Soccer and a Pint

Find what you love and be passionate about it!

[soccerbeerkids]

Hood River Hops Fest Itinerary

Friday September 27th

Load cooler with fixing for nachos and biscuits and sausage-bacon gravy, throw in a couple waters, and leave plenty of room for beer.

Imagine all the delicious beer and food I will be enjoying in the next 2 days while waiting for father-in-law and buddy to arrive.

Load up the car and drive south for an hour to Dick’s Brewery and NW Sausage Company. Have a juicy garlic brat, sip a yet to be decided beer, and fill the hole in the cooler with a variety of wonderful beers and meat products.

Jump back in the car for an hour and 45 minutes for a bathroom break and quick peek at the rushing Multnomah Falls. Send picture to wife so my daughter can see the pretty falls.

Back in the car for 30 minutes and arrive at the Lincoln View House operated by Hood River Vacation Rentals the best place to rent a house from in Hood River. Unload the precious cargo (meaning beer and meat), sit on the couch and drink a beer.

Make the three quarter mile trek to Double Mountain Brewery for you guessed it another beer and more importantly some amazing pizza.

Next is on to…well whatever. The rest of the group won’t be arriving until late so Full Sail, Pfriem, just a stroll, or more TV who knows.

Once the rest of the group arrives time for a few hours of poker accompanied by the previously mentioned nachos and meat products.

Saturday September 28th

8:30 am wake up and start cooking biscuits and sausage-bacon gravy. Eat and hydrate, laying the all-important foundation before Hops Fest.

10 am journey down to Hops Fest to claim our VIP tickets, mugs and tokens.

11 am enter Hops Fest and start the sampling some of the over 60 fresh hop beers (not going to try them all obviously). Compare notes and decide what beer to drink for the rest of the day.

For the rest of the day it’s all about enjoying the festival atmosphere and music. From this point on things could go any number of directions?

Sunday September 29th

….

11 am checkout and back on the road.

1 pm stop at Mrs. Beasley’s for a burger and fries and then head back to home base.

Now if that is not the best boys weekend ever I am not sure what is? Here we come Hood River Hops Fest!

PS: As if that wasn’t enough fun for one weekend. I am going to head to Seattle, after a brief pit stop at home, to watch the Sounders put a whooping on the Red Bulls. You’re jealous I know!

[soccerbeerkids]

Greater Seattle v South Sound Adult Soccer

There are two key elements creating the divide between the level of adult soccer being played in the greater Seattle area and the South Sound. First is the lack of all-weather fields and second is organization. The South Sound is in dire need of two maybe three soccer complexes with at least three turf fields at each to cater to adult soccer or one mega complex like Starfire in Tukwila. Catering to adult soccer does not mean there should be no youth soccer at the complexes but rather there needs to be weekly time slots carved out for adult leagues. These soccer complexes would be crucial to the development of the youth players in the South Sound with greater exposure to the game at all levels.

If you have ever played any adult sports you know the hardest part is getting a good group of players who show up to every game. Once you have a team you can count on you do everything you can to keep them together but it is difficult to keep a team together when you play for six months and then take a six month break. In the greater Seattle area this is not an issue because there are an abundance of turf fields which can be used year round. In the South Sound even if you want to play year round your only option is playing indoor. If money, property and all the other issues were not in play the optimal locations would be Puyallup and/or Tacoma. A complex in Puyallup would serve the players in Puyallup, South Hill, Sumner, Bonney Lake and Fife. A complex in Tacoma would serve Tacoma, Lakewood and most importantly Fort Lewis/McChord. A mega complex in Puyallup or Tacoma would serve all of the previously stated areas.

I played in a game in an 8v8 game at Starfire last night because Starfire is a great place to play. Instead of driving 10 miles to Tacoma and playing on a bad field I choose to drive 35 miles to play on nice well maintained field turf. It is a bit like the movie Field of Dreams when they say “if you build it they will come”. Starfire is the dream facility and has proven such a complex is not only viable but can be an extremely positive influence in the community. If there was a complex like Starfire in Tacoma or Puyallup I think you would quickly see the quality of play and numbers of players increase in the South Sound. The players are there but the fields are not.

