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Soccer Saturday: Your Running Commentary

Tim Howard of Everton celebrates the opening goal

Photo by ISIPhotos.com

By JUSTIN FERGUSON

Everton’s quest for a Champions Leagues spot next season continues Saturday with a trip to face one of the most consistent sides in England.

USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard and the fifth-place Toffees are one point behind fourth-place Arsenal with three matches remaining in the English Premier League season. Their opponents, eighth-place Southampton do not have much to play for in terms of European hopes or relegation fears. Everton have not lost in their last six league matches against Southampton, so they will be itching for all three points again as they continue their hunt for a place among Europe’s finest.

Elsewhere in the EPL on Saturday, Fulham look to escape the drop zone with a home win against Hull City, who have their eyes on next month’s FA Cup Final against Arsenal. Tottenham Hotspur try to keep their Europa League spot intact on the road at Stoke City, and Ryan Giggs will manage Manchester United against relegation-threatened Norwich City in the Red Devils’ first match since the firing of manager David Moyes.

Elsewhere, Champions League semifinalists Bayern Munich and Real Madrid each have league home games ahead of their massive second leg next week. Bayer Leverkusen seek to solidify their spot in next season’s Champions League with a Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund, and Inter Milan face Napoli in one of Serie A’s biggest matches of the weekend. Tonight in Mexico, several teams will fight for their playoff futures as the final weekend of the Liga MX regular season continues.

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 – Southampton vs. Everton – NBCSN

9:30am – Bayern Munich vs. Werder Bremen – GOLTV USA

10:00am – Granada vs. Rayo Vallecano – beIN Sports Play

10:00am – Fulham vs. Hull City – NBCSN

10:00am – Stoke City vs. Tottenham Hotspur – NBC Live Extra

10:00am – Swansea City vs. Aston Villa – NBC Live Extra

10:00am – West Bromwich Albion vs. West Ham – NBC Live Extra

11:00am – Ajaccio vs. Monaco – beIN Sports Play

12:00pm – Getafe vs. Malaga – beIN Sports Play

12:00pm – Bologna vs. Fiorentina – beIN Sports USA

12:30pm – Manchester United vs. Norwich City – NBC

12:30pm – Bayer Leverkusen vs. Borussia Dortmund – GOLTV USA

2:00pm – Real Madrid vs. Osasuna – beIn Sports USA

2:00pm – Rennes vs. Lorient – beIn Sports Play

2:45pm – Internazionale vs. Napoli – beIN Sports USA

4:00pm – Real Betis vs. Real Sociedad – beIn Sports Play

4:00pm – Montreal Impact vs. Philadelphia Union – MLS Direct Kick

4:00pm – Seattle Sounders vs. Colorado Rapids – MLS Direct Kick

6:00pm – Veracruz vs. Santos Laguna – Univision Deportes

6:00pm – Cruz Azul vs. Pumas UNAM – UniMas

7:00pm – DC United vs. FC Dallas – MLS Direct Kick

7:30pm – New England Revolution vs. Sporting KC – MLS Direct Kick

7:30pm – Columbus Crew vs. New York Red Bulls – MLS Direct Kick

8:00pm – Tigres vs. Atlas – Univision Deportes

9:30pm – Real Salt Lake vs. Vancouver Whitecaps – MLS Direct Kick

10:00pm – Chiapas vs. Atlante – Univision Deportes

10:30pm – San Jose Earthquakes vs. Chivas USA – MLS Direct Kick

Comments

  1. wtf i turn on seattlle stream an all i hear is gooooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

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  2. It’s a shame that FIFA is so stupid that a US citizen can not represent the US in international competition. Otherwise, Osvaldo Alonso would be at this moment our third defensive midfielder and be making the trip to Brazil.

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      • I understand the one time only switch, but leaving it in the hands of the losing federation, especially when the move was politically motivated.

