Soccer Insider: October 7, 2007 - October 13, 2007
Matchday 29: DCU vs. Chicago
[updated throughout] Greetings again from Nuevo Estadio RFK. My first visit to the old arena since Aug. 22. Nice to be back. Thanks for asking. Plenty at stake tonight as United looks to lock up the Eastern Conference regular season title and move closer to the Supporters Shield, while Chicago...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 13, 2007; 5:24 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (45)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
Football Saturday
Where to begin?! Well, from my narrow D.C. perspective, the United-Fire match is the priority. Which is why it is imperative you read this story about RFK and what else might be taking place there now that the Nats are gone. I will create a separate thread before kickoff for...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 13, 2007; 9:14 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (27)
Categories:
Misc.
Save & Share:
It's a Date
Just returned from Nuevo Estadio RFK..... Here is what you need to know: *United will soon announce that its first-round playoff HOME game will be Thu., Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The reason for the weeknight date is to accommodate live coverage on ESPN2. (The playoff opener will be on...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 12, 2007; 1:11 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (115)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
MacFarlane vs. Fenty
The complete Poplar Point story from Friday's Metro section can be found right here....
By
Steve Goff
|
October 11, 2007; 11:37 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (91)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
Stewart Gone From RSL
Jack Stewart, who is being promoted by MLS for Cosmopolitan magazine's Bachelor of the Year contest, is no longer in MLS. Well, technically he is still on Real Salt Lake's roster, but the third-year defender has essentially been let go by the club. He was apparently unhappy with his situation...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 11, 2007; 6:22 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (25)
Categories:
MLS
Save & Share:
MacFarlane Speaks
D.C. United bossman Victor MacFarlane and Prez Kevin Payne stopped by The Post this afternoon for an on-the-record chat with reporters, editors and a Metro section columnist. The meeting was arranged weeks ago, but in the wake of their letter to the city about the club's plans to look elsewhere...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 11, 2007; 4:27 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (48)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
Letters, We've Got Letters
D.C. United is losing its patience with Fenty and the city over the Poplar Point project. Click here to read the letter the club sent to the mayor last week (it's a pdf)....
By
Steve Goff
|
October 11, 2007; 1:03 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (97)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
United's Playoff Opponent Is...
Okay, United supporters, your club is on the brink of clinching first place in the Eastern Conference. Which means a first-round home-and-home series with the fourth-place club starting on the road Oct. 25-28. Which at the moment is Kansas City, but could just as easily become Chicago or New York....
By
Steve Goff
|
October 11, 2007; 9:41 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (48)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
There Is Hope
The U.S. women's national soccer team, fresh off a disappointing on-field performance and bizarre off-field saga at the World Cup in China, will begin a three-game series against Mexico with a friendly on Saturday night in St. Louis. Goalkeeper Hope Solo is, indeed, on the roster, which was unveiled by...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 10, 2007; 7:53 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (37)
Categories:
Women
Save & Share:
Toja! Toja! Toja!
Juan Toja, Dallas's Colombian midfield star, has the best mullet in MLS since Marco Etcheverry. So to celebrate, FCD is hosting Juan Toja Wig Night on Thursday when Chivas USA comes to Frisco. His teammates got an advanced supply on the wigs. Merriment ensues....
By
Steve Goff
|
October 10, 2007; 3:35 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (26)
Categories:
MLS
Save & Share:
Stoitchkov Continued.....
[FYI: Some of the wording in this blog entry has been changed to reflect that Kaplan and Rongen were not deposed in this case. Their accounts, however, remain unchanged.] Some notable comments and observations from the court documents in the Freddy Llerena-Hristo Stoitchkov civil case that has been settled for...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 10, 2007; 10:45 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (39)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
Settlement in Stoitchkov Case
Former American U. player Freddy Llerena has reached a financial settlement with the Mad Bulgarian, D.C. United and MLS over the 2003 incident in which his leg was shattered during a scrimmage. No $$$ figures available and certainly nowhere near the multi-millions requested in the civil suit, but given the...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 9, 2007; 10:53 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (14)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
USA Training Roster Named
U.S. Coach Bob Bradley has invited 21 players to training camp prior to the Switzerland friendly next Wednesday in Basel. The final game-day roster will be unveiled early next week. Some intriguing selections, indeed. Nice to see Robbie Findley and Maurice Edu, as well as several U-20 lads, get a...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 9, 2007; 4:29 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Categories:
U.S. men's national team
Save & Share:
United Training Report
Most importantly, the new grass surface at RFK has been installed and looks gorgeous. The foul poles remain in place, but the netting and support cables behind home plate are gone. It's almost a soccer stadium again. "I am so excited," said the always excitable Fred. "It looks smooth, very...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 9, 2007; 12:37 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
Stadium? What Stadium?
Metro columnist Marc Fisher previews the impending political brawl between the mayor and the former mayor over the future of Poplar Point and your local soccer ballclub. In case you missed it last week (forgive me, I'm a little behind after returning from China), David Nakamura profiled DCU investor Victor...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 9, 2007; 9:24 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
Seven for Alves
Take a look at all seven -- yes, seven! -- goals by Brazilian striker Afonso Alves during Heerenveen's 9-0 demolition of Heracles in Dutch league play over the weekend. Note the precision finishing. Note the abysmal defending. For some background on Alves, read this May 31 story from the London...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 9, 2007; 9:09 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Categories:
World
Save & Share:
United News & Notes
A few things to share from the RFK training grounds, site of this morning's reserve match between DCU and Kansas City..... *Josh Gros, who experienced more migraine symptoms in Mexico last week and did not play Friday in Kansas City, will see a specialist in Massachusetts tomorrow. I can't imagine...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 8, 2007; 1:59 PM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
Mercenary Territory
On this glorious Columbus Day, we pay tribute to Lowell George and Little Feat on the 30th anniversary (sort of) on their recording of "Waiting for Columbus," one of rock's greatest live albums. Using song titles, let's cover some ground on a variety of topics: "All That You Dream" In...
By
Steve Goff
|
October 8, 2007; 9:40 AM ET |
Permalink |
Comments (0)
Categories:
D.C. United
Save & Share:
