On 8/21 another show will come your way on Blog talk radio! Visit www.blogtalkradio.com/lgbtalk .

The Show will be again be 90 minutes long and, again, it will begin at 830 PM EST. There is a call-in number on the page for those of you that want to call-in. You can also reach me in AIM or there will also be a chat session open via the page. ReggaeGunner joined us through the chat session and I also had Ringo call-in(with the money in the mail, buddy)

Topics that will be covered will be:

-Start to the Premiership season.

-Second legs of European competition.

-Take callers and their opinions

-Preview of Olympic final

-And in honor of my new fandom I will have a final segment called, "My Last Say" in which I will have the last say.

The Show has returned and will be airing Thursday nights. Starting August 14th at 8:30 PM EST I will be hosting an internet radio show at www.blogtalkradio.com/lgbtalk.

It will be all about proper football, the whole time. Any and every league will be covered over the course of the season but this week will be devoted mostly to the opening of the Premiership season. CL qualifiers as well as the Olympics will be covered to a certain extent.

The Show, previously known as "From the Terraces", will run 90 minutes the first few weeks and depending on callers and participation may increase to 120 minutes. The Show has also had Bobby McMahon on as guest as well as many of the regulars on his Fox Sports Blog.

If you go the above website you will see the number to where you can call in and participate, as well as an AIM if you have instant messanger. If you prefer not to call in or IM me, you can find the link when the show is live to listen via the internet.

I am really looking forward hearing from all of you!

• News comes out today that 19 year-old  Man U defender Jonny Evans has been arrested after he allegedly raped a 26 year-old woman at the team's Christmas party. Some will say this is a case of it being another Kobe Bryant situation but lets be honest, this is more of a Jonny Who then a Jonny Somebody.

A couple things strike me about this...This party was a players only affair and it was made known that none of the backroom staff, including Sir Fergie, would be invited to it. Looks like it was a bad idea not to invite the chapperones.

And finally just recently weren't Ronaldo, Nani and Anderson under su####ion of hiring prositutes to come to their house? Whats going on with this team? Does Fergie ever look into a players character, or better yet, partying habits before bringing them in? This isn't the first time players under his regime have been questioned for their behaviour off the pitch. Of course its hard to argue with a manager who has been as successful as he has!

• Vincent Calderon, the chairman of Spanish side Real Madrid, has been reported as saying, "I might appear arrogant but Kaka would perhaps not have a place in the current Real Madrid team."

Arrogant? Yeah a little. Extremely stupid and without footballing knowledge? Yes, very much so.

The FIFA world player of the year would walk into any side and yes he would improve every side in the world, including Real Madrid and Barcelona. Barcelona is the most heavy-handed attacking team in Europe and if Kaka can walk straight into that team then Madrid would be a shoe-in.

Of course this could just be a case of Calderon showing his admiration and playing that flirting game you see at elementary schools across the world. You know the one boys where we would push Suzy Pretty into the ground and think that was the best way to get her to notice us?

• Its Carling Cup quarterfinal time and Everton, Spurs and Arsenal have already booked their semifinal places. Yesterday both Arsenal and Tottenham were reduced to 10 men before advancing with Arsenal blowing a two goal lead and having a man sent off in the 90th minute before netting the winner in extra-time.

Today's action brings the final piece of the semi puzzle and its the big one Liverpool traveling to Stamford Bridge. Many first team regulars will be rested including Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. There will be no Drogba, Essien, or Terry because they are all on the operating table.

Still we should see the return of Xabi Alonso and Michael Ballack tonight so the quality will be there. Plus with both teams coming off of losses on Grand Slam Sunday the hunger and passion should be there as well! As for my prediction: Liverpool 3 Chelsea 1.

• After watching Grand Slam Sunday, I've got nothing else to conclude but to say that its a two horse race and Man U definitely looks the stronger of the two(Arsenal being the other).

What makes Man U's win the most impressive is that they were outplayed, survived their keeper making two huge mistakes and they also survived Wayne Rooney's usual finish in front of goal. This all coming at the home of their greatest rivals.

United took their chance when they needed and Liverpool were left wondering what now is needed to make them genuine title contenders.

Arsenal, although not as much as United, were impressive as well. They created the best chances of the game and probably should've scored one or two more if not for the referee blowing his whistle.

Of course you have to wonder if those chances would've come if the best keeper in the game hadn't made a terrible mistake to gift Gallas the opening goal right on the stroke of halftime.

