Friday...
"Get off your knees, you're blowing the game!"
One of my former editors once told me no one ever wants to read a story about referees. Yet, around the interwebs, that’s the topic in a lot of stories. And this one as well.
The large majority of these articles has to do with Tim Weyland, who presided over the L.A. derby two weeks ago. For me (as I summon my inner John Harkes) Weyland’s game wasn’t that bad. In fact, the only card I disagreed with was Paolo Nagamura’s second one when Landon Donovan made a meal of a light touch. Other than that, Weyland was maybe strict, disrupting the flow, but a card is a card whether it’s in the first or the 90th minute. Would these same pundits rather have a bloodbath like we’ve seen in this series in the past?
This past weekend John Carver was fined for criticizing Weyland, specifically for his penalty kick call on Marvell Wynne. In the play, Wynne’s hand was well away from his body and knocked the ball down when David Ferreira cut it back. As Carver said, “tell me how a guy who's running flat out can change direction having to have his arms down by his side. It’s impossible.” True, Senor Carver, very true. However, it’s still a handball in the box and is going to be a penalty 100% of the time. Granted, if Wynne hadn’t been beaten down the side and caught out of position it wouldn’t have been an issue, but it’s easier to yell at the official than your own player, I suppose.
Michael Kennedy made his presence known last night by issuing the earliest red card in MLS history to Carlos Johnson. For those keeping score at home that’s two reds in 108 minutes. Even Dema Kovalenko is saying, “that kid needs to calm down.” His hideous first touch needlessly put Johnson in a position where he had to foul Herculez Gomez and Kennedy had no choice. Some pundits surely will opine that the diminutive man in the middle ruined the game with the red, but he’s doing his job correctly. The time of the game where these fouls occur shouldn’t matter and, last night, it didn’t to Kennedy. Of course the game was somewhat ruined, only because Kansas City were content to take the three points from a 1-0 win.
Other thoughts
- Speaking of that scenario, John Harkes made no sense in the latter stages of the game. Which isn’t a huge shock. Sure, Kansas City should have controlled, and arguably dominated, the game as they were up a man for 88 minutes. However, up 1-0 late, why shouldn’t Jimmy Conrad be telling Lance “mini-Dirk Diggler” Watson to hold back to preserve the lead? If Harkes was a hockey announcer, I feel like he’d be criticizing a team for not pulling their goalie while on a five-minute penalty up a goal in the third period.
- Another popular theme going around is that Seattle has come back to Earth with consecutive losses. Let me get this straight: SFC was beaten at home after Kasey Keller is sent off and Davy Arnaud hits a cracker, and then they head to LaLa land with Keller suspended and lose to the best team in the league on an own goal and a late tally when they were pushing forward for the equalizer. Where, pray tell, did the glass slipper fall off? Now, should the Earthquakes extend Seattle’s losing streak to three, then there’s a story. However, since the Smurfs miss more chances to score than I did in college, wait for the knee-jerk reaction next week to laud Sigi Schmid for getting the team back on track and how everything is just peachy keen in the Emerald City. Then that will be followed by a 180, turning back to a “the sky is falling” stance thanks to a loss in Chicago. Methinks only the weather around D.C. changes more quickly than the fickle media.
- Avery John is officially D.C. United’s new left back. If only the U.S. national team could upgrade that easily. My boy Kevin -- who is on pace to earn 10% of my non-existent check from Bushman -- texted “way to trade for two red cards a year.” John was sent off in his first ever World Cup final game, but surprisingly was only sent off once in sixty-four league appearances for New England. I was shocked it just the one. Overall the T&T defender upgrades United’s back line, especially as Soehn seems intent on returning to the 3-5-2 used in the hey day under Peter Nowak. The other options at left back, University of Maryland products Marc Burch and Rodney Wallace, are too offensive minded for the defensive nature of a three-man backline.
- Saving the big news for last, MLS will reportedly make $10 million for extending David Beckham’s loan. If that’s true I have two reactions. First, kudos to MLS for getting that amount of money and showing themselves to not cower under the demands of one of the biggest clubs and stars in the sport. Second, how much is coming from David Beckham? And does that negate the “rep,” for lack of a better term, that I just mentioned? If Golden Balls really paid $5 million or more to not return to L.A. for a little under four months, that may hurt the league in the eyes of foreigners. Becks can make that money back with a single endorsement, so it’s not a matter of money to him, it’s a matter of not playing in MLS.
- Weekend games are here once again, so that means it’s time for more predictions. You know you love them.
Saturday
Columbus v. Chicago: With Hesmer and Marshall out the Fire’s offense will score a couple. The question is whether their defense can hold off GBS and Crew (pun intended) for 90 minutes. 2-2 tie
Real Salt Lake v. New England: The Revolution’s odyssey continues and RSL loves playing at home. Is this the breakout week for Morales? Real wins 3-1
Colorado v. Los Angeles: The Pids continue their early season surprising success thanks to the hapless Galaxy. How quickly is Arena aging in L.A.? Rapids win 2-0
Chivas v. Dallas: Coast to coast trip can’t help Dallas who lost mid-week to United in Open Cup play. They won’t double their league win total against the table topping Goats. Chivas wins 2-1
Seattle v. San Jose: See above. Seattle wins 2-0
Sunday
New York v. D.C. United: The first edition of the ’09 Atlantic Cup goes to the visitors. But at least Carlos Johnson won’t get sent off in this one. United 2-1
Toronto v. Kansas City: Both coming off 1-0 midweek wins. Both were not at their best. Don’t watch this one if you don’t have to. Tie 0-0
- Pat Walsh
One of my former editors once told me no one ever wants to read a story about referees. Yet, around the interwebs, that’s the topic in a lot of stories. And this one as well.
