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Soccer Sunday: Your Running Commentary

Thierry Henry 061011 (ISIPhotos.com)

Thierry Henry will face the club that made him a worldwide start today as Henry and the New York Red Bulls take on Arsenal in the final match of the Emirates Cup.

The Red Bulls scored a surprising victory over Paris St. Germain in their opening match on Saturday, but will face a much stiffer test against the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium.

If you prefer European soccer, then Inter Milan vs. Manchester City will be interesting to say the least, While the Under-20 World Cup rages on. I don't know if he's going or not.

MLS has a game on the slate, with FC Dallas looking to topple Chivas USA.

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

Enjoy the action (Commentary is after the jump):

TODAY'S SOCCER ON TV

]11:30 a.m. - Fox Soccer Channel - Arsenal vs. New York Red Bulls

11:30 a.m. - Fox Soccer Plus/FoxSoccer.tv - Inter Milan vs. Manchester City

1 p.m. - Telemundo - Toluca vs. America

1 p.m. - Azteca America - Morelia vs. Pumas UNAM

1 p.m. - ESPN Deportes - Puebla vs. Pachuca

3 p.m. - GOLTV - Fluminense vs. Palmeiras

4 p.m. - ESPNU/ESPN3.com/Galavision - Costa Rica vs. Spain (U-20 World Cup)

4 p.m. - ESPN3.com - Nigeria vs. Guatemala (U-20 World Cup)

6 p.m. - Fox Soccer Channel - Philadelphia Independence vs. Atlanta Beat

7 p.m. - Galavision - FC Dallas vs. Chivas USA

7 p.m. - ESPNU/ESPN3.com - Australia vs. Ecuador (U-20 World Cup)

7 p.m. - ESPN3.com - Croatia vs. Saudi Arabia (U-20 World Cup)

 

Comments

  1. Are you not paying attention? They are in danger of not making the playoffs because they are in 3rd place in the east, with the 3 teams immediatly behind them capable of passing them if they win their games in hand. 5 teams in the west are already ahead of them. So basically if they keep playing how they have been playing (winless in 4, and very few wins in their last 13) they are in danger of not making the playoffs.

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  2. If you’re gong to format the league schedule of home and away round-robin then 20 teams for 38 game season is enough. Adding more teams will just prolong the season before the playoffs.

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  3. He is playing on the left midfield. He seems to have a good understanding with the Colombian forward (can’t recall his name) with some overlaps. For now Pachuca has the ball more. BTW. I don’t see Torres playing.

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  4. ya, he was a total professional. I believe one of the comments was “If I’m being frank, New York is just not good.”

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  5. Very nice play and shot by Beasley, just missed to the right of the goalie. With Pachuca pushing forward Pubebla is going to get more counter opportunities.

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  6. Hm, I don’t think that’s right. The color guy sounded like Craig Burley, and he kept calling the PBP guy Jon, so I’m guessing that was Jon Champion.

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  7. The United States is much larger country than most of the European countries that have good leagues. Twenty teams just doesn’t cut it here. The Commissioner has stated that the MLS plans on expanding beyond 20 teams. What is wrong with that? Why would the league tear apart? More markets means more money.

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  8. What the heck are you on? How are they in danger of not making the playoffs, they are in second place lol? Are you not paying attention 0_o

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  9. I don’t know, the new times that have been added since Toronto have added to the league. If the MLS can continue to bring in quality, and if they continue along the player development lines, then why not continue to expand.

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  10. Pretty much all Scottish commentators are absurd. What do Scots really know about football? It’s like hiring a homeless guy to analyze the stock market or provide Bordeaux wine recommendations -entertaining, perhaps, but ultimately useless.

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  11. it seemed like a nice sedate friendly until NY tied, then the crowd seemed to get excited hoping for a win. Henry, afterwards, was probably saying “now you know how it feels to outplay and out-possess the other team but end up with a tie or loss”. Tony-man, you need to support the Quakes since thats where you live. But first, go out to Ross dress for less and buy Henry’s RB jersey…ton of MLS jerseys there these days..a ton ($20). When going to the changing room, take a Mexican one too just so you can spit on it.

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  12. My only quibble about expansion is that MLS has a bigger player pool to choose from. The Canadain teams (obviously) bring more Candaian players into the mix, but their are also getting more players from South America and Africa. I think they can pretty quickly fill up the ranks with good quality players.

