Kansas City will look quite a bit different in 2008 than it has in recent years. Eddie Johnson is gone as he is headed to England and Fulham. The defense will also undergo a huge transition as mainstays Jose Burciaga and Nick Garcia are now on their way out. Burciaga is headed to Colorado and Garcia is property of San Jose.
For the latter, Kansas City picked up the first overall pick in Friday's SuperDraft. Giving up a proven defender for a draft choice is risky but KC needed to change over their roster. The writing for Burciaga's exit was also on the wall late in the season as he stopped being a regular starter.
For San Jose, the trade is clear that Frank Yallop wants to win now. RSL got nothing out of their draft pick, the first overall in 2005, and Toronto struck gold with Maurice Edu a year ago. But there's a better shot of drafting a Nik Besagno than an Edu, as the first overall pick has more often than not been a bust.
Colorado gets a good left back, a bit of a rarity in MLS. However, their problems are well-rooted and Burciaga isn't the tip of the iceberg that needs to crash into the Dick for things to change there.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Backtrack
Look familiar? This was pretty much the look for our blog in 2007, which I'm calling OG SV.
Anyway, my vacation is nearly over, and I'll get back to posting about soccer news when I get home. I realize some of you are sick of the changing blog looks, but relax, that's nearly over, too. Last chance to vote, folks.
As far as the Fishy trade, well, those LA fans who are superstitious about the Galaxy only being able to win MLS Cup if a Guatemalan scores have taken heart at the return of Ruiz.
Frankly, I always had the sense that Ruiz was unhappy about being pushed out of LA - he always wanted to come back.
Anyway, my vacation is nearly over, and I'll get back to posting about soccer news when I get home. I realize some of you are sick of the changing blog looks, but relax, that's nearly over, too. Last chance to vote, folks.
As far as the Fishy trade, well, those LA fans who are superstitious about the Galaxy only being able to win MLS Cup if a Guatemalan scores have taken heart at the return of Ruiz.
Frankly, I always had the sense that Ruiz was unhappy about being pushed out of LA - he always wanted to come back.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Last thought on InterLiga
Before I forget, here's a link to the story I wrote about Saturday's America-Cruz Azul game. I wrote it for today's Press-Enterprise.
I pondered here the other night how great of a game that was and how it would rank among the games I've covered. I think it will go down as the best game I've covered at Home Depot Center. It tops the Galaxy-Pachuca game, which before Saturday was number one on that list.
I think number 118 on that list was the Galaxy-DC United game on June 2 of last year, the boring 0-0 draw between the two teams. Number 119 was Chivas USA-Osasuna in March of 2005, another boring game.
I pondered here the other night how great of a game that was and how it would rank among the games I've covered. I think it will go down as the best game I've covered at Home Depot Center. It tops the Galaxy-Pachuca game, which before Saturday was number one on that list.
I think number 118 on that list was the Galaxy-DC United game on June 2 of last year, the boring 0-0 draw between the two teams. Number 119 was Chivas USA-Osasuna in March of 2005, another boring game.
Goodson's here
Clarence Goodson, by the way, was in camp today. Eddie Johnson bolted after joining Fulham but Goodson didn't after signing with IK Start.
Taylor Twellman is still around but then again he hasn't joined anybody.
Taylor Twellman is still around but then again he hasn't joined anybody.
Bob on camp
Here's about seven or eight minutes worth of conversation with Bob Bradley.
At the end, I asked him about Jonathan Bornstein and his trip to Israel. Bob wanted to reply off the record, so I shut off the recorder. Sorry, but I've got to respect that.
At the end, I asked him about Jonathan Bornstein and his trip to Israel. Bob wanted to reply off the record, so I shut off the recorder. Sorry, but I've got to respect that.
And then there were three
Billy Witz of the LA Daily News was out at USMNT camp today as well and talked to Jimmy Conrad. Billy mentioned to me that Jimmy had made a great point about the Galaxy. It seems the Galaxy now have three Designated Players on their roster as David Beckham and the only two players still with the league to have grandfathered their contracts in are now aboard.
