3.1: Pitch Notes [06.27.16]

PITCH NOTES [COPA 100 Review]

1) Chile wins second straight Copa America; Messi announces international retirement

After a month of matches, the special edition Copa America Centenario concluded with a rematch of the 2015 Copa America Final:  Chile versus Argentina. And like 2015, Chile prevailed over Lionel Messi and La Albiceleste in penalties following another scoreless 120+ minutes of play. In fact, Chile almost prevailed by the same penalty shootout scoreline as the year before except Argentina managed to convert one additional penalty attempt, 4:2.

So, congratulations to Chile for winning the Copa America Centenario!

As for the second part of the preceding header, Lionel Messi shockingly announced his retirement from international competition during a post-match interview. From Grant Wahl, Sports Illustrated and FOX Sports contributor:

Messi: "The national team is over for me. It's not for me after 4 finals. The decision is taken, I believe." https://t.co/AaK94pq9xG

— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) June 27, 2016

To be honest, many supporters of the beautiful game including myself hope that this is merely the emotions of the moment getting the best of Messi but if this is indeed the end for Messi with La Albiceleste, then:

Thank you to Lionel Messi for an amazing international career and for allowing us the opportunity to witness your remarkable skills and talent. The free kick you scored against the United States in the semifinal match of the Copa America Centenario was simply fantastic (or as Ray Hudson would say: magisterial).

2) USMNT falls to Colombia, again, in consolation match; finishes fourth at Copa 100

For the USMNT, Copa 100 ended in the same manner it started; losing to Colombia, 0:1. Following their four-goal dismantling at the feet of Messi and Argentina in the semifinal match, the USMNT looked to secure their highest finish in a major international competition. (Sorry Gold Cup) Unfortunately, I was unable to watch the match but the USMNT failed to rectify their loss from the opening match of the tournament.

In my opinion, the USMNT could (and should) count Copa 100 as a successful tournament. Yes, the USMNT did lose three matches by a combined scoreline of 0:7 but they also won three consecutive matches: Costa Rica (4:0), Paraguay (1:0), and Ecuador (2:1)--a combined scoreline of 7:1. On another note, the USMNT did finish the tournament having advanced further than any other CONCACAF side and by not being humiliated by seven goals in one match (See Mexico vs. Chile).

For the USMNT, the focus returns to World Cup qualifying with two matches in September: 09.02 at Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and 09.06 versus Trinidad and Tobago. At present, the USMNT sits in second place in Group 3 with seven points from four matches and lead third-place Guatemala by a single point.

2.318: Pitch Notes 5/9

Champions League Fate Lies in United's Hand

As we head into the final matchday of the Premier League campaign, Manchester United finds itself on the precipice of grasping the fourth and final Champions League position from the clutches of its noisy neighbors. The tide turned for Manchester United over the course of the past weekend when Juan Mata scored the lone goal in the Red Devils' victory against Norwich City while United's crosstown rivals in blue failed to hold its goal advantage twice against Arsenal thus resulting in two dropped points.

As it stands, Manchester City sits in the coveted fourth position with a single-point lead over Manchester United BUT the fate came to rest in the hands of the Red Devils because they have an extra match to be played while City has only its match at the weekend remaining. To put the situation in the simplest terms possible: if Manchester United wins its remaining matches, then they will be playing in the Champions League next campaign while Pep and Manchester City will be left lamenting the error of making Manuel Pellegrini a lame duck manager halfway through the campaign.

Of course, nothing is as easy as it should be and this race for the final Champions League position is no different. First off, Manchester United must travel to London to face off against seventh-place West Ham United in what will be the Irons' final match at The Boleyn Ground so emotions will be running high for West Ham to close the grounds with a positive result. It should also be noted that (1) Manchester United, only a few weeks ago, went to Upton Park and knocked the Hammers out of The FA Cup quarterfinal round meaning West Ham will be anxious to return the favor and (2) West Ham are in the midst of its own battle to earn a berth in a European competition for its next campaign at its new stadium. With all of this being said, supporters for both sides will be antsy during tomorrow's match while the neutrals should be treated to a spirited (and hopefully, entertaining) affair.

