Can The LA Galaxy Win The MLS Cup?
It can be argued that the Los Angeles Galaxy are the premier team in the MLS. With an owner that will spend money on the big guns around the work (i.e. David Beckham), one of the best soccer specific stadiums in the country, and the most recognizable face in United States soccer (Landon Donovan), when people think MLS there is a good chance that they are thinking of the Los Angeles Galaxy.
With that said, despite winning the Western Conference the last two years the Galaxy have not won a MLS Cup title since 2005. Though they came lose with a shootout loss to Real Salt Lake in 2009, the Galaxy have not been able to get over the hump to win a title, even with a team that, on paper, has the look of a champion. The question on the mind of Galaxy fans is will 2011 be any different.
If you look at most of the MLS Preview articles that are out there from the “experts”, the Galaxy are the main pick to win the Western
A Much Improved DC United in 2011
DC United our team they have undergone a great deal of change since last season ended starting in the back and got a new goalkeeper in Pat Onstad the seasoned Canadian and a back-up Goalkeeper who was projected to be the starter for the Portland Timbers that’s not all the exchange for Jamie Murano is no longer on the field for the team after a long successful career their new midfielder Dax McCarthy is arguably the best player on the team at 23 years old McCarthy is young and energetic and always attacking minded at 5’ 9’ he might be short but he’s got five years of MLS experience starting with his selection in the 2006 super draft by Dallas FC.
The rivalry between Washington DC and Texas sports teams is always fierce, and for United to have stolen a talented player for Dallas FC is a coup in and of itself. In addition to his MLS experience, McCarthy has international experience at the youth level and most recently at the full senior national team level, as he was called into the men’s national team recently for training and some friendly matches against American rivals hopefully this international experience but help McCarthy bring some leadership to a DC team is still in transition after what can only be described as a very ugly season last year.
This midfielder has ha nose for goal and in 2010 he scored a goal in the playoffs for Dallas. Hopefully some of this offensive firepower will transition to United who are definitely going to need to replace the productivity of some of the player they have lost of the
Pacers looking for a road win against the Wizards
The Indiana Pacers will travel to Washington D.C. to take on the Wizards on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. These are two teams that have been struggling of late. Perhaps better said is that the Pacers have been struggling of late and the Wizards have been struggling all season. This might lead one to think that the Wizards are the ones who should be ashamed of themselves, but that’s not the case at all. The Pacers are a team full of veterans who are underachieving.
The Wizards, on the other hand, are a team full of youngsters who are just figuring how to play in the NBA. Their chemistry is also going to take time to develop. Their biggest name player is a rookie named John Wall. That should tell you something right away. It’s usually these teams that sacrifice a couple of years and start from scratch that eventually become dynasties. But that’s going to take a while. For now, let’s look at how the Wizards match-up against the Pacers.
The Pacers have always been known as a much better home team than a road team. A lot of this might have to do with the loud and annoying racecar sounds the Pacers play at home. Pacers players get used to it, visiting players do not. Unfortunately for the Pacers, there are
Kevin Hartman in action
The picture shown here is that of Kevin Hartman, the FC Dallas goalkeeper. It was taken on 16th September 2010, during a soccer match between his team and the New York Red Bulls. The match was a fixture in the Major League Soccer, which is the premier soccer league in the United States. Hartman, who was at one time the United States national soccer team goalkeeper, is in apparent pain after getting injured in an altercation with the NY Red Bulls prize signing, Thierry Henry.
Dallas were 1 nil up just before the halftime break when Red Bulls’ Mehdi Ballouchy scored to level the game. After the goal, Hartman had his foot behind the ball to send it in-field for the restart of play as is usual after a goal is scored. But in a
Kansas City Wizards Team Review
The Wizards have failed to clinch a playoff sport this year, but had their chance to clinch a spot at several points in the season. They just couldn’t pull it off at the end. This is a team that lacks clutch and decisive finishing. Otherwise the team looks good on offense and in the midfield. The team has improved on last year with more points and being in playoff contention for much longer then in their previous years. The team has had a balanced squad with key players in offense and defense.
The Wizards have been active in strengthening their squad this year. They made a number of new acquisitions. Many of these new players to the team were gotten from abroad. Two new squad signings were gotten from England. These included Korede Aiyegbusi, a defender and Craig Rocastle, a midfielder. Rocaslte is from the English lower divisions but has proven to be an effective player in MLS. He has established himself an integral part of the Wizards midfield this season. Zoltán Hercegfalvi is another new addition to the squad. He joined the team in the summer of 2009. So far the Hungarian has made sporadic appearances and his effectiveness has been questioned. The forward needs to score more if the Wizards are to achieve a playoff spot next year. Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen has been a key signing for the Wizards this year. The veteran goalkeeper has consistently performed and made several saves of the week in MLS. Yet even with a top goalkeeper the Wizards defense has let goals in. The defense has looked shaky at times and is in need of some reorganization. If the wizards are to compete for a playoff spot next year they must resolve their defensive woes and look to feed their forwards. New signing Kei Kamara from the Houston Dynamo has scored ten goals and has looked dangerous throughout but one man teams are not champions.
