USMNT Venues in Brazil 2014

This map shows the 3 group stage venues and the two possible venues in the round of 16 for the US Men's National Team at the Brazil World Cup in 2014. The orange dot in Sao Paulo represents where the team will train and the purple lines represent the travel to reach the other venues. Click on the symbols for more info;

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Tim's Beard Says Timmmyyyyyy!

Remember when the cry was loudest for Brad Guzan to supplant Tim Howard as the U.S.A number one in goal? It was shortly after this;

Howard deserved some criticism for the goals that occurred in that game but there was always a bigger break down before the final shot was made. The momentum for Brad Guzan has swayed with U.S. fans recently, as Tim Howard has made a number of strong performances to help catapult Everton up near the top four in the Premier League. On a day where Aston Villa and Guzan fell to relegation candidate Fulham, Howard shined brightly for Everton as they declared their intentions at the Emirates with a well earned draw against Arsenal. If you missed it, please see the extended highlights below;

USMNT To Embark on a Magical, Amazon, Soccer Journey

Here is a map that gives an overview of the travel required for the US men's national team next summer in Brazil. The US nat's will be using the training facilities of Sao Paulo Futebol Clube as their home base, making trips to Natal, Manaus, and Recife for the group stage games. Map below the fold;

USMNT Player Tweets About World Cup Draw

Figured I'd collect some player reactions to the draw (more to come later);

Sexy group #LetsDoThis
— Aron Jóhannsson (@aronjo20) December 6, 2013

Altidore Strikes Back??

According to soccerway.com, Jozy Altidore is being given the start today by Sunderland with Fabio Borini as his strike partner. Further changes are present in the midfield where Seb Larsson finds a spot on the bench to make way for Sung-Yong Ki. If Sunderland can manage to avoid a red card (never a given for this team) I think Altidore will take advantage of his opportunity, play well, and (yelp!) score his first goal of the Premier League campaign.

MLS Cup Playoffs, Quick Picks 11/3/2013

Houston vs New York

• Both teams are entering this one on a high so hopefully we see some positive soccer today
• I'm expecting Houston to come out swinging, look for them to push numbers early to try and score quickly
• Red Bulls will match the intensity and earn a result on the road, Houston 2 - New York 2
• The Red Bulls will protect their lead at home and win on aggregate, Houston 3 - New York 4

RSL vs LA Galaxy

• These familiar foes should provide the best soccer in this round of the playoffs
• RSL is still searching for their most consistent front line and has been shuffling their outside back in recent weeks
• The dangerous Galaxy attack, spearheaded by Robbie Keane, will find a way to break the disciplined RSL and win the game 3 - 1
• RSL will rebound at home to take a two goal lead but the Galaxy will find a way to take on back, winning on aggregate LA Galaxy 4 - RSL 3

MLS Cup Playoff Predictions, 11/2/2013

Sporting Kansas City vs New England Revolution

• Two teams with strong defenses open the Eastern Conference semifinals this afternoon
• Both teams finished the season strong, look for continued solid play from each team
• New England's youth goes head to head with a more seasoned KC team
• Look for the attacking talent of the Revolution to earn the result for the home side before Kansas City wins the series at Sporting Park. Today's result: Revolution 2 - KC 1, Aggregate Result: Kansas City 3 - Revolution 2

Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders

• This one should be wild as the teams from the northwest look to reach the western conference finals and the fans of each team brag about how they are the coolest, most authentic supporters in the history of soccer
• Good attacking players, turf, football lines, and a huge crowd should turn this one into a prime-time spectacle
• Bad blood between the two sides could produce some audacious challenges and plenty of cards finding their way out of the referee's pockets
• Caleb Porter and the Portland Timbers should find a way to grind out a result tonight in Seattle, Timbers 2 - Sounders 2. Look for Portland to frustrate Seattle in their home leg and win the game 1 - 0 to take the series. 