Carlos Ruiz is a great player and will help out the Galaxy immensely. I think it's a bit weird, though, that he's rejoining the team. I mean, the team he left is for all intents and purposes a different team now, and I don't mean just the players and coaches. Doug Hamilton brought in Carlos Ruiz and the Galaxy under Doug was much different (and better) than the Galaxy squad we have before us now. Priorities are different. The way the team runs their business is different. What matters to the team is different.
I liked the old Galaxy better. Maybe Fish can bring some of that nostalgia back.
Carlos Ruiz is a great player and will help out the Galaxy immensely. I think it's a bit weird, though, that he's rejoining the team. I mean, the team he left is for all intents and purposes a different team now, and I don't mean just the players and coaches. Doug Hamilton brought in Carlos Ruiz and the Galaxy under Doug was much different (and better) than the Galaxy squad we have before us now. Priorities are different. The way the team runs their business is different. What matters to the team is different.
I liked the old Galaxy better. Maybe Fish can bring some of that nostalgia back.
Mo's def
I finally had the opportunity to go to US training camp today. I'll post some audio of here shortly.
I went out for the Press-Enterprise as I'm writing a feature on local boy Maurice Edu. Local guys always draw more interest in the PE and I'm lucky that the best American is from the IE. But guys like Edu also draw interest and I had the chance to talk to him and to Todd Dunivant about Edu.
I like Mo's chances of starting on Saturday against Sweden. It seems his main competition will be Ricardo Clark and Sacha Kljestan. My guess is that Bradley goes with two of those three to start the game. Edu of course has two 90-minute games under his belt already so he's proven himself in somewhat adverse conditions (1-0 wins at Switzerland and at South Africa).
Edu has a bit of history out here at HDC. Ironically, he's yet to play as a pro here but he probably will play on Saturday here and played a memorable game here while with Maryland in 2004.
Anyway, the story's running on Thursday so keep an eye out for that.
I went out for the Press-Enterprise as I'm writing a feature on local boy Maurice Edu. Local guys always draw more interest in the PE and I'm lucky that the best American is from the IE. But guys like Edu also draw interest and I had the chance to talk to him and to Todd Dunivant about Edu.
I like Mo's chances of starting on Saturday against Sweden. It seems his main competition will be Ricardo Clark and Sacha Kljestan. My guess is that Bradley goes with two of those three to start the game. Edu of course has two 90-minute games under his belt already so he's proven himself in somewhat adverse conditions (1-0 wins at Switzerland and at South Africa).
Edu has a bit of history out here at HDC. Ironically, he's yet to play as a pro here but he probably will play on Saturday here and played a memorable game here while with Maryland in 2004.
Anyway, the story's running on Thursday so keep an eye out for that.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Minima Lefty makes its case
Minima Lefty, folks.
Vote, vote, vote! It's funny how OG SV dominated the original poll and then 565 has come on strong in the finalist poll. I guess that makes Minima Lefty the John Edwards or Mike Huckabee of our blog.
Or something. I'm probably overthinking it. Anyway, exercise your rights as a blog reader and vote.
Vote, vote, vote! It's funny how OG SV dominated the original poll and then 565 has come on strong in the finalist poll. I guess that makes Minima Lefty the John Edwards or Mike Huckabee of our blog.
Or something. I'm probably overthinking it. Anyway, exercise your rights as a blog reader and vote.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Partidazo
It's 1 a.m. Do you know where your blogger is?
Right here at HDC. I think I'm the last one in the press box. It feels like it's about 10 p.m. with all the noise in the press box and in the stands still... clean-up crews are going strong.
This stadium was the site of one of the most dramatic games to ever unfold here at Home Depot Center. America and Cruz Azul played to a 3-3 draw that saw both timely goals, disputed plays and dramatic moments. America prevailed after taking the shootout by 5-3.