The Wizards have had a solid season and built on last year. They need to get more out of players such as Davy Arnaud, Michael Harrington, Jack Jewsbury, and Josh Wolf as well as getting more out of their new signings. If the Wizards can gel next year and maintain a tight defense then we may just say them in the playoffs next year.
MLS: Chivas vs. Toronto FC Oct. 9 Preview
Although Toronto’s playoff hopes are currently still alive by the slimmest of margins, they are still mathematically alive in the chase for one of the final spots in the MLS post-season. After suffering a second straight 3-2 loss last weekend, Toronto can’t afford anything less than 3 points in every one of their matches for the rest of the season. Toronto’s biggest problem has been on the defensive end. Although the team have a decent goals against total for the season, the defense has been especially porous over recent weeks, and as continuously given up big goals throughout the season. Toronto’s offense hasn’t been much better, having scored only 28 goals all season. This has been especially disheartening for the team given the form of Dwayne De Rosario, who has been a consistent and effective threat all season.
Despite the team’s problems, Toronto FC has a great opportunity to rebound from back-top-back losses on Saturday night against one of the league’s weakest teams. Chivas USA is at the bottom of the Western Conference, and is simply playing out the remainder of its season. Chivas has struggled on both ends of the field this season, which should provide Toronto with the opportunity to earn 3 points big points after consecutive weeks with no points. However, Toronto are prone to giving games away. After being near the top of the standings for most of the season, Toronto has managed only a 1-6-2 record since August 10. If Chivas are able to maintain consistent pressure on the Toronto defense, they should find opportunities the score and end Toronto’s season.
Unfortunately for Toronto, they aren’t in control of their own destiny. They need the San Jose Earthquakes to not earn any more points the rest of the way. With San Jose playing earlier in the day, it’s possible that Toronto FC will in fact be eliminated from playoff contention by the time their game kicks off in Carson on Saturday night. However, for the time being, they are still in contention for the playoffs and should come out especially inspired and hungry for the 3 points on Saturday night.
Major League Soccer Recap: Seattle vs. Toronto FC
Toronto FC, also known as the “Reds”, really needed a win in order to have a chance at the playoffs, with them being 8 points out of playoff contention and four games left in the season, but they faced a dynamo in the Seattle Sounders FC. Toronto struck early as the Reds looked to break their slump of having eight road losses this season with an early magnificent goal, scored by captain Dwayne De Rosario in the 16th minute of play. But the Seattle Sounders refused to back down, scoring three goals in a row by powerhouses Steve Zakuani in the 21st minute, Blaise Nkufo in the 26th minute and lastly Sanna Nyassi who just about put the game away in the 59th minute as Seattle was leading 3 – 1. Toronto struggled to try to keep up and indeed made it a contest when Chad Barrett drilled one in during the 88th minute of play. It looked like Toronto was threatening to make this one at least a draw, but it was not meant to be. Seattle’s Sounders FC defeated the Toronto FC by a final score of 3 – 2, handing Toronto their 9th road loss.
Seattle scored three big points for this win and went to 42 points, easily securing their spot in the playoffs. However, Toronto continues to struggle on the road, and with only 31 points this season, it is looking increasingly dim that they will even make the playoffs, especially since the San Jose Earthquakes are sitting comfortably at 39 points. Even if the Toronto franchise were to win their final three games, all San Jose would have to do is come up with one win or two draws in their last three outings in order to shut the Reds out for good.
Soccer Field Maintenance
In the game of soccer, long before the players, coaches, officials, rules, penalties, and uniforms become part of the game, the playing field must be in supreme condition. Proper soccer field maintenance does not happen only at the beginning of soccer season but must be done throughout the year.
Generally, outdoor soccer games are played on turfgrass. The initial step of soccer field maintenance is to test the soil. When testing the soil, the sample indicates the nutrients that can be used to increase and maintain soil quality and determine how much is needed. This sample should be taken to a laboratory for further examination. Soil cultivation is extremely important and soccer fields are not exempt from this. During the spring season, soccer fields should be irrigated after administering fertilizer. When conducting soil examination, the agent should take a closer look at how and when grass is being cut. Grass should not be allowed to grow exceptionally or cut too close. Grass cutting should be done with a sharpen blade instead of a dull one, so this will not damage the grass. The field should be cut twice a week during soccer season to strengthen the grass. Ideally, soccer fields should be inspected twice weekly.
