YNSA Mid-Season Awards

Well, now that we've hit the midway pole, it's time to hand out some awards, done in typical YNSA fashion.

YNSA Most Outstanding Player

Juan Pablo Angel, Red Bull New York

Angel has torn the league up since arriving from Aston Villa earlier this year. His 9 goals in 11 of RBNY's 15 games (only 11 of which Angel played in) have kept Los Toros Rojos near the top of the Eastern Conference all year. Were it not for his production, the Meadowlands outfit would be in huge trouble as The rest of the team has only managed to score 17 combined goals. By scoring game-winning or game-tying goals, Angel has personally earned Red Bull 4 points (1-0-1). Now that defenses have figured him out, can he keep up the production?

YNSA Goalkeeper of the Half

Will Hesmer, Columbus Crew

Naturally, Houston Dynamo's Pat Onstad should get an honorable mention. Anytime you can have a GAA below 1.00 is going to give your team a fantastic chance. However, I think Onstad unfairly benefits from having a team that is playing out of its mind right now. Hesmer is an unknown quantity (hence no available photos of him this season), and teams are still trying to find their way around him. Hesmer has a better shot/save ratio than Onstad, a GAA of 1.00, and has helped key Crew on their recent hot streak. All while faced with a porous backline, and at times, little offensive production.

YNSA Comeback Player of the Year

Eddie Johnson, Kansas City Wizards

Unwanted in Dallas, injured, hurt, labeled a wash-up, a flash-in-the-pan, Johnson has regained the form seen in 2005 when he burst onto the scene as one of the United States' greatest strikers. His 12 goals and three assists lead MLS in points, and this was with him taking time off to attend the Gold Cup and Copa America. Johnson has only played in 11 games, and has provided the strike force needed to raise Kansas City's hopes of returning to the playoffs.

Supporters of the Year

Toronto Football Club

I think it should be requisite from here on out that MLS hand a guide manual to new expansion owners on how to create the best atmosphere in the league. It should really only contain comments from Peter Wilt, the architecht of Chicago's Section 8, and the rest from Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment, the I/Os of Toronto FC. MLS has awakened a sleeping giant, and combined with decent performances from the Canadian national team recently, Canada may be waking up to its soccer passion. Toronto's fans are a traveling roadshow, visiting New England, Columbus, and Chicago so far, while selling out at home.

"Paradise" Lost on Dan Roan

There's only one thing in the soccer-reporting media that bothers me more than the constant put-down, condescending, jock-itch sports dinosaur writing that pervades much of the US sports media. That is laziness. Total unabashed laziness.

So is the charge leveled against Chicago's WGN9 Sports anchor Dan Roan. In reporting the highlights of Celtic FC's 1-1 tie with Chicago Fire , Roan did the following in about 30 seconds.

* Mispronounced Celtic "Kell-tick" instead of the proper "Sell-tick."

* Incorrectly referred to Celtic as an Irish team, they are from Glasgow, Scotland.

Forgivable? Perhaps, but it really speaks to the media's either indifference or lack of commitment to get the story right. If anyone on Around the Horn or PTI had referred to the NBA's Boston Celtics as the Boston Kell-ticks, they would have been laughed off the stage. The thing that bothers me is that as a sports guy, Roan is already familiar with the Boston Sell-ticks, but pronounced Celtic FC as Kell-tick. Therefore, he already knows that there is more than one pronounciation for that word. Wouldn't it be hooof him to check to see which one was proper?

As for the location of the team, admittedly, that could be kind of confusing due to Celtic's largely Irish fan base, the presence of a four-leaf clover on their jerseys and Irish Tricolor flags being bandied about Toyota Park yesterday. Also, the absence of the Irish or Scottish anthems prior to the game perhaps further led to the misunderstanding. However, it betrays a lack of research and knowledge of the subject at hand. Imagine if someone had said the University of Illinois sports teams were based in Chicago. Yes, many U of I alums live in Chicago, as well as most of their current student body when they're not in class, and likewise, even though many Celtic fans are of Irish descent, that doesn't mean that they are in Ireland or that the team plays there.

