2012 MLS Cup Preview: Beckham and the LA Galaxy take on Brad Davis and the Houston Dynamo

Posted on November 28, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The MLS Cup occurs on Saturday and will be dominated by the news that it is likely to be David Beckham’s final match for the LA Galaxy. You may have even noticed that I wrote an article about that very matter in last week’s post, but besides the fact that this could be Beckham’s last game and all, there is a serious match on the field for the other 21 players on the same field too. The game will decide the MLS Champions of 2012, and brings especial intensity due to the fact that it is a rematch of last season’s final that the LA Galaxy won 1-0 due to a Landon Donovan goal.

The Galaxy is the heavy favorite for this game. They boast all the big name players including Beckham, Donovan, and Robbie Keane. Also, the match is being played at the Galaxy’s home stadium, the Home Depot Center. Therefore, the Houston Dynamo will have seemingly everything against them in this match, though I personally believe that they will rally around that exact point.

Both teams were lowly seeded in the MLS Playoff tournament, and had to play tricky wildcard matches in the first round. Defeating the likes of Sporting Kansas City, the San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders, and DC United, both teams proved that they were the strongest of their conferences and have earned the right to play in this MLS Cup.

Houston has developed a very powerful team that won back-to-back titles in 2006 and 2007. Their final appearance last season was evidence of their more recent success, but they had to play that match without the injured Brad Davis. The playmaker earned 12 assists and 8 goals this year and should be a factor if the Dynamo earns the win. The team has a veteran striker in Brian Ching as well.

However, I think the defensive side of this team will be the difference in the game, specifically the goalkeeping of Tally Hall. The keeper is very solid and will be able to stop the likes of Beckham’s spicy shots on the goal.

Many fans will be hoping to witness a final David Beckham “special” free kick that swerves into the net and allows the soccer star to depart the MLS as a MLS Cup winning hero. But, I think it will not happen this time. The Galaxy won the trophy last season, so Beckham has nothing left to prove. Similarly, another of the team’s star players also has a serious off-field concern in Landon Donovan’s voicing of retirement thoughts before the playoffs began. Although that interview did little to prevent the team from pushing through the MLS Playoffs, I do think this game may be a bit too highly anticipated for the team because of reasons other than soccer.

The Houston Dynamo, on the other hand, resembles a real team with hunger for revenge and I would be surprised to see them back down from the challenge. Therefore, I am predicting a tough 1-0 victory for the Dynamo with a David Beckham free kick clanging off the crossbar in stoppage time, preventing him from leaving a last mark on American soccer.

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David Beckham To Depart from LA Galaxy after MLS Cup Final: What is Next for the Superstar and Club?

Posted on November 24, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The David Beckham experience is nearly over. The legendary British midfielder announced that he would be taking his trade elsewhere after the MLS Cup Final match on December 1^st, which will be his last game for the club. Beckham has enjoyed a reasonably successful stint with the LA Galaxy, scoring 18 goals and notching 40 assists. Also, he helped the team to an MLS Cup trophy last season and could very possibly help earn another next weekend. But the question now becomes, where does Beckham move on to now, and how will the Galaxy fare without their most prestigious player?

For Beckham, he seems to want one last notch on the old belt before his inevitable retirement. At age 37, his best years are now long gone, and although his deft right foot is still capable of wreaking havoc for defenders and goalkeepers, his legs are otherwise aged and weary. He was a decent player for the Galaxy, but I would argue that he was never the superstar figure that MLS officials envisioned when they brought him to LA in 2007.

One option that seems to be up for Beckham is to join the free-spending French team, Paris Saint-Germaine. The club has bought a host of stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Ezeguiel Lavezzi, and Javier Pastore in recent years and may wish to add another star like Beckham to increase their worldwide popularity. I for one see this as a weird choice considering their UEFA Champions League aspirations. David Beckham is not going to bring much to a squad that wants to be among the world’s best, and they would do better to invest in younger talent with greater potential. Beckham’s arrival would shift focus onto the star and would shake up the squad that needs to improve.