Now with Terry, Drogba and Essien out for extended periods of time there is just no way you can see Chelsea surviving the ANC and putting any sort of title challenge on. I think their main concern should be staving off City, Portsmouth and Everton for fourth place so they can stay in the Champions League.

FINAL WORD: Is there anyone else out there who thinks Liverpool and Chelsea would gladly give up their place in the League Cup Semi's to have taken three points from their rivals this past Sunday?

I'm returning to do a show November 28th at 10 PM EST. We'll be talking football the whole entire time!

Its a 2 hour show that you can find right here at: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LGBtalk

The call in number is 646 478 5458 so I'll be looking forward to hearing from all of you!

*UPDATE*: Bobby McMahon has agreed to come on the show to take questions and give his insight on the world of football.

The show continues tonight at a new time so that all the west-coasters can join in. Starting today at www.blogtalkradio.com/lgbtalk at 10 PM EST you can join in the fun and discuss the sport we all know and love with your fellow bloggers.

Some of the topics that will be discussed tonight will be:

-The Premiership so far: We'll discuss everything from results to how the table is shaping up.

-Champions League Draw: reaction, thoughts and predictions.

-Liga and Serie A action.

-The international scene

-McClaren: Has he lost the plot?

-Callers opinions

-And much more

Make sure you are there for this evenings broadcast, it should be fun.

If you were fortunate, like I was yesterday, you were able to see the ceremony known as the Champions League Group Stage Draw. As Gabrielle Marcotti put it, and I quite agree with him, its the NFL Draft equivalant. What makes it better than the NFL Draft is that it only took around an hour for everything to go down.

There were five awards handed out, four pots of teams that were sorted and a mass number of celebrities that were in attendance. Before the draw was handed out everything was explained. Everything would include the AEK/Sevilla situation, what groups would be playing the same day as others, clubs from the same countries and from the same cities.

Now before we get into the draw and each group its interesting to note that all four English clubs were seeded in the first pot. To my knowledge, this is the first time that four teams from one country have all been seeded. Its no wonder that all the teams are rated so highly(maybe Man U is a surprise but...)with Arsenal going to the CL Final in 2006, Liverpool winning in 2005 and being the runner-up in 2007 and Chelsea going to the semi-finals the same years Liverpool went to the final. Manchester United hasn't had a lot of success in Europe recently but they did make a semi-final run last year and were beaten by eventual champions Milan. There is little doubt that the Barcas and Milans of the world are teams to look out for but I think the rankings speak for themselves: the English clubs are the teams to watch out for, especially if healthy late in the competition.

As for the draw itself, this is what looks like and this is what I think will happen(along with some interesting subplots in each group):

The obvious favorite in this group has to be Liverpool. The beaten finalists will be looking to right the ship this year and bring back trophy number six to Anfield. Porto, Marseille and Besiktas will all be tough opponents but Liverpool just oozes class from every position and they have it in depth as well. Rafa Benitez knows how to win in Europe and I don't see them stumbling here.

As for who will finish second its a bit of a toss-up. Porto played Chelsea tough last season and if it weren't for some poor goalkeeping they probably knock out the London giants in the second round. Marseille lost Franck Ribery, among others, and will look to Djibril Cisse to lead their attack. Besiktas is always a tricky opponent because no team likes to travel to Turkey because of the fiery enviroment. I think Porto will win out over the other two with Besiktas taking the Uefa Cup spot.

An interesting subplot will be when Djibril Cisse plays against his old club, especially at Anfield. Cisse was never given a real shot under Rafa and will look to do one over on his old club. Bolo Zenden who started for Liverpool in the 2007 Final also transferred to Marseille in the off-season.

#### Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD 1 Chelsea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Valencia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Schalke 04 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Rosenborg 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Chelsea and Valencia get to re-new acquaintances in Group B. Essien ended Valencia's run in the Quarterfinals last term with a 90th minute goal in the second-leg. It seemed a tie destined for extra time but Essien showed why hes one of the top 5 players in the world with his do-all attitude.

While those two teams seem to be the class of this group another club in Schalke 04 will be a handful. Schalke imploded at the end of last season and have lost two of their more influential players in Altintop and Lincoln but still possess the quality to get the job done. I confess to know little of Rosenborg but that said, I do know anything above a fourth placed finish will be seen as a success for the Norwegian club. Chelsea and Valencia will advance and Schalke will threaten very little winning only one game on their way to the Uefa Cup.

