El Tri Ends 2014 With a Whimper

After all the excitement over the prodigal son return of Vela, Mexico suffered a loss to Belarus. 

It wasn't all bad. Raul Jimenez scored, but the defense really let the side down. 

It was really cold, though. 

I can't get over this. Who is El Tri's blanket ops person? #dreamjob pic.twitter.com/yESRM8ViT8
— Charles Boehm (@cboehm) November 19, 2014

Kill the Ghost. Let It Die So LD Can Live in Peace

I have a soft spot for this blog, but Twitter is where it's at with all the cool social media kids these days. Communication in short bursts has both benefits and drawbacks, as I found out in a recent dust-up over the medium. 

.@soccercanales Landon is the greatest What If in US soccer history. Arguably greatest of modern era, but had potential to be so much more.
— Phil Schoen (@PhilSchoen) November 14, 2014

I like Phil, he's a great guy, but this tweet drives me crazy. Landon is not a What If. 

A What If is the sad song of a career cut short before it ever got a chance to flourish, due to injury or some other tragic occurrence. People shake their heads, remembering the youthful talent that never reached maturity. Len Bias is a What If. Or this guy. Or Steve Snow, if you need US Soccer-specific examples. 

Mexico, Beautiful and Beloved

Or, in Spanish, Mexico, lindo y querido! 

A small measure of revenge was earned by El Tri against Holland. 

But more importantly, how about that Carlos Candle! 

Canales and Moyes, Together!

I have actually met David Moyes before. Well, not in terms of having exchanged names, but we have sideline-watched the same practices a few times and he once nodded a greeting at me. 

Here's Moyes at USMNT practice

Anyway, Moyes is now the manager of Real Sociedad. So yeah, he's the new coach of this guy - also known as "The Vela who Came in From the Cold".

But more importantly, Moyes is bouncing back from the haunted-by-Fergie mess that was Manchester United by boldly going where few foreign coaches have gone before - Spain. It may not be as exotic as Bob Bradley in Egypt, but La Liga isn't a common route for English speakers, either. The Scott has pluck and guts and tactical knowledge as well. 

Plus, Moyes will be coaching my blonde cousin, Sergio Canales. 

Seriously, though, I do have roots in Basque country. My father's grandfather, so the story goes, was Basque. 

Already speaks Spanish!

It won't be easy for Moyesey, though. When I was in San Sebastian, I was a bit floored by all the Euskara in use. The menus in some places didn't have translations into Spanish. I can understand quite a bit of Catalan and Portuguese, so when I hear those languages, I can generally follow a simple conversation, but the Basque language is an isolate one, so I can't draw on the Latin roots of Spanish at all to help me. 

If Moyes needs help with his Spanish, though, or if he wants a handy, skilled player who picks up new languages well, I do know one that might be available for a new adventure. Moyes has counted on him before, too.  

Coming Into the MLS Fold

NYCFC is coming along as the second team in New York, and with all the blue, it's looking very Chelseaish to go along with NY Red Bulls and their Manchester red vibe. 

Other than LA, which I guess won't count any more for a year or so, this now creates the first intra-city derby in MLS. 

As all MLS teams do, NYCFC partners up with adidas for jersey and logo stuff, which is going on sale soon, apparently. 

Round-up of LA Noche

Last night, 

People wondered why LD is retiring. 

Others understood. 

Baxty wrote on LA's 5-0 win. 

Incidentally, five goals is the number Columbus needed, but didn't get, versus the New England Revs. 

An LD playoff hat trick and yet this is all a paper in England could find worthy of an article? They didn't even name Taylor Twellman, who provided the quote that so mesmerized them. Shoddy. 

Just to appease TT fans, here's a pic of him back in the day - at a FIFA EA event, no less! 

Who in this picture is #2 to LD and what for?

#1 v #2

It's not the playoffs yet in Liga MX, but one of the almost-final games of regular season action featured Club America versus Toluca, who are top two in the standings in Mexico. 

