I just went and voted for the team of the year in uefa.com. I feel filthy having to select six guys currently employed by Barça.

Van Der Sar; Alves, Pique, Ferdinand, Evra; CR9, Xavi, Gourcuff, Iniesta; Messi, Rooney. Manager: Guardiola.

Mark Schwarzer is the most underrated keeper in the world (and I think a clear candidate for the top ten), probbaly because he has never played for a top team either nationally or internationally. It's no coincidence that Middlesbrough's long Premier League run ended the season after he left for Fulham. Sure, Cech and VDS concede fewer goals but they have better defenders and all round players in front of them than Schwarzer and are under a tiny fraction of the pressure that Schwarzer is under in a typical game. Since Schwarzer joined Fulham in 2008, they have conceded 50 goals in 53 games (by contrast, Fulham conceded 60 in 38 games in 2007/8). Chelsea and Man U have conceded 34 and 37 respectively in the same number. Its hard to obviously hard to isolate the goalie specifically, but I think you can make a decent case Schwarzer is the best keeper in the Premier League at the moment.

Keepers to me in some way seem like pitchers, times a thousand. They are so dependent on their defense, where you separate them from the D (excluding PKs, which are a whole other thing anyway) is hard to say. For a long while I thought VDS was overrated thanks to the United back four, but given how many people they've switched in-and-out of their lately, I think he's definitely top ten, and in the discussion for top five.

I'm not sure anyone currently playing in England is better than Shay Given.

I'm not sure anyone currently playing in England is better than Shay Given.

Terrific shot-stopper, but for me doesn't command his area enough to be the best keeper in the league. he ends up putting a lot of pressure on his defense to deal with balls other keepers might claim.

Keepers to me in some way seem like pitchers, times a thousand. They are so dependent on their defense, where you separate them from the D (excluding PKs, which are a whole other thing anyway) is hard to say. For a long while I thought VDS was overrated thanks to the United back four, but given how many people they've switched in-and-out of their lately, I think he's definitely top ten, and in the discussion for top five.

Yes. I'd go further and say that they are also reliant on the whole team. "Attack is the best form of defense" is a cliche for a reason. The attcking threat posed by the top sides in the PL takes a lot of pressure of the whole defense, including the keeper".

Mark Schwarzer is the most underrated keeper in the world (and I think a clear candidate for the top ten), probbaly because he has never played for a top team either nationally or internationally.

I saw some data from last season showing the ratio of shots faced to goals conceded for all PL goalkeepers, and Schwarzer's ratio was really good, although of course there are a lot of variables in that data.

Funnily enough, on both occasions I have seen Schwarzer play live, he made an error that resulted in the winning goal, though both games were some years ago.

Petr Cech is interesting because he makes less spectacular saves than many of his peers, but having seen a lot of him I put this down to terrific positional sense. He's like Roger Federer, who just effortlessly seems to be standing in the right place. David James, on the other hand, makes a lot of good looking saves partly because in my opinion he's not standing where he should be. James also makes far too many unforced errors.

Yes. I'd go further and say that they are also reliant on the whole team. "Attack is the best form of defense" is a cliche for a reason. The attcking threat posed by the top sides in the PL takes a lot of pressure of the whole defense, including the keeper".

This is the reason why an above-average but not special keeper like Victor Valdes became a goalkeeping option on uefa's team of the year poll mentioned above.

That team of the year poll is bogus. Like our All-star ballots, each position should have an option from every team in the various UEFA top flights! Or at least the top eight or ten leagues, plus all the teams in the Champions League. I want to vote for Jussi Jaaskelainen, dammit.

The fan of Debrecen or Lorient or MTZ-RIPO should get an opportunity to stuff the ballot box, just like the 200,000 people who vote for Edwin Encarnacion every year.

I was going to bring up Jaaskelainen myself. Brilliant keeper, thoroughly underrated. If he was English the press would be falling over themselves singing his praises.

Van der Sar is a solid keeper, but I feel he's become a touch overrated after last season. That amazing scoreless streak was almost entirely down to Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, and Evra. There were games during that stretch where Van der Sar could've, almost literally, set out a lawn chair in the 6-yard box, put his feet up, and watched the action with a cocktail in his hand. He faced maybe two or three shots a game in some of those. Tame shots.

Cech has been slightly shaky since around the last quarter of the season back in the spring. Looking tentative when going up for the ball and flapping badly at crosses, which isn't like him at all. And the way he got beat by Tevez's free kick on Saturday was...wait for it...shocking. That's the kind of thing that's supposed to be ironed out when you're a teenager. Really, really poor.

Shay Given is a terrific keeper and has a very good claim on being the best in the league on current form. As a pure shot-stopper, I think only Gomes has him beat. Maybe Jaaskelainen on a good day.

