Kickin' up dirt on the home stretch

Three of our six races have been won and three remain in the running. Let's get you set for the weekend, which will see at least one champion crowned.

Da Prem - It's very simple. Heading into closing Sunday, Chelsea lead by a point and enough goals in differential not to worry as they head back to the Bridge to face Wigan. If they somehow do they less than win, Manchester United can smash 'n grab for the title by beating guests Stoke.

Serie A - With two rounds to go, Inter Milan leads AS Roma by two points as the two enjoy their final home matches of the season. Should Roma drop points to Cagliari, the Nerazzurri can clinch against Chievo.

La Liga - A point up with two games left, Barcelona make the tricky trip to re-warming Sevilla. The champs have only won the last of their four most recent trips in this series. They can secure the repeat if Real Madrid slip up at home to Atheltic Bilbao - but that's only happened once in the last 10 Bernabéu meetings.

Bundesliga - Bayern Munich

Ligue 1 - Marseille

Eredivisie - FC Twente


- Greg Seltzer

Top 5 Criminally Underwatched '90's Movies

Every so often I like to veer off the soccer path we trod and spout off about something else (plus, The Distracter likes it).

I've talked music and TV shows, now it's the silver screen's turn. And as you know, I like to shine the light on the under-heralded, so this list is a natural. I picked the '90's as that was the time when my movie viewing was at it's highest and deepest levels.

I'll try not to give too much away (I hate that), so grab your popcorn and keep your feet off the seat in front of you...

Honorable mentions: Bob Roberts, Fearless, Fresh, Hard Eight, Kicking And Screaming, One False Move, Romper Stomper, Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, Slums Of Beverly Hills, Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!, Watch It, Waterland

#5 - Swimming With The Sharks

Kevin Spacey is a major preening prick agent of a boss and Frank Whaley is the punching bag assistant in this dark comedy... is there even anything else you need to know?

#4 - The Sweet Hereafter

Nominated for two Oscars, this emotional Atom Egoyan picture is what I call "an onion flick" - the layers get peeled away and suddenly you have something in your eye. The always terrific Ian Holm is a troubled lawyer that enters a small town after a tragic school bus accident leaves the locals a wreck.

#3 - The Waterdance

Not to sound like too much of a big sappy dope, but this film is a poem. It is life poetry, true and ugly and beautiful and unavoidable. Eric Stoltz must cope with waking up paralyzed from the waist down after a rock climbing accident, as must then those around him.

Pitch perfect support comes from Helen Hunt, William Forsythe and Wesley Snipes, who at the time was still actually an actor. This is among his very best roles and he nails it painfully.

#2 - Lone Star

Ya know, this John Sayles film has so many layers and so many twists, I'd feel funny saying too much about it.


Just know that this movie is quite gripping and will throw a thing or two at you that you weren't ready for. It features a superb pair of lead performances by Chris Cooper and the criminally underrated Elizabeth Peña, as well as an array of splendid supporting turns.

#1 - Flirting With Disaster

Okay, I get it like I get Arrested Development not being a hit. But still, everyone knows about Three Kings and I Heart Huckabees. People even may know Spanking The Monkey, but somehow this David O. Russel utter gem seemed to just pass most everyone by. Most everyone suffered for it, as this is a screwball comedy of the highest and weirdest order.


I could prattle on vaguely about all sorts of wacky occurrances within that would lead you to check out this dark comedy, but I won't spoil the fun. Just go get it and know you're about to see the comedic best of Ben Stiller, Patricia Arquette, Alan Alda, George Segal, Tea Leoni, Richard Jenkins and Josh Brolin, as well as a pair of simply delicious supporting performances from the irreplaceable Lily Tomlin and Mary Tyler Moore.


- Greg Seltzer

A few things...

Meant to do this a long, good while ago. It's been a big ass hassle of a day. But at least I have my little trip set up for next week. Now, if I can just liberate my new computer...

#1 - Manchester United are coming to town!! That is, provided you live in Toronto, Philly, K.C. (stadium opening) or Houston (MLS All-Star Game).

#2 - Charlie Davies tells MLSsoccer.com busybody Simon Borg that he actually still could appear for Sochaux this season, even if there's not a great chance unless they really believe he's ready. The club has been very careful with him so far, no reason it would change now.

