News from Portland

We miss Ally dearly.  But our loss is Portland's gain.  Judging by this news clip, featuring our former captain, she's making a difference in the community already.  What a cool piece what great presence on camera.

You want to view this.


http://www.wmtw.com/news/entertainment/food/-Kids-in-the-kitchen-teaches-healthy-eating-habits/-/8791666/9644354/-/mudd5o/-/index.html

He makes it look easy

As we were warming up, Mike was telling me about this Leonel Messi goal vs Sevilla, or at least I think he was talking about this goal. Anyway, Messi makes it look so easy!  Look at how he so easily puts the ball where the defense can't touch it.

Should we sign this player?

We've been in this business for 13 years now.  You don't get that far without planning for the future.  I think we need to sign this prospect to our squad.  Sure, it will be years before he can make the first team, but we should make the investment now.  Who is with me?



Read more about him here.

Still to come

Our goals this weekend were tame compared with this one.  Check out this video!  Who will step up to score like this?

Watch this training video

Interesting 2 v 2 drill on a shortened field.  It's cool to see the US players work so hard in training.  You can hear Coach Klinsmann shouting out instructions.  I'm not certain what this teaches, but it seems to put a premium on game-breaking moves that lead to the final pass or shot.

More to come

It's been a while since we posted something here.  Don't worry, there will be more later.  In short, we finished the season 1-2.  We will need to recruit some new players for the fall.  Should we try to sign this 13 year old from Arlington?

Copa del Rey

I am not a Real Madrid fan, nor a fan of Ronaldo, but this is an impressive goal.  Check out the quality of the touches in this build up.  Really precise and lethal.



http://youtu.be/o90nOZZSQm4

Goleros don't stoop to this

It's a pretty funny "dive" though.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsEbf-o83fc

Our muse

I've been hearing this song on the radio nonstop.  It gets in your head.  Uprising!  They will not control us!  We will be victorious!

What do you think, does it work as our anthem for this season?

Muse - New Music - More Music Videos

Red Card!

This clip appeared on the Daily Show last night, and was posted on Goff's blog this morning.  Very funny. You have to see it.  The President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, was playing in a charity match that got a little rough.  Watch him knee an opponent!  Very funny.  Can you imagine PresidentObama clotheslining some Republican Congressman in a basketball match?


http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-october-7-2010/intro---evo-morales-knees-soccer-opponent

Fancy footwork

Check out this impressive sequence involving Thierry Henry.  I wish MLS could have more of this stuff.  Click here.

Let's do it like this

Sascha Kljestan's goal for Anderlecht this weekend serves as a good example for us.  We've got to time our runs and have enough patience to be in position for a cross.  I know my own tendency is to sprint for the 10 yard line and wait for the cross.  But that, of course, doesn't work because your teammate can't hit you in stride, especially if you beat him or her to the line, and the defenders pick you up.

Watch Kljestan arrive somewhat late, but on a great trajectory to make the play.

Another example of this was Donovan's finish versus Algeria.  He sprinted up field but took a few steps off at the end so he could chase a rebound.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFEZMS5yuEI&feature=player_embedded

The cycle

If you want to get pumped for the US run in the World Cup, watch this video posted on Shin Guardian. It's over dramatic, but fun. There's some great footage from the Conferations Cup, World Cup qualifying, and even Donovan's last goal at Everton. There's a nice emphasis on the amazing counter-attack executed by Clark to Davies and Donovan against Brazil.

Elyse, is that you out there?

There was a great video linked on the popular Soccer Insider blog this week. It shows all touches by Jose Torres in last weekend's USA vs Turkey friendly.

Torres was capped for the first time at RFK stadium last year. I was there to see it. He is a much-heralded Mexican-American prospect that plays for Pachuca in Mexico. He chose to play for the US national team instead of Mexico. He has a gifted touch at the age of 22, but he just didn't fit into the team during qualifying. Maybe it was attitude, maybe it was pace or something else. But he finished the Mexican clausura strong and played his way onto the final World Cup squad in camp. I hadn't really understood his potential until last weekend. He came on in the second half and changed the game by playing it cool in the midfield and distributing like a mad man. We will see him on the field in South Africa.

Reminds me of a certain someone...

Watch and enjoy.

Lots and lots of goals!

My friend from Scotland posted this video on my facebook page. Pretty interesting game. There are some amazing goals. The defending and goalkeeping is comical.

Sadly, we've actually played in games like this!

The hype

Enjoy this World Cup trailer geared to the US team. It's not at all over-hyped.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxBlpzVSOCQ&feature=player_embedded

Stronger!

I've corresponded with several people since the match. Every single one communicated the sentiment that the loss was like a bonding experience. You go through it as a team and you come out...stronger. Since Kanye's on my workout playlist, and also the Goleros Pandora station, I might as well link to the vid. I guess that Kanye says it all.

Do you agree? What do you think?

Go team!

PK showdown

Check out these video highlights of the MLS All-Star game last night versus Everton.

The highlight package is good enough, but what you've got to see are the PKs at the end. Because this is more of an entertainment product, rather than a league match, they let the cameras onto the field. You get an amazing shot of the PKs from behind the spot. You can see the speed at which these guys kick the ball, their mostly expert placement of the ball, some bad misses, and some amazing saves.

How good is Tim Howard????

http://web.mlsnet.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5818417

What a goal!

Great saves

Check out these saves.