The other option is to have an organized league like GSSL who is in charge of finding the fields and supplying referees. I honestly do not know if there would be enough turf fields to have a GSSL type league in the South Sound. Even if the league spanned from Kent to Tacoma finding five to ten fields fitting in the league budget and allowing adult soccer leagues may not be possible. Here is another area where Starfire has a big advantage. The leagues at Starfire do not depend on other organization for their fields because they have enough turf fields to have dozens of leagues running at the same time. It takes much less effort to organize leagues which are centered at one facility and have a built-in staff to run the leagues.

I am slightly biased in my opinion because I live in Puyallup. I think the City of Puyallup should take the initiative, build and operate a large soccer complex or find a partner to operate the facility. Local bars and restaurants would benefit from players going out after games and massive influxes of people when hosting tournaments. If the City were to follow Starfire’s lead and offer programs to underprivileged children it could make a lasting impact on the community.

If you would like to see a soccer complex in Puyallup share this with everyone you know who would like to play soccer in Puyallup. Also, don’t forget to follow me @PuyallupRiverFC on Twitter and Puyallup River FC on Facebook.

[soccerbeerkids]

Everton Season Preview

Can Everton qualify for Europe? What is Everton’s best XI? Are there still more transfers to come? These are the questions on all Evertonian minds. Sad to say right now I do not have the answer to any of these questions. I am back to where I started when Martinez was appointed manager…a little weary. I still have hope Martinez can have a successful season but after the early flurry of transfers things have died down and a big signing seems unlikely. Yes, Everton have hung onto Fellaini and Baines (so far) but without a significant midfield signing things are looking a bit less optimistic than three weeks ago.

Can Everton qualify for Europe? Two things must go right for Everton to qualify for Europe. First Martinez has to be able to continue the trend of Everton players exceeding expectations. This year the expectations are higher than ever and a good start is crucial. The second thing and probably more important is the top 15 players must stay healthy. If Martinez can rally the troops and injuries are kept to a minimum I think Everton has a real shot at qualifying for Europe.

What is Everton’s best XI? At the moment Everton appear to have a few options although the injury to Gibson could not have come at a worse time. Everton under Martinez should look to have more tactical changes than when Moyes was in charge. Everton has real attacking options with Jelavic looking to have regained his form, the arrival of Kone and Deulofeu, and maturation of Anichebe. Everton are still very thin in central midfield and central defense. First man off the bench for either position is Heitinga…enough said. Here is my best XI: Howard, Baines, Distin, Jagielka, Coleman, Pienaar, Gibson, Fellaini, Barkley, Mirallas, Jelavic.

Are there still more transfers to come? Well I hope so considering my best XI only includes players who were with the team last year. I am guessing there is about five million left in the kitty and I would like to see it spent on a ball winning central midfielder. If Martinez were able to get a central midfielder in he would be able to sell Heitinga and hopefully buy a central defender also. If Fellaini and/or Baines go I really hope Martinez has done his homework because he will need to find replacements fast without getting price gouged too badly. The other option Martinez has is to keep the five million for January in hopes Everton will be in a European spot and be able to draw a bigger name player.

All and all as long as Everton holds onto Fellaini and Baines I feel this year’s team is deeper than last year’s team. Finishing higher than last year means Everton will qualify for Europe and by all accounts have a very successful season. My expectations are tempered by the new manager needing time to mold the team to his style and the preseason injuries to Alcaraz and Gibson. I see Everton slipping a few spots this season down to 8th or 9th. I really hope I am wrong and all the pieces fall into place because if they do it could be a special season. Only six days to go!

[soccerbeerkids]

Help bring soccer fields to Puyallup

Puyallup River FC was always a shot in the dark and with the way EPLWA interest took off I really had no time. I will hold onto the dream of having an EPLWA team in Puyallup/Sumner sometime in the future and should the opportunity present itself I will jump on it. For now though I will be shifting my focus to making Puyallup a better place live in my eyes.

I really have to thank EPLWA for motivating me to get involved with soccer at the most basic level. I have thought about the lack of outdoor playing opportunities in the south sound as I drove an hour to Seattle to play in the GSSL but I never once thought about doing anything about it. Now I see the problem for what it really is. There is a serious lack of soccer fields at which adults leagues are allowed play in the south sound area.

The City of Puyallup is completing an update to its Parks and Open Space Plan this year. The process has already started and you can fill out the survey on the City website. In the 2002 Parks and Open Space Plan the City identified the need for soccer fields in the community and again in the 2008 update. In 2008 the construction of five soccer fields was listed as a high priority. Here it is 2013 and Puyallup still has no soccer fields. I think it is about time the City of Puyallup provides its citizens with soccer fields, and youth and adult soccer leagues.

