Qwest Field
The belle of the MLS ball face off against the homecoming queen today in the first match of the 2011 MLS season. Club darlings Seattle Sounders have a model envied by all other MLS clubs with passionate supporters and strong attendance.
In the first two years of MLS play Seattle have captured two Lamar Hunt US Open Cup trophies. Whereas, in year five of the Beckham Experiment (all rights reserved to Lex Luthor Grant Wahl) and all the pageantry that has come with David Beckham, the Galaxy have captured all of zero major trophies, yet they still remain one of the biggest draws because of good old Goldenballs. (Note: They did capture the Supporters Shield last year but is that really a major trophy?)
This is Beckham’s final year in his contract and the only year LA has had the fortitude to stand up to him and say no to his requests to play elsewhere during the offseason. Will it do them any good? Or will Beckham continue to underperform on the pitch?
Seattle wants to be a bigger player this year in the postseason and this should be a good test as LA has a strong team once again with Landon Donovan, David Beckham and new designated player Juan Pablo Angel. Can Fredy Montero and Steve Zakuani be the young guns to take this team to new heights? Will this be their debutante? Plus, this will be Kasey Keller’s final season and I’m sure he wants to go out with some silverware.
Anyway, enjoy the game and if the weather is anything like it is in Portland right now, this could be a sloppy game.
Whoa. Blaise Nkufo leaves Seattle.
When does this game start? Jeez. Plus, why are these guys yelling at me?
Lalas the only one with mittens on.
Twellman might be worse as a pregame pundit than he was as a color man.
@Goat, After reading that article about him and his struggle with concussions, I’m rooting for him for life
Lalas–the Berbatov of pundits. Which reminds me–do you think Greg reads the site and knows how much folks generally think Alexi is a boob?
@Wac: I certainly feel bad for him. But there are plenty of folks I feel sorry for who I don’t want shouting at me before a soccer game.
Who in the fuck kicks off their season at 10 at night? Eh, whatever, MLS!
Twellman as our color commentator is going to be a bit painful i think.
Bruce Arena–the Tony Pulis of MLS.
@TPRU, Imagine if they did this on Thursday instead? That’d be a horrible decision
@TPRU: Harkes is the color guy.
TT will be assaulting our ears at halftime.
Good job Keller, Body shots in the opening rounds wears your opponent down
@Goat: I’m going to be totally honest and admit, i have no idea what a “color commentator” is. If you ask me, there’s no such thing as good commentary anyhow.
Who plays a through ball to Beckham? He’s super slow!
@TPRU, Um, my interpretation is that he adds insight and context to the game you’re watching, and is therefore knowledgeable and not annoying…which is often impossible
.
Montero laser saved
Are these new shirts for Seattle? They look like they’re wearing backpacks.
RSL score against Saprissa, but it’s called back for, uh, something.. maybe a push, I can’t see it.
Wow, the replay shows no foul whatsoever. Brutal
Goldenmort must be wearing the wrong shirt, cause he keeps passing it to the Sounders…
RSL again! No takin that one back. Good forward play from them.
Looks like RSL just scored for real.
I look in those stands, and I can’t fucking wait for the 26th. There’s just nothing like live soccer. C’mon the U!
Keystone Cops in the Seattle box!
Haha, MLS quality finishing, on display!
Colossal fuck up.
MLS couldn’t have asked for a better game to kick the season off though, not the best quality but it sure is exciting
Agree with Brian, it’s great stuff. The not-so-Champions League game is pretty good as well, Espindola is having a hell of a game so far.
What happened to L.A’s keeper from last year, is he hurt or did they release him or something
Seattle supporters sound a bit subdued this evening?
@Brian, Best stars in the league at the team with the best crowd equals your opening game
@Wac, yea but how many times does the game itself turn out to be entertaining, normally it ends up being a snoozefest which thankfully this isn’t
@Brian: Ricketts is hurt.
@Goat, thanks he may have some competition when he is fit again
@Brian, Definitely a good game
Now the ECS is getting into the game. What’s the Kasey Keller chant?