Another option is for David Beckham to move to the Australian soccer league, with the city of Melbourne recently offering him the key to the city if a move could be arranged. This would be a similar situation that Beckham was already in with the MLS so I would be rather surprised to see the move transpire. What I think is more likely is a return to the English Premier League with a rather less prestigious club like Fulham or Aston Villa. However, Beckham has always played for winning clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid, and the LA Galaxy, so he may not want to join a weak EPL club and could opt for dominating a lower league such as the one in Australia.

For the LA Galaxy, although their team is poised to lift another MLS Cup fans should be very concerned. With Beckham’s impending departure and Landon Donovan’s hints at a retirement after next season, the club could be without both of their crucial star players in a short period. Although striker Robbie Keane is still at the club, he could potentially leave with the Galaxy losing much of their star prestige. The club will need to work quickly this offseason to recruit a new foreign hero to keep the club up to their proud standing. I presume that they will make a strong push for Frank Lampard, a wonderful midfielder who is losing his place at the English club, Chelsea. The team will go on without Beckham though, but it is definitely a blow for the MLS who had hoped for so much from his arrival.

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United States Struggles to Draw Against Russia Without Donovan, Dempsey, and Cherundolo

Posted on November 14, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The United States Men’s National team is surely one that is dependent upon their best players for success. In their friendly match against Russia today, manager Jurgen Klinsmann decided to play a vastly inexperienced side without several key players. Although the USA battled out to a 2-2 draw with the ninth ranked team in the world, they were largely outplayed and only managed to draw because of two fortunate long-range efforts.

The Russians were at it all game long. The United States defense was again exposed, and without quality right back Steve Cherundolo, they gave up chance after chance. It was only a matter of minutes before sloppy defending led to a Russian goal by Fyodor Smolov. Klinsmann may be changing tactics with this team, but he really needs to focus on the defensive side of the ball. Careless play will not lead to any international achievement, especially at the back.

Fortunately, America has one of the world’s best goalies in Tim Howard, and he was a delight in the game, making countless saves. An average goalie could have easily given up four goals in this game. His talents help the team avoid embarrassments stemming from the defenders.

Offensively, the team produced little, though it was nice to see Jozy Altidore return to the side. He did well to hold up the ball for our midfielders, but he didn’t have the proper service to find many goal-scoring chances. He looked to be working hard which is a very god sign, especially after Klinsmann dropped him from the team for the most recent 2014 World Cup qualifiers. Altidore will need to improve and start scoring more goals, however. He is playing very well for his club AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, so hopefully he will discover a similar form at the national level.

Michael Bradley played admirably in this game, and earned a lovely equalizing goal that brought the USA back into this game midway through the second half. He has a great work-rate and is always involved in impact plays and goals. He was probably the best player on the field for America besides Howard and should continue to be a dominant force in the midfield. His goal was a daring long-range strike that displayed a player in great current form.

However, this team is clearly not the same without Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan. These are two veteran leaders in the side who are of supreme importance to the team in competitive games. Donovan hasn’t played for a while due to nagging injuries, but his current form for the LA Galaxy has been great, and he is a player who can simply take on defenders and create chances. Dempsey is also a key figure and has the talent and class to influence games. I feel that if these players had taken part in the game, regardless of final score, the game would have been much more balanced.

However, this was a friendly game and rightly allowed for Klinsmann to bring on several youngsters to see what they can bring into the side. Players like Josh Gatt, Mix Diskerud, Terrence Boyd, and Juan Agudelo brought lots of good things to the side and look like they have some potential for the future in the American national team. Although the play today wasn’t terribly impressive, Russia is a good side, and the fact that the team battled to an away draw with such questionable play shows that the team has some resilience, and for that their efforts must be commended.

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MLS Cup Playoffs Heat Up as Conference Finals All Set

Posted on November 9, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The opening rounds of the MLS Cup Playoffs have finished and there were surprises aplenty as both number one seeds and one number two seed was eliminated, leaving the MLS title completely open to any of the lower seeds who all orchestrated dramatic upsets in the conference semifinal rounds. And so now, with the playoffs truly up for grabs, which team looks destined for MLS glory?

