Baltimore World Cup Soccer @ Slainte Pub

Well – A win, a draw, and a loss. Seem almost typical… City typical. A typical start to the City season.

But those days seem to be over now. The air of “How could we lose?” confuses me at times. As a matter of fact if you want a true litmus test for whether or not someone has been a City fan for a while — watch their expression after a loss, to say… ohh… Sunderland. If their expression is one of bewilderment, sadness, and downright shame than you know that person has not been witness to what is politely referred to as “Typical City”.

I felt it on Sunday – I was excited for the replay – but my City DNA wouldn’t allow me to say “We will crush Sunderland” – too many things were working against us… a mid week game, away at City of Lights and Darren F’ing Bent. I have to admit I am a bit more excited and optimistic since our new owners landed on Eastlands and started laying golden eggs. But, I’ve always been excited (not necessarily optimistic) for every game. And when we lost on Sunday… it sucked. It always sucks to lose… but for me… losing is just built in… especially losing late on a bogus PK to a team rated much worse than we… It’s party of being a City fan… it’s a part of being a City fan that I don’t want to lose.

I have no desire for these current expectations.

I have no desire to shield off the haters that don’t know the difference between City fans that know and have lived disappointment and those that just bought a Tevez jersey and possibly seem to remember him playing for United…

I have no desire to run into new City fans that can’t understand how we just lost to Sunderland.

With that said — things are definitely looking up at Eastlands. Even with the loss – they looked pretty good… not Chelsea good… but when Mancini figures out how to use Milner, Silva, AJ, Yaya, Balo, and Ade properly… they’ll score tons of goals. It won’t even be close — you can see it when they play. You can see that they haven’t figured it out yet… but that it’s coming. It’s coming like a giant storm towards any team we happen to meet after October… the Chelsea game will be our first big test in Late September. It’s at home… and I’m sure their pissed from our double over them last year.

So, as City start their season — the only surprise from new fans seems to be that we haven’t won every game 6-0.

The only surprise from rival fans is that we managed to show up and play with integrity, look like a team, and not trip all over the 24k golden shoes the owner has purchased for all fans and players.

And for me… well… a win, a loss, and a draw… seems like a pretty typical City start to the season.

See you all down the pub!

OH and where has LeChat been? No where really, well at the pub if that accounts for anything. I have just been keeping a low-ish profile, not wanting to rile the natives so to speak.

Surprising thing, since ManCity himself got married, I don’t think I’ve seen or heard him. That is a good thing I suppose. It just means things have been not quite as loud.

BOY is he loud. HAHA!

The first weekend saw the annual breakfast buffet, which is a little thank you from the owners and management of the above mentioned pub. It was a decent spread and Chef is… well to put it lightly quite excellent at what he does.

I know Chef was in a competition in the past recent weeks and advanced pretty far with the help of TVGooner on his side. However, the judges were a bunch of wankers that gave the game away.

Anyways, the Arsenal crowd has been picking up quite nicely. There have been quite a few new faces in the crowd, joining in on the songs and having a good time. I hope it’s not just a world cup hangover and a few decide to stick around.

The Arsenal themselves have a few new faces as well, Chamakh, who received his first in the league against Blackpool last weekend. There has been quite a buzz about Chamakh’s hairdo. It makes him look a bit like a velociraptor from Jurassic Park. I think it must give him a good aerodynamic flow, but who really knows.

There is also Koscielny, whose name I had to cut and paste. I really wish Wenger would sign people with much easier names. Chamakh wasn’t a hard one though. K-star has picked up on some of the duties in the back. The back four is still a little suspect though and there hasn’t been a quality keeper signing, yet.

My understanding or from what I read in a certain English paper, the Arsenal have picked up another defender by the name of Sébastian Squillaci. Yes, that’s right, he’s a thirty year old as well, put to a three year contract.

Mr. Wenger has begun changing his policy on the signing of older players; from the Guardian.

… has admitted he is now willing to relax his “over-30s rule” by signing older players on longer deals, having previously only offered them one-year contracts. The Arsenal manager also indicated that no players moving on from the club would be sold to Premier League rivals.