An interesting subplot here is Jose Mourinho and Chelsea as a whole. This is the competition Roman wants and so does Jose. They spent little, well in terms of Chelsea they have, and will come into this years Champions League not as favorites but as one of the contenders. Maybe this will lift the pressure of the players and allow them to lift Ol'Big Ears once and for all.

#### Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD 1 Real Madrid 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Werder Bremen 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Lazio 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Olympiacos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

If there were ever a dull group this is it. While all these teams possess quality I just don't think any of these clubs will make a deep run in this tournament.

Madrid is the obvious favorite here and should win this group easily. They've brought in a lot of quality and even though it should take time to gel together they still should breeze through this group.

I don't rate Olympiacos much and think they will finish fourth so that leaves Bremen and Lazio. Both teams "struggled" in qualifying and neither looked good. Like Schalke, Bremen though still possessing quality lost many of its best players. Lazio got into this competition because of the scandal two years ago and Fiorentina and others were deducted points last year. For me its really a toss up here and I'm going to go with my intuition here and say the Italian team gets through with Bremen head to the Uefa Cup.

The subplot here will be to see how the Madrid stars, post-Galactico, gel together. I still think this club is a year away from doing damage in this competition but you can't ignore them totally. They are Real Madrid, after all.

#### Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD 1 Milan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Benfica 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Celtic 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Shakhtar Donetsk 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Holders Milan get brought into a group where they as well should be the clear favorite. Nothing in my mind screams upset here and I am 100% confident that Milan goes through as group winners.

As for who will finish second, Benfica made the quarterfinals in 2006 and have been a competitive team in Europe for some time. Celtic lost to eventual champions Milan last season in the second round in extra time and they got through a very good Moscow team on their way to the group stages. Shakhtar really doesn't scare anybody but everyone knows that Ukrainian clubs can cause upsets here and there.

So who do I got? I've got to go with the British club and say Celtic nick it in the end. Benfica will be tough but they fall into the Uefa Cup and Shaktar enjoy their first run in the Champions League.

The interesting subplot(and must watch games) will be the rematch of Celtic and Milan. As I said Celtic took Milan into extra time and lost to great individual play by Kaka. The game at Park Head should be electric!

#### Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD 1 Barcelona 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Lyon 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 VfB Stuttgart 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Rangers 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

This is affectionately being called the "Group of Death". Why? You got me!

Sure Barca is good but you've got a Lyon side that is not the same that won six Le Championnet's in a row. As well as they went down in the manager department appointing Perrien to replace Houllier. Of course you have Stuttgart the reigning German Champs but as stated before they had no business winning the Bundesliga and will not strike fear into the heart of opponents. And then there is Rangers...Well Rangers are second to Celtic and Celtic can barely scrape through a much easier group.

So yes I have Barca running away as clear winners here. Yes I have Rangers finishing fourth. But who is second? Well I did say this isn't the same Lyon side but they are still very good(just not Champions League Winners good). Lyon will finish second and knock Stuttgart into the Uefa Cup. Like Bremen, watch for Stuttgart to make a run in the Uefa Cup.

The subplot for this group is just like Group C. Madrid has its stars needing to gel and so does Barca. It will be quite fun to see Henry lead the front line with Eto'o currently out for two months.

#### Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD 1 Manchester United 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 AS Roma 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Sporting CP 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Dynamo Kyiv 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

While to most this screams Man U and Roma, I tend to disagree. Not only do I deem this to be the infamous "Group of Death" I also see some upsets occuring here.

When it comes to the Mancs and Roma most people remember the quarterfinal tie a year ago, more specifically the 7-1 thrashing handed to the Italians at Old Trafford. What most forget is that the Italians handled them pretty well at their own backyard. Then there is Sporting and Kiev. Kiev have been here before and they know how cause upsets which I fully expect to happen. Theres always one Portuguese team that advances and plays the top teams tough and I think its going to be Sporting.

I have Sporting win this group with the Mancs coming in second. The biggest surprise is that Kiev will come in third knocking the Romans out of Europe for the season. Roma's best games will come against Man U and unfortunately thats all they will show up for.

The biggest subplot will be seeing Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani return to their boyhood clubs and seeing how they perform against them. Both are very talented wingers who can put on a clinic.

#### Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD 1 Inter####onale 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 PSV Eindhoven 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 CSKA Moscow 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Fenerbahçe 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Like the Liverpool, Milan and Barca groups there is one clear favorite here. Inter Milan was beaten on the away goals rule last year and will be out for revenge. They definitely have the quality to do damage here.