Soil moisture can be a dangerous threat to soccer fields. After heavy rains, the soil may not drain as it should and moisture remains in the grass. This can cause injury to the turf and persons playing on the field. In the off seasons, the field should be aerated to promote its healthy quality. For best results, this should be done in two directions with curved blades. In the summer months, most soccer fields should be watered approximately every three day.
To fill in thin areas on the field, overseeding may be used to create a better look. In addition, herbicide should be used to control weeds. Herbicides should not be used in extremely hot or dry months.
There are other factors to consider when taking the best approach to soccer field maintenance. For example, depending on field location water, fertilization, and other maintenance should happen more often. Some fields are used more than others for practices and games.
Now that you have a little more knowledge about soccer field maintenance, hopefully fans will have a better appreciation of the sport.
A Guide To Soccer Jerseys
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world and is now gaining traction in the United States. With the popularity of the World Cup tournament in South Africa in 2010, soccer continues to grow its fan base in the states. There is no better way for a soccer fan to show his appreciation for his favorite player or team, than by wearing a soccer jersey. In this article, we will discuss some of the different brands of soccer jerseys, popular player jerseys, and some tips on purchasing a soccer jersey.
Most official soccer jerseys are extremely high quality and made of very durable material that is lightweight, keeps the player cool, and just plain looks great. Two of the most popular manufacturers of soccer jerseys are Nike and Adidas. Not only are soccer jerseys made for the players, but they are also designed with a soccer fan in mind. These manufacturers often design special jerseys as well as customizable jerseys that fans can order. These replica jerseys are also made of extremely high quality and can last a lifetime.
The soccer jersey has made many players large amounts of money in recent years. Popular players such as David Beckham, have made millions of dollars off of the sale of soccer jerseys alone. When a player becomes popular with the fans, his jersey will also become popular and manufacturers will begin to design special jerseys for that specific player. Some of these jerseys can become extremely collectible and are often sold at auction sites for huge sums of money. In fact, there is a whole market for collectible soccer jerseys and many folks have profited handsomely.
If you’re in the market to purchase a soccer jersey, there is no shortage of places for you to shop. You will find the most selection at online stores or auction sites. Always do your research before laying any money out because fake jerseys have been known to be sold on auction sites. Be sure the jersey is made by a reputable manufacturer. If you have a local soccer team, you can order custom jerseys with your team name and logo.
As soccer continues to grow, soccer jerseys will continue to be sold in large numbers. There is no better way for a fan to show their loyalty to their favorite team.
The Greatest Soccer Player Ever
Pele or Maradona? It is similar to the debate in horse racing. Which horse, Man O’ War or Secretariat was the greatest? Both horses made all other horses that entered races against them, even those with the highest pedigrees look less than mediocre. Man O’ War won 21 or 20 races he entered and every race he won by double digit lengths. Secretariat won the 1973 Triple Crown winning the Belmont by 33 lengths, reminiscent of Man O’ War’s signature wins. In 1920, Man O’ War’s owner did not race him in the Kentucky Derby so he has no Triple Crown.
Pele is most decidedly in the same position as Man O’ War. Man O’ War crushed the competition repeatedly and there was never any doubt that he was the greatest by his remarkable wins. Pele is the artist of all soccer artist athletes and he has yet to be surpassed. Despite the debate between fans of the more modern day soccer game, mostly remembering Maradona, since he played as recently as 1996 professionally, his record really does not compare to that of Pele.
If a person has ever attended a soccer match or become slightly familiar with the stars of the sport they all have heard mentioned the name Pele. Without a doubt, Pele of the Santos in Brazil will be at the mountain peak of the greatest players of all time in ‘futbol.’ All fans of the game know the name, Pele, despite the fact that he started playing professionally at age 17 in 1956. His name is mentioned by the person who introduces many a young soccer fan to futbol as children. Fathers in the sixties who took time out of their busy work days to teach their kids how to play soccer in the back yard would mention Pele. Pele scored some 1281 goals in his magnificent career. He helped win three World Cup titles in his unparalleled career.
Today the name Maradona is often mentioned by the younger people who all want to play soccer and become professional soccer players. They all want to be Diego Maradona who they have often considered to be the best player of all time. The modern technology allows Maradona to have a more recent following simply because they just were born too long after the time Pele retired in 1974. Maradona helped win one World Cup and lost one.