Missing
by Hoover Dam
If you have any information on the wherabouts of the following, please contact the New England Revolution:
- Shalrie’s mid-season form
- Reis’s ability to keep a clean sheet
- The Fort banner
Thank you.
Lame
by Hoover Dam
An email sent to the Blackburn Rovers promo mailing list.
Hey, when you guys say “too much Major League,” would that be the Major League that sent you the current team captain and the goalkeeper? The one whose teams tend to beat you in preseason play? The one whose parks outdraw Ewood?
A Playoff Question
by Hoover Dam
Is it wrong that I only want the Rapids to get the last playoff spot because I want to see someone’s season end in a fistfight?
Revs/Columbus 10/13
by Hoover Dam
That would’ve been a great game, had I not been there and my team not been involved.
US/Switzerland Roster
by Hoover Dam
Official roster for US vs Switzerland on the 17th.
I think the Gold Cup was the last time Bradley announced a roster that didn’t make me think “weeeeeird.” Can’t say he’s not giving shots to new guys–damn near every camp opportunity this year has seen some new faces, and this one’s no exception. I suppose I fail in my attempts to keep an eye out for obscure Yanks Abroad in that I haven’t the faintest idea who Steve Purdy is. The rest of the new guys I’ve at least heard of, if not seen. We got some U20 promotions (Zizzo, Adu, Szetela), a couple guys whose MLS seasons realistically ended in mid-August (Edu, Seitz, Findley), two older guys (Lewis and Hahnemann), and then the guys we’ve come to know as the core of the Euro-based A-list (Demps, Boca, Gooch, Beas, Feilhaber, Dolo, etc.) plus a couple B-listers (Pearce, Califf).
(It would be a scheduling nightmare because of conflicting league dates, but I’d pay good money to see an MLS vs Euro USMNT Plays with Itself friendly.)
I also don’t have any idea how Switzerland stack up these days, other than that they had a respectable appearance in the last World Cup, so I got nothing by way of predictions for the game. I will say it would be kind of a drag to lose six in a row, even if those losses were the kind of learning experiences we need at this point in a WCQ cycle, against teams we just plain don’t play frequently enough.
Really, the game mostly serves to see if we can answer the question we’ve had since, uh, last June: “Hey, is this the game where we get a straight-up forward for keeps?”
OMG IT IS A TROPHY
by Hoover Dam
And it ain’t glass, neither! It’s the real deal, all metal and whatnot!
Yes, the Revs finally got something after five tries at some sort of silverware. I watched the game at the Phoenix Landing, with a pretty decent crowd that ended up chasing off most of the Sox fans, who just seemed confused when we started singing and hugging after the first goal. (The Sox game wasn’t too shabby, either).
Remember how back at draft day, people wondered who the hell this Wells Thompson guy was and why, pray tell, would Nicol trade up to grab him? Nicol and Mariner’s magic draft touch strikes again. That the guy went to my high school makes this so much better. Looked like the instructions to the team were to shut down Toja at every turn, and let Ruiz burn himself out shooting directly at Reis. Very fun, well-played game, too; a damn sight more exciting than the last three trophy attempts I’ve watched. (Of course, this is the one I can’t see in person). I was surprised by the Cristman for Thompson sub, as I would’ve picked Twellman to come out–he looked beat by the 70th and definitely seemed to be not as recovered from that groin pull as previously thought. Excellent game from Noonan, surprisingly strong (and lucky) play from Riley. Neat that Toja got Reis’s jersey at the end, and I’m glad to see Cooper got a few minutes. Hope he’s back in Bradley’s sights in due time; he’s a swell guy.
I wish I had screencaps from the postgame interviews. Twellman, holding back tears, Riders scarf around his neck. Reis knocking Nicol’s glasses off on the way out. Heaps giving shout outs to Avery, Shalrie, and Joey, or at least that’s what it sounded like; hard to hear when you’re in a bar jammed with screaming fans.
I’m inclined to agree with the sentiment that, regardless of ultimate season outcome, the last few home games (most likely two of ‘em) will be party time, with much less of the “oh no how can we pull this off” dread. There’s a little less weight, there’s something in the Revs half of the Gillette trophy cabinet. Still think we could see a double, or, with a bit of luck, a triple, but for now, we got something.
Thug Life
by Hoover Dam
I can’t decide whose weekend performance makes me happier: Clint Dempsey breaking John Terry’s cheekbone, or Rico Clark kicking Carlos Ruiz’s face.
If you get this, you’re as big a nerd as I am
by Hoover Dam
A) If I were a Fire fan, I would’ve already done up a Fire Nation banner
B) Hair color + eye color + skintone = DeRosario is totally Water Tribe