    • yea, to Cuba, Alonso is still technically on their team until they decide to release him (which they wouldnt because it would help the USA). FIFA can’t do anything about that situation. Alonso defected while Cuba was in the US for a game. he’s now a citizen but technically still on the “roster” of Cuba, etc….

      just imagine Alonso and Bradley……. (drool), JJ woulda been sat on the bench for sure

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      • I understand what you mean, but Dempsey would have to drop back to midfield with any of those other guys given the different styles of play. I don’t however expect Klinsi to play 4-4-2.

      • i find it comical when people rush to anoint Aron to the starting line up over Jozy. Aron hasn’t done anything more than Jozy. he scored a bunch of goals (less than Jozy in the season) and has only been on the NT for 8 months…..

        Jozy has chemistry with demspey, bradley, LD, Zusi, etc and has scored many goals for USMNT. people just want to erase history for a kid with a lot of potential. Im a huge Aron fan and think the best thing would be to eventually have Jozy and Aron as our 2 strikers but to say that Aron should REPLACE Jozy is ridiculous

    • No Sir. I watched the whole game. Real Madrid is such a good team it made it look like scrimmage. Real is so deep and the best team in Spain right now. The only team with a real chance to beat Bayern. For you and those Barcelona chicks, the La Liga title is staying in in Madrid this year; it is a matter of where exactly.

      One final thought, 2014 = Barcelona 0-3

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      • 15M? H E L L no!
        Probably more like 4m or 5m maybe 3m. He’ll have sponsor tripping over him left and right so he might end up making close to 15m when it’s all added up. They should also think about getting Gio

      • Why would he come to MLS if not for some ridiculous amount? He’s already making around 4-5m right from Man Utd plus he has sponsor already tripping over him.

      • USA is the sponsor hub what ever he’s making in Europe he’ll make double in America. If he holds out till ATL joins MLS he’ll make triple.

      • Although Chicharito is at a bigger club, it’s interesting that he and Altidore are both in a similar position this summer. Both will likely start. Both will likely be sold by their clubs (Man U might keep Hernandez if he scores 5 goals AND the new manager is an advocate… Sunderland and Jozy are headed fo a mutually agreeable divorce regardless).

        A lot on the line for these guys this summer. Every goal could change their futures.

      • don’t really think they are in the same position, Chicharito has actually scored this season and United actually wants to keep him (they refused to let him go in the winter) while he has to compete with guys like Wayne Rooney and Robin Van Persie for playing time, Jozy got benched for his subpar performances and was supposed to be the star signing for Sunderland.

      • also if Chicharito decides to leave he would have offers from many CL teams, Altidore will be lucky if he gets even close to something with EL chances.

      • Mom Gmail
        CarolPYellow@gmail.com Muffin[anniversary MDD format]

        Completely understand all this — the comparison relates more relates to the basic nature of the economic “decision point” each appears to be approaching, and how career timing and current market forces may create incremental or “derivative” type pressures for them over the next few months that are not shared most of their teammates to this degree right now– these additional pressures are outside the scope of their NT program (as they should be) so the players must find the ability to manage them in harmony, and mostly in silence. Tough to do, even when you have been starting regularly and scoring at your club. But when you are a spot starter who place on the depth charm and this is staying the same or going the wrong direction, securing a move to a better situation is a priority that the club is already working on. The awareness that you are “in the shop window” does not simmer quietly on the back-burner for most people. I compare these two strikers not on a basis of quality, pedigree or current valuation, because they share this pressure and uncertainty in a very similar way currently… And for both guys, this pressure is going to ramp up quickly if they don’t get a goal in the first 45 mins or so … Both faces a significant chance of an axe from the XI after as little as one game (or less…)

        For these two players (and their current clubs etc)), it’s SAT time. High pressure. Going to an unfamiliar place for a few hours on what’s normally and off-day, and hoping that the test (which most acklolwedge has limited predictive reliability), and hoping you get an opportunity to show what your have learned and are capable of. Because there is a decent change it will have wildly exaggerated effect on your immediate and long term employment profile, salary ceiling, and market valuation_

        As you said, I don’t think there is much to compare about the valuations or the parties interested. Chicharito has an ivy league pedigree, and Jozy transferred to a decent state school after starting at JuCo. Clearly Jozy is a lot closer to “last chance saloon” in Europe than Hernandez, who in his worst case (fluffs 10 sitters, misses a critical penalty, and accidentally collapses a load-bearing beam at one of the driftwood WC stadia while tweeting out obscenities) probably just moves on to a slightly smaller team in a big league… But he wants to start. Probably for a late-stage CL regular. Not a whole lot of those jobs. Hard to impresssuitors from the bench.

