World Cup and European leagues

[ScotsFan]

Is the race for the premiership all but over?  Chelsea still have a chance, albeit a very slim one.  The Blues have a tough match next week at Everton.  If they can't come away with the 3 points, they are finished. 

What the Blues need most is a ManU draw next week at Blackburn and a win over the Red Devils at home the following week.  That would be enough to draw the Blues level.  If ManU can get their 3 points on the road this weekend, that would pretty much seal the deal. 

BTW, did anyone catch that goal by Hargraves to put ManU on top vs. Arsenal?  Everyone and their mother was expecting Ronaldo to take that and Hargraves just flat footed everone on the pitch and delivered an excellent strike right into the bottom left corner!  That just might have been the goal that ultimately wins the Premiership for ManU!

[WLCALUM83]

Mexico defeated China last night 1-0.

[Greek Tragedy]

The race is far from over.  Chelsea won at Everton yesterday to cut their deficit to just 2 points.  Man. Utd. have an equally tricky visit to Blackburn tomorrow.  A tie would leave them 3 points up with a trip to Stamford Bridge next week.  If Chelsea wins, it's a two-game playoff as both teams would be level on points, though the "tie-breaker" would go to the Red Devils' superior goal difference.  I think it's going to go down to the wire.  One game at a time (yeah, I know, huge cliche)...

[Mr. Ypsi]

The Olympic draws have been announced:

Group A: Argentina, Australia, Ivory Coast, Serbia
Group B: Japan, Netherland, Nigeria, USA
Group C: Belgium, Brazil, China, New Zealand
Group D: Cameroon, Honduras, Italy, S. Korea

With Olympic rules (23 and under, or under 23?). it is hard to handicap, but going by tradition it would seem that Argentina and Italy have pretty easy draws, Brazil should do fine unless Belgium and (home-team) China go crazy, and USA may be in the 'group of death'.

[sac]

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1

....shocking about sums it up, what a disaster for Liverpool.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

The Olympic draws have been announced:

Group A: Argentina, Australia, Ivory Coast, Serbia
Group B: Japan, Netherland, Nigeria, USA
Group C: Belgium, Brazil, China, New Zealand
Group D: Cameroon, Honduras, Italy, S. Korea

With Olympic rules (23 and under, or under 23?). it is hard to handicap, but going by tradition it would seem that Argentina and Italy have pretty easy draws, Brazil should do fine unless Belgium and (home-team) China go crazy, and USA may be in the 'group of death'.

The thing is, you're allowed three players over the age limit per squad and guess who said he's interested in lacing them up for the Red, White, and Blue?  None other than Fulham captain Brian McBride!

If he's up front with our strong, young squad.  I like what they have the ability to do in this tournament.

[Hoosier Titan]

Chelsea 1 Liverpool 1

....shocking about sums it up, what a disaster for Liverpool.

It was a shocker, all right, and a real shame.  I hope it's not a disaster.  It sounds as though they pretty much dominated the game until the own goal. 

The real bad guy owner, Hicks, was in town for the match, along with the prospective buyers from DIC.  Hicks better have security in place--there will be plenty of frustrated Scousers about.

[Greek Tragedy]

And Lampard claims they deserved a draw.  Liverpool dominated most of the game, in my opinion.  Riise sticks his head a foot off the ground to score the own goal.  Nice job.

Man. Utd. v Barca tomorrow...wow!  Then on to Stamford Bridge.

[ScotsFan]

And Lampard claims they deserved a draw. 

Not from what I saw from that match...

I agree with Tom in that Liverpool absolutely dominated that match and if it wasn't for Peter Cech, Liverpool should have easily had 3-4 goals!  Cech turned away Torres on 2 point blank shots and then he tipped away a Gerrard Rocket that was heading goalward.

Maybe Lampard meant to say they were fortunate with the draw...   

ManU at Barca should be a good one later today!  I've got my DVR set to record and I'll be watching later tonight hoping for a Red Devils away victory!  8)  That will be a tall order at Camp Nou, however. 

[ScotsFan]

The thing is, you're allowed three players over the age limit per squad and guess who said he's interested in lacing them up for the Red, White, and Blue?  None other than Fulham captain Brian McBride!

If he's up front with our strong, young squad.  I like what they have the ability to do in this tournament.

I really like the idea of bringing McBride back.  I really think he could be a force up front alongside Altidore.

Hoops Fan, I don't know what article you read regarding McBride, but in the one I read, it stated that there might be a conflict with many of the senior mnt players due to a WC Qualifier with Guatemala which they are trying to get rescheduled so it doesn't conflict with the Olympics. 

What other senior players would you like to see?  I think I'd be leaning towards defense with maybe Gooch and Bocanegra or maybe a keeper like Howard.  Of course all of this hinges on whether or not that WC Qualifier can be rescheduled as to just which senior players choose to go to the Olympics.

[Hoosier Titan]

Here is what Lampard said, from the BBC:

'Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard felt his side deserved to come away from the first leg of their Champions League semi-final at Liverpool with a draw.  The Blues were headed for defeat until Liverpool's John Arne Riise headed into his own net deep into injury time."I think we deserved definitely to get the draw at the end," he said. "They had chances and we had chances. It was a battle and we carried on to the end.  This is not an easy place to come and we kept at it."'

Did anyone see the Arsenal-Reading match for which Hleb was given a red card after review of the tape?  He hit someone in the face.  Just wondered how bad it was.

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

Hoops Fan, I don't know what article you read regarding McBride, but in the one I read, it stated that there might be a conflict with many of the senior mnt players due to a WC Qualifier with Guatemala which they are trying to get rescheduled so it doesn't conflict with the Olympics. 

That's the beauty of it, McBride isn't on the MNT anymore, he retired from international competition after the last World Cup.

As for the other over 23ers, it probably should be some back line guys, although we're short on them as it is and if there is a qualifier conflict that's out entirely.

[Greek Tragedy]

Who's the under-23 goalie, how solid is he?  Someone like Friedel could play keeper.  He's having an outstanding EPL season and stymied MUFC last weekend (damn him!).  As usual, I think the US is short on defenders so they couldn't really afford to give up someone for the Olympics.

Man. Utd. gets a draw today.  Even though Ronaldo missed an early PK, I think the Red Devils were fortunate to get a 0-0 draw back to Old Trafford.  Barcelona basically dominated the whole match.  Obviously a goal would've changed the whole complexion of the game, but I'd rather have a 1-1 draw than a 0-0 draw.

Big games this weekend and on Tuesday (and Wednesday for that matter).

[Ryan Scott (Hoops Fan)]

I forget his name, but the U-23 goalie is solid.  I also remember something about goalies being excluded from the age exemption.  I could be wrong, but I don't think you're allowed to bring an older keeper.

[Gotberg]

I forget his name, but the U-23 goalie is solid.  I also remember something about goalies being excluded from the age exemption.  I could be wrong, but I don't think you're allowed to bring an older keeper.

Chris Seitz is the u-23 goalie and he's the backup keeper at RSL.

I wouldn't be shocked if they go with an overage goalie, even if Seitz is good.  The last Olympics the US played, Friedal was brought in to play ahead of Tim Howard.  At the time, it was known that Howard would become a star, but they wanted experience in the back to organize the defense and such...