Open BLECH for DCU v LAG

CSN is letting me down. My wife and I are on a reduced entertainment budget, so we can't necessarily afford the trip to RFK and the inevitable beers cotton candy. And we have Comcast basic cable... I guess we are grandfathered in on that; is that even offered to new subscribers anymore?

Subsequently I don't get Fox Soccer Channel. Not like I'd want it; f**k Fox, in any formation or configuration.

I want Dave Johnson. I want Garth Lagerway.

Actually, I prefer listening to Tony Limarzi.

Anyway, it sounds like Emilio played his ass off and didn't get any satisfaction, so everyone tell me whether I'm right or I'm wrong in the comments.

And pass along free tickets and other stuff to me when you have it, since my wife will be in school for 16 months and we'll be on only one income. Thanks in advance.

3 points; 2 red cards; 1-0

LA Galaxy earned 3 points last night in Kansas City and only needed a two man advantage to do so. I think the look on Landon Donovan's face at the end of the game was a bit of shock ("OMG - we won!") mixed with a bit of "I can't believe you guys pulled it off, in spite of me."

I'd like to propose a new entry into the American lexicon. Let's say you are having a horrible day at work but then you finally get to leave work and when you get home you find that your live-in girlfriend has moved out and taken the dog. You think to yourself, "Man, what a Vagenas!" You know, because of all the bad things happening to you, repeatedly.

The best part of the game for me was the discussion of the USWNT v Brazil match where all three ESPN commentators (Tommy, Dave and Eric) let loose on Greg Ryan. Every single second of their analysis was dead-on correct. If Greg Ryan is fired before the Bronze Medal match it won't be fast enough and even if he is fired eventually, I'm still making up some "Fire Greg Ryan" shirts just so that everyone knows exactly how I feel and in case he somehow gets a job in the new WUSA league. I'm so pissed about the Hope Solo situation. And my wife makes a GREAT point that I hadn't gotten to... you know, on account of the overwhelming anger. Who is the keeper for the Bronze Medal match? You can't go with Scurry again, can you? But if you go with Hope, then isn't that an embarrassing admission by Ryan that he F-ed up by starting Scurry in the Brazil match?

Now, all of that said, I must admit I haven't watched the second half yet, so there may be more to this that just a goalkeeper controversy. But before the game even started and before I knew that the final was 4-0 against, I heard that Solo was getting benched and I thought: "bad idea". Whether Solo might have done better, or if the US would've done better offensively without the distraction of a controversy overhead we'll never know. But I think it was the wrong decision. If anyone reads any good analysis out there on the interwebs, let me know in the comments.

Coffee is Good

SCOUTING REPORT: If you caught the Toronto-RBNY match last night, let me see if I can quickly summarize: Juan Pablo Angel is that good, putting two goals against Toronto's backup keeper. That being said, RBNY did not play particularly well. Are they scary with JPA on the field? Sure. Are they beatable? Without a doubt. Even with Reyna, the midfield and defense were not entirely organized except in terms of keeping a line. This team is not invincible (as if you ever thought they were.) That being said, this may have been a game in poor form for them, and they may play (and should play) better against DC. Still, I walk away from last night's game more optimistic than perhaps I was at the start of the week.

THE SIMMS: Steve Goff with a quick write-up on the Clyde Simms Experiment, and with some notes at RFK. Both good reading. He also says this:

Remember those scoring opportunities that Nate Jaqua botched the other night for Los Angeles against D.C. United? Juan Pablo Angel will not miss them.

Of course, that news won't be a surprise to you, right?

But if you're not troubled by the opening of this game, just think about New York coming to town. Angel and Altidore won't allow us to get by the same way, and that has to make you nervous. It certainly does me.

LANDON - "I'M JUST A HUMAN": I'm going to stray a moment from our ostensible DCU focus to talk about a post Luis Bueno has at Sideline Views:

Except, there is one thing they [Landon's critics] probably don't take into consideration. Landon actually lives his own life. He's not a figure in a video game; he's actually flesh and blood.

With all due to respect to both Luis and Landon, this is bullshit. We know he's human. But as a human, he made a choice to become the face of US Soccer. He's the one being interviewed on the beach. He's the one starring in the MLS ads. He's the one doing "Don't Discriminate" Public Service Announcements. He's the one that took on the role of a leader to broker a labor deal between US Soccer and the US National Team union. Maybe it wasn't his idea to become the embodiment of US Soccer, but it is a role he chose to accept and embrace. And once he did that, he takes on responsibility when it comes to playing on the field. It's not all just being in adverts and talking to the suits, you also have to put your cleats on and play to represent your country. Luis quotes Landon as saying "I've done it pretty much every year for eight years. I can comfortably say that I deserve to have one tournament off." Dude, you took the 2006 World Cup off. If you don't want to be the face of US Soccer, then give that role up to someone else. That's a fine choice to make, become like any other US National Team player. But don't pretend to be a leader if you won't represent your country. Copa America will be the most significant tournament outside of a world cup final that the USA has played in since the 2003 Confederations Cup. Go ahead and make your choice, but have some integrity about it.

If they did Director DVDs of Public Service Announcements

"Hi, I'm Landon Donovan.

Don't discriminate.

Especially against privileged white children whose parents buy them top quality soccer gear.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go take a leak on the pitch at the Estadio Jalisco.

What? Why's everyone looking at me?"

FURTHER THOUGHTS: I just don't get this PSA. Human Right #2 is "Don't Discriminate." Does that even make sense. Is it the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights - "All people are endowed with the right to not discriminate." Huh? A right is the same thing as an imperative command? And why #2? Is #1 the right to be immune from criticism about your performance overseas? What the hell?

In case you're curious, the second right enumerated in the preamble to the UN Universal declaration is "Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people." Just so you know.

You know what? I think this is a more positive message about human rights. Let me get my credit card out.

Just Quickly...

Did anyone else feel incredibly frustrated by the USA-Ecuador match? I mean, isn't this exactly the kind of result we want to see in a match under different circumstances, but exactly the result that means nothing given what the circumstances we had? Landon putting up 3 on Ecuador is frustrating because you know he can be a good player, but you want to see him demonstrate it under conditions other than the ones we saw yesterday. When he puts up three on foreign soil against a South American team, then I might be truly invigorated. Right now it just feels so... so... I dunno, like I've been here before. Yes, I know Ecuador had a higher FIFA ranking. Doesn't matter (check the Elo ratings instead). At home on a gawdawful pitch we should win that one anyways. That's all. I just can't feel all good about this yet.