As for the weekend finale, Manchester United will look to secure its place in the Champions League as it hosts AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford. Bournemouth, who currently sit safely in the sixteenth position, will have little more to play for aside being a spoiler to Manchester United's European aspirations but the Red Devils of Louis Van Gaal are not the Red Devils of Sir Alex Ferguson and they are prone to play down to its competition thus leaving itself open to the possibility of being spoiled.

Anyways, the final week of the Premier League season should be an exciting one for Manchester United supporters as we have been gifted with TWO critical matches to watch:

• Tomorrow (5/10), Manchester United are away to West Ham United in the final match at The Boleyn Ground with kickoff scheduled for 14:45 EDT.
• On Sunday (5/15), Manchester United closes the 2015/16 Premier League campaign by hosting Bournemouth in a match that will hopefully lead to the Red Devils claiming a spot in the Champions League next campaign. Kickoff for the match (and all other matches on the final matchday of the season) is at 10:00 EDT.

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Sporting's Struggles Continue, Fall 2:0 in Houston

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), I was unable to watch the match but judging by the score; it was probably for the best. Sporting Kansas City has struggled since opening the season with three wins having earned only five points in their last eight matches. To be honest, I wish I had some idea as to what may be the issue but I have only seen a handful of these matches and even if I had seen all eight matches; it would not make much of difference since I would not have a clue as to what to say. From some, they will say injuries combined with national team call-ups could have affected the first few negative results but Matt Besler, Benny Feilhaber, and Graham Zusi have been available for the last few matches and wins have still eluded Kansas City. For others, a lack of team chemistry and cohesion could be at the root of the problem and they may have a point. As of now, Peter Vermes looks to be still trying to figure out how to use his best XI players. Hopefully, Vermes will have it figured out soon as the week ahead does not provide Kansas City with any sort of break (playing the Dynamo should have been that) as they travel to Commerce City, Colorado to face off against the surprising Colorado Rapids, who currently sit first in the Supporters Shield table. It will be only about a month since the two sides' last meeting at Children's Mercy Park and in that match, the Rapids defeated Kansas City, 1:2, and the Rapids did it without US men's national team player Jermaine Jones, who had yet to sign or just signed with the club. During this match, Kansas City should expect the German-born American international to play a part in what will be a difficult away fixture.

Following the midweek fixture, Sporting Kansas City returns home to Children's Mercy Park on Sunday to host Orlando City SC (OCSC), the fifth-place side in the Eastern Conference, in another nationally-televised match that will be broadcast on ESPN starting at 15:30 EDT. In OCSC's last five matches, they have earned three points--drawing three times against New England (twice) and New York Red Bulls--but will look to be the next side to create another crack in the facade of Sporting Kansas City's home-field "advantage". So far this campaign, Kansas City has already lost twice in their five matches at Children's Mercy Park and they have not won a match at home since March.

Anyways, Sporting Kansas City will look to get back on track this week as they play two matches (one away and one home):

• Wednesday (5/11), Colorado Rapids at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, 19:00 EDT
• Sunday (5/15), Orlando City at Children's Mercy Park, 15:30 EDT

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My Countdown to Atlanta United Kickoff 2017 "Officially" Begins

On a personal (yet soccer-related) note, I placed my deposit for season tickets to Atlanta United's inaugural season. It was a bit of a struggle financially but my friend Josh and I managed to piece it together and are now only six payments away from being a part of Atlanta soccer history. Our seats will be in the lower bowl behind the goal but not in the supporters section because (1) I am much too old to be standing for the duration of a match and (2) Josh is bringing his son along did not want his view (too) obstructed. Anyways, my account representative, Carlos, was real chill throughout the process and worked with me to ensure that we (1) got good seats and (2) did not stress too hard over making our deposit. It goes without saying that I am incredibly thrilled by this situation and I look forward to supporting Atlanta United against every team except Sporting Kansas City (I know Atlanta is my "hometown" but Kansas City is my first MLS love).

2.312B: Pitch Notes 5/2(+1)

All Hail the Foxes!

I know that this space is usually reserved for news and opinions concerning Manchester United, Sporting Kansas City, or the national teams (men and women) of the United States of America but I could not overlook one of the most remarkable underdog stories of my lifetime:  Leicester City winning the Barclays Premier League.

