Thursday, May 21, 2009

Even Megan Fox Digs Olivia Wilde...


No soccer today-- just thought this quote from Megan Fox and a couple pics from the upcoming Yankette of the Month Olivia Wilde photoshoot would spruce things up a bit.

A full address regarding Freddy Adu and the likely Costa Rica/Honduras rosters tomorrow as well.

Apparently, Megan Fox (undeniably Yankette quality herself) has a crush on our current Miss May:

“I could see myself in a relationship with [Olivia Wilde] — she is so sexy she makes me want to strangle a mountain ox with my bare hands. She’s mesmerizing.”

-- Megan Fox

Uhm. Strangle a mountain ox. I can't do any better than that.

Monday, May 18, 2009

"OVER THERE" Commercial and Boca Update


Just in case anyone was curious--

I've adopted this as the "unofficial official" US Soccer commercial of our blog:

Check it out !!!


It's a great ad, as is this longer one, with fantastic music, great sound, and although a bit dated-- has me ready to run through a wall. I love the footage of the team getting off the bus in Poland last year.

TWO WEEKS TILL QUALIFIERS RESUME.

In other news-- Carlos Bocanegra, seen top screen scoring in the French Ligue Final, played 90 but his side Rennes remain two points shy of Europa after a tough draw with relegation threatened Nantes this weekend. Nothing against "the Captain", but that's a long summer on a defender to turn around and play Europa after the World Cup, and we sure do need him fit for the final push to South Africa.

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Dempsey and Fulham continue Charge to Europa


Congrats to Duece, who continues to impress at Craven Cottage !!

Sure-- it's the equivalent of the NIT. Don't tell that to the fans or the players of anyone trying to qualify for the new "Europa" tournament (formerly the UEFA Cup). Clint Dempsey, recently named Fulham's player of the month for April, thanks to a brace that keyed a critical win vs. Man City, and his Fulham side have to secure a point from Tim Howard's side, Europa bound Everton, at Craven Cottage next week and they will get through in seventh position in the EPL. The Whites have been devastatingly effective at Craven Cottage and with Everton looking to the FA Cup final, they should be able to secure at least the point they need. This favorable scenario was set up by a fine performance and 1-0 win today at relegation-threatened side Newcastle.

As for Howard, he and Everton eliminated Jon Spector's West Ham United Side from Europa contention with a convincing 3-1 win today at Goodison, where Howard made a fine save on Luis Boa Morte early in the second half and the Toffees rode a questionable red card decision to a big home win and fifth spot in the EPL. For highlights of that match, check this video out here.

Friday, May 15, 2009

Friday: Gooch and Jozy and Stevie C. Transfer and Return Questions and Quick Answers


Two things of note this Friday. First, it appears Steve Cherundolo is targeting a Gold Cup return to action. This will allow him to play lesser competition and regain his form before the next Bundesliga season and of course South Africa next summer. As Ravi Ubha notes, Cherundolo appears simply thankful this rather freakish thigh injury didn't occur next spring or the American right back would be absent from a second consecutive World Cup. Get fit Stevie C !!!!

This leaves right back for the Confederations Cup wide open-- with candidates from all walks including the Yanks other San Diego dude-- Frankie Hejduk-- Jon Spector, Marvell Wynne (who WILL get a look in the Gold Cup all firmly in the mix and the recently reserve side relegated Heath Pearce left to wonder what happened. Jon Bornstein's pace and his close connection with Bob Bradley means he can't be discounted either.

Second-- the whirlwind speculation around Belgian's Standard Liege stud and Clemson alum Oguchi Onyewu continues... linked anywhere from Real Betis to Marseille to Chelsea-- Gooch can more or less do what he wants this summer because his contract with Liege has expired and he enters the transfer window a free agent. Harsh financial times make this interesting-- because Gooch's form will doubtlessly allow him to demand a high bidder-- but that could work against him if he hopes to attach to a side assured of Europa or Champions League football. Wolves and Birmingham City are early hopefuls-- but Gooch has made it clear that a more competitive English club would easily be the frontrunner, despite Marseille's intense interest and his flirtation with Real Betis.

We'll see. Be safe. And hope Jozy Altidore escapes Spain to a very interested and striker starved Stoke City....or even better-- the soon to be Jo-Less European bound and FA CUP Finalist Everton.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Obama Wants to Host-- 2018

A final note for the day:

Much has been written about the US bid to host the 2018 World Cup. It's too far off to know what the squad would look like-- but history indicates host nations perform extremely well in the World Cup, and given the bump in popularity soccer received in the States after the 1994 Cup-- this is an opportunity that the President is right to support and correct to believe may make the popularity of the sport preferred to Pop Warner football currently by young people a permanent thing in the United States.

Let's hope so. On that note, an article about why Obama's weight likely means we will win the bid, and a video link of an exclusive Univision interview with the President broaching the subject, for your viewing pleasure.

Yankette of the Month - Olivia Wilde





To the poster go the spoils.... and I really, really, really just couldn't give the honor to Lady Gaga, even during an off month. Celebrating today her victory over Megan Fox in the Maxim Top 100-- Yanks are Coming loves an underdog. As such, you get the 25 year old New Yorker. Someone send her a Red Bulls jersey.

May Musings A Month Before South Africa, Part I




At least one of your bloggers is still kicking after a too long hiatus-- then again with the nationals on their longest MNT break before 2010, it is appropriate that we take in the end of the EPL Season and the conclusion of the Champions League. (In case you wondered-- I think Barca will win the tournament, despite the fact that they needed one of the worst refereed matches in history to survive their dual with Chelsea. I almost....ALMOST...feel bad for the Blues. I'm a bit surprised in fact that Hans Gruber (who actually owns Chelsea-- little known fact)-- has not pulled a "Mr. Norwegian Referee will not be joining us...for the rest of his life" moment in the week following the Swindle at Stamford.