Schwarzer is also very, very good. Definitely top five in the Prem, I'd say. In fact, I think the last four guys I mentioned, plus Pepe Reina, would be my picks.

It's a cliched explanation by now, but Cech hasn't been the same since he got his head stepped on.

For those in the US--where do you catch European games on tv? Do you watch the games shown by Fox or ESPN360, watch on justin.tv, or is there something along the lines of extra innings or MLB.tv if you want to see all the games of a specific team in the EPL, La liga, serie a, etc.

I mostly watch FSC, but ESPN carries a few games as well.

Goal TV is another option. I think they cover Serie A from Italy.

I don't have a TV, which means I use (ahem) other methods. Though for big events, I'll usually watch in some public place. I don't know what I'm doing for the World Cup but I've set aside the whole month so whatever it is, it's not going to involve me staring at a 13-inch computer screen.

When it was still around, for a while I had a broadband converter box that delivered Setanta to a TV I set up in my office. I only got the one channel, but in addition to the soccer they had all kinds of other crazy international sports, so it was a fun time.

Thanks. Is there a MLB.tv equivalent for leagues like the EPL that does tv deals as a league? Seems like that would be a big seller.

Thanks. Is there a MLB.tv equivalent for leagues like the EPL that does tv deals as a league? Seems like that would be a big seller.

No. Because the people who run football are ####### idiots.

At this point, if you have FSC and GolTV (along with ESPN), you're getting world class European soccer coverage. I'd hazard that 90% of the people in Europe don't have as good coverage of European soccer as is available to us. Pair it with a Tivo and you can easily get a week's worth of worthwhile matches in a weekend.

Also, the Telegraph reports that Everton are inquiring about bringing Landon Donovan in on loan during the January transfer window:

David Moyes hopes to strengthen his injury-plagued Everton squad in the January transfer window with a loan move for the USA forward, Landon Donovan.

The 27-year-old, an international team-mate of the Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard, has been earmarked by Moyes as a possible addition to his attack for next month and an initial approach has been made to Donovan's club, Los Angeles Galaxy, regarding a temporary switch to the Premier League.

Seems plausible to me, and they could definitely use him.

Donovan would be a nice pickup for Everton. Pienaar's return has helped, but they could still use a bit more creativity out of that midfield.

BBC has this as now as "Everton closing in on loan signing..."

They describe his as a striker though, which is the position he plays in LA and played about 50% of the time during the '06 World Cup cycle. Seems like they already have a small withdrawn striker/10-type in Tim Cahill.

I know they also have Jo and Yakubu. I wonder where he would fit into the pecking order. Given all the fixture congestion they have I'm sure he'd get his share of minutes. I wonder if they'll have an option to buy like Bayern was supposed to have.

The secret to Barça's recent success: You can't look at their uniforms without burning your eyes.

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I think Everton would be an okay fit for Donovan, but honestly not that great.

They definitely don't need him as a striker. But that's also not really where Donovan is best anyways. He can get away with playing that role in MLS because...well, it's MLS. And he's got the talent and skill to survive even at the highest level on occasion. But he simply isn't going to hang with the rough and tough center forwards that occupy the top European leagues on a regular basis.

Donovan's at his best when he can use his pace and his sense of the field to get into open spaces and cause some havoc. He also is good at picking out passes from a deeper role. But he's clearly not a replacement for Arteta in that department.

Really, his problem in Europe has been that he's a Gerrard sort of player, except quite a bit worse. When he's the class of the league, he can run rampant and his lack of a clearly defined role is a strength not a weakness. He goes where he wants to, and defenses struggle to follow.

In a top league, he's not good enough to get that kind of leeway. Everton don't have a spot in their starting 11 to fill with a B+ quality guy that isn't going to fit into the system. So he'll have to take on a role which he may do alright at, but which is not going to give him the freedom to utilize all his talents.

I think Donovan is a better player than a lot of guys on the big second-tier clubs in Europe. He's even better than a decent number of the guys on major Champions League type clubs. It's just that he isn't a specialist at anything. And since he's mostly been the focal point of every team he's ever been on (including at the national level), that's never had to change.

I sometimes think that the best option for his development as a contributor to the national team would be to go to a top European league for a scrappy low to mid-table team who is going to want him to play every day in roughly the same sort of role that he does for the MNT. Shooting too high is going to put him at a 'name' club but it'll come at the expense of minutes, and particularly minutes that actually contribute to his development as a player. Get him 20 matches for Wolves or Wigan or West Ham (or their Spanish, Italian, or German equivalents) against top-quality opposition, and he may actually get better.

It's kind of the great what-if of the USMNT: what if Donovan had gone the Dempsey route and been more of a late bloomer. Instead of going to Europe in a big move only to flame out, what if he had been forced to scrape and fight for a spot, been put into the hands of a manager who really knew what he was doing, who cultivated some of his talents.

