By JUSTIN FERGUSON
A loaded weekend of action from all over the soccer world kicks off today with several high-profile matches from Germany and England.
USMNT midfielder Jermaine Jones and Schalke 04 look to make it five straight wins across all competitions when they host second-place Bayern Munich. The defending champions of Germany and Europe are undefeated in league play under new manager Pep Guardiola, but they trail rivals Borussia Dortmund by two points heading into this weekend’s matches.
After their first loss of the season, a 2-1 Champions League defeat at the hands of Napoli, Dortmund eye a bounce back win against Timmy Chandler and struggling Nurnberg. Dortmund have five wins in five matches in the young Bundesliga season, so look for them to get it turned around against an early-season relegation favorite.
In England, Liverpool are at the top of the table with an undefeated start to their campaign. The league-leading Reds host Southampton, a side that defeated them 3-1 at St. Mary’s Stadium in their last meeting. The day’s EPL action will wrap up in West London, where Chelsea welcome local rivals Fulham to Stamford Bridge.
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):
7:45am – NBC Sports Network – Norwich City vs Aston Villa
9:30am – GolTV – Nürnberg vs Borussia Dortmund
10am – NBC Sports Network – Liverpool vs Southampton
10am – NBC Sports Live Extra – Newcastle United vs Hull City
10am – NBC Sports Live Extra – West Bromwich Albion vs Sunderland
10am – NBC Sports Live Extra – Everton vs. West Ham
10am – beIN Sport en Español – Real Sociedad vs Málaga
12pm – beIN Sport – Cagliari vs Sampdoria
12:30pm – NBC Sports Network – Chelsea vs Fulham
12:30pm – GolTV – Schalke 04 vs Bayern München
2pm – Univision Deportes – Montreal Impact vs Whitecaps
2pm – beIN Sport – Rayo Vallecano vs Barcelona
4pm – MLS Direct Kick – Toronto FC vs Sporting Kansas City
4pm – beIN Sport en Español – Real Valladolid vs Atlético Madrid
6pm – Univision Deportes – América vs Chiapas
7:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – New England Revolution vs DC United
7:30pm – MLS Direct Kick – Columbus Crew vs Chicago Fire
8pm – UniMás – Pachuca vs Santos Laguna
8pm – Univision Deportes – Atlante vs Pumas UNAM
9pm – MLS Direct Kick – Real Salt Lake vs San Jose Earthquakes
9:05pm – Telemundo – León vs Guadalajara
10:30pm – NBC Sports Network – Los Angeles Galaxy vs Seattle Sounders
Eddie Johnson just made a fool out of Omar Gonzalez.
No fan of the Gals, but Seattle got away with a huge bear hug pick on Omar. That’s why EJ had the uncontested header.
Anyone watching LA / SEA?
Lee Nguyen has some good skill with the ball. I wonder if he may get a call into a January camp? Not being a 2 way midfielder may be his hindrance as his offensive output, especially finding that pass is high percentage.
Such a crowded midfield and you absolutely need to play both ways to play in that midfield.
MLS refs derp-derp again in the Toronto-Kansas game.
Yeah.
Incredible that while already on a yellow card, Collin managed to escape an incident where he intentionally elbowed someone in the head with only a foul and not the rightful ejection.
And then the penalty not called? Crazy. And to further eject the coaching staff for complaining? Crazy.
The biggest MLS game of the year so far, and the biggest player in MLS is out:
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/09/21/seattle-sounders-star-clint-dempsey-sidelined-against-la-galaxy-hamstring-in
But that story says Donovan is expected to play. Also, it makes no mention of Keane.
I hope you mean Donovan!
And the rojiblancos are looking good for another 3 points.
Just to throw my two cents in, lets stop pretending every move to the EPL is a brilliant step up. While I understand it from the player perspective of simply getting a better salary, someone going to a terrible EPL team is going to struggle through no fault of their own. The EPL is not the end all be all of soccer and frankly, Jozy is better than Sunderland and should have gone elsewhere.
Like Spain? 😉
haha, I wish.
As much as some people don’t like to hear it Mexico has been doing their part helping develop American players.