Welcome Back, Quakes!

Do You Believe In Miracles? YES!

Are you kidding me? Down 1-0 after a late second-half goal to Uruguay, the United States U-20 team rallies with a Uruguay own-goal in the 87th minute to equalize, then wins it on Michael Bradley's header in extra time at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada.

The Yanks move on to face Austria in the Quarterfinals.

MLS Preview: Chicago vs. Toronto

Unfortunately for Fire fans, what started as a season of promise with daring talk of a trip to the MLS Cup Final in Washington has turned into a season of change. With changes at major positions, including the head coach, rumors of several groups looking to purchase Chicago Fire and an offense that has been nothing short of abominable (Fire have only scored more than 1 goal twice this season, and have been shut out in 3 of their last 4 outings.)

For Tossers fans, it's a season of firsts, and sadly for their Windy City opposition, most of their firsts seem to come against the Fire. Toronto's first goal was scored against Chicago in the Grand Opening of BMO Field; a result that stood up as TFC held on to record their first win that day, defeating Fire 3-1. Toronto has never won on the road, and Fire fans fear they may be witnessing another first.

Things to keep in mind for today's game.

Players returning
While Toronto was not heavily affected by Copa America call-ups, the Fire should see Justin Mapp back in red today. Mapp is characteristic of brilliance, and total apathy. The Section 8 hopeful certainly wish that there will be some renewed urgency in Mapp's game now that he has been given a look by the US National Team at the Gold Cup and Copa America. The Fire also get Ivan Guerrero back from Honduras and Gonzalo Segares from Costa Rica. Osei Telesford is back from Trinidad & Tobago international duty, but is injured and may not play.

Defense
Chicago's backline must hold today if it is to have any chance. Toronto carved them up North of the border, making the aging line look inexperienced. Bakary Soumare is back in the lineup having served his 1-game suspension from his red card on Sunday.

Scoring First
If Toronto can get on the board first, then the Red Patch Boys and U-Sector can already put one point in the bag and fly back to Toronto with a share of the points. Chicago has not come from behind to win since June 28, 2006. Before that, it was September 17, 2005. So in any competition, the Fire have come from behind to win only twice in almost the last two years.

Role Players need to impress
Juan Carlos Osorio (formerly of Manchester City and Colombia's Club Millionarios) is taking command of the Fire's fortunes on Monday. It is believed he will radically transform the team, and that could mean the end of the Fire careers for underperformers Chad Barrett and Logan Pause. Players could well be playing for their jobs. The same issue is at hand on the other side of the midfield line as TFC skipper Mo Johnston has made a record number of trades this summer.

YNSA Prediction: Chicago Fire 1:1 Toronto FC

Leeds Could Drop Again Without Playing a Game

English football is not necessarily known for its unpredictability. Manchester United, Arsenal, or Chelsea have won every Premier League title save one since the Premier League was created in the early 1990s. Pick Man U, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea to finish in any order, and odds are pretty solid that you will correctly pick the superfecta box for the four teams England sends to the Champions League each season.

However, just when you think it's predictable and pre-written, there's a club like Reading that bursts onto the Premiership scene last year for the first time, and just barely misses out on a European spot. The small teams rise up and grab their share of the glory. However, it's a zero sum game, and for whoever comes up, someone must go down, and in this case, we have clubs like Leeds United to remind us that the game can change at any moment.

