Good News for Us Suffering Rev Fans
by tedski
Per a tweet from Frak Dell’Apa:
Shalrie Joseph 5-game suspension ended; returns to Revolution for Saturday game at Toronto.
Full story here. For those keeping track, the last time Shalrie played it was a 4-1 victory over Toronto.
Good Signs
by tedski
It’s just as silly to judge how the rest of the season will go for New England from Saturday’s game against a DC United squad with poor defense than it is to judge the season entirely by the previous game against the Galaxy.
However, I’m hopeful. Kenny Mansally’s goals demonstrated a maturity that this team needs (oddly, given the number of rookies, the 21 year old Mansally is a grizzled veteran on the squad). What more could have been done if he was paired with Taylor Twellman or if he was being fed by Shalrie Joseph? I don’t know. Given his status as a sub in the game, I don’t know if he would have even played if those others available. But, his performance, plus a stingy defense, showed that this team be in contention when September comes along.
Mansally’s now famous second goal after the jump:
Classy in Columbus
by tedski
Now, to the credit of Columbus fans, at least the majority who post on Big Soccer, they seem to think that the behavior of the fans on Saturday was attrocious. However, a few seem to be angrier that Shalrie Joseph flipped them off.
Here is the funny part: a Columbus fan posted this video on YouTube, apparently to prove what a poor sport Joseph was. Maybe he didn’t realize that we can clearly hear that very special little epithet being thrown at Joseph and Kheli Dube before Joseph gives his salute (around 0:22).
Shep is Correct…Several Times Even
by tedski
This weekend was one of those unfortunate ones where the Direct Kick broadcast is from MSG. This means I am treated to Shep Messing, who is a die hard homer for the MetroBulls, no matter how gawdawful or thuggish they are. There are times where I wonder if a Red Bulls player pulled out a morning star and beat an opposing goalkeeper to within an inch of his life Shep would just say, “At worst a free kick…”
Anyhoo, Shep has a halftime rant. In this one, he complained about the new ball. He threw in a couple of shots at low skill preening forwards who now look good because of the weird travel of the ball. It’s been said by others, but you half expected someone to show up to whipe the froth from his mouth. It was like listening to a fan complain about some obscure rule change that no one else would care about. Which, I suppose, is what it was.
Shep had two other parts of his rant. He doesn’t think Shalrie Joseph gets his props. I agree with that. I don’t know how if it’s the league or the penumbra of agents, sponsors and reporters, but it seems that the “star” system we have has little to do with on field performance (Beckham) or actual popularity among fans (Donovan). Actually, Shep, I’d like to see Joseph ignored a bit more. More of him for us.
Part three of Shep’s rant, and possibly the most beautiful: he thought that David Beckham is wasting his time playing for the Galaxy. More than that, he actually suggested that the Galaxy fold so Beckham could play for Chivas USA (!). Even a Galaxy basher like me hasn’t suggested that.
Okay: the game. A couple of things I noticed. Jozy Altidore’s goal rocked. I wish it wasn’t against the Revs, but hey. No biggie, he won’t be there by the time the Revs play New York again, right?
You are a man and a goal up, what do you do? Oh yeah, dribble the ball around to give the other team time to close on your players while putting nearly no pressure on the defense. Sounds like a fantastic idea.