The action on the field was only outdone by the atmosphere in the stands. It's not often that we see drama and energy and pure electricity reach the levels we saw on Saturday. There have been large crowds here before; the Galaxy-Real Madrid and Galaxy-Chelsea crowds were comparable in size but this crowd dwarfed those in terms of pure emotion and electricity. America fans literally stopped cheering for a combined 60 seconds. Even after Cruz Azul goals, the America faithful was going strong and urging their team along.
America coach Daniel Brailovsky credited the fans for helping bolster his team's will and fighting spirit.
I'll get back to you later, once this all settles in, and let you know where I rank this in terms of great matches I've covered. I can't imagine it won't be in my top five.
Right here at HDC. I think I'm the last one in the press box. It feels like it's about 10 p.m. with all the noise in the press box and in the stands still... clean-up crews are going strong.
This stadium was the site of one of the most dramatic games to ever unfold here at Home Depot Center. America and Cruz Azul played to a 3-3 draw that saw both timely goals, disputed plays and dramatic moments. America prevailed after taking the shootout by 5-3.
The action on the field was only outdone by the atmosphere in the stands. It's not often that we see drama and energy and pure electricity reach the levels we saw on Saturday. There have been large crowds here before; the Galaxy-Real Madrid and Galaxy-Chelsea crowds were comparable in size but this crowd dwarfed those in terms of pure emotion and electricity. America fans literally stopped cheering for a combined 60 seconds. Even after Cruz Azul goals, the America faithful was going strong and urging their team along.
America coach Daniel Brailovsky credited the fans for helping bolster his team's will and fighting spirit.
I'll get back to you later, once this all settles in, and let you know where I rank this in terms of great matches I've covered. I can't imagine it won't be in my top five.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Elite matchup
I'm here at Home Depot Center settling in with a warm cup of joe waiting for the start of Atlas-San Luis. Scott French ditched me so I've got to write both match reports and match features for tonight's doubleheader... okay, well, truth be told Scott is in Florida for the combine and is spending the week out on the East Coast for the combine and draft.
So while we wait for the start of the doubleheader, which sold out well before the start of today's games, I'm thinking that we will be hard pressed to see a matchup quite like America-Cruz Azul here at Home Depot Center this year. Combined America and Cruz Azul have won 18 domestic titles, count on World Cup stars past, present and future and each has legions of supporters.
It's not a friendly as well, which makes the game much more interesting. Hopefully it lives up to the hype.
So while we wait for the start of the doubleheader, which sold out well before the start of today's games, I'm thinking that we will be hard pressed to see a matchup quite like America-Cruz Azul here at Home Depot Center this year. Combined America and Cruz Azul have won 18 domestic titles, count on World Cup stars past, present and future and each has legions of supporters.
It's not a friendly as well, which makes the game much more interesting. Hopefully it lives up to the hype.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Are you going to go Thisaway?
It's Thisaway's turn to win readers over one last time in our final template poll.
I guess I might as well throw in my reaction to the Joe Cannon move. Personally, I liked Joe - he was a stand-up guy who would take on most any question any reporter had. It makes me a little sad to think that his honesty and my reporting what he said ever got him in trouble, because the world needs more forthright people. Joe had a good sense of humor, too, and that's always nice to have around.
In some ways, though, Frank Yallop's move to trade for Joe put him in a tough position. I mean, everybody on the Galaxy felt pressure due to the trade for Beckham and all the attention on the team. Joe, though, got an extra dose of that - he was essentially taking over for the most beloved non-Cobi player in Galaxy history (Kevin Hartman). Not to mention that the trade for Cannon had cost the Galaxy their hero of 2005, Hercules Gomez ,and of course, the talented defender Ugo Ihemelu.
Did the expectations and stress get to Joe? Probably. He's a guy who wears his emotions openly (I had one reporter tell me he thought Joe might be a little crazy. I told him all goalkeepers were considered crazy. He said, "There's weird, then there's goalkeeper crazy, then there's Cannon - and he's on his own level.") It seemed in some games that Joe made mistakes because he was almost trying too hard. Goalkeepers have to be alert, yet relaxed and confident to have their best games, and Joe rarely looked as if he hit that comfort zone.
