Soccer Banter

MLS Cup Preview

When I was asked to write an article with a prediction for the winner of MLS CUP 2013, and to back it up with a few key reasons to support my audacious claim…I figured why not? I start out with a 50% shot at being right so I can't ask for better odds of looking smart than that! In 2006, prior to winning my third MLS Cup with the Houston Dynamo, I was on ESPN radio three days before the game and guaranteed a victory over the New England Revolution in Pizza Hut Park. Thanks to a great goal from Brian Ching and about three unbelievable saves by Pat Onstad, my prediction came true. The truth of the matter is I just chose us because it was the only option and the smart thing to do…I was standing up for the club and maybe trying to endear myself to the fans a bit more….and oh yeah…again I like those 50% odds! Continue Reading

Q & A with Rachel Daly

The NCAA Division I women's leading scorer hails from Harrogate, England and spent 2012 watching from the sidelines due to NCAA eligibility rules. A year later, Rachel Daly, is clearly in the spotlight, her 23 goals have helped lead St. John's to the NCAA tournament and a first round upset of Central Florida. Daly spoke to Soccer Banter about St. John's, a goal scorer's mentality, Leeds United, and more. Follow Daly on twitter @RachelDaly3

Soccer Banter: For those that haven’t seen you play, describe yourself as player? What are the strengths of the current side that has made this campaign so successful? Continue Reading

Extra Time

At 1-1 in their game against Norwich City, Chelsea were looking at dropping two points. Jose Mourinho made a couple of substitutes, changed formation, went two against two at the back, and pushed his full backs on. His side scored two goals to win 3-1 and pick up all three points. At the business end of the EPL season, Chelsea will be in the title hunt because of Mourinho. Continue Reading

Like Father, Like Son: Arie Ammann

We first spoke to Mike Ammann in September 2011 as part of our "Where Are They Now" pieces, but our latest interview with Mike isn't about him, but rather about his son, Arie. This past summer, Arie headed over to England to join Watford Academy on a two-year scholarship. Follow Mike Ammann @247GK and Arie Ammann @arieammann on twitter.

Soccer Banter: As a former goalkeeper yourself, was Arie always destined to play the same position? Continue Reading

Q&A with Derek Canavaggio

In early June I was fortunate to watch Panama train two days at the University of Washington prior to their World Cup Qualifying match against the United States in Seattle. While watching the team train, I met, Derek Canavaggio, Panama's team manager. We spoke about his role with the Federation, his own background in the game of soccer, and what lies ahead for Panama this Fall and in the future. Follow Derek on twitter @DCanavaggio

Soccer Banter: What is your role with the Panama Football Federation? Continue Reading

USWNT: I'm Hooked

July of 2011, I happened upon the U.S. World Cup match against Colombia. Never before had I seen these women play together, and from that game onwards I was hooked. They all had something great to offer, but those who initially stood out to me were Abby Wambach and Megan Rapinoe. Though I’d seen several soccer games in my life, I had never seen anyone take the field quite like these two. It was as if getting the ball from Colombia players was a life or death deal. Wambach was on fire when she charged towards possible goals, scaring those in her path. If she was afraid of making mistakes, I didn’t see it. Rapinoe had the same attitude and scored her first World Cup goal as a substitute for Amy Rodriguez, along with a famous singing-into-the-sports-microphone goal celebration at the same time. Continue Reading

Q & A with Dante Marini

As a Northeastern alum, I kept being told that I needed to check out the small kid playing for the Huskies - that he was a special player. When I walked up to Parsons Field last Fall, I first mistook Dante Marini for a ball boy and wondered to myself what all the fuss was about. Ninety minutes later, I had my answer. The diminutive midfielder is creative on the ball, has tremendous work-rate off it, and not once did his size hinder his game. As his answers show, he is hungry for more success and has a sense of humor to go along with his appealing game.

Soccer Banter: Northeastern has typically played in the shadow of Boston College, but last fall that changed by knocking the Eagles out of the NCAA's. Take us back to that game - how did it feel when your header went in the net? Continue Reading

The Football Sartorialist

Like it or not, the ‘Banter is ready to pass judgment on the sartorial landscape of the 2013/14 Premiership once again. As always, and in keeping with the spirit of the greatest sporting league on the planet, there are winners and losers. In fact, were you to rank the best and worst-dressed teams this year you would, with a few exceptions, come out with a fairly accurate depiction of the final table in April 2014. Are we making assumptions? Of course we are.