He goes on to clarify the new policy, moving the age up to 32 for the year to year contracts and goes on by saying

It depends on the positions as well. If a central defender, then no problem to sign them until 34. But a striker is different. After 32 you go from year to year. A midfielder as well, after 32 you go from year-to-year.

This is all quite interesting. Still there exists the keeper problem. Midfield is more than covered. There are more strikers than positions, even though the quality of the finishing is still leaving something to be desired in my book. Defense still feels like it needs just one more piece.

Finally, not to repeat myself, the keeper issue, is still an issue. There is not much time before the window closes, so I’d like to cross my fingers and hope for a decent number 1 to appear holding up a green shirt.

I haven’t even been paying attention.. we are back to proper keeper green, yes?

~LeChat

Well obviously we are — but here are some things that will be coming from me in the next few days and hopefully while I’m even away on my Honeymoon —

1. BretAmericanCity’s Power Ranking for the EPL – kinda tough since there is a pretty quintessential ranking called “the table” lol – but I have a feeling we can make one with hot teams and teams struggling from injuries etc… —

2. Quick team by team breakdown

3. Manchester City Preview

4. Predictions

We would leave to see everyone take a stab at these — this blog is coming back HARD this year — we would love to read more input… stay tuned…

“Away from the bright lights and manicured fields, there is another side of soccer…”

I went yesterday to Baltimore’s Premiere of Pelada, a movie directed by Luke Boughen, Gwendolyn Oxenham, Rebekah Fergusson and Ryan White. What is the movie about?

“Two players. 25 countries. One game.
Away from professional stadiums, bright lights, and manicured fields, there’s another side of soccer.  Tucked away on alleys, side streets, and concrete courts, people play in improvised games.  Every country has a different word for it.  In the United States, we call it “pick-up soccer.”  In Trinidad, it’s “taking a sweat.”  In England, it’s “having a kick-about.”  In Brazil, the word is “pelada,” which literally means “naked”—the game stripped down to its core.  It’s the version of the game played by anyone, anywhere—and it’s a window into lives all around the world.
Pelada is a documentary following Luke and Gwendolyn, two former college soccer stars who didn’t quite make it to the pros.  Not ready for it to be over, they take off, chasing the game.  From prisoners in Bolivia to moonshine brewers in Kenya, from freestylers in China to women who play in hijab in Iran, Pelada is the story of the people who play.”

So I walked in the Charles Theater and my first [good] surprise was to see the large crowd, in line for popcorn, getting ready for the projection of Pelada. Was all that large crowd in World Cup Withdrawal? For sure… even if I was happy on Monday that the World Cup was over, yesterday, I felt like I was missing something, some adrenaline of watching the beautiful game… So Pelada was kinda perfect cure for me! The movie was shown in partnership with the Craig Willinger Fund who got partial benefits of the sales and raffled a basked of soccer goodies. I met Craig for the first time after numerous emails and conversations shared the past few months. I walked down to the theater room which was already filled by hundred of people, Crystal Palace players and staff, Ryan White’s family and friends, CWF members and volunteers and soccer fans, waiting for the projection.

Buy the DVD now!

Check out the trailer:

So I had a great time. This documentary is a beauty. It defines perfectly why we all love the beautiful game. Where people have nothing, soccer means everything… (took it from the NYT). From those old funny Brazilian dudes to the ghettos in Argentina, from the former waste field in Africa to the synthetic one in Tehran… Pelada shows how soccer can unite people and keep divisions and conflicts. Further than that, Pelada shows that Soccer is an international language, practiced and understood by all and that’s why we love Soccer, because it speaks to all of us, no matter who you are, no matter where you are from, no matter who you believe in.

What English lad doesn’t dream about becoming a pro footballer? Playing on the greatest stages, in the greatest stadiums, competing for the greatest prizes…

The pride. The honor. The privilege.

Except for England’s footballers when they play on the international stage, that is…

Same Old England…

English folks are well used to seeing the nation’s footballers morph from Premier League studs to international duds. No surprise there.

