Preamble: Tonight we've got the MLS All-Stars facing off against English Premier League side West Ham United. I've been doing some research, and West Ham is located in East London. Well done there. There is an East Ham, thankfully located East of West Ham, in the borough of Newham.
Never heard of West Ham? That's too bad. They've got a few notable celebrity fans. John Cleese, Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris, and Spinal Tap bassist Derek Smalls (Harry Shearer) all support the Hammers.
I'm paying attention to a few stories related to this game. First, fellow writer Jeff Harbert wrote an excellent article on West Ham bringing hooliganism stateside, which you can read here.
Actually, that's pretty much the only interesting thing I've read about West Ham in the recent build-up to this game.
But you should all be excited to see how MLS' three best playmakers, David Beckham, Landon Donovan and Cuauhtemoc Blanco are able to play together. My prediction? This game will end 3-1 in favor of MLS. Nobody in Europe will care. But I will.
7:17 PM: Rumour alert! Apparently several European clubs have been showing interest in FC Dallas striker Kenny Cooper, offering seven figure transfer fees for his services. He's 23, and started his career in the Manchester United youth system. A move abroad could really help his career and the US National team.
Oh, Rob Stone has also told us that David Beckham, like West Ham, is from East London. Ladies and Gentlemen, this rivalry just got real.
Lineups: MLS: Reis, Parkhurst, Conrad, Hejduk, Joseph (hey, that's my name!), Blanco, Kljestan, Juan Toja (in place of Robbie Rogers), Beckham, Gomez (in place of Landon Donovan), Cooper. Head coach is Steve Nichol. Reserves: Mastroeni, Donovan, Brennan, Angel, Onstad, De Rosario, Buddle.
Robbie Rogers would have been the youngest player selected for this game, but instead is with the US Olympic squad. I'd say that's much more important.
West Ham: In a stunning show of professionalism, I've missed West Ham's starting lineup. No bother, I'll fill in the bits and pieces as we go.
Scratch that, I only thought I'd missed the West Ham starters. Robert Green, Lucas Neill, Davenport, Ferdinand, Widdowson, Faubert, Parker, Mullins, Etherington, Ashton, Cole. A pretty decent side for the Hammers. We're in for a good match.
1 min: Blanco kicks off. MLS are in a black and white strip, while West Ham are wearing an offensive neon-and-powder-blue strip. I've readjusted my TV to no avail.
4 min: It's been a sloppy start. Neither team is enjoying a lot of possession. Just as I write this, Beckham plays a cheeky backheel to Blanco, and the MLS start passing circles around West Ham.
7 min:
4 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete