First Impressions -- L.A. Sol 2 : 0 Washington Freedom

Okay, yes, I do plan on writing about the Freedom whenever I have a chance to observe their games. And let's set the ground rules on how covering women's soccer will be different than covering men's soccer -- there will be some differences based on media coverage and availability (Debriefings may not happen for that reason), but I intend to evaluate Freedom games with the same eye I use for United games. Which brings us to last night's FSC debut. It was bad.

Let me rephrase. The quality of soccer issue is a canard, the question is whether the games are enjoyable (they seem to be) and whether the Freedom look smart. The answer is that Abby Wambach should prepare herself for a long season. The Freedom midfield provided the quality of service associated with a Best Buy Extended Warranty. Brianna Scurry gifted LA's first goal by failing to either punch the ball out of the box on a free kick (her best option) or holding on to the ball for the save (what she tried, and failed, to do). The defense had difficulties with Marta, but otherwise was decent.

But, oh, the midfield. Couldn't pass, couldn't carry, couldn't create. Maybe it was being on the road, maybe it's the lack of time for the team to gel, but this loss is theirs and theirs alone.

A Derby of Our Own

QuarterVolley has the details. All I can say is that I hope the Majestics represent No. VA better than the Barra Brava Virginia team does against the DC/MD team.

Casualties...

...OF THE COLUMBUS CREW: The poor season the Crew are having has claimed its first non-player casualty. Sadly, it is Jeff Bull, an excellent writer and mind who is now leaving The Offside: Columbus Crew. He just couldn't take it anymore. Jeff is one of the better soccer analyst minds out there in our amateur ranks, so It's a Simple Game will certainly be bolstered by his more continual presence. And let's face it, we've all seen games that if it wasn't our team playing in them, they would bore us to tears. It's just that it almost seems like every game Columbus plays is like that.

...OF MEDIA INDIFFERENCE: QuarterVolley with your local Women's Soccer Update. Seriously, this is great to see, and I'm glad someone is putting this out there. I certainly intend to get to a few games of the Majestics and Freedom this year, and I hope you will as well. And I hope that I-66 gets some coverage of the games I don't see.

...OF THE NEW YORK MINUTE (WEEK, MONTH, QUARTER...): QuarterVolley's take is also excellent on this matter.

Off the record, he added, "we're 11 years behind schedule on playing good soccer, so you know we're not in any hurry."

That's funny.

You need you some Freedom

The big news is the return of a top Women's Professional Soccer League for 2008, and the induction of Washington Freedom alumnus Mia Hamm into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. The problem with these ceremonies is inevitably they focus on who was left out. For the record, Marco Etcheverry should be in the Hall of Fame. But not at the expense of the two worth recipients this year.

Also, with the announcement of a scheduled 2008 launch for the new Women's league, I've decided to put up a link to the Washington Freedom over on the right. 2008 seems a long way away, but I'm anticipating the return of the Freedom. Naturally, I support our local team, and in 2008 will certainly think about how best to incorporate Freedom coverage into this blog. However, we're a DC United blog first and foremost, and that's not going to change in the near future. Still, more soccer is always good. We like soccer.

Now if we can only get Aretha to sing the national anthem at all home games...