What was surprising, however, was the sheer scale of pitiful, pathetic shite that these lavishly paid “stars” served up against the footballing titans from Algeria last Friday. It was among the worst I’ve ever seen from an England team.

And yes… that includes the many dark days under Graham Taylor, Kevin Keegan, Sven-Goran Eriksson and Steve McLaren.

English fans can stomach a bad performance. It happens. But what’s unacceptable is a total lack of heart, emotion, passion, spirit, determination, urgency and overall will to win.

England’s players had none of those qualities against Algeria. Come to think of it, I don’t remember a single serious shot on goal or any decent moves. It was unbelievably, shockingly, embarrassingly bad.

Wayne’s World

The chorus of boos that England fans serenaded the team with were richly deserved. After all, these folks paid a lot of money to travel to South Africa.

But it was all too much for poor Wayne Rooney, with the anonymous striker only coming to life when a camera focused on him leaving the field: “It’s nice to see your home fans booing,” he whined sarcastically to the global audience and English nation.

So sorry, Wayne… didn’t mean to wake you up, lad.

He later apologized and said he was speaking out of frustration. No shit, mate. But he’d be better off shutting his piehole and trying to remedy that brutally heavy first-touch he’s suddenly contracted. It was as deft as Freddie Kruger.

Wanted: English GPS

Capello says the pressure is getting to the players. I don’t buy it. They’re not unfamiliar with big games and pressure situations, so they shouldn’t be overawed or playing scared. Not given the opposition so far. Surely they’re not that mentally fragile?

What’s worrying, though, is that these are the same players who breezed through qualifying with nine wins and one loss, playing confidently, freely and with flair. So what’s up? Over to you, Fabio…

“It is a problem because these players have trained very well. But in the two games it’s not the same team that I know.”

It’s unrealistic to think that they’ve suddenly become bad players. But as I said in my last post, they constantly talk a great game, but never back it up in major tournaments. Right now, the England “team” isn’t really a team at all. It’s a collection of individuals on safari. It’s a highly frustrating and depressingly familiar situation.

Confused Capello and Tosser Terry

I thought Capello was supposed to be tactically astute. But like the players, he’s suddenly morphed from stud to dud and is all over the place.

He wants them to play the high-tempo, Premier League-style game. I agree. But he’s confused…

“I don’t understand why during a game, we don’t change the rhythm or speed. We are really slow. If you don’t run or press or fight, it is difficult to go forward.”

So why is the team doing the exact opposite of his instructions – toiling through a slow, plodding, indirect game? And why is a highly successful coach (on a five million quid salary, no less) confused and unable to figure it out?

To compound the malaise, Knobhead-in-Chief John Terry attempted a mutiny by publicly saying that some players are unhappy with Capello’s strict, disciplined regime, team selection and tactics (including the omission of Joe Cole and naming the team two hours before kickoff) and that they wanted “clear-the-air” talks:

“Everyone needs to get off their chest exactly how they’re feeling. If it upsets him [Capello], or it upsets any player, then so be it.”

As if Terry wasn’t despised enough already in English football for his off-the-field antics, he’s stepped up again with another display of egotism and stupidity. Aside from forgetting that he’s not captain any more – and his outburst seems rooted in bitterness and resentment about Capello taking it from him – it’s embarrassingly backfired, since he clearly didn’t have as much player support as he thought. His Chelsea mate, Frank Lampard, moved to downplay the “clear-the-air,” confrontational stuff and suggestions of a rift. And Capello himself has slapped Terry back into place and criticized him for going public instead of doing it privately.

Oh, and the players are bored at their hotel/training complex, too. All there is to do in the five-star, luxury surroundings is train, eat, sleep, swim and play games. Poor f**kers.

