Carey Talley Fan Club

Have we been here before? Yep. And the reasons are roughly the same, though they run a little deeper. I sat down to recreate this beast for the current week and….and….just couldn’t be bothered to finish the thing. It’s time to return soccer viewing to the purely recreational and, yes, to never look back.

When I sat down to retire for the second - third? – um, this latest time, I thought it might be worth checking back to what I wrote the last time. Don’t think I can improve on the sentiments and so will leave it...

I think a short story is in order. Somewhere in the middle of the week, my oldest daughter saw me watching a game and, as usual, taking notes on a laptop while I did. On seeing this she said, “You never watch soccer for fun anymore.”

Ah, out of the mouths of babes….shame she says so much stupid shit in between. (Kidding, I have limitless love and respect for my daughter….just like cheap shots nearly as much).

In all seriousness, today marks...

Just imagine me turning to my imaginary play-by-play guy for the length of this intro….it just sounds so very canned. Ahem…

For me, this week all comes down to the impact individual players can have on a game. Think Brad Davis’ consummate offensive contribution in Houston’s win, or his failure to deliver on Houston’s set-piece opportunities during a mid-week trip to Pachuca; think David Beckham scoring (the winner, before spurning a shot at a brace) and atoning (for his sojourn and ultimate removal abroad with game-winning...

My notes going into this game started with, “a game when 0-0 will say a lot.” How does the proverbial non-statement final score swing that order? By providing some answers on the state of Seattle Sounders FC’s offense; by revealing something about the strategic approaches both clubs seem to have adopted in the end-run to the 2009 campaign; by saying something about both clubs’ standing-tall defenses: that’s a lot to put on a score, but it’s bearing the burden admirably. That’s the what, but one has to watch the game to get the how....

First of all, gotta love my DVR, a device that cuts off…well, pretty much every game in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Here I was about to post something about San Jose winning….good thing I checked.

OK, finally saw the call that led to the penalty – seemed fair enough – and the resulting kick…which Casey was lucky to score, what with Joe Cannon getting a mitt to it; maybe it’s time to lose the short approach, dude. And, having watched the highlights, I’m tempted to say they made the Rapids look better...

Made it to my first regular season Portland Timbers game last night…a good thing to, seeing as last night’s tilt against the Cleveland City Stars wrapped up their regular season. That first sentence should obviate the need, but may as well fill-in one blank: this post isn’t about the game so much – due mainly to a lack of context needed to frame it properly – as how things look from the stands of Portland, Oregon’s PGE Park as the team gears up to join MLS in 2011.

In a phrase, pretty...

I’m just wondering, ‘cause these teams have played each other a lot in recent years. (Actually, to follow on this a little, Craig Waibel just tangled with a Pachuca player in the area and the ref butted in – this is about the 12th minute – and they seemed to be having some fun. I think these teams respect one another quite a bit…nice segue to the lead…)

Still, as far as international fixtures in the CONCACAF region go, this could very well be the crème of the cream (I actually like the image because it's the second hit...

Back to normal this weekend in terms of volume of games, which keeps me plenty busy. Nothing to do but dig in to the results; the road ahead for all – or, rather most – the teams in MLS follows from. Enjoy…but with a caveat. The thinking on the results is highly contextualized by the teams each club will play down the road…and in how many competitions. Put another way, it’s all one and it’s all groovy…ahem! Something stuck in my throat again…

Wait. One more thing to add: I like that we’re at the point in the season...

Before: What do you get when two teams voted likely to limp into the playoffs tangle in the long grass? I’ll tell you in about 90 minutes. That said, the Seattle commentating crew wasted little time in putting the obvious frame on this game: Seattle has been to RFK before and they walked out with a trophy (the U.S. Open Cup as it happens). As for DC, they don’t have the look of a team one expects to wear the heavy days ahead lightly…makes one almost thankful they face San Juan Jabloteh in the CCL this week instead of the group heavy-hitters....

Right. New approach. You can't tell me you're surprised...that'd be silly.

Before: I have to admit, this game entices more than it perhaps ought. With playoff trends generally blowing Chicago’s way, they really ought to have some kind of explosive offense to make it worth the neutral’s while. RSL at home is (or can be) worth watching, but, going the other way, Chicago’s MLS's Bugbear of the Road, the great horned monster standing in the way of success at home. Regardless, I’m expecting more by way of intensity than I am beauty; aesthetics are generally good, but results loom...