Donovan 1, Cole 0 and Other Random Soccer Observations

I want to preface this by asserting that I don't revel in sporting injuries, even if they're players that I loathe. As a result of what the BBC characterizes as a "mundane-looking and perfectly legitimate challenge" by Landon Donovan in Everton's 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Goodison Park on Wednesday, Ashley Cole was forced to limp off the field in what has since been diagnosed as a broken ankle (which came to my attention over at Prost Amerika). I have loathed Cole since he lamely forced a transfer from Arsenal to Chelsea in 2006.

Cole is out for three months, and while it's not impossible for him to make England's World Cup 23, will not be at 100% match fitness even if he does make the squad.

There are a couple delightful ironies here. First, it's Donovan, the USA's best player, taking out a dead cert member of the England starting XI in the run in to their opening group match in South Africa.

More ironic is that Cole's likely replacement in the starting XI is Man City's Wayne Bridge. Meaning, Bridge would play alongside John Terry in the England back four. I'm only going to treat this briefly for those LGM readers who do not follow soccer (and care even less about who is shagging whom), but there was a spot of bother over the last couple of weeks fuelled by the English tabloid media (as only the English tabloids can do) that alleges Terry had an affair with the ex partner of Bridge, with whom Bridge and said partner have a son. Terry himself is married with twins. While this non-story story remains an allegation, it has had an effect on Terry's career; Fabio Capello stripped Terry of the England captaincy last Friday, and Chelsea have since allowed Terry to go on leave because of the allegations and concomitant media furor.

The ever erudite, eloquent, and quite possibly existential FIFA President Sepp Blatter sagely opined that "Terry would have been 'applauded' in Latin countries." Because, well, we know that Catholics are all about adultery, especially the women who presumably constitute over 50% of the population of said Latin countries. This is the same Blatter who once suggested that women's soccer would be more popular if only it were sexier, advice from the sage that was not well received by its target audience, oddly enough. This is too good to pass up:

"They could, for example, have tighter shorts. Female players are pretty, if you excuse me for saying so, and they already have some different rules to men - such as playing with a lighter ball. That decision was taken to create a more female aesthetic, so why not do it in fashion?"

Whatever, Sepp. When are you going to just go away?

In other random soccer / football news:

My local side Plymouth Argyle are edging closer to certain relegation from the English second-tier. When I arrived in Plymouth too many years ago now, they were enjoying their second promotion season in three years; this will be my first experience of a relegation season. At least the lads still have the fight in them. They'll need it next season when matched against another Devon side, Exeter City, in League 1. And, ah, Millwall. Oh yes, I think I'd rather be in Glasgow during an Old Firm derby than in Plymouth when Millwall come to town.

Speaking of the Old Firm, astonishingly Celtic managed to score goals while at the same time keeping a clean sheet, against Hearts no less, which usually secures three points (but with this Celtic side, I don't assume anything.)

On the same night, Rangers dropped points, narrowing the gap at the top of the table to a mere eight points. There's hope for Mowbray and the Bhoys yet, but don't get too excited, Marc-Antoine. I sure as hell can't. An eight point gap in mid February is not quite Everest or K-2, but it is an uphill slog, made more difficult with half the squad now playing for Middlesbrough.

I know it's difficult to get excited about the SPL, especially when we're eight points down, but I'm trying to have some faith. I certainly have more faith in Celtic's chances than President Obama's chances at reaching a bi-partisan agreement for Health Care Reform that includes the word "reform".

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The Travails of a One Man Stimulus Package

Apparently, Landon and Becks have kissed and made up.

While there's doubt on this here island on which I live, if Beckham plays as well for Milan during his loan spell this season as he did last season, he should get a spot on the England team for the World Cup (not so, however, Michael Owen). He won't be playing in the center of midfield, where Arena has been playing him with Los Angeles, obviously, but he is still in possession of a couple skills that warrants inclusion.