The point about team selection and tactics is valid, though – the whole country is questioning them…

X’s and O’s

Against Algeria (and the USA, for that matter), Rooney was drifting back to central-midfield. Heskey popped up at right-back, punting long balls to the towering Aaron Lennon. Gerrard and Lampard were again shadows of their Premier League selves. Johnson and Cole – two of the best attacking full-backs in the tournament – provided zero attacking threat. Elsewhere…

~ Why does Wright-Phillips replace Lennon? They’re the same player! Neither can cross the ball and they obviously see the corner flag as a nymphomaniac supermodel, luring them towards it, only to grab their balls when they get there!

~ Why hasn’t Joe Cole – a skillful, tricky player who’s done well for England before and can “unlock a defence” (as Terry put it) – played a single minute?

~ Why is Gerrard drifting aimlessly on the left? It ain’t working – and he’s not happy there, which is why he keeps drifting back towards the middle! Change it.

We need to play a 4-4-1-1 formation. Heskey is supposedly playing because he works well with Rooney. Well, that ain’t working either – and he’s certainly not going to score goals.

Play J. Cole on the left, so Gerrard can move into the middle behind Rooney. This would also give Ashley Cole more support coming forward and beef up the left side. Use Barry as protection for the defence and get the midfielders forward quicker to support Rooney. (Oh, and if it’s not too much to ask, play with some passion, spirit, movement and will to win.) We have the players to do this – they routinely do it for their clubs. It ain’t rocket science, so why can’t Capello see this?

Capello simultaneously signals for England to “piss off” and that he’s sticking with two up front… including Heskey.

And so, it’s come to this…

London Calling?

Like the USA, England control their destiny: A win will guarantee progress to Round 2. The best-case scenario is that they both win.

Ridiculously – and almost unbelievably, given the current shambles – England can actually win the group if they win by a greater margin than the USA on Wednesday.

And given the way the group stands and the possible scenarios, there’s actually little margin for anything other than a win. Failure would mean this becomes the first England team to fall at the World Cup’s first hurdle since 1958. Heathrow and the wrath of England would beckon and Capello would probably resign.

If there are bright sides here…

~ While England look clueless going forward, the defence – supposedly our weak link – looks solid. Aside from Rob Green’s blunder and the USA shot that hit the post, England’s goalies have had nothing to do.

~ Carragher is suspended for the Slovenia game, so Upson will partner Terry. Upson isn’t great, but he’s Bobby Moore compared to Carragher.

~ Maybe playing against a European team will be more to England’s liking. If this were a qualifying game, we’d be expected to win, either home or away.

~ In the 1990 World Cup, England started with two draws and needed to beat Egypt in the final group game to progress. They did. Back then, the players were also unhappy with the formation and style of play and held talks with the management team. After changes, the team rolled all the way to the semi-final.

Desperate? Clutching at straws? Maybe. Especially since Capello is still searching for his team: “I hope in the next game we forget these two performances. On Wednesday, I hope to see the England team.”

Yes, I hope so too, mate. It would be nice if they showed up this time. The English will take anything we can get at the moment. And most of all… a win.

Martin

So Paraguay and Italy tied at 1-1 on their first group game. Big deal? Well, actually, it is a big deal. Italy, after all, are the current World Champions. However, we need to look at a couple of things before we go proclaiming that the King is dead (and/or long live the King)…

Italy doesn’t seem to do well in the group stage. I believe the have the same syndrome that Mexico has. They play the bad teams bad and the good teams great. Remember back in 1994? They lost 1-0 to the Republic of Ireland. They barely beat Norway 1-0. And then they tied Mexico 1-1. Not a really good group showing, right? But they made it to the final only to lose to Brazil in a penalty shootout.

(Go cry me a river, Baggio... Cry me a river!)

And what about Corea/Japan 2002? They beat Ecuador 2-0, lose to Croatia (CROATIA!?) 2-1, and then, just like in ‘94, they tied Mexico 1-1. I remember that game. I remember screaming at the screen as Italy and Mexico just decided not to play once they knew the score of the Croatia-Ecuador game. They would later lose to co-hosts Korea.

(Korean food is much better than spaghetti, manicotti, ravioli... And, in 2002, they were better at soccer)

That Korean food doesn’t beat Slainte Pub’s, though. Try the breakfast while watching the morning matches. (Menu here.)

