We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
It's time. MLS 2008 starts tonight and FSC is serving up a sumptuous banquet tonight. First up - my mighty New England Revolution boys against the current MLS champs Houston. Later, we'll see the Galaxy with a revitalized David Beckham take on the Crapids. Join me for a natter, eh?
posted by gatorbob @ 7:28 PM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
48 Comments:
After several years of relative constancy, this is a big year of change for the Revs. We've hung on to Double T due to his deal with Preston falling through, but Pat Noonan and Andy Dorman are gone. We'll be leaning on the spine of the side - Reis, Parkhurst, Joseph, Rallston and Twellman - all the more heavily. It will be interesting to see the two new Gambian kids tonight. Plus Chris Albright will partner Parkhurst and we shouldn't leak too many goals.
The weather should give us a massive advantage tonight. The Revs have traditionally started with a lengthy West Coast road trip at the beginning of the season, but some acid casualty has decided to host the opening game of the season in Foxboro, MA. The result - it's bloody 27F there!
The Dynamo will count on plenty of goals from their top three - strikers Ching and Ngwenye plus DeRosario tucking in behind them. These are both quality sides and I'm hoping we can start strong and hand out a thumping to gain revenge on the Dynamo.
The Fort is in good voice here. Shame that they haven't learned any new chants in the twelve years the league has been around - "Re-vo-lu-tion." Ugh.
The Revs peppering Pat Onstadt early on. It's noticeable that many of the players are really bundled up as if they're on a ski slope rather than a footer pitch. A bit parky out there.
I'm liking my first look of Nyassi, the new Gambian left winger for the Revs. He's a bit a speed merchant. If he can find a final ball, we might be on to something.
We still don't have any indication why Taylor Twellman hasn't started tonight. He might have picked up a knock in the warm-up. Here's the news - it's a tweaked knee. So Adam Crispin is his understudy tonight. A big blow to our chances for victory.
Oooh, that was a close one. Munsally, the other Gambian debutante, latched on to a wayward backpass and lashed a cross just a bit too quickly for Crispin. Shame. That should've been one nil.
GOAL! 1-0 Revolution! Rallston gobbles up an easy chance that was made by Nyassi, who tucked through for Munsally, who rocketed a shot into the keeper, which Rallston snaffled up. Lovely!
Stevie Rallston's everywhere tonight.
GOAL! FSC completely missed the free kick goal there. Castro won the free kick. It was taken quickly, Laurentowicz drove it and Cristman nodded home from Onstadt's parry. Onstadt's been guilty of bobbling two now and we've punished him both times. 2-0!
Cristman is looking vastly improved from last year. Very impressed by his progress. Not sold on Mauricio Castro yet.
Another chance for Adam Cristman, but he hits it straight at Onstadt. It's a bit to ask for Onstadt to bobble a third shot, isn't it?
In other MLS action, Columbus Crew have opened in style, beating Toronto 2-0 at home earlier today. And Cauhtemoc Blanco has spared Chicago's blushes by scoring late in a 1-1 draw against Real Salt Lake.
Dangerous free kick for Houston...and DeRosario drives it into the side netting.
Half-time: 2-0 Revs. Very, very satisfying.
No changes at the start of the second half. Suits me just fine.
Excellent save from Matty Reis. From the resulting corner, Holden nods onto the bar. Close things for Houston there.
Not a good sign here. Ralston goes down in a heap, landing on his shoulder. Looks like he's going to have to come off.
Castro seems busy making Khano Smith an essential part of the Revolution set up. A very inauspicious debut from the Honduran.
DC United and the KC Wizards are at 0-0 at half-time.
GOAL! 3-0! Revs. Dyassi wraps up a spectacular debut by running from the half Maradona style and then burying a shot past Onstadt.
Full-time - 3-0! A mighty impressive start to the season. Keep it coming, lads.
Now it's Beckham time - time for David to show what he's made of. Come on Goldenballs!
This should be a no-brainer. Beckham hitting balls to Carlos Ruiz. They should score hat-fulls this season. Plus the sexy football of Ruud Gullit. Looking forward to it.
The Crapids seem to be relying on the long ball over the top to a couple of speedy forwards. Not much opportunity for Becks yet.
First Beckham moment - a fantastic forty yard ball to Ruiz, who takes a shot early but doesn't get much purchase on it. Straight down the keeper's throat.
Better football now from the Galaxy.
Oh dear, well, that's not the start that Ruud Gullit was looking for. Free kick straight onto the post and Terry Cook is first to it and hammers it home for the Crapids. 1-0 for the hosts.
And the Wizards seem to be cruising to a 2-0 home win against DC United. Sorry Gooner.
Was Abel Xavier always this rubbish a player?
Free kick chance for Becks now....
Good ball in but claimed by the keeper.
There's that long diagonal from Becks again. He's going to have to mix it up a bit.
Quick thinking from Becks chipping through to Landycakes, but the Colorado keeper's been good so far.
A dangerous Beckham ball into the area is ballooned up by Landycakes off his thigh. Wasted chance.
Another free kick for Becks...
And Ruiz gets his head on it and earns a corner.
Another delicious ball from Becks finds no one in the box.
Gavin on the left side for LA is a real weak link. He's done nothing tonight.
A great long ball from Becks finds Ruiz who runs through but shows too much to the keeper.
Becks is playing far too deep. I'd like to see him pushing further up the right side, but I don't think he has any confidence in the Galaxy backline.
Half-time - Crapids 1 Galaxy 0.
Disappointing first half for Ruud Gullit's men.
We'll see if Becks can lift his side in the second half.
Landon Donovan really has been rubbish tonight. I don't quite get why he's a different player for the U.S. national side than he is for his club team.
The referee gives a ludicrous penalty against the Galaxy and Abel Xavier. Becks does a decent job calming him down but LA can't buy any luck here.
Gomez steps up to take it and...
2-0 Crapids!
More heroics from the Colorado keeper.
Finally Michael Gavin is replaced. He's been horrible.
It just gets worse. 3-0 Crapids. What must David Beckham be thinking?
The LA lads are losing their heads. Greg Vanney could easily have gone off for a swipe at Hercules Gomez there.
Donovan misses yet another chance.
Hey Bob,
the family watched most of both of these games.
I was not impressed with the quality at all. What did you think?
LA were the worst. Even Beckham couldn't pass the ball. He also spent most of the time in the right back position. Why?
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