What’s not to like? Several clubs have given our folks a try, and nobody got chased out of town with pitchforks. Sounds like a win-win.
If Jizy is better than Sunderland why did he go there? If he was so good better teams would have been after him. You really think he would of signed with Sunderland if there were better teams that made offers?
*”would have signed”
…or, “would’ve signed.”
where is the MLS running commentary? Hold the result TFC, better yet, get the full 3 points….
Looks like it’s the same old problem with Barcelona–everything’s set up with Pedro at the focus point of the attack. . . .
Is that why they only scored 4?
4 against rayo…. shouldn’t it be like 10-0
I spent almost the entire night finishing some work nonsense. Should have gone to sleep, but just as I was finishing the EPL games started. So here I am, still awake. Exhausted. Pointlessly watching a DVR replay of the Portland-Colorado game that didn’t really interest me enough to turn it on when it was live. But if anybody else saw this– have you ever seen anybody that you were less convinced would score than Ryan Johnson when he received the ball about 5 yards clear of everybody. He looked utterly terrified – as though you could actually see his brain considering switching careers entirely once he inevitable played the ball right into the keeper’s mitts. But he didn’t even get that far. Our old pal Marvell Wynne came sprinting full-stop from his normal, typically flawless position just outside the stadium parking lot and produced the challenge of the century. Well not really, but I applaud everybody bringing their best/worst to that moment. The headlines on SBI suggest that the Timbers won 1-0, but I think we can agree we are all winners for getting to enjoy that. No need to finish the DVR — I can now go to bed
lol
I wasted more time watching your worthless career, Mr Dia.
What the heck was Di Canio doing standing in front of the Sunderland supporters after the game? That was bizarre, even for Di Canio.
Caught that as well. Appeared PDC was gesturing to fans that he could take their criticism on the chin.
I thought he was saying keep your head up.
DiCanio is coming close to entering the Tyson zone – anything he does wouldn’t be surprising. A DiCanio reality show would be must-see tv.
+1
Sleep deprivation at its finest
How does somebody like Di Canio end up managing an EPL team? Any EPL team?
I found the solution: Egypt loses to Ghana; BB replaces Di Canio; BB signs Mata; Jozy scores 30 goals
Hah, Mata is totally on sale. Dunno why he is making it that obvious though. He is gunna go cheap.
awesome
Or hire Verbeek and sign Maher, get the band back together. 20 goals easy for Jozy and $40mm transfer to Chelsea or Citeh at year-end.
I have a better chance of winning the lottery than altidore has of scoring 20 goals in an epl season no matter what team he’s on
and Jones loses his make on the corner, 1-0 Bayern
And mightly slap on the butt for Boateng from Pep.
Alright, someone explain to me how this Schurrle guy starts for Chelsea over Mata? I’m not a Chelsea fan, but I watched the Man U game and the Everton game. This guy is pretty subpar.
It’s The Special One playing his special games.
Is it possible that Paolo di Canio looked more like an adult 15 years ago? Scoring badass goals will do that for you.
Still it’s odd to see this thing he has been reduced to I heard Peter Crouch apologized for selling him his necktie collection — he just never expected to the guy to actually wear them himself. Per Crouch, Di Canio stated the neckties would be used strictly for strangling his enemies, and to a lesser extent, friends and family. Di Canio supported Crouch’s account of events and apologized, explaining that he used the ties over a period of the last three weeks during certain foggy episodes in which he entered a fugue-like state, during which he fought dragons, drank the blood of his enemies, slept on a stone slab at the bottom of a deep gorge, befriended dragons, and occasionally found himself coaching a football club in Sunderland, England.
Jeez that was irrelevant. Oh dear… That wasn’t supposed to go in your thread.
I suppose I should address your point before I excuse myself in embarrassment. I’ve probably watched Schurrle 5-6 times. I’ve never gotten it, either. I suppose he deserves a little more time, but the instinct is that German players are the new sexy item. Except the good ones all play for Bayern or Dortmund, or are stretching around the block to do so. As we saw in ManU-Leverkusen this week, there’s nothing new going on at Bayer these days (except perhaps Sami Hyypia– good for him). Same old respectable but defeatable side. Chelsea probably paid a premium based on the performance of two teams he has never played for. Whatever. Welcome to Europe– this is what’s fashionable now.