As a sports fanatic, I enjoy three things:  (1) my favorite clubs/teams winning, (2) my rival clubs/teams losing, and (3) a good underdog story. Of course, Leicester City's achievement falls into the category of a good fantastic underdog story because no one could have (or would have) predicted the club's achievement (unless you were a die-hard Leicester City supporter or a wild risk taker) at the start of the campaign. But Leicester City was able to overcome the odds and win the Premier League title through a combination of a lot of hard work and a bit of good luck. Of course, the pundits will say that this achievement is an aberration and that Leicester City's success was due to the faltering performances of the Premier League's "giants" and they could be correct but this does not diminish the Foxes' feat in any way. So, congratulations to the Foxes of Leicester City for demonstrating that a team of cast offs and no names can overcome the odds and win the Premier League (enjoy the pizza and Vegas vacation)!

2.298A: Pitch Notes (4.18)+1

RESULTS (11 April - 17 April 2016):

Wednesday, 13 April

West Ham United 1:2 MANCHESTER UNITED

The FA Cup - Quarterfinal Round | Upton Park

Sporting Kansas City 1:2 COLORADO RAPIDS

Major League Soccer | Children's Mercy Park

Saturday, 16 April

MANCHESTER UNITED 1:0 Aston Villa

Barclays Premier League | Old Trafford

Sunday, 17 April

FC DALLAS 2:1 Sporting Kansas City

Major League Soccer | Toyota Stadium

NOTES:

For Manchester United, the preceding week could not have gone much better. The Red Devils advanced to the semifinal round of The FA Cup and defeated Aston Villa in the Premier League (consequently, Manchester United's victory against Aston Villa "officially" relegated "The Villans" to the Football League Championship). Meanwhile, Sporting Kansas City (SKC) endured a week that would best be forgotten.

In other football-related news, Atlanta United announced its plan for a state-of-the-art training facility in Cobb County that comes with an estimated price tag of $60 million!

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Before I conclude this edition of "Pitch Notes", I wanted to take a moment to say that I am truly sorry for the poor quality of this particular series. When the idea originally came to mind, I thought that I was going to be able to post insightful and thought-provoking editorials about the beautiful game as it pertained to me but that has not happened. Instead, this column has become nothing more than a rehashing of information one could find anywhere else. Of course, all of the issues I have with this column is the result of my own personal neglect. I know that as a commentator on the beautiful game, I fall way behind others in terms of actual football knowledge since I have never played the game but I sincerely believed that my passion for my clubs, my national team, and the game would at least permit me a rational opinion; I was wrong. I was wrong to believe that I had the focus to remain passionate at the level required to provide an informed opinion and because of this shortcoming, "Pitch Notes" has been an utter load of rubbish. So, I am left with a few choices to make over the next few days and weeks as it concerns "Pitch Notes" but for now; I appreciate those willing to put up with this dribble up to now.

2.292B: Pitch Notes (4.11)+2

So, I could be flipping channels between Kobe Bryant's final game and the Golden State Warriors historic pursuit of 73 WINS in a single season but I have decided to draft my second post of the day:

First, I want to say that I really need to change this header for Pitch Notes. I know that this only the fifth(?) installment of this column but I have never been a fan of this banner. (I'm just saying.)

RESULTS:

Wednesday, 6 April 2016

UNITED STATES 7:0 Colombia

Women's International Friendly | Pratt & Whitney Stadium (Hartford, CT)

Saturday, 9 April 2016

New York Red Bulls 0:2 SPORTING KANSAS CITY

Major League Soccer | Red Bull Arena (Harrison, NJ)

Sunday, 10 April 2016

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 3:0 Manchester United

Barclays Premier League | White Hart Lane (London, England, UK)

UNITED STATES 3:0 Colombia

Women's International Friendly | Talen Energy Stadium (Chester, PA)

NOTES:

It was mixed bag of results this week as the United States Women's National Team (USWNT) continued to make their case for equal pay by dominating their Colombian counterparts twice and by a combined score line of 10:0 meanwhile Sporting Kansas City (SKC) reclaimed the top spot in the Western Conference following a 0:2 road result against the defending Supporters' Shield winners. On the other hand, Manchester United were soundly defeated by title-contenders, Tottenham Hotspur. The defeat means that United now trails its "noisy neighbors", Manchester City, by four points for the fourth and final UEFA Champions League spot.