        But both are guys who have a potentially career defining month of June in which to restore some luster through participation and likely starting roles at the World Cup. I don’t think it’s unrealistic to suggest that a 3-4 goal performance from either could be worth an eight figure amount in career compensation, compared to a zero goal dud. This is a chance to prove that they are both as good as they had been thought, and better than their (clearly different) situations have allowed them to show in the past year. Conversely, it is a chance for critics and finance guys to confirm that the players had been overrrated, or had been paid based on false upside.

      • Certainly puts the pressure on a few others to step it up. Even if you compare Boyd and Johannsson, adding League and Europa numbers and take away PKs. Boyd has 15 and Johannsson has 14 now, with Boyd doing it in 1043 less minutes on the field.

        I think there’s certainly room for both going to Brazil but just puts in to context that Boyd’s had a pretty good year.

      • It’s really hard to rate the Austrian league. But yup he has had a good year and seems to be on his game right now.

        I can imagine them both going. I’m of the opinion Boyd goes to the WC he gets called in all the time. I feel like he is basically Jozy’s understudy. As in if Jozy goes down Boyd does the best in replicating that style of play. Aj is likely going too.

        Camp and warm up games are gunna be big for Centerbacks and Forwards. I think the rest of the team are known quantities.

      • Certainly hard to judge the league as a whole but Salzberg is a pretty good side that made a strong showing in Europa this year. So scoring a couple against them helps. He was winning a lot of flick on headers and got on to a couple corners other then the one he scored.
        EJ might be the one with some concerns if this goal less streak for DC continues.

  3. Missed opportunity for Marko Arnautovic to even Stoke. They’ve been the better team since going down to 10 men. I’ve never seen Arnautovic do anything impressive. Stoke would be a much better squad with a more clinical finisher.

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  4. Apparently Ream picked up an assist.

    No Danny Williams again? This guy is such a mystery to me.

    Really hoping Joe Gyau can get off the bench, finally.

    Missed my Toffees today. Judging from your comments on the game, I’m afraid to see what transpired with these own goals..

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      • 1 win puts them in the play offs. They created quite a few shots towards the end of the game but they were all tight angles or blocked very quickly by Hertha Defenders. Quite a few were in the box. They play a decent game of football but aren’t quite actually talented enough to do it.

      • that’s quite the statement, especially considering i’m not sure if even our starting CBs are locked in. have our other CBs just dropped off, or has JAB improved?

      • Well with Gonzo… we all know how that is going. It’s more like JAB should get called into the camp now rather than “OMSGS he needs to go to brazil)

        His coach said he had a good game last week and was proud of him today. So… apparently forgiven for the Tattoo?

      • i guess it’s just that i feel it’s a little late to make a push, especially considering his awful day against ukraine, but yeah, it all depends on how his competition (gonzo, besler, goodson, etc.) is playing.

      • Oh, I fully understand. That Ukraine game was mind blowingly bad. But I think there will be atleast 4 CBs+ Cameron in camp. Maybe even 5. So there is room in Camp.

        I really don’t know. If we don’t take him to camp we would have to bring in a totally new guy like Matt Hedges or Will Packwood. I don’t know that its better to do that.

        Speculation is overdone. =/

      • Have you seen Goodson play lately? He’s worse the Gonzo. Brazil is looking like:
        Besler
        Gonzo
        Gooch
        Brooks
        Cameron -CB/RB
        Ream -CB/LB

      • Yea I read Ream was named MOTM again last week, not sure where he played, I think he’s mostly settled at LB

      • okay, makes sense if goodson’s not playing well, but i’m not really sure that klinsmann needs to bring 4 CBs to brazil if cameron can also fill in there. maybe it comes down to gooch vs. JAB.