Bedoya nets winner for Nantes as a late substitute

Ale Bedoya managed to bag the winner for Nantes yesterday, shortly after he entered the game. Watch the video below and see him score with a good far post run; (goal sequence starts at 5:15)

An incredible finish for CONCACAF

The last day Hex drama is a big hit for CONCACAF as the USA, Costa Rica, and Honduras have booked their spots in Brazil for the 2014 World Cup. Graham Zusi and Aron Johannsson netted late goals that might as well have been machetes into the throats of Panamanians, thus sending Mexico to a playoff with New Zealand. Twitter was quivering over the results, here are a few of my favorites;

Did you know: New Zealand has 4.3 million people. Did you know: New Zealand has 60 million sheep. Did you know: New Zealand is awesome
— Kevin Lincoln (@KTLincoln) October 16, 2013

Zusi is in the locker room like.... @BestSoccerShow pic.twitter.com/gqFDL9JTwD
— D. Ringo (@i_amringo) October 16, 2013

. @KyleBeckerman tells me Panamanian players were begging US to take it easy on the field. "I told them I got to play hard to get to Brazil"
— roger bennett (@rogbennett) October 16, 2013

goals;

Part 1: Salt Lake Lineup Decisions; Who should start at forward for the playoff run?

Real Salt Lake has spent this season cycling through 5 different players at the forward position. Each player has had good moments and each player has drifted into obscurity for extended time periods. This article is an attempt to identify the most productive striker pair that Real Salt Lake can deploy heading into the playoffs. 

The Players:

Olmes Garcia - Fast, physical, and a constant nuisance to opposing defenses, Olmes stole the hearts of Salt Lake City fans early in the season with a fantastic finish in Vancouver and a dominating substitute performance against the LA Galaxy. 

Garcia pays tribute to a friend

Garcia has an impressive 5 goals and 4 assists in under 1,000 minutes of league play. He has not found the net, however, since July 13th in a 3 - nil win at Dallas and he is yet to score a goal in a game in which he starts. It seems clear that Garcia helps his team the most as a 2nd half substitute. For now. Expect to see this guy earn a consistent starting role in the next 2 years but he's just not there yet.

Devon Sandoval - Sandoval is another exciting, young striker on the Salt Lake roster and he has scored some clutch goals for the club in his rookie campaign. Sandoval was crucial in the team's Open Cup run and has chipped in 3 league goals. Devon, as oppose to Garcia, has relished the starting role, with all 3 league goals coming in matches where he started.

Bruiser

Sandoval is still learning what Jason Kreis expects from his players and although the work rate is there, Sandoval still has a ways to go before his tactical awareness and participation in build up play are where they need to be. Look for him to be a factor late in games when coming off the bench. The possible exception being if Saborio runs cold but I have a tough time seeing Kreis bench him as long as he is healthy.  

To be continued....

Everton v Manchester City Recap

In Early Saturday action; (This was going to be a more thorough post recapping the weekends soccer but I got busy, so it's been reduced to this...)

• Romelu Lukaku scored an early goal (16'), giving him, at the time, 4 goals in 151 Premier League minutes in an Everton shirt. Lukaku finished the game on 4 goals in 232 minutes. 

hgf by 21cad

• Manchester City struck back immediately with a goal from Negredo. City kept the pressure on, culminating in a 45' strike from Aguero into the far side of the net. Aguero managed to find the far corner from a tight angle and just blasted past Tim Howard's feet. 
• City continued to dictate the game but Everton were unlucky to give up a soft penalty for a foul on Zabaleta in the 69th minute. The misfortune continued as Tim Howard guessed the direction of Aguero's shot and reached his hand to the ball, only to have the ball bounce of the inside of the post, into Howard's head, and then backwards into the goal.