Frankly, I don't think the whole
incident with me reporting that he said he might like to play in San Jose one day would have been a big deal to him if he hadn't already been on edge. If Joe had been playing his very best, and the Galaxy were winning regularly, Joe would have mostly likely laughed off any reaction fans might have had.
He was still talented enough to be one of the top goalkeepers in the league even with his difficulties, and he still had a blinder of a game to keep the Galaxy in the match versus Chicago at the end of the season until the very, very last moments. That's what I'll remember most, I guess.
I guess I might as well throw in my reaction to the Joe Cannon move. Personally, I liked Joe - he was a stand-up guy who would take on most any question any reporter had. It makes me a little sad to think that his honesty and my reporting what he said ever got him in trouble, because the world needs more forthright people. Joe had a good sense of humor, too, and that's always nice to have around.
In some ways, though, Frank Yallop's move to trade for Joe put him in a tough position. I mean, everybody on the Galaxy felt pressure due to the trade for Beckham and all the attention on the team. Joe, though, got an extra dose of that - he was essentially taking over for the most beloved non-Cobi player in Galaxy history (Kevin Hartman). Not to mention that the trade for Cannon had cost the Galaxy their hero of 2005, Hercules Gomez ,and of course, the talented defender Ugo Ihemelu.
Did the expectations and stress get to Joe? Probably. He's a guy who wears his emotions openly (I had one reporter tell me he thought Joe might be a little crazy. I told him all goalkeepers were considered crazy. He said, "There's weird, then there's goalkeeper crazy, then there's Cannon - and he's on his own level.") It seemed in some games that Joe made mistakes because he was almost trying too hard. Goalkeepers have to be alert, yet relaxed and confident to have their best games, and Joe rarely looked as if he hit that comfort zone.
Frankly, I don't think the whole
incident with me reporting that he said he might like to play in San Jose one day would have been a big deal to him if he hadn't already been on edge. If Joe had been playing his very best, and the Galaxy were winning regularly, Joe would have mostly likely laughed off any reaction fans might have had. He was still talented enough to be one of the top goalkeepers in the league even with his difficulties, and he still had a blinder of a game to keep the Galaxy in the match versus Chicago at the end of the season until the very, very last moments. That's what I'll remember most, I guess.
Jazic out
Ante Jazic isn't on his way to San Jose, but he won't be with the Galaxy at the start of this season. Jazic had ankle surgery and will be out 4-6 months.
Jazic, of course, was one of Frank Yallop's first additions to the club. Jazic missed a big chunk of the 2007 season with ankle problems as well.
Mike Randolph figures to get a look at left back but whether he can continue his unexpected standout play on the left side or if he regresses remains to be seen. Ruud Gullit, of course, could always consider bringing in another left back altogether.
Jazic, of course, was one of Frank Yallop's first additions to the club. Jazic missed a big chunk of the 2007 season with ankle problems as well.
Mike Randolph figures to get a look at left back but whether he can continue his unexpected standout play on the left side or if he regresses remains to be seen. Ruud Gullit, of course, could always consider bringing in another left back altogether.
Interested after all
It's difficult to tell which of the participating Mexican clubs really care about InterLiga. By the squad they sent, it was obvious that Pumas didn't. On the contrary, Atlas officials were hugging each other, cheering and pumping their fists in the air after they won the coin toss to allow them to play on Saturday, so that led me to believe that they do care about InterLiga.
I would have put Monterrey in the first category, as a team that didn't really care about the tourney. They didn't look very good and their results were, yet again, lousy.
Turns out, they may have cared more about it than i had thought. Monterrey fired coach Isaac Mizrahi days after they bowed out of InterLiga.
It seems like a strange move. Mizrahi was brought in midway through last season and had just begun preparations for the Clausura 2008 season. Monterrey brought in Robert De Pinho and Jared Borgetti and Mizrahi was seemingly confident about their prospects for the season.
