Photo by ISIphotos.com
Good afternoon all. It was another exciting week of soccer action, both in MLS and abroad, and there are plenty of topics to discuss, so here are a few I wanted to touch on:
As we head stand almost a third of the way through the MLS season, these are the playoff match-ups if the season ended today:
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Chicago vs. Toronto FC
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D.C. United vs. Kansas City
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Chivas USA vs. Colorado
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Seattle vs. Houston
Folks, if you're team isn't listed above, you can take heart in the knowledge that five of the seven teams currently on the outside of the playoffs looking in are just three points away from a playoff spot. If you're a fan of FC Dallas or San Jose I'd say take heart in knowing you will have a good chance at the No. 2 pick in the 2009 MLS Draft (Yes, Philly will have the first pick, darn expansion team).
The word in MLS circles is that the Philadelphia Union has hired its head coach. Just who that coach is remains a mystery. U.S. national team assistant Peter Nowak, New England assistant Paul Mariner and Houston assistant John Spencer have been mentioned as candidates. It wouldn't shock me if it were Nowak, who's gritty style would be perfectly suited for Philadelphia.
How about Eddie Lewis celebrating his 35th birthday with a beautiful left-footed blast of a goal that helped LA salvage a 1-1 tie vs. Columbus on Sunday. Count me among those who were just glad not to see LA pull out that tie with a questionable PK (The video of the goal has yet to be posted, but I'll post it as soon as it becomes available)
Zak Whitbread has become a popular figure these days. Not just for anchoring Millwall's central defense through its run to the English First Division playoff final, but for staying in the team's semifinal victory despite having been knocked out cold. Let the "Cap him now" chants begin.
Reports out of Trinidad have the San Jose Earthquakes signing journeyman forward Cornell Glen. Call it an act of desperation for a San Jose team in dire need of some attacking help. Off-season signing Cam Weaver has looked like a bust and no other Earthquake has stepped up as a go-to forward. You might remember Glen for his four-teams in three-seasons tour through MLS from 2004 to 2006. He was always fast, but his finishing was always suspect and he was never regarded as a good locker room presence.
Thats all for now. Look for the SBI MLS Power Rankings and the WPS Rewind shortly. For now, feel free to share your thoughts on the above topics, and any other soccer-related subjects, in the comments section below.
The Athority,
I struggle to think that Gibbs’s lack of playing time was the coach’s fault. That’s really a cop-out. More importantly, you just assumed that I thought Whitbread would be some USMNT savior or instant starter. You thought wrong. But if I were a betting man, and I had to determine who had a better chance of getting consistent playing time…I would pick neither.
Look at the momentum and confidence of the two players. Maybe Whitbread has a chance, but Gibbs is washed-out and might as well be the John O’Brien of defenders. He has no chance.
Just because YOU play in some third division rec league does not give you license to comment about the quality of professional defenders. Oh, and the ad-hominem attack suggests that you know you didn’t have a supportable position.
Whitbred is getting premiership rumors, which MLS CB’s currently are?
Beat me to it JT. It does look like Eddie Lewis is using “crane technique”.
Ben,
I agree, b/c someone plays in the 3rd division it doesn’t mean they’re a slouch.
Although, be careful before citing interest with big clubs, let a big club sign him first.
3 years ago John Wolynic “drew interest” from Celtic. I’m from NY, yeah I know, crazy!
Barry,
The U is left out for a reason…….calling yourself the autority is a little pompus. If I don’t spell it correctly, it’s poking fun at myself.
Ko’d,
Sorry you’ve taken to many blows to the head. Whitbread wan’t even a full time starter last year in the 3rd division. He’s got a looooooooong way to go before he reaches Gibbs’ level.
True, Gibbs is injury prone.
But Gibbs has started in the first division in Holland.
Gibbs was a starter for the USMNT in the 2006 WC before his injury.
Gibbs was signed by a Premirship team in Charlton. Not his fault Curbs left and the team imploded.
Hey, I’m from the USA and I hope Whitbread turns out to be the next Maldini, I’m rooting for him.
But he has a lot to prove before he gets in the same stratoshpere as Cory Gibbs.
For those on this board who live in or come from England…..yes, Leage One & Two are better than MLS. Leyton Orient rules! I’ll just agree and let you live in your dillusional worlds.
LOL
I have to agree, I don’t see Nowak leaving the NATS before the WC. After that, he’s gonna come back to Chicago and we get to send Hamlett to Philly.
I’ve had the opportunity to see Whitbread play and he’s a very good player. I’d actually take him any day over Gibbs. I remember hearing reports in January of Blackburn having interest in him but nothing ever materialized.
whitbread is drawing interest from a few Championship clubs as well as Rangers in Scotland.