Of course, Beckham is still only the second best player on the Galaxy (if that -- I'm sure others will disagree), to Landon Donovan. To wit:

There were other factors in the Galaxy’s resurgence. Donovan has become routinely brilliant.

It would be nice for the routinely brilliant Donovan to move to a league where he can be consistently above-average. There is still time for him to improve as a player, although at 27 (28 at the World Cup) that time is rapidly running short.

I will be discussing the UEFA playoff first leg matches within a day or two; I will be watching the Ireland - France match (not in person, shame) with an Irish colleague of mine.

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Continuing the Sports Theme on LGM . . .

The NYT reviews The Damned United, which piques my interest. When I have time, which latterly has not been plentiful, I devour film reviews, perhaps because Plymouth is not exactly in any one's cinematic top 20 (this is one of the things I miss the most about Seattle).

I read the book when it came out, and it prompted me to buy several other David Peace novels. I have yet to see the film, however, so my observations on the review itself are understandably suspect. Scott gets one thing wrong in the review (though it may have been an editor in all fairness): when Don Revie left Leeds United, he took the England national team job, not the "British national team" job. Scott also charmingly admits that he hadn't heard of Brian Clough, but then why should he have? Clough is a legend in England, was an enigmatic television presence (there's plenty on youtube worth a watch) and had a magnificent career -- probably the greatest English manager to never manage England. One of my best friends on this island grew up in Nottingham and was a Forest fan before a few years ago she unwisely traded in Forest for the mighty (and this year, relegation prone) Plymouth Argyle (she attended an Argyle - Forest match here at Home Park with loyalties deeply divided; she emerged an Argyle supporter and undoubtedly has regretted it ever since). While with the Argyle now, she still waxes eloquent about "Cloughie" (and retains a strong dislike for a certain Irish midfielder that Clough developed and then sold on to Man United). Clough's son, Nigel, is continuing the family business; after an excellent turn at non league Burton Albion, Nigel took the Derby County job that back in the day made his father's name.

If you can't see the film, the book is definitely worth a read.

And as this is an international break, with WC qualification coming to a conclusion, I'll have more to say about this particular sport soon. But first, I need to sort out some appropriate tags for this one from our limited stock . . .

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A Civil and Respectful World Cup Qualifier Roundup

unlike LGM's new favorite South Carolina Republican.

Trinidad & Tobago 0 - 1 USA

Note: I will standardize the home / away nomenclature to the European norm of home team first. I know this is socialist, it makes me appear unpatriotic, a hater of America, and, worse, a Democrat. I'll cope somehow, but I expect my daughter will be routinely beat up in school.

Except she will attend a British school . . .

This match was closer than it should have been, but in general with the USMNT and this stage of CONCACAF qualifying, this can be said about most matches. I like that Ricardo Clark, he of the red card in the 1-3 defeat against Italy this past summer fame, scored what was by all accounts a cracking goal. Donovan with the assist, added to his two assists against El Salvador . . . when is he going to return to Europe?

Donovan appeared to enjoy his loan spell with Bayern Munich last winter, unlike his previous two forays in the Bundesliga. A good friend of mine back in Plymouth, a German Bayern supporter, was thrilled to have him and thought his was a class addition. Allegedly, the sticking point for a permanent deal was the transfer fee expected by the Galaxy and the MLS. Donovan had a great Confederations Cup this past summer, and his form in WC quals has been equally excellent. For the sake of his career and the US MNT, it's time Donovan returns to one of the top 5 European leagues, and allow David Beckham to assume the mantle of the "best player on the LA Galaxy".

You can find additional succinct analysis of the T&T match here.

The current CONCACAF table, with two matches remaining, has the US on top, a point ahead of Mexico. The US are close to qualification now: a win against Honduras will do it, a Costa Rica defeat will do it, or draws by each in the next round will do it. Yes Mexico are resurgent, which isn't too surprising really. Their defeat of Honduras 1-0 was critical. Apparently dumping SGE has made the difference.

