Ginge Talks The Footy

Public Service Announcement: Ginge's Mood-O-Meter

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 21:55:00 +0000

What can I say, I'm an emotional guy. Depending on a variety of variables my mood from day to day can greatly effect how I write, what I say on Twitter and how good an idea it is to make a joke in my direction.

So to help avoid confusion and better alert my readers and friends to my mental state for the day, I'm creating the Ginge "Mood-O-Meter". Each day here on the blog (in the sidebar) you'll see one of the pictures below, all careful chosen and crafted to properly describe my mood for the day. Hopefully this tool will make it easier for you to better understand the Ginge.

I will place a link to this post under the Mood-O-Meter in case you need to consult this mood glossary again in the future.

GINGE'S MOOD-O-METER GLOSSARY

HAPPY

SAD

INDIFFERENT

FRUSTRATED

CONCERNED

CELEBRATORY

ANGRY

Could I Get the License Plate of that Red Bus Please?

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:27:00 +0000

Mondays suck. Mondays after an Everton loss in the Merseyside Derby REALLY suck. It truly is like getting hit by a bus, and not in the "I just drank myself to the verge of a coma on Bourbon Street celebrating the Saints winning El Game Grande" run over by a truck feeling. We're talking actual being crushed by a large red shite bus.

As is often the case with the derby, it's not the loss that causes the pain, it's the details of the loss. Saturday was no different, in fact Saturday was downright awful. Despite having a man advantage for close to an hour, Everton was unable to create chances, unable to make Pepe Reina break a sweat, unable to do anything...other than play an ineffective and demented form of hoofball. If Frankenstein's monster could be converted to a football performance, Everton's second half might be what it would look like. Random arms and legs hastily attached to a random torso and given a loose definition of life. In fact if you were to watch the second half of Saturday's match without knowing any events from the first half and you were to leave the TV on mute, you might not even realize Everton had a man advantage. It really was that bad.

Nothing like a 45-minute Phill Neville hosted horror show to start your weekend.

There is no question the loss of Marouane Fellaini to an ankle injury late in the first half was a huge blow to Everton's plan. David Moyes rashly substituting a still not match fit Mikel Arteta was the second. As fans and observers we can second guess manager decisions until the cows come home (unless they are still partying on Bourbon Street), so I will.

With Fellaini out and a man advantage thanks to the red card on NAME, Moyes should have taken a deep breath and subbed in Seamus Coleman. Move Phill Neville in to Fellaini's defensive mid position and allow the younger, faster and more creatively gifted youngster to bomb down the wing and work with Landon Donovan. The Neville-Donovan combo on the right side is clearly not working. Neville's apparently inability to do anything but hoof in a long ball prevents Donovan from being truly effective in his role. Then again the typically more effective combination of Baines and Pienaar on the left wasn't exactly tearing it up either. Still, despite my appreciation for Phil Neville and what he's done for Everton, he's hurting their offensive effectiveness right now. People are starting to ask when Tony Hibbert is going to come back for pete's sake!

Neville was also directly responsible for the lone Liverpool goal after failing to take inside position from Dirk Kuyt on the corner. He never should have allowed Kuyt to be between him and goal and Tim Howard deserves some blame as well for not commanding the traffic in front of his net. It was a real communication breakdown between to veteran players, not something you can afford to have happen in any match, let alone in a derby against a club notorious for thieving a result.

The goal, Neville's struggles down the wing and the entire sqaud's general malaise allowed Liverpool to implement their hideous ugly yet maddingly effective "everybody behind the ball" tactic. Worse yet, Everton repeatedly were caught by Liverpool on the counter attack when errant long balls were easily intercepted and sent back towards Tim Howard.

In other words, it just a really bad Saturday.

I trust in David Moyes and I believe in his ability to lead Everton, but even the best managers have a bad day. I feel that Moyes did not react properly on Saturday and he payed the price with the poor result. Now Everton faces a tricky mid-week challenge against Chelsea without Fellaini, without Steven Pienaar (whose reckless and challenge happy style on Saturday earned him a red card) and having to deal with another blow to the club's confidence.

RHST: Stay OUT of the F'n Nightclubs!

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:51:00 +0000

It's Monday and that means it's time for an extra black cloudy edition of Red Headed Step Thoughts...

So the Merseyside Derby was on Saturday...piss off, no comment.