I was going to include this evening's results in this edition of Pitch Notes but I decided to try and preserve some of this columns integrity by waiting until the next column.

2.283: Pitch Notes (04.04)

RESULTS:

United States MNT [4:0] Guatemala

FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifying | Tuesday, 29 March 2016 | MAPFRE Stadium (Columbus, OH)

Sporting Kansas City [1:2] Real Salt Lake

Major League Soccer | Saturday, 2 April 2016 | Children's Mercy Park (Kansas City, KS)

Manchester United [1:0] Everton

Barclays Premier League | Sunday, 3 April 2016 | Old Trafford

NOTES:

REDEMPTION! Or as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz would say:  "There's no place like home." Following their embarrassing performance in Guatemala City, the USMNT demonstrated that the rumors of their demise had been greatly exaggerated by thumping Guatemala, 4:0. Columbus, OH was once again host to yet another USMNT victory as the city and its stadium continue to be kryptonite for visiting opposition.  At present, the USMNT sits in second place in Group C of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying behind Trinidad & Tobago. The USMNT will look to secure its place in the Hexagonal stage of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying in 2-September as it travels to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:  a victory against the bottom-dwellers of Group C coupled with a T&T win against Guatemala will render the final group stage match between the USMNT and T&T meaningless as both sides will have earned passage to the Hexagonal.

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Well, the perfect start to the 2016 MLS campaign came to an end this weekend as SKC lost at home to bitter rivals Real Salt Lake. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you wish to look at it), I did not have an opportunity to watch the match so I am not able to provide any sort of opinion on the match but it is not as though I had much insight to provide anyways.

On the other hand, I did manage to watch Manchester United's victory against Everton on Sunday morning. To be honest, it felt like a typical Manchester United match featuring a dull opening half of play, followed by a halftime substitution, and then a breakthrough in the second half which leads to a frenetic conclusion in which Manchester United clings and grasps on to their advantage for what feels like ages. Anthony Martial scored the match-winner as well as Manchester United's 1000th Premier League goal and Manchester United legend Sir Bobby Charlton was honored by having the south stand named in his honor.

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And now, I will discuss the elephants in the room:  the USWNT's lawsuit against U.S. Soccer and the apparent discord between the USWNT and USMNT that came to light following USWNT legend Abby Wambach's arrest for DUI.

First off, I am on board with the idea of "equal work, equal pay". The USWNT in winning multiple World Cups and Olympic gold medals have done as much, if not more, for the beautiful game in the United States as the USMNT and they deserve to be (1) paid accordingly and (2) subjected to subpar treatment (e.g., being asked to play on unsafe playing surfaces as was the case in Hawai'i and in the final match of the She Believes Cup at FAU Stadium). It is embarrassing that in a country and within a soccer federation that prides itself as being progressive in the area of gender equality, the same federation would pay its women's team for winning a World Cup the same amount as it pays its men's team for simply appearing in the tournament. It is also a shame that women plying their trade within this nation's domestic league are typically paid so poorly that many are forced to (1) share homes out of necessity, (2) take on second jobs to remain afloat financially, or (3) if possible, go abroad to ply their trade for a second club thus reducing their ability to properly rest in between seasons. Anyways, I hope the USWNT are successful in their fight to receive not only equal pay but equal treatment from the U.S. Soccer Federation.

As for the second elephant in the room, allow me to begin by saying:  Abby messed up. Yes, she did own her mistake and publicly apologized for it, but in a world with car-share services like Lyft, uber, or even traditional taxis; there is no excuse for DUI. It is one thing to place yourself in harms way but it is a whole other situation to place the lives of others in harms way and that is exactly what happens when anyone decides to get behind the wheel of a vehicle when intoxicated. And what makes the situation even more difficult for Abby is that her error in judgment will have a negative effect on the public's perception of the USWNT's wage discrimination lawsuit regardless of the fact that the two situations are not related. For an example, simply look at the responses of USMNT regulars Alejandro Bedoya and Jozy Altidore. Bedoya, in particular, was eager to cast shade on Abby and doing so under the guise of responding to Wambach's remarks from December about the USMNT's reliance upon foreign-born players. I will say that Bedoya is within his right to criticize Abby for her lapse of judgment in the lead up to her DUI arrest because Bedoya has a personal connection to the horrendous effects of DUI; witnessing what happened to another USMNT player: Charlie Davies. But the ill will he exhibited with his public response (or ridicule) of the situation speaks volumes of the discord that exists between the two national team sides especially in light of the remarks made by some of the USWNT players comparing the successes of the two sides. I am not saying that there is total discord amongst the two sides but this incident only brings to light the fact that both sides are not on equal footing and they know it.

