***Official Soccer Thread***

[FW]

Good / Bad news for US

Jermaine Jones basically ruled out of WC
http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_i ... d-cup.html


Edu scores winner for Rangers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzByK0Nu ... r_embedded

Herc Gomez (longshot for WC) scored his 8th goal in 13 games for Puebla
Howard stopped a PK today
Benny Feilhaber is back from injury

[MattK]

Chelsea is still alive for the double. It was nice of Howard Webb not to give the PK early today.

[FW]

Chelsea is still alive for the double. It was lucky of Howard Webb not to give the PK early today.

Fixed it

[MattK]

nice, lucky, either way works.

I didn't see Chelsea-Bolton. It sounds like the 3rd consecutive match in which Chelsea should have had a penalty given against them. I look at it as karma from the Champions League semi-final last season.

[FW]

Well, hopefully City can do their part this weekend and deliver a knockout blow to United's title hopes.

[FW]

Have Edson Buddle or Herc Gomez played there way onto the roster for SA? They at least deserve a look during the May camp. Buddle has 7 goals (all 7 goals for LA) in 5 games and Gomez has 10 goals in 14 games for Puebla in Mexico.

[MattK]

It seems like Buddle has to get a chance if he's working that well with Landon now.

I haven't seen any of Gomez, but 10 goals in 14 games is ok I guess....pretty much any American scoring goals anywhere should get a shot.

[FW]

10 goals in 14 games is pretty impressive and the Mexican league is a small step up from MLS. At this point I'd take the hottest hand to go with Jozy. I think Davies will make it too, but not sure how much he can be relied upon and how his fitness and match form will be. At least we won't be taking Findley or Cunningham. I actually wouldn't be surprised if we only took 3 "pure" forwards because Donovan and Dempsey can play up top if needed. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if Dempsey started up top, especially if Holden is healthy.

[FW]

City with a HUGE point at the Emirates, but Shay Given was hurt late in the match. It looked pretty bad.

Chelsea 80 points (36 played)
Man United 79 points (36 played)
Arsenal 72 points (36 played)
Spurs 64 points (35 played)
-------------------------
Aston Villa 64 points (36 played)
Man City 63 points (35 played)
Liverpool 62 points (36 played)
Everton 57 points (36 played)

[MattK]

Did you see this? This was the first of 3 goals that Drogba set up on Sunday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJp23aqxpBA

I really don't get how Drogba gets left out of the conversation for best player in the world.

[FW]

he's no Tevez

[FW]

Charlie Davies' twitter

What a day!!!!! Scored that goal I been waiting for! My first goal in training!!! It's been 6 months, man I miss that feeling. Here we go!!

[wave-em in]

Christiano Ronaldo is Kim Kardasian's new toy.

[MattK]

The Premier League title will be decided on Sunday. Chelsea have a 1 point lead and host Wigan. Man U host Stoke City.

I'll be travelling during all this and am almost certainly going to miss it.

[FW]

Also, 4th place and a spot in the CL could be determined on Wednesday when Spurs travel to City. Both have a game left after that, Spurs at Burnley and City home to West Ham, but with Spurs a point ahead, this is the key match.

[MattK]

Also, 4th place and a spot in the CL could be determined on Wednesday when Spurs travel to City. Both have a game left after that, Spurs at Burnley and City home to West Ham, but with Spurs a point ahead, this is the key match.

Spurs won 1-0 to secure the 4th CL spot (although they could possibly overtake Arsenal for 3rd). It will be interesting to see how not being the in CL affects City's ability to bring in the top players.

[FW]

I'm still banging my head against the wall. City came out with no fire yesterday.

[MattK]

Figured you weren't too happy. City looked threatening early, then after Spurs settled in they never really recovered.

[FW]

No Davies

USA's 30-man Provisional World Cup Roster

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton)

DEFENDERS (9): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

MIDFIELDERS (12): DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), José Torres (Pachuca)

FORWARDS (6): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla), Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki)

[bigmoneytx]

'Exemplary' Onyewu asks to play one year for free at AC Milan

http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/sow ... sow,241471

[FW]

Yeah, well, it's not like he played for them at all this year

[MattK]

Since I've been out of town lately, I just thought I'd say Woohoooo!!!! we won the double!!

[FW]

Since I've been out of town lately, I just thought I'd say Woohoooo!!!! we won the double!!

Blah

At least Munich didn't win Europe

US-Czech Republic Tuesday in Hartford Tuesday on ESPN at 7 (central)

[FW]

Looks like tonight is going to determine the final 7 cuts and then we'll have the Turkey and Australia matches for the team to gel (from Goff):

"The very early -- and very unconfirmed, unofficial -- buzz is that several regulars will remain in street clothes. The names I hear are Jozy Altidore, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Michael Bradley and Carlos Bocanegra. Other veterans will be in reserve."

Also, the final 23 will be announced live on Sportscenter tomorrow at 1 eastern.

[MattK]

Are the Czech's putting out their top team?

I was also happy Munich didn't win Europe. I had a rather crappy experience getting stuck in the Munich airport a couple weeks ago.