a bit up at S365 first thing in the morning.

A little preview? He wants a USMNT call-up.

#7 - If you absolutely must read about how Azzurri back-turner Giuseppe Rossi is blowing up, go here.

#8 - Is Fab gonna poach a winger for England? Bild says (yeah, I know) that Werder Bremen's Aaron Hunt is being stalked by a 3 Lions Psycho.

#9 - S365 co-hort Andrew Discenza drops his weekly Prem roundup science.

#10 - Finally, we have the MLS Goal of the Year nominees (full awards nominees list in another post)...






- Greg Seltzer

Who likes goals?

I'll get A few things up later, but for now, things are still accumulating nicely...

Let's start with Denny Landzaat's classy Kakkerlakken consolation from yesterday. The trick is, you must watch through the entire highlight package to see it. You had to know I was gonna allude to this match somehow.




It's Bayer Leverkusen's Toni Kroos with a nasty lash on the volley. Somebody get out on the shooter!




ManU's Dimitar Berbatov and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas represent the best from this weekend's Prem tilts. As you can see, the broadcast team nearly missed the latter goal because they were still on Robin van Persie's opener from 11 seconds earlier.






Morelia goal monster Luis Gabriel Rey shows amazing body control to hop on his bike. He almost seems to hit on the brakes to line up the accuracy right before guiding it home.




Finally, we get a look at Toulouse midfielder Moussa Sissoko's free kick laser from the stands.



- Greg Seltzer

It's all Goooooodson

[Photo: IK Start]

IK Start defender Clarence Goodson scored his club's final goal of the 2009 Tippeligaen season to cap a 2-0 win over old MLS foe Troy Perkins and Vålerenga. Not only do we have the highlight clip, but we also have a closing day interview with the hero.


- Greg Seltzer

Barnburners of the Week

There were many candidates this week, and I ended up splitting it between a pair of fightback 3-2 away wins: Michael Bradley's 'Gladbach keeping Hamburg from the top and Napoli doing the deed at Juventus.






- Greg Seltzer

U.S. U-17's advance to WC knockouts

Thanks to Jack McInerney's second goal of the tournament and a second consecutive shutout, the U.S. Under-17 National Team has topped the UAE 1-0 to finish second in group play.

Provided Italy gain at least in draw in their ongoing match with Uruguay, they will be the Americans' World Cup round of 16 opponent.

UPDATE: The highlights are here. Italy and Uruguay remain scoreless into the 80th minute. Should Uruguay win by one, South Korea (up 2-0 at around the same time in their game) also comes in to play for that bracket slot opposite our boys.

UPDATE UPDATE: Italy held out for the nil-nil with Uruguay, pitting them against the USA on Wednesday (10 AM Et) in the round of 16. Awaiting the winner in the quarterfinals? Whoever survives the border war between Germany and Switzerland.


- Greg Seltzer

A playoff Halloween pumpkin

NSC reader Jeremy was putting the fright into trick-or-treating Goats fans last night, and sent us the pic to prove it.





- Greg Seltzer