SoccerUSA!!!

By Sean Connolly

David Beckham and the Galaxy haven’t had much luck in the past month. Becks, Landon Donovan, and the Galaxy have fallen from the top of the Western Conference all the way to 5th. Last week head coach Ruud Gullit left the team for personal reasons, a move that Beckham understood but was not happy with.

Obviously, it’s disappointing, it’s disappointing to lose somebody who’s a good coach and a good person.It happens in football clubs and it’s happened here. Maybe it happened too early, but we wish him good luck in whatever he goes on and does.

David Beckham on Ruud Gullit’s Choice to Leave LA Galaxy

Along with Gullit out the door went Alexi Lalas, who was intregal in getting Beckham to the states. With a negative aura surrounding the Galaxy, they had to make a move quick. Thankfully the made the right move in hiring Bruce Arena, former US national team coach. This move puts Arena at the helm in place of the temporary coach, Cobi Jones, who despite his inexperience could turn out to be a good coach in this league very soon.

Now, I’m not a fan of the Galaxy. Quite frankly I’m not a fan of any particular MLS team. What I am a fan of is soccer in the USA. And as of late it seems as if the sports’ success in the USA is reliant on David Beckham and the LA Galaxy. The move was a gamble, and almost an all or nothing effort to intensify the sport of soccer in America. As of today I can easily say the move has been a failure. But all hope isn’t lost. Bruce Arena is a coach who is capable of picking this team up and bringing them into the playoffs.

Arena led DC United to two MLS Championships in the early stages of the MLS as well as rebuilding a US team that seemed doomed after their 1998 performance in the World Cup. As of late he has had some difficulty as the US team failed to get out of the group stage in ‘06 and his last MLS coaching job with the Red Bulls left him with a record of 16-16-10, a record the Red Bulls expected to be better. Despite the recent troubles Arena is still a great coach, arguably the best American coach and is exactly what the Galaxy need right now.

Arena’s first game will be against the Brian McBride and his new team the Chicago Fire on Thursday night. Chicago sits 3rd in the Eastern Conference and look to build around the newly acquired McBride. The Galaxy are winless in their last 8 games and are searching for something. That something will be found by Bruce Arena who if his resume reads correct will turn this Galaxy team around and turn US Soccer around…again.

By Sean Connolly

They’re not the greatest side, but West Ham is an English Premier League team…and to most of America, that’s all that matters.

The MLS media will try and hype this game up and try to convince America that the MLS can play with the best of them, heck that’s all the post game questions were to David Beckham after his side’s victory. The truth this is just a start for the MLS. They need to continue these winning habits against solid teams who play in legitimate leagues.

But enough about the nuances of the result of the MLS’ victory, let’s talk about the game. For the most part it was a pretty exciting game. For the MLS the majority of the ball went through Beckham…exactly what the crowd, sponsors, and ESPN wanted. Becks played very well and assisted on Cristian Gomez’s goal to tie the game. The goal came within a minute of the game’s first goal by West Ham’s Dean Ashton, which set the tone of the game.

The MLS All-Star squad seemed to be united more than West Ham United as they actually played like they have played together hundreds of times before. They showed heart and determination as they scored right before half with Cuauhtemoc Blanco’s goal(Blanco won the MVP of the game) and again minutes after West Ham scored, Houston Dynamo’s Dwayne De Rosario took it into the box, got fouled, and then drilled and I mean drilled the penalty home. He put as much strength as I’ve ever seen behind a penalty as he rocked it off the bottom of the crossbar and it crossed the line.

Overall, you have to appreciate what the MLS has done. These game will always sell out because there are always going to be supporters of an international battle of some sort. With Barcelona making a US tour this summer, playing Chivas soon, and the Champions League ripoff Superliga actually working, I think its time for MLS teams to begin competing against European teams. The interest garnered in a match between an MLS team and an English Premiership team would certainly help the league. This is another great step for the MLS.

By Sean Connolly

It seems like this whole Ronaldinho trade has gone on for too long. It’s obvious that Barcelona wants to get rid of the guy, so why is it so hard to get him on a new team. Ronaldinho has been rumored to have been traded to AC Milan, Inter Milan, and Manchester City.

At first it seemed certain that Ronaldinho would be a part of AC Milan come next season. But as talks fell through over money and the concerns of Ronaldinho’s health, AC Milan faded away for a bit in the Ronaldinho Sweepstakes. Not letting their rival get an upper hand, Inter Milan soon joined the mix distributing a bid for the once greatest player in the world. And in every race you need a darkhorse, a long shot, a nobody. Manchester City stepped up and probably put the most appetizing deal on the table for Ronaldinho.

