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Off the Ball

11/11/2013

With my own thoughts of late focused on the Red Sox, the inability to score goals in college soccer, and an online economics class, I haven't had much time to jot down notes on any of the major happenings in the beautiful game. So instead, enjoy a few thoughts from others.

One of my favorite journalists, Jeff Carlisle, doesn't disappoint in his piece about the greatest game in MLS history.

Imagine you just watched your favorite team train and as you're driving home from the stadium, you see their bus has broken down on the side of the road. What do you do? Pick 'em up.

BBC Sport Journalist, Matt Slator, dives into a popular topic these days, Major League Soccer: can the MLS revolution survive and thrive?

Slator wrote his own article after he read David Peisner's long-form article, The Low-Budget, High Pressure Life of an MLS Rookie. Peisner spends a few days with Los Angeles Galaxy rookie, Kofi Opare, discussing the life of someone making $35,000 compared to two of his millionaire teammates.

Borusssia Dortmund manager, Jurgen Klopp, isn't in love with Barcelona. He prefers fighting football.

Life of a premier league player on loan: not as easy as one would think. Damn navigation systems.

How can we improve the future of the United States Men's National Team? Brian Sciaretta has an idea.

Roy Keane is back in the fold with the Republic of Ireland. My thoughts on the subject still to be determined, but Diarmuid O hAinle believes Roy Keane Owes Us One.

US Women's Soccer Technical Director, April Heinrichs, shares why she believes youth soccer players need to embrace failure.

Is Southampton the new destination club for English players - young and old? Jeremy Wilson shares why the club is doing so well.

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Off the Ball

10/14/2013

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1. Is the English Premier League the best league in the world? Only if you believe the English and American media. As coaches tell their players - video doesn't lie.

2. Her assistant coach is useless, but what a goal from Havana McElvaine this past Friday.

3. The New England Revolution will not go quietly into the night. Two games left, both against the Columbus Crew, one point out of the playoffs. The MLS playoffs need the Revs and their football lined field.

4. Seattle Sounders meltdown? It's not looking good for the club with the best supporters in Major League Soccer.

5. Question for Eric Wynalda after his recent interview in which he questions the merits of coaches in MLS and US Soccer. What are his thoughts on Caleb Porter and Mike Petke? Both coaches are currently in their first season as head coaches in professional soccer, but yet their teams are in first place of their respective conferences in Major League Soccer.

6. Love the Beautiful game? Get involved with Jogabo.

7. Congratulations to the fittest (and 2nd happiest) player I've ever coached, Meabh De Burca and her team, Eskilstuna United, on winning promotion to the top flight in Sweden. I hope next season she can get me a signed Marta jersey! I'm a big fan of those Swedish club jerseys with 10 different sponsors on them.

8. When Robbie Keane starts for Ireland against Kazakhstan on Tuesday, could it be his last competitive game for the Republic of Ireland? At 33, with a new manager on the way and no meaningful match until September of 2014, one would have to think, that this could be his swan song.

9. Speaking of Mike Petke, it's still a little weird to me that two players I grew up watching at Southern Connecticut State University, are now head coaches in MLS - Brian Bliss is the other. Sad to see how different that program is today. At one time, that school would have defeated most, if not all, NCAA D1 programs.

10. Looking for cool soccer t-shirts? Check out Miniboro.

11. Who is going to Brazil?

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Off the Ball

9/30/2013

2 Comments

1. It seems false advertising is allowed by MLS. On Friday the league sent out an email to promote the Sounders-Red Bulls match. The two players advertised - Clint Dempsey & Thierry Henry, neither dressed for the match.

2. Professional soccer is here to stay in America. Now we need some covered terraces at stadiums, especially in the Pacific Northwest.

3. I've been critical of DeAndre Yedlin this season, but his ability to cross balls has improved dramatically since the start of the year. Once he improves his passing while under pressure, he will become a member of the USMNT.

4. In 2014 Eddie Johnson will have a designated player contract in MLS. The question is, will that be with Seattle? Dempsey and Martins are automatics for DP's. Will the Sounders choose Rosales, Johnson, Alonso or someone new as their third DP?

5. If I was the general manager of an MLS side, for the price, the first player currently in the league that I would want to build my team around...Osvaldo Alsonso.

6. My sister and brother-in-law arrived in Seattle for the first time on Friday. Less than 48 hours later they had their picture taken with Eddie Johnson.