English footballers should not got to nightclubs...sorry but it's the truth. The latest player to get himself in to hot water after spending some time in a disco is Ricardo Fuller of Stoke. Fuller is accused of assaulting a 21-year old man in the bar area of the JFK Nightclub in Hanley. The JFK Nightclub? Surely not that JFK? Anyway, Fuller was arrested and the incident is under investigation. Stay out of the nightclubs boys! Oh and if you're interested, seems the JFK Nightclub has a Facebook page...and no word on Ricardo Fuller's musical sensibilities or if Phil Collins' music had anything to do with this incident.

Bolton's Kevin Davies was none to happy with referee Mark Clattenburg over the weekend...GEE, I WONDER WHAT THAT FEELING IS LIKE?? Davies accused the Liverpool player, i mean referee, of disallowing his goal against Fulham over "something personal". Davies went on to suggest this isn't the first time Clattenburg has made biased decision against him. No doubt a censure from the FA is coming for Davies and more importantly, will they continue to ignore the fact that Mark Clattenburg is rubbish?

Of course the "biggest" news from the weekend was the announcement from the USSF Annual General Meeting that Sunil Gulati was unanimously selected to another term as USSF President. Goody. After all, having the President of the New England Revolution and hand puppet of Bob Kraft at the head of your national soccer federation is typically a good plan. How many freaking hats can this guy wear? President of the USSF, President of Kraft Soccer, Economics lecturer at Columbia University, Chairman of the US World Cup Big Committee...can we make him the commissioner of the MLS, USL, NASL and the WPS then call it a day? Gulati is the figurehead leader of US Soccer yet what does he really do other than make snarky comments to the media that come off as little more than the petty ramblings of someone who is missing the point. He's probably the reason so many people get their USMNT press credentials pulled. Whatever Gulati does behind the scenes for US Soccer that makes him seemingly so popular are fine and dandy. As the figurehead for US Soccer he's average at best and often well below it...and this USSF 2nd Division nonsense was a great idea too. Clearly the USSF needs to be in the business of operating a football league.

According a study of more than 100,000 football fouls, referees are more likely to penalize tall players over short players. Somewhere Peter Crouch and Marouane Fellaini are nodding their heads and feeling vindicated.

American Soccer Show: Episode 12

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 13:45:00 +0000

Jason and the Black Cloud return to cover all of the news of the past week, including Jozy's first goal, Donovan in the Merseyside Derby, DMB's car trouble, as well as talk to USMNT and Houston Dynamo forward Brian Ching and MLS legend and new AC St. Louis player/coach Steve Ralston.

Visit the American Soccer Show website to Download and For More Show Info.

Ginge Responds to Being Labeled a Traitor by FC Dallas Fans

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:54:00 +0000

In the past few weeks on The Winning Ugly Radio Show, various supporters of FC Dallas have used the show to call me a traitor and attack my decision to cease supporting FC Dallas (this happened over a year a go for the record) and my subsequent decision to support the Houston Dynamo. On this week's Winning Ugly show I used my extra time to answer my critics and throw down the proverbial gauntlet against those who tarnish my name.

The following is a transcript of my statement from the show:

--Begin Transcript--

“Each must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, and which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your convictions is to be an unqualified and inexcusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let man label you as they may. If you alone of all the nation shall decide one way, and that way be the right way according to your convictions of the right, you have done your duty by yourself and by your country- hold up your head! You have nothing to be ashamed of.” –Mark Twain

I am here today to answer the label of being called a traitor by certain people on this show
First let us understand what it means to be a traitor: One who betrays another's trust or is false io an obligation or duty

Has Ginge betrayed another’s trust?

No. Clearly everyone who believes me to be untrustworthy has already formed their opinion of me and felt comfortable spreading that said opinion to anyone who would listen so therefore I’ve betrayed no trust. If anything I have been libeled and slandered simple because I am not afraid to question and subsequently turn my back on an organization that is run like a pack of monkeys banging on typewriters desperately hoping that something will work itself out correctly.
Has Ginge committed treason? What is treason? Treason is a violation of allegiance toward one's country or sovereign, especially the betrayal of one's country by waging war against it or by consciously and purposely acting to aid its enemies.