Again though, AC Milan has taken the lead. They are now trying to decide between taking Emmanuel Adebayor or Ronaldinho. Who will AC Milan take though? I think they’re leaning more towards Adebayor, which again opens things up for Manchester City who would really be the only bidder left for Ronaldinho. Taking Adebayor over Ronaldinho is the better choice for AC Milan due to his size and age which could put Ronaldinho in Manchester City.

It seems to me that Ronaldinho has a desire to come to the English Premier League. Whether or not coming to Manchester City will satisfy what he wants is totally different. As I said in my first post about this ongoing trade, Ronaldinho going to AC Milan and playing in Serie A would be a terrible idea for him. In such a defensive league Ronaldinho will certainly struggle if traded to AC Milan or Inter Milan.

Manchester City being a long shot to get Ronaldinho kind of got me thinking. I know it’s border line impossible but maybe just maybe an MLS team can get in the mix for him. If anything just a couple of talks could certainly help for the future like when he gets ready to hang up the cleats. He could pull a David Beckham and decide to come over here. Why not? I’m just saying, say whoever signs Ronaldinho is probably going to let him go after probably 3 years. After that the interest in him will be so low that he just might need that attention (like Beckham needed it). He gets that attention from MLS teams who see dollar signs and a great marketing tool. Ronaldinho comes to the MLS plays for a couple years and steps the MLS up another notch. Far fetched but, if you’re the MLS, what have you got to lose?

By Sean Connolly

Soccer in America is rising, but it will never be where England is and yesterday’s game proved it. In a friendly match at Wembley Stadium in England, the U.S. soccer team came out flat and got straight up beat by a much better squad 2-0. Personally, I have been looking forward to this game thinking that the U.S. could pull out an upset. Unforunately that wasn’t the case.

This game was so frustrating for so many reasons if you’re a fan of American soccer. First off the game wasn’t even slightly competitive. England ran circles around the U.S. and not at one point were they ever in danger of falling behind. Without Landon Donavon in the lineup, pulled groin, the American side had no offense and couldn’t threaten at all. Being a fan of English soccer and American soccer, I have always dreamed of a true competitive rivalry between the two sides. Instead, England just proves that Americans can’t play soccer and will never be up to their level.

It seems whenever the U.S. is building up a solid team and garnering some respect in the soccer community, they are given a great challenge and they fail. In the 2006 World Cup against Germany U.S. again failed to make a significant impact on the biggest soccer stage.

In the game, John Terry made up for his missed penalty shot for Chelsea in last weeks championship final. He headed in a goal from a free kick from, ironically, the possible savior of U.S. soccer, David Beckham. Steven Gerard scored also as a simple triangle pass picked the U.S. defense apart and gave Gerard an easy break away.

Some good news came from this game though as Brian McBride, one of America’s greatest players, announced that he will be leaving Fulham F.C. in the English Premiership to come to the MLS. I guess he liked where the MLS was headed, and it would be great to see him on a team like the New York Red Bulls.

With the World Cup qualifiers coming up soon, the U.S. soccer team better get their act together and realize that the time is now to show the world that American soccer is for real. Beckham, the world’s biggest soccer star, is playing in the United States and all eyes are on the national team to perform. If they keep playing like this they will be lucky to make it to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Throughout my years as a soccer fan I have seen some pretty stupid things. Such as Arsenal blowing a lead by tying a bunch of games in row this year, but forget that for now. Also, I have heard some pretty dumb things. Below is my list of the top 10 dumbest quotes from the players you love to watch. Enjoy!

10. Ugo Ehiogu- “I’m as happy as I can be…but I’ve been happier.”

9. David Beckham- “My parents have always been there for me, ever since I was about 7.”

8. Lee Hendrie- “I took a whack on my left ankle, but something told me it was my right.”

7. Mark Viduka- “I wouldn’t be bothered if we lost every game, as long as we won the league.”

6. Les Ferdinand- “I was surprised, but I always say nothing surprises me in football.”

5. Mitchell Thomas- “All that remains is for a few dots and commas to be crossed.”

4. Stan Collymore- “I faxed a transfer request to the club at the beginning of the week, but let me state I don’t want to leave.”

3. Barry Venison- “I always used to put my right boot on first, and then obviously my right sock.”

2. Thierry Henry- “Sometimes in football you have to score goals.”

drum roll please….

