Belatedly, a roundup of links regarding the passing of Brazilian great Socrates a couple weeks ago:
Remembering Brazil's Soccer Philosopher King, penned by Gabriele Marcotti,
appeared in the WSJ the day after his death:
Sunday [December 4] morning marked the passing of Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de
Oliveira, better known simply as Socrates.
I was only able to watch part of the Slovenia game yesterday. I have been saying for some time
that I like Altidore, but he is not good enough to be a lone striker. In theory Klinsmann's 4-3-3
should put more guys forward, but the reality was that the wingers played more defensive roles and
Altidore was left to do the attacking work himself.
If there is one thing learned in 2011 it is that the Seattle Sounders staff knows how to find
and utilize midfielders. From a defensive midfielder who grew into more, to MVP quality play from a
minimum salary player who bought into the phrase "trust us" the team is stacked with talent in
central third.
If you are an MLS player and cut during the season the chances are very strong that the Seattle
Sounders will ask you to come to Starfire Sports in Tukwila, Washington on trial. The latest
trialist is former Chicago Fire utility man Bratislav Ristic. Released in late July, Ristic was a
spot performer at RB, LB, RM, CDM and LM.
With today's announcement that former Toronto FC player Amadou Sanyang has signed with the
Seattle Sounders the team makes its first entry into the transfer market since Mauro Rosales.
Sanyang started play with the Toronto FC Academy and in his two years as a professional with the
Reds started 15 matches with 5 other appearances.
"Pardo" me Kristic, my turn....
The Chicago Fire all-star deficient this week will bring aboard former Mexican international
Pavel Pardo. The defensive midfielder will be added to the Fire's roster upon pending Visa
clearance. No terms we disclosed.
The Guadalajara, Mexico product will be eligible for selection by interim head coach Frank
Klopas when the Fire host the Philadelphia Union.
What was solid rumor yesterday is official team news today as the Chicago Fire released
Bratislav Ristic to open an international spot for new signing Pavel Pardo. Ristic was signed on
September 14, 2010 after a long trial period with the team. He went on to make 8 starts in 2010
playing at RB, LB, RM, and even a little bit at CDM and LM.
To be quite honest, we don't know who's going to start for the Seattle Sounders when they try to
end Real Salt Lake's 29-match home unbeaten streak. An already confusing set of circumstances is
made worse by the fact that this is the third match in eight days. Rather than give you a projected
starting lineup, we're going with more of a preferred starting lineup.
As Jonathan Wilson points out:
"Football used to be an easy game. The big lads played at centre-half and centre-forward, the
hard lads played at full-back, the bright lads played at inside forward, the hard lads who were a
bit bright and the bright lads who were a bit hard played at wing-half, and the little, quick lads
played on the wing.
It was another game where a supposedly deep starting lineup was forced into two adjustments.
O'Brian White continues to fill in for Blaise Nkufo both spatially, and in his hold up play, but
missed a few opportunities to score. The larger adjustment was made when Coach Sigi Schmid was
forced by lingering injury pulling Steve Zakuani from the lineup.
Let's take a look at the team that reinvented itself as much as any over the last eight months.
Hans Backe didn't bring in the two famous DPs, but he did add a ton of lesser names to the New York
Red Bulls roster. This year they start with a roster ready to compete on opening day, something
that hasn't been true in the past, and so Red Bull New York is starting to look like a functional
organization.
In part 1 I outlined how Osvaldo Alsonso fits in as the 5th defensive player, despite nominally
being a midfielder, and how he and the 4 defenders essentially form a "W" shape to the back 5.
Soccer is of course a holistic game, and parsing players into either "attackers" or "defenders" can
be quixotic.
More photos » Ned Dishman - Getty Images
Browse more photos »
Call it a friendly; call it a preseason game; call it a scrimmage; call it whatever you
like.
Our 2nd entry in what is sure be a long-running journal. Here was our first entry in
October.
After most camps and friendlies, TSG puts together a piece with the following components for
discussion amongst the community.
Could this triumvirate be celebrating goals together in the summer?
More photos » Otto Greule Jr - Getty Images
How does David Estrada fit into the Seattle Sounders depth chart before training camp officially
opens?
By Sample
Six years without a trophy will be quite hard to digest. Beautiful football is appreciated by
one and all but last night, I felt a change of heart.
A few points I'd like to note:
1) Arsene should realize that Denilson is not a CDM.
