By popular demand: My experience at the Spurs/Everton match last sunday.

I had planned to go to London for the last few months and on the agenda of things to do, like any other red blooded soccer fan, was to see an EPL match. Tottenham seemed like it was the most favorable for me because I wanted to see Kasey Keller of course. It turned out they had a game on January 12th, which was around the time I'd be visiting. My friend in London, Francesca (an incredible woman by the way) managed to score some tickets to that particular match before I knew that Brian McBride had been loaned to Everton. So it was very fortunate coincidence that I'd get to see too Americans playing against one another, assuming McBride would see some minutes.

Whitehart Lane is about 20 minutes away from the nearest tube station. So Fran and I did a little speed walking to get down there and arrived about 2 minutes after kickoff. Our seats were amongst Spurs' supporters in the upper deck. I looked down and lo and behold, McBride was starting. I had my American flag draped around me and I heard one chap say, "Why does he have an American Flag?"
Interesting observation though, is that I hardly saw any national flags in the stands except for maybe a couple Irish ones in support of Robbie Keane I'm figuring.

DId I mention this match fell right on my birthday? 9 minutes into the match, McBride broke through the defense and buried a low shot past Kasey Keller. I was extremely elated, but I couldn't exactly show much emotion, other than just sitting there grinning, because I wasn't sure how the Spurs' supporters would react to some crazy yank jumping up, screaming, waving his flag and carrying on in there section. I did not hear the Everton supporters chat "USA, USA" though. Like some people said.

Though I did occasionally hear that chant for Kasey Keller. And I picked though opportune times when Kasey did make some good saves to stand up and gloat a bit.

I thought McBride was a little out of place with the style of play, and did get knocked off the ball a fair share of times, but that can be expected of any player playing in a different league the first time around, so I imagine he'll adjust if he continues to get playing time. The local tabloids on that I read the next day gave him a favorable review the next day.

Besides the duel of the Yanks, I really couldn't pick a better match to attend as Robbie Keane stole the show. The man was a one man demolition crew, and could've had 5 or 6 goals with a little more good fortune.

Anyways, that's about it for my experience at the match. Happy Bday to me.

 

Heh heh. The plane ticket, which included a 4 night stay in some two star hotel in Piccadilly Circus damaged me about $700. Not a bad deal at all. Yes, I am an extremely fortunate bastard.

Speedcake, I take it she's graduating with me in May?