Thoughts? Concerns? Jozy Altidore?

So Jozy was definitely, definitely not match fit.

Are we to be embarrassed? We'll sure hear plenty of Klinsmann's project speak in the coming days and weeks. Rightfully so, apparently. Still laying the sod on this bad boy. I'm certainly not hyperventilating (you really think Robbie Rogers, the guy who looks like Peggy from Mad Men, is first choice for 2014?) but those familiar strains from the boo birds (they kinda sound like Bradley, Bradley) are beginning to emerge again. This is just so typically, well, us. This is who we are. Embrace it and enjoy the ride. And Brek Shea. Enjoy him too.

News and notes from round the net-o-sphere:

- It ain't all bad, but there's certainly some there
- Wo ist der Gewinn, herr Klinsmann?
- More feistiness, more frustration
- Arbitrary player ratings? Don't mind if I do!
- Three thoughts from Grant Wahl for your troubles

And I'd like to echo R.I.P. thoughts for Bobby Rhine. I'll speak for all Texas soccer fans when I say that his presence on the field and then voice became synonymous with FCD and good broadcasting in general. And who could forget this gem, which won him MLS call of the year? His absence will be felt.

- Will Parchman

Uh oh.

I've talked to Gertjan Verbeek. He can be an intense dude. And now he's mad at Klinsi for dragging Jozy Altidore to L.A. and back. Of course, I questioned the logic of scheduling friendlies a half a world and four days apart, but it seems a bit much for the respectable AZ coach to take to the media mic in this manner. No?

I've been busy getting ready to get to Brussels (and buying a new bicycle after my gear broke), so this took me too long to get up and you may have seen something about it. Nevertheless, you know my rule. The meat of his blast, published in Voetbal International:

"That's eleven hours flying. And then that doesn't factor in the time difference. This is very dumb of Klinsmann. This serves no one... I have tried to stop it, but he did not appear lenient. And Jozy himself said he didn't want to go... Klinsmann has been appointed the successor to [Bob] Bradley and clearly he wants to draw his own lines. Whereas it concerns all parties, is it not more important that Jozy gets fit faster? It is pure self-importance from a man who had but one year as manager with a club and got fired. That says enough."

Gosh, I thought Klinsi was a pushover to clubs? It'll be interesting to see how many minutes Jozy gets tomorrow night.




- Greg Seltzer

Top 5 MLS Cup Dark Horses

Did this irrevocably alter RSL's season? We'll see soon enough.

With MLS taking a break this weekend (good on 'ya, RSL) and the playoffs breathing down our necks, this is an appropriate time to take a look at some teams with a chance to break into the picture with an impressive, albeit unexpected playoff run a la Colorado last postseason. As a prereq, I'm not picking any current automatic qualifiers. That would be the top three of each division, all of which have shown plenty in terms of postseason moxie. 

We know about the Galaxy. Seattle and FCD have won in Mexico this year and appear locked and loaded to carry home a first MLS Cup. But what about the rest? The rope-a-dopers. Fear not, for NSC is here.

5. Portland

One thing I've learned this year: Portland can absolutely beat anybody and lose to anybody.

There are few more dangerous qualities about a team than one that has nothing to lose. The Timbers have often played the part this year. Exhibit No. 1 for Timbers fans has to be the 3-0 thrashing Portland dealt the Galaxy earlier this year. For a recent call-up squad that has more than a little to prove, there was no better legitimacy-gainer than dropping the most talented side in the league. The question is whether Portland can beat the teams it should beat to qualify.

The Timbers are, right now, even with New York on points and the last team out of the playoffs on goal differential. The bonus? Two of Portland's next three matches are at home, where the Timbers are nearly unassailable in first-year MLS team terms. Portland is 8-4-2 at home this year, which is an absurd record for an "expansion" side. The trouble is that the Timbers are abysmal away, winning a single match from 12 possible results. With a glut of attacking prowess that is admittedly hit-or-miss in many games (Kalif Alhassan has more potential than he knows what to do with), the Timbers are a scary team if they get hot in the last two months. If they even get one home playoff match, they'll win it. That's how impressive Jeld-Wen has been this year. But one brief bit of advice. Stop wearing the hell out of the Onward Rose City chant. It would make watching PTFC matches so, so much more enjoyable.

