TYH'S MLS BEST 11 (Week 11)

GOALKEEPER

K. Hartman (KC)

DEFENDERS

R. Cochrane (SJ), M. Harrington (KC), B. Namoff (DC)

MIDFIELDERS

D. DeRosario (HOU), R. O'Brien (SJ), S. Ralston (NE), D. Richards (NY)

FORWARDS

B. Ching (HOU), J. Angel (NY), A. Cristman (NE)

MLS Round-Up (Week 11)

JUNE 8
Toronto 1-3 Houston (Robertson Stadium)

Brian Ching should have been in New Jersey with the Nats. Instead, he scores two for the Dynamo and they roll over the Reds.
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JUNE 7
Colorado 2-3 Los Angeles (HDC)

Los Angeles scored three before allowing Rapids to nearly capsize the star-less Galaxy. But who needs 'em. This one had a kick to the groin, a stomp and a double ejection.
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Kansas City 0-0 Real Salt Lake (Robertson Stadium)

Hartman had seven saves. Yawn. Just another day at the office.
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DC United 2-1 Chicago (Toyota Park)

Three ejections. Two for DC, yet they still manage to claw their way to victory thanks to Emilio's late goal.
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San Jose 2-0 Columbus (Crew Stadium)

Ronnie O'Brien is still good, people. Two pinpoint assists by the Irishman delivers the Quakes a 2-0 win.
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JUNE 6
FC Dallas 1-2 New England (Gillette Stadium)

Adam Cristman deserves a call up to the Nats, but he won't get one because Bob Bardley has decided to bring David Regis out of retirement instead.
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JUNE 5
Chivas USA 0-1 New York (Gillette Stadium)

Juan Pablo is the only good thing about a soon to be Altidore-less New York.
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U.S. manages 'epic' draw with Argentina

U.S. manage to hold Argentina to a scoreless draw. USsoccer.com called it "epic." Messi held scoreless. Two men sent off. Seven saves by Timmy. LD gets his ton. Not bad, but "epic"?

Donovan on the play of his keeper Tim Howard:
“He saved us and kept us in the game. In certain moments, when things aren't really going well for you, you hope that your goalkeeper can make a few saves and Timmy went above and beyond that tonight. We can't rely on that all the time because that's not fair on him, but you hope in certain moments he can make those types of plays. He's shown that he can rise to that level over and over again.”

Stats Summary: USA / ARG
Shots: 9 / 10
Shots on goal: 4 / 7
Saves: 7 / 5
Corner Kicks: 7 / 6
Fouls: 19 / 18
Offside: 3 / 2

Misconduct Summary:
ARG – Nicolas Burdisso (caution) 18th minute.
USA – Pablo Maestroeni (caution) 60.
USA – Maurice Edu (caution) 70.
USA – Pablo Maestroeni (caution) 71.
USA – Pablo Maestroeni (sent off) 71.
ARG – Gabriel Heinze (caution) 84.
ARG – Lisandro Lopez (caution) 84.
ARG – Javier Mascherano (caution) 86.
ARG – Javier Mascherano (caution) 86.
ARG – Javier Mascherano (sent off) 86.

LINEUPS:
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 22-Oguchi Onyewu (23-Jay DeMerit, 61), 5-Danny Califf, 15-Heath Pearce (7-Eddie Lewis, 78); 4-Michael Bradley (26-Maurice Edu, 46), 25-Pablo Mastroeni; 8-Clint Dempsey (19-Freddy Adu, 61), 10-Landon Donovan (capt.), 17-DaMarcus Beasley (2-Frankie Hejduk, 91+); 9-Eddie Johnson (12-Sacha Kljestan, 74)

ARG: 1-Roberto Abbondanzieri; 3-Gonzalo Rodriguez, 4-Nicolas Burdisso (2-Martin Demichelis, 46), 6-Gabriel Heinze, 13-Pablo Zabaleta (8-Javier Zanetti, 77); 5-Fernando Gago, 7-Maximiliano Rodriguez (20-Fernando Cavenaghi, 74), 14-Javier Mascherano (capt.); 9-Julio Cruz (19-Lisandro Lopez, 64), 11-Sergio Aguero (15-Ever Banega, 88), 18-Lionel Messi (17-Jose Sosa, 46)

B.S. Bradley shovels it

Among the post-match comments posted on ussoccer.com was this polished turd by America's next ex-coach Bob Bradley

Asked whether "some of the veteran players will be around in 2010 or will he be looking at younger talent"

TRANSLATION: Why the crappy geezers like Eddie Lewis, Frankie Hejduk and Josh Wolff?

Bradley responded:

“It is always important to look for the right time to move young players into the national team. But there is great value in some of the more experienced players. We consider that of big importance heading into World Cup qualifying. If a player continues to play well, then that helps everyone.”

TRANSLATION: I am a complete ass who cannot judge talent and should be fired immediately. Seriously, Eddie Lewis? Why am I still here talking to you guys? I mean, there's about 10 guys on this team who will be selling used cars by 2010. What was I thinking? Maybe I should call in Andrew Shue for Argentina. Maybe then you'll get the message.

Jozy headed to Spain a bit too late

The United States could have used the speedy, young striker this evening, but Jozy Altidore won't be headed to where "the rain falls mainly on the plain" to join the U.S. national team. MLS has decided to sell the rights to Jozy to Villareal of La Liga in Spain.

According to ESPNnet, the deal for the 18-year-old came in at "just under $10 million" which would be a record amount for American sold overseas. Clint Dempsey was sold to Fulham for around four million.

