The Big Eared Trophy
Edit: This will be the Sunday Bootroom too. We’re being lazy.
I’d say the end is nigh but we already know the rapture didn’t occur last weekend. Really, it’s just the end of the European soccer season today with the UEFA Champions League Final pitting Beelzebub against Mephistopheles. James T already told us how it’s going to go, so you probably don’t even need to watch the match. Luckily there will be plenty of hot MLS action this summer, exhibition matches, and of course lots of SASIC.
Even though the focus of soccer attention (Europe) will be gone, and no significant summer tourney to draw our attention, we’ll still be around this summer bringing you our unique UF third-ratedness. We’ll all be taking in the summer sun and hopefully attending lots of matches–MLS and the like. In fact, if you are going to attend any exhibition matches this summer, MLS matches, we would love to hear about your experiences at the match or events surrounding the match. We would like to read something from your vantage point and in your words. Just drop us a line or submit a piece.
Or, if you are not attending a match but have an opinion on something soccer related submit it to us.
But, that’s in the future. Today is the biggest club match of the season and if I’m being completely honest, I don’t want anybody to win. I would want Manchester United to lose more than Barcelona, I think. It’s kind of like choosing which baseball team I dislike more–the Yankees or the Red Sox? I think my dislike is in equipoise but it is always nice to Sir Alex lose. Ultimately, I just hope the match is a good one.
Stick around…we will be having some liveblogging fun.
Saturday
12:30pm Toronto FC vs Philadelphia Union, Direct Kick, MLS
2:45pm Barcelona vs Manchester United, Fox Network, UEFA
4:00pm Mexico vs Ecuador, Univision, Friendly
5:30pm Whitecaps vs New York Red Bulls, MSG, MLS
5:30pm Botafogo vs Santos, GolTV, Brazil Serie A – Brasileirao
7:30pm Columbus Crew vs Chivas USA, Direct Kick, MLS
8:00pm NE Revolution vs LA Galaxy, Galavision, MLS
8:30pm Houston Dynamo vs FC Dallas, Direct Kick, MLS
8:30pm Chicago Fire vs San Jose Earthquakes, Direct Kick, MLS
9:00pm Colorado Rapids vs Sporting KC, Direct Kick, MLS
9:00pm Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders FC, Direct Kick, MLS
Sunday:
10:00am League1 Final: Huddersfield vs Peterborough, FSPlus,UK
1:55pm Germany vs Uruguay, ESPND, Friendly
2:45pm Inter Milan vs Palermo, GolTV, Coppa Italia
3:00pm Caen vs Olympique Marseille, FSC, France Ligue 1
3:00pm Lille vs Stade Rennes, FSPlus, France Ligue 1
5:00pm Portland Timbers vs DC United, Direct Kick, MLS
6:00pm Phil Independence vs Western NY Flash, FSC, WPS
Am I early?
Morning Lads, nice to see the Union kick off a huge day in Football. Time to finally hand out a good beating to TFC. C’mon the U!
League 2 promotion playoff final b/t Stevenage Borough & Torquay United starts in about an hour.
I know this is going to be a shitty game because I have someone coming over to watch who has a passing interest in soccer and who I’m trying to convert to a full-fledged fan. Every other game he’s come over to watch has been shitty, though.
@ Goat: Going over to a party hosted by a United supporter. I’m wearing a Barca shirt I got as a gift even though I don’t care for the side just to make the party interesting in case the match is indeed crap.
I’m watching at a place with $3 pints. Pray for my liver.
Transfer Rumor: Newcastle has signed/is close to signing Yohan Cabaye from Lille…
Radio silence begins soon for me. I’ll just include one CAMON UNITED!!!
Heading to McCormack’s in NYC for the game — rocking the 2000-2001 Giggs jersey. Perhaps there will be some hot reality TV show chicks there.
/reality sets in.
Ryan Giggs just filed suit against ILikeAEK to prevent him from wearing his Ryan Giggs jersey.
@OM: So you’re going to be “that guy”–the one who roots for the other team just to stir up shit?
