Photo by Matthew Janzer. Click image for full picture.

Let me begin by saying that I love Seattle. I really do. As someone who lives about 8 hours away, I’ve been to this city many times and have been to numerous Seahawks and Mariners games. As far as my experiences at these games, they have all fallen somewhere between pleasant and downright contentious. I’ve seen fights, but I’ve also seen strangers hug and celebrate.

As I now reflect on the match between Seattle Sounders and Manchester United — played on Wednesday night, I’ve come to the conclusion that not only is Seattle a diverse and passionate sports city that absolutely loves soccer, but Sounders supporters as a whole were exceptional and provided me with an enjoyable experience that I will never forget.

Driving from western Montana, I arrived in Seattle on Tuesday with four other friends (two United supporters, one Sounders supporter and one neutral) and I could feel the excitement in the city. United garb was everywhere. NikeTown (downtown) boasted a mural of Wayne Rooney and Chicharito on the outside of the store and had the crest on the doors and windows. After a long day in the car, I switched into a Ryan Giggs kit and our group traveled down to Pike Place market to grab a bite to eat.  The comments came quickly. One gentleman jokingly said I had some rubbish on me and pointed at the crest (which I laughed at because I thought it was clever). An employee in the market asked “where are the Liverpool fans?” and started to sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” after we ribbed each other back and forth a bit. The locals were ready for us and seemed to have a fun time with it.

Unfortunately, I have no report from the training held that night at the pitch because I was unable to secure passes to the event. However, just by walking around town I felt the same buzz in the air as when the New York Yankees came in for a three-game series. Except this was bigger and better. United was in town (and had been since Friday) and everyone knew it.

After months of waiting, matchday finally came. Another trip to the market for lunch was met with not only the instantly recognizable red, but also with blinding lime green kits from the Sounders supporters. With only a few hours left before kickoff, we began to make our way down to the stadium, which is located in south downtown. Heading down 1st street, we came upon a sea of red standing in front of the Four Seasons hotel and saw the United 2011 tour bus. We decided to press on because we were meeting two more friends who are both Sounders supporters.

Traditionally, the Sounders supporters clubs meet in Pioneer Square and have a march to the match. Although we did not march, the music and chants could be heard from blocks away. Walking to the stadium, one would have thought the crowd would be at least 30 percent in support for United. However, once in the stadium, the red became more of an accent in a sea of green. Our seats were 20 rows up on the south side in the southwest corner. The seats provided excellent views and we were right next to the Seattle supporters clubs (the two big ones are Gorilla FC and the Emerald City Supporters).

The pregame routine (chants, reciting of players’ names and drums) by the Sounders supporters sent chills down my spine. If you haven’t heard about the atmosphere for Sounders matches in Seattle, there was a gentleman behind me who lives in the Norfolk area of England and regularly travels to Old Trafford that probably described it best. “Impressive,” he said when I asked him about it. “This is comparable to what you would find in England.”

He was wearing a 1998-2000 United Umbro kit (the one with the zipper). We chatted for nearly the entire match. It was his first time in Seattle as he flew over from England to see United and was heading back on Saturday. When United beat Benfica in 1968 for the European Cup, he was 10 years old and had been hooked on the Red Devils ever since.

Next to me was an older couple wearing United shirts and in front of me was nearly all Sounders supporters. As anyone who watched the match will attest to, the Sounders started brightly and pegged United back for most of the first 15 minutes. With each shot fired near Anders Lindegaard, the south stand shook with excitement. As the Sounders’ missed, early opportunities mounted and United found its legs. The crowd went from chanting and drumming to watching in awe. As Nani and Giggs cut through the Seattle defense, you couldn’t help but think that United were actors on a stage and the Sounders were the props.

When Michael Owen put away the first goal of the match on a header from Patrice Evra in the 14th minute, you would have thought by the cheers that suddenly the match was being played at Old Trafford. For as loud as the United supporters were, what continued to impress me was the respect shown by the Sounders’ contingent. After each goal, Sounders supporters did not jeer or whistle. Iinstead they showed their appreciation by clapping and urging their club on.