The answer to this is once again no, I have not committed treason. That certain organization or any groups associated with said organization is neither my country or sovereign therefore have I not waged a war upon said organization. I’ve simply pointed out the truth and refused to drink the kool-aid. Some might say I have acted in the aid the enemies of said organization but if you honestly view another supporters group as the enemy you need to take off the rose colored glasses and remember what we are all supporting. That said if you choose to view me as a traitor and if you choose to view me a treasonous that I accept that. Thus I promise to betray your trust, to be false in my obligations and duties to you. Thus I promise to wage war against you and aid your enemies. I accept this title. I accept your scorn. I will wear it as a badge of honor as I march with an invading army in to your home in a few weeks. Those of you that label me a traitor remember that you are Darth Vadar and I am Obi-Wan Kenobi because you can't win, If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine. For name shall be carved in stone alongside the great traitors: Lucifer, Judas, Arnold and Ginge.

--Transcript Complete--

The time I spent supporting FC Dallas was at best a mistake and worst a grievous error of judgment. I regret my time as a fan of that organization and while I've gotten passed the pointless name calling and openly ridiculing of the team, you can rest assured I've nothing positive left to say about them either. I have my reasons, I've explained them many times and I stand by my decision to purge myself of FC Frisco. You can say whatever you want about me, make your stupid comments and snide remarks, I really don't care. If it makes you feel better, have at it. If it makes you feel better about yourself, I can take it. For all the remaining FC Dallas supporters I have nothing left to say to you but this...

Yo si le voy, le voy al naranja!

DALE DYNAMO!

RHST: American Referees are < CENSORED >

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:00:00 +0000

For the second straight World Cup there will be no American referees or linesman working in the tournament. This is SPECTACULAR news! Have you watched an MLS match lately? While there is no doubt the USSF is slowly waking up to the pathetic reality that exist when it comes to their officials, the new policies and plans that have been discussed and implemented will take some time to effect change. Wrap you head around this...US referees are so bad that Martin Hansson was selected as one of the match officials for the World Cup. Hansson was the referee in charge of the now infamous "Henry Handball Match". Sure it's FIFA and sure the system is more corrupt than the American political system but you figure USSF could at least bribe one of their officials in to the tournament! Better luck in 2018 gang.

So I saw this tweet from Freddy Adu yesterday afternoon: dinner then sleeeeep. Ha Going to get some Fridays......... Man they got that restaurant everywhere in the world. Apparently Freddy Adu fears good food. The young American footballer is currently playing for Aris Thessaloniki FC in Greece and he's eating at TGI Friday's. Fail? Survey says yes. Greek food is full of variety in the ingredients and styles, but more importantly, it's all very yummy. Challenge yourself Freddy! Branch out and enjoy some Greek cuisine and stop listening to Guy Fieri.

The big news of the day is John Terry being stripped on the English National Team captaincy. Who cares? Apparently a lot of American soccer fans do as it's been all the rage on twitter for most of the morning. Not sure what the big deal is but whatever floats their boat I suppose. As with most modern scandals and major new stories, the real winners in all this hullabaloo are those us who enjoy Wiki-terrorism.

click on image to enlarge

Have a great weekend everyone! I'll be back Monday with more misguided opinions about the world of football. Until then, COME ON YOU BLUES! BEAT LIVERPOOL!

Nothing Says "I Love My Football Club" Like a Spandex Bodysuit

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:29:00 +0000

Now that you've seen it, no doubt you'll want to order one in your favorite club's colors.

Lucky for you, the great @hoover_dam directed us to the manufacturer's website today on Twitter!

Understand I'm not making fun of the individual in the above photographs. Anyone brave enough to wear that outfit in public in the name of supporting their football club deserves a lot of respect. Well done!

RHST: Does Avram Grant Smile While In the Brothel?

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:40:00 +0000

Time again for another edition of Red Headed Step Thoughts...

"The best job that was ever offered to me was to become a landlord in a brothel. In my opinion it's the perfect milieu for an artist to work in." -William Faulkner

Portsmouth has another owner, their fourth this season. This is starting to get ridiculous. The newest man in charge is Hong Kong businessman Balram Chainrai, who like his three predecessors wants to bring financial stability to the club but has no actual desire to run it. You'd like to think that eventually someone will come along who actually wants to run Portsmouth but I suppose it's possible that will never happen. Hopefully the Southampton team store will have a discount on jerseys if you trade in your Portsmouth shirt at the time of purchase. With all the problems at Portsmouth, I guess you really can't blame manager Avram Grant for frequenting a brothel. More interestingly would be if we could find out he if actually smiled while in said brothel. Take a moment from your day and send a positive thought to the poor girl who had to, umm...service Mr. Grant.

