Failure to Launch

Henry Winter of The Times summarizes Newcastle's opening day 0-1 defeat at the hands of Fulham so I don't have to:

The curtain rose on the new season and Newcastle United promptly fluffed their lines. They were deservedly defeated by a more organised, better-balanced Fulham side, for whom Denis Odoi, Tom Cairney and Scott Malone excelled, while Matt Smith took his headed winner well.

This setback for the Sky Bet Championship favourites will acquire a positive sheen in retrospect only if it serves as a wake-up call. This was a painful reminder that the season will not be the cakewalk anticipated by some. Complacency must be banished, more invention is required and there must be more individuals willing to take responsibility…

Smith evades Lascelles, the Newcastle captain, to score for Fulham in the first halfGRAHAM HUGHES/THE TIMES

I will only add that Newcastle were also "outphysicaled" (it's a word, ask Mackenzie's soccer coach/English teacher) by their opponents.  They really missed Mitrovic (four game suspension) up top.  It felt like old times watching the Magpies.  Michael B counsels patience which I shall keep.  Btw, Aston Villa also lost so they are with Newcastle near the bottom of the table.


Reinforcements Are On the Way

Disappointment from that match still hung in the air for Saturday's 7 pm  kickoff between the Union and DC United at RFK Stadium, perhaps the worst venue in the MLS.  New acquisition Alejandro Bedoya was not available but Charlie Davies was.  With Barnetta back in the lineup, midfield play was better but they still found themselves down a goal early.  Barnetta leveled things in first half stoppage time on a well-taken free kick and the Union took the lead after Ilsinho's brilliant pass set up Pontius for the go ahead score.  The Union had seemed in control for much of the second half but things got dicey late.  After several close calls, the tying goal in stoppage time was nearly a foregone conclusion.  Another two points lost.

Kudos to Earnie Stewart for taking steps to improve the team.  Maybe they won't work out but at least he didn't stand pat in the face of a steady flow of negative results until it was too late to do anything.  In other words, the opposite of Newcastle.


Learning From A Draw?

Tuesday completed the trifecta of disappointing results as the USWNT could manage only a 2-2 draw against Colombia.  Very similar to the Union match.  Fall behind 0-1, good work rate to go up 2-1, then surrender the tying goal late.  Not Hope Solo's finest moment but also not fair to put it all on her.  Some key starters were rested and frankly the team at times was playing like all they had to do was show up to get the W.  Also, to be fair, the fine 1-0 win over France on Saturday had put them in position of only needing a draw to win the group.  Still, I will turn again to the esteemed Mr. Winter again and suggest that "this setback...will acquire a positive sheen in retrospect only if it serves as a wake-up call."  As in, a performance like that in the knockout rounds will see them out of medal contention so hopefully they learned something.


At least Chester didn't let me down - a 5-0 pasting of Stoke City.

I see that the Galaxy tied the Red Bulls late and the Jersey team had their coach ejected for arguing about PKs not called.  Didn't see the match.  Going in a draw might have sounded good but not so sure after had a 2-0 lead.


Heads Will Not Roll

At least not yet.  At the Olympics, the Brazilian men's team slumbered through scoreless draws against lesser powers South Africa and Iraq, which turned Wednesday's match against Denmark into a must win.   More than 20 minutes in against Denmark and still no goals meant the situation was bordering on a national crisis.   Finally, they broke thru at about 25 minutes and then the floodgates opened.  The 4-0 win gave Brazil first in the group and moved the country back to DEFCON 3.  They did look like a team capable of winning gold; unfortunately for them, anything less is likely to be considered a major failure.  But hey, no pressure.  Just go out there and have fun against Colombia on Saturday night.


The Weekend

Okay, there's whole 'nother set of games this weekend so hope springs eternal.  Newcastle host Hudderfield but there is no coverage so this part of the Rafalution will not be televised.

The USWNT have a quarterfinal match against Sweden Friday at noon on NBCSN.

And the EPL season gets underway.  I enter this campaign without a serious rooting interest.  Crystal Palace is a bit of a favorite; I'll probably check in on Middlesbrough.for reasons I'm not entirely clear - a storied history, maybe as a Northeast placeholder for Newcastle, don't know.

Defending champion Leicester open the calendar with a 7:30 match at Hull on CNBC (coverage of the Olympics means you'll have jump around this weekend and next to find your games).  The most promising matches include Everton and Tottenham at Goodison Park (10 am Saturday on CNBC), Arsenal hosting Liverpool Sunday at 11 (NBCSN) and Chelsea vs West Ham on Monday at 3 pm (USA).  Don't worry Manchester fans, your sides will be televised - Man City on Saturday at 12:30 on CNBC (hosting Sunderland) and Man United on Sunday at 8:30 on NBCSN (at Bournemouth).

Key games in the MLS East on Saturday too.  The Union, now in 5th protecting a five point lead for the last playoff spot, travel to face the New England Revolution; we expect to see Bedoya in the lineup.  Frankly, I'd be real happy with a draw there.  Red Bulls, sitting in 3rd face 4th place Montreal at home, the NJ side must be thinking three points in that one.

Are you ready for some football?