It is a difficult situation for each of the individuals involved but it serves as a reminder that athletes are human and that they will make mistakes. But they are humans held in an elevated position because of their sphere of influence and that is why they are held accountable for their actions and behavior. Is it right? I would say that it is not but it is how the world views professional athletes. So when an athlete screws up, the public expects an apology regardless of its sincerity and not cries about why they are being forced into a corner and not allowed to openly express their opinions. Personally, athletes should be free to act and behave how they want just as fans are permitted to choose whether or not they like or respect a particular athlete. And yes, I realize that I have trekked off-course in this final paragraph but I felt like expressing my opinion on this matter.

2.276: Pitch Notes (03.29)

RECENT RESULTS:

GUATEMALA 2:0 United States MNT

CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying | Friday, 25 March 2016 | Estadio Nacional Mateo Flores

NOTES:

With all of the domestic league clubs I support on hiatus because of the international break, it was time for the United States men's national team (USMNT) to take the spotlight as it resumed the group stage action in CONCACAF 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying. And while the USMNT managed to find itself in the spotlight following the match, the USMNT garnered the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. Prior to the start of the match, a key statistic being thrown about was the fact that the USMNT had not lost a match against Guatemala in twenty-one straight meetings. Well, the USMNT lost to Guatemala on Friday.

In an embarrassing and shameful display of questionable coaching tactics and abysmal player performances during the opening half of play, the USMNT found itself behind 2:0 at halftime. The second half saw a better performance from the players as they managed to "challenge" the Guatemalan goalkeeper multiple times and in quick succession at times. Unfortunately, the efforts of the USMNT seemed as though they were intended to make the Guatemalan goalkeeper appear as though he was a world class goalkeeper as the USMNT attackers continuously struck the ball directly towards the goalkeeper.

And 2:0 is where the match the ended, leaving the USMNT in a difficult must-win situation against a national team side that the USA should have easily managed a positive result against.

2.269: Pitch Notes (03.21)

RECENT RESULTS:

Manchester United 1:1 Liverpool

Liverpool Advance 1:3 on Aggregate

UEFA Europa League | Thursday, 17 March 2016 | Old Trafford

Manchester United 1:0 Manchester City

Barclays Premier League | Sunday, 20 March 2016 | Etihad Stadium

Sporting Kansas City 1:0 Toronto FC

Major League Soccer | Sunday, 20 March 2016 | Children's Mercy Park

Notes:

Overall, I would say that it was a good week for my clubs.  Yes, Manchester United was eliminated by its bitter Northwest Derby rivals Liverpool from the Europa League but they were able to claim a massive result against another (in my opinion, more important) bitter rival Manchester City.  The 1:0 result that came courtesy of another Marcus Rashford goal put Manchester United just ONE point behind Manchester City for the all-important fourth UEFA Champions League spot.  Yes, Manchester United are technically in sixth place behind West Ham United on goal difference but being a point out from the Champions League is incredibly important with only eight matches remaining in the campaign.

As for Sporting Kansas City, one could not ask for a better start than three straight wins from the first three matches of the season.  Also, Brad Davis continues to endear himself to The Cauldron as he was responsible for the match-winner Sunday evening against a previously undefeated Toronto FC side that featured reigning MLS MVP Sebastian Giovinco and the United States international (and sometimes captain) Michael Bradley.

Both clubs will be off next week for International matches so the spotlight will be on the United States men's national team as they head into a home-and-away pair of matches against Guatemala in World Cup qualifying.

