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Soccer Banter

Extra Time

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Man City-08 won the EPL title in the most dramatic of circumstances.  Their fans now have a lifetime of bragging rights over their hated Manchester United rivals.  Winning the league provides short term satisfaction, but to do so having won 6-1 at Old Trafford earlier in the season, and scoring the winner in ‘Fergie Time’ while denying his team the title on goal difference, will add to the folklore.  Hollywood could not have scripted it any better.  Continue Reading

Eleven is Better Than One

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In his third and final part on Argentina Football, Teo D'Elia takes a deeper look at the shortcomings of the Argentina National team in recent years. 

Argentina’s National team had not been performing up to expectations. With the World Cup 2014 Qualifiers in progress, head coach Alejandro Sabella has become the first coach since Jose Pekerman (2004-06) to seem to have an idea of how to put all these great players together and turn it into a successful team.  Continue Reading


YouTube of the Week

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May 13, 2012 will be forever remembered as the day Manchester City won the Barclays Premier League, but from kickoff to the end of injury time, the roller coaster of emotions was felt by all.  Whether a neutral, a City, or United fan, the day had more drama than any Hollywood writer could ever produce.  The title for the 20th season of the Barclays Premier League came down to the last day, but results of matches also had an impact on relegation and Champions League spots. Enjoy the clip showing reactions of Manchester City and Manchester United supporters, players, and managers.    Watch clip

Extra Time - FA Cup Final 

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There was so many potential discussion points for Extra Time this week – the demise of Barcelona, the Manchester derby, the race for fourth place in the EPL, Real Madrid regaining their La Liga crown, Ajax winning the Eredivisie, Thierry Henry’s injury, the narcissism of John Terry, Tax Dodgers FC otherwise known as Rangers Football Club, the appointment of Roy Hodgson to the England job – but on FA Cup Final weekend it feels more appropriate to be writing about the game at Wembley. 
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Time To Win Is Now

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This Saturday the United States National Team plays Scotland to kick off what Jurgen Klinsmann is calling, a “five-game tournament”.  Just about 10 months into the job, it’s refreshing to hear Klinsmann discuss that now is the time to win.  But let’s be honest, the next five games are not quite comparable to a tournament.  The team plays three friendly matches, the first two on US soil against Scotland and Brazil, followed by an away match north of the border against Canada.  These games are not win-at-all-cost, but instead provide Klinsmann the opportunity to evaluate and tweak with his lineup prior to the start of World Cup qualifiers in June.  All that truly matters is that the team gets the job done against Antigua & Barbuda and Guatemala.  Continue Reading

UCL with Phil Schoen

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This Saturday, Bayern Munich hosts Chelsea in the 2012 Champions League Final.  Both teams are coming off frustrating domestic league seasons, with Bayern finishing second behind Borussia Dortmund, while Chelsea finished a disappointing sixth place.  Though neither team was able to win their domestic champions, all will be forgotten if they are crowned champions of Europe.  GolTV announcer, Phil Schoen, was nice enough to share some of his knowledge on the biggest club match of the year. 

Soccer Banter:  How will each manager adjust to players missing due to suspension?  Continue Reading


Q & A with Steve Coxon

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Soccer Banter:  It’s been a few months since we last spoke, but the first game is this weekend. Describe some of the highs and lows of the build up to the season opener?

Steve Coxon:  The lows first, major issues with a home stadium.  We thought we had a deal all set with Yale, but then we had permit issues with parking, security, vendors, etc.  Eight days before our first game we had to scramble and now we will open the season at East Haven High School.  Continue Reading


A Beautiful Day Ruined

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There is a redemptive quality about this Saturday’s FA Cup Final between Liverpool and Chelsea, as two teams that had fancied themselves as pretenders to the Premier League crown square off in a consolatory, but still meaningful, match at Wembley.  Continue Reading



I Hate Liverpool

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You know what stinks? The Premiership’s almost done for another year. You know what else? I’ve hated pretty much all of this season, Liverpool-wise, anyways. The pain points aren’t hard to identify: lots of games lost and drawn at home against crap teams. Detractors need only point to Liverpool’s middling play(ers) and corresponding table position before suggesting the Mighty Reds are not so much mightier as they are slightly less crap than some of the Premiership’s lower-tier teams.
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Manchester Derby Preview

