SuperPreviews

Between Andrea and I, we tag-teamed the SuperLiga coverage for various sites.

Andrea's take for MLSnet.com in English and MLSnet.com in Spanish.

Here's my PE advance, with a bit more input from the Galaxy than others, of course, as that's the local side.

SuperPicks; first games

We're pretty average-to-bad at picking the MLS games, so to show it's no fluke, here are some picks that will hit at about 45.37 percent, so don't go running to your local bookie an account of us.

SuperLiga 7/24-25
L.B.
Pachuca 2, Galaxy 0
Chivas 2, FC Dallas 1
DC United 1, Morelia 0
Houston 2, America 1

A.C.

Pachuca 2, Galaxy 1
Chivas 1, FC Dallas 1
DC United 0, Morelia 1
Houston 2, America 2

Around the league

I'm on hold for a quick radio interview on the Champions' Soccer Radio Network.

I run into Gary Richards at the Galaxy press box all the time, and he keeps saying, "I've got to have you on my show."

Well, here goes nothing. I don't even know what our topic is going to be.

We ended up talking about the Galaxy and Chivas USA a bit.

They are there

Ok, with Becks here, there's more focus on fan support for the Galaxy, and it's hard to cover that without any reference to the LA Riot Squad.



Here's a bunch of them at Beckham's presentation.

Drew talks soccer with Dave

Players' thoughts

Kyle Martino talks about the Pachuca-Galaxy match, SuperLiga and David Beckham.

Audio of it here.

Theeeey'rrreee Baaaaaack!

Apparently there was some Earthquake blue among the Chelsea fans during the Galaxy game, hence the "We're Back! Beat LA '08" banner in the upper deck of the stadium.

Short shorts

Ante Jazic tries out the new speedo soccer shorts.



Assistant coach Paul Bravo doesn't approve.

Big American star

Tim Howard said hello to a few friends on Monday. Howard is in town with Everton FC and will be training for the rest of the week at Home Depot Center. The Galaxy had their usual training session.

Everton in town

I went out to Galaxy training today and while there was no David Beckham sighting, I did spot a few current EPL players as Everton FC is in town for a week's worth of training sessions.

Bonus points if you can help put names to faces.

More cash, less time for soccer

Drew Carey lands the prestigious Price is Right job.

MLSer in Mexico

Alain Nkong, formerly of Colorado, is trying to make it there. I wish a team in Mexico would pick up Fabrice Noel while they're at it.

Update: Nkong signs with Atlante.

The trophy/trofeo

Superliga!

Press Conference

I'm live at the SuperLiga conference, and Abel Xavier is missing. Maybe he got stuck in traffic. Decio de Maria's English is much, much better than Don Garber's Spanish.

Fernando Fiore is cracking on Frank Yallop's lack of Spanish. He's known Frank since Frank played back in Miami - they're old pals.

Pachuca coach Enrique Meza says he's happy to have this preseason tournament to prepare the team for their upcoming season. He said he wants to be champions again and this will help get the team ready.

Christian Gimenez says that the players are professionals that will go out to win and bring more prestige to Mexico and their club.

Gimenez also referenced playing the Houston Dynamo and said the rivalry between the U.S. and Mexico is real, even on the club level.

The Final List

Greg Ryan finalizes the U.S. World Cup roster. I can't blame him for going with a little more defensive cover, though I'd like to see some more young blood on the field for the U.S. in midfield.

He did take care of the one worry I had after the first roster release - that dynamic Natasha Kai might get left off the list.

Frank talk

I decided to ask Galaxy coach Frank Yallop directly about the rumor that there was tension between Lalas and him, and that at some point the two weren't speaking.

Frank reacted immediately. "Who is that from? Who from the East Coast? That's garbage, by the way."

On the subject of retaining his job, Frank had this to say.