2.265A: Quick Blurbs 002

Captured at 14:40 EDT on 17 March 2016

First, Happy Saint Patrick's Day to those that "celebrate" this day!  And now, Quick Blurbs:

X-Men:  Apocalypse

Honestly, this should be part of my next “Drop a Like” column because there is too much to say and not nearly enough space to say here.  Still, I will say that I am still thrown off by the way the “teams” are aligned, but film rights, amirite?

Ben-Hur

How does the old adage go?  Why come up with a new and original idea when you can simply remake it or reboot it?  I never watched the original and I will most likely not watch the remake, but good luck to Paramount Pictures anyways.

Olivia Wilde

I have not seen The Wolf of Wall Street so I am uncertain of the character being referenced, but casting directors and movie producers are free to decide who is best for the character they are casting. I will say that Olivia Wilde probably would have done a good job.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Honestly, what respect I had for Mayweather dissipated long ago when it came out that he was a domestic abuser. This is just another example of an older, more powerful man seeking to exert his dominance by exhibiting his ability to “attract” a younger woman.

Taylor Swift and Calvin Harris

I have stumbled upon some their photos on Instagram and good for the couple.  I am sure they are enjoying a lovely vacation in a beautiful locale.  As to why this is trending news, who knows? I always thought the old joke was that people hated vacation pictures.

2.262: Pitch Notes (03.14)

Recent Results:

USWNT 2:1 Germany

#SheBelieves Cup | Wednesday, 9 March 2016 | FAU Stadium

Liverpool 2:0 Manchester United

UEFA Europa League | Thursday, 10 March 2016 | Anfield

Sporting KC 2:1 Vancouver Whitecaps

Major League Soccer | Saturday, 12 March 2016 | Children's Mercy Park

Manchester United 1:1 West Ham United

The Emirates FA Cup | Sunday, 13 March 2016 | Old Trafford

Notes:
Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to follow neither the USWNT and Sporting Kansas City matches this week since I was away from my computer during the USWNT match and I do not have a subscription to MLS Live.  But, from what I read, it seems as though Alex Morgan scored in the WNT's match against Germany and thus earning her the Golden Boot award as the tournament's leading scorer (2) and Dom Dwyer managed to bag brace to earn three points for SKC in a match that saw another opponent go down to ten men following a red card issued.

Perhaps, worse than missing the WNT and SKC matches is the fact that I had the misfortune of actually seeing most of the two Manchester United fixtures.  The Red Devils looked abysmal against their great rivals as they fell two goals behind heading into the return leg at Old Trafford on St. Patrick's Day.  The Europa League is, in my opinion, Manchester United's best (and possibly, last) chance to gain entry into next year's Champions League and they blew it against their greatest domestic rivals in their first-ever meeting in a European tournament.

And then, on Sunday, Manchester United struggled again to create and finish scoring chances as they managed to scrape out an FA Cup replay thanks to a fortunate goal from Anthony Martial.  Of course, I should mention that Dimitri Payet's free kick goal was something spectacular to behold and West Ham would have clearly deserved their ticket to the semifinal round had they managed to hold on to win.  As for Manchester United, The FA Cup is their best chance at earning any silverware this campaign as the only remaining clubs are: Everton, Reading, and Watford.  Yet, the Red Devils continue to put out rubbish performances that only speaks to their (1) inconsistency and (2) lack of truly quality players (real world beaters).

Of course, I should have expected this sort of display from the Red Devils given their topsy-turvy form this season.  At high points, Manchester United can go on a winning streak playing the sort of fun, attacking style of football supporters have come to expect from the club.  But when the streak is snapped, it appears as though their confidence is lost and they crawl into a hole and remain there while the opposition takes advantage.

It has been frustrating, to say the least.

2.255: Pitch Notes (03.07)

Recent Results:

Manchester United 1:0 Watford

Barclays Premier League | Tuesday, 1 March 2016 | Old Trafford

USWNT 1:0 England

#SheBelievesCup | Thursday, 3 March 2016 | Raymond James Stadium

West Bromwich Albion 1:0 Manchester United

Barclays Premier League | Sunday, 6 March 2016 | The Hawthorns

USWNT 1:0 France

#SheBelievesCup | Sunday, 6 March 2016 | Nissan Stadium

Seattle Sounders 0:1 Sporting Kansas City

Major League Soccer | Sunday, 6 March 2016 | CenturyLink Field

Notes:
I am sensing a pattern developing in regards to the scoring prowess of the clubs and teams I support.