As far as a friendly goes, I couldn’t have asked for a better place to go. Although I was wearing United, not once did I come across a Sounders supporter who was disrespectful or mean — even despite the fact that their team lost 7-0 at home against United. In fact, the only people that I saw who I thought overstepped their bounds were very drunk United supporters. However, I imagine that like most things, these were isolated incidents and are no representation of the really pleasant United supporters that I met throughout the trip.

Overall, it was a great atmosphere with wonderful people and a group of local supporters that were nothing short of spectacular. As someone who doesn’t live in Seattle and came in wearing red, the locals never made me feel out of place or as if I didn’t belong.

Kudos to Seattle and the Sounders supporters for putting on an amazing show and really showing how soccer in America should be.

Photo by Eva the Weaver

We’ve all seen it before. A man or lady approaches a burly fellow holding a clipboard. He is the gatekeeper and behind him is a passageway into an exclusive club where the music is loud, the drinks flow freely and the people seem to be having the time of their lives. For the patrons hoping to coerce the bouncer into letting them through, the velvet rope is more than a divider, it is a status symbol.

In the modern-day Premier League, that club has generally had four consistent members (Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool) with Newcastle United (3rd place 02-03), Everton (4th place 04-05) and Tottenham (4th place 09-10) all dropping in for a beverage or two.

However with the emergence of Manchester City as a title contender, the resurgence of Liverpool under King Kenny and Tottenham trying desperately to hold onto Gareth Bale and Luka Modric, the Premier League may be moving into the era of party-crashers and away from the dominant 90-point clubs of the past decade.

Last year’s campaign featured statistical anomalies that are quickly evolving into trends. First and foremost, Manchester United won the league with only 80 points. That is the lowest total for a champion since United won the league with the same total in the 00-01 season. I don’t think that United tallying 80 points is an indictment of how “this year’s squad wasn’t as great as past teams” as it was an indication of how much parity there was within the league.

All clubs had ups and downs, United just managed them better than the rest. Chelsea slumped through the winter. Arsenal provided its annual late season collapse. City came on strong late in the season. Liverpool spent some time in the relegation zone early in the year but found its legs under Kenny Dalglish. And Tottenham seemed to wear down after a successful foray into Europe’s premier competition.

The difference between first-place United and sixth-place Liverpool this past season was only 22 points. The gap between first and sixth was the same in 09-10 when Chelsea (86 points) held off the Red Devils (85 points) from securing a fourth straight title. In United’s other 80-point season a decade ago, the gap was a paltry 19 points. The parity wasn’t just at the top of the table in 2010-11 either. The final day of the season featured 80-plus different permutations for the final two relegation spots. When the smoke cleared and the fans were done celebrating on the pitch at Molineux, it went down as one of the craziest final days in recent memory.

And despite becoming the casualties of the dramatic climax, Birmingham City, Blackpool (how we will miss you Tangerines) and West Ham still managed to tally 111 points between them. The total was the highest since Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest carried 114 points with them into the Championship following the 96-97 season (not coincidentally, United won the title that year with 75 points and the gap between first and sixth was only 16 points).

As with most things in life, football is cyclical. Sir Alex Ferguson probably said it best after United were thrashed by the Catalans in the Champions League Final in May. “I think it is the best team we have ever played,” he said after the match. “They are at a tremendous peak in the cycle of their team and you get teams who elevate themselves to that status and I think Barcelona are that team. We were well beaten. There is no other way to address the situation. We were beaten by the better team, a fantastic team of course, but I expected to do better. We expected to do better, it’s as simple as that.”

With all the grumbling over United’s 80 points last season, it’s easy to forget that in mid-1990’s the league champion registered 82 or less points for four straight seasons. In fact, the 90-point titans didn’t arrive in full force until Arsenal’s “invincibles” busted onto the scene in 03-04. The Gunners were followed by Chelsea, which wrapped a pair of impressive seasons (95 and 91 points respectively) under The Special One and United (90 points) in 08-09.

Given this data and the recent European Cup Final, casual observers will assume that the Prem is not in a position to promote a “truly great” team to carry the mantle for English football. However, I think that this conclusion is misguided. Case in point, United’s treble winning team of 1999 won the league with 79 points and is still regarded as one of the best clubs in a generation.