Just because he plays in the 3rd division doesn’t mean he’ll be a slouch in the NT picture.
I am surprised no one is saying how the ref gave the game to LA again and allowed them to score that goal in stoppage time. After all, he did send off Danny O’Rourke for his second legitimate yellow card to give LA a better chance of tying it up.
Sorry but MLS is right on par with League 1 right now with the exception of a few…also..Whitbread is a Liverpool academy player who is being sought after by several Prem clubs… if anything he is on par with Spector so enough with the ignorant comments… Also Leeds and Milwall are MUCH BIGGER clubs that any MLS club will ever be…
Oh and… CORY GIBBS… are fricking joking?
Ives, You should have saved the photo on this post for the next You Write The Caption contest! Lewis looks like Daniel-san from Karate Kid!
“Sweet the leg… You got a problem with that?”
“Cap Whitbread? This shows you how ignorant the Euro Posers are. The English third division is significantly worse than MLS.”
…Did you watch the matches between Leeds and Millwall? Either team would wipe the floor with all but maybe 2 teams in MLS.
“Do you mean the 2010 draft? The one where Philadelphia will have the first pick?
Posted by: Baysider | May 18, 2009 at 01:16 PM”
Yeah, I laughed at that line too.
After watching Califf’s abominable play, I’m happy to entertain any competent backups for CB. (and please: no more Califf!)
Gee, what a great weekend…
Five more ties (four at 1-1) out of seven MLS matches. I can hardly contain myself waiting for next weekend.
This is honestly all making me miss the good old days with the running shootout.
The Athority,
You’re right. 29-year-old injury-prone wash-outs from teams that were just relegated to League 1 (Charlton), who subsequently ended up on mediocre MLS teams (Colorado) are MUCH better prospects for the USMNT defense.
Brilliant.
Zak Whitbread is already cap tied to the US because he played for us at the U-20 and U-23 levels
Eddie Lewis goal is worth a look.
The call by the announcer was worth a listen.
Together there’s really no excuse not to check out the clip.
Do you mean the 2010 draft? The one where Philadelphia will have the first pick?
Isnt Whitbread already cap tied to the US?
Hey “The Athority”
It’s spelled “a-U-t-h-o-r-i-t-y” with a “u”.
Ives,
I agree that Nowak would be a good candidate for Philly, but it would surprise me to see him leave the Nats post before the World Cup.
I think it’s unfair to criticize Whitbread as a “3rd division guy” and leave it at that.
He came up through the Liverpool academy and actually did get some spot first team minutes at Liverpool. Then he got hurt and eventually fell off the radar. With a bit more luck, Whitbread could have been a squad player in the Premiership like Spector. But he’s taken a different path.
I would love to see Whitbread with the team for the Gold Cup. Pair him with Chad Marshall in central d and see what happens.
lol I second that John,that was great hahhaha
Best part about that Whitbread article: the insanely illiterate and loving posts from Millwall fans afterwards. We learn that Whitbread was “ammence” (immense?!)
Ives,
Any truth to the rumors out of Montreal about the Impact joining MLS? Is MLS really willing to pull the trigger this quickly or is this just false hope for French Canada?
I think Whitbread gets a cap if the other teams in the gold cup/conferderations cup agree to only use players suited to the third division.
i loved the spanish announcer singing “happy birthday to you” when lewis scored
Cap Whitbread? This shows you how ignorant the Euro Posers are. The English third division is significantly worse than MLS.
Cornell Glen? Eh, gads. Can we fire John Doyle now?
Zack must have gotten some help from Elijah Wood on how to be a hardcore ultra for Milwall…
If the US Nats team is having to depend on 3rd division players, then we are in big trouble for the upcoming World Cup.
Sick goal! I hope Eddie Lewis and his left foot will be on the Nats when World Cup rolls around.
Ives, what’s the story with Birchall to the Galaxy? Are they waiting till the Beckham dilema is solved?
While I give my vote to Woly for the skill involved as GOTW, I have to nominate the announcer for Lewis’ goal as call of the year. Also, how the hell is Quaranta’s goal getting more votes than Lewis’? it just doesn’t make sense to me.
Whitbread…..25 year old guys from the English 3rd division don’t excite me.
Much rather see Corey Gibbs back in the mix.
I watched the LA v. DC game yesterday.
Eddie Lewis’ last minute GOLASO was sick. It had me up out of my seat and I don’t even care about LA.
It’s great to see goals of that quality being scored in the MLS.
CAP WHITBREAD NOW!!!