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On Monday April 30, all eyes will be focused on Manchester and more specifically the Etihad Stadium.  Manchester City hosts Manchester United in what many are calling the biggest match ever in the history of the Premier League.  Soccer Banter staff writers give their unique thoughts on the match.  Continue Reading


Player W: Money Talks 

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Fact:  At about $500,000 annually, one the highest salaries in the 2011 WPS season belonged to Marta, the best player in the world. This amount was barely above the NFL minimum and about 20-times the WPS average.  Continue Reading



MLS Preview with Alexi Lalas

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To complete our MLS preview we spoke with former USMNT defender and current ESPN analyst, Alexi Lalas.  Due to his late entry to the party, if he correctly picks the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup winners, there will be an asterisk next to his name in the record books!  Lalas is a tireless promoter of the beautiful game and his goal celebration against England at Foxboro Stadium is etched in my memory forever.  Check out his daily podcast "The Shot" and follow him on Twitter @AlexiLalas

Soccer Banter:  Which team(s) will win the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup in 2012?  How much more important will the Supporters Shield be with MLS Cup being played at the home venue of the participating team with a higher regular-season point total?  Continue Reading



Q&A with Anton Peterlin

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Soccer Banter recently caught up with Anton Peterlin, an American currently playing for League One Side, Walsall FC.  Peterlin first made headlines in 2009 when he moved from Ventura County Fusion of the Premier Developmental League in USL to Everton Football Club.  After one-year at Everton, Peterlin moved to Plymouth Argyle for the 2010-11 season.  He made 12 appearances for Plymouth before signing with Walsall this past summer.  He is involved in another relegation fight with Walsall, who are currently in 20th place in League One, one point out of the relegation zone. 

Soccer Banter:  You are enjoying your most successful year in England, with 20 starts for League One side Walsall, what do you attribute your success to this year?  Continue Reading



Q&A with Curt Onalfo

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Soccer Banter caught up with Los Angeles Galaxy Assistant Coach Curt Onalfo following the clubs exit from the quarterfinal stage of the CONCACAF Champions League.  Besides discussing the matches against Toronto FC, Onalfo gave his thoughts on the Galaxy defense, Bruce Arena, and we also took a trip down memory lane. 

Soccer Banter:  Looking back on the 2 games against Toronto FC, what do you feel the team needed to do better in order to advance in the CONCACAF Champions League?  Continue Reading



Q&A with Aaron Maund

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With Torsten Frings being sidelined for four to six weeks, Toronto FC will be looking for a center-back to fill the void left by the German International.  Soccer Banter spoke with rookie Aaron Maund about his transition to professional soccer, defeating the Los Angeles Galaxy, and the upcoming fixture list.  Maund, a center-back originally from Dorchester, Massachusetts, played four years at the University of Notre Dame and was selected with the 12th pick in the 2012 MLS Draft.  Maund has represented both Trinidad & Tobago and the United States as a youth international.  Follow Maund on twitter: @Imamaundsta

Soccer Banter:  You were thrown into the fire quickly, coming on as a late game substitute in both CCL games vs LA Galaxy.  Share your thoughts on playing in those games, advancing in CCL, and lastly making your professional debut on same field as Torsten Frings, David Beckham, Landon Donovan, and Robbie Keane?  Continue Reading



MLS Preview-Bobby McMahon

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We are lucky to hear his analysis daily on Fox Soccer Report and now Bobby McMahon has welcomed the opportunity to try his hand at a few predictions involving the 17th season of Major League Soccer.  McMahon hosts a weekly podcast with Eoin O'Callaghan at SoccerReportExtra.com and most recently has shared his writing with Forbes.  Follow McMahon on twitter: @bobbysoccerrep 

Soccer Banter:  Which team(s) will win the Supporters Shield and MLS Cup in 2012?  How much more important will the Supporters Shield be with MLS Cup being played at the home venue of the participating team with a higher regular season point total?  Continue Reading



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Quote of the Day

May 25, 2012
"There were times where I lost hope and that has never happened to me before.
It's the worst feeling in the world when you love your profession and I became the player I hate. Luckily it is part of the past."

- Fernando Torres


Soccer Banter Friends

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Malia Crushes Cancer
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Soccer Banter: Been Kicking Since March 1, 2011