Now, he's gone. Maybe Monterrey cared more about InterLiga than I thought.
I would have put Monterrey in the first category, as a team that didn't really care about the tourney. They didn't look very good and their results were, yet again, lousy.
Turns out, they may have cared more about it than i had thought. Monterrey fired coach Isaac Mizrahi days after they bowed out of InterLiga.
It seems like a strange move. Mizrahi was brought in midway through last season and had just begun preparations for the Clausura 2008 season. Monterrey brought in Robert De Pinho and Jared Borgetti and Mizrahi was seemingly confident about their prospects for the season.
Now, he's gone. Maybe Monterrey cared more about InterLiga than I thought.
The gang's all back together
... in San Jose.
Like Frank Yallop, Joe Cannon's stay in Los Angeles was not what it could have been. Like Yallop, Cannon had long been considered one of the league's best at what he did yet neither could recreate that magic with the Galaxy.
Yallop left the Galaxy for San Jose, and he's now taken his preferred goalkeeper with him. The Galaxy received allocation money for the move which lets us know how much they wanted to part company with him.
Joe Cannon was never really a fan favorite with the Galaxy. He'd been a favorite of Colorado fans but his previous tenure with San Jose apparently was too much for some Galaxy faithful to truly embrace him as one of their own. Plus, there was that whole incident Andrea unknowingly triggered with Joe and his future intentions of returning to play in San Jose.
In the end, the trade I felt was the worst trade Frank Yallop made - the Cannon-for-Herc-and-Ugo deal - just got even worse. Yallop blew up the team in December 2006 to get Cannon (the move triggered the Hartman-to-KC deal) and now none of those figures are with the club.
I'm curious to know how Galaxy fans feel about this trade. On the one hand, Joe may feel like Yallop in that he's getting away from what turned out to be a troubling situation and is now headed away from the limelight and to something new. On the other, Joe's talent can't really be overlooked. His move does create a hole, unless Steve Cronin is mentally and physically ready to assume the duties.
Like Frank Yallop, Joe Cannon's stay in Los Angeles was not what it could have been. Like Yallop, Cannon had long been considered one of the league's best at what he did yet neither could recreate that magic with the Galaxy.
Yallop left the Galaxy for San Jose, and he's now taken his preferred goalkeeper with him. The Galaxy received allocation money for the move which lets us know how much they wanted to part company with him.
Joe Cannon was never really a fan favorite with the Galaxy. He'd been a favorite of Colorado fans but his previous tenure with San Jose apparently was too much for some Galaxy faithful to truly embrace him as one of their own. Plus, there was that whole incident Andrea unknowingly triggered with Joe and his future intentions of returning to play in San Jose.
In the end, the trade I felt was the worst trade Frank Yallop made - the Cannon-for-Herc-and-Ugo deal - just got even worse. Yallop blew up the team in December 2006 to get Cannon (the move triggered the Hartman-to-KC deal) and now none of those figures are with the club.
I'm curious to know how Galaxy fans feel about this trade. On the one hand, Joe may feel like Yallop in that he's getting away from what turned out to be a troubling situation and is now headed away from the limelight and to something new. On the other, Joe's talent can't really be overlooked. His move does create a hole, unless Steve Cronin is mentally and physically ready to assume the duties.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Looking for change
After the America-Atlas match on Wednesday, I happened to take the same elevator down to the bowels of Home Depot Center with some high-ranking FMF officials. Decio De Maria, secretary general of the FMF, and Guillermo Cantu, who oversees all the national teams, along with press chief Mauricio Zavala, were among the 10 or 12 people in the elevator with me. They were going down to administer the coin flip, the final tiebreaker that would determine if Atlas or Toluca would go through to Saturday's final.
De Maria needed a coin, but he told his colleagues that he didn't have any change. Zavala reached into his pockets and pulled out a quarter.
"No, not one of those," De Maria said. "I need a Mexican coin."