"There’s pressure any day to win games, but if the people above me see the team in the wrong direction, I’ll leave. But I think they see a team on the brink of being good. Yes, results matter, but building a good team is important, too. This league needs to have continuity and this league needs to have strength. In almost every game I’ve been in, we have entertained and we’ve been close in nearly every game. It’s not like we’re getting beaten four nothing in the league - except we had one bad game with Dallas. We’ve been in there and we’ve fought back. I don’t quit, I know that. They’ll have to drag me out. I feel that the team is behind me and they will give me everything they have."

Glorified friendlies?

SuperLiga kicks off on Tuesday but for some of us media hacks, the festivities get underway today. There's a press conference in L.A. previewing this tournament and the gang's all going to be there, as MLS and FMF suits will be in attendance as well as Pachuca and Galaxy coaches and players.

I'm excited about the prospect of watching both Pachuca and Chivas de Guadalajara in the coming week.

However, I'm still skeptical about the whole SuperLiga and whether it will be successful. I think fans will buy into it, simply because Pachuca and Chivas don't come around that often, but will this tournament gain the expected outcome and re-create the US-Mexico rivalry at the club level?

I don't think it will. I may be dead wrong, but I think international rivalries are unique because that is really representative of their countries and clubs don't really represent nations. I mean, does the L.A. Galaxy represent the United States? Does DC United represent the United States? They are MLS teams and represent their respective owners and fans, not the country in which they play.

What could make this tournament more interesting is if the stakes are raised. If there were a Copa Libertadores berth attached to SuperLiga, the excitement and anticipation surrounding the tournament would increase. But simply offering a large monetary award to the winners means the owners will benefit, not necessarily the fans. I mean, if I'm a Morelia fan and we win a million bucks, it's great to me only if the team uses those funds to bring in a big-name player. Otherwise, how does it benefit me? Winning it and advancing to Copa Libertadores, meanwhile, would a far greater prize for the fans than money to line the owners' pockets.

Now, I'm keeping an open mind on the tournament. I'm sure there will be good games and some drama and of course sizable crowds - I'm really looking forward to the Galaxy-Chivas game on Saturday, for instance. I'm just hoping that there is some real payoff at the end.

LB rankings (July 23)

1. Houston (10-5-4). Streak's over, and so is league for now; champs look to SuperLiga.
2. FC Dallas (9-6-3). Dallas' secret no more: Juan Toja showed his skill in All-Star game
3. Chivas USA (7-5-3). Red-and-White is happy Seattle Sounders aren't in Western Conference.
4. Kansas City (7-5-5). Defensive issues cost Wizards points again.
5. New England (7-3-6). Three goals at home should always equal three points.
6. New York (8-6-3). So they can win without Juan Pablo Angel.
7. Columbus (6-5-7). Guille for MVP, hands down.
8. DC United (7-6-3). Will Veron became latest Argentine import? DC sure needs help.
9. Los Angeles (3-6-4). May move slightly due to others results, but Galaxy has to improve significantly by Aug. 5 if clubs wants a shot at playoffs.
10. Toronto FC (5-8-4). Learning what others around MLS have seen: Columbus is a pretty good team.
11. Colorado (4-8-6). Moral victory: Colorado doesn't look like hell and actually gains a point by doing so.
12. Chicago (4-8-4). Blanco debuts, Blanco scores; suddenly, there's hope in Chicago.
13. Real Salt Lake (1-8-6). Can't win an MLS game to save their lives but shut out an EPL team; go figure.

Another tourney, another title

Argentina hoisted the FIFA Under-20 World Cup title after a 2-1 win over Czech Republic on Sunday. It's the fifth title in the last seven editions of this tournament for the young Argentines.

Here's what Ole ran on its cover. The words, translated say:

YOUNG TEAM
Enormous! Argentina won its sixth youth crown, 5 of the last 7 with Pekerman-Ferraro-Tocalli. They are an example for the senior team.

Six

I haven't read all the articles on Beckham's debut, but I've counted six so far that do not mention any other member of the Galaxy, either teammate or coach.

Four don't mention the score, either.