In 2006, Italy were a little stronger in the group stage. They beat Ghana 2-0, tied the USA 1-1, and then finished the group stage by beating the Czech Republic 2-0. They would go on to beat Australia, Ukraine, and hosts Germany, before facing France in the final. Who can forget that final with Zidane head-butting Materazzi over some Italian comment about Zidane’s mother (maybe).

(Indeed.)

So what’s next for Italy? Certainly, they will play better. The weaker teams (Slovakia and New Zealand) are coming up in the group stage. We’ve seen Italy climb out of adversity before. Surely, they will do it again.

Right? Right?

***”Paquinho” was born and raised in Mexico until age 10, when he came to the States and has been living the dream. When not writing about soccer, you can find him rambling on about infectious diseases.***

So first thoughts of the World Cup are tough. It’s not usual for us fans of the round ball to have so many inputs from so many angles. With that said these are my first impressions —

1. Holland will win it all.
2. Spain is ridiculously talented and I can guarantee Cesc is in the starting 11 next game.
3. I thought Germany’s performance was exciting but unconvincing. I still don’t like the way their midfield interacts but… they play like German cars run… well.
4. South Korea looked like a true team out there… they are going to be tough to beat.
5. England will be England and get through… I think they are due for a huge crushing of a side.
6. I think the USA will struggle in their next match and will not make it through. Lando has to carry this team and who knows how bad Timmy Ho’s injury is…
7. First matches in the World Cup usually produce the biggest upsets and the lowest scores… and I think we’ve sort of seen that. Teams play tight. It’s a new atmosphere — I think in Round 2 and 3 we’ll see many more highlights of the beautiful game. Especially from the like of Ronaldo and Messi — I think Ronaldo is due for an unreal goal — he looks determined. His team looks meh…

That is all — see you down the pub on Friday.

B

I was at Slainte Pub today to watch the Mexico – South Africa World Cup opener. It was a great crowd with a great atmosphere… Except for one minor thing.

That, my friends, is a staple of soccer games here in the United States, the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave. That is a White man wearing a “Border Patrol” tee shirt. You may have seen others wearing those shirts at soccer games. I’ve seen them mostly at games where a Mexican or Central American team comes to play. I saw plenty of them at RFK Stadium when Club America came to play DC United.

It appears that people like this man think that all Mexicans are Illegal (Undocumented) Aliens. Or that all Illegal (Undocumented) Aliens are Mexican. I am willing to bet good money that he wore the “Border Patrol” tee shirt because it was the Mexico – South Africa games. Surely, he expected Mexicans to be there. And there probably were. I was there. I’m Mexican.

Am I here illegally? Only if the health department hires illegals, the George Washington University hands out Master’s Degrees to illegals, and the University of Texas gives Science Degrees to illegals.

To balance out this Border Patrol a-hole, I met “Mario”, an American who was wearing the Mexican jersey. He cheered for Mexico when they scored, and we talked during the game. See, he wasn’t there to antagonize anyone. He was there to enjoy a game and support a team. He wasn’t there to make a statement about immigration.

(These guys would like to share their opinion on immigration issues.)

At any rate, this isn’t the first time that race and soccer have met. Samuel Eto’o’s experience in Spain was horrible. How he kept playing there is beyond me. Hugo Sanchez also had a similar when he went to Europe. It still goes on today.

Then again, I could be taking it all wrong and this guy just grabbed the first tee shirt off his hamper and headed to the pub. Maybe he IS a Border Patrol agent. (Though Baltimore is hardly near a border. Customs Enforcement, maybe, I would understand.) So, unlike people who hate immigrants, I’m going to give this guy the benefit of the doubt.

But… What should I do if I see him there again with the same shirt? Call the 1-800 number on it (which leads to a hilarious rant about immigration)? Ask him for ID to prove he’s here legally? Buy him a Tequila drink?

***”Paquinho” was born and raised in Mexico until age 10, when he came to the States and has been living the dream. When not writing about soccer, you can find him rambling on about infectious diseases.***