"This was a decision we and the Red Bulls took rationally, with the objective to achieve a couple of things: provide Jozy with an opportunity he's been looking for, and more importantly from our point of view, give us resources to elevate the team and the league," Ivan Gazidis (assistant commish) told ESPNnet.

The deal might even pay for the Red Bulls new digs, which are supposed to be open by 2009.

According to MLS, Altidore will address the media the match against Chivas USA. He is a scratch for the match with a recent ankle knock sustained in training ... or so they say. I'm sure it has nothing to do with Villareal wanting to protect their investment.

U.S. nipped by late goal in Spain

The toothless attack continued for the U.S., as Spain's Xavi Hernandez scored in the 79th minute to beat the Red, White and Blue 1-0 in Santander today.

Although they performed marginally better in front of goal, Bradley's impotent attack of EdJo and Josh Wolff weren't able to convert any of the handful of chances

Next up for the United States, Argentina at Giants Stadium this Sunday. Let's hope that Bradley calls in some local (MLS) boys for some triage for the offense.

USA: 1-Tim Howard (18-Brad Guzan, 46); 6-Steve Cherundolo (5-Frankie Hejduk, 46), 22-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra (Capt.), 12-Heath Pearce; 8-Clint Dempsey (25-Pablo Mastroeni, 86), 26-Maurice Edu, 4-Michael Bradley, 11-Eddie Lewis (16-Josh Wolff, 70); 9-Eddie Johnson, 19-Freddy Adu (7-DaMarcus Beasley, 46)
Subs not used:, 2-Dan Califf, 23-Jay DeMerit
Head Coach: Bob Bradley

ESP: 1-Iker Casillas (capt.); 11-Joan Capdevila (3-Fernando Navarro, 53), 4-Carlos Marchena, 5-Carlos Puyol, 15-Sergio Ramos; 12-Santi Cazorla, 8-Xavi Hernandez, 14-Xabi Alonso (19-Marcos Senna, 46), 21-David Silva (22-Ruben De La Red, 58); 9-Fernando Torres (17-Daniel Güiza, 46), 10-Cesc Fabregas (18-Álvaro Arbeloa, 84)
Subs not used: 23-Pepe Reina, 13-Andrés Palop; 2-Raúl Albiol, , 7-David Villa, 16-Sergio Garcia, , 20-Juanito
Head Coach: Luis Aragones

TYH'S MLS BEST 11 (Week 10)

GOALKEEPER

M. Reis (NE)

DEFENDERS

D. Moor (DAL), R. Mulrooney (HOU), J. Brennan (TOR)

MIDFIELDERS

J. Toja (DAL), D. DeRosario (HOU), R. Ricketts (TOR), J. Morales (RSL), J. Marsch (CHV)

FORWARDS

K. Dube (NE), T. McManus (COL)

MLS Round-Up (Week 10)

JUNE 1
FC Dallas 1-2 Colorado (DSG Park)

Colorado's Conor Casey and Dallas' Dominic Oduro traded goals at either end of the first half before a 72nd goal by Tom McManus secured the three points for the Rapids. In the seventh minute, Colorado midfielder Christian Gomez slotted a ball to Casey who cut back to avoid a trailing defender and beat Dallas goalkeeper Ray Burse who failed to cut off the angle. Oduro's equalizer was a garbage goal, after the Rapids fail to clear a Dallas corner. The winning goal was much more impressive, as McManus managed to hold off Duilio Davino with his left shoulder, beat the defender to the bouncing through-ball by Rafael Gomes and squeak the ball past Burse at the near post while falling backward.
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MAY 31
Los Angeles 0-2 Toronto (BMO Field)

Without Landon Donovan and David Beckham, the Galaxy ... well, the Galaxy just aren't very good. The foul weather was "on again, off again" and so was the play, as neither side looked like it would be able to muster a decent attack. Offside call after offside call was putting even the rowdy Reds fans to sleep. But after the halftime storm, came a glancing header by MLS newboy Julius James and then goal-poacher Jeff Cunningham picked up a loose ball in the box and sealed it for the home side, as LD and his pulled groin looked on.
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New York 0-1 Houston (Robertson Stadium)
After sustaining a bloody knock on the head in the first half, Houston's Brian Ching slid in on a low cross from Geoff Cameron to score the only goal of the night. The troubles continue for the Red Bulls who managed just one win on the month of May and only 10 goals scored this season (tied for second worst in the league with KC)
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San Jose 1-3 Real Salt Lake (Rice-Eccles Stadium)

Things started well for the 'Quakes, as Joe Cannon stopped a Javier Morales penalty kick just three minutes into the match and then kept San Jose in the match till halftime. But the second half was a different story, as Robbie Findlay put RSL on top with a long distance crack past Cannon at the near post in the 48th, and then Morales added the second for the Royals about 10 minutes later. RSL made it 3-0 after Dema Kovalenko converted their second given PK of the night, and John Cunliffe pulled a conciliation goal back for San Jose in the 84th.
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Columbus 0-2 Chivas USA (HDC)

Youth and experience delivered Chivas USA, as Mexican-American teenager Jorge Flores picked up his third goal in as many games and MLS vet Jesse Marsch added number two. Referee Fernando Galvan seemed to lose control of the match at times (what? they can't fine me and its true), sending off the Crew's Danny O'Rourke for a studs-up tackle in the 22ndand Crew assistant coach Robert Warzycha was also sent off for some choice words concerning the officials from the sideline. Check out the push by Atiba Harris on the Flores goal.
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