FanNation | JMG84's Blog | Some Ramblings

So I figured since I have nothing else better to do while at work on the 4th of July at 7:30 in the morning that I would blog about some things that have caught my eye lately.

First, I will start in the MLS. Does anyone else think the Houston Dynamo look like a shadow of what they have the past couple years? I bet they are kicking themselves now after letting Ngwenya and Jaqua go. After last nights game against Salt Lake, I do not see them making it past the first round of the playoffs (if they end up making it at all). Losing Ngwenya and Jaquas' offense definatley has taken its toll on the team. Even De Rosario looked uncomfortable on the ball, constantly turning it over with bad touches. Maybe it is because he is playing out of his normal midfield position, I don't know, but wow, where did the 2-time defending champs swagger and confidence vanish to? And speaking of RSL, what the crap was up with that red card at the end of the game? Did the referees really feel what happened between Wingert and Ashe/De Rosario warranted a straight red? If so, where was Ashe's red for his part? And De Rosario's yellow for the initial contact? That irks me to no end. You can't let De Rosario or Ashe get off easy in this circumstance, especially if you are going to eject a player for their part. If I were Jason Kreis I probably would be getting a call from Mr. Don Garber about my fine based on my choice of words with the refs post game.

Chicago, Chicago, Chicago.....you have let me down. After the first handful of games to begin the season I thought they were a lock to represent the Eastern Conference in the final this year. Well, now I have to remove my foot from my mouth because that isn't looking like too good a chance to happen. Especially with how DC and the Revs have been playing. What happened here? Did you just get too relaxed with how well you were doing and tone it down? Cause you need to look now and see that while you have been slacking other teams have been pushing past you in the standings. Act now before you fail to even make the playoffs as 5 teams from the east won't make it this year. And by the way, what is the deal with Brian McBride? Still haven't made the necessary moves to pick up a player that will most definately improve your struggling offense.

I have to get this last part in to show some loyalty to the local team......when are the Colorado Rapids management going to sack Fernando Clavijo? It is long overdue. Every time they Rapids bring in a new foreign signing I shiver because I know they will be getting paid way too much and after a half a dozen games get released from the team. Instead of picking up someone worth two cents they take all these chances on unknown players and so far, it has NOT worked out. By the way, where has Terry Cooke been? He is the poor man's version of David Beckham. He brings so much to the table for this team and lately has been riding the bench. My guess, the Englishman that he is, he probably opened his mouth to the coach(es) about some lineup/gameplay issues and is now being punished = STUPID. And what about Herculez Gomez? Or Burciaga Jr.? Gomez is one hell of a striker. I feel pairing him up top with McManus, the fiery player that he is, would pay huge dividends to the franchise. And with Burciaga pushing up the wing like he does so well, man. This team has so much potential that is not getting used.......someone needs to make the first step and get rid of Clavijo.

Lastly, I saw the newly released FIFA World rankings the other day and I have to say I am a bit dissapointed. How do we, the USA, keep falling while Mexico (our only competition in CONCACAF) stay the same? We play the same competion and attain the same, if not better, results. What has Mexico done over the past year that has warranted them to be ranked better than us? They played Argentina, lost 4-1. We played them, 0-0 tie. We played Switzerland in Switzerland and won 1-0. USA played Sweden and won 2-0. We beat Poland in Poland 3-0. We lose 2-0 to 15th ranked England in Wembley. We lose to eventual EURO 2008 champs and newly appointed world best Spain 1-0 in Spain. But when was the last time Mexico played a quality European club in Europe, the 2006 World Cup against Portugal (which they lost 2-1)? They play 104th ranked Guatemala and lose 3-2 (we won 1-0 last time we played). They play 83rd ranked China and notch a 1-0 victory (we beat them 4-1). If anything, I think Mexico should be around the same rank if not lower than the USA in rankings based on what they have done and the competition they have played as of late. But hey, I don't make the rankings, I just bash how they are........

Well, that is all I have for today but I am sure I will have more to comment on in another week or so. Cheers.