  5. Embarrassing commentator.

    First off, Long wasn’t offside. Frankly, wasn’t close. To go back and say, oh he looks offside so it’s okay that Fulham should have given up a penalty for shoving a guy over from behind.

    That was a red card and a penalty.

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    • It was shoulder to shoulder and the Hull player flopped. It wasn’t a penalty, and it certainly wasn’t a red card.

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    • As I mentioned above, it’s pretty clear soccer is as an important outlet for your angst, so I guess you need to find something to be outraged about at all times. Just a shame we all need to share in it.

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  6. As an Arsenal fan, obviously I wanted results that helped them secure CL play next year. But I also like Everton and Martinez. My fantasy end would have been it see Chelsea crash out and BOTH Arsenal and Everton get in. Wasn’t going to happen, but it was nice to think about, This horrible display when it was most critical disappointing even thought it helps the Gunners

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  7. Is it nap time in Munich? I just woke up and Saw that Werder is somehow winning. Good for them despite being totally safe.

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  8. Everton is literally beating themselves. I’d rather see them make the champions league or nothing at all the uefa cup always sets a team back financially

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    • NBC’s coverage of the EPL is fantastic. A couple of minutes of technical difficulties is no big deal. Seems pretty obvious you rely on soccer as an outlet for your angst, so I guess you need to find something to be outraged about at all times.

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    • I’ve enjoyed NBC’s coverage. If a game I don’t want to see on on NBCSN (like today), then I can simply stream the game I desire on my pc. I’ve watched so much EPL soccer this season because of this. Try having your glass half full sometime man….

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      • At half-time, according to espn gamecast, Nuremberg down 2-0, they have 5 shots attempted, none on goal.
        Chandler has taken 4 of those 5 shots.
        Would be nice if anyone actually watches this game and posts here

      • okay, Bac, for you. I watched the first half and Chandler was bad. Very bad. had no rhythm and actually seemed as if he had no balance, falling to the ground several times, and, worst of all, was either wholly or partly responsible in allowing both of Mainz’s goals, which came off of set pieces. The first one, the man Chandler was marking, a tiny Japanese player about 5-feet tall, evaded Chandler and scored. On the second one, Chandler was marking the same player and the little guy somehow got the better of the much bigger Chandler, who ended up on the ground so was unable to clear the oncoming corner kick, and a Mainz player headed the ball it to the top of the box and it was nailed into the goal by a Mainz player. Yeah, Chandler did take shots, but not very smart shots. I think most if not all way off target.

        I expected him to be pulled at half-time and he was, with Martin Angha, a Swiss international taking his place.

      • Shinji Okazaki is rather good… He is Japan’s starting striker and having a pretty good year. He might fix Japan’s striker issue.

      • Also, it is his first game back after a few months. So, we just have to wait and see. Cameron was also responsible for allowing a goal, from my understanding.

      • Cannot argue with that. Chandler definitely needs to work his way back to fitness. It would be a noble gesture, I think, for Klinsmann to leave Michael Parkhurst or Brad Evans at home this summer and replace them with Timothy Chandler so Timothy can work his way back to fitness in World Cup games. The Group of Death would be just what the doctor ordered for Chandler to improve his game. And no doubt Evans and Parkhurst would weep tears of joy at the honor of being chosen to donate their WC 2014 ticket to Timothy. And an added benefit would be that Chandler’s presence in the locker room would probably greatly improve USMNT chemistry.

      • Ya, I somehow doubt Chandler is going. People talk about Green being a locking room problem but Chandler going at half fitness would be a real one. Left wing backup is a legitimate problem unlike Rightback were we have semisolid options.

      • your sarcasm is misplaced, biff.

        looks like arsenal was just saying that timmy *might* still be working his way back to fitness, and so his performances *might* improve in the next couple of games. that’s it.

        don’t know why you’re going off about timmy replacing anybody at the cup, or why it should even matter how evans and parkhurst would feel about someone going instead of them.