All together now…Continue Reading

Off The Ball

1. The Merseyside derby was end to end action, but even with all that substance, five of the six goals in the match came off of restarts. With statistics like that, maybe it's time to quit with all the possession at youth soccer practices around America, and instead work on restarts. When it comes to soccer, we do follow the lead of the English, don't we?
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Arsenal FC: My Club, My Passion

In the summer of 1996 my roommate, Matt Micros, and I were asked by a group of parents to take the members of my summer district team and create a premier team. I was only two years out of college and had no idea what that entailed. Neither of us did. The first question was….were we really equipped to coach 14 year old girls for an entire year? I had recently completed my first season coaching high school girls as a favor to my former AD and, while I enjoyed the experience, I wasn’t certain that coaching girls year round was the road I wanted to travel. After some thought and some nudging from a couple of persuasive parents, we agreed to take the plunge and, with that, our journey into the premier world had begun. Little did we know that eighteen years later this would become our passion. Continue Reading

Q & A with Andres Deza

I first saw Andes Deza's De Anza Force team play this past April and I was instantly drawn to the players' comfort level with the ball, along with their movement off of it. Had tiki-taka arrived in youth soccer in America? On the girls side no less? I have been fortunate to watch the team a few more times while also getting to know their coach, Andres Deza. Each time I came away more impressed with the team's style of play and their coach's demeanor. The quietest coach on the sidelines of the ECNL National Championships this past summer, he also oversaw the team playing the best soccer. Their reward? Champions of the U14 age group.

Soccer Banter: First, for those that haven't seen your De Anza Force U15 ECNL team play, how would you describe their style of play when they are playing at their best? Continue Reading

If You Know Your History

In a sinister way, many Manchester United fans appear to be enjoying David Moyes' fraught beginning as manager of their club. His failure to capture a creative midfielder during the summer and appearing to have to settle for his former beau Maroune Fellaini, has seen many supporters spit venom from their soapbox towards the new coach after just four games, that's four. FOUR! Continue Reading

Premier League Preview

The summer transfer window has closed. The September World Cup qualifying matches have been completed. The focus now turns back to the Premier League with many questions to be answered over the next nine months: Who will be crowned champion? Which teams will be relegated? Which teams will finish in the top four? Which summer transfer will be the best? All these questions and others were answered by a variety of soccer people in the United States. Check back all week for updated interviews.

Steve Coxon - CFC Azul President

Jeremy Melul - Jogabo CEO & Co-founder

Jim McGirr - Providence College Women's Soccer Coach

Elie Monteiro - UMass Lowell Women's Soccer Coach

Brian Tompkins - Yale University Men's Soccer Head Coach

Lee Billiard - Boston Breakers General Manager

#SoccerParentProblems

First scrimmage of the year. My daughters starting her junior year playing soccer in college. This is “Our” year, since we had 10 seniors graduate and I can feel my kid is going to finally get her time on the field this year rather than the bench. Now we will win…I hope…I start to panic, how do I handle this when I’ve blamed every loss the last two years on account of my kid not being on the field? Over the last two years when my kid has the ball, I say carry it. When someone else has it, I yell get it up front quickly. When the balls on the opposite side, I yell “switch it”. When my kid comes in off the bench no matter what’s going on I say, “They look good now, nice touches, moving the ball nicely, great speed of play”. I got it, I’ll just go back to blaming the coach!! Brilliant!!! For starters I’ll go with old reliable, “Really?! One forward? We have no offense to begin with! She can't do it alone!". Or: "Fitness is a problem on this team...it's like we're playing kickball...". And: "Lots of new girls! Going to take a few games to get used to playing together." Oh I can do this, I’ve heard every argument and excuse over the last ten years. How and when did I get so good at this excuse game??? Let me reminisce.
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June 2013 Archives

Quote of the Day

December 6, 2013

"I will respect and have enormous admiration for everyone. But the word fear is the wrong one."

- Roy Hodgson

Soccer Banter Friends

Malia Crushes Cancer