7. Why hasn't the best ginger in MLS, Dax McCarty, been called into a USMNT camp?

8. In less than 24 hours the grounds crew at CenturyLink Field was able to remove the football lines on the field prior to kickoff of the Sounders-Red Bulls match. Why cant the Gillette Stadium crew do the same prior to Revolution matches?

9. Once again, Thierry Henry, skipped out on an opportunity to play on FieldTurf. If the Red Bulls have to play a playoff match on FieldTurf, what will the hand-ball Frenchman do?

10. Happy for Mike Petke that he decided to add a coat to his outfit for the second half. Is it fair to say, he has the best style of anyone that has ever attended Southern Connecticut State University?

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Off the Ball

9/20/2013

1 Comment

1. Best restart goal of 2013. Maybe those parents who scream "BOOT IT" are actually onto something.

2. When Chelsea hosts Fulham this weekend will the Blues supporters be holding "Jose Out" signs? If the Blues were to lose for a third straight match, would Roman fire the Special One?

3. An own goal of epic proportions in China. It will go down as an own goal with two assists, all from the defending team.

4. In a 2-2 draw, has one player ever been involved in all four goals? Well history was possibly made on Monday. Jonjo Shelvey scored and assisted on both goals for Swansea. Problem was, he could also be credited for setting up both Liverpool goals. Thanks Jonjo for the point, Liverpool still top of the table!

5. Is Clint Dempsey in a funk? He has yet to light it up for the Sounders and his two most recent performances for the USMNT would be considered by most as subpar. When will suggestions start that he needs a Landon Donovan type sabbatical?

6. Trap is out as Ireland manager, but is Martin O'Neill really the answer? Actually, it could be a good hire since qualifying for EURO 2016, with the tournament expanding to 24 teams, will be as easy as finishing in the top two in the Scottish Premier League.

7. Kelyn Rowe is on fire for the New England Revolution with five goals in his last five games. The Revs are going to need his form to continue if they are going to sneak into the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Expect Rowe to be in January camp for the USMNT, he's one for the future.

8. I don't think Jurgen Klopp was asking the 4th official over for dinner during his side's loss to Napoli. Germans can be scary.

9. The University of North Carolina Women's Soccer team did something this week that they hadn't done since 1982. They lost back-to-back games in regulation. To put that stat in proper context, the two schools they lost to in 1982 - Missouri-St. Louis and Cortland State - no longer play Division I women's soccer. An unbelievable streak.

10. The beautiful game can be a cruel one, just ask Celtic supporters. The Scottish champions went toe-to-toe with AC Milan in the San Siro Stadium for 80 minutes. In the 81', Anthony Stokes was inches away from giving the visitors a 1-0 lead as his free kick struck the post. 90 seconds later, AC Milan scores and go on to win 2-0. Keep the Faith.

11. Here we go, Question of the Week: Who will win the Manchester derby? United, City, or wish both clubs could end up with a loss? Provide your answer below.

1 Comment

Off the Ball

9/6/2013

1 Comment

1. Great to have the transfer window behind us, now we can all focus on what truly matters - Liverpool is top of the table!

2. Is this is how David Moyes responded to Wayne Rooney's transfer request? If so, Sir Alex Fergsuon's hair dryer treatment at halftime wasn't so bad after all.

3. Speaking of Liverpool, John Barnes post-playing career as a manager hasn't gone too well, but now he has a new profession to fall back on. I said a hip hop, the hippie the hippie.

4. Question of the Week: In order, predict the top four places in the Premier League this season. Add your answer in comment section below.

5. Unfortunately, I have watched Chivas USA play twice, live and in-person, in the last month. 180 minutes of my life I will never get back. Also a good reminder that the lean years of the New England Revolution (2010-2012) were still better than watching the Goats play.

6. Great to have international soccer back this week in matches that mean something. Would be even better if Glenn Whelan hadn't been named in Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland squad to face Sweden.

7. Remember the Snow Clasico? A lot has changed since the buildup for that match. Klinsmann is now seen as the savior, leading the USMNT on a 12-match winning streak while being crowned Gold Cup champions. To keep the streak alive, the United States will have to do something it's never done before - take three points from Costa Rica on the road.

8. Winner for supporter of the year goes to David Feeney. We have all gone to extreme measures to try to watch our favorite team, but Mr. Feeney took it one step further - he bought the broadcasting rights for Ireland's match vs Sweden.

10. Congratulations to the Portland Thorns on winning the first ever NWSL championship. After watching their team quite a few times, always felt they had the talent, but were missing some grit to win it all. They proved quite a few people wrong with both wins in the playoffs coming on the road.