#3 - DaMarcus Beasley thinks his Rangers days are numbered.

#4 - In addition to having a deluxe blog, Crew defender Jed Zayner gets his good causes on.

Wait... why am I speaking like Andy Bernard? Lord, beer me strength.

Also, get-ta know Steven Lenhart, Columbus' unique power forward. Is this The Dude, Part Deux?

#5 - Soccernet all-star Jeff Carlisle talks to the USMNT's oft-maligned left backs, Jonathan Bornstein and Heath Pearce. Like my buddy Brucio at Du Nord, I still say they both go.

#6 - If Fabio Capello didn't already spend enough time checking charts, now Gareth Barry is a fitness concern for World Cup.

#7 - Two from The Telegraph on Wednesday's big Champions League berth duel between Spurs & Man City. Henry Winter fills in the canvas on Tottenham's famous win, while Mark Ogden insists that Roberto Mancini will remain a Citizen.

#8 - Finally, Inter Milan engine Wesley Sneijder says not to worry, he'll be ready for the Champions League final.


- Greg Seltzer

French revolutions

*The rumour mill will be a-turning once more at the news Franck Ribery will miss the Champions League final after UEFA turned down Bayern's appeal against his suspension. Inter even more a shoe-in..?

What with the underage sex scandal that blew up last week in his face, 'Bilal' (his Islamic name) could be pining for pastures new once more.

*His old club Marseille won the French title tonight for the first time in 18 years (!) thanks to a 3-1 win over Rennes, minus Carlos Bocanegra.

Illustrious French publications L'EQUIPE and FRANCE FOOTBALL are in overdrive.

Check out this video of the last time they won, in 1992, with OM legends Jean-Pierre Papin, Didier Deschamps (the current coach), Basile Boli, Chris Waddle and especially goalie Pascal Olmeta showing how to really take le piss when you're winning....there's also a young Zizou on the other team...I know Marseille have had their fare share of scandal, but I like the fact it's a proper soccer city, they play in a old cycling stadium and have a cool badge and snappy motto - 'straight to goal' - Moi, j'aime l'OM!

*Capital gains as Tottenham's win over Man City makes it three out of four English Champions League qualifiers from London.

*In Spain, La Primera may not be a Catalan canter after all as Cristiano Ronaldo scores a hat-trick at Real Mallorca tonight to haul Real Madrid to within a point of Barca at the top.



*Japan is out of the race to host World Cup 2018. No big shock there as the European big guns are still in the lead. But it does mean the US has another ship to sink in the race for 2022. Sepp Blatter apparently told the JFA that 2018 was Europe's. He also told the London Evening Standard this week that Russia had the best bid. But what does he know - his relentless cheerleading for South Africa in 2006 meant that tournament went to...Germany.

*Garrincha has to be the greatest player you never saw on colour TV and many Brazilians still rate him higher than Pele. These English layabouts certainly do.

*Today in Britain it's the General Election, which means football takes a back seat in our lives for once. Here I chart the (recent) history of football in UK politics, like the EPL a case of Blues v Reds with the odd interloper.



-Sean O'Conor, Londres

The proverbial limb

... where one finds the proverbial fruit. I do love me some proverbial green apples.

As NSC regulars know, I like to stretch my predictin' legs every so often. And with World Cup coming up, I need 'em stretched. I am not gonna finish dead last in the all-media Wold Cup prediction game this time!

So here goes for tonight's MLS action, which directly follows the release of my first Club Ladder of the season at S365:

DC United 1 KC Wizards 3
NE Revs 1 Chivas USA 0
Houston Dynamo 1 FC Dallas 1
Colorado Rapids 2 LA Galaxy 2

UPDATE: Wow, that went completely crap. And to think, I actually wanted to pick Dallas to win at first, but talked myself out of it. I think I may need to run this exercise again this weekend.


- Greg Seltzer

The When and How & Then and Now of Taylor Twellman's Inury Absence

If you're a Taylor Twellman fan like me, or maybe have just suffered a mild concussion before, you may have caught yourself wondering this over the last 18 months: What the hell is taking him so long to get back?

