DC Plays For Trophies

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I love DC United and how they market their club. They’ve put little stickers on newspapers throughout DC with the date of the US Open Cup final against Seattle. Peal off the sticker and it gives you this address.

Chivas Still Struggling For An ID

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Interesting write up here by Kevin Baxter over at the LA Times about how Chivas USA is still struggling to find themselves in MLS after five years. Couldn’t agree more with some of the points made. A lot of it comes down to what is written here is about is Chivas USA a farm team for the Mexican club? No one really knows though I would say they are definitely not.

The main thing they have to focus on is being relevant in a heavy sports market.

Tough Season For Bobby Convey

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A lot of folks, including myself thought Bobby Convey would be a great addition to Frank Yallop’s San Jose Earthquakes at the start of this season. Turns out he’s been nothing special. Still Convey has a lot of growing to do and I kind of see him going home to play with the new Philadelphia side after this season. He’s done nothing but eat up salary in San Jose. But as the article suggests if he could get the proper rest in the off-season he could be able to come back and be better next season. I just think he’d be better off playing in Philadelphia instead of San Jose. Think Peter Nowak agrees?

MLS Holding Strong In Tough Economic Times

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I probably could have spent more time with this one than here but since it is Friday I don’t feel like going all into this article. Good stuff by SI’s Ridge Mahoney. Lots in this from DP talk to Labor issues, to Beckham to Latinos and soccer. I think I will have more next week on my thoughts with the DP rule. I think it’s good but it definitely needs some work for most clubs to want to use it.

Beckham Still Wants To Own A MLS Club?

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Kind of more of the same out of GoldenBalls. He still wants to be an ambassador to the league, even when he is out of here after this season. We knew about the option in his contract last year but it sounds like he wants to use it down the road. I doubt he will be apart of any 2012 expansion bid for the league but maybe one down the road, if not buying an existing club.

US National Team Not Taking Altitude Serious?

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I think Grant Wahl hits this one on the head, the US players need more than 24 hours to get use to Mexico City’s smog and high altitude for next week’s World Cup qualifier. I know what it is like to play at high altitudes and Mexico City is up there in at 7,200 feet above sea level. The air will be thin but more importantly it will be tough to breathe because of the smog and pollution levels in Mexico City. That’s the biggie if you ask me. Something you can’t prepare your lungs for just 24 hours before a big match. I hate to make excuses but this is one that has to be looked at.

US-Mexico SportsCenter Special

So check out this bit of info from the World Wide Leader:

“ESPN networks will provide comprehensive studio news and information coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying match featuring the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team vs. Mexico, Wednesday, Aug. 12, from Azteca Stadium in Mexico City. The “game around the game” coverage will be highlighted by a 30-minute SportsCenter 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying Special on ESPN, Aug. 12, at 3:30 p.m. ET, hosted by Bob Ley and Alexi Lalas (from outside Azteca Stadium in Mexico City) and SportsCenter anchor Josh Elliott and ESPN soccer analyst John Harkes (in Bristol, Conn.). The special marks the first time in its 30-year history that ESPN will air a live pre-match show for a soccer event it is not televising.”

We bitched about them not picking up the game but in all fairness NBC was asking a too much. This however does make up for it in a way to those who cannot get mun2 or Telemundo next week.

Also we get a cool blog/diary sort of thing over on ESPN.com right now about the USMNT. Fevered Pitch is the name of it by Wayne Drehs who traveled with Team USA, from June 1 for two World Cup qualifiers (Costa Rica & Honduras), through the Confed Cup in South Africa, to the start of the CONCACAF Gold Cup, and looking ahead to next week’s big match against Mexico. The name of it sucks but the content in it is pretty sweet.

ESPN Adding More EPL

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We got more ESPN news today, via EPL Talk, that ESPN has acquired rights to show up to two English Premiership games per week. .

Rafa Marquez Out For US-Mexico Game

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FC Barcelona and Mexican National Team defender Rafa Marquez has torn a calf muscle and will not be available for the August 12th qualifier against the United States. That should be good news for some US strikers looking to get on the scoresheet at the Azteca.

Clark Hunt To Buy West Ham?

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Clark Hunt (owner of Columbus Crew and FC Dallas) wants to get into the EPL with a purchase of West Ham United. Apparently, he is willing to pay 120 million pounds. So you are telling me the Hunts are willing to blow money on a EPL side but can’t spend the proper money to promote their clubs here in the States? Someone needs to buy at least FC Dallas from them ASAP so the club doesn’t go into the stinker if they do indeed buy West Ham.

Nelson Gonzalez On Trail With RSL

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The 20-year-old Argentinian midfielder/defender formerly of Quilmes is apparently impressing those at Real Salt Lake. Nelson Gonzalez could sign with the club by the end of the week if things continue to go well according to some. Head coach Jason Kreis is hot on the young guy but will he be enough to turn this club into a playoff team again this season?

I mentioned earlier on Twitter that I will be doing a post about each club’s remaining schedule. That may be up by the end of the week. I was hoping to get it out today but again work kept me from getting finished with it. I believe my stopping point was either Dallas or Houston. I do hope to finish it soon though.

Anyways, down to the business at hand, a few links/stories for your evening reading.

2009 SuperLiga Final

Chicago Fire host Tigres UANL of the Mexican Primera Division.- 7pm CST on Telefutura

I would expect nothing less than a Fire win really. I hear the Fire are taking this game serious and from the sound of it so are their supporter’s, which is really good to see. Tough part is until this tournament gets an English broadcast on FSC or something like that no one will care about it (you can watch it online though). I asked folks on Twitter earlier if they cared and those that responded didn’t see too unless they were actually a Fire fan.

CONCACAF Champions League Play-In Round

New York Red Bulls host Trinidadian side W Connection – 8pm EST on FSC

This is big and it is a make or break kind of game. If the Red Bulls win and advance they could at least salvage a little bit of their pathetic season. All they need is a win or even a 0-0 or 1-1 tie to advance. It is that simple. All MLS fans need to get behind New York tonight and hope they advance. If they don’t it will just add fuel to the fire on so many things surround this club.

International Friendly

Seattle Sounders FC host FC Barcelona – 10:30pm EST on ESPN

This should be fun. Tune in to ESPN2 tonight for this one folks. I know Seattle held their own against Chelsea a while back but I would be impressed if they are able to do the same against Barca. If I were Sigi Schmid I would be resting key guys as much as possible in this one, even if it means getting beat. With the playoffs coming up you don’t want to lose someone because of this game.

Jozy Moves To England

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The big topic today was Jozy Altidore and all his tweeting about moving to England to play for Hill City. The best part was reading all the reports with quotes from Jozy’s Twitter feed. I guess that is the world we are starting to live in, when players say something on twitter before the press get ahold of them in person.

Cooper Introduced in Germany

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No need to say much, Cooper is finally over in Europe and looks happy in the process.

Argentina League Season Put On Hold

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Wow, big news down in Argentina is that a new season was suppose to start in two weeks. However that has been put on indefinite hold due to a deep financial crisis at many of the clubs. No other actions were announced. This could very well mean we could see a flood of players come north if nothing is resolved soon.