If you’ve never heard the name Colin Clark, you might want to check out Zac Lee Rigg’s article over at Goal.com.

While this kid’s been flying under the radar for a few years now, he’s starting to be the guy that opposing coaches are worrying about due to his ability to create space between himself and defenders, whip quality crosses in with both feet and deadly finishing in front of the net with limited space (see Abel Xavier).

I personally think this kid’s going to have a very bright and long future with the United States National Team.

Mark it…

image via Cache 

I headed down to the Home Depot Center tonight with my boy Justin to take in the LA Galaxy - Colorado Rapids and I’ve got to tell you, it was one hell of a game.

Anytime you get 5 goals and 2 red cards during a match AND get to catch up with one of your boys, it’s a good day in my opinion.

AND throw in the fact I was able to catch up with Clint Mathis, then it’s just a damn good day (2008 Euro kickoff) and makes up for the fact that Ace and Beans were at the Staples Arena to check out Kanye West.

BIG PROPS to the Riot Squad.  They were hilarious all night long, especially when giving the business to a loud mouthed Colorado supporter sitting all by her lonesome.  Note to Fan - Try not to sit next to the biggest supporters group in the stadium next time… and please don’t try to argue back.. doesn’t work.

I love the fact that the Colorado Rapids are getting exposure on Arsenal’s television channel, BUT someone might want to tell the guy producing and doing the voice over that it’s not Major Soccer League.

Maybe that’s the next name change we need to start thinking about?

If you’re an MLS fan, you have to love opening up the internet and reading that one of your clubs are strengthening it’s ties with a Premiership Giant.

But.. Shouldn’t we start celebrating when those Premiership or La Liga giants are sending some of their best young players over on loan to get valuable playing experience in MLS rather than Reserve team action at said club or being sent out to a team that’s languishing a table below?

That my friends is the next step.

image via NoFanAlone

The CRapids put the hurt on the LA Galaxy in the first game of the season. Lots of people, including us, have been saying that the LA Galaxy appear to have some serious problems. Loads of pressure is on this team to perform, and results like this will not cut it. Alexi and crew (especially Alexi) need to sort things out in Carson. Losing games is not acceptable, especially 4-0, when you are the face of the league.

Take some responsibility, get your team sorted and make it work…

Can you believe it? It’s finally here, opening day against the biggest club in Major League Soccer. All the sweat, pain, and hard work will finally pay dividends…Hopefully.
With so much player turnover in our business it is hard to get much cohesion going.   I am a firm believer that the first 2-3 games of a season can be won on fitness and heart alone.
Don’t get me wrong, of course it takes talent to play at this level, but do you know how many more talented players I have passed by in my career with heart alone?
Any coach will tell you the same and I expect no different this weekend. I believe we hold a huge advantage with the altitude and size of our pitch; we should be running teams to the ground. Will we? I would like to think so, but the truth of the matter is I have no idea.
I have spoken to friends on the Galaxy roster and they too confirm they have no idea, with youth being the biggest factor. Whose youthful and inexperienced players will come into play? Both teams will field a very young or “new” team if you will. You might hear a name or two that you have never heard before.
I remember my first game it felt like the oxygen was being sucked right out of the atmosphere, and that was only the first five minutes in an empty Arrowhead stadium.
Can you imagine playing in front of a packed house alongside of or versus players like: David Beckham, Landon Donavon, Pablo Mastroenni, Carlos Ruiz, Christian Gomez, or Ugo Ihemilu? That is an intense welcome into the league for any young player yet alone a debutant.
Here is what I would like to think. I feel we have the edge on youth you kind of have to give it to us… Two years in a row reserve league champs! Plus, I see these guys day in and day out and I know what they can do. Advantage: Colorado.
What about the intangibles? The players who are so special you can’t take credit for coaching.
They have some great guys: Landon, Becks, Fish, they can take control of a game. But what about our very own Christian G, Pablo, Cookie, and Bouna Time!?! Special players in their own right. If we are going by bank roll and fame… edge: LA.
At the end of the day it takes one play, one mistake, one break, and you can claim victory or defeat.
And I would love nothing more than to help us get 3 points at the expense of my former team… it’s something that I’m looking forward to.

Herc

Pink beach sand and the bluest water I have ever seen. Add coves, caves, and some tropical fish… We truly are in paradise at the beautiful Grotto Bay Resort, located in sunny Hamilton Parish, Bermuda. These Three days have gone by so fast, as they usually do when you are having fun.
On our first day we were greeted by warm smiles and comfy beds. (We had a red eye followed by a five hour lay over in Atlanta) Many of us could not wait to go straight to the beach, located a few steps away from our rooms.
We had a late training session Thursday night. It’s always good to get a run in;, as it helps get the trip out of your system.

The game was the following day and everyone was preparing in their own way, with the game day rituals or superstitions they like to follow. (I have one were I must lace my left boot first, don’t ask I have been doing it since Club Soccer)
Friday night at the local sports complex, in front of hundreds of thousands (ok, it was more like hundreds) the Colorado Rapids squared off against the Bermuda National Team.
The match was a classic display of playing to the level of your opponent. Not being able to break down the gritty and awkward play of the Bermudans proved frustrating for our young Rapids team. As time went on things were beginning to look bleak.