Currently Puyallup Parks and Recreation offers our children indoor soccer which I believe is still played in gyms and no adult soccer leagues. I am not saying they are not trying to provide soccer opportunities to our children because they do offer tot-soccer and pre-soccer camps but I don’t think it is enough. Our kids need the opportunity to play rec soccer at a young age to decide whether they want to play at a higher level or just have fun with their friends. You do not have to be good to enjoy the game of soccer. As for us adults, soccer is a great form of exercise and a social sport. I love the game of soccer and would play constantly if I had the chance but now with a full time job and two kids it is difficult to drive up to Seattle to play in a game. I am sure some of you have thought about playing soccer but have found it difficult to even find a league to play in so you gave up. Now is our chance to tell the City of Puyallup we would like fields for our kids and ourselves to play on.

Fill out the survey, send an email to Puyallup Parks and Recreation and tell everyone you know in Puyallup who enjoys soccer to do the same. You can also show your support for soccer fields in Puyallup by following @PuyallupRiverFC on Twitter and liking Puyallup River FC on Facebook. Please help me spread the word by ReTweeting and mentioning on Twitter and by sharing the Puyallup River FC page and/or posts on Facebook. At some point my plan is to make a presentation to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and I would like to be able to say look I have 200 followers on Twitter and 500 likes on Facebook supporting the need for soccer fields in Puyallup. I would also like to have Tweets and Facebook comments to include in my presentation so feel free to Tweet your support or comment on the Facebook page. I will ask permission prior using any comments of course.

I really appreciate your help in spreading the word and thanks for your support!

[soccerbeerkids]

Where will Dempsey play?

Where does Dempsey fit in with the players the Sounders already have and what position will he play with the USMNT? If Dempsey is serious about continuing his USMNT dominance he and the Sounders will have to work with Klinsmann to ensure Dempsey is playing a similar role with the Sounders. I am not saying Klinsmann will decide where Dempsey plays for the Sounders but if Klinsmann sees him playing left wing or in behind the striker I would not be shocked to see him playing a similar role with the Sounders. The flip side of the coin is if Dempsey wants to play a certain position for the USMNT he will have an opportunity with the Sounders to more or less pick his position and prove his worth at said position.

My personal opinion about where Dempsey should play is centrally behind the striker (Klinsmann’s preferred position for Dempsey at the moment). He would be able to use his craft and guile while sitting in the hole in front of the defense. He also has great passing ability and will be able to make connections with the three speedy forwards the Sounders have. Once Dempsey is ready to start (hopefully August 25th) I think Sigi will be able to start his preferred XI for the first time this season. Here is my Sounders best XI:

                        Oba Neagle                                     Johnson                         Dempsey             Evans              Alonso Gonzales    Traore       Ianni    Yedlin

If Rosales was to find his form and Neagle’s form dipped I could see Oba and Eddie up top with Dempsey and Rosales on the wings. With Dempsey in the lineup I can only see Neagle’s production going up so in my eyes Rosales is the odd man out.

With his first practice under his belt I can't wait for August 25th to see Dempsey playing at the CLink!

[soccerbeerkids]

Clint Dempsey and the MLS

Big welcome to Clint Dempsey! I know the front office got the deal done (we greatly appreciate your willingness to spend money and bring in the best) but the supporters are the ones who made it happen. Sounders supporters, Eddie Johnson and Shalrie Joseph (thanks for reworking your contract) can pat themselves on the back for this one. Clint Dempsey is not an aging foreign superstar looking to retire in LA or New York. He is an American superstar in his prime coming to play at a word class organization.

Dempsey is doing what is right for him personally. He is getting a huge pay day but it is more than just the money. He will be the face of the MLS and American soccer. His goal will be to win the MLS Cup and inspire young American soccer players to dream of playing in the MLS. Dempsey like Beckham is trying to elevate the MLS in the eyes of the world. The main difference being Beckham was trying to let the rest of the world know the MLS existed and Dempsey will being trying to prove the MLS is a solid league.

I know the MLS wants to be on par with the EPL but I don’t see the MLS getting there in my lifetime. What the Dempsey signing can do for the MLS is create an opportunity for the league to become a feeder league and loan destination for the European leagues. If the MLS can hold on to our talented American youth players until age 24-25 and sell them to European teams the MLS will benefit from the increased revenue but more importantly our youth national team players will be getting regular playing time rather than sitting on the bench in Europe.

