Agree 100% on the Zakuane (sp?) tackle. But I saw the Ferrera injury in real time and at first it looked like he tore his achilles tendon or calf muscle. I don't remember a malicious tackle or even a hard challenge, but this could be another one of those times I am mistaken.
Back in 2005 I busted a kids leg in a tackle. I went into it a bit high, had no intentions of hitting the kid, just wanted to win the ball, but in the end his leg hung the wrong way while he was lying on the ground. I felt terrible. I deserved a red, I even said that during the game. The ref gave me a yellow. Maas, being the classy guy he is, took me off for the remainder of the match regardless. To judge a players entire career on one tackle would be stupid. Having said that, Mullan's past isnt exactly pretty. While I appreciate the apology he gave, it doesn't change that he has been a thuggish style player for quite some time. You can't necessarily blame him, though. Look at the team he plays on. I'm sure training sessions are scary as hell if you are playing in the middle. It has to be said thought that his apology was heart felt. If you don't think so you are blind. Wrong choice of words, sure, but he was just as sick from it as the rest of us who watched it. It should be a 5 game suspension and a hefty fine.
Even when he was with Houston, he was a thug like this. Sure he didn't mean to injure anyone, but he did intend to hurt someone, in retaliation, in the 3rd damned minute of the game. I don't care about his apology, his actions in this case and through his career speak louder than his words. I think 6 with something from the player's union is in order. Let the union police their own.
Pretty insightful piece on the Rapids site on Gary Smith. --(Smith was) the kind of player who thrives on making trouble, ramming his legs into the fray, disrupting rhythm and, as Smith puts it, “doing the things other players just didn’t want to do.” --Smith has shaped the Rapids at least a bit in his own identity. Smith himself was admittedly not much of a player climbing the ranks in England (“I lacked a lot of finesse,” he says with a smile), but what he lacked in talent or speed he made up for with determination, a defensive mentality and an instinctive principal that respect is always earned, never assured. --It’s no surprise then, that while the Rapids certainly aren’t the most polished team in the league, they’re still one of the toughest units to crack. --“If anyone’s playing us now, we want them to think it’s not going to be an easy weekend,” Smith said. “We’ve changed the perception of what we’re about.” --“What we desperately care about is winning games,” Guppy said. “Do I care about how we’re perceived? We want to be respected for winning games and putting together a good side. If we do that, that’s enough for me.” --“Can I say any of them are my friends? No. And I wouldn’t ever expect that,” he added. “Because on any given weekend we would all do whatever it takes to beat the next person.”
Sounders awaiting league discipline for Mullan http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/sounders-awaiting-league-discipline-mullan Is that a jab at teams like RSL? Its definitely geared towards Colorado, but he did say champions - plural.
RSL had the perception, especially back in the 2006-2009ish days of being a very physical team. We have Olave and Beckerman, we aren't exactly soft-balls out there. With that said, there is a line (though very thin) between physical and dirty. RSL seems to play on the one side while the cRapids slide to the other.
I would say less RSL and more Houston when they were still winning. What does Houston then and the cRapids now have in common? Brian Mullan.
EXACTLY what i was thinking. RSL hasnt had that bad of a reputation, olave has in the past been known as a brutish enforcer that is very physical, but outside of that there isnt really anyone on the team that would come across as super physical and heavy. you look at a team like colorado though and there are many players that just have that perception about them, it doesnt end with mullen. the same thing with the championship houston teams.
I have a hard time thinking of cRapid players that ARENT hacks... Hell, the entire midfield is hacks Casey and that new guy seem to be of the same mold they have ********ing drew-nearly broke tony beltrans knee-Moore. etc etc. I really really really hate that team Poor Cummings. Come to the good side of the rockies, Omar. Just take shit pay and convince the cRapids that Melia is the next greatest keeper or something
i was at that game, i was sitting with my parents, cousin and a whooollleee bunch of good mormon families. needless to say those kids probably learned a few new words their mommies and daddies didnt want them to hear. i wanted so badly to rush the field and donkey punch that ref. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cG0zReK5-oI"]YouTube - FC Dallas at Real Salt Lake - Game Highlights 07/24/09[/ame]
Nice! New Houston ad in Dallas. http://www.bigdsoccer.com/2011/4/29...-this-is-a-billboard-coming-soon-to-somewhere
watching the timbers vs union game, god i cant believe we lost to these guys. i mean i know i watch every timbers game, but its still mind boggling. half the chances the timbers get are total flukes, im still pissed we gave up that fluke goal. watching games at Jeld-Wen gives me a headache, its a total cluster******** every time. this field is just way to damn small.
I watched the first half, too. Portland played RSL differently than they are playing Philly. They clustered around the ball in the midfield, leaving long crossfield passing opportunities wide open. RSL didn't take advantage and make them give us room to do close passing. Pilly looks like they can pass at will, but the difference is how Portland is playing in the midfield
I think it would be fine if they didn't water down the field. What is the point of watering plastic grass?
well the ball plays better on the wet plastic about 1000000x better, that i CAN agree with. its weird, i dont know why it does, but the ball just seems to act better on a watered down field.
Great to see a goal stolen from Donovan vs. NYRB when he was hot-dogging it on that shot after beating the keeper!