When you play a team of this caliber, the longer you go with out a goal the more life you give them and their confidence grows with every dieing second. Goals can lift you or crush you; in this instance no goals crushed us.
The first half would be much of the same with no midfield play and long ball after long ball. Half time rolled around with both teams scoreless and the Bermudan team was full of life while the Rapids were looking for signs of life.

Second half begins with no changes in either squad, and in this scenario we are hoping for a quick goal to start off on the half right foot. Nope, we start off on the wrong foot!
Bermuda scores two scrappy goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half and seven substitutions are quickly made to our side. With a new crop of players in eager to impress we get under way. Finally with some life our team begins to put pressure on the opponent.

We repeatedly attack at will with a new found energy and get rewarded by good combination play down the flank with a goal. Yours truly was the beneficiary of a good run by Jovan Kirovski and a great square ball by Jacob Peterson.  Too little too late, as time was against us. The final result was 2-1; a victory sending the Islanders and those in attendance into pure joy.
It was actually better that something like this happened in pre season rather than in our regular season. I know you hear this all the time, but that’s what these games are for. You get more out of a game like this than you would from a 7-0 win. This gives the Coaching Staff a chance to see how certain players deal with adversity and who they can count on come crunch time.

It really was a great experience on and off the field. Bermuda is one of the most beautiful places on earth. These are the type of things you look forward to as a footballer as not many people can say they had the opportunity to see a place like Bermuda for doing something they love.
New England has gone to Bermuda and Cancun for pre season the last three years, and they have also been in the final the last three years. Coincidence…. I think not.

Sometimes all it takes is a little fun in the sun to bring the group together.

Herc

It’s been a while since our last chat and a lot has happened as we are now in cold-ass London at the Arsenal training grounds. The facilities here are beautiful and they are everything a footballer could want.

The Centre can be found in leafy Hertfordshire, just 45 minutes drive from Emirates Stadium. It has 7 training fields, one indoor field, an indoor pool, a sauna, a weight room, locker rooms, and a cafeteria.

During our down time in between sessions, we had a chance to check out Arsenal vs. Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium. We were privileged to witness first hand a culture most will never see or even imagine. Chanting fans stood in a packed house cheering their colors on and with Arsenal sitting a top the table and Villa in Fifth, it was sure to be an intense affair.

With Man Utd  (my team) playing just down the road against Fulham at Craven Cottage and looking to catch the Gunners, everything was on the line.  To be honest it wasn’t Arsenals best football as Villa was giving them a difficult time by keeping things in front of them and playing to the counter. With the Game 1-0 in the 93rd minute in favor of Martin O’Neill’s side, I was sure they would escape with all three points.

The Gunners had other ideas as Nicklas Bendtner equalized in what was literally the last play of the game, sending 60,000 plus into a frenzy and Villa supporters into agony. 

It was something else seeing tens of thousands singing and chanting together trying to cheer there team to victory.  Every player had a song, every defensive breakdown or offensive chance received an applause from the crowd and you could tell they understood the game, took it very seriously and it seemed as though their lives depended on the outcome of this match.

After the game we were in awe of what we saw. If you have ever seen the movie Green Street Hooligans, then you can get a feel for what I am talking about as supporters groups (or “Firms” as they are called were everywhere) were taunting and provoking other Firms into action. Police on Horse and on foot stood ground keeping everybody at bay.

We had a handful of players who bought Arsenal scarves  and as they were walking through a group of Villa supporters, they were greeted with not so nice words. It was really an eye-opening experience for all of us, if not a little scary.

In the last few days we have had a couple of Exhibitions against a two local clubs.  On Wednesday we played Ipswich to a scrappy match which ended 3-2 in our favor, with goals coming from our new Brazilian Defensive Mid Rafael Gomes, second year Midfielder Nick LaBroca, and former Champions League winner Jovan Kirovski.

To be honest the score was a little misleading. We completely dominated the match, and in fact our only defensive miscues resulted in goals against, which was something we addressed afterwards as it’s obviously better to get these sorts of things sorted out now rather on opening day.

Our second game did not go in our favor on the score card, but I feel we got more out of as we played the Arsenal Reserves, who had five first team players in their starting lineup. Among them were Gilberto, Bendtner, Van Persie, Theo Walcott, Denilson and I can tell you first hand there is a reason why Arsenal sits a top the Premiership…. They are damn good!

The squad’s depth was undeniable as their play was fast and with purpose.  It was a good test for us and for myself, even getting into the mix and playing the first 30 minutes.  I wish I could have done more, but Doctors orders are Doctors orders.

2-1 in favor of the Gunners was the final score,  but  we left with many positives.  You see, when you play a team of this quality you have to take care of the ball, possessing and picking and choosing when to attack.  I felt we did just that and we were rewarded with a goal late in the match by Colin Clark.  The outcome was secondary to the valuable lessons that the match provided to our young team.

Now as we look forward to finishing out the week strong, we are stepping up our 2008 MLS preparations with an upcoming game next week in Bermuda!

Expect my next post to come from beautiful Bermuda, via message in a bottle.

Herculez Gomez

image via Isiphotos