By signing Dempsey the Sounders have opened the door for MLS teams to think bigger. Not every team has the funds for this magnitude of a signing but the bar has been set and the penny pinchers are going to have to loosen the strings a bit to compete. I can’t wait to hear from Clint at 2 pm!

[soccerbeerkids]

Eddie Johnson the Sounder v EJ the USMNT

Is Eddie Johnson lazy when he plays for the Sounders? I don’t think so but many Sounders fans do. Many of the same people who call him lazy when he plays for the Sounders applaud his effort when he plays for the USMNT. Can you blame EJ for his effort or is he just playing his part?

EJ is an emotional player, the USMNT is on a high and the Sounders are on a low. He is a professional and should be able to lift his game above the team issues. Lack of motivation may be one of EJ’s problems but it is certainly not the biggest. EJ can’t pass himself the ball and the other Sounders have not been able to provide him with quality service.

EJ is supposed be the farthest player up the field and for him to continue running back to win the ball in the midfield isn't good for the team shape. The Sounders need to find a way to get the ball to EJ with his face to goal. EJ has proved time and again with the national team he will score goals if you get him the ball in dangerous positions.

So pleases Sounders fans stop blaming EJ, he is not lazy, he is frustrated and under supplied. Once the Sounders start controlling the ball again EJ will start scoring goals again.

[soccerbeerkids]

Ozzie and Yedlin are back!

Now that Alonso is back can the Sounders find the right combination? Alonso and Carrasco had a good partnership before Ozzie got injured will Sigi stick with this pairing or give the Ozzie and Joseph combo another shot? Joseph had his most impressive start last weekend against Vancouver but was it enough to get him the nod over Carrasco?

Reports from practice today indicate Joseph is doubtful so we will have to wait until next week to see which combo Sigi prefers. If Joseph can play like he did last weekend and stay higher up the pitch I think the partnership with Alonso could be fantastic. Joseph has had me on a rollercoaster ride this season. I was extremely excited when we signed him because he can really move the ball and has all the experience in the world. Then he got injured and was just plain slow when he came back. He finally shows a glimpse of why I was excited against Vancouver and now he is hurt again.

Having Yedlin back could be just as important as Alonso. Yedlin’s speed makes him key to the Sounders’ offense and defense. The Sounders have not been able get the ball to Rosales in the time that Yedlin has been out and the quality chances being created down the right were greatly reduced. Yedlin’s time with U-20 national team may have been the best thing for the Sounders in the long run as Yedlin appeared to learn a few things. After the first game against Spain he appeared to understand he didn’t have to make every run and he looked far more composed. His service also seemed to improve when he was more in control. Hopefully he can take his experience at the U-20 World Cup and become an even better player for the Sounders.

With Oba injured I think the lineup will be pretty straight forward with the exception of center back. I feel like Scott has the edge over Hurtado with his prowess in the air. Here is my lineup: Gspurning, Gonzales, Traore, Scott, Yedlin, Evans, Alonso, Carrasco, Rosales, Neagle, Johnson. The bench could be short tomorrow with guys injured and out on loan.

[soccerbeerkids]

Cautiously Optimistic

Transfer window is only 10 days old and Everton already has the best incoming transfers since 2007. Everton is always linked with tons of players and in the past I never worried about tracking the rumors knowing Everton were never actually going to sign the players. This year is different Everton has put pen to paper on 4 signings already. Now when I hear transfer speculation regarding Everton my ears perk up and I follow it until someone else signs the player. This begs the question was David Moyes holding Everton back?

I am personally a huge David Moyes fan and he did great things for Everton. What Moyes did with the players he had at his disposal was beyond remarkable and to be fair he was given no money most years. But I do feel like Moyes may have been too conservative in the transfer market. Don’t go crazy though Moyes would have made a couple of very good signings this year with the money he was going to be given. Moyes excels at getting the most out of the players and we won’t know if Martinez has the same quality until October or November.

Martinez needed to make a statement of intent to move the club forward so he got new faces in the door as quickly as possible. Kone, Alcaraz and Robles are great signings but as I said in my previous post they were easy. Now what has me excited is the loan deal for Deulofeu. Deulofeu is a massively talented youngster and the only reason Everton landed him is because Martinez plays a style of football the Spanish giants can count on to develop their young players. Everton can only hope this loan deal opens the window for future loan deals.