11. One of the Thorns heroes during their overtime come from behind win against FC Kansas City in the semifinals was Tiffany Weimer, who scored the tying goal and set-up the winning goal. I've known Tiff for over ten years - when nutmegging players, scoring goals, and making sarcastic comments were the only things that mattered to her. It's great to see her still doing all those things, but even greater to see her sharing her passion for the beautiful game with her own soccer publication, Our Game Magazine.

12. College soccer season is in full swing and if you need a team to cheer for, you could do a lot worse than cheering for the University of Massachusetts men's soccer team. Head coach, Sam Koch was hired in 1991 to coach the team for three months as the school had chosen to terminate the program after that fall season. Always the battler, Sam has kept the program going, and in 2007 did the unthinkable: with less than three scholarships, he led his team to the NCAA Final Four. For the past year, Koch has faced an even tougher test off the field - cancer. But just as he fought to save the program 23 years ago, Sam fights this battle with wit and sarcasm still in tact. This fall, follow the Minutemen and Koch - they both deserve some extra supporters.

13. It seems like just yesterday I was watching Bobby Rhine score goals in Storrs for UConn. A must read article by Nick Firchau looking at the passing of Bobby Rhine two years later.

14. The country that claims to have invented football is starting Rickie Lambert up front in a must-win World Cup Qualifier. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

15. Ok, I'm off to find an establishment in Portland, OR that has GOL TV. Come On You Boys in Green.

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Off the Ball

8/17/2013

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1. Clint Dempsey’s move to the Seattle Sounders shouldn’t be judged on TV ratings or ticket sales. Instead, he should be judged on winning silverware for the Sounders and continued success with the USMNT.

2. Question of the Week: The Premier League kicks off this weekend – who will be crowned Champion in May 2014? Don’t be afraid to share your answer below.

3. Some guy named Doc was able to put words to my feelings on Luis Suarez.

4. The biggest turnaround in 2013? Jurgen Klinsmann and the USMNT, now winners of 12 straight after coming back to defeat Bosnia 4-3 earlier this week. Still plenty of questions surround certain positions for the red, white, and blue - most notably the back four, but plenty of optimism heading into the final few months of World Cup Qualifying.

5. Liverpool continues its trend of selling players within two years of buying them at a far reduced price. The most recent, Stewart Downing, was bought in 2011 for £20 millions and sold for £5 million last week to West Ham. No matter how the club spins it, a loss of £15 million in value during a two-year period is bad business.

6. His brother might get more of the headlines, but this finish by Federico Higuain was decent.

7. A new season of the Premier League also means all new kits. With lines like, "I never get tired of a good Spurs kit. What I am tired of are Gareth Bale’s haircuts and boyish good looks", Allan Lewis Kit Review is a must read.

8. Will Jack Wilshere be the English hero that all Arsenal supporters believed he would become during the 2010-11 season or will he continue his trend of missing out due to injuries?

9. Last week Charlie Davies returned to MLS on loan for the second time in the last three years. Will his move to the New England Revolution help him regain his form to match his twitter bio?

10. Michael Bradley. If you still aren't on the bandwagon, jump on now. He is the present and future of American soccer. Luke O'Brien writes eloquently about the son of a coach becoming one of the best midfielders in the world.

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Off the Ball

7/31/2013

5 Comments

Last week we had one answer to the "Question of the Week" (QOTW). ONE! I'm not sure if you're aware but there is this cool invention that keeps track of the number of views a webpage gets. Yes, even Soccer Banter has it (it's free). Thankfully we had a few more views than answers. Don't be afraid to answer this week's question.

1. Mark your calendar, the Premier League is back, and debuting on a new network, NBC, beginning August 17. It all gets started with my beloved Liverpool kicking off against Stoke “USA” City at 4:45 am PT. I guess it’s time to buy into that new technology called DVR.

2. For the last few summers I have spent good money to watch friendly matches in the United States. Before each match, my dad would always say, “it’s a waste of money, any match where the outcome doesn’t mean anything, is a waste." But each summer, I would get sucked in by a European team playing in America, and after 90 minutes of a boring match I would vow I would never come back. Congratulations Portland Timbers – Norwich City, it’s officially the game that will make sure I will never attend an exhibition match again. What. A. Waste.

3. Great to see Landon Donovan once again get the credit he always deserves. I'll say it again, he will be in the starting lineup at the World Cup in Brazil.