@ Goat: Not really stirring it up. The guy’s a friend who talks United up a bit like The Stretford End, so it’ll be a friendly little gibe. Wearing one of my Spurs shirts just seems like I’d be inviting snide remarks all day & I actually want to be the one having fun.
And, Stevenage up 1-0 at the break. Torquay had a good stretch on the ball but just missed a couple chances. Seems Old Trafford isn’t as full as it would have been b/c of some accident on the road that’s shut down transportation.
I’m just excited to see soccer’s two biggest douchebags go head to head. Who will emerge as King Douche? Nani or Dani Alves? There can be only one.
@LE – This match is like a Royal Rumble of douche. Busquets, Rio, Rooney, Fabio…
@Goat: His lawyers are apparently everywhere.
@LE: If Nani even sees the field.
Going to head to Finn McCool’s here in New Orleans, this wll be my first time watching a game in a place with a bunch of other people, as much as it pains me, I hope United wins
Maybe a special meteorite just for Alves and Nani is in order.
@OM: There’s no shame in stirring up shit against United fans.
@ Brian: Let me know how the experience at McCool’s is. Haven’t been there to catch a match yet.
@ Goat: It should be fun–I’m waiting to see the vein bulge in his forehead when he opens the door and sees the shirt whilst I babble incoherently about “mes que un club.”
@Brian – I’m going to Dillon’s in Hollywood…its basically Irish Hooters.
@OM: Make sure you also mention your Barca DNA.
I’ll be sitting in front of my shitty TV and trying to ignore the kids. But I’ll also be cracking open my latest batch of homebrew which should be just about ready to drink (a hefeweizen with coriander and lemon peel).
@Goat – How tough is homebrewing? I’ve really got the itch to try it…
@PJ: Not at all. It’s more time consuming than anything (about 2-3 hours to brew, a couple of hours of monotony to bottle) and waiting for it to be ready sucks (3-4 weeks from brewing to drinking).
@Goat – I’m gonna have to give it a go…I need something to do on Saturday mornings this summer.
@PJ: There are certainly worse ways to spend your time (which generally don’t result in the production of alcohol).
I’m stuck in St. Louis for a wedding. Luckily I have the afternoon free, just trying to find somewhere fun to watch so I can avoid more time at the hotel bar…
Ugh. That Mexico friendly will be absolutely unwatchable without Chicharito. Of course, it would have been unwatchable with him too.
Got back from a beer run and see TFC already down 2-0 to Philly. Good Union play or more awful stuff from Toronto here?
Awful stuff from Toronto. First goal inside of 3 minutes with some terrible defending in the box, then at the 10 minute mark gave Mapp far too much space.
@ Ryan: Danke. Par for the course then.
And there’s the 3rd. When’s the CL Final start again?
And now it’s 3-0. Crap crap crap from Toronto.
No Berbatov on the bench for United.
Oooh, Mascherano in central defense for Barcelona.
Loads of red in the bar. Hope no one throws anything at me when I call Michael Owen a c**t.
@ Prada: Thinking they’ll be too busy hurling that word about when Barca players surround the referee at some point. Or when they get tired of pass, pass, PASS.
Do they have to use the NFL music?
4-2 Philly over Toronto now. 2nd half has continued with the goalfest.
Watching this at home. When does the game acually start? Cause if I have to listen to this pre-game “Can you spell soc-cer? crap much longer my TV may not survive. Though Friedel’s Brit accent never fails to be funny…
Is there any purpose to the silly hashtag thing in the top corner of the FOX broadcast?
Oh Landon…
@OM, Finns is fantastic, backed to gills here, good food and drinks as well
Curt Menefee just said Giggs is 20 years old
And to comment on the ***** situation, it’s affair expert Eric Wynalda!
@Ryan, you knew it would happen though, and I want the uk fees back
6-2 Philly now. Toronto bench looks like they’ve been forced to watch this pregame show.
Could be worse, lalas and harkes could be here as well
@Brian, I’m glad Finn’s hasn’t changed. That was my preferred viewing spot for the great 2009 Confederations Cup. There’s nowhere like it here in East Texas. Watch out for drunk Dutchmen!