Schalke looking really good right now. They just had a chance that should have done in… I have no idea who stopped it Neuer I think…
But…Schweinie header. The schalke in front of him missed his header and Jones wasn’t there to cut it off.
And another goal while I type. Geeze
Sunderland observations …
1) Midfield is REALLY bad. A complete lack of creativity … looks like footy 20 years ago at times.
2) The squad is much better with Jozy in the side … that much is painfully obvious.
3) PDC ain’t gonna last much longer.
4) Sunderland was a bad choice for Jozy. It’s their style (or lack thereof) and their inept midfield. EPL was a good choice … just the wrong team.
Why can’t people realize that any EPL team Jozy plays for is going to play this style.
You think the struggles of the midfield to create anything or control the center of the pitch are a result of Jozy?
” Sunderland was a bad choice for Jozy. It’s their style (or lack thereof) and their inept midfield. EPL was a good choice … just the wrong team.”
What makes you think he had that much of a choice?
I think you are overreacting. And by you, I mean everyone. It is still early. This was Ki’s second match and almost the entire team is new. We will see what happens. As long as Jozy plays, he will get an invaluable year of development in a top league. We already know he can score bushels of goals with proper service. It may actually be good for him to learn to nick his goals when he’s only given a half chance or two per match against world class defenses. It’s just too bad Fletcher aka Mr Glass went out again as they’ve looked like they work together pretty well in their limited time together.
Did Williams get on for.Reading today? Saw game for last 15 and did not see him. Also, missed Chandler turned that game on at the 75th minute not sure if he was on? If so how did each play. Readong won fairly easily and Nuremburg had a nice result with a draw against Dortmund.
Chandler went the full 90 and I don’t think Williams even made the 18 for Reading,
Williams went full 90 on Wednesday so not surprised by his obmission. Good to hear Chandler went full 90 against even a weakened Dortmund team, which could still beat 90% of
the teams in the world
The Dortmund line up in that game is crazy. They were missing so many players and clearly trying to rest some. Hard to play 2 games a weak with that many injuries…..
That pre-game interview with Mourihno is hilarious. After getting off to the worst start in club ownership history, he has the gall to stand there and claim that Juan Mata has been dropped from the squad entirely because he isn’t consistent–yet has recently been a staple of Spain and was Chelsea’s best player last year.
Mourihno is a spoiled little prick.
Mou hates Spaniards.
His history might suggest that, but I think it’s even more. He’s an egoist of spectacular proportions.
He stands there and hides behind claims of footballing reasons to hide his own narcissistic depravity.
We can watch the games. I can see that Oscar does not provide the number 10 role that Mata has and can. He’s coaching and does what he wants, but I hate being lied to by a coach as if I’m stupid. Oscar is not a traditional 10. Mata is. Don’t tell me Oscar is a better 10 than Mata.
He embarrassed himself in Spain to a point where he’s universally hated by not only Madrid fans, but Madrid staff and players.
Point taken but, you hate being lied to by coaches as if your stupid?? This problem isn’t exclusive to Jose…every coach in the world does that.
Worst start in ownership history really doesn’t mean much at this point. Win a couple games and they are at or near the top.
Can’t wait to see him fired again.
I got two feelings…
1.Jermaine Jones scores today against FC Bayern.
2. Di Canio gets fired within the next 24 hours. Relgegation battle arleady on in September.
good Bedoya interview on Nantes website:
http://www.fcnantes.com/articles/TV.php?num=8303
also, i just noticed while watching MLS Insider that after EJ’s goal against Mexico, Jones either yells at Corona (who is on the ground) or asks him if he is ok. Meanwhile, Dempsey is helping the Mexican defender up.
Watch carefully both corner kicks EJ headed on goal. In both cases, JJ is being absolutely manhandled by the defender and ‘keeper. I doubt he asked if Corona was okay.