4. This past weekend, Steven Lenhart of the San Jose Earthquakes, took goal celebrations to a new level in MLS.

5. Speaking of my dad, yesterday my parents sold the only house I ever knew. Considering my current profession, it's probably not wise to say, but I always felt their backyard helped more in my development as a player than any coach ever did. (Maybe that's why I never made it as a player!)

6. With news of DC United striking a deal with the city to construct a new stadium, it’s your move New England Revolution and Bob Kraft.

7. Silly Season is upon us. Real Madrid has offered £85 million for Gareth Bale while Arsenal have bid £40 million for Luis Suarez. Closer to home, Silly Season, is highlighted by college soccer preseason teams and rankings by publications that have never seen a majority of the players or teams play.

8. Jurgen Klinsmann celebrated his 49th birthday yesterday and today Michael Bradley celebrates his 26th. Bradley should always be the first name written down on Klinsmann's starting lineup. Remember in 2011 when he wasn't rated by Gerard Houllier at Aston Villa?

9. We are at the unofficial halfway point of the MLS season and if the playoffs started today, the New England Revolution would be in and the Seattle Sounders players would be playing golf.

10. But seriously, you have to love the parity that is MLS. Of the 19 teams in the league, 16 clubs have a legitimate chance at the playoffs. Compare that to Major League Baseball, where only 15 (I was being generous) out of 30 teams still have a chance at postseason play. Or compare it to any league in Europe, where only three-four teams have a legitimate chance of winning a league title.

11. Stuart Holden. It's just unfair.

12. Australians can sing. 95,000 of them belted out You’ll Never Walk Alone.

13. QOTW, provide your answer/comments below: Which American at Stoke City, Maurice Edu, Geoff Cameron, or Brek Shea, will have the most successful season this year?

5 Comments

Off the Ball

7/24/2013

1 Comment

Italy. Ireland. Summer. I've been literally off the ball.

1. Let’s get right to it, with Question of the Week (QOTW): Who is more likely to be playing for a different club this September – Wayne Rooney or Luis Suarez? Don’t be afraid, share your answer below in the comment section.

2. Speaking of Suarez, no one can question his sense of humor after this Uruguayan commercial.

3. San Marino has yet to win a competitive match in international soccer, but the small county surrounded by Italy, should be on your bucket list of places to visit.

4. After Arsenal had their second bid for Luis Suarez turned down, it begs the question: Has Arsenal spent any money during this transfer window?

5. Stat of the week: The USA-El Salvador match on FOX drew an overnight rating of 1.2, which is higher than the Champions League Final and FA Cup Final from this past spring. Now if we could only get those away World Cup Qualifying matches on a channel that every cable company actually provided.

6. Enjoyed the ESPY's last week, but how is it that the reigning FIFA Women's Player of the Year, Abby Wambach, wasn't even nominated for the Female Athlete of the Year category?

7. Landon Donovan will be in Brazil next year, starting for the United States in the midfield. In a few weeks he will be thanking that Salvadoran fan for helping him land a Ray-Ban sponsorship.

8. It hasn’t quite been the summer of ’66 for England. Three competitive tournaments, and not a win to show for any of their teams. The U21 men’s, u20 men’s, and the women’s national team all failed to advance from the groups stages. Football’s coming home!

9. In his managerial debut, Ryan Nelson, has won two games, drawn eight, and lost 10 with Toronto FC. A year playing in the Championship with QPR might have been a better career choice.

10. Eric Wynalda and Leigh Cowlishaw. Two coaches that deserve a shot on an MLS sideline in 2014.

11. The best piece of memorabilia in the San Siro Museum? The Liverpool Football Club pennant from their match against AC Milan on May 25, 2005. Maybe I’m biased.

12. Still not sold on Jimmy Nieslen as a goalkeeper, but I did enjoy his book. He has overcome a gambling addiction and playing for Milwall to enjoy a very good career in Denmark and now in MLS with Sporting KC.

1 Comment

Off the Ball

6/17/2013

4 Comments

1. It might not be as bad as the new Liverpool away jersey, but I don't think the Los Angeles Galaxy third kit will set any sales records.

2. Is Roberto Martinez covering the Confederations Cup for ESPN to help his future broadcasting career or to scout players? If Giovani Dos Santos ends up at Everton this Summer, I guess we know the answer.

3. This Saturday in Piscataway, the two top teams in NWSL face off in a possible preview of the NWSL Championship match. Hopefully for the Sky Blue and Portland Thorns players, the match will get the attention it deserves from the New Jersey faithful.

