3-14-11

The Sounders have built a core group of players who in the 3rd year all have the same goal, an MLS CUP. The national media has the same expectations.

It will be called "Battle of Cascadia" but when Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver play each other it will also be for bragging rights!

The Sounders got some training in Sunday at Qwest field. A 6 foot 8 keeper was working with the Sounders.

News and Notes from Sunday, quotes from coaches and players also.

I would love to see Seattle grab this guy even if it is only for 6 months!

MLS season preview of Seattle, plus the Sounders officially add 2 more players to the roster.

A few big games happen tomorrow Manchester United vs. Marseille, Inter Milan vs. Bayern Munich, Seattle Sounders vs. LA Galaxy.



Manchester United 2 – Arsenal 0 (FA Cup quarter-final, March 12, 2011)



Stuart Holden and his Bolton have made it to the FA Cup Semi-Final, let's take a look at how "The Americans Abroad" performed over the weekend.


Birmingham 2 – Bolton 3 (FA Cup quarter-final, March 12, 2011)



Ever since the days of Dion Dublin and Gary Crosby the sneak attack goal has been around in football. It’s a basic, almost child-like tactic, that preys on non-observant and unaware footballers.

The objective is simple. Attackers have learned that they can rob opposition teams of not only possession but also a goal, provided they can hide themselves from the eye-line of their opponents only to pop-up at the right time, thieve the ball, and score a cheeky goal.

It happened in Germany over the weekend with the sneaky Spanish striker Raul causing havoc for the poor opposition.



Just as was the case last season, the West in MLS appears to be the stronger of the two conferences. Not only does it contain the presence of the past two MLS Cup champions (Real Salt Lake in 2009 and Colorado in 2010), it also has the past two runner-ups in the Galaxy and FC Dallas. This season's addition of expansion franchises Portland and Vancouver add even more intrigue to the West as their heated Northwest soccer rivalry with Seattle will resume.


Manchester City 1 – Reading 0 (FA Cup quarter-final, March 13, 2011)



March 26th the USA will play Argentina and World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, but two other players won't be making the trip stateside. Here is one writers best guess as to how the USA will look on March 26th.


Stoke 2 - West Ham 1 (FA Cup quarter-final, March 13, 2011)



A creative genius on the pitch is a player who can see things before they develop, he can hit the pinpoint pass that releases an attack or creates a goal, he can make a run that seems innocuous but then receives the ball a goal is born. Here are 6 great passes from 6 great play makers.


Liverpool 2 – Manchester United 3 (FA Youth Cup, March 13, 2011)



MLS officiating has been horrid at times and bad at it's best. In hopes that they can turn it around the MLS is finalizing plans to use the disappearing spray to mark the free kick distance.


Rangers 2 – Kilmarnock 1 (SPL, March 13, 2011)



Around the world soccer is a sport that transcends culture, religion, politics and difference. From the townships of Africa to the streets of Paris, soccer belongs to the people and has become a powerful symbol of hope and passion. Growing up outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin, Jay DeMerit shared the world's love for the game. Rise and Shine the Jay DeMerit story is a true story of a young American's impossible journey - a journey never experienced or heard of in the soccer world. Jay left for Europe with only his passport and a backpack full of dreams. Sleeping on floors, painting houses and eating beans and toast to survive, Jay's dreams would finally get a chance. From his small mid-western football town to the streets of London, and on to the greatest stage in sports, follow Jay's rise to the top of the soccer world. The Jay DeMerit story is a story of perserverance, hard work and relentless belief in a dream...it is a story that needs to be told.


Willem II 1 – Ajax 3 (Eredivisie, March 13, 2011)



Last Saturday it was the Grand Final for the A League (Australian Soccer League) Brisbane Roar played the Central Coast Mariners. After regular time both sides were at nil nil, after the first half of extra time Central Coast are up 2-0 with 4 minutes left in the game and then queue the comeback!


Bayern Munich 6 – Hamburg 0 (Bundesliga, March 12, 2011)