Oh Well

I guess we are still waiting to see this....

US v Italy Roster thoughts

JK has called in his players for the February 29 match with Italy.  It is a very strong US roster, and marks the first time that JK will use Deuce and Landon at the same camp.  Injuries, form, and where players are in their season all played into JK's decisions.  Here are his roster picks:

Goalkeepers: Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Timmy Chandler (Nurnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)

Midfielders: Michael Bradley (Chievo Verona), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Jose Torres (Pachuca), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim)

Forwards: Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Terrence Boyd (Borussia Dortmund), Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy)

 

Aaron Ramsay ain't nothin' to f*ck with!

Got this email sent me today from my roommate. Truly incredible.

Discuss.

Champions League, Round of 16

Less than twenty four hours away from some of the biggest clashes in European soccer, elimination rounds of the Champions League.  There are many stories that i find intriguing with these games.  I will look at things one week at a time.

First, and hopefully this comes true, i anticipate some world class performances from Barca.  Clearly, they are the best (or in the discussion) of what world soccer has to offer these days.  With their inexplicably poor performance in La Liga, they can focus all of their energies and efforts on these games.

MLS Season Approaches

Why is it that some teams figured out marketing in no time (RSL, Seattle, Portland) and other teams will never get it (NE Rev, FCD)?  It probably helps to have celebs like Drew Carey or bros like Rancid on your side (new RSL anthem courtesy of Branden Steineckert).  This video was put together by an RSL fan, the song written by an RSL fan, and in the end you get something by the people, for the people, and goosebump inducing.  I hardly give a shit about this team, but this gets me pumped for MLS.

Hand-Shake Clusterf*ck

I admittedly wasn't watching this live (7:45 kick off's on Saturday aren't my thing if Arsenal aren't involved) but I did catch the last 10 minutes and the post match analysis. What to make of all this handshake hoopla?

It's an interesting quandary in my opinion. If you approach it with the opinion that Suarez did utter a racist slang to Evra, then obviously the actions of Suarez (and the entire Kop) are indefensible. "Wait, you dropped the N-Bomb on me and you're gonna act like the d-bag???"

Biggest Games of the Weekend

This is a viewer's guide to what i will try to tune in to this weekend.
Saturday looks to be a day full of entertaining games from the Prem.

United v Liverpool. So many story lines in this one; suarez v Evra, Rooney's hairline, how many PKs does United get this week.
Everton v Chelsea:  This game is on my list for one reason, and one reason only.  I want to watch Landy-Cakes play against Chelsea.
Tottenham v Newcastle:  Interesting to see if Tottenham can keep the pressure on the Manchesters as well as to see if New Castle can keep fighting four fourth (it is the new first)

Bologna v Juve. Sunday will be reserved for Juve as they try to hold on to their slight advantage in the Serie A.  Milan plays Saturday, so Juve will know what they need to do.

Also like to watch any French League games that are on.  Exciting league!

What are you going to watch?

Ives, Dropping Knowledge

This is not the primary place to share links (that is on the right), but i wanted to make sure you guys read this article.  Ives seems to know the most, be the most rational, and at the same time, maintain a level of entertainment.

Read this article when you have a moment... For me, it brings feelings of jealousy. I wonder when (and if) the Red Bulls will ever string together any consistent results.  They seem to like to shoot themselves in the foot whenever possible.

I am getting excited for the new MLS campaign, and hope you guys are as well!

Twittering's and such

I know some of the members of this diabolical group are Twitterer's so I found it fitting to start a conversion about some good people to follow. I just stumbled upon a gem in @LiveRayHudson. Some dude tweets live Hudson quotes from Goltv, and they are actually better to read than listen to live. Here is a small sample. Absolutely hilarious. 5 minutes ago on Cesc' goal for Barca ...

"Forget the goalscorer for a second and look at the genesis of genius from the unbearded one to the beard that is Fabregas."

"The ex-Gooner goes disco but what a celestial ball from the Albicelestial player, Lionel Messi."

Follow, and follow quick.

Anyone have any other good soccer/non-soccer related people to follow?

CAPELLO RESIGNS!!!

Reaction to come soon... Fabio Capello has resigned as England manager!

Welcome Back Old Lady

It is with great nerves that I welcome back the butterflies.  For the first time since 2006, Juventus is in a meaningful Serie A games this late in the season.  It has been a long time coming for Juventus fans, and as the second half of the season playsout,  it gives me a chance to reflect on the past few seasons, as well as to remember what it is like to watch a game with so much on the line.



