2-18-11

Quotes from the Sounders practice on Thursday, Sigi and local boy Henderson are up for the Soccer Hall of Fame.

One Sounders Rookie is Playing without fear!

He is now a Sounder and has received some media attention this pre-season, now they are calling for O'Brien White to have a Breakout Season.

The Rivalry exists from when I was 5 years old, the Sounders lost that year to Portland in the quarterfinals of the NASL playoffs.

Fox Soccer Channel and MLS agreed to an extension on their contract, good news for the Sounders.

The PDL is the 4th Division of US Soccer and here in the North West we have 6 teams and some very strong Rivalries, Portland is the reigning National Champions. Everett, Kitsap, Tacoma, Crossfire, Portland, Vancouver.

Here is the Weekend TV listings for Soccer.(all times eastern)


New section to the blog starting this week is the Friday Funny. The first one comes to us from England. It was put out last summer right before the English team went to the World Cup in South Africa. "Smithy meets the England National Team"



It happens, things get lost in translation. In Wednesday's game between Aris FC from Greece against Manchester City from England the Greek's used a doctored team photo of Man City. In place of the actual team photo was a photo shopped version featuring half the players to appear on Man City's lengthy wish list over the last few years (including Messi, Rooney, Drogba, Torres, Sneijder, Forlan, Xavi, etc.) all in one massive man-pile. Aris immediately recalled the program.



Best Top Skill



Ryan Giggs the ageless Welshman signs a new 1 year contract with Manchester United, Keeping him on the books for his 21st year!


Goals of the Week



Some teams acquired known talent, some teams drafted quality rookies, some teams picked players from obscure leagues, question is "Which team had the best off season?"


Sparta Prague 0 – Liverpool 0 (Europa League, February 17, 2011)



He retired at the beginning of the preseason, took a job as goalkeeper coach for DC United, DC lost 2 keepers to injury in preseason, now at 42 Pat Onstad is back.


Rangers 1 – Sporting Lisbon 1 (Europa League, February 17, 2011)



Youth soccer in America is going through a transitional time, the European model of professional teams having youth clubs is starting to take hold while other youth academies are struggling to keep talent. Finding the right balance is the problem that continues to arise in Youth Soccer in America.


Basel 2 – Spartak Moscow 3 (Europea League, February 17, 2011)



Ronaldo is regarded as an underachiever despite winning two World Cups
Before knee injuries and weight issues, Ronaldo was virtually unstoppable
At heart, Ronaldo was gregarious and fun-loving in his attitude on and off the pitch, but was he the very, very, very Best?


Young Boys 2 – Zenit St Petersburg 1 (Europa League, Ferbuary 17, 2011)



It hasn't happened in 17 years, a non-league team making it to the 5th round of the FA Cup. So who is the non-league team playing Manchester United at Old Trafford this weekend? Let me introduce you to Crawley Town!


Lille 2 – PSV 2 (Europa League, February 17, 2011)



The San Jose Earthquakes are heading across the pond to do a little training, they will train for 2 weeks at Tottenham Hotspurs training ground, fun thing will be to see if Beckham (Currently training with Tottenham) will train with San Jose?


Sevilla 1 – Porto 2 (Europa League, February 17, 2011)



That is understandable - without his teeth in, Joe was a fearful sight. Although away from the game he is a very convivial, softly-spoken man, once he crossed that white line, he was a different animal altogether. Gattuso didn't do his homework!


Anderlecht 0 – Ajax 3 (Eredivisie, February 17, 2011)



We are only 6 weeks into the new year, yet in the World of Soccer strange and unusual things are already happening across the globe!


Besiktas 1 – Dynamo Kiev 4 (Europa League, February 17, 2011)



When I was growing up I never envisioned computers, cell phones, downloading apps or Itunes and now a days it's hard to live without those things, well chalk this next app down to one of those things you can't live without!!


Metalist Kharkiv 0 – Bayer Leverkusen 4 (Europa League last-32 1st leg, February 17, 2011)