Here's how it worked out. 

LA v Real Salt Lake - MLS Playoffs Running Blog

It's a scoreless draw coming in from the first leg, so it's all to play for here in LA. 

And they kick off!

3 - So far, just the mist that indicates it might be LD's last game has stood out. 
4 - Ishizaki gets clipped, isn't happy. 
5 - Gyasi Zardes goes wide on an attempt. Nerves showing a bit there. 
7 - Juninho from outside. Nothing doing. 
10 - RSL attack to Plata gets cut off, but Real starting to look more comfortable. 
11- Last game - WHATEVER! LD with the header finish to put Galaxy into the lead. 
14 - With the away goal in play, Galaxy need to consolidate this lead. 
15 - Which is something they didn't do versus Seattle here in Stub Hub not too long ago. 
16 - A nice chip cross by AJ de la Garza set up LD's goal, by the way. It was a fine one-touch volley. The entire build-up was good team play. 
17 - Robbie K's chip from distance goes too high. 
19 - It went out, but I like the hustle of Sarvas chasing that ball down. The little things matter in the playoffs. 
20 - Keane! He puts it in and that lead consolidation I mentioned? Done.  Pinpoint pass from LD. 
23 - It's hard to tell if RSL are discouraged or if the Galaxy are just steamrolling right now. Probably a bit of both. 
24 - ESPN Deportes spends some time explaining that Keane wasn't offside, even though it looked a bit like he was. 
26 - LD on the run at goal - shoots high, almost as high as that 2009 penalty shootout. This was presumably less painful. 
30 - That mask looks hot and painful. 
32 - Juninho earns a foul, so a Galaxy freekick - who to take? Ooh, a trick play that nearly led to a Omar header on goal. Not quite, though. 
34 - LD nearly sets up Sarvas for another goal - but last defender blocks shot. 
36 - Leonardo gets injured, is carted off the field. 
37 - He is replaced by Tommy Meyer and his mustache. This Movember thing is really a thing, folks. 
38 - Ishi leads the break, but LD's pass, can't quite make it to Keane and the attack dies. 

Here are some recent Jaime Penedo quotes I got that are a bit relevant tonight. 

I don’t ever want to want to feel relaxed. There’s a saying in Panama, “He who feels relaxed, loses.” I believe it. Here, the competition is tough, we have a tough coach - a winning coach. So that pushes you every day in training. I’m happy working with the defenders - they’re doing well, we’re practicing well together. I’m happy with them, but I’m not relaxed.

We’ve had injuries, and now we won’t have Omar, but there are also players who have been working hard all throughout the year, Meyer, Leo, and they hope to do well when given the opportunity.

42 - Right on cue, announcers praise Penedo's calm play. Then Keane nearly sets up a Zardes goal.
43 - Gyasi again nearly puts in another goal, but Nick Rimando saves well.

Halftime - The Galaxy came to play. RSL thinking about starting to do that in the second half.