Cantu had no change, Mexican or otherwise. Another person on the elevator pulled out a handful of Mexican pesos and De Maria wound up with a five-peso coin, which later Bruno Marioni called correctly as Atlas won the coin flip and advanced to Saturday's finals that way.
De Maria needed a coin, but he told his colleagues that he didn't have any change. Zavala reached into his pockets and pulled out a quarter.
"No, not one of those," De Maria said. "I need a Mexican coin."
Cantu had no change, Mexican or otherwise. Another person on the elevator pulled out a handful of Mexican pesos and De Maria wound up with a five-peso coin, which later Bruno Marioni called correctly as Atlas won the coin flip and advanced to Saturday's finals that way.
Clasico Joven
I think it would have been better had America played San Luis and Cruz Azul to play Atlas. Then at least you'd have a chance of America and Cruz Azul joining Chivas in Libertadores, and that's a formidable field.
As it stands, we get quite a treat on Saturday as America will play rivals Cruz Azul in the Clasico Joven at Home Depot Center. We've gotten to see the Clascio Regiomontano at HDC and now this. A colleague asked which is the second-best Mexican clasico behind America-Chivas and I told him the Monterrey-Tigres one is a pretty heated rivalry but it's more a regional one. There were hardly any Monterrey and/or Tigres fans when those two teams met out here in 2006, as it was all Chivas colors in the stands that day. America-Cruz Azul, Chivas-Atlas, America-Pumas, you can't go wrong with those ones. And yes, even though those teams are from the same city, it's not necessarily a regional rivalry because those clubs transcend their locales.
As it stands, we get quite a treat on Saturday as America will play rivals Cruz Azul in the Clasico Joven at Home Depot Center. We've gotten to see the Clascio Regiomontano at HDC and now this. A colleague asked which is the second-best Mexican clasico behind America-Chivas and I told him the Monterrey-Tigres one is a pretty heated rivalry but it's more a regional one. There were hardly any Monterrey and/or Tigres fans when those two teams met out here in 2006, as it was all Chivas colors in the stands that day. America-Cruz Azul, Chivas-Atlas, America-Pumas, you can't go wrong with those ones. And yes, even though those teams are from the same city, it's not necessarily a regional rivalry because those clubs transcend their locales.
Email news
I feel out of touch on vacation - though I realize that's the point, I have to admit, I miss being on the spot for new stories.
Anyway, by email I did find out that the Galaxy have signed three players to new contracts, Alan Gordon, Chris Albright and Steve Cronin.
That doesn't mean they're going to stick around the team for long, though. Albright was trade bait last year and might be so again - the Galaxy have few other tradeable options.
Anyway, by email I did find out that the Galaxy have signed three players to new contracts, Alan Gordon, Chris Albright and Steve Cronin.
That doesn't mean they're going to stick around the team for long, though. Albright was trade bait last year and might be so again - the Galaxy have few other tradeable options.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Cold, chilly night
Thanks to a freeway closure on the 91 West, I missed the entire first half of the Toluca-Morelia match. A 2-hour drive coupled with a cold night and a downed internet connection in the press box to boot made me wonder why even bother with this tournmanet.
But then I look out in the stands and see all the yellow-clad America fans and, well, that's why. As popular as Cruz Azul and Pumas are, this tournament feeds off of America and Chivas. Those clubs draw the fans, and until fewer than 10,000 show up to watch America, this tournament is going to continue on full force.
There is a nice section of Atlas fans here and by nice I mean they're jumping up and down in the 61st minute of the first game. Pumas had a similar section last night. I see some red Toluca gear in the stands and a few Morelia shirts but the overwhelming majority of fans here are wearing America's colors.
But then I look out in the stands and see all the yellow-clad America fans and, well, that's why. As popular as Cruz Azul and Pumas are, this tournament feeds off of America and Chivas. Those clubs draw the fans, and until fewer than 10,000 show up to watch America, this tournament is going to continue on full force.