Yesterday saw two late dramatic goals to secure victories as both the New York Red Bulls and Real Salt Lake were knocked out of the tournament. The Red Bulls defeat was the most inexplicable of all. They had the vast majority of chances, and even made a mess of a series of late game opportunities. After opposing goalkeeper Bill Hamid was sent off for a penalty-awarding foul, for some reason Kenny Cooper stood up to take the shot. After the first take was called back, Cooper fired the ball weakly and it was saved. My main concern is why wasn’t Thierry Henry called upon to take the PK? Henry is the coolest striker on Earth, and they paid so much for him. Why didn’t the captain take the penalty? At the way end of the game the Red Bulls had a free kick from the type of range Henry could have curled right in. Take a look at the free kicks the Frenchman has made in his career. And yet, he again didn’t take the shot. And thus they are gone and D.C. United pulled out a fantastic result.

The L.A. Galaxy also had a wonderful result when they brutally disposed of Supporters’ Shield winners, the San Jose Earthquakes. Landon Donovan and Robbie Keane provided some brilliant assists and goals, and the Galaxy looked dominant. So much for Donovan’s dying love of the game.

The Houston Dynamo again showed poise and resiliency after holding off the defensively strong Sporting Kansas City. Their two goals scored in the first-leg match were enough to take out the Eastern Conference’s top seed.

Seattle Sounders found a great late strike from Mario Martinez to separate the sides after nearly two matches had been played without a single goal. They looked the better side throughout and deserved to progress.

And so now the Western Conference final will comprise of the L.A. Galaxy taking on the Seattle Sounders, while D.C. United and the Houston Dynamo tangle in the east. Predicting a winner is no simple task, especially with so many X-factors from each team. The Galaxy has all the superstar names now with Donovan, Keane, and David Beckham. The Sounders house the league’s best fans and one of the game’s hottest strikers in Eddie Johnson, who recently revitalized his international career with the United States National Team. Houston Dynamo has the history of winning the cup twice a few years ago, and were runner’s up last year. D.C. United is excited about the return of Dwayne de Rosario, one of the games most exciting players from Canada and are now the highest seed remaining in the tournament.

Each club will feel that they have a great chance of lifting the MLS Cup now that they have disposed of the top seeds, and since they have these weapons to produce. I feel like this is starting to turn into Seattle’s year and that their fans will lead them to victory, over D.C. United 2-1 in the MLS Cup final. Let’s see if this prediction can hold better than my last!

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MLS Playoffs Get Underway as Wildcard Games Commence

Posted on October 31, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The 2012 MLS Cup Playoffs are set to begin with the ten fortunate teams that were able to survive the regular season and are now aiming for cup glory. The wonderful thing about end-of-season playoff games to decide the MLS champion is that every team is now basically on a level playing field and has a fair chance to prove themselves and win the cup, regardless of how many points separate the clubs. Another feast for the eyes is set to begin for MLS fans across the country.

First up is the one-game wildcard matches between the clubs who just scraped into the tournament. Tonight features a match between the Chicago Fire and the Houston Dynamo. The Dynamo was in the MLS Cup Final last year and has experience on their side. However, their recent form has been average. After leading the Easter Conference standings in August, the team slumped to a 5^th place finish, barely sneaking into the playoffs by a single point. The team is led by young striker, Will Bruin, who has scored 12 goals in only his second MLS season. Another dangerous player for the Dynamo is Brad Davis, an experienced winger who was an MVP finalist last season. He missed out on last year’s MLS Cup Final through injury and will be ever hungry to get another shot.

Chicago has better recent results, and actually defeated Houston 3-1 in September. They have an excellent young goalkeeper in Sean Johnson, who has already been called up to the United States Men’s National Team several times. Chris Rolfe will lead the attack, and Chicago will hold the home field advantage. However, as it is Halloween, I am picking the orange and black to succeed 2-1 and progress to the next stage.

The Western Conference Wildcard round features a match between the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Los Angeles Galaxy. Vancouver has several great young players in Brazilian Camilo and Jamaican Darren Mattocks, who led the team with 7 goals as a rookie. However, Mattocks hasn’t scored since July and the team has only won one of their last ten matches.