Briefly, in South America things are interesting. With two matches to go, Argentina do occupy the 5th place spot, which I hinted at as a distinct possibility in my previous soccer post. In the unlikely event that they do miss out on South Africa, it would be the first time since 1970 they have missed a finals . . . but that master of the hand of god tactician Maradona vows to fight on. With Peru, already eliminated, and Uraguay their remaining matches, they should qualify at least for the playoff against the 4th team from CONCACAF.

Qualification in Europe is drawing to a close as well. There aren't many surprises at this stage, save for England's absolutely dominant qualification performance. This is a side that perennially disappoints (which is partially a function of the unrealistically high expectations the English and the English media set for the national side) and couldn't even qualify for the Europeans in 2008 (I watched that final match against Croatia in one of my locals . . . and the second I saw the McClaren umbrella pose reckoned he was done.) I'm not an England supporter (nor am I a detractor), but follow the side out of necessity, and this qualification run has been sublime. They haven't dropped a point in eight matches, qualifying perfect with two matches to go (against sides who have both been eliminated). What is remarkable is the manner in which England simply destroyed Croatia in their two meetings during this qualification round: it was Croatia who ended their Europe 2008 campaign. 5-1 on Wednesday, as well as wining 4-1 away to Croatia last September (the sublime Theo Walcott hat-trick match) . . . these are scorelines that the English aren't all that used to. Even against Andorra. Credit has to be given to Fabio Capello. They core of the team isn't all that different from the debacle of the 2008 campaign -- the management is. As I am due to return to that island early next week, I anticipate a wet, yet strangely optimistic, English people upon my return.

This creates an aside I would like to explore some day. We know from sabermetrics that managers in baseball have, at best, the slightest of marginal influence on the outcomes -- at least that we have been able to observe and measure. In soccer, it seems to me that the manager can make a significant difference. I'm open to suggestions as to how to go about measuring and testing this theory.

Group 1 in Europe will see one of Denmark, Sweden, or Portugal not qualify. Given the remaining schedules, I see Portugal making it through to at least the second place playoff, and it will come down to the match between Denmark and Sweden. Tough group, this one.

Group 3 is a real surprise: it looks as though neither of the favorites (Czech Republic or Poland) will qualify. Both were present at Germany 2006. Leo Beehakker gets the sack by Poland (it's good that they didn't qualify, because I bristle as the British policy of consistently mispronouncing his name) and yet Northern Ireland, whom I do support as part of my small "if not the USA"collection of national sides, have not yet been mathematically eliminated, but it would take a miracle. If they beat the Czechs away, while Slovenia drop five points against Slovakia and the mighty San Marino . . . hey, it's away to San Marino. Er, when was the last time San Marino picked up a single point in the qualification for anything? Holy crap, it has happened. A draw at home to Turkey in 1993? The little mountaintop that could . . . should the likely happen, Northern Ireland not qualify, and Worthington get the sack, can I be cheeky enough to propose Neil Lennon as his replacement?

Group 5 have Bosnia & Herzegovina possibly edging out both Turkey and Belgium for the second place playoff spot (the latter are already eliminated). France find themselves second to Serbia in Group 7, the Republic of Ireland may finish second in Group 8.

Finally, neither Scotland nor Wales qualified. The latter isn't surprising. Nor is the former, unless you're Scottish. Like England, I don't really support Scotland. However, as I support a Scottish club, the vast, vast majority of the members of the Celtic Supporters Club Plymouth are oddly Scottish, hence I've watched a few matches with the lads down the pub, and it's another case of I can't help but follow them through association. A 0-1 home defeat to Holland eliminated Scotland, and has likely cost George Burley his job. Why, I'm not sure; I've liked him since his remarkable half-season with Hearts in 2005-06 where it looked like Hearts would split the Old Firm in the SPL (if not finish 1st), and more realistically, who is available to replace him?

Oh, I know. Berti Vogts could be pried away from Azerbaijan to have a second go at managing Scotland.

UPDATE: find a more thorough analysis of the state of UEFA qualification over here.

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