A few weeks back when I was watching the U-20 World Cup I told my buddy Gerard Deulofeu could be the next big thing. He is the first player I have ever seen run past DeAndre Yedlin and stay ahead of him. Deulofeu is fast with a capital F but it doesn’t end there he has amazing ball control and he can curl the ball with the best of them. I went home looked up his transfer status and was hugely disappointed to find out he has years left on his contract making him way out of Everton’s league. Then bam the other day the rumor surfaces Everton are taking him on loan. I just hope he can handle the physical nature of the Premier League. I still get a little giddy when I remember Deulofeu is really going to be playing for Everton this season.

There is still much work to be done starting with a ball winning central midfielder. If Everton could sign Diame I feel like a top four spot is realistic. If Everton can’t land Diame there are a couple of other interesting rumors about Malanda and Jorginho floating around. I don’t like the way Malanda got out of his contract but he could fit the bill and Jorginho appears to favor the defensive side of the midfield role from the little info I could find.

If Everton can sign one of the above, Honda and a starting quality central defender I will go from optimistic to expectant. This is by far the most excited I have been about the upcoming season in the month of July ever. Who is on your wish list?

[soccerbeerkids]

Belize v USA

Belize is one place I would love to visit with its amazing beaches and relative seclusion. Maybe someday I will sip a beer on a beach in Belize. For now though Belize has decided to grace the US with their presence in the Gold Cup. From the reports I have read the majority of the Belize team plays in Belize. You can look at this two ways: they play in a second rate league that until today I didn't even know existed; or you can see the truth of the matter and realize by keeping players together builds cohesion that many of the big countries don’t have. For many of the Belize players the Gold Cup is something of a tryout and they will be fired up to show what they can do.

Speaking of tryouts the US players are trying to prove a point in hopes of getting selected for the next round of World Cup Qualifiers and ultimately the World Cup next year. Beasley, Holden and Donovan should be on the World Cup roster but everyone else who is playing in the Gold Cup is on the bubble. Onyewu and Parkhurst have been given a second chance and could get back into the mix with solid performances in the Gold Cup and regular playing time with their club teams. Rimando, Beckerman, Shea and Gomez will all be looking to solidify their place in the second string group and possibly push for a starting role. The three guys I am most excited about watching are Bedoya, Diskerud and McInerney. These are young guys with real potential and I would like to see them get some minutes under their belts.

There is no question tonight's game is a must win. It is a must win because the embarrassment of losing would just be too much. Not only do our players outclass Belize but the Portland crowd will be much like the crowd in Seattle. The atmosphere in Portland will be fantastic (not as good as Seattle of course) and should be able to give the US players an extra boost. The American Outlaws and Portland supporters groups will have the stadium rocking.

Who starts in game one against Belize? Here is who I think will get the nod:

                      Gomez Bedoya                            Donovan            Holden        Torres                   Beckerman Beasley Goodson Castillo Orozco-Fiscal

I am guessing Holden will get a 60 minute run leaving a solid chunk of minutes for one of the substitutes. Who do you think will get the start in tonight’s game?

[soccerbeerkids]

Everton Transfers Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz

Kone and Alcaraz transfers are good for Everton. Kone is a proven goal scorer and Alcaraz when fit is a solid center back. More important for Everton is the fact the deals were easy to complete. Assuming Alcaraz is signed Everton will have two players who can contribute signed in July. The last time Everton had two contributing players signed in the month of July was Steven Pienaar and Phil Jagielka in 2007 and Pienaar didn’t sign until the 24th. I know they are not big name signings but they are both solid players and are familiar with Martinez.

Kone scored 13 goals in Martinez’s system last season with a much weaker supporting cast than he will have at Everton. I see absolutely no reason why Kone would score less than 15 goals this season if he gets regular playing time. And if all our dreams come true and Everton were to sign a top striker or Jelavic returns to form then Kone will provide excellent cover.

Alcaraz had some injury issues for the last couple of seasons preventing him from playing on a regular basis. If Martinez is willing to pick him up you can be sure he thinks the injuries are behind him. He was one of the better defenders at the 2010 World Cup and had a good first season with Wigan. I am certainly willing to give him a chance considering there is no transfer fee involved. Not to mention last time we got a defender from Wigan he turned out to be the best left back in the league. I am not saying Alcaraz is going to be the best but the fact he is from Wigan doesn’t necessarily mean he is not a good player.