OK I stand corrected. My glass is now mostly empty on Sunderland and Jozy’s opportunities there. They don’t have the pieces. As many have said, the Midfield is horrendous. No creativity, no ideas, not much chance for improvement, even if they fire PDC.
Wow. I hope I’m was right before, and wrong now, but….
Jozy has been good so far: good shot on goal that was blocked by a chest, then made a perfect header pass straight to Fletcher’s foot right in front of goal…and Fletcher skies it!! It gets better: Fletcher also hurts himself on the sitter and has to come out, which means Sunderland is down a man cuz they are out of subs. Jozy can’t get a break.
That was in no way a ‘sitter’
Not sure if Jozy actually got a head to that or if he just dummied it, but definitely an easy put away for Fletcher who buries that every single time when he’s in form.
Looked like a flick on to me….
Fletcher leaves the match after missing a sitter. Sunderland down to ten men and WBA immediately scores on yet another unmarked rebound. Looks like we may never see Jozy and Fletcher together. Too bad. Jozy made a nice dummy run to help out the Fletcher chance.
I’m upping my bet to 20 quid Di Canio gets fired post-game.
They might as well. Just get it over with so they have time to save themselves.
How many people here trade in quid?
Sunderland just has no midfield, no creativity or passing in the middle. Ugly really.
Whatever happened to the stodgy, stable, uninteresting Sunderland we know and love? Well, not love, but it would be better for Jozy than this mess.
As long as he gets time on the pitch, it’s fine IMO. The team may come together or not but either way, Jozy will nick a few goals and will have another year in the BPL to develop his game. He will hit the WC in good shape and be able to put himself in the shop window with a good performance. I don’t think anyone will hold it against him if he doesnt score bushels of goals in a fallow system especially when PDC will turn in the sideshow we know he will.
I’m not convinced. Being stuck on a woeful team that can’t get the ball to him is not a healthy environment for a striker, especially one who is looking to keep his form and confidence up for a World Cup. Jozy is very strong both mentally and phsycially, but months and months of this is exactly the thing we don’t want to see for Jozy. The only thin worse would be benching, which also happens on poor teams looking to turn things around, especially when a new coach inevitably comes in. Overall, Jozy needs a goal ASAP.
Let’s assume Sunderland get a new coach in the next few weeks.
Do you think they will sit Jozy?
The transfer window is closed so who do you suppose can do a better job than him at this time?
Hes got two goals already. One in Cup play and one last week (albeit disallowed). If anything, this may be good for Jozy. You don’t think we will have situations in WC play where our midfield is bossed around and Jozy only gets a half chance and needs to find a way to turn in to his advantage? If he can learn to be consistently dangerous on those half chances against top defenses like he sees in BPL, he will be truly deadly. He also needs work on his aerial game and these are likely the toughest air defenses in the world. What better way to improve. He’s actually had two nice flicks the last two weeks.
Down a goal, di Canio brings on Cattermole as his final sub. Why?
Of course, moments later Fletcher gets hurt and has to leave. Down to 10, give up another goal moments later.
What a wreck.
Jozy gets called for a phantom handball on a very nice win. Not getting any favors from referees.
Just missed on that shot, Jozy did. May have been handball on defender to keep it out but didn’t look that way on the replay.
There were like 6 people between him and the net. Wasn’t gunna happen.
Jozy about ready to come in as sub
Here comes Jozy.
So he’s “injured” enough to not start, but he’s “injured” enough to come on in a losing, chaotic effort.
Didn’t train all week so couldn’t go 90
“So he’s “injured” enough to not start, but he’s “injured” enough to come on in a losing, chaotic effort.”
Dude, word of advice. You gotta stop watching replays of that Costa Rica game. You can spend your whole life trying to figure out solutions to these things. There are other things to do. For example, I just DVR’d the Sunderland game. Redemption time!
50/50 possession at WBA but WBA’s defense looks much tougher in the trenches. The goal came on very poor defending, allowing Anelka to sneak a foot in from behind to force the save and Sess left wide open in front of net to score the easy rebound. Ki looks good. Jonson and Giac are active though a bit wasteful on the wings. Fletcher and Borini entirely useless and invisible without service. Apparently neither has any hold up game or ability to make their own play whatsoever and they both want to simply collect service. it’s tough to have two guys like that on the field together. One of them has to at least try to do the dirty work Jozy does. People thought Jozy was unable to get involved in the first few matches but it’s obvious from watching this performance that Jozy is MUCH more involved and able to contribute without service than These two.
