Bale Reups With Tottenham

Tottenham's Gareth Bale (guardian.co.uk)

Spurs fans got a bit of welcome news today in an off season full of trouble.  Wales international Gareth Bale has signed a new deal with the club that will keep him in a Spurs kit until 2016.  The winger has been at Tottenham for the last 5 years, and has been in the Premier League's team of the year the last two seasons.  This last year he was also named in UEFA's team of the year.

The move should put Spurs fans at ease at least for awhile.  Manager Harry Redknapp was sacked by the club a couple of weeks back after missing out on the Champion's League due to Chelsea winning this year's competition.  Several clubs were apparently in for Bale himself this summer both from England and throughout Europe.  They'll feel even better if their new manager is able to get Luka Modric to stay put, as the Croatian star has been linked to a move to Real Madrid

Bale told Tottenham's website:

"I love the club and the fans and I want to play my part in trying to get us back into the Champions League - where we belong. "We have a good, young squad and we need to work together to get back on the biggest stage."

Bale originally came to Spurs on a  £7million signing from Southampton.  He has scored 29 goals in 160 matches for the club.

Puddle's Goal of the Weekend: Brandon Barklage Volley Vs DC

Ok folks, here's my selection for Goal of the weekend. Today former DC United man Brandon Barklage volleyed home this goal (his second of the night) against his old team. The Red Bulls would move on to win 3-2 and claim a share of first place in the East.

What's "Wrong" With RSL? A Fan's Thoughts

Jason Kreis shows his displeasure at a San Jose Goal (Getty Images)

To say this last week was a bad week for Real Salt Lake is an understatement.  With two losses at home to the LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes, RSL dropped out of first place in the Western Conference.  At the beginning of the week, they sat 21 points ahead of the Galaxy.  Now it's down to twelve.  Thankfully for the Claret and Cobalt, both Vancouver and Seattle also lost this weekend and failed to make up ground.

So what's wrong with this picture?  Is anything actually wrong, or is it just a typical midseason slump?  Reasonable supporters and writers who follow RSL will disagree here.  Coupling these two losses together, it doesn't look like that big of a deal.  After all, they're only one point behind San Jose and still six points up on the Whitecaps in 3rd.  They're also ahead of both of the co-leaders of the Eastern conference, DC United and New York Red Bulls.  No biggie right?

Well, I think there is something going on, some things that in my opinion could be addressed.  How do I rate to make such criticism?  I'm not a football journalist.  I'm just a fan with a blog, a fan that watches football from all over the world.  You might disagree with what I'm going to say, and that's fine, but I don't think you need to be a professional coach to see the issues.

First off, what is going on with the defense?  Yes I get it. Schuler and Olave are injured, leaving us with pretty much one healthy center back.  Yeah, I think that played a part against the Quakes last night, but last night was just the latest in a trend.  RSL has only posted 1 clean sheet in it's last 4 matches, and they've given up an astounding 13 goals in the last 6 home matches.  Both Borchers and Olave played against Minnesota, and RSL was opened up more than once in that match, against a NASL side. 

Defense used to be the great strength of this team, but what of it now?  The injury situation doesn't help, but I don't believe it's the root cause.  I would still take Borchers and Olave over any central pairing in MLS, so what's wrong?  First off, I think they need a little help at full back.  I don't think you can underestimate how much Robbie Russell helped our back line, both in positional play and in being able to come in and help Borchers and Olave clean up a mess.  Chris Wingert is still more than solid, but that still leaves us short.  The obvious counterpoint is "How do you say that?  We have Tony Beltran!" 

Of course we do, but he's been just as responsible for the miscues as anyone else on the back line.  He knows it, and he acknowledges it.  I'm not saying we need to add another full back, but maybe we need some more discipline and cohesion along the back.  After all, the goals that RSL have been giving up haven't been the spectacular, they've been cheap goals, many off set piece or throw in type situations.  More than once I've seen Nick Rimando disgusted at the lack of marking and communication within the the defense, and I think patching up this leaky defense is key to getting this team back on track.

I want to bring up one other issue that worries me somewhat going into CONCACAF Champion's League play.  I'm looking at depth, or lack thereof.  To me, the US Open Cup match really exposed a possible lack of depth on the squad.  That's troubling, because these guys are going to have to play some matches, either in CCL itself or in the league.  For all his wonderful late match heroics, Jonny Steele hasn't fared that well when he's gotten a chance to start.  To me, he looked much better last night, but again, in a sub role. 