Hello Portland! Welcome to the First Division of American Soccer! Thanks to a 4-1 Portland City Council vote yesterday, the renovations plans for PGE Park have been approved and team owner Merritt Paulson was able to finally sign the last of the MLS franchise agreements. With Seattle already in the league and Vancouver joining with Portland in 2011, yesterday's council vote was a victory for not only the Timbers and their supporters, but a victory for the game in the US. The fantastic Northwest rivalry that was built over the past years in USL will now become part of MLS and hopefully provide an example for fans across the country of what real football derbies look like. Nothing says awesome like an animated tifo of a giant lumberjack taking a chainsaw to the Space Needle.

There are great football related stories and there are GREAT football related stories. Thanks to Ollie Irish over at Who Ate All The Pies, we can enjoy one of those GREAT stories. I give you "Drunken Irishman urinated on french bread in protest of Henry handball"

Quote of the Week

The phrase, "you should have done this in the first place" comes to mind...

"We've met with developers and land owners and we've commissioned a fresh look at Goodison Park with a highly recommended architect" -Everton chief executive Robert Elstone

My Love/Hate Relationship With The Merseyside Derby

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:14:00 +0000

I both love and hate the Merseyside Derby. As with all football derbies they are typically fantastic to watch and experience...if you're a neutral fan. If you happen to be an invested fan of one of the competing clubs then a derby can easily desolve in to a shockingly mind numbing experience.

I should know, the Merseyside has left me drunk and crying at 8:30am before and it's also caused me to utter some truly awful things at my poor, defenseless television (and my best friends television as well). What have these poor televisions ever done other than allow me to watch quality football and my favorite shows? Do they deserve this abuse? Absolutely not, problem is when a TV is flashing an image of Mark Clattenburg, it becomes an unfortunate in between and has no choice but to bear the brunt of my anger.

Like any good local derby, the encounters between Everton and Liverpool are generally the highlights of my football calender before they occur and often a lousy nightmare after they are complete. Not always of course. When things get really bad I just remember back to recent glorious results like Dan Gosling's extra time winner last season in the FA Cup 4th Round replay or that wonderful day in September of 2006 when Andy Johnson scored a brace and flashed the 3-nil hand sign in celebration.

What makes Saturday's meeting between the neighbor clubs a bit different, at least from an American viewpoint, is the inclusion of Landon Donovan in to the mix. America's best player has never been involved in a match of this magnitude and never been in an environment quite like what he will experience at Anfield. The history, the pressure and the magnitude of the match should be such that Donovan feels actual weight pressing on him. Sorry, but US v Mexico ain't got shit on this. How Donovan performs likely won't decide the matches outcome but he will have a part to play and very well could put his mark upon this history rich rivalry. A well-time goal or assist from Donovan could make him a Evertonian legend, while a moment of poor judgment could turn his name in to an expletive. No pressure really.

Whatever happens on Saturday, I'll still love the Merseyside derby...and I'll still hate it. I might not have much positive to say about it for a few days after Saturday, but deep down I'll be anxiously awaiting the next one. It's part of what makes football the greatest sport on the planet and what ties the fans to the clubs. It's all about the joy and the heartbreak, the good and the bad; the victories that make us happy and the defeats that make us miserable. Football inspires us, but it's the derbies than define us. I really love football and I really love the Merseyside Derby.

...and hate it.

RHST: Let's Shag a Teammate's Missus!

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 14:28:00 +0000

No, that's not Amy Wynalda in the middle...

Welcome to Wednesday's Red Headed Step Thoughts!

Big thanks to Steve Sampson for finally admitting what everybody already knew. Seems Big Steve wasn't getting enough attention of late and decided it would be a good time to come clean on why he dropped John Harkes from the 1998 US World Cup squad. The rumors about an affair between Harkes and Amy Wynalda, wife of Eric Wynalda, have been around for awhile, but Sampson's comments seem to confirm what everyone was thinking. Personally I really don't care. People across the globe seem to suffer from "Cantkeepitintheirpantsatitis" and as long as they are willing to pay the consequences for choosing not to, so be it. When stuff like this happens in football it only really hurts the fans. Team morale is affected while club and countries chances to perform at their best are hindered by the selfishness and stupidity of one or two people. One could also argue that it's none of the public's business what professional athletes do in the private lives and to an extent that's true. However when you willingly become a public figure and then willingly engage in adultery, especially with the WAG of a teammate, you're dirty laundry is going to get aired. Deal with it. I've seen plenty of athletes in the wake of the Tiger Woods and John Terry stories complain about having their private lives exposed and I'm sorry if I have little sympathy. Don't pretend to be naiive, you know damn well what our culture is like, you know damn well the scrutiny you will be under, so suck it up and either don't bang your teammate's wife or get ready to be roasted about it.