4. Seattle. Soccer City USA. All of America is screaming about how great the atmosphere was at the United States - Panama match. For those not living in the Pacific Northwest, come back for any Sounders game, the supporters are always like that. We are spoiled in Seattle.

5. Brendan Rodgers thought he was doing a nice little bit of public relations by being interviewed by a nine year old. Then young Finn asked, "When I'm naughty, my mum bans me from playing on my Playstation 3. What do you when the players are naughty?". And is Rodgers rocking the snood around his neck? Maybe the Liverpool manager is to blame for those new away kits!

6. The Revolution was up 2-0 on the road at Vancouver and I was preparing an entire Off the Ball to the boys from Foxboro. One red card and 5 goals later, the Revs were back at .500 and on the outside looking in on the playoff race.

7. The Tom Sermanni era as Head Coach of the US Women's National team is off to a great start with eight wins in two draws since he took the reigns in January. The winning is expected, but the inclusion of new players is an eye opener. Three current college players - Crystal Dunn, Morgan Brian, and Julie Johnston - have all earned their first caps this year. Add in Christen Press and Kristie Mewis and Sermanni's starting a youth movement with the national team program. I like it.

8. Seriously, two responses to the "Question of the Week"? I won't be discouraged. Here we go again. Better free kick goal in the Confederations Cup - Pirlo or Suarez? Share your answer below.

9. Who's betting against Spain winning the 2014 World Cup? Juan Mata and Santi Cazorla couldn't even find a place in the starting lineup for the reigning World Cup Champions starting lineup in their 2-1 win over Uruguay.

10. Speaking of Sermanni and the National Team, on Thursday night the red, white and blue take on South Korea in Red Bull Arena. Here's hoping Sermanni sticks around New Jersey for a few more days and takes a look at Katy Freels, the creative midfielder for Sky Blue. I think she would look good in the stars and stripes.

11. Jurgen Klinsmann has been proving a lot of his doubters wrong the last few weeks. Three wins a in a row including two World Cup qualifying matches. A win on Tuesday against Honduras would just about secure a spot in the 2014 World Cup for the United States.

12. It looks like a good time to travel to Italy. The U21's play for the European Championship against Spain on Tuesday night while the senior side is off to a good start in the Confederations Cup. Maybe on Saturday I'll be in an Italian cafe in Venice wearing a Balotelli jersey...probably not. Ciao.

4 Comments

Off the Ball

6/11/2013

2 Comments

1. The best story in World Cup Qualifying involves an American coach trying to lead a country to the World Cup for the first time since 1990. Enjoy the "We Must Go" trailer, a documentary about Bob Bradley and Egypt.

2. Did Clint Dempsey play against Jamaica on Friday night?

3. A new edition, Question of the Week, in hopes to get some people to comment in the section below. Will Landon Donovan appear in a World Cup Qualifier for USMNT again? The first person needs to be brave, others will follow.

4. Robbie Keane has scored 59 goals in 126 appearances for the Republic of Ireland, but still people question his ability.

5. A word of advice to beIN sport: Don't cut away from a live soccer match to show highlights of another match. We can all wait until halftime.

6. Maybe I'm being a little harsh on Dempsey with the earlier question, but it wasn't a good night for the United States best player. On the plus side, to win a game on the road without Dempsey playing well is a good sign. The United States will qualify for Brazil, most likely with a game or two to spare.

7. US Soccer media, please stop questioning if Seattle is truly a soccer city because they have ONLY sold 35,000 tickets to the USA v Panama match tonight. In my opinion, it says more for the progress of soccer in America that the Sounders matches are more of a priority to supporters than the one-off World Cup qualifying match.

8. Any chance Liverpool can opt out of their Warrior contract? It's a serious question that should be investigated.

9. These signs should be placed at every youth soccer field in America.

10. Do you remember Shane Walton? If he hadn't ditched soccer for football after being named Big East Freshman of the Year at Notre Dame, he might have been playing at CenturyLink tonight against Panama instead of in the Over-30 regional tournament at Starfire. What. An. Athlete.

11. Cheers to Brad Evans!

12. If the "golden generation" of English players weren't able to win anything, the supporters shouldn't be to excited for the future of football in that nation. The U21's have been eliminated from European Championship before even playing their third match. Much of the blame is falling on Stuart Pearce, but maybe the players just aren't as good as the media builds them up to be.

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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.

Follow on twitter: @BJFaherty

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

Brendan Faherty

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