All joking aside-- we are nearing a point where Bob Bradley will have to choose a side for the Confederations Cup. Speculation abounds about the Gold Cup that follows, and whether the US will play a young side similar to the one it sent to the Copa (with disastrous results) two years ago-- but there can be little doubt that it will be the full, "A Team" American side in Pretoria, South Africa on June 15 as the Yanks take on the Azzurri in a rematch of one of the most exciting games played in Germany at World Cup 2006. The question then remains-- what exactly does that "A Team" look like. A look at the form of some of the Yanks abroad indicates a few certainties. The first is Michael Bradley, who appears poised to be the Claudio Reyna anchor of the American midfield for the next two World Cups.




I mention Bradley first not because he is the player in best form abroad or even home in MLS-- though one cannot argue about his form despite his failed penalty two weeks ago against Eintracht Frankfurt. He was the best player Gladbach had against Bayern last week and should have equalized late, and has been really their best player for half the year. If a transfer to a mid-table EPL side is not available- it may serve the national team, and Bradley, for that matter, best if he remains with the surely relegated Gladbach side until the end of 2010. This will assure his continued development and pitch time, and his confidence may even soar against the lesser competition of the Bundesliga Two.

That aside handled-- I mention Michael first because the Yanks most crucial problem heading not only into the summer but for 2010 will be figuring out who holds the central midfield with Michael. Several players will get their shot. In no particular order-- the most likely candidates are Mo Edu, Pablo Mastroeni, Sacha Klejstan, Jose Francisco Torres and Ricardo Clark. Benny Feilhaber will need a whale of a Gold Cup to force himself into the discussion to even travel with the Yanks to South Africa next summer. What is my preference ?

Thanks for asking.

The Yanks are Coming still supports Sacha Klejstan. The justifications for this support have become a bit more tenuous certainly after a so-so effort against El Tri and a poor effort that forced substitution against El Salvador. The latter is even more concerning because it continues a trend where outside of the Olympics-- Klejstan has failed to prove that he can be as effective a force when not on American soil. Jon and I support Sacha, however, on the grounds that he provides the most creative and offensive flair to support the ball-hawking Michael Bradley. That said-- his form until last week's man of the match worthy effort against San Jose has been troubling-- and he must show the elder Bradley more offense, especially given Bob's continued tendency to want a defend first mentality on his senior side.

Jeff Carlisle writes much more about other candidates here, but I think the most likely scenario to unfold in a month is as follows. Bradley trusts history, rather than his gut, and starts the red carded three years ago Mastroeni, against Italy in 32 days. His tenacity on defense, physicality and consistency are all bread winning traits, and one cannot argue with his sheer number of caps. He's played against those sides before and won't be intimidated. At 33-- he is no spring chicken, and the concern is 33 rapidly becoming 34 by next summer.

Against Brazil-- and a bit will depend on result against the Azzurri, but I expect a tactical change by Bradley. I'm not him except on Pro Evolution Soccer-- so I can't guarantee a thing-- but I would imagine he will opt for more creative flair and offense against the Brazilians, as the Yanks will not be able to escape with a point unless they find the onion bag. Klejstan seems poised to get the call here-- but Jose Francisco Torres has form that may force Bradley's hand and get him onto the field for what will truly be "his shot" at cementing his position. Torres is perhaps the best young passer in the American pool, and he calmed the American midfield down markedly against El Salvador and was an impact sub against T and T as well. His pace compensates somewhat for his diminutive stature-- and Brazil may be the best chance to optimize his skill set.

The wild card in the whole lot is Mo Edu, who has impressed none other than Walter Smith immensely in the past few weeks at Rangers in Glasgow. He's still young and wildly inconsistent-- sometimes even in the same match-- but he has filled in admirably for the drunken Barry Ferguson with sobering performances that have earned him the praise of the fickled Rangers fan base. If Edu can translate his athletic ability, physical prowess and tremendous defense to a formula that equals international consistency-- he would be an upgrade to the aging but consistent Mastroeni.

For more-- I strongly recommend the link to Jeff's article above.

The second cemented spot, or spots-- appears to be the Dempsey/Donovan flank. Donovan is far more impactful running onto the ball and downhill, and his presence is a must for American W's. The perfect complement is the extraordinary versatility of Clint Dempsey, who has really emerged as "The Franchise" at Fulham and seems ready, along with Daniel Murphy, to get the Whites to Europe in the next two weeks. His development from a defensive minded mid at Furman to a steady, sharp passing, creative mid who can even play striker in the EPL is nothing short of remarkable and a tribute to Deuce's tireless work ethic and desire to get better. It's even caught the eye of the sometimes brutally negative Jen Chang-- who gently compares Dempsey's ascendence to none other than EPL POTY Steven Gerrard.

This flank attacking situation will complement young Jozy Altidore, who still can't find the field at Xerez (WHO KNOWS)-- but has shown flashes of becoming if not a World Class Striker at least a consummate European professional striker in the near future.

Whither Freddy Adu? What to do about the left back spot and the ailing Steve Cherundolo ? Where does Demarcus fit in? All solid questions that I will try to answer, maybe with a little help from the irreplaceable Jon Levy-- in the next week as we prepare for the Confederations Cup. I'm actually getting excited for that tournament already. It's nearly go time.

Yankette of the Month to follow, tonight or tomorrow. Be safe.