Meanwhile in Scotland, DeMarcus Beasley had his car blown up. No one was hurt, so that's good but the fact remains someone blew up his car. Reports are a neighbor saw a hooded figure plant a crude bomb on Beasley's BMW which was parked outside his Glasgow home. Police are of course investigating and Rangers FC have denounced the incident and are continuing to increase security protection for players. Add this to the two recent shootings of Club America players in Mexico and the outright absurdity of people's behavior in our world continues to find new ways to amaze.

Leeds and Spurs are tied 1 a piece of their FA Cup 5th Round replay...I mention this because you should listen to the Glory Glory Leeds Show only on the Champions Soccer Radio Network!

Red Headed Step Thoughts: Boot in Ass

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:23:00 +0000

In an attempt to get myself to write more, I've going to take a shot at a daily news/reaction post which I've cleverly titled "Red Headed Step Thoughts". Not sure if the title will stick, but we shall see.

"We'll put a boot in your ass, it's the American way" -Toby Keith

Or so we thought at least, until Saturday when Nottingham Forest boss Billy Davies accused Derby manager Nigel Clough of deliberately kneeing him in the bum..or the leg...during a massive discussion of the latest handbags at Pride Park. For as many people that got involved in the dust-up, it was rather disappointing; just a lot of namby pamby posturing. While relations have never been warm and fuzzy feelings between the two clubs, this is the second year in a row with a large "brawl" between the two sides that has included players and staff. While I'm sure the FA is none to pleased, this stuff is highly entertaining and is guaranteed YouTube hits for those that post the video evidence.

Who can forget this classic bit of business from last season...Robbie Savage proves what an arse he is right off the bat, the real fireworks start around the 2:30 mark.

Ever wonder why I didn't get the web domain ginge.com? See for yourself (Nothing bad, perfectly safe for work)

Seems the Kasey Keller/Freddie Ljungberg spat in Seattle is resolved. Too bad really, the whole thing reminded me of two old men hitting each other with their canes over their places in the retirement home breakfast line.

The Philadelphia Union have agreed to a $20 million naming-rights deal for their new stadium with PPL Corporation, a Pennsylvania based energy company. Much better than a large mediocre pizza company for my money but what everyone wants to know is when will Santa Claus make an appearance at PPL Park?

John Terry Has Upset the Wrong Man

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:42:00 +0000

These never get old...and this is a different clip and much shorter so that's cool right?

Grammys, Closing Transfer Windows and Self-Gratification

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:01:00 +0000

I really despise the Grammy Awards. I like music, love it really. It creates the beat to which my life moves and I enjoy the large variety of artist and styles that are available to us to enjoy. Thus I despise the Grammys. Nothing says pathetic self-gratification like an awards show, and no awards show wanks itself better than the Grammys. Honestly, could the recording industry be more obvious about the purpose of that four-hour exercise is futility? Let's give awards to artist we think we can make more money off of and let's give awards to artist we've made a ton of money off of but have slowed down a little. The Grammys..."We're All Fans"...fans of what? Shitty music?

So what does this have to do with football? Absolutely nothing.

Fortunately for you the reader, I'm going to employ what I hope will end up sounding clever...here goes.

I rant about the Grammys because I have no other forum to really do so and because football has a day just like the recording industry's nonsensical bit of self-gratification. It's called the final day of the January transfer window. There is no day in football quite like it and like the Grammys, next to nothing of consequence happens. Football rarely gives us anything to really sink our teeth in to on this celebrated day, not even a footballer's WAG flying in the air mostly naked with water spraying off her. Instead we get a day of hints, allegations and things left unsaid (to borrow Collective Soul's 1993 debut album title) and a general feeling that most of us males get after going to bed alone on a Friday night/Saturday morning after dropping too much money at the bar and having nothing but a fast food bad full of rubbish left to show for it...well and something else but I won't go in to details (did Ginge just make a masturbation joke?)

