Midweek Roundup

The Dribble likes to keep current. It knows what the youngsters are listening to, which politician's bribing whom and, most importantly, it knows all the latest soccer news from across the world. On Wednesdays, a few nuggets of this wealth of knowledge are dutifully reported in a feature called the Midweek Roundup. Let's trot the globe, then, shall we?

Image courtesy WikiMedia Foundation

The biggest news of the week comes from the home of the Beatles: Liverpool, England. One of the most storied clubs in soccer history, five-time European Champions Liverpool F.C., are embroiled in an ownership wrangle stemming from the organization's massive debt. The club's current owners, Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett, have been ordered by a court in England today to sell the club. Hoping to purchase the club is John Henry, current owner of the Boston Red Sox. Drama over the sale only continued after the ruling, however, as a Texas court ordered that the club not be sold. The matter remains unsettled (and unsettling, for Liverpudlians). The Dribble wonders what jurisdiction a Texas court has in England...

Image courtesy WikiMedia Foundation

In less inscrutable news, qualifying games for the 2012 European Championship were afoot this past week. Brave Scotland narrowly lost to World Cup winners Spain in Glasgow, by a score of 2 to 3. After falling behind 2 - 0, the Scots fought back to level pegging but surrendered a crucial late goal. Sticking with a British Isles theme, England drew nil - nil with lowly Montenegro and Ireland drew 1 - 1 with Slovakia.

Well, we haven't exactly circumnavigated the world, but then again the big happenings of the mid-week were almost all in Europe. Regardless, this first installment of the Midweek Roundup is no more. Thanks for tuning in.

MLS Playoff Preview

The MLS Cup Trophy. Image courtesy WikiMedia Foundation.

The most exciting part of the American soccer season is almost here. With precious few regular-season games remaining, Major League Soccer's post-season looks extremely enticing. Stars like Landon Donovan, David Beckham and Thierry Henry can't wait to get the playoff ball rolling, but who will come out on top?

Los Angeles and Salt Lake City are champions and runners-up, respectively, of the Western Conference, giving them prime spots in the post-season tournament. Both teams look good, but with David Beckham's return and the continued brilliance of Landon Donovan, L.A. seem the likelier champions of the two.

Out in the east, Thierry Henry's New York have just edged out runners-up Columbus for the Conference Championship. Slumping Columbus look unlikely to go far in the playoffs, whereas new-look New York's momentum appears very strong.

Seattle, San Jose and Dallas have clinched wild-card berths, while Colorado haven't yet but look very likely to. Of this group, Seattle have to be the front-runners. Fresh off winning the U.S. Open Cup, Sigi Schmid's team are firing on all cylinders and a joy to watch.

So, how does it all shake out? New York look almost certain to make it to the finals with their recent run of form and the relatively weak side of the bracket they'll face (Columbus, Colorado and San Jose). The other half of the tournament remains a mystery, however. Los Angeles have the stars (Donovan and Beckham), but Seattle have young talent and a hot streak.

Regardless of who gets to the MLS Cup Final in Toronto, it seems like this year's ride to the championship will be the most thrilling yet.

Thierry Henry's Strange Subway Ride

image credit: Darny

Thierry Henry, one of the past decade's biggest soccer stars, recently took a very strange trip on New York City's PATH railway system. Documented in a recent interview in New York Magazine, Henry's trip was unusual for its peace and quiet. Virtually anywhere else in the world, even a brief trip on a subway would've been impossible for the massively famous Henry. He's almost unrecognized in New York, however, his celebrity dwarfed by local stars like Eli Manning and Derek Jeter.

Henry and his new employer, Major League Soccer's New York Red Bulls, hope that will soon change. Recently acquired by the Red Bulls in a trade with soccer superpower FC Barcelona, Henry is part of a massive investment by the New York club which aims to make soccer one of the predominant pasttimes in America's sports landscape.

In addition to Henry, New York's only MLS club recently signed Mexican National Team captain Rafa Marquez. Another aging, world-famous soccer star from FC Barcelona, Marquez represents MLS's push to become relevent to America's Mexican community.

Both of these trades encapsulate the future of soccer in America. Investors are keen to bring soccer to the bright lights of American sports entertainment. They've a long way to go, however, as evidenced by one uneventful subway ride.


P.S.:  As an aside, further evidence of America's soccer incompetence can be found in this disastrous interview with Thierry Henry. It is hands-down the worst sports reporting I've ever seen.

About This Blog

Like many Americans, I played youth soccer growing up. I enjoyed my brief heyday as Concord Township's most feared goalie but, alas, my talent and height proved lacking after graduating to the "over-ten" demographic. My dreams of professional soccer (such as they were) fizzled out fairly soon and so did my interest in the game as a spectacle. Though I grew up to be a sports fan, I just never got soccer. Too little scoring. Not enough carnage. It lacked the basic sporting necessities.

That changed after the 2006 World Cup. Though I didn't follow it intensely, I managed to watch a few matches and found that I really enjoyed the finesse, skill and passion of the game. The anxious buildup to goals and the accompanying groans or cheers thrilled me. I've been a soccer nerd ever since.

If only my fellow countrymen felt the same way. I try and try to convince friends to watch matches with me, but am met by the same disinterested looks every time. Hence, this attempt to evangelize the American Midwest. In the coming weeks, this blog aims to bring my slice of America up to date with the world's game. By supplying news and information about soccer, readers will hopefully familiarize themselves with futbol enough to chat it up with the hardest soccer hooligans in West London.

Three Swell Soccer Blogs

Good sports reporting is a rarity these days, so I've combed through the wastebin and plucked out three honest-to-goodness decent soccer blogs for you. If this humble site doesn't sate your craving for soccer news, head on over to these fine blogs for your footie fix.

1. The Guardian's Football League Blog  -  England's Premier League is full of unimaginative tactics and overpaid stars. The UK's finest paper has deftly side-stepped that mess and put quality writers to work covering the land's lower leagues. For Americans who aren't familiar with the rich soccer tradition in England, this blog can serve as a wonderful jumping-off point.

2. Zonal Marking  -  The undisputed champion of soccer tactics writing, Zonal Marking dissects matchday strategies with an obsessive attention to detail. Nerdy and probably overwhelming for soccer newcomers, the blog nevertheless sparkles with wit and imagination. To understand the intricacies of the beautiful game, there is nowhere else to turn.

3. When Saturday Comes  -  A quality sports magazine is even rarer nowadays than a quality sports blog, yet When Saturday Comes is both. Though it delivers good enough straight news, WSC really shines in the editorial department. Its writers offer up unique and innovate views which can't be found in the more sanitized realm of mainstream sports newswriting.