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Soccer Saturday: Your Running Commentary

JermaineJones (Bundesliga)

By JUSTIN FERGUSON

While many around the world are anxiously awaiting Sunday’s Champions League qualification drama in the Barclays Premier League and Serie A, the Bundesliga will have a playoff of sorts on its final matchday to determine its final entry into the world’s premier club tournament.

Although the match will not be televised in the United States, USMNT fans will want to keep tabs on the UCL fate of Jermaine Jones and fourth-place Schalke 04. Schalke have a one-point lead over fifth-place Freiburg heading into Saturday’s showdown at 9:30 a.m. ET. Schalke need a road result to secure their spot in the tournament after last week’s shock loss to Stuttgart. Freiburg, who have won four straight home matches, defeated Schalke 2-0 in their first meeting this season.

Meanwhile, European hopefuls Real Sociedad and Valencia will continue their battle for the final UCL spot from La Liga. The two sides are tied in points heading into the final three matches of the Spanish season, and both will be looking for road victories over midtable sides.

The day’s action wraps up in Mexico, where Club America hosts Monterrey in the second leg of their Clausura semifinal. Monterrey, who knocked off top-ranked Tigres UANL in the opening round, drew with America in the first leg on Wednesday. America bagged two crucial road goals during their trip to face the CONCACAF Champions League winners, so the second-seeded club will have an upper hand in the return leg this evening.

If you will be watching today’s action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the action (Today’s TV schedule is after the jump):

9:30am – GolTV – Borussia Mönchengladbach vs. Bayern Munich

12pm – beIN Sport en Español – Getafe vs. Valencia

2pm – beIN Sport en Español – Granada vs. Osasuna

3pm – beIN Sport – Paris Saint-Germain vs. Brest

4pm – beIN Sport en Español – Sevilla vs. Real Sociedad

5pm – MLS Direct Kick – Toronto FC vs. Columbus Crew

6pm – Univision – América vs. Monterrey

7pm – MLS Direct Kick – Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Portland Timbers

7:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire

8:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – Houston Dynamo vs. New England Revolution

10:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – Seattle Sounders vs. Dallas FC

10:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – San Jose Earthquakes vs. Colorado Rapids

Comments

  1. Dolo has been first choice for Klinsmann since he got here do some of you really think he would leave a fit Dolo out? (Stupid question with these bunch)

    Reply
    • the ‘stupid’ thing would be not to question it.

      dolo’s obviously fit (3 straight apps for club, the last two 90+ minutes), and yet klinsmann doesn’t call him in. i’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for it–i just want to know what it is.

      Reply
  2. I think the most logical explanation is that Klinsmann, like some other coaches, has decided to do away with the old guard. Dolo, Donovan, Boca, Onyewu. I also think that Klinsmann knows or suspects that some of them were among the anonymous sources for that SI article a couple of months ago.

    Reply
    • David,

      That doesn’t make sense.

      With their injuries and other related issues, getting rid of those guys hardly needs any help from JK.

      Rather he seems to me to be leaving them avenues to make their way back

      Even if they were the leaks, they may still prove useful and JK values winning ( when it really counts) above are all else. If he needs to he can get his revenge after the World Cup when they will be less useful. Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer.

      There is a delicate balance here between getting the “core” some PT together and working in some of the younger, newer guys (Corona, Castillo, Besler, Gonzo, etc.) who may yet prove vital

      Most of you seem to be looking at the roster as the end product when really it is just a means to an end and it can change at any time.

      Reply
  3. Oh my gosh. Anyone else see the news on Brek Shea and Stoke City? Pulis said a few days ago Brek might play on Sunday. Wonder what happens now?

    Reply
  4. guys, quit being thick. Hannover clearly asked USSF to not call in Dolo for injury concerns. there is no way JK would leave him out otherwise.

    i hope he ends up getting called in.

    Reply
    • And how do you know that so clearly? Got a direct line of communications with the club?

      Amazing things are happening: too injured for the national team Dolo is playing for Hannover; too injured for Hoffenheim Williams gets a national team callup.

      Reply
      • look dude, relax. i want Dolo there the next as the much person. but i think it’s really ridiculous to think USSF would ignore Dolo unless there was an injury concern that Hannover didn’t want to risk getting worse with the US. it is lame but they pay his bills. i just don’t see it any other way.

        and yes, the williams call up makes no sense. there is no explanation.

      • I beg to differ, bryan. There is a logical explanation for all this: Jurgen Klinsmann is coach 🙂

      • And THAT is the conclusion that application of Occam’s Razor (referenced by the mysterious g? above) would lead one to. Speculation about Hannover requesting that Cherundolo not be called up is just speculation, and not really the most reasonable speculation either — Hannover is going to be in the off season by the time of the call up, and Cherundolo is pretty clearly healthy enough to play. Perhaps Klinsmann feels that Cherundolo, with Donovan, needs to demonstrate that he is sufficiently in form before he gets a call.

