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General Category / General Discussion / The Money Shot- top clubs in ProSoccerTalks weekly MLS rankings
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le: Mai 02, 2013, 04:33:39
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The Money Shot: top clubs in ProSoccerTalks weekly MLS rankings
The Money Shot: top clubs in ProSoccerTalk s weekly MLSrankings
Steve Davis
May 1, 2012, 4:02 PM EDT
3 Comments
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6. Houston Dynamo Its difficult to downgrade the Orange; Houstons road record is all there is to go on, and at 2-2-2 its good enough to be a top-5 team. Then again, the Dynamos oddball April just ended without a win; there were draws in Chicago and Columbus before a weekend loss at in-form D.C. United. Dominic Kinnears men have one more away from home (at New York) before finally moving into that new facility.
5. D.C. United The Eastern Conferences hottest team keeps ticking off results and keep progressing steadily in the rankings. Ben Olsen likes the swagger and confidence hes seeing around RFK. Its easy with so many attackers are sharing great form, including Maicon Santos, Dwayne De Rosario and that trio of young go-go guys (Chris Pontius, Danny Cruz and Andy Najar). Olsen might have a choice to make in goal, where a Joe Willis wobble has cracked a potential gap for Bill Hamids return. Plus, the defense will need adjustment after a concerning hamstring injury to steady Emiliano Dudar. All that aside, a mid-week meeting with the hottest team from the West, San Jose, should be a telling dandy. (Oh, last weeks win over Houston meant back-to-back D.C. victories for the first time since 2009; aint that an eye-popper?)
4. Seattle Sounders Alvaro Fernandez and Mauro Rosales could be available for Wednesdays L.A. Galaxy visit, which is surely a hot ticket around CenturyLink. Eddie Johnsons poachers special at Chicago was a valuable strike for a side having trouble finding the net, not to mention what it might do for Johnsons ongoing fortunes. Right back Adam Johansson also got back into last weeks lineup, just in time for a busy spell for cheap nike air jordan the Sounders. By the way, when should everyone count themselves officially concerned that Fredy Montero has yet to register a goal or assist for 2012?
3. Real Salt Lake We checked with Real Salt Lake officials last week. The answer is No, Jonny Steele does not mind us saying hes got the best porn-name in the business. The former Northern Ireland youth international hit another late game-winner over the weekend (his second heroic rescue this year) in a 3-2 result over Toronto. While Kyle Beckermans fantastic season moves forward, central midfield mate Javier Morales inches closer to elite form that helps makes RSLs possession game the leagues best when it reaches full rev.
2. San Jose Earthquakes A food fight nearly broke out at the ProSoccerTalk luncheon buffet today, figuratively speaking. Theres growing sentiment that Frank Yallops men deserve top spot, and a case certainly can be made. The Buck Shaw bunch hasnt lost since March 17; a 2-1 weekend win at Philly was the latest in the growing string of impressive results. Things will look even better if Steven Lenhart, a two-goal scorer Saturday, can keep sticking em in removing some of the striking weight from Chris Wondolowski. Wonder Wondo wears the burden well, but San Jose clearly is a better team when the scoring is more balanced.
1. Sporting Kansas City Anybody want to be Montreal this week? Peter Vermes men have been kicking each other since that April 21 loss to Portland, the clubs first 2012 outing that didnt finish with all the points. Rested and full of pep and venom, SKC gets the expansion visitors into their Livestrong Sporting Park cauldron. Jesse Marschs Impact has one point from a possible 18 on the road thus far, so ProSoccerTalk advises a PG-13 rating on this one (for potentially disturbing scenes of destruction and devastation).
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General Category / General Discussion / Can the weight of the World Cup moment be useful going forward
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le: Avril 25, 2013, 02:27:02
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Can the weight of the World Cup moment be useful going forward?
Can the weight of the World Cup moment be useful goingforward?
Steve Davis
Oct 17, 2012, 11:45 AM EDT
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KANSAS CITY No U.S. player or staffer could feel fantastic about the nervy way semifinal-round qualifying unfolded, about merging into the final pair of matches with such a small margin for error (even if the extra tension did help create an absolutely stirring atmosphere at Livestrong Sporting Park).
The veteran U.S. players and all the coaches have an understanding that qualifying is never easy-breezy, not even in the lesser of the two money rounds, this just-completed bugger of a semifinal stage. But the slog turned even more difficult than most expected, a semifinal round squeeze that left a few questions deserving of answers.
We certainly didnt want to put ourselves in this situation, but we did, and we came up with the right answer, veteran right back Steve Cherundolo said after last nights 3-1 win over Guatemala.
But in the end, could it all work to the U.S. advantage? Tougher matches are ahead in the final round, which begins in February.
(MORE: Quick look at final round CONCACAF nike shox outlet World Cup qualifying)
Heres what Cherundolo told me about it last night when I asked if two matches that required a result will add some steel, some calm in the twitchy moments surely to come, to this particular group? Said Cherundolo:
Absolutely. Its great to see how guys perform under pressure. Tonight the pressure was on. Friday, the pressure was on in Antigua. It was a gutsy performance in Antigua. It wasnt a good performance by any means, soccer-wise. But guys put in the work and thats the most important thing in these games, making the most of the chances you get.
As the players and coaches keep reminding us, every group is different in these World Cup qualifying cycles.
Cherundolo has been in these white-knucklers before, so the exercise is not so critical for him. But the weight of the moment is new, and can certainly be instructional to guys like Graham Zusi, Geoff Cameron, Michael Parkhurst, Danny Williams and Herculez Gomez, all starters last night.
In terms of international soccer, nothing theyve done before this Friday-Tuesday set compares. Nothing close, in fact.
(MORE: Quick take-aways from Tuesdays 3-1 win)
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