Is Jozy unavailable today?
On bench with hamstring but is available.
Thanks
Agreed, Jozy is much better at getting the rest of his team to push up around him. Sunderland really need that. They can’t even get close to the box otherwise. Borini and Fletcher just seem to be watching and hoping.
I’ve got 10 quid on Di Canio being fired if they lose this game.
What I wouldn’t give for 10 minutes to ask Sunderland ownership how and why they thought this was a good idea.
Meh the premier league doesn’t hold my attention when there aren’t any American fled players playing. Neither Guzan or Howard make me want to watch either.
I am happy Guzan performed well though.
Wasn’t watching the game. Did the broadcast say that Jozy was injured or just he rumor mill?
The Journos had heard nothing by match time of an injury. The ESPN FC guys thought he was just benched.
Nice look from Giaccherini shot wide by Johnson. WBA comes back with a good chance of their own saved by Westwood.
Should have stayed at AZ.
Its still early. And you can tweak a hammy anywhere.
Glass half full for me.
Even still, going to Sunderland was a losing proposition. Jozy’s got this obsession with EPL, and he’s too eager to jump on the first hook.
EPL was a good move, just not Sunderland. Hopefully, the fascist DiCanio is fired soon.
Jozy coming on. Hurray?
I’m also seeing things suggesting the report about Jozy’s injury is just a rumor that was spread this morning.
We would have heard about an injury to Jozy if it happened earlier in the week.
Di Canio is a clown.
I’m reading at Roker Report that he didn’t train all week.
according to espn (grain of salt, please)
– parkhurst not dressed
– dolo not dressed (injured still, i guess?)
– chandler starting in defense
– fabian starting in midfield
– ream starting in midfield
– lichaj starting in defense
Spector continuing his starting streak at Birmingham. Not that he should necessarily be in the mix, but he was the right back during that confederations cup run four years ago. Ok ow it’s not four years ago (see CD9 🙁 )
It seems as if Altidore has a hamstring injury and hasn’t practiced all week. Could be a late sub, but I’m not watching.
Guzan was outstanding. Early penalty save, amazing save in the 89th to tip a sure goal over the bar, and caught absolutely everything that came in his area.
OMG! SPECTACULAR save at the death by Guzan!
Seriously. Villa games are pretty awful soccer but guzan makes them worth watching.
I like Benteke and Weimann tbh. Everything else is meh though.
Borini starts for Sunderland, Jozy on bench. :
More games by PDC.
He’ll be gone soon enough.
PDC was compared to Verbeek because they are both taskmasters, but the difference is that Verbeek is always consistent and clear in communicating what he needs to see from each player while PDC comes across like a fickle, mercurial mental patient. Oh well, there’s nothing to do about it now other than to keep his head down and keep working and hope things sort themselves outta the Stadium of Light. It seems a silly move by PDC considering how good Jozy was last week while Borini turned in an exceedingly selfish and stupid shift in which he just kicked the ball as hard as he could in the general vicinity of the net every time he got the ball regardless of whether he actually had anything remotely resembling a look at goal. It’s pretty odd to say, “hey, my player was robbed of a goal” one moment and then bench him the next, but that’s PDC.
Ha! My bad in this case. Turns out RR reports that Jozy was nicked up in training and hasn’t practiced all week.
That’s really unbelievable. PDC needs medicine.
Guzan with a save on a PK already…
Threw his face in front of that one.
Best part of watching villa is that you’re guaranteed multiple highlight saves from guzan. Just prevented an own goal with another smart stop.
Guzan played out of his mind in this one. Solely responsible for his side earning 3 points.
“Solely responsible for his side earning 3 points.”
It would have been interesting to see how Brad would have done without any defenders on the field in front of him.
This is the worst post you’ve ever done, and you’ve had some shockers.