If Everton would have made these two signing in August I would be singing a completely different tune but it is July and we still have plenty of time to catch our big fish. If Everton gets moving on the Honda transfer before Milan can clear enough room on their wage budget we could be looking at three players signed in July and Honda would be a huge signal of intent. I think we are off to a good start in the transfer window and hopeful Everton can get their paws on at least one major signing before the season starts.

[soccerbeerkids]

Dick’s Brewing Company and Northwest Sausage & Deli

If you are heading to Centralia or somewhere near by you need to stop at Dick’s Brewing and Northwest Sausage. They are located at 3516 Galvin Road in Centralia Washington not far from the Great Wolf Lodge. Whenever I head south I make sure to leave enough time to get a sandwich, a 24 pack of mixed beer, and some Jalapeño pepperoni sticks. Dick’s has a huge selection of beers to choose from and they brew pretty much every style of beer. My personal favorite is the Irish Ale with a hint of toasted marshmallow flavor and an easy drinkability. I also enjoy their flag ship beer Danger Ale for its unique combination of lighter ale and heavy dark beer. Dick’s Belgian style ales are well structured and full of flavor. When winter comes around they have you covered with Double Diamond Winter Ale. The list goes on and on but one must try is the Scottish Ale. My favorite sandwich is the hot pastrami on rye but a close second is the Jalapeño beef stick sandwich. Their bratwursts are amazing and there is something for everyone. The most important thing to remember is to take some to go. They have every kind of meat you could want and the pepperoni sticks are the best I have ever had. Definitely worth a visit if you are ever in the area. Dick’s is one of my favorite places period, what is not to like about good beer and meat by the pound, sounds like heaven to me. Make a pit stop and enjoy!

[soccerbeerkids]

Sounders v DC United

There is a lot to talk about in the lead up to the July 3rd Sounders v DC match. Undoubtedly the soccer being played on Wednesday will most likely be the least talked about. The two big headlines/issues are the new metal detector policy at the C-Link and Ricardo Salazar being the official (apparently there was a mix-up at PRO and he is not the official). In any case was the metal detector policy pushed up once the Sounders got wind that Salazar was going to be the official? I would say the two events are most likely connected and to be honest good for the front office for taking extra precautions. I for one am not worried about being wanded but it appears that many other people carry metal objects into the stadium and feel they will be inconvenienced by the new policy.

Fan and player safety should be the team and C-Link’s priority and they feel enough people are sneaking inappropriate items into the stadium to justify putting every fan through a metal detector. I urge any fan who is upset about the new policy to take a look at it from the stadiums point of view. The stadium would not instigate a policy requiring a massive increase in per game cost (reducing profits) if they did not feel it was absolutely necessary. As a matter of fact you should take a look in the mirror because you are probably one of the reasons all of the rest of us will now go through a metal detector to enter the game.

I wrote this before I found out that Salazar was not going to be the referee but I still think it is funny so I will leave it in. I was taught when you are critiquing someone you should say two positive things for every negative thing you say so here it goes.

Salazar you get far more calls wrong than you get right and not just against the Sounders. You have cool pointy eyebrows and your wrist bands are awesome.

Salazar you are extremely aggressive in your actions increasing tension in heated situation rather than diffusing them causing you to make rash decisions. You have big muscles and you know where you keep your cards especially the red one.

Salazar you don’t know the meaning of unbiased is which is never more evident than during Sounders games. You can run pretty fast and when you pull out a card I can feel a little gust of wind in the 15th row (that is pretty fantastic).

It is plain to see that the positives far out way the negatives.

DC is struggling to put it kindly having a league worst 9 points and only scoring 8 goals in 17 matches. With that being said there are no easy games in the MLS. To make things worse for DC they will be without Deleon and Dwayne De Rosario. This game should be a great opportunity for the Sounders to figure out the Eddie and Oba strike partnership. This probably should not be the case but the Sounders have a busy July and this game is the easiest of the bunch so anyone that is questionable regarding fitness will most likely be held out of the starting lineup. From yesterday and today’s quotes it looks like Alonso is out, Yedlin will not start but Neagle should be able to go. I think Yedlin not starting will have more to do with just giving him a break rather than his shoulder. Here is my starting lineup if I were Sigi:

              Eddie - Oba Neagle            -               Rosale                      Rose                   Carrasco Burch - Traore - Hurtado - Evans

The weather is going to be amazing and we will be watching the beautiful game in the atmosphere in the US. Can’t wait!