1. Ronaldo- “We lost because we didn’t win.”

 Written By Sean Connolly

What was the lead highlight on Thursday night’s SportsCenter? It was an MLS game. Can you believe it? Ten years ago it was a thought that was in nobody’s head, especially ESPN. But Beckham’s first goal in the MLS is exactly what fans have been looking for, and apparently ESPN.

His first goal ignited fans in the stadium and just watching the game led you to jump out of your seat. The atmosphere of the game was outstanding. Every time Beckham would touch the ball there was an immediate buzz that was audible to a viewer. Fans were always on edge, wondering what he would do next.

Beckham played his best game of his short MLS career as he had an assist as well, to go with his first goal. Beckham dropped a ball onto Landon Donovan’s foot. Beckham couldn’t make it any easier for Donovan as he easily put the ball in the back of the net.

Beckhams skill, even though it is diminishing, is far more superior than other players in the MLS. His vision is just amazing compared to his teammates and is a great change to the MLS. It seems that the American style of play of kick and run isn’t entertaining enough to Americans as first thought. The European style of play has been more welcomed and sought after in the MLS.

The win gave the Galaxy an excellent start to the season after its awful end to last season. Beckham adn the Galaxy’s exciting start will hopefully launch the MLS to its most successful season yet.

Unfortunately, or fortunately if you’re the Los Angeles Galaxy, it’s hard to talk about soccer in the U.S. without talking about David Beckham. That’s the price we all pay as part of Galaxy’s high-priced gamble to bring prime-time glitz to the sport.

David Beckham at Colorado – Photo: Getty/Steve Dykes

Of course, the debate continues about why Americans seem always to resist the world’s game.

In this week’s installment of the continuing conversation, Marty Mercado over at football.co.uk writes passionately about what we in the States are missing:

Moans are heard in Milan, Melbourne, and Moscow as an opportunity for a goal is missed. Liverpool, Lyon and Lisbon sing songs of victory as the final whistle is blown while Athens, Adelaide, and Aberdeen groan in defeat. Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Portland, however, remain silent. Not a peep is heard in Memphis, Miami, or Minneapolis. As the world watches twenty-two of the world’s greatest athletes partake of the “beautiful game” that is football, Americans refuse to pay any attention to another boring soccer game.

This is all true but what many soccer lovers forget is that Americans do care deeply about sports, it’s just the sport they’re moaning or cheering about is not soccer. Talk to a committed member of Red Sox nation, or a long-suffering New York Knicks fan: they’ll match their love/madness with the best soccer fan.

Mercado tries to figure out why it is Americans have taken to soccer. He’s got an interesting theory:

Soccer has never been a big sport in American culture and there seems to be a genuine dislike from most Americans towards the sport. This is because soccer is seen by Americans as a sport that stands for four things that they dislike: absence of big business, an overabundance of foreigners, homosexuals, and a lack of initiative.

Chelsea celebrates its victory over Arsenal

A bit contemptuous don’t you think? America – the country of immigrants. With its own smoldering – if most often underground -contempt for the very, very wealthy. If they were so beloved, would they have to live in fortified gated communities? Let’s give homophobia to Mercado.

Now maybe I’m missing something but isn’t Manchester United a shining example of big, big business. 330 million supporters worldwide, 5% of the world’s population, the second richest sports club.

Mercado does have another reasons that is a bit more compelling: the lack of opportunity for TV advertisers to peddle their wares. Every major sport that’s broadcast here in the States provides ample time for advertisers. The leagues have bent over backwards to transform the games to create TV timeouts to sell. If you’ve ever gone to the stadium to see a professional football game, you are treated to agonizing stoppages to allow the TV audience to see commercials they would love to skip. No wonder sports fans by the droves have become addicted to their TIVOs and digital video recorders – record the show, wait a half-hour or forty-five minutes after kickoff and watch your recorded version while blessedly missing the ads.

What works for baseball, football, and basketball just won’t work for soccer. You’d have to destroy to game to exploit it.
Given this dilemma, Beckham was worth a shot. When in doubt, use hype and celebrity. Unfortunately, Britney isn’t good enough and doesn’t seem to care. But Beckham, although lower on the radar than Brintey, is nevertheless a star, and U.S. sports teams have a history of throwing money at players. Witness the New York Knicks who have wasted a fortune assembling a team that just seems to get worse.

Beckham’s 100th cap vs. France

My guess is there is just no short-term answer. With time – and I may be talking decades – young Americans who play and love soccer will share their passion with others. In the meantime, let’s hope Beckham can help L.A. win.