31 by 21cad

FULHAM - STOKE;

• 
  

European Cup Day (9/24/2013) : Some Highlights and Reactions

Tuesday Cup Action in Europe ;

• Borussia Dortmund v 1860 Munchen
• Young American Bobby Wood started and finished on the bench for this match at the Allianz Arena against the talented squad from Dortmund
• First half ended scoreless with Dortmund dominating possession but looking slight vulnerable on the counter

Baggy gray sweats tucked into tape around the ankles

• After finding the crossbar twice, Dortmund was able to take the lead through an Aubameyang penalty, drawn by Marco Reus
• Mkhitaryan found the net before the end of extra time to seal the win for Dortmund
• An all-around good match, both teams can take positives away from this one

• Hoffenheim v Energie Cottbus
• Fabian Johnson played all 120 minutes in this DFB Pokal match
• Like Dortmund, Hoffenheim waited until extra time to punish their opponent
• Final : Hoffenheim 3 - Cottbus 0
• http://www.livematch.goal.com/home/locale/en-us/?matchId=1568127&ICID=OP

• Sunderland v Peterborough United
• Jozy Altidore started and played 85' in Sunderland's first game under caretaker Kevin Ball
• Giaccerini tapped in the game winner in the first half
• Altidore was a step or two back of being able to get on the end of the cross
• Final : Sunderland 2 - Perborough 0

• Tottenham v Aston Villa
• Brad Guzan played the backup role as Tottenham expunged Villa from the league cup with a score of 4 - 0
• The first Tottenham goal was exquisite, see gif
• Highlights :

Colorado Rapids : Should We Be Paying More Attention?

On June 29th the Colorado Rapids came from behind to beat the Impact in Montreal. The win snapped a 3 game losing streak for the Rapids and propelled them into a two and a half month stretch where they went 7-1-4 in the league.




Colorado has matched up well with the best of the western conference; beating the LA Galaxy twice, going undefeated in 3 games against Real Salt Lake, and managing a tie with Seattle at Century Link Field. Colorado plays Portland this Friday (NBCSN) with the chance to take even more points from a team near the top of the western conference.

Colorado is not exactly sneaking up on anybody, they are third in the most recent MLSsoccer.com power rankings, but most of the media attention remains on Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake and even Portland. Does Colorado's young roster have enough talent and exuberance (maybe ignorance?) to finish out the season in the top five (or three) of the western conference? Do guys like Edson Buddle and Marvel Wynne provide enough leadership to make the Rapids believe they can beat the Galaxy or Sounders in a two-game series?

If Colorado finishes 4th in the west and faces Portland in the playoff round, at home, then they will prove a very difficult task for an equally inexperienced Timbers team. Beyond that, if the regular season is any indication, the Rapids are capable of stealing a series from one of the top 3 in the western conference.

Selected Highlights from the Weekend of 9/15/2013 ;

CONCACAF Players :

• Jozy Altidore was disallowed an apparent goal that would have tied Sunderland's game with Arsenal. The referee awarded a free kick for the push on the edge of the penalty box ;

Image from 101greatgoals.com

• Giovanni Dos Santos scored an equalizer for Villareal in their game against Real Madrid ;

• Tim Howard and Everton managed a shutout against Chelsea in a 1 -0 win ;

Everton vs Chelsea 1:0 MOTD by footballdaily1

• Jose Torres played 90 minutes for Tigres in a 1 - 0 win against Cruz Azul ;

• Alejandro Bedoya played 75' for Nantes in a 1 - 0 victory over Sochaux ; 
• Bedoya reportedly played in a central midfield position.
• Aron Johannsson continued his wizardry from the penalty spot (approx. 2:40) in a 3 - 0 win for AZ Alkmaar against Go Ahead Eagles ; 

• Club Tijuana featured Edgar Castillo, Greg Garza, and Paul Arriola in a 2 - 2 draw at Chivas Guadalajara ; 

Eddie Johnson is USMNT No. 2 striker whether you like it or not...

Eddie Johnson is having a great year for the United States National Team. His form for Seattle Sounders is improving too. A large portion of the US fan-base does not care. Eddie Johnson could score 15 more goals through the end of the MLS playoffs and people would not care. The US has Aron Johansson and in the minds of many fans, he is the No.2 striker, absolutely. Many would even like to see Johansson in place of Dempsey or Altidore. Johansson has played a total of about 20 minutes for the United States. That 20 minutes was enough to convince a large portion of the US fan base that he is the guy for the future. He dribbled around a couple defenders and he took a shot on goal. He made a smart play to pull the ball back and conserve a 1 goal lead instead of forcing a cross from a deep position. This means he is the best fit to play forward for the USA, undoubtedly. Altidore is going to fail at Sunderland. Dempsey is past it, hasn't been good since Fulham. Eddie Johnson has always been terrible and he has a personality, so he sucks. All of this means the US needs Johansson on the field and they need it now! EXCEPT IT DOESN'T...