47 - Keane should have done better on a shot there.
51 - Keane on the attack again, gets a corner opportunity. Waters himself off with a bottle as Ishi goes to take the corner.
52 - Corner eventually leads to a Juninho angled shot, but Nicky R is all over it.
53 - Landon with a good run and cross to Keane, who promptly hoofs it way over the goal.
55 - LD with another goal! This time he was selfish and took the run and the shot by himself. Nicely done. 3-0. Keane was the provider, almost as if to say sorry for the earlier miss.
58 - Penedo with a monster save. Keeping all the goals for his team so far.
60 - Penedo's effort show Galaxy aren't going to sleep on this lead like they did versus Seattle.
63- Marcelo Sarvas makes the run and gets rewarded! 4-0 Galaxy. Stomping RSL in the house of Stub.
65 - RSL on the attack, but Penedo is still on parry duty.
67 - Beckerman and Findley on the attack, but to no avail as the final line of the Galaxy pokes ball away.
70 - Galaxy counter has Keane, Zardes and LD on the run, but LD pulls up, preferring to kill a bit of time with possession.
71 - LD again! Keane with the chip pass, LD volleys it into the corner past Rimando. 5-0 Galaxy.
75- Come at me, bro. Tell me again that LD didn't deserve to go to the World Cup.
79 - Keane shoots high. He might have had a hat trick as well. But with the shooting high and all. His assist boots are on, though.
82 - LD gets a yellow for arguing with the referee. Alan Gordon comes on. LD might regret that yellow in the next round.
84 - Keane on the run, tries to pass to Gordo, but defense cuts that off.
87 - Gordo working the mustache look, too.
88 - Zardes hoofs long for Gordo, who helps Ishi get a corner out of it. Out of that, Gordo pings the ball off the post. Close to yet another goal.
90 - RSL still fighting for some goal of honor. But Galaxy counter quickly. The shot goes wide and the referee ends the suffering of the Salt Lakers.

Final thoughts - Galaxy dominant with a capital Donovan. 5-0 was a victory of massive proportions. Seattle probably up next, but Dallas may surprise. Night, all.

You're Having A LAFC!

LA is getting a new soccer team - LAFC. But this won't be the first time Nomar and Mia have been in charge of a soccer squad. 

Posting the pics from their charity soccer matches reminds me of what an important cause bone marrow and organ donation really is. 

Perhaps that can become a key component of the new club, like it has in Brazil for Recife. Every time I see this video, I think of the lives that can be saved and I get a little misty. Soccer fandom is great, but when it matters in terms of real life or death, that's just incredible. 

Quote Dump

Last batch of those recent LD quotes: 

One match for the national team that you consider a signature match?

Signature match? I’d probably pick two. One was against Germany in the ‘02 World Cup. I think I played well, except for not scoring. And two, I think would be the ‘09 semifinal against Spain. I think that was probably one of the best games I’ve played from beginning to end. The Algeria game - I mean, I didn’t the whole game - I mean, that moment, yeah.

Was that moment the apex though?

It’s hard to say not. Obviously, my first game was, too.

If you had known that you wouldn’t make the World Cup team, would you have still come back this year?

Yeah. I wanted to play another year. I wanted to see how it went. I was in a good place, mentally, physically. Obviously, the World Cup played into that, but I wanted to be back here. This was a year I wanted to play for sure.

How motivating has the snub been?

To be honest, it hasn’t at all. I know that’s hard to believe. I’m glad, in a lot of ways. As crazy as this sounds, some of the worst things in my life have turned out to be some of the best things. I had an opportunity to grow a lot this year and I wouldn’t have had that opportunity if I had gone to the World Cup and played in the World Cup. I’ve grown a lot from it and I think it’s probably shown in the way I’ve played.

How have you grown?

When life is easy and things go your way, you don’t learn a whole lot. But when things don’t go your way, it can be a good learning experience.

Do you know what position you’re playing for your last game?

I have no idea.

It’s kind of a crazy schedule, an international and ending the regular season.

Going into these last few weeks, a lot is being asked of me, and normally I would say no to at least some of it, but I understand that it’s important to a lot of people, me included. It’s a little tiring at times to do a lot of things, but the objective is get everything finished -well, to enjoy it, too- and then be able to focus on the playoffs.

We Are Not Champions, Not Yet

Club America, Club America. . .  Follow their exploits here, by the way. 

What's a bit tricky for the squad is that they've got to finish out two weeks of the regular season with nothing to win other than what they already have - the leadership of Liga MX. They also could very well lose that. And even though that would be humiliating, it ultimately wouldn't matter because the team is already in the playoffs. Then again, it could matter a lot, because they will likely face the same teams in the liguilla. 

But no one said winning that lucky 12th championship was easy. 

Here's more info. 

