If you are a fan of both American football and proper futbol, today may be a tough day of decisions as the NFL season kicks off. If you're loyalty and preference lies with the beautiful game, you will have more than enough options to watch good action today.
U.S. national team fans will surely be interested in watching today's Everton-Fulham clash, with Tim Howard squaring off against Clint Dempsey. Those of you who have been waiting for La Liga to be shown on ESPN2 will see your wait end today as well, although the Sporting Gijon-Almeria match probably isn't one you would have picked to watch.
There are other quality matches to watch, from Genoa-Napoli to Freddy Adu's debut for Belenenses against the club that still owns his rights, Benfica. You also have today's MLS Cup preview between the Columbus Crew and Houston Dynamo.
If you will be watching any of today's action, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and play-by-play in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Today's soccer TV schedule is after the jump):
SUNDAY'S SOCCER ON TV
11am– ESPN Classic/ESPN Deportes- Sporting Gijon vs. Almeria
11:15am– FSC- Fulham vs. Everton
11:30am– GolTV- Cologne vs. Schalke 04
12:55pm– UNAM Pumas vs. Pachuca
1pm– ESPN Deportes/ESPN360- Real Valladolid vs. Valencia
1pm– ESPN360.com- Belenenses vs. Benfica
2:30pm– FSC- Genoa vs. Napoli
3pm– GolTV- Xerez vs. Athletic Bilbao
3pm– Telefutura- Chivas USA vs. New England Revolution
3pm– Setanta Sports USA- AS Monaco vs. Paris St. Germain
3pm- Azteca America- Morelia vs. Tigres UANL (Delayed)
5pm– Direct Kick- Columbus Crew vs. Houston Dynamo
5pm– Univision- Santos Laguna vs. Queretaro
5pm– FSC- Louisville vs. Illinois-Chicago
5pm– Setanta Sports USA- Birmingham City vs. Aston Villa
6pm– Telefutura- America vs. Tecos
Those are all fine points, jig, (except the one about Bornstein, because BB DID work with Bornstein at Chivas USA). But, what I’m saying is, regardless of the level of players we have, we should play the ones that are most capable and willing (both qualities important) to contribute to the Nats success. Any player (be it Beasley to Donovan to Tim Howard) who is unwilling to put in the effort game in, game out should have to sit and be challenged for their playing time (via other players like Holden, Torres, Guzan, whoever). That was players actually WANT to play well instead of walk around the pitch. We’ve seen that our team CAN play with anyone, IF they try!
And who is that up to? Who decides who plays and who doesn’t?? That’s right. The manager, BB. And he hasn’t done a terrific job of getting the most out of each position on the field. That’s my point.
sooo, should all nations have a foreign coach for the sake of objectivity? Bradley never worked with bornstein at club level.
I just think people need to temper expectations a little bit. the only teams that would cruise through CONCACAF qualifying unscathed are teams with world class players. The US has 0 of those. We are bound to look poor at times, probably more often than we look good.
Also, to be perfectly clear, I will be MORE than happy to publicly admit I was wrong come the World Cup and we do better than expected (and I have full confidence that we will qualify for the WC2010). Results speak for themselves and if BB gets us to the quarters or the semi’s of the world cup then of course I should be made to eat crow.
These are just my feelings about things at the moment, and I think I, and anyone who cares, is entitled to express their thoughts regarding these issues.
Fine, RM07, forget Mexico, ok? My point still stands. Wouldn’t you like to see more consistency from the US? For evidence look at our concacaf qualifiers since the confed cup. We haven’t looked nearly as strong. And I believe that’s down to player management. Don’t get me wrong, in my original thought I said I really appreciate BB’s contributions and think he’s done marvelous to a point. I don’t think, however, he has what it takes to get us to the next level because he lacks objectivity.
correction: Also, in full disclosure, Dempsey is probably my favorite player for the US, but I don’t think that makes him ABOVE accountability for his performances.
Jig,
Alright. Fair enough point on overall player class. However, Capello HAS done a better job at sitting various players (See Beckham) who maybe are “top players” but aren’t cutting it for the team at the moment. There have been plenty of other snubs for England’s “favorites” and chances for newbies as well. Yes, I still get your point: England have far better players overall than we do.
However, I’d rather see a Stu Holden try his butt off and fail, along with Torres, Feilhaber, and whoever is waiting in the wings for the US, rather than established starters like Dempsey walk around the pitch all game long and potentially provide one moment of brilliance.
Also, in full disclosure, Dempsey is probably my favorite player for the US, but I don’t think that makes him about accountability for his performances.
I DO think a manager with a little more distance from the US (i.e. a foriegn, experienced manager) would be able to provide that objectivity needed to keep players accountable; in other words, no favorites for favorites sake (see BB formerly of Chivas USA and Bornstein currently of Chivas USA).
…another thing Mexico’s wins are alll 8000 feet above sea level in that smoggy dump.
anywhere else in the world they lose.
MemRook,come back down to reality.
To put Mexico in the same class as Brazil,England and Spain is absurd.
Second,as far as consistently beating them, Mexico has 3 wins in the last decade and I believe 12 losses against the USA…sounds pretty consistent too me.
yeah, memrook, maybe you’re right. but the players we have won’t get us beating those teams consistently, either. none of them are top class. it wouldn’t matter if we had capello. we won’t beat those teams consistently for many generations. apologies to everyone who thinks differently.
anyone know where i can watch the colts jags game online?
