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Soccer Banter

Off the Ball

5/27/2013

1 Comment

 
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1.  The best game in England this season didn't involve Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal or even Manchester United. Instead, it involved two clubs from Germany, Bayern Munich and Boroussia Dortmund, playing in the Champions League Final in the famous pitch at Wembley Stadium. Congrats to Bayern and thank you to both clubs for a great match to watch.  

2.  Speaking of England, on Wednesday the Three Lions host the Republic of Ireland in an international friendly at Wembley.  Will Robbie Keane be able to get two hat-tricks on two different continents in a matter of four days? Irish eyes would be smiling. 

3.  Last week Major League Soccer announced its 20th franchise, New York City Football Club, which is owned by Manchester City and the New York Yankees.  I'm always confused when soccer clubs are called football clubs in America. Didn't the United States declare independence from England in 1776? 


4.  Is the Finnish League really a professional soccer league? Before answering yes, watch the video and then decide.



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5.  Mike Magee became a hero to the Galaxy faithful by scoring eight goals in 17 playoff games and helping Los Angeles win two MLS Cups. On Saturday he was traded to his hometown Chicago Fire for Robbie Rogers, but prior to leaving the Home Depot Center, he showed his true class as a person with an open letter to the Galaxy organization and its supporters.

6.
 It's finally official, Neymar is leaving Santos to join Barcelona on July 1st. Looking forward to watching Iniesta, Xavi, and Messi, glaring at the young Brazilian each time he overdoes it with his dribbling down the flank.  

7. Sky Blue FC and Portland Thorns continue to roll in NWSL.  Let's hope Sky Blue FC can get even a 1/4 of the support that the Thorns enjoy in Portland at their home game on Saturday against the Breakers. 

8.  In the middle of the biggest girls soccer tournament in the country, the PDA College Showcase, one of the top international sides was training.  Wonder if any of the girls sent a snapchat of Vertonghen, Fellaini, Dembele, or Lukaku walking around Rutgers.



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9.  Though their hair style isn't my cup of tea, Diego Fagundez and Gyasi Zardes, are two young attacking players worth watching in MLS. 

10.  Maybe youth soccer clubs in America should start hiring German coaches instead of English ones. 

11.  Back to the topic of New York City FC.  Seriously, they are owned by the Yankees and City, will there be a more hated American franchise in all of sports??

12.  I understand the social implications of Robbie Rogers returning to soccer last night with the LA Galaxy, but I'm also just happy to see a good American attacking player return to MLS in the prime of his career. 


13.  The focus this week turns towards international soccer and I'm excited for Ireland/England and United States/Belgium on Wednesday.  Next week's "Off the Ball" will most likely be filled with criticism of Trapattoni and Klinsmann. 

14.  Crystal Palace, welcome back to the Premier League, may your visit be longer than the last time. 

1 Comment
AD
5/28/2013 11:28:02 pm

1) Fantastic CL final.
2) No
3) Have no problem with Football. Football designates the sport. Soccer is derived from Association or everything not taking place on the pitch. I'd rather be associated with the game. If American Football (a misnomer I think we can all agree) didn't exist, this would never be an issue. Call it a soccer club, call it a football club, it's all calcio to me.
4) Poor Finland. At least they did something to make a video go viral.
5) Magee, class. His legacy in LA will be preserved.
6) Intriguing to be certain. Is he a star or does he go the way of Ibra?
7) Sky Blue, first in the table...not first in attendance. May questions remain.
8) They don't know who those players are.
9) Bad hair is the signature and legacy of each era of the game.
10) Maybe...but unlikely.
11) No...they've positioned themselves nicely as MLS's Evil Empire.
12) Agreed.
13) Fewer things are more certain.
14) Have they ever played more than one consecutive season?

This was fun. But now I'm tired.

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    Brendan Faherty

    Faherty is currently the Assistant Women's Soccer Coach at the University of Washington. He passionately supports four clubs, but is always following the game at many different levels. 



    Off the Ball
    Random observations from the last week of soccer. 



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Soccer Banter: Been Kicking Since March 1, 2011