      • it absolutely is reasonable to think that. i’m not defending the decision, just offering a potential reason. based on JK’s comments, Dolo is not 100%. which means Hannover told them that. just a thought.

      • It is not an unreasonable conclusion, and it is an entirely possible one. But the principle of Occam’s Razor demands that, among several hypotheses, you choose the one that depends on the fewest assumptions. Having to speculate that Klinsmann really wants Dolo but Hannover requested that he not call him is a pretty big assumption compared to the hypothesis that Klinsmann simply didn’t want to call him, especially given Klinsmann’s lack of worry about calling other players (Williams, Shea, Parkhurst, Holden, Besler) who are slowed either by injury or lack of game fitness, or both.

      • Pir – i know what the principle demands. and i’m not sure i agree it’s a much bigger assumption. Dolo is our starting RB under Klinsmann and he has repeated that over and over and over. which means if Dolo is not called in, it would SEEM there is a reason for it. right now, i agree, it doesn’t seem like he is really injured. but knowing that JK considers him the starting RB, you have to wonder if there is more to the story.

      • Pir – i know what the principle demands. and i’m not sure i agree it’s a much bigger a$$umption. Dolo is our starting RB under Klinsmann and he has repeated that over and over and over. which means if Dolo is not called in, it would SEEM there is a reason for it. right now, i agree, it doesn’t seem like he is really injured. but knowing that JK considers him the starting RB, you have to wonder if there is more to the story.

      • not ever calling in lichaj to see him in camp is another decision that makes no sense (from where I sit)

      • “And how do you know that so clearly? Got a direct line of communications with the club?”

        Well, you clearly post as if you have such a direct line. You shouldn’t take issues with others who do the same.

  5. Amazing scenes in Hoffenheim!!! Up 2-1 now over Dortmund!!! Bundesliga hopes now still alive because other results are going their way!

    Reply
    • Incredible scenes and drama at the death as Dortmund have a goal called back because of offsides. Goal was going to stand until the ref consulted with the sideline ref and they decided to overturn the goal. Hoffenheim have won and now are in the relgation playoff!!! Hopes are still alive!

      Reply
      • yeah, that was amazing stuff. that means that Fabian will be coming into camp late. But Daniel Williams should still be able to come in on time because he apparently is injured and won’t dress anyway for Hoffenheim.

  6. Cherundolo had the assist on Hannover’s first goal. The Bundesliga.de web site live ticker says the assist came on a perfect pass from Cherundolo. This just goes to show the genius of the one and only Jurgen Klinsmann and his roster decisions. Who needs Dolo and Donovan, anyway. Not Jurgen, that’s for sure.

    Reply
    • It was indeed a great pass.

      From a recently injured player.

      Who’s recovery from injury wasn’t fully known by the coach in time for the decision. And who could probably use a bit more rest than younger types.

      Seriously, I will never cease to be amazed by the logic of internet posters.

      Reply
      • what amazes me is how you seem to know so much about klinsmann’s decision. how do you know when he decided? are you one of the coaches?

        as biff said below, dolo’s been fit for a couple of weeks now. this certainly isn’t the worst decision of the roster (parkhurst over lichaj, for one, is worse); just think it’s funny how you seem to consider this a no-brainer.

      • “Seriously, I will never cease to be amazed by the logic of internet posters.”

        You should be amazed. It’s like being an anthropologist and learning about the religion or mythology of some ancient tribe. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough.

        For example Holden was a USMNT deity largely because it had been so long since he had made any meaningful contribution that, because he is such a great guy and was dealt such a foul blow by that Manchester Meanie, everyone just assumes he was a great USMNT player.

        Just wait until he actually comes back and makes a couple of bad plays.

        They will turn on him so fast it will make your head spin.

    • Parkhurst was out of luck in this 2nd leg of season. Manager Rollmann who arranged the transfer was fired shortly before Parkhurst arrived at the club. Parkhurst was transferred, because Augsburg was in urgent need of a versatile RB defender as their Verhaegh & Philp were long-term injured.
      Parkhurst made 2 games and then was absent with first illness for 2 weeks and then 3 additional weeks with knee-injury, meanwhile Verhaegh & Philp returned and pulled ahead. Since end of April Parkhurst is back in training now, fighting hard for a starting spot and hoping that he will get another chance. Coach Weinzierl is demanding hard work of him and that he’ll fight back.

      But hey – Augsburg got out of relegation zone today.