4. Real Salt Lake

RSL may not seem like an enormous dark horse. Their fourth-place position in the West is slightly misleading since, on points alone, they'd be clear atop the East by two points. Then again, so would the West's top five teams. But teams have proven its possible to conquer Rio Tinto this year. Seattle snapped RSL's 29-game home unbeaten streak in the league with a 2-1 win in May, and Columbus made Sandy, Utah home in July with a 2-0 win. Both results were unthinkable last year.

Don't forget the continued absence of star playmaker Javier Morales either. That ripped off the attacking rudder, or so it seemed. The reason why I like RSL for an inhuman postseason rise? Goal differential. Nick Rimando is a slippery smooth glovesman who nearly never falters, and as a result RSL have conceded just 21 goals, the second-lowest total in the league. And they've outscored opponents by 14 goals to boot. You hear so much about defense coming to bear in the playoffs, and I put the Nat Borchers/Jamison Olave pairing in the middle up with any group in the league, including FCD's George John and Ugo Ihemelu. In the playoffs, a resolute back line counts for more than anything.

3. Chicago

And here we have our first team currently out of the playoffs if the season ended today. This is probably one you could get me on, since Chicago has been pretty bad for a pretty long time. But I'm an eternal optimist, and things have looked up of late. The Fire qualified for the US Open Cup final in October with a 2-1 win over Richmond last week, and we all know what they say about momentum builders at the right time.

The Fire were 3-1-3 in the month of August, and they won three games in a row for the first time in two years to close out the month in grand fashion. Dominic Oduro is the most obvious acquisition with a mind for team improvement. Indeed, Oduro has nine goals this year, tied for fifth in the league and by far the best single season total of his MLS career. But the unsung signing is undoubtedly TFC castaway Dan Gargan, whom Chicago acquired on July 28 to fill in at right back. He's appeared in five straight matches and has shored up a sticking point for the club. It will take some doing for Chicago to qualify for the playoffs, but following on their recent performance arc, they'll be there just in time to make some noise.

2. Philadelphia

Nobody in a right state figured the Union would be able to keep hold of the East's top spot for long, but the fact that they were there at all is an impressive feat. Currently sitting on 34 points after a 2-1 loss to RSL, Philly has some work to do to qualify for the playoffs, but they're in good jockeying position. The Red Bulls are two points back for the last playoff spot, and Philly has a fairly favorable schedule left with the Revs, TFC and Portland at home still on the docket. Crucially though, Faryd Mongragon, your NSC pick for the top league pick-up of the year through July, is injured, which could throw this whole thing into uncertain orbit.

Still, I like Philly's makeup. They are a team oriented around defense that has added an important offensive piece in Freddy Adu, who may or may not turn the playoffs on its head depending on how he's deployed and how he reacts. I still think Philly's lack of a target forward could be their undoing in a low-scoring match that will rely on one big kick to decide it. Carlos Ruiz's departure is still rippling through the front office. But lets be honest. Peter Nowak has to be considered a miracle worker for his project this year. Counting the Union out on any kind of meaningful postseason run is beyond silly.

1. New York

The Red Bulls are a perfect example of the failings of the DP model in its current format. New York is so top heavy with talent that the slightest breeze topples the Red Bulls' threadbare roster. Unfortunately, New York has had the perfect storm this year. Luke Rodgers has struggled to stay healthy. Rafa Marquez has been wildly inconsistent. Thierry Henry is, well, he's Henry, but he's starved for reliable service. DeRo is gone, busting in goals from all angles in DC. Agudelo's season hasn't quite lived up to promise. And then there is the bench, or lack thereof. New York is painfully thin where it counts, which is why Hans Backe's crew is having what could very well turn out to be the most disappointing season in MLS history. When you load up on pricy DPs at the expense of development in this system without a suitable backup plan, this happens.

Incredibly, New York is only hanging on to the last wild card spot not by points but by goal differential. With the Timbers and Red Bulls both on 32 points, there's no telling how it shakes out with precious few games left. BUT, and this is a mammoth but, there is hope. There is no question that the Red Bulls are a sleeping giant, but the fact that they've been sleepwalking through large swaths of the season is troubling. Assuming they can even make it to the postseason, Henry is still the best player in the league. Agudelo still has the ability to produce gasps. And Joel Lindpere is still a stalwart in midfield. So yes, there is hope. But a lot of things have to fall in place. No safe bet.