The Los Angeles Galaxy features more star power than any other MLS team with Landon Donovan, Robbie Keane, and David Beckham. Although these players are older, veteran experience is key in playoff games and the Galaxy is the reigning champion. Not only that but their recent run of games shows that they have only lost in one of their last ten matches. They will have the home support and are heavily favored in tomorrow’s match. The Vancouver Whitecaps do not look good at the moment and will surely fall 3-0.

The road will be long and hard for whoever wins in the wildcard round. Up ahead is a two-legged fixture against the top seeded teams in the conference, which are the San Jose Earthquake and Sporting Kansas City, two very formidable opponents. However, this is the reason that the playoff games take place, and every single team does have a fair shot at reaching the MLS Cup Final so nobody can be counted out just yet. The real games have now begun! Welcome to the MLS Playoffs!

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The 5 Most Important Soccer Players for USA Men’s National Team

Posted on October 25, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

With CONCACAF qualification going on hiatus for the next several months, the American National Soccer team will have some time to determine who will take part in the next set of important qualification matches for the 2014 World Cup. With a rather sketchy progression in the 3^rd round, the margins will be slimmer for the USA in the final round where America will need to play at their best to beat the likes of Mexico, Honduras, and Costa Rica. Here are in my opinion the five most important players for the team heading into these games ranked in order:

5. Eddie Johnson – It is a bit of an odd choice given that he has been largely absent from the squad the past few years, but when given a chance this month in the matches against Antigua and Barbuda and Guatemala, Johnson came through in amazing fashion scoring two goals and one assist in the games. His 90^th minute winner in the first match was simply clutch. This is the type of player that Jurgen Klinsmann will want in his side in Brazil, and I fully expect him to be in the squad for the remainder of qualification and could become one of the team’s best scoring threats.

4. Michael Bradley – The central midfield player provides physical stability in the middle of the park and dominates the opposition. He has excellent scoring capabilities as well, evidenced by his 10 goals for the USA team. Playing for Roma in Italy, Bradley now has an opportunity to learn from some of the world’s best midfield players like Daniele de Rossi and Miralem Pjanic. At just 25 years of age, the best is likely to come from Michael Bradley and he should become a key figure for the national team by 2014.

3. Tim Howard – The goalie is often the most important player on a team, especially for those considered underdogs when they play against the major soccer nations like Germany and Argentina. Tim Howard has the ability to keep America in games in which they struggle, and that is a vital weapon for the team going forward. Especially considering the defensive deficiencies of this team (Notice how not one defender made this list!), the Everton star goalkeeper is vital to American success, and at age 33 is the veteran leader that the nation needs at the back.

2. Landon Donovan – After having been the most exciting player in America for a full decade and featuring in three World Cups, its incredible to realize that Donovan is just 30 years old. His drive and quick work-rate make him one of the team’s most dangerous weapons, and I attribute much of the struggles that the USA has dealt with in recent qualification games to his absence from the team due to injury. Although he has been quoted to be contemplating retirement after next year, I think that those words come from frustrations of a player who has been injured for more than a few crucial games this season. Once he recovers, he will probably start loving life again and be a key ingredient in leading America to glory.

1. Clint Dempsey –Far and away the most vital player to this team, Dempsey has been the creative force and leader of the offense for America. One of the few players to enjoy sustained success in the English Premier League, Dempsey now plays for Tottenham where he recently scored a game-winning goal against Manchester United. Playing against the world’s best week in and week out should keep Dempsey producing for the American team, and he will be the vital player in American soccer in the final qualification round of CONCACAF.

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America Reaches Final Stage of 2014 World Cup Qualification with Ease

Posted on October 17, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

Anxious American fans had to endure several weeks of tense nervousness ahead of the last two matches in the second round of CONCACAF World Cup qualification, but fortunately, the team was able to overcome the obstacles and comfortably win the final match against Guatemala to spare the blushes of manager Jurgen Klinsmann.