This young Icelander has the US fan base more stoked than Freddy Adu in 2004

Watch the first two minutes of Tuesday night's USA vs Mexico game, you will see exactly what Eddie Johnson brought to that game. Within the first 20 seconds, Demarcus Beasley receives the ball under pressure and proceeds to loft a pass forward with no apparent target. Johnson reads the pass, uses his athleticism to get under the chipped ball, and retains possession for the US. A minute later Eddie uses his speed and physical presence to force a clearance out of bounds and win the ball for his team. Johnson set the tone early and El Tri's backline was tentative around him all night. The American national team needs a good target up top to help them alleviate pressure in the midfield. The American's first choice striker, Jozy Altidore, fills this need excellently. Their number two striker should be someone who can step in and do the similar things as Jozy. Eddie Johnson can do just that and he does it well.



Lighting-rod Eddie Johnson
 

USA v Mexico : 9/10/2013 - Player Grades - Instant Reaction

• Tim Howard - 9 - Following a questionable performance, Tim Howard answered strong. He was consistent early on, culminating in a crucial save on an own goal chance. Insane save around 43'. Was in player's ears all night, which is crucial from a keeper. Showed a willingness to leave his line. 
• Omar Gonzalez - 8 - Crucial in keeping Mexico out of the goal in the first 20 minutes. Misjudged a ball played over the top and Jermaine Jones saved the play. Always dangerous on set plays. 
• Clarence Goodson - 7.5 - Showed up to break up very dangerous passes. Provided a needed aerial presence when Omar got sucked wide right. Passing was shaky at times, especially early. Common theme for the team so not that big of a deal. 
• Demarcus Beasley - 7 - Passing was suspect throughout match but other than the left back ran rampant. Willingness to get up and down was exemplary and his dribbling was exquisite. Did well tracking back and competed for headers. Classic moments of clumsiness, almost scored an own goal. 
• Fabian Johnson - 6 - Reinforced the idea that he is a better outside midfielder (perhaps even central) than he is an outside fullback. Decision making and composure in compromising spaces was questionable, especially early on. Work ethic was fantastic. Overlapped at any opportunity and was always there when he needed to be on defense. Service is obviously, and understandably, better when he plays on the left. Hamstring issue forced him out at half. I really thought he was set up for a good 2nd. 
•  Kyle Beckerman - 6.5 - For whatever reason, the accuracy Beckerman's passing shows for Real Salt Lake has not yet shone through for the national team. Until the end of the game, his passes seemed a little rushed and slightly misjudged. Silly challenge in the 15th min.. Other than that, this guy was exactly what he needed to be. He showed up in the right spot, consistently, in attack and defense. He challenged physically all game and never seemed discouraged. Allowed Jones the freedom to roam and search for the game. 
• Jermaine Jones - 7.5 - Long balls were much more on point than in the costa rica game. He is dangerous on outside shot attempts. Great recovery run to protect Omar in the 24th min. Received praise from Twellman, which I see as a positive. 
• Alejandro Bedoya - 7 - Relentless in his running, always showed a propensity to get back and defend. Right side of Bedoya and F. Johnson targeted early in the game by Mexico. Bedoya is more than capable of tacking back and making tough tackles. Had success cutting in and serving into the box from the corner. 
• Landon Donovan - 8 - Showed up in good defensive positions early, when the USA needed it most. Constantly provided an outlet for the counter attack. Provided intensity and poise throughout the match. Helped out centrally, similar to Fabian Johnson when he plays left mid. Always clever on the ball and his combination play with Dempsey was nice. Should probably take all future penatly kicks until further notice. 
• Clint Dempsey - 8.5 - Showed why he is a big money man for MLS, USMNT, and EA Sports. Used his withdrawn role to find the game and was an absolute nuisance for the Mexican defense. Showed great hustle at the 35' mark and outstanding 1 v 1 ability at the 76' mark. Closed space down well and provided pressure up the field. Missed a late penalty. 
• Eddie Johnson - 9.5 -Proved himself as a target and a threat within the first two minutes. I honestly think the Mexican back line was afraid of him. Rose wonderfully for a corner kick in the 31st minute and again in the 49th, when he found the net. Linked well with Donovan and Dempsey. Did not try and do too much on the ball, as he often does. Subbed himself off for a head injury concern. Great showing for Eddie Johnson. 
• Crowd - 10 - Great showing from the start. Dos a cero x4. Unbelievable turnout in Columbus. This game should be in Columbus until proven otherwise. 
• Jurgen Klinnsman - 8 - Bedoya worked. Eddie Johnson worked. Fabian Johnson at right back showed signs of working. Goodson worked. Mix Diskerud subbed on late and had an immediate impact. The team effort and communication was stellar. The astute Taylor Twellman pointed out the effective picks set up on corner kicks to free Eddie Johnson. 