Would the MNT be better or worse? Donovan himself might have ended up in a much better place - but I think the national team might actually have been worse. Having a guy like him with so much flexibility, who serves as a point around which most of the team is constructed, has been a big part of the US team dynamic.

On the other hand, given the development of Altidore, our second striker problems, and the plethora of midfield options we're likely to have by 2010, wouldn't it be awesome if Donovan had been playing and developing exclusively as a withdrawn forward in a 4-4-1-1 system?

Have you guys talked about women players ripping off their jerseys to celebrate yet?

No.

So, hopefully RB and I will some of you at Nevada Smith's tomorrow. I'll be there around 10 or so, maybe a bit before. I have no idea what to expect other than it will be surreal drinking beers so early in the morning.

Petr Cech is interesting because he makes less spectacular saves than many of his peers, but having seen a lot of him I put this down to terrific positional sense. He's like Roger Federer, who just effortlessly seems to be standing in the right place. David James, on the other hand, makes a lot of good looking saves partly because in my opinion he's not standing where he should be. James also makes far too many unforced errors.

That's the old Cech, the new Cech is a great big indecisive flapper. Stephen Hunt ruined him.

I would have said Jaskalainnen a few seasons ago, but he seems to have decline markedly in recent seasons.

Terrific shot-stopper, but for me doesn't command his area enough to be the best keeper in the league. he ends up putting a lot of pressure on his defense to deal with balls other keepers might claim.

As someone who regularly watched him at Newcastle I can also add that he is an absolutely piss poor organiser. All he does is stop shots, good enough to make him one of the better keepers in the Premier League but leaves him short of best in the world.

This is the reason why an above-average but not special keeper like Victor Valdes became a goalkeeping option on uefa's team of the year poll mentioned above.

He's actually very good and makes some amazing game winning saves, but he's also prone to WTF? moments much like David James. Can be brilliant for a run of ten games then make stupid errors in the next two which cost you goals.

Speaking of James, did I see correctly that he's on his way to Spurs? If so, does he displace Gomes or is he just a back-up?

Inter vs Chelsea, Milan vs Man U... rigged, or just luck? I guess it could just as easily have been Inter vs Real and Milan vs Barca or something...

Speaking of James, did I see correctly that he's on his way to Spurs? If so, does he displace Gomes or is he just a back-up?

It doesn't make any sense as Gomes is pretty good. I get the feeling that it's only rumoured because Bent 'Arry is at Tottenham and Portsmouth are a gnats pube from administration.

It'll be interesting to see how Moies uses Donovan. I agree that he doesn't make much sense as a striker for them, though it's possible to pair him with a bigger forward up front. Everton lacks pace, so maybe he'd put Donovan out wide as a true winger; that would solve some of the issues Baldrick noted. A final possibility is to play him in a 4-3-2-1, where he might very well be able to use his strengths.

Or, he might not play much at all.

It'll be interesting to see how Moies uses Donovan. I agree that he doesn't make much sense as a striker for them, though it's possible to pair him with a bigger forward up front. Everton lacks pace, so maybe he'd put Donovan out wide as a true winger; that would solve some of the issues Baldrick noted. A final possibility is to play him in a 4-3-2-1, where he might very well be able to use his strengths.

So looks like Donovan played wide right in a 4-4-2, with Cahill and Saha up front, replacing Bilyaletdinov.

I didn't see the game (frickin Setanta!) but based on reports and highlights, he seems to have acquitted himself well before coming out in the 68th due to cramps. Granted, he was playing against Traore, Arsneal's third string LB, but all things considered it looks like a promising start, and he looks useful at least.

Donovan highlights.

BBC:

And with Arsene Wenger's side missing Alexander Song, they struggled to impose themselves in midfield allowing Everton debutant Landon Donovan, in particular, to take advantage.

Sky Sports rated him a 7, and wrote "A good debut"


Also, looks like minnows Malawi knocked off Algeria 3-0 in their opening game of the African Nations Cup. A very poor result for the Desert Foxes.

C'mon soccer thread... I don't expect the NBA thread, but I know we can get you off life support!

Love to see Donovan slotting in well.

I was able to see the first 20 minutes of the Ivory Coast-Burkina Faso match but couldn't see the rest. When I went back to check the score I astonished that it finished 0-0. Burkina Faso was just getting battered like nobody's business.

I have to say that the Togo thing makes following the tournament a lot more depressing than it would otherwise be. But I'm starting to get into it. I despite Egypt, but I have to say I think they're the best bet to win the tournament. They're one of the best three or four African teams and they don't have the World Cup looming, which means they're probably going to put in a bit more effort.

Looking forward to Liverpool-Reading tomorrow. Well, if by "looking forward" you mean "anticipating a shellacking." It was a nice couple years up in the Premiership but this team is sinking fast these days. Where are the Doyles of yesteryear?

