wolf stansson

YESYESYESYESYES Some chick in Seattle needs to take one for the team. Bummer.

Bale carved his Christmas turkey early this year. Good god Maicon looked slow?!?! And weak?! Last fixture was his coming out party, but tonight was a complete performance of 90 dominating minutes. He was world class tonight.

Freddy Montero got a green card today, he's never played in a FIFA competition in his 4 Columbia caps, Columbia snubbed him in the friendly this month...time to get the citizenship process rolling?

It's the best crowd experience I've ever been in, and I've been to pretty much everything American sports has to offer.

Jozy could beat him up though. Edu's goal today was pretty nice. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2010/10/video_maurice_edus_smashing_go.html

I don't think he could justify that to the fans. They need a proven, champions league-level keeper.

I don't think Houlier likes Guzan. He didn't start him in the Carling Cup this week and now he says he wants to resign Friedel: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/10/29/villa.friedel.ap/index.html I'm thinking he needs to move.

Kenny Cooper's coming back this weekend and apparently 1860 is psyched about that. I hope he puts it together.

Jermaine Jones might have torn a ligament in his ankle. Uh oh. Gold Cup could be in jeopardy.

Dallas plays fun soccer. They've got some good possession players. Ferreira is a stud.

MLS Postseason Award Nominees are out. My picks in bold. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/mls-names-finalists-end-season-awards Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists: Kevin Hartman (FC Dallas) Donovan Ricketts (LA Galaxy) Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) Visa Defender of the Year Finalists Nat Borchers (Real Salt Lake) Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy) Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake) To be honest, this list is f'd. I would have nominated Heath Pearce, Sean Franklin and Bobby Convey and given it to Franklin. Rookie of the Year Finalists Danny Mwanga (Philadelphia Union) Andy Najar (D.C. United) Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls) Something like 3rd in the league in minutes played as a rookie on the best team in the East. Class player. Coach of the Year Finalists Hans Backe (New York Red Bulls) Schellas Hyndman (FC Dallas) Jason Kreis (Real Salt Lake) 3 seriously impressive nominees. Backe took NYRB from historically bad to legit contenders, Hyndman took Dallas from awful to the league's record unbeated streak and Jason Kreis has turned RSL into a damn machine. Have to go with the streak. His coaching milked more draws from losses than anyone. Newcomer of the Year Finalists Thierry Henry (New York Red Bulls) Joel Lindpere (New York Red Bulls) Alvaro Saborio (Real Salt Lake) Lindpere has been incredibly valuable for NYRB, but RSL losing Movsisyan and getting better with Saborio is telling. The epitome of the great player the US runs up against in CONCACAF qualifying that makes you ask yourself, why can't MLS get guys like that? This time they did. Kind of an aside, but Henry has been underrated as a disappointment. I think it's a great sign of how good this league is that instead of the MLS community obsessing over how mediocre his play and suspect his attitude has been, we're talking more about how great these playoffs are going to be. Volkswagen Most Valuable Player Finalists Edson Buddle (LA Galaxy) David Ferreira (FC Dallas) Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes) From scrub to stud I guess. Wondo has been ridiculous this second half. Previous goal high was...wait for it...2. This year? 18!?! 16 of them game winners?! What? Yep.

I'd appreciate that because I've always liked Sacha. He's not international quality right now due to our depth at CM, but he was a very good MLS player and I like his creativity and soccer brain. He ended up signing a new deal, right? Just did it today. 5-year, $14,600,000 per, give or take a few thousand by today's exchange rates. Aka, Andrew Bynum money.

He seems to be having a great season so far. He hasn't even made the bench in about a month, and he's healthy.

And then og'd for Valencia. Bummer. He showed some ups on the goal.

You talking about his contract? Yeah, his transfer request, the possible contract buyout, the Man City rumors, Fergie lying about injuries etc. Gorgeous. Rooney is [expletive].

This Rooney nonsense is awesome. I love it. What a [expletive].

Holden has to play. Do you put him in the middle with Landon and Clint on the wings or Clint in the middle/withdrawn striker and Holden on the right? I prefer the second.

EJ for Edu as well. Granted its 4 minutes, but I really like the look of Lichaj. Strong, good with both feet and really getting forward. Looks like he has a good motor.

Dempsey, Lichaj and Parkhurst in for Shea, Pearce and Onyewu respectively. Hopefully Parky didn't forget how to play the ball at his feet while in Denmark because Onyewu has been a donkey. Spec and Goodson not much better. I thought Pearce was solid at left back but I'm excited to see Lichaj. Scratch that. Lichaj for Spector. Excellent. I like it. Specs is crap.

The three destroyers are having a terrible time bringing the ball through the midfield. We still miss Donovan big time, Shea not really providing any width. Seems a little slow on the ball and not confident. Understandable for a 20 year old in his first cap. Need Dempsey to come in for some spark.

Bob experimenting again. --Spec-----Gooch------Goodson-----Pearce-- --Jone------------Edu----------Bradley------- --Holden-------Altidore-----------Shea------ Should be fun.

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/europe/story/Davies-license-suspended-over-speeding So maybe he was driving? Whatever happened, Charlie needs to grow up.

I actually think Sean Franklin will fit in really nicely for him. One of the few next gen back liners I have no worries about.

Our back line is absolutely helpless with the ball at their feet and running backwards, Edu is a terrible centerback and Altidore can't finish. Other than that, Jones was absolutely class, the 4-5-1 looked like the logical winner we all thought it would be, Holden is blossoming into a cornerstone player and will only show better with Landon's speed to his side, Clint is on excellent form, Mikey was his usual hyperactive self, Howard is still god and Gooch is healthy. Our World Cup could have been very, very different with Jones anchoring the midfield instead of Edu and Clark. Howard 8 Cherundolo 7 Onyewu 6 Edu 4 Bocanegra 5 Holden 7 Jones 8 Bradley 7 Feilhaber 5 Dempsey 7 Altidore 5 Bedoya 6

126. I don't know why I did it and I agree that it's beyond reckless. This kid needs to stop getting in cars with dumbasses. I stick by my prediction that he'll play first team in MLS before anywhere in Europe again.