Leeds United were formerly a great club. Their rivalry with Manchester United peaked in the 1990s when both clubs were solid domestically and were always competing for league titles and European placement. As recently as 2001, Leeds were in the semifinals of the Champions League. Even after being relegated from the Premiership in 2003, only a year ago Leeds were one game away from returning to the top flight before bowing to Watford in the Play-off Final. Another relegation followed this past season, and the club's massive debt pushed them into administration. Now Leeds are up for sale, and it could get even worse. Reports coming out of Elland Road indicate that if Leeds are not out of administration by the time the League 1 Season starts in August, then the FA will not allow them to play. I am not sure if this means that they would simply be suspended untill their finances are in order or if it means that they would be relegated from the Football League alltogether, which would mark the most stunning reversal of fortune in English Football for years. From European semifinalists to non-league football in 6 years.

Osorio Tabbed to Rescue Fire

Juan Carlos Osorio, a former assistant coach with Manchester City FC in the Premiership and head coach of Milionarios in Colombia has been named the third head coach in Fire history.

While at Milionarios, Osorio most recently took the Bogota club to a 4th place finish in the Colombian top-flight, earning them a berth in the prestigious Copa Sudamericana after the club was previously mired at the bottom of the standings.

He faces a similar task with Fire. Chicago has the most anemic offense in the league (12 goals scored in 14 games). The Fire have been shut out in three of their last four, and 5 of their last 9 games. The Fire have not scored multiple times in one game since a 3-2 win over Columbus on June 3rd. They have accomplished the feat only one other time this season, in a 2-1 win over Kansas City on April 21.

Chicago has gone 1-6-2 since starting the season 3-0-1.

Keller to consider retirement

Only one day after one of my scathing posts really painted him out to be the has-been that he is, and encouraged him to hang up his boots once and for all.

Coincidence? I think not.

Where are the DPs?

It was widely worried that the application of the Designated Player or "Beckham Rule" was going to usher in an arms race in MLS. Far from it it seems, as only four DP slots have been filled. Only Los Angeles, RBNY, Chivas USA, and Chicago Fire have used their DP slots (Chivas USA traded theirs to RBNY for Amado Guevara, who subsequently left the team. Oops.) So where's the arms race? Why are there only four Designated Players in the league?

Answer: There aren't. There are already at least 8 designated players in MLS, they just don't fall under that status yet. Players making DP-money, or close to it may be grandfathered in this season, but next season they would qualify as Designated Players, taking that roster slot, and possibly earning a richer contract for themselves.

Landon Donovan, Eddie Johnson, and Carlos Ruiz are already in this category, along with Freddy Adu. The DP Rule could also explain the recent contract attitudes of Dwayne DeRosario. DeRosario is in the middle of negotiation in Houston, which could be on hold for the possibility of DP money for next season. If Houston isn't willing to pony up the dough and sign DeRo as a designated player, a jump to Europe may be in order for the Canadian international. When these players are considered, and provided that no trades or European signings take place, then 9 of 13 DP slots are taken. Los Angeles would need to trade for a DP slot to keep Donovan, and LA doesn't have much to offer anyone. So I think Donovan may be on the trading block after this season.

So the designated players are here, they're just not DPs yet.

The real growth in MLS has come with the influx of foreign talent that falls outside the galactico club dominated by players like Ronaldinho and Cristiano Ronaldo. I mean, let's be realistic. Thierry Henry isn't going to up and leave Arsenal to play for the Colombus Crew, and I imagine the Crew would have a hard time outbidding the $32 million that Barcelona put on the table. However, for considerably less money, the Crew were able to attract Argentine Guillermo Barros Schelloto, whose crosses and leadership in the midfield are one of the reasons the Crew are as improved as they are this year. Juan Toja in Dallas, Carlos Marinelli in KC, Carlos Pavon in Los Angeles, Luciano Emilio at DC United, and Ronald Watterus with New York are further examples of the trend of buying foreign on the cheap.

After all, why buy a BMW when a Honda will suit you just fine?

Nats need to go to Finishing School

In the 19th Century, finishing schools were where the elite sent their daughters to become proper ladies of society. The US Men's National Team might want to take a page from their playbook and set up a finishing school of their own, as this crop of Yanks could surely use the lesson.

