US v. Mexico is sold out for tomorrow. I'm flying in today with the Mrs. If you're in the area or going to the match yourself, I understand a bunch of US supporters are getting together at The Globe Pub this evening. Today we have mostly MLS articles including the Fire's result in last nights friendly, a story on Conor Casey, some "commentary" on whether the Gold Cup was fixed and the Copa America rosters released with discussion. Oh Canada. Did they get robbed? Perhaps. Ever been a linesman? Me neither. But I bet it's hard. And someone please tell me why there were 4 minutes of stoppage to begin with.... Onto the news...see you in Chicago Fire kicks losing habit-Chicago Sun Times U.S.-Mexico rivarly not all bad blood-Chicago Tribune Fire knocked around, but not down-Chicago Tribune Skake-up stirs Fire to victory-Daily Southtown Backline for the future-Denver Post Comfort ZONE-Rocky Mountain News Crew: Hesmer steps forward in goal-Columbus Dispatch FC Dallas defender to join U.S. team-Dallas Morning News D.C. United duo about to report to Team USA-Washington Post To an Old Friend, Hail and Farewell-Washington Post U.S. soccer team turns to road warriors-Kansas City Star U.S. goes young for Copa America-LA Times Galaxy Tonight-LA Times Is soccer scripted?-Carson Daily Breeze Diversity Reversal: Galaxy short on Hispanics-Press Enterprise Toronto FC on rise-Boston Herald Twellman: Cup to Copa-Boston Globe Revolution are slide tackling-Boston Globe Field of dreams for Mexico?-Boston Globe RSL: Newcomer slowed by altitude, ankle injury-Salt Lake Tribune Will D.C. provide first RSL victory?-Deseret News New RSL striker's first practice cut short due to ankle injury-Deseret News Copa America-AP TFC attempting to stop Revolution shorthanded-Toronto Star MLS, please come to Portland-Hillsboro Argus, OR The Butler Did It: Boro MLS team would be a hit-Flushing Times Ledger
Because for about 90% of soccer games the stoppage time number is simply pulled out of the ref's ass. For this match, the number generated by the ref's ass was 4.
5 subs, some yellows, a straight red, a goal. I kn ow there is some unwritten rationale for how to apply that (ex - 30 seconds per sub) - but I forget now THat sounds about like 4 minutes. What gets me is why do you rarely see injury time for the first half go poast 2 minutes
stoppage time is arbitrary and stupid. just stop the clock. it's not that tricky. in what other sport would you have the ref make a decision as crucial as that, and then during stoppage time, have the ref say, "Well, we'll let this attack play itself out...if they don't score on this play, then I'll blow the whistle." that's dumb.
30 seconds per sub is all that they mandate in the "unwritten book". The rest is up to the referee's discretion. Though technically, it's all up to the referee's discretion. But you'll see them stick to that most times.
Actually, as a player - I think that is great. Plays should be allowed to finish to their logical conclusion and not stopped while the ball is heading into the goal. I don't care about other sports where scoring is so high.
Interesting read. I've been unhappy with Warner forever. It's the one thing that makes CONCACAF a Mafia. The general gist from the boards seems to be that Bradley's red was deserved, and most folks would *rather* have Hejduk out of the final. Still, to suggest that things are set up for Mexico to win... Me, I'd say the only way they're set up for Mexico to win is the crappy defense we've been showing.
When I first started getting into soccer hardcore, stoppage time's ripeness for corruption bothered me more than diving or anything like that.
Well, I agreed with you up to this. I like the fact that you can't be "saved by the bell," and that the defense has to eliminate the threat before the whistle goes. I'm not saying this is inherently better than always blowing the whistle right at zero, but it's an interesting difference between soccer and other sports I watch.
Asked if he thought Pope should have gone abroad, Arena said: "From purely a soccer perspective, yeah, maybe, but there's more to it. It's about your life, not just soccer." So wrong!! If these players like Pope and Landon keep wanting to live their lives, how will the national team ever get better??
Not only that - how do they know that living abroad wouldn't make their life richer? Both monetarily and from living life perspective - why wouldn't you want to live abroad? It wouldn't necessarily be forever.
actually yes I have been a linesman... blown calls happen... this was a blown call. (buy a canadian a beer this weekend if you see one at soldier field)
I want my US to win. Yeah, I have Mexican parents, but I was born in the US, educated in the US, married in the US, and will die surely in the US. USA
Money isn't everything. If we had more players wanting to live their lives who knows where MLS would be now?
Ask the right Englishmen and they'll let you know that us rebel Americans are living abroad. To each their own folks. Our national team is our national team. same for our league. We'll get better. Let the players do what makes them happy, for it they aren't happy, we ain't winning shite.
I agree. American sports fans need to get over this issue already. What's so great about a countdown clock? I've seen this in NCAA college soccer. A bunch of dumb fans counting down to zero - please. Spare me. This ain't basketball. If soccer introduced a countdown clock, the next thing these Americanizers would be pushing for would be time outs and various other creative ways to stop the flow of play, as has happened in basketball. This, we do not need. Best to avoid going down that road altogether by keeping the time under the ref's control.
The conspiracy theory just doesn't float. CONCACAF reffing just sucks. I know it's a tough job, and the reffing at the WC was also suspect. This must be addressed. I have no idea how. I don't think anybody can argue Bradley's foul wasn't a red, and Hejduk didn't deserve a yellow. If anything Bocanegra's foul could have gone red, as opposed to the yellow he got.
Soccer doesn't get coverage at all here in NY unless it's David Beckham, and frankly I don't give a FFFF if they cover soccer or not any more. Let's face it, the game with Canada you could count the fans by hand on tv screen but when Mexico took the field the place was full.We have a long long long long way to go to catch up with other nations when it comes to national team support or any support for soccer in the US.
wow, great news day. great to see diverse topics, and a couple of positive expansion articles in one day? amazing.
Why are we all of a sudden singling out CONCACAF refs. for mistakes? The refs in the World Cup were much worse, IMO. Does everyone forget THAT soon??? And, please do not even attempt to defend the World Cup refereeing in 2006. Just can't be done.