I was about to ask if anyone has been able to watch any ANC. Some crazy matches being played there...

I was able to see the first 20 minutes of the Ivory Coast-Burkina Faso match but couldn't see the rest. When I went back to check the score I astonished that it finished 0-0. Burkina Faso was just getting battered like nobody's business.

How were you able to watch the game? Did you catch a stream?

Interesting cup day. Barça get knocked out of a competition for the first time in 20 months, and Reading pull it off against Liverpool.

Baldrick must be over the moon this morning. Another terrific performance from Reading. That was no fluke last night; they were deserving winners. Why can't they seem to replicate that form in the league?

Why can't they seem to replicate that form in the league?

No idea!

What a performance. They looked like the team of a few years ago, the one that broke the record for points in the Championship and then challenged for Europe. It's been a miserable year but that makes up for a lot of it.

The biggest difference I could see is that they were just cool and collected. They kept possession reasonably well and didn't madly hack at the ball just to try and clear it. What a difference it makes.

I'm so glad that Landon Donovan was a productive member of Everton right away. Not so glad that he replaced my favorite new addition to the team, Bilyaletdinov. Also, confused about the selling of Lucas Neill. Especially with Yobo away on national service. Presumably this indicates confidence that the massive fullback injury pileup is ending.

The biggest difference I could see is that they were just cool and collected. They kept possession reasonably well and didn't madly hack at the ball just to try and clear it. What a difference it makes.

Indeed. I was impressed by Reading’s willingness and ability to pass their way out of trouble at the back instead of just hoofing it clear, even while under fairly sustained pressure for long spells in the second half.

Lots of credit to them for sticking with two strikers up front for the duration, as well. That not only gave them the impetus to go and get the two goals, but also enough outlet options to relieve pressure when Liverpool was on the attack. So many teams approach these games with negativity and go 4-5-1, which just about always backfires in that such a formation simply invites pressure from the opposition and only delays the inevitable.

Now that there is a revived soccer thread let me just note my satisfaction with slimy Sven Göran Eriksson being outslimied by whatever fraudsters it was that took over Notts Co.

What you can say about the African Nations (other than the attempt at murdering the Togo team) is that the standard of keeping still hasn't improved lol

Save of the Century

I didn't see the game (frickin Setanta!) but based on reports and highlights, he seems to have acquitted himself well before coming out in the 68th due to cramps. Granted, he was playing against Traore, Arsneal's third string LB, but all things considered it looks like a promising start, and he looks useful at least.

He was either very good or Traore was hopeless, because it was a mauling. Was probably Evertons best creative player on the day, "Elbows" Fellaini had the bigger impact (both on the match and the Arsenal players).

I have to say that the Togo thing makes following the tournament a lot more depressing than it would otherwise be. But I'm starting to get into it. I despite Egypt, but I have to say I think they're the best bet to win the tournament. They're one of the best three or four African teams and they

Why do you despise Egypt? I'd have loved to see Mohamed Aboutrika and Ahmed Hassan play at the world cup.

Why do you despise Egypt?

Completely personal (and irrational) reasons. Just a general hatred of the country because it was the location of the biggest broken heart in my life. Obviously not the fault of the Egyptian national team, but what are you going to do?

This is the only non-steroid thread that hasn't been hijacked by Mets whining, so I'll just point out that if it's true that Philippe Senderos is going to Everton for a nominal fee...how could the Mets have been out of the loop? He's just what they need.

Seems like Donovan was great against Man City today.

I wouldn't say "great", but he certainly was solid. He started off very well, with at least one terrific bit of combination play with Pienaar. Later on, though, he didn't get the ball as much and didn't do as much with it when he did. Still, a respectable performance (Fellaini was Man of the Match).

Unfortunately I missed the first 30 minutes, when apparently he was a very positive influence. I felt like today he was okay overall more of a mixed bag -- a 6 performance. Most of the Everton attack was going up the left side, where Bily-o had a great game. Here is my review of his game from the 30th minute on:

The good:
- Pretty good corners
- Got stuck in more, applied reasonable to good defensive pressure in the first 2/3 of the game
- Tracked back well, showed off his speed in a couple cases
- Did the little things, winning balls with quick feet, that sort of thing
- Didn't screw of importance up

The bad:
- Still had trouble linking up with teammates/anticipation
- Was stoned on a couple 1v1s against the Man City left back when he would have been on goal
- Seemed to tire in the last 30 minutes, a lot more standing and walking than you usually see from him.
- Teammates still not looking for him on the break

Everton aren't really a counter-attacking team. They rely more on wingplay and crosses into the box, at least until Arteta comes back which will give them some much needed guile.

Manchester United were pretty bad again, it did not look like a 3-0 game for long periods.