Sure there are deals made as the magical clock strikes proverbial midnight, but really it's a big let down...like most matches between the "Big Four" in the EPL. The players we want to see move don't and the clubs we want to see make deals inevitably do nothing, just like the artist we love never get nominated and the artist that deserve Grammys never win them. Quite the parallel really if you ask me.

Of course you wouldn't know it from watching the various networks and following football news websites. All sorts of pundits offering all sorts of speculation, most of it picked up from less than credible places and put there in the first place by less than credible sources. I don't blame them really, they have to say something! After all, they are getting paid a good deal of money by the likes of Sky, ESPN and others to regurgitate something on to the airwaves and they feel inclined to come through for the big bosses.

So as another transfer windows closes (and don't get me started on all the window closing jokes) we the fan are left feeling unfulfilled and disappointed. Fortunately once this day ends, the world of football gets back to what it usually does best, playing the games. As if the football scheduling computer knew we would need a pick me up, the Merseryside Derby is on Saturday ready to wash away the morose feelings and inevitably leave me drunk and crying.

Oh! Has Manny Fernades signed on loan with Everton yet?

AmSoc Special Edition: Taylor Twellman Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:23:00 +0000

AmSoc Special Edition

We have candid conversation with Taylor Twellman of the New England Revolution about the CBA talks, Landon Donovan in Europe and The Bachelor. Taylor offers some excellent insights in to the CBA negotiations and alludes to the timing of a possible resolution.

Download and/or Listen to the interview HERE

The American Soccer Show is part of the Champions Soccer Radio Network.

US Soccer Needs to Put the HDC In Mothballs

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:02:00 +0000

It's time for US Soccer to turn it's back on the Home Depot Center. It's time to stop this nonsense and start playing matches in cities that actually give a damn about American soccer. Alright I admit this isn't going to happen but that won't stop me from making the argument.

Let's begin with the most important black mark on the credibility of the Home Depot Center...a small beer cost $11! This is a travesty...it's a sham...it's a mockery! It's a traveshamockery! (That's for you E to the Y)

Second, a quick disclaimer. No offense to the Home Depot Corporation. I love a gigantic home improvement warehouse as much as the next guy, but your name is on the stadium so it's going to get lumped in with this mess.

This was the line used to describe the atmosphere on Saturday in the match report posted on USSoccer.com: "Clarence Goodson’s second half goal was not enough to overturn the deficit in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 18,626 fans". Sounds great right? 18k plus enthusiastic and loud fans? Hell, it sounded good on television...if you were a Honduras supporter!

My people on the ground estimated the number of US supporters in attendance to less than 2,000 with only a couple pockets of loud and involved fans supporting the Yanks. I don't care if this was little more than a B/C team exhibition for Bob Bradley to possibly discover a couple final names to consider for the World Cup roster. This is completely unacceptable! This is OUR national soccer team! Instead USSF and the city of Los Angeles manged to make the HDC sound like Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.

All it needs is a Home Depot sign.

Unfortunately, with Home Depot Center being the home of the USSF National Training Center, decent winter weather and a huge population of people from CONCACAF countries, we will continue to see matches played at the HDC because butts in the seats equals money in the bank for the USSF, and clearly that's all that matters.

There probably isn't a city in the United States that could fill a stadium with nothing but US supporters but I'm pretty sure there are cities that can at least do better than 1,000 to 2,000 of them. We sure as hell know DC and Seattle could do better! Plus, how many of those estimated 2k at HDC on Saturday night traveled from other cities and states? Not that I really expect things to be much better in Tampa next month but you never know. I get that it's expensive to travel, heck I can't afford to jump on a plane and go to these matches, but I guess I'm crazy for thinking that more cannot be done to increase interest in the USMNT and matches held on US soil.

So why just pick on the Home Depot Center when this is clearly a national issue? Because the HDC will never get any better. Face it, LA is NOT an American soccer town. At its best it's a fair weather, what have you done for me lately sports town (a lot like Dallas). When it comes to all things soccer in the City of Angels it takes some guy from England to stir up interest and even that quickly became old news. In addition, let us not forget that can't even keep the damn lights on for an important match! There are plenty of places across the country that have fans and stadiums that would welcome the USMNT and probably at least be able to even the odds when it comes to fan support...then again maybe not.