When the Serie A scandal hit*, and Juventus relegated, it presented a conundrum for the players and fans.  In a time when player's loyalties are always questioned, it becomes important to see who stayed.  Players like Gigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini and Alessandro DelPiero

Redknapp Cleared

A unanimous decision finds 'Arry not guilty. Good thing, keeps him in the game for the England job since Capello is digging himself deeper and deeper holes to try to get out of.
Thoughts?

Card Him!

Why all the attempting to tell the ref how to do his job? It’s not a pretty sight to see players giving the universal “card him” signal to the ref. Even the managers are getting in on it this season. It would be an interesting day when I see a game where the players just go about their jobs and PLAY, walking away calmly when they just saw their teammate get hacked just outside the box, and in no way running 40 yards across the field to tell the ref their, obviously clear-sighted, thoughts on the recent tackle.

Total D-Bag??

When Zlatan got sent off for giving Salvatore Aronica an open-handed bitch slap in the weekends Milan v Napoli draw, I couldn't help but feel it was another harsh red card for the poor guy.  I mean, watch the video, he was trying to be a good teammate and extract his buddy Nocerino from an unnecessary fracas.  Ever the peace-maker and supportive comrade (as Oguchi Onyewu can attest), Ibra just seems to find himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.  He is a good dude.  He is fun to have around the training ground.  I have provided a few video examples of how his good-natured joshing really brings the locker room together. 

Will Ferrell Pitching for Old Milwaukee

I realize this is not soccer related, but just thought some of you would like this any how.

This was discovered via Slate and a story about the best Super Bowl ad no one saw unless you lived in Nebraska. Upon further reading, it was revealed that there really is a strange ad campaign coming from Old Milwaukee. 

On Cue, I find this article

Clint Dempsey, called a "talisman" of Fulham.

An excellent site that I was recently introduced to (by Joe Quigley) is "Who Scored?" and here is their coverage of Dempsey

Enjoy

A Light Read

Since many people watched the Chelsea - Manchester United encounter on February 5, and i love the work done on Zonal Marking, I thought you might find this article interesting.

Speaking of interesting, if Debatable Decisions ever updates, we may see Man U climbing up the table.  Four penalties in the last two games?  and Sir Alex still giving post game rants about the officials?

Save of the season?

The Prem on Fox

For the second time in recent weeks, the Prem is on Fox. Real life network television in the United States. As a soccer fan, I am torn by this development.

While I am anxious for soccer to increase its profile among the American fan, I want it to do so on the strength of the game. That is to say, the beauty and elegance of the this sport. The stories, teams, history and tradition are what pulled me in. It certainly brings enough drama and passion that, when given a chance, can convert. I have seen this first hand. When a fan is educated about the history of the teams, leagues and competitions, many will make the leap.

Bye Bye Theo

"In 2012, at the beginning of the year, he will play games." Since this prediction, Alexander Oxlade-Chamberlain has been electric for Arsenal.  Arsene Wenger saw it coming.  Now Arsenal fans see this coming: Theo Walcott will be relegated out of the starting lineup when Gervinho returns from the African Cup of Nation.  And frankly $100,000 a week for the 4th best striker on your team is not a good way of doing business, Arsene.

Feed the Ox

It's early Saturday morning and I'm nursing a healthy hang over on my couch. I'm doing my best to recover before my 11:00 CrossFit class. In the meantime, I'm more than content to watch Arsenal slam balls past Paul Robinson as he chomps on meat pies. Oh, and watch the Ox absolutely tear shit up.

How good is he?

As i watch another Premier League season, I see Clint Dempsey continue to get better. It brings up two questions. One, how good will he be when his career is over? And more significantly, why does his level of respect still lag behind where it should?

 The first question is simple. At this point, even if he does nothing else, he should be considered the greatest field player this country has ever produced. The evidence is everywhere you look. Since he moved to the England, his goal total has improved each season. This year, remarkably, he is scoring at a rate of one goal in every two games. Not only is he prolific, but his game has evolved. he has always been able to knock home a scramble or goal based on "guts". Over the last season or two, he has added another element to his game, and that is more elegant and shocking goals (evidence).

To get things rolling...

Well, I've decided to call into work this morning, opting instead for a day of skiing, so seeing as I'm up before 6am anyway and can't get back to sleep, I have some free time on my hands and some thoughts in my head. With all the constant hate being rained down upon John Terry these days, it got me wondering, who is my most hated player of all time? My mind immediately jumped in a number of different directions, so I'll do my best to try to make sense of it.

What are we?

We are 4-6 guys who are across the country (although we all knew each other at one point). We share a common interest... Soccer. FC Woof will be random musings, thoughts, observations and ideas that occasionally (but not often) make sense or develop a point. More often, it will be total nonsense. We hope that, at some point, you read something here that makes you smile, laugh or, god forbid.... think.