Food, Glorious Food! Maybe Mexican Food.

More leftover LD quotes 

If there was a chance, that maybe they’d schedule a game against Mexico in January, would you consider returning?

I’d probably be at least 20 pounds heavier, so I don’t think they’d want me.

From celebrating the championship - by eating everything you see?

I’m going to eat everything I see regardless.

What’s the first couple of menu items?

It’s not necessarily menu items, it’s more about eating them as often as I want. Now, it’s maybe once a week. Then, it’ll be a few more times a week.

LD on Mexico

Landon Donovan 
(leftover quotes from when I spoke to him before his final international game)

Assuming you don’t score against Ecuador, goals against Mexico will bookend your international career. 

Yeah, that's a good story.

Could you speak on that - and also, were you watching when Mexico was on the brink of elimination from the World Cup last year? What were you thinking at that time?

One of my first internationals with the under-17s was against Mexico, so obviously, they’ve been a big part of my career, ups and downs. What I’ve learned is that they’ve helped us so much. Even though there’s been some animosity and negativity around it, without them, soccer here doesn’t grow the same way. 
While a lot of people were probably excited at the prospect of them not making the World Cup, I was not rooting for that. I wanted them to be there. It’s important that they’re there. It’s important that they represent this region, because they’re a good team and they show it every time they play in the World Cup. I’ve had some rough times in games against them throughout my career, but in the end, when I look back, I have so much respect for everything that’s been a part of the rivalry.

Was the biggest down against them when they eliminated the US from the Olympics, or a Gold Cup final?

The biggest down on the field was probably that Olympic qualifying 4-0 loss, yes. Off the field, just dealing with stupid comments that I wish I hadn’t said when I was younger. That kind of stuff brought me a lot of grief from people. I’ve learned from that. But there’s been a lot of very exciting games and we need that rivalry. We need that to continue and I think that’s good for everybody.

Chivas USA memories

We had joy 

Guess which player is still in MLS?

we had fun

The ChivaGirls!

We had seasons in the sun. 

Nomar! No more Chivas USA.

But the hills that we climbed were just seasons out of time. 

Where were you when Preki beat Brazil? Cobi was there.

We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.

One of the biggest banners in MLS ever?

But the wine and the song, like the seasons, all have gone. 

Landon, Unfiltered

Here's a partial transcript of the media questions for LD on Tuesday about his farewell international match. I didn't post them earlier because I didn't want to put out quotes that people needed to write their articles, but most of these have now been published. Landon talked for a while longer, so I might post that later. Landon is, as usual, very candid, which is why I tend to trust his honesty over people who dodge press questions. Incidentally, I did not ask any of these questions. I asked a few towards the end.  

What are your emotions before the game? 

Emotions? I'm excited. It's going to be different for me. I'm not going until Thursday, so it's not going to feel like a normal camp, but it's going to be really nice. This summer, obviously, was tough, not only for me, but for my family. So, then we'll all have a chance to enjoy a national team game again. It'll be nice. You don't want your last memory to be getting cut from a team and my family didn't, either. So this will be a nice way to hopefully put a ribbon on my career. I'm excited to have the chance to say goodbye to a lot of people who have been supportive of me. 

I don't believe US Soccer has ever done this before. 

I don't know. 

I mean, it says something about the magnitude of the honor. 

Sure. Obviously, I give Sunil a lot of credit for making the effort to make this happen. He made sure that this was something that was going to happen. I'm glad that he did. I was very unsure at first. He did a good job of making everything come together so that this could be possible.  I think it's going to be a terrific event and I'm very excited for it. 

Without him, does it not happen?

I don't know for sure, but I'd say that's a safe assumption. 

Have you heard from Jurgen? 

I have not. 

So, the first time you'll talk to him is when you show up on Thursday? 

Perhaps, yeah. 

Have you guys talked at all since Palo Alto? 

No. 