During last night's 3-1 loss to Paraguay in the Copa America group stages, the consensus is that the Americans outplayed La Albiroja, but were stonewalled in their finishing. Just in the few minutes I watched, I can agree. The American's passing combinations and creativity were much improved from the Argentina game. Paraguay was a World Cup Finalist last year, so it wasn't some slouch team. However, I saw Justin Mapp hit the crossbar, Eddie Johnson panic in front of the net and pull off an attack (not the first time), numerous shots go wide, and Ricardo Clark's blast that seemed destined to be a golazo smacked away by the Paraguayan keeper. In the Gold Cup, first-teamers Landon Donovan and Damarcus Beasley did not do much better, both shitting their pants with the goal yawning in front of them. While Americans have never been great finishers, or attacking forwards for that matter (Our specialty is goalkeepers and defenders), it is a glaring weakness that must be addressed if the Yanks are to ever seriously contend on the world stage.

In the end, I think it may be a focus problem. Not for the players, but the whole institution. It seems I can't go through one US Soccer broadcast without hearing someone talking about "creating chances." Creating Chances is about the stupidest strategy I've heard of. It's the equivalent of using a machine gun to kill a fly. The basic reasoning is that if you create enough chances, eventually you're bound to get a goal. However, the drawback here is that you will likely wear yourself out trying to keep up a flurry of chances and frustration builds when it doesn't come through. The Americans' total exhaustion in the last 30 minutes of the Argentina game are evidence of this. The US should focus more on clinically finishing chances, not just creating them.
Last night Paraguay took 12 shots on goal, and put 3 in the back of the net (25%). Team USA took 14 and put 1 on target (7%).

Against Argentina, the Americans took 6 shots, and only scored on a Penalty kick. Argentina took 10 shots, and four of them found net.

Let's go Wiz?

A product that perhaps hails back to the early years of MLS, when the Kansas City Wizards were known only as the Kansas City Wiz. The scoreboard at Arrowhead Stadium loudly proclaimed, "Let's go Wiz! Let's go Wiz!" Somehow, it never caught on.

Except with these entrepreneurs.

It is a urinal seive that includes a soccer ball dangling from a "goal" and "players" have to "kick" the ball into the goal with their...err....free kick skills. The ball changes color based on how direct your "intensity" is.

Please consult a doctor if you can bend it like Beckham. You may want to get that checked out.

Drastic Changes Needed at Harlem Bridge

If there was ever a team in turmoil, it is the Chicago Fire. A bastion of stability for the first 9 years of its existence, this year that tradition has been disrupted by a wave of change. Firstly, Chris Armas announced that this would be his final MLS season, bringing a storied career to a close.

Several Fire fans wish he had hung up his boots a year or two ago.

After a 3-0-1 start propelled the Fire to the top of the table, they proceeded to only win one of their next nine league matches (1-6-2, 5 points out of a possible 27). In those 9 matches, the Fire scored 7 goals, and surrendered 17. Apologists will blame the dropoff in scoring production on the loss of Chris Rolfe, who has been rehabbing an ankle injury suffered in May. However, such an argument ignores the fact that Rolfe has missed significant time in each of the past few seasons. The reliance on such a fragile player to provide almost all of your offense is a poor excuse, especially when one considers that the Fire only scored multiple goals in a game once during their unbeaten run (2-1 over Kansas City on April 21.)

The Fire now lie 7 points adrift of first place New England, and 3 points adrift of eighth place Columbus for the final MLS Cup Playoff spot. Sunday's lackluster scoreless draw with Colorado Rapids only served to illustrate the utter stagnation at 71st and Harlem.

The losses coupled with growing fan frustration ended up costing Head Coach Dave Sarachan his job, with assistant Denis Hamlett taking over, becoming the first Black head coach in MLS history. While a search for a permament replacement goes on, word now comes that the Fire are up for sale, with a reported asking price of $35 million. A change of ownership can only be a good thing for the Fire, provided the new owners are interested in winning, and are willing to spend the cash to accomplish that.

