(Note: Editors notes are parenthetical and italicized. Editors notes are intended for our non-futbol audience, with tidbits added by TOB, who knows less about futbol than most people)
Wow, it’s been a while. According to the TOB archives, it’s going on about 3 years since we’ve done a not-so-Sunday Soccer Soundoff! Can you believe it? Let’s recap to get you up to speed on what’s happened since then.
· My kid was born! Thus, the lack of lame soccer takes on this website. And another one is on the way, so it may be another 3 years before we do this again.
· Sporting KC won the ’17 US Open Cup! And I was there!
· The US failed to qualify for the ’18 World Cup, holy moly was that bad.
o Obviously, the US should have qualified easily and there are infinite “what-ifs” that could be discussed, but if I got to pick the line-ups we would have qualified without a sweat. Consider that during the qualification process, Sporting KC was one of the best teams in MLS, had the best GK (Goal Keeper?) in MLS, the best center back (run around guy?), center back pairing (free and strong safeties?), and total defense in MLS, along with a creative midfielder (bend it like Beckham guy?) who was at the top of his game. Tim Melia should have been in goal (or really anyone besides Tim Howard). Ike Opara should have been starting at CB (corner back?) over Gonzales/Miazga/whoever. And Feilhaber should have been starting or at least a regular off the bench. The US lacked defensive cohesiveness (great word) and offensive creativity. Both of those things could have been solved by including the above-mentioned players. And the fact that they all regularly played together (with Besler and Zusi!) every week should have made this an obvious decision. Hell, you could have also included former SKC striker Dom Dwyer to help get some goals and slot right into the system with his former club teammates. ARGH!
· Liverpool lost in the ’18 Champions League Final and I embarrassed myself at TOB’s wedding (Officially holding the crown for “Worst Best Man Speech Among our College Group - previously held by Griff, ironically at Robert the Cheech’s wedding). These events are in fact related.
· The ’18 World Cup happened, France won, it was fun.
· Liverpool lost the ‘18/’19 Premier League by literally a centimeter 3 times over. Insanity.
· Liverpool won the ’19 Champions League! What an epic semi-final comeback over Barcelona.
· The US won the ’19 Women’s World Cup! (we get it)
· I moved to KS and ended my Michigan amateur soccer playing career quite poorly.
o Literally the last minute of my last indoor game, my momentary mental lapse cost my team the game against our rivals, handing them the league championship. (Solidifying Robert the Cheech’s golfing nickname….Sergio!)
#foreversecondplace
o I followed that up a couple weeks later with a pretty pitiful showing in my final outdoor game. Maybe there’s a reason why athletes typically retire in their early to mid-30s. #Tomvstime
Ok, enough recapping. That went on way longer than I planned (“that would be a welcome change” - Christina)…. Let’s get to current events.
Liverpool!
We’re the Champions of Europe! Last year really was amazing and only a team of world class all-stars (purchased with slave and oil money) performing at the top of their game could stop LFC from also lifting the Premier League trophy - by the thinnest of margins. And to think that the season started with a beatdown of United in a friendly at the Big House that I got to attend, wow. This season, we’ve picked up right where we left off. Van Dijk is the best defender in the world, we’ve got two wingbacks (fly around guys) who can’t stop running and creating assists, the midfield is deep, and our front 3 is probably the best in the non-Barcelona universe. I think our biggest potential weak link would be who backs up Van Dijk, Mane and Salah? If those 3, and we should probably add Firmino to the list, can stay healthy, I think this is the year we win the league.
Also, rumor is that Nike will be the main kit sponsor for LFC starting next season. Can’t wait. (Europeans refer to gear/equipment/shoes as a players “kit”)
Sporting KC
Ummm, we suck? Last season was great and we were the best team in the Western Conference. This season, not so much. We started well with a decent showing in the Concacaf Champions League, until we got absolutely steamrolled (10-2 over 2 legs) in the semis by Monterrey. That was gross. And I definitely underestimated the gulf (someone is taking an “Improve your vocabulary” course online #universityofphoenix) in quality between MLS and Liga MX. Oh well, right? Wrong. We followed that up with a seemingly endless string of injuries and suspensions. I think I read (excellent research) that of the 32 games SKC has played so far, we’ve had 29 different lineups! No Bueno (Spanish too? Someone wants a raise). I think at one point we might have been in last place in the conference, done and dusted (is that a phrase?) (no), out of the playoff picture and trending downwards. Buuuuttt…. Eric Hurtado is a person. Turns out the oft-injured striker (header guy) is pretty solid when he’s healthy. He’s fast, strong, direct. I think he’s got 2 goals in the last 2 games (his only starts of the season) and we’ve grabbed 6 points and are now just 6 points out of the playoffs w/ a game in hand and 6 left to play. (is that three 6s? that can’t be good) We’re finally healthy and have some momentum. It could happen!
But, before we all climb aboard this hype train to playoff town, we need to mention a few “meh”s about this side that I’m kinda frustrated with.
· Graham Zusi is a defensive liability and doesn’t provide enough the offensively to compensate.
· We traded away Ike Opara!?!?! Our replacement center-backs have been terrible.
· Gerso needs to play all the time, Salloi isn’t cutting it.
· Ilie? Are you ok? He’s been great off the bench lately, and I’m forever a Benny fan, but it’s weird not to see Ilie in the starting line-up lately. I think Vermes sticks w/ this arrangement until it doesn’t work though.
· Is Eric Hurtado really the answer at center forward? Can Nemeth push him/us to be more efficient in front of goal?
Other musing:
· El Trafico was fun last night, eh? I feel like Zlatan should 1000% be TOB’s favorite soccer player. (he is, no one else in the MLS can carry his jock)
· ATL is good at soccer. (TOB watched them play some South American team a few months ago at Mercedes Benz Stadium, it was boring)
· These posts would probably be a lot better if we took the time to insert tweets/videos/highlights to illustrate our points. (We are on a budget here at TOB, but maybe things will pick up if we write articles more than once every three years)
· Anyone know of a team in need of a washed up never was 30 something midfielder (jog around guy) in the KC area?
It’s great to be back. Maybe TOB and I should do a not-so-live futbol/football session this Saturday when I’m in STL. LOB can narrate and contribute some hot takes of her own. (she is an endless source of material)
This post has been brought to you with he help of 2 Rad AFs from www.citybarrelbrewing.com/ They are delicious. NEIPAs are probably the best thing to come out of New England since (TOB, insert something witty here) (TOB looked up the gayest famous person to come out of Boston, just kept getting clips from the movie, “Spotlight.”)
Check ya later.