Maybe sometimes you don’t need a 90-point behemoth after all.

Tell me what you think. Does a club need to rack up 90-plus points to be classified as a great club? If not, then what makes a club great? And with seemingly more teams hoping to enter the championship conversation next season, will the league have more parity as time goes on?

The men in the legendary blue and black stripes flaunt brand-new gold and white champions badges stitched to their sternum as nearly 50,000 flag-waving, chanting supporters pile into the San Siro in hopes of intimidating the Champions League newcomer from North London.

On the same ground where Helenio Herrera established the defensive-minded catenaccio and La Grande Inter won the second of back-to-back European Cups in 1965, a 21-year old Welsh footballer played on the biggest stage of his young career on a Wednesday night in October and set the football world ablaze with an intoxicating display of grace and skill.

Despite falling to the Nerazzurri 4-3, Tottenham’s Gareth Bale had arrived in grand fashion. In the return leg, Bale again abused Inter’s Maicon repeatedly, flicking in a pair of delightful crosses to meet the feet of Roman Pavlyuchenko and Peter Crouch.

Spurs quickly became the darlings of the tournament and sent Inter’s San Siro roommates, AC Milan, packing in the knockout stage before being throttled by Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.

But the damage had already been done. Bale, in particular, had shown up on Europe’s biggest stage and not only commanded the spotlight, he dominated it. He seemed made for the moment, destined to drag his team to victory. For the young Welshman, playing at such an elite level of competition was the stuff dreams are made off – before it quickly evaporated as Spurs sputtered in league play and wound up missing out on a Champions League spot for next season.

Bale’s tremendous performance and desire to thrive on a continental level has undoubtedly led to transfer speculation and inquiries from top European clubs regarding his availability. While Bale hasn’t openly said he is looking for a transfer to a Champions League club, the same cannot be said about multiple other mid-table stars seeking to steal the spotlight at the next level.

Aston Villa winger Ashley Young outlined his desire to play in Champions League on June 6th, saying in an interview that, “I want to test myself at World Cups, European Championships and the Champions League. As a kid you always want to play in the best competitions. As a kid I wanted to play in the Champions League—and hopefully one day I will.” And while it’s not a done deal quite yet, it’s no secret that the suits at Old Trafford have been keen on Young and are still in process of trying to bring the England international to Manchester.

Only one day after Young’s comments, Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey also expressed that if a Champions League club came calling, it’d be hard for him to stay at Craven Cottage. “Right now I’m thinking about Europe and playing in the Champions League. That’s a goal,” Dempsey said. “Everyone wants to play at the highest level. If someday I get the opportunity to play for a big club in the Champions League, that would be great. I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t a dream. But at the same time you have to make the most of where you are.”

Another hot commodity this summer will be Blackpool captain Charlie Adam. Considering that the Tangerines will be plying their trade in the Championship next season, Adam is almost certain to leave – with Liverpool most likely to make another run at the former Glasgow Rangers youth system product.

In light of the smoke and mirrors that is the transfer window; it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see talented footballers willing to leave their current clubs for the opportunity to chase European glory. And in the modern-day Prem, that type of glory has only been provided by a handful of clubs. In the 12 seasons since Manchester United completed the treble in 1999, Arsenal (12), United (12), Chelsea (9) and Liverpool (8) have combined to claim 41 of the Prem’s 44 Champions League group stage spots. The only other clubs to reach the group stage since 2000 were Leeds United in ’01, Newcastle United in ’03 and of course, Spurs.

This isn’t to say that I advocate when big clubs go in and raid mid-table clubs of their young talent, but it’s inevitable considering how much that top clubs are able to spend after collecting additional revenue from making and performing well in the tournament (for example, 09-10 champions Inter made 49 million euros for winning the tournament and runners-up Bayern Munich made 44 million). Maybe Manchester City will become the first club in over a decade to make more than just a cameo Champions League appearance, but only time will tell as Liverpool seeks to restore the “old guard” (from 2005-2010 MUFC, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool were the only English clubs to make the group stage).