PSV, while not having Inter's quality, still have enough that they should go through this group quite comfortably. Ronald Koeman is a great manager and should have his troops ready.

Fenerbahce and Moscow seem to be fighting for third and fourth and you've got to think the Turkish giants have the quality to see them past their Russian counterparts.

An interesting subplot will be to see if all the Inter stars decide to play together. They definitely seem to be a team on the rise and a team that needs to win it now. If they can put it together, this team is going to be very scary to face.

#### Team Pts Pld W D L GF GA GD 1 Arsenal 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Sevilla/ AEK Athens 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 Steaua 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 Slavia Prague 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

First things first. Sevilla will progress through and they will be in this group.

Ok that being said, Arsenal will win this group. And they will win it with as much ease as Inter did in the group before.

Sevilla, like PSV, will also qualify easily. Yes they have won two Uefa Cups in a row but lets not get carried away, they aren't Champions League competition.

Slavia Prague will the third placed team in this group and Steaua will be the bottom feeding club.

The interesting subplot will be to see how the Sevilla players respond to travesty that has happened already this year. It would be the feel-good-story if they were able to go deep in this tournament.

It really did get that much better. Bobby McMahon is going to be calling in tonight and we will be discussing the opening games of the PL season. We will also be talking a little about the Champions League results(a certain young American made his debut in the competition).

You can find it here at www.blogtalkradio.com/lgbtalk and it will be airing at 8PM EST. Yes it is a crappy time for you West Coasters and I'm thinking about making it a later time so everyone can join in!

Again, I need everyone who is part of our group of football fanatics to listen in and/or call in. Well really call in. The phone number is 646-478-5458 and you can also find it on the home page!

This is your chance to talk to Bobby and he should be on the show early on. Looking forward to it!

Just a couple reminders please be respectful to your fellow bloggers and listeners, as well as stay on topic and please keep your questions short and to the point. It allows Bobby to answer EVERYONE'S questions and we all know that we have many questions!

I am pleased to announce, baring any last minute activities that FSC might put on him, that FSC's own Bobby McMahon will be joining us on the blog show this Wednesday. On August 15th at 8 PM EST you can go to this site(www.blogtalkradio.com/lgbtalk) and listen to your fellow bloggers chat with Bobby about the opening weekend games in the PL and the mid week games of PL and CL. We will be hosting a show every Wednesday as the season rolls on.

You can also call in at this number (646) 478-5458, and ask Bobby whats on your mind. Bobby is giving up his free time to give us the chance to have our questions answered, so I expect to hear from the lot of you. Atleti will also be there to help me co-host.

I will post a blog again on Wednesday to specify the exact topics but there you have it. Make sure you can get off work, time away from the kids and come join us!

Yes the show is back on tonight at 8pm EST! I will be previewing all 20 teams in the best league in the world! You can find the show here at www.blogtalkradio.com/lgbtalk

There is a call-in line on the site and please take advantage of it. We might have a special guest on in a few weeks or so, I just have to get in touch with him! Looking forward to doing this and looking forward to this weekend, make sure you chime in with your thoughts!

Yes, I know I'm lame for doing the Lord of the Rings reference but I'm pumped to be back doing the show this week. There is tons of footie to cover, I've been gone for two weeks working my behind off and much has happened. Some of the things that I will be discussing tonight(some of them might have happened a while back but I haven't discussed them yet):

-Liverpool have brought in Babel and Benayoun

-Heinze saga

-Tevez saga continues

-Argentina's failure in the Copa, Argentina's glory in the U-20

-Brazil's triumph

-Asian Cup continues

-The plea for Atleti to quit school

-Big name signings for Arsenal? Freddie continues exodus of old guard.

-Becks makes debut

-Is MLS going to be a league that will rival its European competition

-Why did Dudek spend all of his time complaining at Pool and then sign for Real?

-Other transfer news

-Callers opinions

-Much more

Really looking forward to tonights show. Unfortunately, the lovely Atleti will not be joining us(I don't think) because of other obligations but I will do my best to make it a great show! Hope you all call in! You can catch the show at 8 PM EST, here at: www.blogtalkradio.com/lgbtalk

Over the summer I shall be displaying proof as to why Steven Gerrard is the greatest player of OUR time. You can try and bring your Cristiano Ronaldo's, Henry's, Ronaldinho's, Kaka's, etc. but this is an argument you just can't win.