And Lionel Messi is the best footballer on the planet, Barcelona look like they have a live one in Pedro as well.

Clint Dempsey injures knee

Not good news for Fulham or the US team.

Everton aren't really a counter-attacking team. They rely more on wingplay and crosses into the box, at least until Arteta comes back which will give them some much needed guile.

Bilet-whatever has been pretty decent for them, although Arteta is really pure class. Everton will score more once Arteta is back putting balls in the box for Cahill and Fellaini.

Everton's weak link is Phil Neville. He's SOOO SLOW out there, they really could use Jagielka back.


And Lionel Messi is the best footballer on the planet
I'm really surprised Messi hasn't been destroyed by a Savage or Materazzi. Not that I wish for this to happen, but that's what always happens.

I'm really surprised Messi hasn't been destroyed by a Savage or Materazzi. Not that I wish for this to happen, but that's what always happens.

It would have happened in the early 90s or before. See, Marco van Basten. FIFA has done a pretty good job at stamping on and stamping out this kind of thuggery.

I've seen quite a few La Liga games where Messi has been kicked off the field and he's had a surprising resilience to it.

Rather than thuggery Van Basten was just really, really unlucky but banning the tackle from behind wasn't a bad move. Graeme Souness stomping on people was the kind of thuggery they really need to get rid of which they bye and large have.

Was the coakley thread scrubbed?

Everton's weak link is Phil Neville. He's SOOO SLOW out there, they really could use Jagielka back.

Yeah, watching him try to overlap or otherwise combine with LD as the RB was pretty painful.

I'd take peak CR9 over peak Messi, although Messi has been more consistently good over the last year. He's spending progressively less time out injured, which helps.

BTW, what's happened with Sunderland? I know they have important players missing, but the way they bent over for Chelsea last weekend was remarkable.

In the ANC, Mali has been knocked out thanks to a mutually beneficial (and, they claim, pre-arranged) result between two group rivals: Angola and, to the endless amusement of those who know their soccer history, Algeria.

Progress?

Maybe. Can't say I have much faith in Blatter. His line about whether or not the technology is ready to adopt is a total copout. Of course it’s ready. Any schmuck sitting on his couch at home can see a controversial event replayed within seconds, usually from multiple camera angles. The NFL has had video review for years. Rugby has been using it for a decade and a half. To act as if it’s the technology that’s somehow unready or unproven is absurd. The only thing that’s not ready, apparently, is the antiquated attitude at FIFA and UEFA.

BTW, what's happened with Sunderland? I know they have important players missing, but the way they bent over for Chelsea last weekend was remarkable.

Then they lost to a team whose players haven't been paid for about a month.

Also, there was recently this infamous Mandarin 20-page conspiracy theory going around teh Intarwebs about how Champions League Drawings are a giant conspiracy to make sure Barca wins the Champions League: At first I thought the guy needed a session with my boss, but then some of the stuff was quite amusing.

Pretty good article regarding Charlie Davies' recovery from injury (apologies for the long link -- I still have yet to learn how to embed a link.):

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/4856256/ce/us/davies-remarkable-path-recovery?cc=3888&ver=global

Less than four months after the crash that threatened to end his promising career, Davies is already jogging at a good rate and working on agility drills that would have seemed impossible just weeks earlier, when simply getting out of a wheelchair was an exhausting exercise.

What does this progress mean, exactly? It means that, barring any setbacks, Davies could be back on the field with club team FC Sochaux by April, meaning his chances of playing for the United States in June's World Cup should no longer be seen as a shattered dream.

Despite all the injuries that have cropped up, it appears that nobody from the US is -- at this point -- in serious jeopardy of missing the WC. The most frustrating one has been Jermaine Jones -- it seems like he's just suffered setback after setback. It'd be great to have him fit and ready to go by June but I'm not banking on it.

Sardonic -- I know it was only a few games but Demarcus Beasley had a stretch of very good play for Rangers. If he returns from injury and gets playing time, he's gotta be in consideration for a bench spot, no?

Also, there was recently this infamous Mandarin 20-page conspiracy theory going around teh Intarwebs about how Champions League Drawings are a giant conspiracy to make sure Barca wins the Champions League

Direct me to this!

Barca v. Stuttgart looks like good evidence to me. And then according to this, they face the Bordeaux/Olympiakos winner? The plot thickens.

That is amazing news Keith. Just from a human standpoint Davies being up and mobile already is a wonderful thing and obviously for the USMNT it is terrific news. I still worry about match fitness though. Onyewu is going to have gone a full calendar year in which he played about 10 games, Altidore has been getting spotty playing time at Hull, Dempsey is going to miss some time still and on the other end Donovan is going to have had very little rest in a year and a half leading up to the World Cup.