So what's the point of this rant? Support for the US Men's National Team is still woefully lacking and rather than attempt to build fan support and increase interest, the USSF would rather stage matches in cities with large populations of fans that will support the selected opponent of the day. In other words, fill up the seats and pad the coffers. It all comes down to money and somewhere Jack Warner is smiling and saying "Well done Sunil".

American Soccer Show: Episode 10

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:00:00 +0000

US falls to Honduras, Landon Donovan gets a taste of the FA Cup (and we talk about the bet), Holden & Clark sign, CBA and we are joined by Sean Wheelock.

Visit the American Soccer Show website to Download and For More Show Info.

The American Soccer Show is part of the Champions Soccer Radio Network.

American Soccer Show: Episode 9

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:59:00 +0000

There's a new AmSoc available, and it would be great if you checked it out.
News, Donovan, Dempsey, Drafts...

The American Soccer Show is part of the Champions Soccer Radio Network.

Visit the American Soccer Show website for more info

Subscribe to the new iTunes feed HERE.

DOWNLOAD the show.

LISTEN in the CSRN Media Player

Houston Dynamo Stadium Rally: Images, Videos, Links

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 16:37:00 +0000

A huge thank you to Ray Escamilla and Liliana Gonzalez for the photos and videos

If you have pics, videos, or links to articles you wish to add, please contact me at ginge[at]gingetalksthefooty.com

Fan Activism Takes Center Stage

Glenn Davis/Houston Chronicle

I Would Draft This Guy!

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 21:00:00 +0000

From the MLS SuperDraft Eligible Player List...

Pete Homeskillet? The University of Awesome?

Either this is a brilliant joke by the web staff at MLS or someone forgot to erase a place holder when they entered the actual names on the page.

Either way it's funny and dare I say...awesome.

Twellman, The CBA, Three-Eyed Fish and Two-Headed Goats

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:59:00 +0000

With MLS and the Players Union keeping very quiet concerning the looming expiration of the CBA, we are left to pick through random quotes and 140 character Twitter messages in an attempt to figure out just what is happening. MLS fans are understandably concerned about the potential of a work stoppage and a bit jumpy as well. At this point any piece of information has the potential to send everyone in to stress induced panic spiral...so of course Taylor Twellman comes through for us today on Twitter.

For some context on the second tweet, here is what @WeberKing said to Twellman:

"Learn from NHL/NHLPA: Lockout would be devastating to MLS & players' future earning power. Seek a compromise, be flexible."

OK, so it's not exactly new information but it's confirmation of what many of us have been saying for awhile now. The players are not going to strike, instead they are going to force the league to lock them out when the CBA expires and risk an extended work stoppage. Good for the players, I've said repeatedly they should stand their ground and it looks like they are. There is every indication that MLS is refusing to even consider what the players are asking for and it's their right and responsibility to stand up to Garber and the owners.

That said, some more information would be nice. When (not if) the lockout happens, the battle for public support will be just as important as any of the battles behind closed doors. At this point neither side seems willing to say much of anything and that silence is starting to make people's ears ring. Twellman's second message today is the sort of thing we need to start hearing more of. In order for the players to keep fans on their side, they have to make their case to the people and help them understand why this need to happen.

Really it's time for both sides to come out and talk to the fans. They need to remember that MLS, and soccer in general, have the greatest and most passionate sports fans in the known universe. These fans deserve to at least be reassured or told to tighten the figurative belt with a straight message rather than cryptic transmissions. More importantly they deserve to understand why things are happening rather than trying to speculate based on the assumptions of well meaning bloggers.

While I fully support the players, there is no question that both the union and the league are playing a serious game of Russian roulette here. Soccer's foothold in this country is notoriously unstable and there will be some nasty potential fallout to deal with depending on how this plays out. We're talking three-eyed fish and two-headed goat causing fallout people.

The truth of the matter is that MLS cannot survive a lost season. Even delaying the start of the season would be catastrophic, but if this thing "goes all NHL" there are going to be a lot of hurt feelings and the American soccer landscape will look like Godzilla just went strolling through. I'm not trying to scare you, but I am "The Black Cloud" and it's sort of my job to think about this stuff.