[soccerbeerkids]

MLS All-star Voting or lack thereof by Sounders Fans

I am going to start off by saying that I voted for Gspurning, Eddie, Ozzie, Traore and Yedlin. That being said it was a hard choice for me because the only one of them that should be in the MLS Best XI is Ozzie. The other 4 I voted for because I am a Sounders supporter and it would just be wrong not too. Gspurning has done the job and has made some timely saves for sure but is not asked to do nearly as much as some of the other keepers. Eddie just hasn’t found his rhythm with the Sounders like he has with the US. Traore is solid and deserving of a vote but there are guys that have just done better. Yedlin I think is the best right back in the league but the All-Star game can cater to a 3 center back formation. Rosales is just out matched in his position.

Here is my best XI based on performances this season and some positional sense:

    Jack McInerney - Marco Di Vaio                      Mike Magee Brad Davis - Tim Cahill - Graham Zusi                         Alonso Matt Besler - Jamison Olave - Omar Gonzalez                    Donovan Ricketts

I am not saying that the above will be the best XI because by the look of voting so far it definitely will not be. Below is what I think the starting lineup for the All-Star game should be if the coach wants to win the game:

                 Jack McInerney - Marco Di Vaio Mike Magee      -       Tim Cahill      -       Graham Zusi                                      Alonso Todd Dunivant - Matt Besler - Omar Gonzales - Yedlin                                Donovan Ricketts

Between the two lineups above there are 13 players listed and with a projected game day roster of 22 who else is deserving? Here are the other 9 for me: Raul Fernandez, Troy Perkins, Aurelien Collin, Landon Donovan, Javier Morales, Kyle Beckerman, Thierry Henry, Robbie Keane, Camilo.

Here are a few guys that deserve honorable mentions for me: Will Johnson, Darlington Nagbe, Sebastien Le Toux (still love this guy), Russell Teibert, Patrice Bernier, Chris Wondolowski and David Ferreira. These guys have definitely earned it but with the exception of Wondolowski and Ferreira I don’t think their names are big enough to make the roster. Let me know who I missed because I am sure I missed someone.

[soccerbeerkids]

Best Summer Beer

It is now officially summer and time for BBQs and pool parties! What is your favorite beer to enjoy on a nice hot summer day? My top three are Radiant Ale by Ninkasi, Big Wave by Kona, and Sessions Lager by Full Sail. You can tell these beers are quality beers designed to be refreshing summer beers with integrity. I have to admit I also enjoy the Mexican beers when the weather gets hot. If it is over 80 degrees give me a Corona or Tecate and I am a happy man. Summer beer for me has to be first and foremost “refreshing”.

For those of you that like beer with fruit in it or fruit flavors summer is your time of year. Most major breweries are now making some sort of fruited beer or a wheat beer that is intended to be paired with fruit. I do not drink many of these beers since I like my beer to taste like beer. If you enjoy fruity beers don’t get hung up on your “favorite” there are lots to choose from.

I was going to compile a list of good summer beers that you should try but someone @Thrillist created the perfect list already “The most essential Summertime brews, selected by professional beer drinkers”. Thrillist created a fantastic list of 150 outstanding summer beers and created a printable checklist to boot. Check out their list and let me know what your favorite summer beer is.

[soccerbeerkids]

RSL v Sounders Match Preview

Sounders and Real Salt Lake have gotten to know each other very well over the last few seasons and have become fierce rivals on the field. It is not just the number of times that these two teams have played but more importantly the magnitude of the games that has fueled this rivalry. Each team has knocked the other out of the playoffs in 2011 and 2012. Thankfully it looks as though the temperature in Sandy is cooling down just in time for the game to heat up. RSL v Sounders games especially at Rio Tinto tend to be physical and competitive. I am looking forward to watching another hard fought game between two of the best in the West.

Real Salt Lake looks set to continue with much the same lineup that beat San Jose 3-0 and LA 3-1. Watson-Siriboe will be replaced by Carlos Salcedo and the bench with see the return of Saborio otherwise their squad should remain the same. As always RSL will run the game through Beckerman and Morales who will look for the speedy Findley and Plata. The wild card for me is Grabavoy, he is a creative force for RSL and can cause a lot of problems for the opposition.