Well, there's been several issues, problems and setbacks. With such a volume of info needed, it's best to just go to the source. I requested such a chat, and Twellman promised to talk to me after he'd made his playing return.

For now, the Revs forward did sit down for a two-part interview at the club's official blog to discuss his shelf woes and what lies ahead. Is it possible that I'm scary? Probable even? Could be, yes. But if it gets back to me, I'll deny it.

Anyway... just to fill out the situation explanation, I also included this clip from last month though there is a bit of info overlap. Just watch the linked videos first, then come to this one for the more. Yeah, like that.







- Greg Seltzer

Algeria names provisional squad

They've called 25, so it seems that few teams will confine their prep camp rosters to a set 23-man squad. I've alluded to this before, but just one more time: they danger men for Algeria are bookend wingbacks Nadir Belhadj and Madjid Bougherra, and then elusive winger Karim Ziani.

Here is a sample of what Ziani brings to the table...





- Greg Seltzer

Video Tuesday

Feel free to ignore the comically disturbing Starsky and Hutch context and just enjoy the Dan Band's hilariously groovetastic reading of Roberta Flack on Cut of the Day...

We begin with this week's edition of 2 Good 2 Bad, a full season reminiscence.




We have MLS Goal of the Week nominees for your approval.




CNN talks to ref Howard Webb about whistle-blowing in a World Cup.




The ESPN Press Pass crewman Shaka Hislop cuts through the ultimatum handed down by Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez rather well. He wants out and he will want to take Kuyt, Mascherano and Torres with him.




Finally... all I can say is... oh God, it's the water fountain all over again!




- Greg Seltzer

A few things...

Sorry this took me so long, had major brain-freeze. I got stuck bad while writing my new MLSsoccer bit and then there was the re-tooling, and the re-tool re-tooling. Yeah, I'm here now...

#1 - Ring the bells! AC St. Louis has won its first ever match!

#2 - Greg Lalas' Monday Hangover hits on several hot MLS topics, including all those darn red cards.

#3 - We've talked a bit about the Nothing But Nets campaign against malaria at NSC, and here's another cool bit: a $30 donation at the Seattle Sounders shop will get you a Drew Carey game day garb bobblehead doll.

#4 - The Independent has put together an Alternative Team of the Year to the PFA side that came out last week and Brad Friedel makes the cut. Somehow, Clint Dempsey does not.

#5 - Who doesn't love a good Fake Sigi rant? This time, he slaps Nike around for their Playboy marketing of the new U.S. jersey. I agree with him, very boring and lame.

While we're talking respect for the ladies and soccer, Nutmeg Radio's Clive Longbottom-Fellow suggests more people try out the WPS.

#6 - FootyFinances urges the Prem not to make a silly, silly, stupid mistake out of greed.

#7 - And remember the FootyFinance post about parachute payments for relegated Prem clubs? Well, this is quickly turning into a battleground topic.

#8 - The Guardian's Louise Taylor talks about the job offers sure to come Steve McClaren's way after leading FC Twente to their first Dutch title in 84 years.

Yeah, and someone needs to come pluck Costa Rica ace Bryan Ruiz as well. He's rather problematic.

#9 - Finally, a bit of World Cup squad news from Europe: in-form Schalke forward Kevin Kuranyi will not be called up by Germany and Italy boss Marcello Lippi has named the holders' prep camp roster (29 players!!).



- Greg Seltzer

Who likes goals?

Hey, ya know how it's so totally super-mega awesome when a simple flub on the form makes Customs hold your new computer looking for a cut they don't deserve?!? Yeah, neither do I...

Let's begin with Hertha Berlin's Raffael. They may take the club's Bundesliga key, but they can never take away his ability to make Rene Adler want to eat his defenders.




Not only does NSC pal Phil Schoen get the call on Xavi's nasty free kick, but we all get a little sermonizing from Mr. Hudson.




There can't be too many things more unnerving for a keeper than watching Spurs midfielder Tom Huddlestone running onto one from 25 meters.




Okay, Marko Pantelic... this brand of short corner is acceptable, even by Ajax standards.




Celtic's Aiden McGeady brings the chip, but alas, there is no fish so good to go with it.




