Random Sunday Musings...

Sadly, we're coming to the end of the two big summer tournaments that have ensured that I get my fix of world class footie while the European leagues are doing little more than generating random transfer gossip. A few thoughts from on both the former and the latter:

1) Watching the Nigerians beat Holland in the Quarterfinals of the U20 tournament brought back fond memories of the Atlanta Olympics. Jay-Jay Okocha and Kanu took Athens, GA by storm. I was going in preparing to choose between the Brazilians and the Argentines as the team I was going to pull for to win gold. Somewhere along the way, that plan was scrapped due to both the entertaining play of the Nigerian team and boundless enthusiasm of the Nigerian fans.

2) It's hard to project central midfielders in youth tournaments - at least it is from your couch - but Jon Mikel Obi - the subject of much contraversy and debate between ManYoo and Chelsea - seems like a he has some potential. The question is whether he's the next Patrick Vieira - exceptional Premiership player - or the next Papa Bouba Diop - ok Premiership player with bursts of excellence. Could easily go either way.

3) Despite a some portion of my ancestors coming from there, I've never been able to generate much enthusiasm for the Germans. Plus, well, they're Germans - not exactly a nation known for being lovable in football or anything else. Despite all of that, I found myself enjoying their style of play against Brazil - much less, um, German than usual. All credit to Klinsman for insisting they play positive football despite having an inexperienced partnership in central defense and having a lot to lose in the eyes of the German public. In a month, no one outside of Germany is going to remember who won the Confederations Cup, but blooding young defenders against Brazil in knock-out play and Argentina in the group stage will pay dividends next summer. Although Huth getting first team football would help more.

4) I think I might enjoy watching Robinho in Claret next season - here's hoping Real don't come back with a better deal (but I'm not holding my breath).

5) Will Craig Bellamy please make up his freakin' mind. He's no Vieira and he's no Gerrard so why are we being subjected to this many headlines. Silly though it may have been the Lampard-to-Real rumor was more interesting to read than the 18th version of Bellamy-to-[Fill-in-the-blank mid-table Premiership team].

6) Speaking of the Lampard rumor - who are Real kidding? Unless there is some sort of behind-the-scenes issues between Jose and Frank that has managed to fall through the cracks (yeah, right), why do real think this deal has even a small chance of happening? Chelsea certainly doesn't need the money, they don't need an expensive striker who is OK-at-best in the air with Robben and Duff roaming the wings. I can't imagine Lampard has looked at the experiences of Beckham, Owen and Woodgate and said - Wow, I gotta leave a great city where I'm a god and spend some time in Madrid. Just silly.

7) Is SWP a viable candidate for the right side of midfield for England in 2006 if he's splitting time with Duff and Robben this coming season? And of those three who would the preferred pairing be on the 3 days when none visiting the team doctor?

8) For the 10 people that watched it - what a fantastic series of saves by Onstad vs. LA - if you saw it, you know what I'm talking about. If you didn't, its worth catching MLS Wrap on Fox Soccer Channel just for that 15 second highlight. Too bad he's old and Canadian - otherwise, he'd be another one for the USMNT ranks.

9) After watching the halftime feature on Landon Donovan, I felt like they were interviewing someone who's playing on a really good pub team rather than someone we're counting on to help us break new ground in 2006. Throw in a TERRIBLE performance vs. his old San Jose team and you get the feeling he's just not up to the challenge. A great player vs. bad teams but not really someone who is going to step up and lead vs. Mexico in qualifying or vs. the best of South America or Europe next summer. Eddie Johnson, paging Eddie Johnson, please step up and lead us to the promised land.

10) And, yes, I watched WAY too much soccer this weekend - I'd like to thank Rupert Murdoch for bringing most of it to me and the nice people at TiVo for allowing me to watch it all at my leisure.