What about up front?  Paulo Jr has thus far failed to be the breakout player he looked like he might be, though to be fair to him, he's had injury issues and really looks to be putting forth the effort when he gets on the pitch.  I thought putting him in as an attacking sub was a good idea last night, but in my mind it was far too little, too late.  Cody Arnoux and Emiliano Bonfigli are untested.  They both have a lot of potential, but haven't gotten a ton of chances to see it materialize.  Hopefully they can shoulder the load.

What disturbingly underlies all of this is the fact that the reserves have had a rough year.  They did recently get their first win, so hopefully that will help.  Again, those guys are going to get their chance sooner rather than later.

Am I hitting the panic switch?  Of course not.  I still think when RSL plays their best football, they're the best team in MLS.  I also think we haven't seen their best yet this year.  I think if Coach Kreis can restore the confidence and discipline of the defense, as well as continue to build depth on the squad, we'll see that best football really soon.

Until then, #BelieveRSL

Puddle's MLS Preview 6/23-6/24

When looking at the MLS fixture slate this weekend, there's automatically two matches that jump out at you, unless you're just here for the Cascadia.  On Saturday, the top two teams in the Western Conference will do battle at Rio Tinto Stadium as Real Salt Lake hosts the San Jose Earthquakes.  Sunday will feature a matchup of two of the Eastern Conference's top two sides, as the New York Red Bulls host DC United.  Let's start with a look at the action that will take place at Red Bull Arena.

New York Red Bulls vs. D.C. United, Sunday, 6/24/12, 7PM EDT.

The Red Bulls have struggled a little bit coming out of the international break, with a loss against Chicago and underwhelming draw at Vancouver.  However, they haven't had their best players on the pitch either.  Both Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez have been missing of late, and both are officially listed as questionable for this match. 

If they don't play in this one, where will the Red Bulls get the goals to compete with the high octane DC offense?  Last Wednesday Heath Pearce scored off of a set piece, but it was his first goal in MLS in four years.  Kenny Cooper was largely absent against Vancouver without the creative force of Henry teamed up with him.  This time the Red Bulls will also be without Dane Richards for this one, who picked up 5th yellow card during the midweek match. 

Things are a little bit more straight forward for DC United.  MF Danny Cruz is listed as probable, but the rest of the Eagles' big guns look set to roll.  Last time out against the Red Bulls at RFK, DC got a hat trick from Chris Pontius en route to a 4-1 win last April.  They'll be looking to assert their dominance over the Eastern Conference with a repeat performance.  It'll be up to the patchwork New York back line and ROY contender Ryan Meara in goal to keep the Red Bulls in this one.

Mark Geiger will be the center referee in this match.  His stats in 97 MLS matches:  FC/gm: 26.3; Y/gm: 3.7; R: 22; pens: 32.  I look for the Red Bulls to actually hold United off at home and pull out a 2-1 win.  If DC come out with a victory, they'll be up 6 points on NY.


Real Salt Lake vs. San Jose Earthquakes, Saturday, 6/23/12, 7PM MDT

Real Salt Lake is going to have plenty of motivation to come out and win 3 points against the Quakes.  Last April, RSL went down to nine men when playing the Quakes in San Jose.  Despite that, they took a 1-1 draw into stoppage time only to fall 3-1 to two late goals.  Then you have comedy of errors that led to the 2-3 defeat to the Galaxy Wednesday night.

Perhaps the biggest thing RSL can do is eliminate the many individual mistakes the cost them so dearly against LA.  They'll also need to keep their heads on straight as Beckerman, Morales, and Saborio will be suspended with their next yellow card.  Morales and Olave are listed as probable, while Luis Gil and Sebastian Velasquez are listed as questionable. 

The Quakes formula is simple, do what they've done all year.  A good defense and good 'keeper will keep them in the match and Lenhart and Wondolowski will get their chances.  RSL will have to come together at the back to stop them.    For San Jose, Ramiro Corrales and Diver/Wanker Alan Gordon will be suspended on their next yellow card. 

Jair Marufo is the ref in charge of this one.  His stats in 135 MLS matches: FC/gm: 24.2; Y/gm: 3.2; R: 32; pens: 42.  I'll take RSL to right the ship at home, though San Jose will certainly get their chances.  I'm going with RSL 3-2 in an entertaining match.

Match Thoughts: Vancouver Whitecaps vs. New York Red Bulls

Dane Richards and Gershon Koffie make small talk. (AP Photo)

Consider yourself warned, MLS fans.  The Vancouver Whitecaps are making noise in the western conference and they'll make more noise in the league as a whole before all the hardware is handed out.  So often when fans think about the Cascadia teams, the thoughts are of Seattle and Portland.  Don't look now, but the 'Caps are ahead of both of them.  In this particular match both Vancouver and New York played to a scrappy draw, but Vancouver was obviously the better side for much of the match.

