Thursday, July 09, 2015

Gold Cup, RVP to Fenerbache, Nigeria, Lazio vs. Roma

West Ham play here today...

Hey, kids. What up? Out at the Stubhub Center in lovely Carson, California, Costa Rica drew with Jamaica and Canada drew with El Salvador. Here are Wednesday's Day 2 Takeaways. Check your Backheel Breakfast below for the Miss of the Night and the Goal of the Night.

This evening in the tournament, Mexico get their campaign underway against Cuba, while Trinidad play Guatemala. Both of those matches are at Soldier Field. Look out for lingering Deadheads.


Where have all the good times gone? Oh, wait. Sorry. It's where have all the good strikers gone? Yes, that it. That's what Amy Lawrence wants to know.

Lazio vs. Roma. An epic derby. Which is the top club in the Eternal City? Paolo Bandini wrote an article about it. Sweet!


Dude, what happened with Nigeria? They won the African Cup of Nations in 2013 but now they're a mess. Oh, dear.

As noted in the subject line and in the rumor zone above, RVP looks set to leave Old Trafford. Jim White has a good piece on his time at Manchester United.

Smell you later!

Onward!!

-SSN

Wednesday, July 08, 2015

USA Don't Convince in Defeat of Honduras, Scott Murray on Pirlo, NFL at White Hart Lane


Happy Hump Day! The U.S. got their Gold Cup campaign off to a winning start last night in Tejas thanks to a deuce from Deuce. The Yanks still failed to convince, however, and need to get their act together if they want to win this thing. The defense in particular was crap. We realize that The Diving German is experimenting, but come on. In the evening's other match, Panama and Haiti drew. Let's hit the fallout...

USA 2 - 1 Honduras: Andy Edwards at Toyota Stadium
USA 2 - 1 Honduras: Three Things We Learned
USA 2 - 1 Honduras: Three Quick Thoughts
USA 2 - 1 Honduras: Five Things We Learned
USA 2 - 1 Honduras: Player Ratings

Want to see American Gridiron Football in London? Wembley will no longer be your only option. Head out to White Hart Lane II to get your fix, beginning later this decade.

So, Champions League Finalists Juventus have lost Pirlo and Tevez. James Horncastle says it shouldn't be a big deal for The Old Lady. She can continue to compete without those two. Speaking of Tevez, he's back at Boca. And Boca is being...reborn!!


Pirlo is coming to America. New York, specifically. Want to learn more about The Most Interesting Man in the World? Scott Murray has a little ditty to bring you up to speed.


Gosh. We should probably get some MLS Power Rankings. What?! The Fire are dead last? Ugh.

And finally...some better names for Atlanta United FC.

Onward!!

-SSN

Tuesday, July 07, 2015

2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup Kicks Off, Goals of the Week, Pirlo to New York, Tainted Turan Transfer, Udinese Alternative Club Guide


OK! Tuesday! Time to move on from a match that shattered Argentine hopes and a match that shattered TV records to matches that will (hopefully) feature the best and brightest of the region knows as CONCACAF. Yes, the Gold Cup kicks off tonight with Panama vs. Haiti and the United States vs. Honduras (9:30 p.m. EDT on Fox Sports 1) down in Frisco. Let's play two! Here are your pertinent tournament previews and your match previews:

-2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup-

USA vs. Honduras: Preview
USA vs. Honduras: Preview II

Woop! Woop! Udinese: Serie A Alternative Club Guide!! In their latest Italian football guide, Gentleman Ultra speak to Udinese ultras, profile their renovated stadium and remember Oliver Bierhoff’s goalscoring.


Porto. It seems that every year a big star emerges from their youth ranks to attract the attention of the "big clubs." Paulo Ferreira. Deco. Pepe. Maniche. Falcao. Bruno Alves. Hulk. James. The list goes on.  How do they do it? Adam Bate takes a gander at the Porto production line here.


We all know Milan have been shit for a while now. One of the biggest clubs in the world. Shit. Is that about to change?

Yuck.


Oh, and this one: Turan transfer to Barcelona tainted. Why? A lot of reasons...

And finally...Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly treated a woman to dinner after finding her lost phone in Las Vegas.

Onward!!

-SSN

Monday, July 06, 2015

USA Win World Cup, Chile Win Copa América


Well, how do you like that? The United States rocked and rolled to a win last night in some style. Carli Lloyd was once again the catalyst, scoring a 13-minute hat-trick, including perhaps the greatest goal in Women's World Cup history. Fabulous! Meanwhile, way, way down in Santiago, Chile broke their 367-year duck and won Copa América. Argentina's wait for a major trophy will continue after Higuain and Banega fluffed their lines...and their penalties. As you might expect, we've loads of links to get through after this MEGA WEEKEND. Let's roll...

-CANADA-
USA 5 - 2 Japan: Three Observations
USA 5 - 2 Japan: Photographs

-CHILE-
Chile 0 - 0 Argentina (Chile win 4 - 1 on pens): Jonathan Wilson at Estadio Nacional
Chile 0 - 0 Argentina (Chile win 4 - 1 on pens): Jonathan Wilson at Estadio Nacional
Chile 0 - 0 Argentina (Chile win 4 - 1 on pens): Tim Vickery at Estadio Nacional
Chile 0 - 0 Argentina (Chile win 4 - 1 on pens): Gabriele Marcotti at Estadio Nacional
Chile 0 - 0 Argentina (Chile win 4 - 1 on pens): Three Things
We noted how cool Rayo Vallecano's new away jersey is last week. Now, Sid Lowe takes a closer look and says the new kit earns praise but also triggers debate in Spain. No surprise there...


Oh, gosh. That pesky North American soccer league was in action over the weekend. Are they not aware that it is summer and time for international tournaments? Get on The Calendar already, MLS! Here are Five Things We Learned over the weekend.


Sticking with local news, CONCACAF needs to get their shit together. Dan Roan has a piece on how they are attempting to reform.


And finally...you can keep watching the USWNT.

Onward!!

-SSN