Are you disappointed that you haven't heard from him, leading up to this?

Disappointed? No. 

Surprised? 

No. 

Frustrated? 

No. 

Happy? All of the above? 

I don't give it much thought, to be honest. 

What will you expect from this? 

Part of it is a little tricky because I've so far approached it as a nice event and a chance for me to say goodbye and a chance for the fans to say goodbye, but the reality is that it's a Class A international game that means a lot to a lot of people, so this week I've turned my focus to make sure that I don't just go and soak up everything - that I go and help the team any way I can. That's important, too. I owe that to everyone who is playing in the game. I want to make sure that I have that attitude. Other than that, I don't know what to expect. 

This is an old picture, but same dude, same field where interview took place.

What do you remember about your first game against Mexico in the Coliseum (Los Angeles)? 

I remember it was crazy. I remember there were a lot of Mexicans in the Coliseum. I remember not expecting to play. Within minutes, with Chris Henderson going down, just not having time to really think about going into the game. From there, obviously, it was a dream come true in every way. It's a game I'll never forget. 

Did Bruce tell you anything? 

Honestly, I don't remember. It was just surreal to be there, as a starting point. I didn't know any better. I was just too young and dumb to even know what was going on. I just ran around and it all worked out and it was great. 

Did you feel, "I'm a national team player now" after that?

For guys my age, we didn't grow up with MLS. The ultimate goal was to play for the national team. That's all you saw on on TV. Kids now think, "I'd love to play for the Galaxy. I mean, I want to play for the national team, but I also want to play for the Galaxy." For me, it was the only goal, because I didn't know anything different. So this was truly my dream come true. It was just - I didn't know if I'd ever play again. I was ecstatic to be there and play. 

And to do it at home made it more special. 

Yeah, my whole family got to be there. It could not have been more perfect in that way. 

A lot of people say that you, especially have been part of expanding that dream, where kids now have other dreams. 

I think a lot of us in this generation have and a lot in the generation before have. Sports are - it's a long process to make a sport popular. It's not five years or ten years or even twenty years. The NFL wasn't always what it is today. The NBA wasn't always what it is today. There's a lot of guys who played - and girls in women's sports, that paved the way to make things the way they are. We're doing our part. We sort of came in at a point where the sport was very much fluctuating between whether is it going to stay or not. It was an interesting time to be a part of it and I think we get a lot of praise for it, but the reality is, without the people that came before, we wouldn't have been there, either. 

What's Cooking, Doc?

Andres Iniesta has always seemed to be one of the athletes who simply doesn't look much like an athlete. He could pass for a professor, doctor, or computer programmer, rather than one of the world's elite in his sport. 

Now his generation of Barcelona players is fading a bit, and the dynamic pairing of Xavi and Iniesta in midfield isn't what it once was. Time does that. 

Apparently, Iniesta has interests off the field as well. Check out his cooking class! I would really watch this if it was a regular TV show, too. 

Andrés Iniesta también cocina fuera del campo http://t.co/X8LvB092b9 Vía: @as_tv pic.twitter.com/iOQyXzRv9j
— AS (@diarioas) September 16, 2014

Ronaldinho Arrives In Mexico, Faces Racism

In a week in which Mexico had to confront racism in the homefront after local Queretaro politician Carlos Trevino called new signing Ronaldinho an “ape”, the performance of the players on the field became almost an afterthought. 

Queretaro, to the club’s credit, swiftly denounced Trevino’s churlish statements that he made on his Facebook page, posted partly because he was angry about the traffic caused by the presentation ceremony of the Brazilian star. Though the club called for Trevino to be punished for his prejudicial commentary on social media, all that appears to have happened so far is the removal of the original post and a rather tepid apology via Twitter.

Yet much like the banana thrown at Dani Alves back in April earlier this year, the Trevino incident provoked a reaction among the public. 