We simply don't have the depth to have those guys not playing well come June. Maybe I'm being overly concerned but I feel like we've got a team with the talent to make some noise, not win the whole thing of course, but a 2002 type run is in them but injuries to key guys is going to leave us a bit short-handed and it will be difficult to overcome that.

The injury concerns are even more significant after that abysmal showing against Honduras. That US team would've been overwhelmed by a bottom half team in the Championship.

Also, there was recently this infamous Mandarin 20-page conspiracy theory going around teh Intarwebs about how Champions League Drawings are a giant conspiracy to make sure Barca wins the Champions League: At first I thought the guy needed a session with my boss, but then some of the stuff was quite amusing.

Is the source by any chance someone in the editorial board of any given Madrid-based sports paper?

Barca v. Stuttgart looks like good evidence to me. And then according to this, they face the Bordeaux/Olympiakos winner? The plot thickens.

The quarterfinals aren't drawn until the last 16 round is done.

Also, while they surely wouldn't be favorites against Barça, it would be a mistake to underrate Girondins. They were the best team in the group stage for a reason, and they are my "not really a dark horse" bet to go far.

Sardonic -- I know it was only a few games but Demarcus Beasley had a stretch of very good play for Rangers. If he returns from injury and gets playing time, he's gotta be in consideration for a bench spot, no?

Unfortunately I haven't caught any of his Rangers games, but just based on reading reports, I'd put his overall chances at making the team at under 50/50 at this point.

Mostly I just don't have any faith in his ability to actually stay healthy and stay healthy long enough to actually stay in form.

If Davies is really coming back, the US is set at the wing with Donovan and Dempsey, so he'd be fighting with Holden, Feilhaber, Rogers and Torres for backup outside mid. I think that only three of those guys will make it. I think there's no chance he passes Holden. I'd definitely take Benny at this point, and it's a tossup between him and Rogers even if he's healthy. He just hasn't been the same since his knee vaporized... doesn't have the same burst and top line speed he used to have.

As for the Honduras game, I have it on Tivo so I'm going to try to watch it, but I wouldn't take too much from it. I was a bit disappointed that a couple guys I wanted to see in Gonzalez and Franklin didn't get into the game. I'd say only 5 of the 9 starters will even be on the roster, and none will likely start against England. One of those guys, Rogers, was nullified within 20 minutes by being forced to move to left back.

Speaking of Holden, I just saw he signed on (or is close to it) with Bolton. That's pretty sweet -- is he actually going to get minutes there?

Algeria has made it to the semis in the ANC, knocking out the Ivory Coast. Their strengths lie in defending solidly and exploiting set pieces. At first sight, this might look like trouble for the US (and, to a lesser extent, England) in the World Cup, but what do you guys have to say?

It's hard to know what Bolton is going to do. The odd thing is that they've simultaneously brought in another young attacking player on loan, Vladimir Weiss Jr., who is supposedly desperate for playing time so he can make the Slovakian WC squad, though his dad is the Slovakian coach so he can't be THAT desperate.

Johan Elmander scored in the cup win against Sheffield this weekend, but not only is he despised by all fans, but he's symbolic of the Megson era. They may be intending to sell Kevin Davies as he is in some demand right now. Or maybe they've decided Ivan Klasnic is not in their future and he'll go back to France, even though they need him to avoid relegation. In the short term I don't think Holden will get much playing time. But practicing against that competition may prepare him better for the World Cup than doing cone drills in Sandy, Utah. I look forward to seeing him against Leeds in the FA Cup.

The injury concerns are even more significant after that abysmal showing against Honduras. That US team would've been overwhelmed by a bottom half team in the Championship.


Really? I didn't take much from it. Not only was the U.S. playing with a B-squad (how many guys who dressed are going to make the final 23 for the US -- four, five at most? Bornstein, Casey (maybe), Feilhaber (likely but not guaranteed), Rogers (maybe)... anyone else?) but they were also hamstrung by having a man sent off 20 minutes into the game. I admit that I wasn't completely attentive to the game, but the performance doesn't really worry me a whole lot. Why should it?

#366 seems to be a more valid problem. It is looking like while everyone should be healthy by the WC (fingers crossed), the US will be banking on several key players to get in top form ASAP. Even when Onyewu returns he's not likely to see time at Milan, considering (a) he wasn't playing with them much before the injury and (b) Milan is now and will be chasing a CL spot. Dempsey isn't likely to be back much before May, giving him a month to get into good form and I've given up projecting Jones' return. Davies return excites me the most -- although I'm somewhat new to the USMNT scene, it seemed to me that he was consistently the US' best attacker (okay, probably number two to Donovan) in 2009.