      Reply
    • Two options:
      A) his status was uncertain at the time the decision was made, his status being the status of a 34 year old, for whom precaution is a good option.

      B) Klinsmann is a dingus.

      Obviously B.

      PS: he plays in Germany, don’t most Klinsi haters think that that gains one an automatic call-up? At least be consistent…

      Reply
      • Hmm I don’t recall Klinsmann ever calling up a German. However I do recall German-American players who decided to rep the USA being called up tho…

      • They are German. Its ignorant for you to think that a person raised in a country other than America that just happens to have American ties is not 100% part of the culture that he has not only been raised in but is their comfort zone. Can I take a German-American born and raised in texas and expect them to show me aound Germany? lol.

      • My wife is born in Brooklyn but considers herself Polish. Not sure why it’s such a hard concept to grasp.

      • And yes, she showed me around Warsaw no problem even though she’s only been there a couple times in her life. To be honest, it shocked the hell out of me given her general incompetence with respect to maps/directions in any other country we’ve been in!

    • Yeah, lol. I honestly want to know what/how Parkhurst did to get called up…must be great at overlaping the other non-dressed players to bring the goal of coffee to the hands of the Ausburg manager.

      Reply
      • And Erich Lichaj is certainly not one of them, because he has not fulfilled Klinsmann’s new requirements for getting a call-up, which are sitting on the bench, not dressing, and/or being injured. Yep. Sad but true.

      • hey, bryan. You are agreeing now that Lichaj would be a good option and also down below that the Daniel Williams call-up does not make sense. Try to be objective and you might find that you would be more in agreement with those of us who are very unhappy with Klinsmann right now. It’s nothing personal with Klinsmann himself, it is simply that a lot of us think he is making bizarre roster decisions and we are worried that he is going to wreck our chances to qualify for WC 2014 because of not only those poor roster selections, but because of lack of tactical acumen. Klinsmann needs to hire an additional assistant coach to help him out because Martin Vasquez alone just doesn’t cut it. We know that and the players know that. Klinsmann needs to learn that.

      • What??? I’ve always said lichaj should be there…how am I not being objective??? You are the least objective person on here in regards to jk and chandler. Take your own advice.

        And sure enough there WAS a reason for him staying back. It was obvious jk wouldn’t leave him off for no reason. He likes dolo

      • Fabian shifts to right back,

        Castillo or DMB play left back.

        Cameron, Parkhurst, back up both sides

    • Posted in a Hannover96 forum, that it was Cherundolo himself to cancel the travel to USA. He wants to use the time to cure himself properly as he still has problems with his knee – and to arrange some other things (his wife is getting their 1st baby this year).

      Reply
      • hey! useful information, thanks! (although the source is just as reliable as you or me posting here.) : P

      • The Hannover Fan did seem a bit concerned that he was off the team. Also most are happy to extend his contract just for depth if nothing else. Looked like they figure some Japanese International is gunna replace him.

      • Year by Year Hannover is stepping down the table. Their goal for this year was to reach a CL place which they failed as well as EL. Though they extended with coach Slomka it seems his position is under threat. Fans/ club members demanding more and the club now has to go for the next step.
        If you want to catch up with the other clubs ahead inside a high pace league you need fast running and acting players – and so it’s not surprising that the average age of players is heavily decreasing (as with ‘die Mannschaft’).
        4 days ago a personnel change was annouced with 3 older defensive players (Da Silva Pinto -DM, Eggimann -FB, Chahed -RB) to leave the club. The extension of Cherundolo’s contract for 1 more year was reasonable imo. But he isn’t only a strong player with good technical skills which still puts him ahead of Sakai (the Japanese who joined the club last July) – but rather also a role model for Hannover96 and a idol for so many fans. We have to wait what will happen.
        The player Hannover wants to get under contract right now is Bittencourt (AM) from Dortmund and as a BVB fan I hope he will go on loan and not be transferred.

      • The age of Bundesliga players is very very young. Almost the opposite to the Italian leagues. But it really just comes down to speed of play.

        The one good thing about the Bundesliga for Hannover is that there is a lot of turnover in the top 5, except for Bayern of course.

  7. DOLO! Great, great, great through-ball assist in his 300 BL game. I know he’s just recovering, but I reallllly wish we had him for the qualis…

    Reply
    • DOLO! Great, great, great through-ball aszist in his 300 BL game. I know he’s just recovering, but I reallllly wish we had him for the qualis…
      (moderation)

      Reply
  8. Speaking of the world’s premier club tournament, why is it so difficult to find a live broadcast of the final next week in the Fox TV schedule? They show both a pre-game and a post-game show but season reviews in between, with the match itself not in their listing until several hours later, in the evening…

    Reply

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