ESPN Soccer Saturday (6/14) [R]

Agreed, the game was entertaining and it was good to see the boca reserves (galvan and forchetti) make appearances. as far as the crowd goes, considering the weather and the 4 o'clock start, it was pretty well expected (not to mention, all the nats gone)

 

Poor playing conditions? Yes it rained, but that field plays immaculately in those conditions. I saw one slip the whole match, yet Ty kept yammering about the "slick surface," "fast surface" blah blah blah. Sure it rained, but to say conditions were poor is innacurate IMO. It played better than almost any grass field would with that heavy a rainfall.

Kevin

 

Thoughts:

Can we have these two teams just meet every week for the ESPN2 game?

The Metros own this season. Title will go their way.

...as soon as they sit ABMOD and DIGI and improve their finishing.

Frankly I wouldn't mind watching just the Metrostars in all of the broadcast games this season. Yeah, finishing was a problem, but with Ricardo Clark and Guevara running the middle who cares?

Ricardo Clark will be starting in Germany in 06.

Gaven didn't do much but that flick-on header to Magee was unfrickinbelievable.

Never, ever, ever, ever attempt to get Zach Thornton in a chokehold. He don't like it.

..if you have to attempt a chokehold on Zach, make sure there is net behind you to catch your wee ass when he throws you off of him like dirty towel.

Domani(sp) Ralph is testament to what could happen when we start breeding soccer players with athletes.

Kenny Arena, Ante Razov will expect you to have that martini in hand and dinner on the table by the time he gets home.

 

I think he is Jamaican.

 

Not a bad game, was worth getting up early for over here.

I think the scoreline in the end flattered the Metros, Chicago had run them off the park by the time it had become 3-nil.

The second and third goals from Ralph and Razov, respectively, fantastic strikes.

And since this was the first time I had seen Giants Stadium in quite a while, and the FieldTurf surface in general, I noticed little, if any, difference between that and the real stuff.

Not a bad game, but it's obvious that the MetroStars will miss their USA internationals a lot more than the Fire will theirs. They sure did today...

 

..either way.

 

My Kansas Jayhawks football team has AstroPlay (same thing as Field Turf). Against Kansas State, it rained extremely badly. Yes there was slippage, but not even nearly as close as on a grass field. Unless it rains hard, you won't feel it. The players even say they like it to be a bit moist.

 

no doubt, wynalda hit the nail on the head towards the end of the broadcast when he said how impressed he was with this speed, strength, ball control and the fact he can <and will> take shots with both feet outside the box...and with either foot he seems to have a wicked shot. he is indeed an impressive player...he and razov are a very dangerous tandom.

did anyone notice how many young kids were playing for both teams, and not just playing but playing well? it is nice to see youngsters like gray, mapp, magee and clark all play good games on national television...the future for us soccer and mls is bright if we keep getting kids like this in the league.

 

Yes, Kenny, Ante is LEFT footed. Yes, Kenny, you force the attacker WIDE not toward your own goal.

Forchetti should start the next match for the Metros. At least he's strong in the tackle. He stuffed Razov on several occasions.

Does anyone know if Damani Ralph has actually played competitively for Jamaica?

Could we get him citizenship like we did for Cunningham?

 

Funny we should get another mention for FieldTurf... I'm doing some research on the surface because it could be a solution for one of the stadiums in Melbourne that has been having trouble with its surface, under a retractable roof and all.

Does anyone have the link for the FieldTurf website? I know it's been posted on these boards to the point of ad infinitum, but I can't seem to find it right now.

 

I like hearing Wynalda verbally wrestle with himself to keep from crucifying some of these players on national television.

With that Magee miss on the header I thought he was going to say "God what a f**ckup!"

Then when Kenny Arena got burned by Ante, his "Uh guys, Ante is going to use his left." sarcasm was classic.

He may be a bit on the arrogant side, but I find him entertaining as hell and he keeps Ty quiet.

By the way, anyone catch his Ankle Biter reference?

 

The field turf website is...

www.fieldturf.com

 

could not agree more, the first few times i found him annoying but he has grown on me and his comments are great...he doesn't hold back. i like that about him.

 

Waldo is refreshing as hell. I appreciate him being able to shoot from the hip, certainly adds something to the broadcasts.

That, and did anyone catch Rob Stone's "the MetroStars need heading practice" (paraphrased) line? Certainly a damning indictment, on their inability at their finishing of chances...

 

I thought the Fieldturf made the ball move a little faster. There were a couple of attacks where the forwards were not able to keep the ball from passing the end line that I think they would've been able to control on a grass field. With that said, the surface is better than what Giants Stadium had last year, both looks and play wise.

I thought the first half was pretty weak, but the second half more than made up for it. Once again, another fun game to watch on Soccer Saturday. Much better than the games they had early on in the season.

 

Too damn obvious. Even *I* could have figured that one out.

[spaceballs]
"That's just like the combination on my luggage!"
[/spaceballs]

Thanks, Jhawkinva.

 

"...and Mike Magee will be at the front of the line."

good stuff.

 

Okay, leaving finishing out of the equation..

anyone else get the impression that the Metros could very well be the most entertaining and dangerous team the league has yet produced?

Bob Bradley is building a monster.. Clint or no Clint.

 

...oh and Wynalda nailed the knock on Andy Williams. Stellar talent for this league, but there is not much desire there. Great game for him today, it's too bad he doesn't bring it often.

 

Im kind of glad clint wasn't there today... sure he might have scored where Gavan didn't... but he probably would have lost it and jump kicked Thornton in the head after he slung Guevera into the side netting.

 

An entertaining game...

Was I the only person amazed by the number teenagers on the pitch? And most were contributing. Bodes well for the future of both teams. Magee is like, eighteen or something and he looked like the cagey veteran out there today. Yes, it appears that finishing is one of the things learned later by players, but that's common throughout the league--look at Martino and Convey. It's obvious the future of the league is to stockpile good young US players. Too bad our Rapids have yet to figure that out.

But the ESPN game moved. It almost reminded me of some of the Peru and El Salvador games that we've recently been gifted with by Gol TV on Dish. I saw a 6-3 game, a 4-3 game, a 4-0, game. Some of those leagues have probably never had a scoreless draw. Of course in the MLS, they at least make an honest attempt at defense. The Metros looked like they could work their offense on anybody. But then miss the shot.

 

after which Clint spends the rest of his life in a wheelchair that he drives with his tongue.

 

Bummer. I had to leave about thirty minutes into the game. Can someone fill me in on what happened, and maybe even have some video feed?