As for now, the writing is on the wall for players like Bale, Dempsey, Young and Adam. Bale has already had a taste of how addicting chilly European nights can be and it’s only a matter of time before a new crop of Premier League stars soon find out.

Gary Neville thinking to himself about how crap and old he is

This time last year Manchester United were starting to put together one of the finest stretches of defensive football ever scene in the English Premier League. But one year later, with a similar defensive cast, they seem exposed, shaky and generally lacking around their own goal.

Much was made in the attacking power that left Old Trafford this summer, but not enough was said about the lack of real talent brought in behind the ball. While there are several quality players who slot into Utd’s back four, they are becoming outnumbered by guys who no longer are able to carry the badge or may never be able.

This may be jumping the gun early in the year, but how much gelling should a back four, picked from ostensibly the same players, need to do when they have all been at the club for at least the last two seasons.

Much has been made about this side’s lack of a truely great No. 1, in this forum and many others. But the problems in front of the Failin’ Foster, Edwin Van Der Old and the poor Pole must be addressed also.

Here is who we are talking about.

Rio Ferdinand: As a young man Rio was pegged to be the mold from which the new generation of defenders were to be cast from. A 1970 Brazilian-style center back who can defend, but also play his way out of trouble and ignite attacks from the most defensive of positions. However, the $40 million man is getting on, getting old before our eyes. Niggling injury after niggling injury have taken their tole from a once elite-level player. As 2009 comes to an end Rio is lacking fitness and no longer seems freekily-ESP-twinned with Nemenja Vidic. If he is ever to be the real Rio again, and not turn into Ledley King.

Nemenja Vidic: Possibly the best center half in the world, any discussion of best value for money signing in the last 10 years should really start with Sir Alex Ferguson’s $6 million for the big Serb. (It should also include the next guy on my list who cost $500,000 less five days later!) The only problem with Vidic is a niggling doubt that he has Ronaldo/Adebayor-fever. There were too many reports of Vidic looking at that greener, other-side-grass over the summer. Does he see his long-term future in England?

Partice Evra: Ashley Cole has looked much more like the player he thinks he is this season, this has put Utd’s Frenchman into the No.2 spot in left-sided fullbacks in the Premier League. He really compliments the left side of Old Trafford in attack, but he will never be a great defensive fullback.

The problem for Man Utd really starts here. While the three above have stuttered, at times, they can be great. I have fit the rest of the defensive squad into two groups — the young and the crap.

Let us start with The Crap:

Wes Brown: When it looked like stalwart-second choice Brown was set to leave Manchester, United bent and offered the former England international an improved contract. After protracted negotiations a deal was struck and Wes stayed. It is unfortunate that those negotiations seem to have sucked all the talent of him and all that’s left is something Brown. Another one with a chain of injuries Wes is about to be on the wrong side 30, too.

Gary Neville: Was a quality, international standard fullback. He is now old and crap.

John O’Shea: O’Shea covers a myriad of positions for Utd. His versatility comes in that he is no good in any number of positions! Don’t get me completely wrong, I think O’Shea is a fine player. A 45 games-a-season guy at Villa, Everton, Bolton etc. But he is not exceptional, he’s a journeyman. Man Utd shouldn’t have journeyman filling in for them 25 times a year, they should be developing new talent or swooping in and buying great players.

The Young

Jonny Evans: Looked a great prospect at Sunderland two years ago on loan and in spells in 2008/09 he looked like the heir apparent. But is he great or just a great backup? Whichever, Evans is not going to get a regular start at Old Trafford and has never played 20 games in a season, either at Utd or Sunderland. A young centerhalf needs to become established and play every week to blossom. I can’t see that happening until 2012 at the earliest — considering how much Rio is making!

Rafael/Fabio: Have you ever seen both of them in the same room at the same time? Is there two of them? If there is: Rafael obviously has great talent. He may be a combination of Paul Scholes, Glenn Johnson and Ronaldo. While he does look Ronaldo like bombing down the wing, unfortunately he has Scholes’ (utter lack) of tackling ability and Glenn Johnson’s defensive instincts. He has talent, but is at least a year away from being a Utd regular. Fabio (2 total starts for Utd) is two years away if ever.