The first match was an away trip to Antigua and Barbuda that proved to be a rather difficult task. The match was deadlocked at 1-1 until the dying moments, when Alan Gordon and Eddie Johnson combined for a glorious headed goal to steal the game right at the end. It was a brilliant moment for the player and one must sit back and praise Klinsmann for his brave roster decision to select Johnson over the younger Jozy Altidore.

Eddie Johnson has had a great season for the Seattle Sounders of the MLS but hasn’t featured for the US Men’s National Team in several years. The game-winning goal against Antigua and Barbuda was actually Johnson’s second goal of the match and highlighted the type of display that America needs from its strikers. Johnson was able to find goals when the team wasn’t playing at its best. In the Guatemala match, Johnson added an assist with a good cross for Dempsey’s goal and this cemented him in the team for me.

Two goals and an assist in two crucial matches is the type of performance that America needed and I believe that Eddie Johnson is likely to have more call-ups in the near future. Jozy Altidore is for the moment placed on the back burner and hopefully he will have the fight to go ahead and reclaim his place on the team.

Elsewhere on the pitch, Clint Dempsey had a remarkable match against Guatemala. He was around the goal all throughout the match and proved too much for the defense to handle with his two goals and assist in the game. Clearly he is America’s finest player and it was nice to see what he is capable of when he is in top form.

Michael Bradley also had a decent game back with the team and is also a solid performer for the national team. He put in a lovely chip over the goalie that Dempsey finished for the goal and also had a clear penalty call denied late in the match. He now plays for Roma and has performed well in his few appearances despite being injured for much of the young season.

With team leader Landon Donovan still sidelined, one has to presume that we have yet to see the best of this American side, and hopefully they can produce some results in the final stage of qualification to ensure that the United States has a place at Brazil 2014.

The recent games were a bit nerve-wracking, but considering the vital players that have been hurt, I think Jurgen Klinsmann’s side displayed great poise and strength to navigate through the troublesome group. The team walked the tightrope but managed to come out unscathed and I think that they will be better for it. Eddie Johnson earned his call up and this team is destined for success in the near future. Let us hope they can prevail in the final group round and qualify for the World Cup.

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MLS Playoff Race Heats Up with 1 Month Left in 2012 MLS Season

Posted on September 28, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The MLS Season is drawing to a close and that means teams are in a tough race to earn a vital playoff spot. With just over one month remaining on the schedule, only three teams have clinched a spot, and most of the league will have to be at their best in order to progress in the last few matches of the season.

2012 has been dominated by the San Jose Earthquakes and their star striker, Chris Wondolowski, who has scored a league-best 22 goals. The team currently has 60 points and has already clinched a playoff spot. Right behind them is the Los Angeles Galaxy, the 2011 MLS Champions. Surviving a poor start to the season, the Galaxy is now the hottest team in the league. Having not lost in their last 9 matches, Landon Donovan and David Beckham look to be ever so hungry to repeat in the MLS and also are already locked in to the playoffs. The only other Western Conference team to qualify already is Real Salt Lake, who is led by their fantastic goalie, Nick Rimando. His latest save earned him his 6^th MLS Save of the Week this season.

No other team has cemented a playoff spot and the race will be very tight in the Eastern Conference. The New York Red Bulls had a hot start to the season, but have cooled off considerably and now sit just 3^rd in the Eastern Conference. Thierry Henry and Kenny Cooper still have high goal scoring marks on the season and lead a potent attack, but they need to pick up some points in the last month to really make a mark. Sporting Kansas City now leads the group and hasn’t lost a game since July. Forward Kei Kamara is leading the team in goals and has provided an excellent season. Too many draws have hurt the Houston Dynamo’s year. They had been atop the division in the summer, but are now barely afloat with 46 points and could miss out on the postseason if they fail to produce. One of the better MLS teams in recent years, the team will be mortified if they end without a playoff game. The Columbus Crew will want to lead a late season charge and have enjoyed the goal-scoring exploits of new signing Federico Higuain, the brother of Gonzalo Higuain of Real Madrid. The MLS Higuain has netted 3 goals and 6 assists in only 9 games since his arrival and is sure to provide a late boost to their season.

