By Tony Edwards - San Jose, CA (Sep 20, 2011) US Soccer Players -- Twice a week, USSoccerplayers.com will ask some of the questions in need of an answer in world soccer. Tony Edwards will give you his thoughts, but what we're looking for is a deeper discussion. Your comments are welcome, as we try to get at what's really in play from the American game to the highest levels of FIFA.
Is Toronto starting to get it or is this a late-season tease?
Toronto has gotten a third of their season’s points in the last five games. Six points behind the Red Bulls, having played two more games than the Bulls, and a staggering goal difference of negative 20, it’s unlikely a serious playoff run is possible. It has been said before about previous Toronto glimmers of good play, but if Danny Koevermans and his teammates build on the recent solid play, Toronto might be a legitimate contender in the East next year (swapping out Houston for Montreal won’t hurt TFC either). No team should be happy talking about next year in September, but there's hope for TFC. Whether or not that's enough to keep their fan base engaged is a different question.
Okay, if it’s not Toronto, then who in the Eastern Conference?
DC United has a staggering number of games in hand, and might make the typical ‘hang-around-long-enough-and-get-hot-at-the-right-time’ late-season MLS run to the playoffs. Unfortunately for the League as a whole, a DC surge asks an uncomfortable question. For all the people saying the quality of the League has improved, why is it teams can continue to play lousy soccer for four months only to be rewarded by a fluke of the schedule and getting hot at the right time? That could be DC's story, and it's not one this League should be telling.
Is Red Bulls Coach Hans Backe going to regret talking about 'playing dirty?'
After the Red Bulls’ much-needed 1-0 win in Dallas this weekend, Backe said, “This is the way we probably need to do it on the road. We just need to get back to the basics, to the formation. Fill in for each other and play a bit dirty.” Had Backe phrased it more in coach speak, everyone would have nodded along. Something along the lines of: 'this is the way we need to do it on the road. Keep our shape; trust in each other; work hard. Schellas has built a really good team and we caught them on an off-night. ….” But use the words ‘play dirty’ and you’re likely setting your team up for just that.
Is Calen Carr putting it together?
The Dynamo forward scored last Wednesday, then played well on Saturday night. Anyone who saw the former Cal forward play in college had no doubt he could perform at the next level, but injuries, a lack of productivity, and some bad teams limited his impact in MLS. Dominic Kinnear has made a career out of taking players like Carr to that next level. Hopefully Carr is the next example.
What do Daniel Craig, John Travolta, and Landon Donovan have in common?
LA-area residences? Possibly. How about watch pitchmen? Yes. Take a look at page 41 of the October issue of Men’s Journal (with the overexposed guy from True Blood on the cover).
