7 Feb

Closing the Super Bowl & Super Jozy Weekend

Posted by matthewsf in Uncategorized.

Making the grade...and the name...

• On a Jozy Altidore weekend, it’s worth revisiting a comment that TSG made earlier last week. Beyond the valuable game experience. Beyond learning firsthand opponent a group stage opponent. Beyond playing in the best league in the world…..one of the most important things that Altidore and fellow Americans up the pitch can do overseas is make a name for themselves–some star luster–in the eyes of international referees.

Here’s what we said on Wednesday:

Don’t thing stature and “brand equity” make a difference? Maybe ask the Ireland national team, or England after Ronaldo complained in 2006, or Diego “Come hug me, or the referee isn’t going to allow it” Maradona.

A big step in that direction for Big Jeezy this weekend. Check out all of our Altidore coverage below….

On and another big winner Saturday? Villareal…what to do…what to do with Jozy if he keeps this growth spurt up? Back to La Liga? Sold to an EPL team that can afford him up top and slot him in perfectly….maybe, gulp, Liverpool?

Hull’s chances of keeping him another year on loan, since they likely can’t afford him? Straight 50/50, no better. Much better odds that we get, oh, a Daily Mirror report in the next day or so with some Big Jeezy rumor.

• On Dirk Kuyt’s goal and Tim Howard’s role in it….

Phil Neville! What the h*ll are you doing?!

A lot of discussion on whether Tim Howard or how much Tim Howard was at fault on the Dirk Kuyt’s derby goal. Some suggesting that Howard will receive scrutiny over letting in a soft one.

Was Tim Howard fully to blame for the goal? No. However, he could have played it better? Yes.

What happened? If you watch the replay of the game, Howard and Neville are jawing with the referee on Kuyt’s position. But they are getting no love from the zebra.

Those that play soccer know it is 100% the defender’s job to mix it up with Kuyt and get the offender they are responsible for out of their goalie’s face. The worse than can happen–as the ref is not paying attention or ill-inclined too–is a tweet of that ref’s whistle and a reset….maybe warning.

The goalie is focused on the organization in front of him and watching and playing the corner ball; the goalie should not be focused on moving the player in front of him, that is again, absolutely the defenders’ job.

Howard let in a weak one…yes. Bulk of the blame? Squarely on Phil Neville’s shoulders.

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8 Feb

Euro 2012…Showcasing The Motherlands

Posted by Mark T in Euro 2012. Tagged: , , , .

Apparently the European Championship is a big deal. Not nearly as big as the CONCACAF Gold Cup, but it seems to be picking up some steam in recent years. If only they held the tournament every two years instead of four…

Now calmly put away your outrage at my ignorance for a more appropriate time, I’m only kidding.

TSG could not be more stoked for Euro 2012 as the tournament takes place in both lands of Matthew and my ancestors, Poland and the Ukraine.

As such, there is a good chance that my head will explode if ESPN gives the motherlands even a quarter of the “South Africa treatment” when it comes to covering the tournament. And don’t worry, these great nations will be prepared by the time the tourney comes around in 2012.

While Poland and the Ukraine automatically qualify for the tournament (June 8 – July 1, 2012) the draw for the remaining hopefuls took place today in Warsaw. A total of 16 teams will qualify for Euro 2012 which represents the last of the 16-team Championships as Euro 2016 will expand to 24 qualifying team.

One shirt down, one to go.

TSG will be doing its best to straddle the fence between the Yellow-Blues and the White-and-Reds, but as of now I’m leaning slightly towards the land of kielbasa and peirogi after acquiring this gem of a Polska shirt earlier this week. (Don’t worry Mom, I’ll make up for it by telling the story of my trip to the Ukrainian-American club on the Lower East Side in NYC to watch Ukraine-Italy during the 2006 World Cup soon.)

Here are the results of the qualifying draw fpr the group play that will kick-off later this year:

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6 Feb

JOLAZO…Altidore Finally Gets One

Posted by Mark T in Americans Abroad, EPL. Tagged: , , , .

Jozy! Jozy! Jozy!

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The Jolazo: Date Included T-Shirt

If you feel so inclined, why not send a little help Haiti’s way in celebration of this big day for the big man. SOS – Saving Ourselves – Help for Haiti. Or if you want to commemorate the day, grab one of these JOLAZO t-shirts with all proceeds above the Zazzle cost (10%) going to Haiti.

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Time to reset the Altidore Goal Watch meter back to zero. The US striker finally broke through to net his first goal in over twenty contests as Hull took down Manchester City, 2-1.

Big Jeezy had it going on early today drawing two yellow cards on the City defense in the first 12 minutes of the contest. And he didn’t let up in a strong 66-minute performance.

In the 31st, Jozy calmly deposited a lay-off pass from Jan VofH in the back right corner of the net from the top of the 18 for his first EPL goal.

Altidore was then swarmed by his teammates and beaten about the head and chest in celebration.

The striker’s last goal celebration took place way back on September 5, 2009 versus El Salvador.

Little did anyone know at the time that we wouldn’t see Jozy hit the scoresheet under the “G” category for 154 more days. Nor did we think that his puzzling disallowed goal in the second half of that contest would be so foreboding.

May this be the first of many, many more in 2010, Jozy!

Here is  Altidore talking about the match on BBC Sport.

6 Feb

Jozy Jukes The City & The Rest of The Day

Posted by matthewsf in Americans Abroad, EPL.

We never miss a chance to show the Hull City tiger....

Thanks for those that joined us this morning for our first early morn live commentary.

The Jozy goal watch is on off while Holden–despite rumors–is still outside the 18.

Hang around to comment here for other games…I’ve got to go walk the dog.

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  • Kenny Cooper in the 18 for Plymouth Argyle today against West Brom….I think he’ll get in there today…UPDATE: Cooper came on in the 58th minute.
  • Jozy Altidore finally nets his first Premiership goal in the 30th minute to give Hull a 1-0 lead at Manchester City.
  • Arjen Robben is on a tear. He hit for another to make it four goals in his last five matches. This time it took all of two minutes.
  • Another first for Hull as George Boateng nets his first for the Tigers off an absolute rocket from outside the box.
  • Wayne Rooney continues his top form with a goal in the 40th versus Portsmouth.  Let’s just hope that Rooney is using up all his 2010 goals in the Premiership and will be on “E” by the time the World Cup rolls around.

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Mark “called” the Altidore netter….and here is the t-shirt to commemorate it….JOLAZO!

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