I'm continually crafting a US Top 11 in my mind and really, if they can get these guys healthy the US has a formidable squad -- a little weak in the back and not much depth up front, but I'm surprised that the US actually has a good amount of midfield options. If Dempsey - Jones - Bradley - Donovan are the assumed starters, that leaves Edu as a perfectly reasonable defensive sub and Holden out wide.

I look forward to seeing him against Leeds in the FA Cup.

Let's not start sucking each other's dicks just yet.

Really? I didn't take much from it. Not only was the U.S. playing with a B-squad (how many guys who dressed are going to make the final 23 for the US -- four, five at most? Bornstein, Casey (maybe), Feilhaber (likely but not guaranteed), Rogers (maybe)... anyone else?) but they were also hamstrung by having a man sent off 20 minutes into the game. I admit that I wasn't completely attentive to the game, but the performance doesn't really worry me a whole lot. Why should it?

I think the very fact that so few players would be able to be on the final 23 is troubling. It's that depth (or lack thereof) that is worrying to me.

I also have to admit to having been furious at the red card. It was probably soft but it seems that stupid stuff like that keeps happening under Bradley. Conrad was already playing with a yellow and there was no need to be reaching out and grabbing the player. The other frustrating thing was how poorly we played in the aftermath of the red card. Contrast that with Accrington Stanley's performance in the FA Cup after they lost a man. Yeah they ran out of steam eventually but they hung in for half an hour or so playing Fulham tough. It seems that when things go poorly for the USMT we fall apart pretty quickly.

I also have to admit to having been furious at the red card. It was probably soft but it seems that stupid stuff like that keeps happening under Bradley. Conrad was already playing with a yellow and there was no need to be reaching out and grabbing the player. The other frustrating thing was how poorly we played in the aftermath of the red card. Contrast that with Accrington Stanley's performance in the FA Cup after they lost a man. Yeah they ran out of steam eventually but they hung in for half an hour or so playing Fulham tough. It seems that when things go poorly for the USMT we fall apart pretty quickly.

Not just under Bradley in my opinion. 2006 vs Italy for instance.

And that Accrington match was great. Not only the team's performance against Fulham, but the fans were of good voice too. Great stuff.

Donovan scores his first goal for Everton. As a Liverpool fan I'm supposed to hate Everton but I don't, so congrats, LanDo!

http://www.matchhighlight.com/premier-league/everton-2-0-sunderland/

The red card was really stupid, but the constant giveaways, even when under no pressure at all, were what drove me nuts. The team was unable to string together any passes and showed no real technical ability.

Donovan scores his first goal for Everton. As a Liverpool fan I'm supposed to hate Everton but I don't, so congrats, LanDo!

Nice. And thanks for the link.

Does anyone know how Fox Soccer Plus will work? Is it going to be on a sports package for most carriers, or a complete a la carte subscription item like Setanta? How will they split the games...will it get the stuff that Setanta used to carry? Or will it simulcast the FSC stuff, but in HD? I hope all the good EPL, Serie A and Champions League games don't leave FSC for FS+

No idea about the FSP stuff but if you are not aware the Chelsea-Burnley match about to start and tomorrow's Arsenal/Man Utd. match are both suppposed to be in HD on FSC.

Random Talking Points:

1) I wonder how the United/Arsenal game broadcast in "3D" is supposed to go.
2) Landon "Captain America" Donovan scored for Everton.
3) This John Terry thing is F!@#ing hilarious
4) F!@# Arsene Wenger. He complains about Aston Villa playing "the longball" like it's some sort of blasphemy (when Arsenal got a point when Aston villa wasn't really playing the long ball), and when Arsenal gets owned by Stoke City, the Pinnacle of Longballs (and they were F!3ing brilliant btw.), he doesn't say a word because he just wants to hide.

Happy Transfer Deadline Day!

*crickets*

Hey! Some of us think Benni McCarthy is the key to staying up this year!

Incidentally, 3-1 did not come close to reflecting how badly United took Arsenal apart yesterday.

Incidentally, 3-1 did not come close to reflecting how badly United took Arsenal apart yesterday.

Once United got that first goal Arsenal just folded up the tent. The way Arshavin had Wes Brown turning around the first 20 minutes or so it seemed like he was going to get one sooner than later but they just rolled over after that first goal.

Did anyone happen to see the game in 3D?

Thoughts from the weekend, as I finally got the time to watch a couple games.

Arsenal-Man Utd

- Some pretty impressive stuff from Utd. I enjoy watching Michael Carrick go about his business. He seems to find a way to pop up in the right place at the right time and pick out good passes.

- Rooney was incredible on his goal, starting the break in his own third with a great weighted throughpass then booking it down the field to finish the play.

- Nasri seemed slow on the ball.

- Arshavin... so dangerous. Just didn't finish a couple of his half chances. Would have been a different game if he did. He seems to go on "hero runs" as consistently as any other star I've seen.

- Deflection aside, Johnny Evans seemed class to me as well.