Sounders are about as healthy as they have been all season with only Ford, Zakuani and Alonso out with injuries and Yedlin away with the U-20 national team. The other factor for the Sounders has to do with Evans, Eddie Johnson and Mario Martinez who have all played significant minutes for their national teams over the last 2 weeks. All three will at least be on the bench for the game but the real question is will any of them start? I feel as though Evans is the only one of the three that really has a chance of starting and if he does start where? I am just going to guess at a lineup because everything depends on how practices have gone yesterday and today. Here is what came out of my crystal ball based on the national team players not having time to get reintegrated into the team:

    Neagle    Martins                                Rosales Burch        Rose                 Carrasco Gonzalez Traore Hurtado Scott             Gspurning

Regardless of actual starting lineups the game will be won or lost in central midfield. Rose and Carrasco are going to have to figure out how to deal with the trio of Morales, Beckerman and Stephenson. This lineup looks extremely defensive and in all honesty is but having Burch as left midfield could help breakup RSL’s midfield domination. In addition to being a good ball winner Rose has a knack for the late run into the box and could provide a little offense from that position. The biggest question mark for me with this lineup is how are the Sounders going to get the ball to Rosales? The only option I can really see and it would be a real stretch is to put Remick at right back. Remick had a solid game against Tampa and certainly would help Rosales more than Scott on the offensive side of the ball.

Sigi knows best and whoever is in the starting lineup will give it their all and hopefully the Sounders can come home with a point or three. Sigi Sigi Sigi Oi Oi Oi

[soccerbeerkids]

USA v Honduras WCQ

This has been an exciting couple of weeks of soccer in the United States and especially in Seattle. Seattle will not host a game until July 3rd but that does not mean that Sounders fans are going to be bored. It looks as though Brad Evans is set to match up against his fellow Sounders player Mario Martinez and I would be shocked if Eddie Johnson didn't get some minutes in a crucial USA v Honduras World Cup Qualifying match up tonight in Salt Lake.

Tonight’s game is beyond important for the US if they have aspirations of winning the Hex. With a loss or a draw the US would most likely see Costa Rica leap frog them to the top of the table (Costa Rica is home to a demoralized Panama). More important is that the US’ next two games are extremely difficult with an away match in Costa Rica and a clash with Mexico. If the US can get the win tonight they will keep their 2 point lead atop the table and a 5 point gap over Mexico. The question is how does the US go about getting those vital three points that we all crave.

More of the same! Salt Lake is sold out and will provide the USA with another loud and proud US crowd. The lineup will see the return of Graham Zusi, maybe Jermaine Jones, and changes on the left side with Beasley out but for the most part the core will be the same. I personal would like to see Geoff Cameron rewarded with another start after his performance in Seattle. As for the left side I would like to see Fabian Johnson drop back into the left back role and move Eddie Johnson to left midfield. You can say that I am bias because I am a Sounders fan but Eddie Johnson has been scoring goals for the national team and I feel like you should stick with the hot foot.

Honduras is in a bit of disarray at the moment with injuries, suspensions, and players leaving of their own free will. Honduras still has a fair amount of quality and speed with Palacios and Rojas driving the center of park and Chavez and Martinez on the wings. Wing play will be the key for the Honduran attack. Chavez will cause the US the most problems with his speed. If Chavez can get to the end-line Costly will be there to finish it off. The part of right back that has caused Evans the most heartburn has been closing down quickly and if Evans fails to close down his teammate too many times Martinez will find himself a goal or an assist. Can Fabian Johnson or Castillo slow down Chavez? Can Evans win the battle with his teammate?

For the US attack the key will be moving the ball through Michael Bradley and Zusi. Honduras will more likely than not put 10 men behind the ball and look to counter with Chavez and Costly. If Honduras does this Bradley will need to be patient and hold back from the defensive line. If Bradley and Zusi can draw the central midfielders away from the back line they will create space for Dempsey and Altidore create some chances. When the right back comes inside to cover for the shifting center backs Eddie or Fabian (whichever Johnson starts the game at left midfield) will have their chance to get in behind. I am looking forward to another game with loads of scoring chances tonight.

I am predicting a 3-1 victory for the USA with two goals from Dempsey, one from Bradley, and Costly will get the goal for Honduras. USA! USA! USA!