Is there anyone who takes this particular ball down to finish better than AS Roma's Francesco Totti? You'd think an Italian defense would be more alert to such things when he makes this run.




Finally, if you absolutely must watch the dagger go into Ajax title hopes for the season, FC Twente's Miroslav Stoch has the goods. I told you eons ago this kid was one to watch and this is the thanks I get.






- Greg Seltzer

MC Deuce gets the party started right (and at Jonathan Spector's expense)

Fulham ace Clint Dempsey has scored ahead of intermission to put his side up on crosstown rivals West Ham United. The match is now past the hour and it's 2-1 Cottagers after Carlton Cole hit one for each side.

UPDATE: It's ends 3-2 to hosts Fulham.





- Greg Seltzer

From the "Too flippin' good to be true" file

As I was sorting through some usual spring Sunday morning S365 duties, I came to the press release explaining that the Chicago Red Stars has defeated the Boston Breakers 2-0 in a Saturday night WPS contest.

It seemed nothing too extraordinary for a spring Sunday morning... report, box score... and then, I saw it. It was all the way near the bottom, something I normally wouldn't even notice.

There is a female WPS ref named Moo Hackett. It says so right there and I confirmed it was no typo. That's her, she exists. Now, I do not know how this moniker came to be given or used, but -

That. Is. AWESOME.

I have begun pondering a legal name change to "Woof".

Or no, wait! "RAWR".

Hellsyeah.




- Greg Seltzer

Tony Tony Tony has done it again

... and it feels gooooooood. Yeah.

Good luck finding a clip or even a photo of the guy in action, but Tony Taylor has played the late hero again, this time netting a 71st minute 1-1 equalizer at Fatima.

On the heels of his winner in the last match, Taylor secured the point that secures the club's safety in the Portuguese second flight.

Please do click the pic so you can read the photo credit. It's the right thing to do. Gotta give that credit.


- Greg Seltzer

Kickin' up dirt on the home stretch

I forgot to do this yesterday... oops. Things were a bit hectic, but all is not lost. There's still time to check the title status of those six leagues we love.

• Da Prem - With two to play, Chelsea lead Manchester United by a point and eight goals in differential. On Sunday, the Blues visit Liverpool, who are still in for a Champions League spot. The Red Devils, meanwhile, trek to nothing-to-play-for Sunderland, where they've won three straight.

• Serie A - Champions League finalists Inter Milan are two points up on Roma with three to play as they head out to face their title rivals' arch enemy - it'll be a confusing match for Lazio. The Giallorossi also hit the road, with a tilt at Parma.

• Bundesliga - With two games left, Bayern Munich are level on points with Schalke, but hold a seemingly insurmountable goal difference of +13. The leaders will host relegation battlers Bochum, while the chasers welcome warming third placers Werder Bremen.

• La Liga - Four matches from the finish line, Barcelona stand a point and four goals in differential above comic book nemesis Real Madrid. The first chess move occurs Saturday when the pacesetters visit Villarreal, where they dropped points six of the last eight times. On Sunday, Real Madrid hosts all but safe Osasuna.

• Ligue 1 - Having held second place Auxerre away on Friday night, Marseille will now host Carlos Bocanegra and Rennes on Wednesday holding a chance to secure their first French crown since 1992 with a victory. With three games remaining, L'OM are five points clear of Auxerre, who must travel to Lyon in midweek. With a goal differential to rival Marseille's, third place Lille can keep slim title hopes alive if the leaders slip by beating a pair of mid-tablers (Nancy at home on Sunday and at Toulouse on Wednesday).

• Eredivisie - We've about reached the moment of truth in the Netherlands. Either FC Twente will hold their nerve to win at NAC Breda (something they've done twice in a row, but also on just five of the last 16 trips) and claim their first national crown since 1926... orrrrrrr... they leave the door open for Ajax, one point back and on a 13-victory charge as they head to NEC Nijmegen in search of their first title since 2004. If Twente cannot post an result equal to the chaser (who has a +45 edge in goal differential), they will blow the championship.
  
  On Sunday afternoon at about 4.15 PM, either Enschede or Amsterdam is going to be a city of sheer joy with the street dancing to prove it.

- Greg Seltzer