In regards to Manchester United, the week started off satisfactorily with a 1:0 win against Watford, who could have easily won the match if Odion Ighalo had successfully put away any of the scoring chances he created against a makeshift backline composed of a senior team debutante, an undersized Dutch center back whose best position is probably a central defensive midfielder, a recovering Argentinian just one game removed from missing about a month of action, and...I am guessing another young defender that was selected to demonstrate Louis van Gaal's proclivity to select and "develop" young talent.  I could easily chalk up the feelings of elation and euphoria over this underwhelming victory against a bottom-half side courtesy of a brilliant free kick from Juan Mata to the fact that (1) a similarly built side had just defeated an Arsenal side that was challenging for the league title and (2) Manchester United had just won its fourth consecutive match heading into a weekend match against another bottle-half side.

Of course, the match against West Bromwich Albion went awry early as, of all people, Juan Mata picked up a second yellow card within the first 26 minutes of the match thus leaving the side having to defend itself for 65+ minutes with only ten men.  Unsurprisingly, Manchester United was frantic in the first few minutes immediately following the Mata send off, but they eventually settled back into the game and even created a couple of opportunities prior to the break.  The second half found Manchester United on their backheels for a good portion of the half as they struggled with trying to find the right balance between attacking and defending.  In my opinion, Carrick did not look up for the match as he appeared out of step with the bevy of unfamiliar faces that now occupy the Manchester United side and he should have been substituted for Morgan Schneiderlein.  Schneiderlein did make an appearance in the match, but it was at the expense of Ander Herrera and Memphis Depay come on for Marcus Rashford during the latter stages of the match.  Of course, the decision to go with Carrick over Schneiderlein was not the biggest issue for Manchester United; it was Daley Blind.

I am sorry, but I cannot understand the continued reliance on him to play at a position that he is clearly not suited to play.  It was Blind's failed marking on an Albion forward that allowed said forward to freely receive a cross into the goalkeeper's box and slot away the match winner.  Then again, would any of Manchester United's available center backs fare better in the situation?

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Major League Soccer is back!  And the opening matchday was filled with exciting results with the exception of the Sporting Kansas City (SKC) match against Seattle Sounders; this matched ended a 0:1 result for SKC despite SKC playing the entire second half with a man advantage.  Also, SKC's came courtesy of a debuting center back's long range shot that skidded on Seattle's artificial surface under the outstretched arm of a diving Sounders goalkeeper.  In my opinion, SKC's back line looked solid despite Ike Opara's absence due to injury and Peter Vermes's decision to select Amadou Dia over Seth Sinovic at the left fullback position.  On the other hand, the midfield was definitely missing the creative playmaking abilities of Benny Feilhaber who did not travel with the side to Seattle because of an injury and the forwards failed to create a threatening presence to put the Sounders on their back line.  I believe that the midfield will sort itself out once Benny and Brad Davis (and Justin Mapp) return from injury, but it is the SKC attack that worries me most about the current side.  I am a supporter of Dom Dwyer, but there are moments in a match where he simply disappears for long stretches.  If Dom is our lone attacking threat, then we should be worried because while I fully believe he is capable of putting in another 15+ goal season; who will provide the cover when he needs a break?

Of course, this is only the first match of the season and I am pleased with the victory--SKC's MLS-leading thirteenth opening day win--despite their inability to put in more goals against a 10-man side.  There is still plenty of room for improvement.

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Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to catch either of the U.S. women's national team (USWNT) matches because (1) I was unavailable for their opening match of the #SheBelieves Cup on Thursday and (2) Sunday's match was only available via ESPN 3 and if given the choice of watching a match via online stream or satellite; I will choose satellite because my ISP is horrid and I would not be able to enjoy a consistent, high-quality stream.

All I noticed is that the USWNT left it late in both matches before claiming the wins.  But, I will chalk it up to the fact that the side is most likely featuring a few more "fringe" players in order to provide these players a chance to stake their claim for a spot on the Olympic team roster.

Anyways, that is it for the first edition of Pitch Notes.  Like SKC, there is still plenty of room for improvement, but there is still plenty of time to improve.  Until next time:  DFTBA.