So here we sit waiting, hoping and possibly praying to Jimmy Conrad. In these dark time you must be willing to do whatever it takes to get through and all the while remember to be a good intergalactic hitchhiker and don't panic. I happen to believe that things will work themselves out and while there will be a lockout, First Kick will still occur in late March as planned. A little bit of optimism from a man know for his pessimism...call it a belated Christmas present from me to you. I have nothing to base this belief on but sometimes we have to just step out on a limb and hope for the best. That's what you do when you're left in the dark about something you care about.

American Soccer Show: Episode 8

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 13:35:00 +0000

New American Soccer Show is available, in which Jason and I cover Donovan, Holden, Adu, CBA and draft with Kyle McCarthy (Goal.com/MLSNet.com/The Boston Herald), and riff on the recent noise from the MLS Players Union.

The American Soccer Show is part of the Champions Soccer Radio Network.

Visit the American Soccer Show website for more info

Subscribe to the new iTunes feed HERE.

DOWNLOAD the show.

LISTEN in the CSRN Media Player

Is That a Niner?

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:17:00 +0000

Yes, it's a niner.

Landon Donovan will wear the #9 shirt during his loan stay at Everton.

Photos from evertonfc.com

The Player Ain't Much But The Kit Looks Smashing!

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 13:23:00 +0000

...and before you start leaving nasty comments it's a joke.

Welcome to Goodison Mr. Donovan!

In Defense of MLS Players

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:56:00 +0000

As the impasse between Major League Soccer and the Players Union continues, the possibility that the players will be locked-out by the league on February 1st when the current CBA expires becomes increasingly more likely.

There is a mix of concern and fear amongst soccer fans in the United States about what effect a work stoppage would have on not only the league, but on the state of the game itself. As "D-Day" approaches I fully expect the pressure from bloggers and fans to increase on both sides to figure something out. No doubt the levels of anger and frustration amongst fans will likely grow in direct relation to the amount of time this process takes to resolve. There are two important facts to remember before we start judging right and wrong in this situation: First, it's not as simple as "just figuring something" and second, no matter how angry you become, don't start blaming the players.

The MLS Player's Union is not the group playing with fire here. It's Don Garber and the league and their clear unwillingness to even take the demands of the players seriously. Just today, Ives Galarcep reported on his blog that the negotiations are not going well and that the league is "playing hardball" and "hasn't come close to considering some of the demands made by the players". Labor negotiations are a two-way street and both sides must be willing to give and take in order for an acceptable middle ground to be found.

Instead of negotiating, it's seems clear the league is instead adopting a "bully" strategy in the hopes that they will be able to break the player's resolve. Rather than work with the players on their demands, MLS is choosing to play chicken with the future of the league and the long-term success of the sport of soccer in the US. Instead of working with the union to find a solution they will stonewall and try to win a public relations battle against players by flooding fans with various bits of nonsensical propaganda.

The goal will be to use a lockout and the potential delay or loss of the season to anger fans to the point where the players are backed into corner and must cave to the demands of the league or else be made to shoulder the blame for the fall of MLS. The league doesn't seem to believe that the player's could possibly hold together under the weight of this pressure, but I for one have more faith in the players' resolve and collective backbone. MLS has every right to take this approach but don't come crying for sympathy when your refusal to take the players seriously backfires and suddenly it's Don Garber taking the blame for the season not starting on time.

There is absolutely no reason to believe that the Union will fold, nor is there any reason that they should. The players realize what is at stake, they realize what their stand means and I guarantee that while all of them might not like the potential consequences, they are all fully aware of the situation and are united in fighting this battle. Anyone who suggests the players don't know what is at stake is short-sighted or just generally anti-union/anti-labor for bigger politically motivated reasons. This isn't the players fault, if all this falls apart; the blame should be laid at the feet of Don Garber and MLS for their unwillingness to consider the demands of the players, for their unwillingness to negotiate.

I am simply asking fans to keep all this in mind as the next few weeks play out and we begin to here the anti-player rhetoric that is sure to start coming from the league either directly or indirectly. The players will need our support and they deserve our support in an effort to make their working situation better and in turn, make MLS a better league moving forward.

InterLiga: Dallas Matchday 1

noreply@blogger.com (Ginge) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:20:00 +0000

A couple photos of creatively dressed fans from the first matchday of InterLiga 2010 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX. Puebla FC defeated Tigres 4-1 behind a brace from former FC Dallas' star Carlos Ruiz. In the second match, Monterrey drew Jaguares 0-0.