This is the most exciting time to watch the MLS and will surely have some late season drama as other teams like D.C. United, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps, and FC Dallas all vy for the ten golden sports in the 2012 MLS Playoffs.

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Pia Sundhage Caps off 5 Amazing Years with USA 6-2 Thumping of Australia

Posted on September 20, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The USA Women’s National Team sent off their departing manager, Pia Sundhage, in style last night with a 6-2 drubbing of Australia in an international friendly. The match also resulted in the team’s 100^th goal of 2012, signifying the monumental force that America has become during the Swedish coach’s tenure. Last night was just another of the great victories for the team that won gold in the 2012 London Olympics.

Fortune fell for the American women. Two of their first three goals came from deflected shots that bounced into the corners of the goal. The Australian goalkeeper had no chance of saving those goals, and once America took the lead 3-2 early in the second half, the seal was broken and the goals just poured in.

The American team became one of the most entertaining soccer teams in the world with an energetic style that resulted in lots of goals. Players like Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan have become superstars under Sundhage’s tenure with countless goals and assists as they have claimed victories against nearly all their opposition.

In the 2011 Women’s World Cup, America claimed several exciting wins, including a fantastic result against Brazil that featured a Wambach game-tying goal in the 120^th minute and a victory in a penalty kick shootout. The final was also an exciting game, but Japan claimed the title in penalty kicks.

However, the 2012 Olympics gave America an opportunity for revenge and they got just that, defeating Japan 2-1 in the gold medal final match.

What struck me with this current women’s team was the excitement on the pitch, and this will be immensely hard for a new coach to replicate. The team won countless new fans not just with their victories, but with the exciting way they have done it. Look to the USA Canada semifinal match of the Olympics for proof of that. Morgan scored a late header in the 124^th minute to seal a 4-3 victory in a thrilling match.

Yes, Pia Sundhage will be sorely missed, but only because her presence was so great for American women’s soccer. Hopefully, we will find another great coach such as her because the current players are amazing, and they need someone great to lead them to more success. The team is at its height of talent and popularity and will hopefully battle on to more greatness under a new leader. Thanks for five great years, Pia Sundhage!

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American Victory Sets up All-Or-Nothing Encounter With Guatemala

Posted on September 12, 2012 by nrspiller@gmail.com

The USA Men’s National Soccer team earned a vital victory over Jamaica last night with an excellent Herculez Gomez free kick to establish a three-team stalemate on top of their CONCACAF 2014 World Cup Qualifying group. Jamaica, Guatemala, and America all sit with 7 points from four matches, but only two are set to progress to the next round. Naturally, America would prefer to have already progressed from the group at this stage like Mexico achieved in their group. But fortunes did not fall in that way and now the US is facing a certain all-or nothing match against Guatemala in mid October.

Clearly the recent Jamaica games proved to be a tough task without the services of Landon Donovan and Michael Bradley, two hugely influential members of the USA team. The loss in Jamaica was a true stinger and will dampen the hopes of our fans regardless. There really is no excuse to losing to that sort of opposition, even if the match was in a foreign stadium. But that was what fate beheld.

Fortunately, the Americans were able to take a victory during the home match as widely was expected. This prevented an all out panic for American World Cup hopes, but looking ahead the future is still uncertain.

America will have to travel to Antigua and Barbuda to play the team at the bottom of their group. The nation has only scraped 1 draw in four matches. They are beatable, but considering that America’s away form in the group has achieved 1 draw and 1 loss, don’t expect anything to be taken from this match.

Guatemala will host Jamaica in their next match that is vital for both teams. Regardless of the outcome, it certainly means that for America, the Guatemala match will decide their qualification hopes. Lucky for the USA the match will be played at home, and one must hope that our injury situation will have improved in the next month. America proved that they need their key players in order to compete and so having the likes of Donovan and Bradley back, as well as the improved match-fit Clint Dempsey should serve to help their efforts.

But one must feel a level of concern given that the USA has struggled in such a weak group of nations. How in the world will this team actually compete in Brazil in 2014 if they play like this? Manager Jurgen Klinsmann will need to address some glaring weaknesses in the squad ahead of the tournament or else the World Cup may yet be another short trip for Team USA.

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