Despite the fact that the Whitecaps opened the match with the better possession and ball control, it was the Red Bulls that would earn the first good chance on goal.  In the 8th minute Joel Lindpere sent a cross in on a free kick that found the head of Dax McCarty.  Joe Cannon was up to the task and saved the close range header to keep the match scoreless early.

After that the Whitecaps began to come into some attacking form of their own.  In the 9th minute Martin Bonjour missed a shot after a free kick, and Davide Chumiento had a great look on a 'Caps counter attack, but his shot missed the target.  It wasn't until the 32nd minute that either team would get a good look again, and the chance fell to Camilo for Vancouver.  He found himself alone near the top of the 18 after a perfect setup ball, but somehow drug his shot wide of the goal as Ryan Meara closed him down.  The first half ended 0-0.

The second half didn't see much action until about the last 20 minutes, and it was the Red Bulls who started the party.  New York went on a break of their own and Dane Richards looked to have a 1v1 chance on the Vancouver goal.  Joe Cannon rushed off of his line and hit the deck, taking the ball off of the speedy Jamaican's foot to preserve the tie.

In the 75th minute, the Whitecaps were finally the first side to get on the board.  The ball ended up sliding into the New York penalty area after a corner kick from Alain Rochat.  The ball actually drifted by 4 'Caps players before falling to the feet of Bonjour.  The defender calmly lined up his touch and smashed the ball into the far corner of the Red Bulls' goal to make it 1-0.

However, if the Whitecaps thought they were going to cruise to the 1-0 win with the late goal, they were going to get surprised.  The Red Bulls had a last chance corner kick in the 86th minute.  The Whitecaps defense went to sleep for just a minute, but it was all Heath Pearce needed to get his head to the ball and equalize the match at 1-1, which was the full time result, ending in disappointment for Vancouver.

NOTES:  New York's Dane Richards picked up his 5th yellow card of the season, and will miss the Red Bulls match vs. DC United this weekend.

Euro 2012 Quarters: Czech Republic vs Portugal

Petr Cech makes a save on Cristiano Ronaldo (AP Images)

I'm not sure how many people gave the Czech Republic a chance versus Portugal today, but for the most part, they acquitted themselves well.  Petr Cech had a great game in goal, and were it not for a fantastic header by Cristiano Ronaldo, this match very well might have seen extra time.  However, in the end the Portugal captain provided the needed moment of magic to send his country through to the semifinals.

The Czechs actually came out of the tunnel really well and pressed Portugal through much of the first half.  In the 17th minute Vladimir Darida sent a cross into the six, but Miguel Baros just missed it.  It woke the Portugal side up just a bit.

Portugal gradually came more into the match as the half wore on.  In the 25th minute Ronaldo made a turn in the Czech penalty area and unleashed a shot that was well saved by Cech.  Howard Webb called Ronaldo for a foul on the play, but it was just a taste of what CR7 would have in mind for the Czechs.  In the 34th minute he sent a free kick just wide of the far post.  Finally in first half stoppage time he saw another shot bounce off the woodwork.  The Czechs limped in to the half lucky to still be on even terms.

The second half was all Portugal.  The Czechs barely got a sniff of the ball through the entire 45 minutes.  In the 49th minute Ronaldo hit the post again and then looked to the heavens in frustration like the drama queen he is. 

Still Portugal seemed to have an issue penetrating the Czech goal.  In the 58th minute Hugo Almeida appeared to have scored from a Nani cross, but he was correctly ruled offside.  The Czechs took a sigh of relief and wondered if their luck would hold into extra time.

That was not to be though, and it was Cristiano Ronaldo who finally provided the breakthrough Portugal needed.  In the 79th minute Joao Moutinho sent a spot on cross into the 6.  Ronaldo dove into action, heading the ball powerfully into the ground at the feet of Petr Cech.  The ball took a wicked bounce over the Chelsea 'keeper and into the top of the net to make it 0-1 Portugal.

In the end the Czechs would fail to threaten the Portugal goal, despite calling Petr Cech up for a last minute corner.  Ronaldo and company held on to the 0-1 win and sent the Czechs packing.  They certainly had a great tournament, especially after losing the first match 4-1 to Russia then winning the group.  It just wasn't to be today, Portugal was just too big of an ask.  They will play the winner of Spain vs France in the semifinals.

Puddle's Goal of the Midweek: Zlatan Ibrahimovic vs France

Another AWESOME strike from Euro 2012. This time we have a thundering side-volley from Ibra that helped Sweden sink France on the last day of group play.