Those are not beefeaters
Hungaria??
Liveblog up.
Meh, kinda ambivilent about the game, but definitely enjoyed watching the game at the pub. Now its time to show the Jesters a little bit of love.
//aka I’m super bored right now
So, what’s happening on the other side? Do football matches continue to be played after Barca v United, or has the world stopped since the red-nosed Scot didn’t win?
I think the media have crowned Barcelona best football team ever. Clearly no need to play the sport anymore.
Breaking news, refs suck at all levels of American soccer
@ Brian: The PDL ref for the Baton Rouge v RVG match was close to losing it in the 2nd half but recovered and had the players respond. Think I just saw a tweet that said one of the coaches got sent off?
Chi-Town!
Goals just flying in in MLS tonight.
@OM, maybe it is just RVG then, that is Jesters played, and one of their guys #10 made a meal out of every challenge on him, they also lost a guy due to a straight red, and then the Jesters coach got chucked right before halftime. His problem was not calling anything unless it involved an NFL style tackle, so RVG was doing some pretty crazy things. Jesters won 1-0 althought they are definitely pretty bad
SO, this is French soccer huh? Exciting.
Caen capitulate.
If the rampant Twitter rumors of Newcastle swooping for Cabaye and Gervinho are true, I’m going to be one happy drunk.
What a nutty sequence in Portland-DC. Kenny Cooper awarded a penalty, saved by Hamid. AR flags for Hamid coming off his line too earlier. Cooper retakes, saved again. AR AGAIN flags Hamid for coming off the line too early. Spencer tells Cooper he should let someone else take the penalty, Cooper is furious, Jewsbury finally scores for Portland.
Was I right about the Coppa Italia being better than the FA Cup final? Yes, I was right.
Chelswansea 2-0 up; Scott Sinclair with both. Up the Swans!
Looks like we will have a welsh team in the EPL. 2-0 to Swansea after 25 minutes
Reading finally getting into Swansea’s half a little bit. Also, man, Angel Rangel is really good isn’t he?
I have no real idea who this “Tate” playing at Left Back is but I like what I’ve seen so far out of him.
3-0 Swans! Wow! They’re just rolling this game.
Game, Set, Match.
Reading’s putting up a fight, pulled one back.
Wow, that was great footwork and a horrible miss…and here comes the one person who Wigan will probably sign this year yay!
WOW 3-2! Reading just won’t quit; Swansea are all over the place at the moment.
And Reading hit the post! It’s absolutely all Reading; they look like they’re going to come back and win this right now. Crazy entertaining game.
Alright, I think that”s it. 4-2 Swansea
Totally unrelated, but I was doing some research on Wolves to write a silly season article for them, and now I’m all pissed off that Everton makes less from Commercial deals (sponsorships, shirt sales, etc) than either Wolves or Bolton. Crikey. Everton really won’t do anything again until they get some quality business management over there. I think I should send them my resume lol
@ WNF: Did you find the post from the Swiss Ramble (I think) on Wolves finances? It really is unreal what the club have achieved on the ledger whilst putting one in the hole.
THORDARDSON OUT!!!!
He was my favorite Teitur too. Shame that. Hassli should be seeing the red haze sooner than normal maybe?
Such a dumb move. I would have thought Toronto would be the ones making the rash managerial decision after this weekend.
Ryan: Give it the full week–Toronto will be getting itchy soon. Especially as they face Vancouver in the final leg of the Canadian Cup. If Toronto keeps going as they are, change will happen soon. It’s Toronto, after all.
I think that would be a shame too. Can’t hire a guy promising an overhaul and then can him after 10 games.
DE LOS COBOS OUT!
Man, they’re dropping like flies.
@OM: I did. I read that blog religiously.
@ WNF: Great stuff on there. The guy puts in so much work and generates such worth out of his posts.
Plus, it’s the kind of stuff I just think is great. Kind of like how I may be the only person who thinks having a job title of “Statistical Analyst” is just awesome lol