MemRook,
You make some solid points about BB’s contributions.
But as I’ve said it before, I am not a fan of BB. I believe that he lacks tactical acumen, no foresight.
I really appreciate what BB has done for the state of our national team, and his contributions to our progress can’t be denied. That said, I DON’T think BB has what it takes as a manager/coach to get us winning consistently against tough competition (Mexico, Spain, Brazil, England, whoever). I think it’s a bit sad considering how far he’s brought the squad, but to me, clearly he is out of his depth. Case in point: player management. He plays tired players when they should rest, he plays disinterested players when they should be benched and challenged. This whole “faith in my top players” mindset will be our downfall. Every player needs to know he is expendable given their form (see Beasley, sadly) and should have to answer for their performances. BB is incapable of this.
I guess Adu did not even make the bench.
Posted by: Jorge
He was one of 20 called up but not in the final 18, perhaps he couldn’t play against Benfica
Scott,
Unfortunately, this is the same BB who’s said that he wouldn’t play you if you were out of form or not getting enough PT. And yet, MB still plays for him, which contradicts his statement.
I guess Adu did not even make the bench.
Jorge, I got the point (before the correction). I agree that Dempsey had to fight his way into Hodgson’s lineup; Hodgson bringing in Zoltan Gera was the best thing that’s happened to his professional career.
I’d really hoped for an early change (to Feilhaber or my homey, Stu) in the game against T&T, even if purely for motivational reasons.
Grant Wahl’s interview with BB revealed that he watches dozens of games per week. I worry that he’s spending too much time watching Fulham games and not seeing what goes on in front of his face.
But then maybe Ives is right in calling Dempsey a ‘slot machine that you just know is going to pay off sometime’.
Correction (damn)…
Scott,
But then again, Fulham tends to bench your butt if you’re not contributing enough or you’ve fallen out of form.
Well Dempsey knows how to track back and defend…he isn’t very good at it but he knows when he has to.
Scott,
But then again, Fulham tends to bench you butt if you’re contributing enough or you’ve fallen out of form.
Kyle C, MemRook, others:
Right on. I’m torn between being excited that MAYBE someday we’ll get THAT Dempsey in a Nats jersey, and being furious that we seem to get the OTHER Dempsey so much.
Maybe it’s because the European agents and scouts don’t watch Concacaf qualifiers, so he phones it in. Maybe it’s because he’s on the left rather than the right. Maybe it’s because the refereeing is so much better (yeah, right). But whatever it is, I defy anyone to tell me that CD doesn’t play with more aggression and interest in the game for Fulham than he has recently with the Nats.
Fulham up 2-1… Duff’s goal… a nice one.
Freddy Adu on the bench for Belenenses
And Fulham evens the score…
La Liga game was not switched for drag racing it was switched for the US Open men’s semifinals.
The rain delay messed up the schedule so of course ESPN2 would pick that over a La Liga game
Dempsey has so many good plays and an equal share of bad shots. It’s great to see the aggression and I think it’s just a matter of time before Timmy misses one.
the everton fulham game is difficult to watch. It looks more like tennis with 22 people on the court.
Murphy needs to calm down. He’s right now a walking red card to happen.
Replay shows cahill to be offside on the goal.
Kyle C,
Totally agree about Dempsey. I am really hoping it’s something like jetlag attributed to Dempsey’s poor USA form. It’s frustrating and needs rectifying. The only the solution I can think is that BB needs to sit his arse for a game or two until he wakes his own arse up.
Everton 1-Fulham 0
That’s the forlorn face Timmy makes when he lets a 25-yd shot through in the first 8 minutes of play….
sorry, already been posted
SPANISH primeraIS on ESPN CLASSIC!! they switched out espn2 and espn classic!!!
ESPN can eat a d-ck.
If its going to be on Classic…FINE, just tell us that then.
Speaking of La Liga, Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench in yesterday’s game and scored.
Igor, that’s funny.
Maybe they got confused with Racing Santander.
NOtice how dempsey is a TOTALLY different player today!! Running around everywhgere, tracking back, flying to pressure the ball, hustling through great runs… Night and day between is club form n country form…
The La Liga game is on ESPN Classic.
Use espn360.com if you have the chance. I hate when ESPN toys with us like this.
The video quality looks like I’m watching a game from 1992.
Screw ESPN this is ridiculous.
ESPN can lick my taint for this crap. It is even listed as being on ESPN2 on their web site when you look at the TV listings.
Nobody wants to watch this drag racing trash. It’s not exciting, nor has it ever been, nor will it ever be.
I almost fainted when I saw La Liga in HD. Then I found out it was all a cruel joke.
La Liga is on ESPN Classic for me. The on-screen menu says its on ESPN2 but they swapped it for whatever reason..unfortunately no HD.
Dear ESPN,
Please don’t mess with my head like that. I almost poo’d myself when I saw La Liga on ESPN 2, and it was a cruel joke when I had to endure rednecks racing their cars.
The game is on ESPN Classic. Guess Almeria vs Sporting Gijon isn’t worth ESPN2 airtime.
la liga game is on espn classic. can you believe HD La Liga soccer gets pre-empted for drag racing????? that’s bs.
Brian, I have the same too with Fios.
Same here. No liga game for me. Its racing
Same with me Brian.
I just about broke something.
comcast is telling me la liga is on espn2
i put on espn2 i get funny car
anyone else with the same