Video evidence #1-

THE GREATEST GOAL OF ALL-TIME

West Ham is leading 3-2 in the world's oldest competition. England's most storied club seems destined for defeat. A Carragher own-goal and Riena mistake(the first of two) gifted West ham a shock 2-0 lead over Liverpool under 30 minutes into the game.

Liverpool fight back from a superb lofted pass to Cisse from the boot of Gerrard to half the deficiet and then Gerrard in the second half with a stunning half volley knots the score at 2.

Konckesky then scores a goal that will go down in FA Cup infamy as he attempts a cross that Riena, somehow, lets past him. The goal gifts West Ham a 3-2 lead.

With West Ham leading 3-2,  the 90 minutes up and going into stoppage time(you can hear the PA announcer come over Martin Tyler and say, "There will be a minimum of four minutes of stoppage time") AND with not only Gerrard but Cisse and others going down with cramps the game appeared to be over. Most Liverpool supporters thought so, including Gerrard.

But up steps Gerrard who delivers a goal for the ages(check the first comment for video).

Because of that goal, Liverpool was able to secure the FA Cup 30 minutes later.

No one is as clutch as Gerrard. No one. Its not even close. When big games are being played, no one steps up to the occasion as Gerrard does.

Alright this will be the final all soccer show of the summer. You can listen to the show live tonight(7/3) at 8PM EST at: www.blogtalkradio.com/lgbtalk

Here are some of the topics that will be included:

-Torres Transfer

-Luis Garcia Transfer

-Other Transfer talk

-Copa America

-U20 World Cup

-Much, much more including looking forward to some people who WILL be calling in!

Looking forward to tonight, Atleti will also be joining me again tonight.

Alright its back tonight at 8 PM Est. You can check it out here: www.blogtalkradio.com/lgbtalk

First I'd like to tell all the American sports listeners, its going to be all about soccer again tonight. Besides baseball and the NFL arrests nothing else is going on. Actors on steriods who kill their wives and kids is not a sport and gets no air-time with me.

Secondly, I've been told that I should do a second show that focuses solely on American sports and it sounds like a good idea. But I think it'd be better if someone like Demon or Rev started up a show because they would bring the people in!

Finally, here are the things that are going to on topic for tonight:

-Theirry Henry transfer saga: What it means to Barca, the Arse and to both leagues. Also what his transfer sum means about the current market

-Previews of the Copa America and U-20 World Cup

-Recaps of the Copa del Rey, U-21 European Championships and the Gold Cup

-Listener's call in's, Atleti will be joining me tonight(again!) and much more

Again, it starts at 8 PM Est and you can find it at: www.blogtalkradio.com/lgbtalk  Looking forward to hearing from everyone!

Sorry about the delay of this post, had to go see a movie. I saw KNOCKED UP, very funny and I recommend it to everyone!

As for the show, I am happy to announce that it will consist mostly of football(soccer) talk but the first 5 minutes or so I want to touch upon traditional American sports. Here is a round up of what I hope to cover:

-Kobe saga continues

-MLB action

-Gold Cup action and USMNT

- La Liga round up

-The ultimate debate: Which is better Premiership or La Liga? And I'll have the vivacious Atleti here to debate with me!

-Transfer talk

-Caller's views and much more

Come check it out at www.blogtalkradio.com/lgbtalk

The show airs at 8PM 6/19/07 and I'm looking forward to hearing more from ya. If footie ain't your thing, no worries. Next week I'll be back talking some more traditional American sports.

The United States Men's national team has reached the semifinals of the Gold Cup with their 2-1 victory over Panama on Saturday. They will face Canada on Thursday, with the game being shown live on "The Channel". The U.S. is the defending champ and look to be on their way, with Mexico faltering, to a consecutive Gold Cup title.

But is this good enough?

The U.S. has won all four games they've played in this competition this year, 3 in the group stages and 1 in the knock-out phases so far, but have looked far from a dominating, world-class team that some pundits try have you believing. Each part of the field with the exception of goalkeeping has been a let-down this tournament, at least to me, because I expect this team to be taking steps forward. I don't know about you but it seems we have taken 5 steps back from the QF of World Cup 2002.

