Next time I'll score one with my...

Some amusing reading for all the Landycakes haters out there. Finally, someone who doesn't think Donovan's a total waste... No matter what your take on this polarizing player, I think it will make you chuckle at least once.

Swim Across the Atlantic Ocean

Had to share this one. Google Maps can give you directions to London (from the US) for that next EPL game you are going to. You just need to be a little careful about step 20: "Swim Across the Atlantic Ocean, 3,462 mi"

(via Consumerist and probably a 1000 other places at this point. I am sure this little nugget is all over the place.)

New England Revolution vs. New Orleans Shell Shockers

Update: Flickr set with more photos can be found here.

While most US Soccer fans were watching the MNT's inability to adjust to Guatemala's defensive posture, I was in Baton Rouge watching the New England Revolution slaughter the New Orleans Shell Shockers (PDL team). The Rev's won 4-0 and pretty much dominated. Even though their opponent was weaker then them, I couldn't help but be impressed with the speed of play at times. The primary difference between a MLS team and a PDL team? First touch was awesome. Speed of play was 3* faster.

Game coverage on the Rev's site can be read here. I think this guy Cristman is going to be interesting to watch. The guy is big, fast, and seems to have a knack to put them away (in contrast to the forwards in the other game folks were watching...). He had 34 career goals at UVa and has a history with younger US national teams as a former member of the U.S. Under-17 and Under-18 programs. He also played the U.S. Under-23 Team this past February in Japan. He was involved in 3 out of 4 goals last night.

BTW, Steve Ralston is an awesome midfielder. I never appreciated him until I saw him in person. Great player.

Here are some photos that I took during the game ( I may upload some more to Flickr and will post an update if I do). The assistant referee in the one shot is my buddy Mark. Congrats to him on getting to ref at this level.

Shalrie Joseph warming up pre-game.


Reis, Ralston, and Mark


Ralston passing in the midfield. This guy never stopped running.

Reis on a goal kick.

Urine Samples: Free Kahn

I played soccer for the RPI Engineers for 4 years when I was in college. We had an awesome team. Good enough to reach the NCAA tournament a couple times and good enough to win some games in it. After a NCAA game, players are randomly selected for drug tests and are forced to give urine samples. I was one of the lucky winners one year. The unfortunate thing is that after running for 90 minutes, I had no fluids left in my body and could not produce. The NCAA anticipates this and they give you buckets full of juice and other liquids that you can drink. So I started drinking. A couple hours later, I was successful. One problem though, if you drink all that liquid, your urine is so diluted that they cannot use it as an adequate sample. I stopped drinking. That night, I ended up in a hotel with NCAA officials standing over me and waiting until I had to take a leak. Oh, and by the way, we lost that game so we weren't even advancing. Eventually though, I succeeded. Never once did I throw a sample at them.

Oliver Kahn did. I feel his pain. Free Kahn.

The Interim Bob Bradley

Here is a pretty interesting take on the interim label that is plaguing the head coach of the US MNT. I found the opinion kind of refreshing, even though I am one of the ones who is all for stripping the prefix from his name.

"Maybe it's time for the gallery - and that's all of us not named Sunil Gulati and Dan Flynn - to look past the obvious story-line and focus on what's not being addressed from that summer of misery we slogged through.

The lack of meaningful games played in Europe. The continual club vs. country issues with European call-ups and the relative benefits of staging games with MLS dominated rosters. The real size of the player pool and depth at individual positions. Establishing the National Team as the top of the pyramid and calling on players and at least MLS club coaches to think about overall tactics and an American style of soccer. Until then, any coaching selection is going to be interim, especially if the coach in question already has a contract. "

USA vs Ecuador Thoughts

I have a lot of thoughts about this game and just haven't had time to put them to paper yet. First things first though, the goal highlights. 43 seconds into this clip is when the build up for the third goal happens. This hit from Landon is wicked good.

In no particular logical order:

• I got my wish and got to see Feilhaber play center mid. He did not disappoint and even made a goal line save. I thought his vision and poise in the center of the field were excellent. Simple passes and fairly consistent distribution. Yes, he got burnt in the beginning of the game on one play (badly) and he had a couple awkward touches, but remember that this was his first cap ever. If you watch that game again and pay attention to where every play starts (especially in the first half), you will notice that a great majority start with Benny. This is in spite of the fact that the guys in the booth thought it always started with Landon. Not true. Defensively, he needed Bradley next to him in the second half. The front/back combination with Landon did not do him justice on the defensive side of the ball in the first half. I did notice him body an Ecuadorian off the ball though at some point. In general it looks like he might want to hit the weight room (coming from someone who hasn't been to the gym in 4 weeks).
  
• Guys in the booth: I hate to harp on it but they pretty much just plain suck right now. Did they show a graphic comparing Gooch to a Buccaneer? Did Bruce just compare Landon to Michael Jordan? Can these guys slobber any more over Landon? Listen, the guy played great and I am impressed, but there came a point where I thought they were simply ignoring the contributions (or lack thereof) of other players on the field. Do I care if you like Bruce Springsteen? No. Do I want you to talk about about the play on the field? Yes. Do you? No. Ugh.
  
• Bradley: It doesn't matter which one you are talking about, right now, neither can do any wrong. The son was one of the reasons the second half was such a big improvement. He's a work horse. I like him. The coach, 3-0.
  
• In case no one noticed, the future of the US MNT center midfield may have debuted in that game. I can only pray this is the case, Benny and Mike were good.
• Johnson: Time to hang up the boots. Even when the ref missed that offsides call you managed to sky the volley. Next chance you had in the 18 you didn't shoot. Where were you the rest of the game?
  
• Gooch: Really poor first half. Watch that clip again and see how bad he gets smoked on the Ecuador goal. Alternatively, you can admire that sweet first touch by Caicedo. Ecuador disappeared in the second half and that was no mistake. Gooch and the rest of the back line manned up in the second 45.
• Conrad: Despite a shaky first half by the back 4, I keep the faith in Conrad. Key game changing save in the first half, big and strong in the back.
  
• Bocanegra: Exposed all game. Not a good showing at left back...which isn't his true spot anyway and he showed why.
  
• Defense: How slow are we? Or is Ecuador just that fast? Holy cow. That first half was sketchy.
• Dempsey: I think he needs to get some real playing time before rust sets in. I won't say lack of confidence might set in. I can't imagine Deuce would ever suffer from that.
• Beasley: Besides the assist I thought he was a black hole. He actually may be more annoying to watch right now than Johnson. Is that possible?
• Ching: Strong on the ball. Bled for his colors. Great assist to Landon. Can't complain.
• Howard: Looked awkward at moments and had some mis-communication with his back line. Stellar save in the first half though. I like Howard in between the sticks. Some guys just make you feel safe back there - right now he's my man.
• Post game reaction: Folks, get off Landon's back. The guy is good. He had some bad games last World Cup. Cut him some slack and let's support the leading goal scorer on the squad. I am behind old Landycakes even if he is a pretty boy wuss. It is a little annoying that the guy can't have a good game without everyone complaining about him. Silly really.
  

Louisiana Trees: St John Catherdral Oak

On top of landscaping and watching the US MNT beat Ecuador 3-1, I decided to stop by the live oak at St John's cathedral and take some photo's (to follow up on the tree post the other day). When you are under it, you feel like you are walking in a forest. Its limbs are so heavy that they need to be held up by poles. This is a truly amazing tree.