      • He’s going to be in the May camp and it doesn’t matter if you like it or not He will be just fine. He is working his way back in to fitness.How long did it it take Dempsey to to do it? Chandler was a monster before his injury. It so obvious that you don’t like the guy, jeezz

      • Well ya, He can’t be bothered to get on planes when he gets a call in.
        I don’t care if its a phobia. He can’t get to Brazil any other way.(Well boats but… those are slow.)

        His will to play for the US(or even for himself) has to be stronger than his fear and it hasn’t been in the past and it makes me doubt him. That simple.

      • Not sure if TC will make it but you hit a point that has already been happening….maybe JK giving TC playing time to get back to form. Now you know how Johannsson feels about Jozy getting playing time to get to form.

      • Just trying to make a point, Nate Dollars, and maybe it was a bit, no pun intended, a bit too pointed. But we are 45 days from the WC and Chandler has basically sukked for his club for the past two years, with the exception of two or three good games this past December and January. I just don’t get it. Furthermore, he has played only two games for the USMNT since, I could be wrong, but I think November of 2011. Two games in 30 months and declining many invitations and in one of the games, Russia, he was so-so, and against Honduras he was awful. And then I hear fans saying how great he is and needs to be called in and is our only hope to stop Ronaldo and Marco Reus. So as I say, we are now 45 days from the WC and people still making excuses for him.

        If I didn’t so badly want the USMNT to survive the Group of Death I would love to see Chandler at right back in the World Cup just to see him shredded by Ghana, Portugal and Germany so I could say to all the misguided Chandler fanboys: I told you so. But I wanna win and Chandler would be disaster. If anyone can find the videos of Mainz’s goals today, then please post them and tell me after watching if you really want Chandler defending set pieces in the World Cup. I mean, the last one when he was manhandled by the little Japanese guy was comical, but would heartbreaking be if it happened against Ghana for then to score a winning goal in the first game.

        As for why it should matter how Evans and Parkhurst feel, I would recommend you read this article, which is excellent. One of the few media talking heads who seems to understand the failed mutiny against Klinsmann, or at least to publicly admit that he understands it.

        What the legacy of David Regis says about the USMNT’s Julian Green

        http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/04/18/what-legacy-david-regis-says-about-usmnts-julian-green-word

      • Personally I don’t care how Parkhurst or Evans would feel, however I agree with you on just about the rest of it. However I also kind of understand Chandler’s position. His starting spot in the team was never as much a lock as some assumed. Honestly, he’s about what you’d get out of Yedlin. If you started him in the Bundesliga right now he’d put together a few good weeks but is still developing.

      • If TC gets the call and beats out Parky and/or Evans then be it. Right now he is no where ready for the WC.

      • biff,

        So what inside information do you have on the USMNT team chemistry that no one else, even the author of that MLS article, seems to have?

        You must have something because you constantly present yourself as an expert on the personal feelings and psychology of this current USMNT squad.

        As for the article, it is one thing for Lalas to give his opinion about his team, even if he is just one of 23 and it would be helpful to hear what other 1998 players think, but you are not a current USMNT player and the current squad have not been reliably quoted anywhere.

        A normal US fan would look at Chandler’s latest performance and think “Rusty, but hopefully he can shake it off early enough to make the right back situation interesting”. Instead you get all hot at the chance to take shots at your favorite target ( besides Mikey Bradley); clearly you are far more worried that Chandler might actually do something good for the US and make you look bad.

        You’re more interested in being right than the USMNT doing well.

        As for latecomers bringing down the team I notice the 2010 team did not go down in flames with the last minute inclusion of Gomez and Buddle neither of whom as far as I remember participated in WC qualifying. Unlike Lalas and his entitled clique of overconfident, arrogant, blowhards this USMNT team all know, even LD, that they are almost all on the bubble. This is 2014 not 1998.

      • Well I’m glad someone actually got a chance to watch him vs just reading about him and assuming their own conclusions. I’m surprised he was inserted as a starter right away, guess that shows how desperate they are.

  9. clyne and shaw have been doing well; shutting down the flanks so far. on the same note, deulofeu hasn’t been very impressive. he’s got obvious skill, but hasn’t been making good decisions.

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