DEFENSE: Yes only one goal has been conceded in all 360 minutes of play but thats more down to Tim Howard and Kasey Keller than the back four, or eight if you like, that have been playing in front of them. Onyewu, who is often criticized for lacking concentration, has been found wandering, taking stupid fouls and, of course, getting sent off. You can count me as one of the people who thought he was going to be a star for years to come but since the Czech Republic game in WC 2006 in which Jan Koller showed how weak of a defender he is in just three minutes and his performances thus far in the GC you can now count me, along with Fat Sam of Newcastle, who doubt his defensive pedigree. Not that Onyewu is the only one.

Frankie Hejduk can run....and thats about it. He's not a right back who's going to go into the tackle. He's not a right back who's going to stop people from running at him or who is going to strike fear into the hearts of attackers. His crosses lack that special touch and he really doesnt add anything down the right.

Some of the young kids in Europe have been getting look-ins and I can say I'm optimistic. I'm optimistic if they continue to improve because the U.S. is going to need it.

MIDFIELD: Well for the most part of the 360 minutes played we have been playing with primarily one striker up front and everyone else playing behind him. So that means that we basically have five midfielders and it also means we should be dominating that third of the pitch. Are we?

No.

This is probably where we are lacking the most. No doubt Claudio Reyna is going to be nearly impossible to fill but if we have three guys in the middle we should be taking care of business and its just not happening. We have played better with the return of Mastroeni but the link up play has been atrocious. There is little invention and, what seems to me, little running off the ball.

I'm not saying these guys aren't working their socks off but they aren't putting their stamp on the game like they should be.

Bradley and Feilhaber have been pleasant surprises. Dempsey and Beasley have had some shining moments, as well as Donovan, but those three have been very wasteful in front of goal. These are supposed to be our three best outfield players and they are the ones that the younger guys, or the guys with few caps, are going to look at for leadership and the examples set.

When guys see them being wasteful in front of goal and the fact the U.S. has gotten through each game by the skin of their teeth, they will think you can do this against World-Class opposition. The Italy's, Germany's and England's of the world will eat us up. Well maybe not the McClaren led English but you get the point.

FORWARDS: You can throw Twellman along with Dempsey, Donovan and Beasley as being wasteful in front of goal. I've never liked him much because he doesn't bring a dimension to the United States' game. He can't score, he doesn't hold up the ball well, he doesn't get great link-up play even against weaker opposition. Twellman should be our second or third-string choice of forward.

Ching is very much in the same mold as Twellman. If its possible, he's much worse than Twellman which doesn't bode well for the U.S.

Eddie Johnson, to me, is the last real hope for the United States at forward position. Yes he lacks in technical ability but that is something that can be developed with a move abroad and playing against better opposition. He has fantastic speed and he is the "fox-in-the-box" type player that a lot of countries look for. He just knows where the net is. Be on the look-out for him, if Bradley has any sense of creativity.

Which leads us to....

COACHING: Well Bradley has been a pleasant surprise in some ways and been a complete waste as a coach in another. Which one to start? I like to go bad news first:

Bradley's tactics have been predictable at best. Everyone and their grandma knows that this man will stuff the midfield and try anyway possible to get the ball behind the defence, including the long ball. There is very little link-up play and there is little cohesion because of the lack of continuity in the starting XI. Now you might ask, what is wrong with stuffing the midfield because that is where the game is won. And thats a good point BUT lets not kid ourselves. CONCACAF has much weaker opposition than the U.S. will play in the World Cup and we shouldn't have to stuff the midfield to dominate that third of the pitch. We should, and do, have the quality to be able to have 4 mids in there and two guys up front.

The lack of domination has been prevelant and it has many U.S. fans, like myself, worried about what we are doing to improve. Regardless if Bradley is a new coach we still should be much better than these teams. He also has already stated that he will be bringing a much weaker squad to Copa America, which just gets my blood boiling. You gotta ask why? World-Class superstars playing and its going to be in a foreign enviroment! Not too bright if you ask me.

As for the good, well Bradley hasn't lost a game yet as manager and that shouldn't get lost amongst us supporters. He's also giving the young Europe-based players a chance to show what they've got. He's also creating competition at places that will only improve the squad. One can only hope that the Donovan's of this squad aren't guaranteed a place in the starting XI and will actually have to earn it like every other player does.

Overall for the USMNT, there has to be some disappointment in the lack of domination. We have to take care of business in our end, starting controlling the play in the middle of the park and start putting away our chances. There can be some elation at the fact we are creating some good chances. We just have to take them, and hopefully beat Canada on Thursday and then take the Gold Cup on Sunday.