Come on Arsenal

Rough times for Arsenal on Sunday, but I’m confident they’ll bounce back against Milan. So here’s one of my favorite Arsenal goals, van Persie rocketing home a volley. Please don’t try this at home.

The Podcast Goes to Zambia…and Other, Closer Destinations

In the latest episode of Radio CaptainU, we look near and far at how soccer is being used to solve the world’s problems. We start in our own backyard with Urban Initiatives and then take a trip through the magical inter-tubes to southern Africa with Grassroot Soccer. Nate joins the podcast juggernaut and stumps me with obscure, forgettable, annoying trivia about the English 5th division. We dig into our mailbag to answer a pressing recruiting question and also meet the Neil Armstrong of CaptainU.

Listen Here:

Download: Radio CaptainU – Episode 5

Best Goal Ever???

This video is posted on YouTube as the best goal ever, and it’s easy to see why.  But if I score one like this in my indoor game tomorrow, I promise to do a better celebration.

ACN Goal of the Tournament

Manchester United bound Manucho of Angola shows he’s got the skill to cut it at Old Trafford with this stunning strike against Egypt.

O’Rourke’s is Back!!!

Generations of Wesleyan University soccer players have taken their pre-game meals at O’Rourke’s diner — a famous Middletown, CT landmark. There’s nothing quite like playing on a stack of O’Rourke’s banana pancakes. A little before halftime is when it really hits.

Brian O’Rourke, the diner’s second generation owner and proprietor, is a much-loved, longtime supporter of Wesleyan Soccer. In fact one of the most prestigious awards given each year to a player on the men’s team is the Bernie O’Rourke Award, which is named after Brian’s father.

Why is this all so interesting? A few years ago, O’Rourke’s was ravaged by a gas fire. It happened in the middle of the night, no one was hurt, but the community was stunned. Middletown has experienced a dramatic revitalization in recent years and in that spirit, the community banded together and raised enough money and contributed enough labor to rebuild O’Rourke’s.

Today is the day! O’Rourke’s has reopened. So stop in, try the free cakes that Wesleyan students have been eating at 4 AM since the beginning of time, and try those banana pancakes. Only then will you know what I’m talking about!

This Guy Can Dribble

Say what you will about England’s recent shortcomings, but one player who continues to impress is Joe Cole who absolutely schooled Switzerland on England’s first goal this week.

Mike P Gets Nutty with his Tivo

Okay, if you’ve been inside CaptainU you know that Mike P, our technology guru is an outrageously good programmer. So what do 1 and 0 crushers do in their free time? How about hacking your Tivo to record HD video directly onto your Mac?!

There I was today, minding my business and making a few calls when a file comes across Skype from Mike. I accepted the file transfer only to find that it was a 210 MB, 30-second clip of Oguchi Onyewu’s goal against Mexico last night. A mere twenty minutes later, the file transfer was complete and I was looking at the most high-def video I’ve seen on my computer. Mike was deliriously giddy. I was pretty stoked too. It was a nice, if somewhat bizarre goal. Above is a screen shot (click on it for glorious high def.)

Jozy Opens His MNT Account

 

May there be many more…  (Goal @ 2:25)

Loving Deuce

Watching the game today made me remember how much I love Clint Dempsey. So here’s a goal compilation in tribute to him. Read this excellent article from the Guardian newspaper to know how Deuce developed.

Halftime Thoughts

We’re at halftime in the US – Mexico game, so it seems like a perfect time to blog.  Here’s my five thoughts on the first half:

1.  Can the US please play some defense?  Somehow we’ve held Mexico to just one goal so far, but it feels like we should be down by about three.  There’s absolutely no shape to the US defense and Mexico is breaking us down so easily.  Carlos Bocanegra hasn’t been seeing steady time at Fulham, and I’m beginning to question his ability to organize our defense.  If it weren’t for Timmy Howard’s acrobatics we’d definitely be down more.

2.  DEUUUUUUUCCCCCCE!  If there’s any doubt as to who the best US field player is, just take a look at what Clint’s been up to this half.  Hasn’t seen a bunch of the ball, but he made Mexico pay when he got the ball close to the box (and then was denied by a ridiculous offside call).  I saw him score against Brazil (why is this not on YouTube?) a few months back, and he brings the swagger to the field that only a top player can bring.  And he’s by far the best player for Fulham.

3.   Jozy Altidore.  He’s looked dangerous throughout and showed real a killer instinct to get a goal in his debut.  In addition to the goal, Jozy looked good when he had the ball on the right and definitely belongs on the field.  He’ll be a huge talent for the US in the future, let’s just hope he goes to a club where he can really develop and not just be stuck on the bench.

4.   Mexico’s young players.  There is some serious talent brewing south of the border.  Carlos Vela is quality and Nery Castillo (who got injured playing for Man City) is also a great player.  I have to imagine they’ve got a few other young players on the field, but I’m not really sure who they are.  Nonetheless, they’re attack is looking so dangerous.

5.  Stadium Cam.  I feel like I’m playing FIFA against somebody who has just discovered that there are multiple camera angles.  Can somebody at ESPN please choose a camera that isn’t going to make me dizzy?  And can it be close enough to the pitch so I can actually see what’s going on?

Let’s pick it up this half boys…