In addition to the change of ownership, it would likely mean a major house-cleaning at Toyota Park, and frankly, that is something that is long overdue. Undermined by years of bad drafts, slow-to-develop players (Chad Barrett, Chris Rolfe, etc.), and an incompetent front office (The Andy Herron Trade), and overreliance on older players who were there during the franchise's glory years (Chris Armas, Diego Gutierez, CJ Brown) the Fire look to be at a tipping point. Continued decline will keep the crowds away, resulting in less money needed to land high-profile players or even good, low-profile players like Honduras's Pavon, recently signed by the LA Galaxy. Conspiracy theorists will likewise tell you that the Fire is AEG's red-headed stepchild to the Galaxy, also owned by AEG, and to an extent, this is true.

Sarachan's sacking was the first step in a series of improvements needed to regenerate the club, but it can't stop there. It needs a full cleaning, top to bottom, before this club can realistically contend for doubles and league titles again.

New LA Galaxy shirts--Looks legitimate

Reportedly from an adidas catalog, these are the shirts the LA Galaxy will be switching to later this month. The jersey features a slight color change (white with gold and blue trim from white with gold and black trim) and a redesigned logo that is very simplified. The jersey is a standard adidas template.

The rebranding is taking place in the middle of the season to try and foil counterfeiters selling fake Beckham jerseys. Beckham will join the Galaxy on July 7th.

Time to go, Kasey

Also posted on Yellow Chair Sports...

I've always been a Kasey Keller fan. It's kind of hard not to be. The man was tough-as-nails on the field, easily one of the best (if not the greatest) American goalkeeper in history, a metalhead who rarely gave a shit in interviews with the press, and lives in a German castle. But it's time for him to go.

Keller is listed as the Americans' starting goalkeeper for tonight's Copa America match against Paraguay. The whole point of sending a roster devoid of stars and regulars to Copa America was to develop the kids. By exposing a young group of players to the intense pressure cookers and world-class teams in South America's premier tournament, the team hoped to have a leg up for the bright lights of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Kasey Keller will not and SHOULD NOT be on that team. He is 37 years old now, and will be 40 come 2010. He's at least the 3rd or 4th best keeper in the US Player Pool. While Keller was a great keeper for the US National Team, "was" is the key word in that sentence. More cerebral goalkeepers can play into their 40s, but a keeper like K eller whose skills are based more on quick reaction time and reflex saves cannot. Keller's continued inclusion on the roster can only be attributed to misplaced loyalty for his years of service or to serve as a "field general" or "mentor to the kids." However, both of these can be accomplished in a coaching or reserve keeper role.

So what's the alternative? In the United States' 4-1 loss to Argentina last week, admittedly no keeper could save the US from Argentina's world-class strikers, but had backup keeper Brad Guzan (who figures to be on the 2010 World Cup roster) been playing, the US could have at least gotten some player development and experience out of the process. Keller still believes he is a top-flight keeper, despite being cut from his now-Second Division German club. With Keller's aging body and slowing reflexes, it is plainly obvious to anyone who watched his performance against Argentina, or against Canada in the Gold Cup, that he has lost a step. I wish him the best of luck finding a new club, but it is clear that he is the past, not the future of the US National Team, and as such, should be benched by Coach Bradley.

You're Not Singing Anymore

I've more or less killed off my old blog the Proper Pitch, and with the year half-over, it's time to look to the future, so I've started up You're Not Singing Anymore to deal with soccer topics day-in and day-out that may not warrant a post on other blog I contribute to, http://www.yellow-chair-sports.com/. The blog takes its title from one of my favorite soccer songs, simply sung after a team has scored, directed jeeringly at the supporters of the team that has been scored upon.

You're not sing-ing,
You're not sing-ing,
You're not singing anymore!
YOU'RE NOT SING-ING AN-Y-MORE!