- Will Parchman

Party of 20, please.

So these are the USMNT cats Sean and I will see in Brussels on Tuesday...

G: Bill Hamid (D.C.United), Tim Howard (Everton)

D: Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Edgar Castillo (Club América), Timmy Chandler (FC Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brøndby), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)

M: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Jose Torres (Pachuca)

F: Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Jozy Altidore (AZ), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Brek Shea (FC Dallas)



- Greg Seltzer

On Tap: USA v Costa Rica

Still exacting payback for that Saprissa disaster, I see.

- Charlie Davies remembers the last time he played Costa Rica
- Attack-minded is the idea of the night
- No hype here... just results (hopefully)
- Michael Umana is right at home tonight
- Relief for all of us, Mr. Spector
- A WaPo preview

- Will Parchman

Jack's back to chuck Blazer a grenade

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the Caribbean...

Jack Warner, the infamous former CONCACAF boss and FIFA Vice-President, is back in the news.

Still smarting from his banishment in June after almost three decades in the corridors of football power, Warner has taken aim at Chuck Blazer, his long-term colleague who reported him to the FIFA Ethics Committee for reasons hitherto unclear.

Now, if he is to be believed, the reason was money.

Andrew Jennings had reported several large sums moving from the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) to offshore accounts in the Bahamas and the Cayman Islands belonging to Blazer, which the American explained as repayments of personal loans from Warner, mistakenly routed through the CFU.

Warner however, strongly implies Blazer is lying.

"These were absolutely not in repayment for any loan," said the former FIFA kingmaker. "I have never had occasion to borrow money from Blazer. These monies were paid from the Caribbean Football Union’s account with funds received from FIFA...I do not know why Blazer is pretending otherwise."

If true, it would not be the first time Chuck has struggled with truth. In 2006, a New York judge famously branded Blazer in a FIFA rights dispute as "generally without credibility" due to his "evasive answers" and "fabricated" testimony.

The 66 year-old, as Jennings revealed, has been milking CONCACAF for years, creaming off 10% of the association's sponsorship and TV rights and receiving large payments above and beyond his salary, all funneled into his offshore accounts. As Blazer's blog confirms, he certainly lives the champagne lifestyle with frequent trips to high-end restaurants, overseas jaunts paid for by FIFA, an apartment in Trump Tower and properties in Florida, North Carolina and the Bahamas.

So vast is the New Yorker's girth from FIFA's largesse he apparently does not fit into their limousines anymore, so soccer's governing body pays for a van to transport him around Switzerland. For when he requires a little more style, he can call upon a vintage Mercedes worth $130,000, parked at soccer HQ in Zurich, all expenses paid.

A shameless celeb-shagger, Blazer proudly splashes a photo of him and Nelson Mandela no less on his blog's homepage, along with shots of several world dignitaries paying homage to him, including Britain's Prince William, who was privately furious at being lied to by Blazer and others at the World Cup vote. He has also looked after his family, handing a FIFA job to his daughter and a CONCACAF one to his son.

Standard operating procedure for FIFA fat-cats, you might think. The tipping-point, according to Warner, was a Blazer demand for yet more cash: "His attitude significantly deteriorated," claims Warner, "when after I had paid him the total of $750,000, I told him that I would not not pay an additional $250,000 that he was requesting be forwarded to his private account...instead...Blazer treacherously planned and coordinated an attack on myself and the CFU."

So after Warner and Mohammed Bin-Hammam bit the dust, the clock is ticking on 'The Third Man' in this triangle of corruption, a man initially praised by some sections of the press for an apparently noble act of whistle-blowing. With the FBI now on Blazer's case, the night of the cash-bags at the Hyatt in Trinidad last May could be about to claim its third victim.

Interestingly, Warner said in his statement that both Werner Fricker and Alan Rothenberg at US Soccer opposed Blazer's promotion within CONCACAF and FIFA. If only they had been listened to...

Warner had promised "a tsunami" after being ushered out of football but beyond revealing FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke believed Qatar had bought the 2022 World Cup, no ill winds have blown until now.

Watching thieves fall out is good fun, and Bin Hammam's blog has never been so readable since he was given a life-ban by a committee he now labels "The Kangaroo Court-FIFA Branch", but the day when soccer is run by honest and transparent men and women instead of self-serving cowboys still seems a long way off.

-Sean O'Conor