Three things I'm taking away from USA vs Costa Rica

There is a lot of disappointment flowing through the American soccer community after last night's game in San Jose. After much buildup, the American men failed to take a point from Costa Rica and continued their unending struggles on Costa Rican soil. Here are three things that are prescient on my mind after last night's game;

1. Jurgen's Magic Hippy
1. After what seemed like months of something like a magic touch when it came to roster decisions and substitutions, Klinsmann made some questionable decisions that didn't end up with him looking like a genius. The first of which, was trotting Michael Orozco out at right back. Orozco, who plays right back for Puebla FC in México and had a strong gold cup, was a surprise start at the problematic right back spot. Orozco, in my opinion, has certainly earned the right to a start in an important game but I think most people were expecting Geoff Cameron. This might be a moot point in the end, because Bradley was forced out with an ankle injury during warm-ups and the US needed a replacement in the center of the park. For me, the guy that starts in England's top flight for a mid-table team deserves a start at RB over the guy that starts in Mexico for a mid-table team. Kyle Beckerman plays in MLS, but I've never seen him considered an option at RB. The guy is a CM and he deserves a look when our star player and central midfielder, Michael Bradley, goes out with a severe ankle role during warm-ups. Back to Orozco,  he has upside, with his ability to nic a goal, ability to get forward, and decent passing ability but his defensive positioning is questionable and that became blatantly evident early in the game. Orozco was continually caught ball watching and drifting inside, leaving the defensive right flank wide open. In the run-up to Costa Rica's second goal, Orozco pushed up the field to make an unsuccessful challenge on the ball. This forced Omar Gonzales out wide to put pressure on the ball and the US defense sorely missing his height in the middle as a lofted cross floated towards the back post. This cross leads me to my second point;
2. Tim Howard Perhaps too Reluctant to Leave His Line
1. The ball played in for the Tico's second goal was not played on a rope. It was a lofted ball, played to the edge of the six from approximately thirty yards out of goal. Many might disagree but I think that Howard could have easily collected this ball before it ever hit Zamora's head. Zamora was outside of the semi-circle when the cross was played into the US' penalty box, Howard, obviously, was about a yard out from the goal line. So to break it down, Howard needs to run about 6 yards to catch that ball, Zamora needs to run about 12 yards to get his head on it, approximately twice as far as Howard. Tim Howard is probably not as fast as Zamora but I highly doubt the difference in speed is double. Did I mention that Timmy can use his hands? I understand that the defense completely broke down before Howard was even needed, but what good is a goalkeeper that is glued to his line? I am not calling for Howard to find the bench, just offering my opinion.
3. Ball-watching and Becker-MAN
1. Far too often, you can find the USA national team focused on the ball, letting their man run free. It happened on the second goal and it happened on the third goal.  On the third goal, Matt Besler is creeping forward, watching Jozy Altidore dribble the ball and hoping he can somehow be available for a rebound or drop pass. Unfortunately what ends up happening is Besler chasing Joel Campbell down for sixty yards before a soft shot beats Howard and finds the net.