The long and the short of it, or the young and the crap of it, is that the Red Devils are at least one world-class player away from a mounting a Premiership or Champions League challenge this year. This may be premature in a young season, but the unity in Utd’s defense that was there last year has gone. The old players are a year further past it, but the guys coming through are simply not there yet, and I just don’t see the leadership of Methuselah Van Der Saar changing anything on his return.

Diving is a skill like any other in football and should be embraced as such.

This might be heresy to some. Certain fans unappreciative of the skill think play-actors are ruining the game with their histrionics. Well, the simple truth is that they are wrong and need to wake up to the fact that diving has always been, has always worked and as such should be viewed as the important, valuable and integral part of the beautiful game.

The art of the dive has been part of the game for as long as I can remember — and I am not that old, but I do remember when Scottish teams were a force in the “European Cup.”

Non-believers say it is a modern thing, part of the modern game, a creation of the Premier League, Sky Sports pizzaz and “foreigners” rather than the hard, honest, stalwart men of the 50s, 60s and 70s. But that is a lie!

England and Geoff Hurst did it when they won the World Cup with a goal that never crossed the line in 1966.

George Best did almost as much diving as he did cocaine and Miss World contestants in the 1970s.

Diving is a traditional part of the game and should be treated as a skill, learned like any other. Just like curling the ball or tackling — diving and all manner of gamesmanship should be a tool in the drawer of every player.

If you split a player’s skills into a spreadsheet — think Football Manager — with speed, skill, agility, work rate and all other characteristics, having a high value for diving or histrionics make a player more valuable.

The ability to win penalties, just like the ability to win headers or 50/50 tackles, is an important part of any players game — especially a finesse forwards.

Thierry Henry, for example, gets himself into the area at pace, with power. He gets into a position to be awarded a penalty, legitimate or earned, not because he is a great actor but because he is a great footballer. You can’t just show up one day, fall over and get yourself in the front line of a top flight team.

When Ronaldo hits the deck 17 1/2 yards out he has not magically appeared there. He is in that position because he is faster and more skillful than any defender he may meet there. As a result, referees knows he may get hit and so watch for it. His constant pressuring of the goal means he has earned favorable decisions.

Playacting is not something that should be stubbed-out like cigar (in an ashtray Mr. Barton) but something that should be appreciated.

In American baseball the curveball was once though dishonest because it attempts to fool the batter. This was a short-sighted view of a skill now widely accepted. Fooling a referee inside and around the 18 yard box is no different.

But on top of the fact that diving and play-acting adds to the game, why would you want to kill something this much fun. Who doesn’t love bitching about Ronaldo flops, Rooney falls and refereeing ridiculousness.

Playacting is not simply domain of prissy little strikers, it is done by every player on the field and more-so by those who manage them.

Defenders are now screaming at refs every time a forwards falls to the ground, whether they have just knee-capped them or not. Anytime a 6’4″ 220 lbs goalkeeper is brushed by the end of an untucked shirt they are face down faster than girls who “date” trios of former Sunderland players.

And lets not forget the men in the suits. What better entertainment has ever come from the Chel-ski era than The Special One’s verbal exchanges with Man United’s Christmas sleigh-leading General. Sir Alex and Jose’s spats were more entertaining than almost anything the former Porto man has ever put on the field. Add to this comical rants by Rafa and almost everything that comes out of the mouth of Hull’s Phil “I-Dress-Like-a-Gangster-working-in-a-Call-Center” Brown.

Jokes aside, the exploding-Hindenburg style reaction to the first diving claims of the season have come and gone. As every year, millions of column inches are wasted on each non-event that happens to big-four clubs. Playacting is a big part of football, it always has been that needs to be accepted. From the tribal nature of supporters, to the expressive gesticulations of flamboyant referees, this is a game of beautiful play and a whole lot of acting.

From schoolyards to the palatial grounds of Champions League teams, kids are upending themselves, untouched every day.

Like it, love it or hate it this is part of this game, so can we please just accept it and move on! And, if you can’t accept it, can you please keep your indignation to yourself!