There is a nice section of Atlas fans here and by nice I mean they're jumping up and down in the 61st minute of the first game. Pumas had a similar section last night. I see some red Toluca gear in the stands and a few Morelia shirts but the overwhelming majority of fans here are wearing America's colors.
Saturday's finals
Over the five years InterLiga has been held, there haven't been too many matchups pitting giants against giants. No Chivas-America. No America-Pumas. No America-Cruz Azul.
We did get the clasico regiomontano here in Carson a few years ago but that, to me that doesn't stir the same emotions as el superclasico.
That changed last night when Cruz Azul played Pumas. It's not a clasico per se but it's a matchup of Mexican giants.
We might get another one on Saturday. If America beats or ties Atlas tonight, we'll get treated to America-Cruz Azul on Saturday, el clasico joven. I'm pretty excited at the prospect to be honest. I was hoping to get either America-Cruz Azul or America-Pumas but once last night's game started I knew that America-Cruz Azul would probably generate a better atmosphere since the majority of the 9,000-plus last night wore blue.
However, that would be the best possible matchup but would it be the best thing for Mexican soccer? If America and Cruz Azul played, one team would go on to Libertadores and the door would be open for San Luis or Atlas to get another spot. San Luis doesn't exactly have a lot of tradition while Atlas was downright pathetic last year.
There's no guarantee that Cruz Azul or America would do better than San Luis or Atlas. Though history is on their side, Cruz Azul and America could both struggle in Libertadores. But I do think both sides would get out of the group stage. I think San Luis could as well but I think Atlas would struggle.
If the chips fall the way i think they will, we'll get America-Cruz Azul on Saturday. But it could also lead to the worst team from last season (Atlas) going on to carry the country's flag in South America.
We did get the clasico regiomontano here in Carson a few years ago but that, to me that doesn't stir the same emotions as el superclasico.
That changed last night when Cruz Azul played Pumas. It's not a clasico per se but it's a matchup of Mexican giants.
We might get another one on Saturday. If America beats or ties Atlas tonight, we'll get treated to America-Cruz Azul on Saturday, el clasico joven. I'm pretty excited at the prospect to be honest. I was hoping to get either America-Cruz Azul or America-Pumas but once last night's game started I knew that America-Cruz Azul would probably generate a better atmosphere since the majority of the 9,000-plus last night wore blue.
However, that would be the best possible matchup but would it be the best thing for Mexican soccer? If America and Cruz Azul played, one team would go on to Libertadores and the door would be open for San Luis or Atlas to get another spot. San Luis doesn't exactly have a lot of tradition while Atlas was downright pathetic last year.
There's no guarantee that Cruz Azul or America would do better than San Luis or Atlas. Though history is on their side, Cruz Azul and America could both struggle in Libertadores. But I do think both sides would get out of the group stage. I think San Luis could as well but I think Atlas would struggle.
If the chips fall the way i think they will, we'll get America-Cruz Azul on Saturday. But it could also lead to the worst team from last season (Atlas) going on to carry the country's flag in South America.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Winds of change
Hi Readers!
A lot of people commented that they liked the last template(565, the current one), but I didn't realize the poll had closed, so no one could really vote for it. Anyway, I added No. 565 to the list of template finalists.
OG SV, by the way, is the original template. Overall, more people voted in the last poll for some sort of change than going back to the old look, so I think there is some interest in an update. However, the number of options was splitting a lot of the vote, so I narrowed it down to the top ones instead.
Some of you have said that you like the Minima with color, but the Minima was Luis' pick, so he'd have to decide which color.
A lot of people commented that they liked the last template(565, the current one), but I didn't realize the poll had closed, so no one could really vote for it. Anyway, I added No. 565 to the list of template finalists.
OG SV, by the way, is the original template. Overall, more people voted in the last poll for some sort of change than going back to the old look, so I think there is some interest in an update. However, the number of options was splitting a lot of the vote, so I narrowed it down to the top ones instead.
Some of you have said that you like the Minima with color, but the Minima was Luis' pick, so he'd have to decide which color.
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