On the Everton-Wigan game:

- LD just fits in. I wonder why he keeps getting subbed out though. His fitness is a huge asset for the USMNT, and he often does his best work at the end of a game when he's still going and others are out of breath.

- It was nice to see him out on the left from time to time, switching with Pienaar. Baines is a much more offensive player for him to interplay with, and LD's workrate allows Baines to get forward with much more abandon. On the other side, Pienaar seems much better at demanding the ball from Neville on the ground, which leads to fewer hoofed long balls. I'd like to see that configuration more often.

- Baines had a pretty sweet game. He's be a no doubt starter for the USMNT, that's for sure. Though to be fair I don't feel like he was called upon to defend as much, given that most of Wigan's attacks were on the break.

- Senderos and Heitinga are sloooow. And watching them try to play out of the back was painful.

- LD just fits in. I wonder why he keeps getting subbed out though.

I know the first matches it was fitness - obviously enough. Now, my guess from nowhere: I just don't see anyone else coming out for Everton the way they are playing currently. But maybe he isn't 100% match fit yet.

*crickets*

Well, things picked up a bit at the death there. I think Johnson is a nice pickup for Man City. Will be interesting to see how time he actually sees for them the rest of the way.

I'm fairly pleased with Spurs' moves. I'm annoyed they didn't sign a backup goalkeeper, though. Yes, it sounds like they had Begovic more or less wrapped up before he bolted for Stoke, but where was the Plan B? If Gomes is out for a while, we're stuffed.

LD's workrate allows Baines to get forward with much more abandon

What exactly does "work rate" mean? I assume it has to do with some combo of covering lots of ground, thus a combo of fitness and hustle and ?

I'm pissed Chelsea didn't sign a midfield player. Essien is hurt, Belleti is hurt, Ballack is old... it's not just for the short term, Chelsea needs a midfield player for the long-term anyway

I'm pissed Chelsea didn't sign a midfield player. Essien is hurt, Belleti is hurt, Ballack is old... it's not just for the short term, Chelsea needs a midfield player for the long-term anyway

What is the status of their transfer ban? I know they were originally put on a lengthy ban (2 years I think) but that was delayed until next summer. If that is still going to be in effect starting this summer their relative silence in this window becomes even more surprising.

Robbie Keane to Celtic. WTF?

What exactly does "work rate" mean? I assume it has to do with some combo of covering lots of ground, thus a combo of fitness and hustle and ?

Pretty much what you said. The ability and willingness to cover lots of ground, especially relatively quickly, in addition to one's main responsibilities and with a willingness to provide defensive pressure. Donovan's speed and fitness let him play much deeper on defense when the left back pushes forward if necessary, while still being able to speed into the attack from that defensive position if appropriate.

I'm fairly pleased with Spurs' moves

Did they sign someone with a watch? Because apparently they don't understand that the game lasts a full 90 minutes plus injury time.

#389 work rate is basically useful hustle. It's not totally related to defensive work since it also includes things like making runs off the ball to open up space. A guy like Park for United (who never stops running) is said to have a high work rate.

As for the Arsenal/ Man U game I think some people would be singing a different tune with better finishing from Arsenal. No surprise that United looked vulnerable at the back from time to time since both first choice central defenders were out.

Chelsea needs a midfield player for the long-term anyway

Well, they have that Kakuta guy. He looks pretty good.

Did they sign someone with a watch? Because apparently they don't understand that the game lasts a full 90 minutes plus injury time.

Yeah, yeah. Yuck it up. At least we're in a position to drop points. That's a significant improvement on recent seasons.

Altidore scores his first Premier League goal. He's been playing well from the little I've seen, but it's nice to see him get on the score sheet.

Underwhelming performance by Everton today. I don't know much about soccer, so I'm wondering what people thought of that play involving Fellaini and Kyrgiakos. The commentators thought both should have been sent off. It seemed like Kyrgiakos was more at fault.

@398 my initial reaction was that Kyrgiakos was at fault but after watching it a couple of times I think that was more a reaction to Fellani going down in a heap than the actual play. Both went in with bad intentions with Fellaini stomping on Kyrgiakos, I would have been fine with yellows both ways.

There was an earlier play that was really bad. They made a point of it on the broadcast, I think it was Pienaar going high and over the ball on Mascherano, that should have been red all the way.

I agree with you that Everton was disappointing. It seemed like Liverpool got lifted by the red card while Everton almost seemed confused as to how to play up a man. Was Bilyaletdinov injured or suspended? He seems to make things happen when he's in there and Everton looked like a team needing a spark.

Didn't get a chance to see the Everton game today - did Donovan look good? I'm really curious to see how productive he can be against top competition. Liverpool in a down year still has to be one of the top 10-20 clubs in the world.

cheng, where is my automobile?