Does anyone else feel like Beckham is playing about as usefully as poopy flavored lollipop?
How horrible has Beckham been tonight?
O’Brian White is shit.
Wow, that was crazy
@Wac, should we say he is pulling a Torres?
Freebird!!!! Damn just wide.
This Freebird has looked good so far. Nice touch and some decent passing.
Is it me, or has Alex Prus been on the Wilson Palacios diet over the offseason? He looks wider.
And I guess Beckham has been studying Nani when in England
Nice dive Beckham
Taylor Twellman–the Stephen A. Smith of soccer pundits!
Foudy!
JP Dellacamera calling highlights in the Kasey Kelley montage? Twist the knife a little deeper why don’t you ESPN?
I would love to be able to put bend on the ball like Goldenballs. Hell, I’d be happy to put the ball on target from 35 yards out.
Does Jim Gaffigan know about the title sponsor of the halftime report?
I can put bend on the ball, but I can’t hit it with the laces without kicking the ground……I’d trade it in a heartbeat
They actually showed posession–I don’t recall seeing that on an MLS broadcast before.
Is the CONCACAF.com stream of the CL game not working for anyone else? I thought it was free if you were a member. . .
Was that a D-U-I chant from the Sounders fans?
All those Colombians in MLS, a new way for the cartels to smuggle drugs?
Passing has been dreadful tonight. Sheesh!
LA’s backup keep looking solid here. Why haven’t I heard any Donovan or Goldenmort specific chants yet?
Super Bock!
GOOL! I guess I’m good luck for the Galaxy.
That was a bit like the goal my rec league team scored tonight–off the keeper’s hands.
Keller wants that one back
Arena can’t figure out how to put a baseball cap on, how does he expect to manage a soccer team?
Excellent shot.
Wow, did Kasey Keller just get Jabulani’d! Jimmini Crickets did that ball knuckle.
Is Seattle also sponsored by X-men? Geez, those unis.
Since I’ve been talking about the analysts all night, see this:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/14/eva-amurri-in-lingerie-fo_n_835604.html
Beckham sucks….that is all
Boy, it’s such a shame this talent wasn’t allowed to grace the pitch at White Hart Lane
@ Ryan: It was his WORG–they don’t allow full-on robots at the Lane–only technologically advanced shirts.
ABE denied by the crossbar!
So, uhm, anybody know why Seattle dropped Nkufo?
2-0 RSL by the way. Darn right.
ABE!!!!!!!!!!
The Slovenia goalkeeper just curled up in a ball when he saw that shot
In case you haven’t checked that story out, it seems that FSC’s (and former Crew player) Kyle Martino is engaged to Susan Sarandon’s hot daughter.
anyone else impressed that seattle chose a cocksparrer song for a chant? Oi!!
@OM: Didn’t get along with the coaching staff, wanted a trade, rumors about some sort of bust up today as well. At least O’Brian White is awesome, right?
@Goat: There were words in that link?
@Ryan: Well, I didn’t know she was dating Martino so that certainly isn’t why I checked out that story.
I seriously thought you were saying: Hey, I’ve talked about announcers all night, now here’s this pretty lady. I didn’t even stop to think that they were actually related.
What a FAIL that FK was…super crucial to not hit the wall from there
Yea, that is why he is the backup goalkeeper, Saunders has had a fantastic game though
I love seeing Becksypoo booked.
Seattle deserved more out of this.
The dead ball situation fucker upper!!!!! MONTERO!!!!!!
/sung like the Bounty paper towel theme
Later all.
I got sucked in to the RSL game. Nice attacking group they have; I would like to see them get past Saprissa and whichever Mexican team they play. US at the World Club Cup would be a good thing for US Soccer, particularly if they get through the first game and play a big boy.
@ WNF: Missed last night’s RSL match but they do seem to be an attractive side to watch. I’m hoping they keep going forward and take on a “big boy” as you said.
I fucking hate Utah.