The large majority of these articles has to do with Tim Weyland, who presided over the L.A. derby two weeks ago. For me (as I summon my inner John Harkes) Weyland’s game wasn’t that bad. In fact, the only card I disagreed with was Paolo Nagamura’s second one when Landon Donovan made a meal of a light touch. Other than that, Weyland was maybe strict, disrupting the flow, but a card is a card whether it’s in the first or the 90th minute. Would these same pundits rather have a bloodbath like we’ve seen in this series in the past?
This past weekend John Carver was fined for criticizing Weyland, specifically for his penalty kick call on Marvell Wynne. In the play, Wynne’s hand was well away from his body and knocked the ball down when David Ferreira cut it back. As Carver said, “tell me how a guy who's running flat out can change direction having to have his arms down by his side. It’s impossible.” True, Senor Carver, very true. However, it’s still a handball in the box and is going to be a penalty 100% of the time. Granted, if Wynne hadn’t been beaten down the side and caught out of position it wouldn’t have been an issue, but it’s easier to yell at the official than your own player, I suppose.
Michael Kennedy made his presence known last night by issuing the earliest red card in MLS history to Carlos Johnson. For those keeping score at home that’s two reds in 108 minutes. Even Dema Kovalenko is saying, “that kid needs to calm down.” His hideous first touch needlessly put Johnson in a position where he had to foul Herculez Gomez and Kennedy had no choice. Some pundits surely will opine that the diminutive man in the middle ruined the game with the red, but he’s doing his job correctly. The time of the game where these fouls occur shouldn’t matter and, last night, it didn’t to Kennedy. Of course the game was somewhat ruined, only because Kansas City were content to take the three points from a 1-0 win.
Other thoughts
- Speaking of that scenario, John Harkes made no sense in the latter stages of the game. Which isn’t a huge shock. Sure, Kansas City should have controlled, and arguably dominated, the game as they were up a man for 88 minutes. However, up 1-0 late, why shouldn’t Jimmy Conrad be telling Lance “mini-Dirk Diggler” Watson to hold back to preserve the lead? If Harkes was a hockey announcer, I feel like he’d be criticizing a team for not pulling their goalie while on a five-minute penalty up a goal in the third period.
- Another popular theme going around is that Seattle has come back to Earth with consecutive losses. Let me get this straight: SFC was beaten at home after Kasey Keller is sent off and Davy Arnaud hits a cracker, and then they head to LaLa land with Keller suspended and lose to the best team in the league on an own goal and a late tally when they were pushing forward for the equalizer. Where, pray tell, did the glass slipper fall off? Now, should the Earthquakes extend Seattle’s losing streak to three, then there’s a story. However, since the Smurfs miss more chances to score than I did in college, wait for the knee-jerk reaction next week to laud Sigi Schmid for getting the team back on track and how everything is just peachy keen in the Emerald City. Then that will be followed by a 180, turning back to a “the sky is falling” stance thanks to a loss in Chicago. Methinks only the weather around D.C. changes more quickly than the fickle media.
- Avery John is officially D.C. United’s new left back. If only the U.S. national team could upgrade that easily. My boy Kevin -- who is on pace to earn 10% of my non-existent check from Bushman -- texted “way to trade for two red cards a year.” John was sent off in his first ever World Cup final game, but surprisingly was only sent off once in sixty-four league appearances for New England. I was shocked it just the one. Overall the T&T defender upgrades United’s back line, especially as Soehn seems intent on returning to the 3-5-2 used in the hey day under Peter Nowak. The other options at left back, University of Maryland products Marc Burch and Rodney Wallace, are too offensive minded for the defensive nature of a three-man backline.
- Saving the big news for last, MLS will reportedly make $10 million for extending David Beckham’s loan. If that’s true I have two reactions. First, kudos to MLS for getting that amount of money and showing themselves to not cower under the demands of one of the biggest clubs and stars in the sport. Second, how much is coming from David Beckham? And does that negate the “rep,” for lack of a better term, that I just mentioned? If Golden Balls really paid $5 million or more to not return to L.A. for a little under four months, that may hurt the league in the eyes of foreigners. Becks can make that money back with a single endorsement, so it’s not a matter of money to him, it’s a matter of not playing in MLS.
- Weekend games are here once again, so that means it’s time for more predictions. You know you love them.
Saturday
Columbus v. Chicago: With Hesmer and Marshall out the Fire’s offense will score a couple. The question is whether their defense can hold off GBS and Crew (pun intended) for 90 minutes. 2-2 tie
Real Salt Lake v. New England: The Revolution’s odyssey continues and RSL loves playing at home. Is this the breakout week for Morales? Real wins 3-1
Colorado v. Los Angeles: The Pids continue their early season surprising success thanks to the hapless Galaxy. How quickly is Arena aging in L.A.? Rapids win 2-0
Chivas v. Dallas: Coast to coast trip can’t help Dallas who lost mid-week to United in Open Cup play. They won’t double their league win total against the table topping Goats. Chivas wins 2-1
Seattle v. San Jose: See above. Seattle wins 2-0
Sunday
New York v. D.C. United: The first edition of the ’09 Atlantic Cup goes to the visitors. But at least Carlos Johnson won’t get sent off in this one. United 2-1
Toronto v. Kansas City: Both coming off 1-0 midweek wins. Both were not at their best. Don’t watch this one if you don’t have to. Tie 0-0
- Pat Walsh
Labels: Walsh
posted by Bushman @ 10:20 AM
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