The Past Month

So much is happening in the football world these days.

• The US continues to struggle against its CONCACAF competition thanks to the coach but somehow the players find a way to pull out the points.
• England is crazy with some early season play, especially with Burnley and Hull.  Manchester City is perfect along with Chelsea while Arsenal still struggles to find points.
• Eduardo’s 2 match ban is overturned.
• Liverpool is still not liked by me.
• Beckham in the news for where will he go in January.

 This season is starting out with some hot topics and there is just so much to talk about and so little time.

What are some of your highlights in the past month?

Early Impressions

Well, the season is just underway and lots happening.

Spain

Barca looks like the team still to beat with their technical skill and pace of play. Real Madrid look poised to give them a run but when they meet on November 29th (assuming all are healthy) this will be a major run in!

England

Some early big matches with Manchester United loosing a shocker to Burnley, Liverpool being shaken by Tottenham and Chelsea just cruising… this will be a spectacular season. Everton look shaky but hopefully with the Lescott drama over they will settle in and get back to form. Rafa already in hot water with the FA (after only one match!).

Italy

AC Milan looks old and Inter are finding form after a Week 1 draw that shouldn’t have been. Juve is solid and will make a push but Inter will prove too much yet again. I am hoping Palermo makes a nice run.

US

Bradley has something to prove with his selection this week. If Davies and Altidore don’t start up top considering their early league form then he must be truly questioned. If Bradley doesn’t select something very close, if not exact, to the Confederations Cup success then we are really not in for any success in 2010. I can hear the continuing shouts for a replacement building. Sad part is, not enough people care yet to put pressure on him and US Soccer is happy with where we are. Ugh. If we were any other country, he would either be on the boiling hot seat or already replaced with his selections. NOTE: MLS players cannot compete at this level or pace. Stuart Holden posted on his Twitter account that Barca is so skilled and fast. Yet he sees more minutes that Torres who plays in the Mexican league in a faster, more technical and more proven league.

TV

Awesome coverage by ESPN (showing 3 leagues and getting solid games), Fox Soccer (still showing great matches and insight) and even Comcast (who showed a replay from the weekend but it is still televised). This proves we are going to have a great 2010 summer of World Cup coverage.

Jozy

So, I recorded the Hull vs. Bolton match this weekend and watched one US youngster, Mr. Jozy Altidore, get his first cap in the English Premier League.

He gets subbed into the match in the 60^th minute and all he does is provide the assist for the match winning goal… on his second touch of the game (his first touch was to chest the ball, second was an overhead bike to send a through ball).

This size and speed and awesome, his skill is still a bit raw.  He missed a great goal scoring opportunity and could have had another assist but was selfish and didn’t play a ball square inside the box to an open Giovanni which could have put the match clear.

Granted, the kid showed up on Thursday after being quarantined from the US/Mexico match and had minimal time to train with his new mates but there are always simple things to do in matches that will get you going.

Jozy will settle in and will open his account soon.  Give him time to settle in against tough and physical defenders.  Give him time to hone his ball skill.  His is not shy about taking on defenders and that will cause all sorts of issues for the opposition.

Welcome Mr. Altidore to the big show!