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  13. 1-1 draw, which means the final standings are NY 4 points, PSG 3 points, Arsenal 2 points, Boca 1 point. NY gets the trophy.

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  14. According to Emirates Cup website the commentators were..

    Martin Hayes and Dan Roebuck

    After all the complaining at least we should know who it was.

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  15. That was desperate defending. Arsenal was off balance and it was a great direct attack created by the Miller run and the Henry feed. Two RB’s were waiting for the cross 6inches off the line.

    Unfortunately it will go down as an own goal. It was a well-deserved goal.

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  16. +1 Agreed

    Find markets (likely smaller … like Portland) that actually WANT teams, fill the stadiums, build depth / solid rosters making sure that a certain % are US born players and only then look to expand.

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  17. There is a bit too much trashing of MLS. The Arsenals, ManUs, Madrids, Barcas, etc of the world are obviously going to play a superior game to MLS teams. However, I think a better measure of the league is how teams look against the Evertons and PSGs of the world, certainly not terrible teams, and they haven’t look badly outclassed. My problem with MLS is the silly philosophy of continual expansion. How many teams will they continue to add until the league tears apart? The league need to fill stadia and obtain depth for teams, not spread the talent and money thinner than it already is.

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  18. Couple random comments:

    Yes it was an own goal, but the ball was going in and hte defender was forces to make a difficult (but not impossible) save. Henry’s clever ball to Miller, and MIller’s good run and shot, created it.

    Two games in two days against two top teams acorss the ocean – Red Bulls fans should be proud.

    Since they are over their, how about the Red Bulls flying up to Galsgow and knocking off Rangers just to shut that Scottish announcer up a little bit more?

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  19. Torres vc Beasley on ESPN Deportes.
    Klinsi in the Puebla stands wearing a sombrero trying to look all incognito like. Not really.

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  20. Huge Gunner fan here.

    #1) That commentator was an absolute AHOLE. Not much more to say. Total lack of class.

    #2) Typical Gunners…control possession and can’t make the surgical direct pass and quick finish a la Barcelona.

    #3) Gunners = can’t finish off a game. I don’t care if this is preseason for them. This is alarming as it’s a continued trait of theirs. Don’t capitalize on possession and then give away the game by not being mentally tough in the defensive 3rd. They are in BIG trouble if they don’t find a true center back and a mean pitbull to play def mid.

    #4) Congrats to RBNY. The used the blueprint to beat Arsenal. Stay compact on Def and be disciplined and patient. Kudos to them.

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  21. Albright was rubbish, Richards and Soli were bad, and still they got a result. I believe MacNamara was the color guy and he was worst than anyone on the pitch. Definitely one of his worst performances. When United play 9 behind the ball he finds them brilliant.

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  22. After a week of MLS sides getting their butts served to them under glass, finally NY Red Bull does US Domestic Soccer a solid…

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  23. How is the smart and sensible approach taken by Red Bulls much different that what Man U did vs Barca last night? Man U bunkered and countered the entire game.

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  24. The NYRB’s played Arsenal like the USMNT played Spain in the 2009 Confed Cup. Stay very organized on defense and counter attack.
    Even though it was an own goal, it was created by Henry.

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  25. Bravo Red Bulls! You are my team and I am proud of you! You guys showed a lot of fight, played some excellent bunker D and voila… A trophy that is worth something is now yours!

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  26. Yes, there is a “gulf” between Red Bull and Arsenal, or maybe a babbling brook. But that stupid commentator failed to give any credit to how difficult it is to fly 6 time zones and play 2 games against top clubs in 48 hours with almost no bench as is the case with MLS teams.

    Good for Red Bull.

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  27. I didn’t see that coming in the first half when it was nearly impossible to stay awake.

    So NYRB wins the Emirates Cup and they are in danger of maybe not making the MLS playoffs. Odd indeed.

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  28. In all fairness some teams did put up a fight (surprisingly DC united)…..For MLS, lift the salary cap and MLS will be big!!!!

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  29. That was interesting. I’m a Red Bull and MLS fan, and a Gunner fan. I found myself wanting Red Bulls to equalize, then wanting Arsenal to win. Now I’m sitting here impressed by the intelligent (if dull) approach Red Bulls took AND depressed that Arsenal gave away a lead.

    I need to just turn off the television more often.

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