Unlike the Villarreal fan who was banned for life for throwing the banana at Alves, Trevino is clearly not a supporter of the sport in any way, so his racist action was not couched in any disguise of loyalty to another club. 

The outrage expressed by many at the insult to Ronaldinho, a legend in the game, does lead me to hope that all those who do love soccer will unite against any displays of racism in the future.

Regardless of if one dislikes a sport, people should be granted their human dignity. If one does appreciate the beautiful game, then those who perform well should be respected for their abilities on the field.

Final Landon Exclusion Comments, Parte Tres

Here is the translation of what LD said in Spanish today. 

Are you mad?

I’m not mad, I’m sad. Because I worked very hard to have this opportunity to play in the World Cup, just like the others. Sometimes decisions don’t go in your favor. Life is like that. But it’s still frustrating, and it hurts a lot.

What did Jurgen say to you, what were his reasons?

What we talked about is private, but he told me I wasn’t going. I told him that I respected his decision. If it was my choice, it would be different.

First reaction?

I couldn’t believe it. It was a little incredible for me. I felt like it might be a dream, but then it was just very sad.

Is this unjust?

After the ten days in Stanford, when I look in the mirror, I can say that I deserve to go to Brazil. Not only for what I’ve done in the past, but I’m in good form. I’m strong physically and I worked really hard in each training. I think my teammates wanted me there. It’s hard, but at times, decisions don’t go your way. Life is like that at times.

Landon's Final Words, Part II

Other names on list that were surprising?

There’s a lot of arguments that you can make for everybody. Decisions are tough. It’s a good thing that we have tough decisions to make. In past World Cups, you probably knew the 10 to 15 guys who were the best players and the other ones weren’t up to snuff, but now we have a good group of many, many players who are in their own way deserving of being there. So that’s a good sign for US soccer.

Mystified?

I’m disappointed. I’m sad. I’m human and I wanted to go. I really wanted to go. I’m at peace with it. I respect the decision. I just feel in my heart that I deserve to be there and that’s the pill that’s hard to swallow.

Random Becks question

Beckham’s going to the World Cup? There’s a lot of discrepancies between me and Beckham. I don’t know. I can’t speak to that.

Sabbatical affected choice - if you had it over?

I would absolutely do the same thing. My performances and my stats and the way I played since my sabbatical speak for themselves. I actually think I’ve been a much better player since I came back.

Motivation for MLS season?

I’ve never been a guy who has been motivated by the negative. I don’t operate that way. Some people do, but that’s not my way of doing things. I’m excited to be back here. I certainly didn’t want to be here under these circumstances or this soon, but I love these guys. These are my teammates, this is my home. I will not let this affect me going forward.

Landon's Final Words on Klinsmann Cutting Him from World Cup

Reporter questions here are shortened down, Landon Donovan's responses as close to exact as I could get transcribing. 

How do you move on from this disappointment?

To be honest, the support I have received has been really overwhelming, and I think it’s helped me understand the sort of impact that I've helped have. It’s been really nice and so at the end of the day, although it’s surprising and disappointing, this is my job and all the guys out here (indicating Galaxy players) are depending on me and I want to continue playing and enjoying myself, like I have been.

Did you have a feeling or indication of exclusion?

No, quite the opposite, actually. Based on my performances leading up to the camp, based on Based on my preparation for the camp, based on my fitness, based on my workload, based on the way I trained and played in camp, I not only thought I was a part of the 23, I thought I was in contention to be starting. That’s why this has all been pretty disappointing.

What is your level of anger in this decision?

I’m not angry. I’m disappointed. I’ve spent most of my adult life and the majority of my life in general, dedicating myself to the sport in this country and representing my country. So, I was really looking forward to the opportunity to play in another World Cup and to help this team. Having been in camp for ten days, I really thought I was going to contribute in a big way, probably bigger than I had expected going in. From that standpoint, I think it’s disappointing. I think every one of my teammates would probably echo those same words.