Canada Is the New US

At least in terms of soccer.  The USMNT took it on the chin in Canada but rebounded with a needed win over Honduras.  A hectic end to the January transfer window.  On Groundhog Day, Michael B emerged from his man cave and saw his shadow so there will be at least six more weeks of football.

The Keeper Wore Sweat Pants

Always the height of fashion, Canadian keeper Milan Borjan
 did enough to keep the US out. Photo:Frank Gunn/CP

The trip to Canada did not end well, with the US falling 2-0.  It wasn't just that they lost, it was how they lost.  An early mistake set the tone for the match.  Feels like they could have played for a few more days and the US still wouldn't have scored.  Oh hell, why write my own account when Parker Cleveland has done a fantastic job in this SB Nation article.  So many great points here.  Dennis and I can't agree on the money quote.  The choices: 

Dennis: Run fast and do teamwork

Steve: Play bad soccer really well

Either one aptly describes how the US used to beat technically superior teams and how the tables have turned   Not sure it was quite the "spectacle de merde" (look it up in your French-English dictionary) that Cleveland called it but it was not pretty.  Not that we really had expectations of a win but we were thinking maybe a draw and certainly a better overall performance.  

In From the Cold and Into the Cold

US Keeper Matt Turner auditioning
for Monty Python remake

If you were seeking warmer climes than Hamilton, Ontario in January, not sure that St. Paul, Minnesota in February was a great option.  The choice of venue was driven by the "politics" and "logistics" of WC qualifying.  The Canada match was originally slated for Vancouver, which would have made a West Coast venue the optimal site for the Honduras match.  Canadian officials realized Vancouver opened up the prospect of a pro-US crowed for one of their own home matches so they switched the venue to Hamilton.  To minimize the travel on the players with the short turnaround, St. Paul ended up as the choice for the Honduras match.  Temperatures in single digits with wind chills below -10 greeted the players, leading to some interesting uniform accessories.

The good news is that the US got on this one early when Weston McKennie converted a Kellyn Acosta free kick in the 8th minute.  McKennie had a great set of games and this goal made the night go a lot better; we make it this week's  YouTubeableMoment.  Note that it was the first goal from a set piece for the US in Octagonal WC qualifying action.  The US continued to create chances and got a second goal from Walker Zimmerman late in the first half that further reduced the tension.  A second half goal from sub (!?) Christian Pulisic made the final 3-0.  They got pretty much what they needed out of this one.  Sure, Honduras were already eliminated and haven't played well at all but you can only beat who you play.

The Other Seven Sides of the Octagon

Honduras and Jamaica are done.  El Salvador could win all three matches in the final window and that will get them no better than 4th - the playoff position.  Costa Rica got seven points in this window but are still five points out of third; they have Canada and US at home and El Salvador on the road in the final window.  The bad news for them is that they could win all three but will still need help from others.

Canada are in the driver's seat.  They only need a win at home against Jamaica to clinch a top three spot.  So the real action is between the US, Mexico and Panama.  Mexico have close to a dream final window - US at home, Honduras away and El Salvador back at home.  Hard to see them getting less than seven out of those.  Panama and the US have much tougher final windows - Panama face Canada at home, US away and Honduras at home while the US take on Mexico away, Panama at home and close with Costa Rica away.  Yeah, put a big circle around March 27 when the US host Panama in Orlando City.  You want to say a US win there should be enough but there is still the possibility of them heading into the final day needing a draw in Costa Rica.  Thinking about that possibility, a Frank Burns line from M*A*S*H comes to mind:

That kind of talk tightens my colon.

In short, this ain't over.

A Nutso End to the January Transfer Window

Speaking of a "spectacle de merde," the last few days of the transfer window were crazy.  Apparently, there was no rumor too ludicrous not to print.  Muller to Newcastle, Suarez to Aston Villa, etc.  If you googled "EPL transfer window," the first thing you had to do was ignore anything that had been posted more than an hour ago; it was simply out of date by then.  Maybe it's like that every year and I only noticed because I spent more time following this window given how critical it was to Newcastle's survival in the EPL.  Dennis felt that the terms "ace" and "star" were thrown around too liberally for his taste.  I'm tired of hearing the phrase "shock move."  

Bruno Guimaraes is going to look good in Newcastle kit
Photo:John Berry/Getty Images

Crazy doesn't mean it went badly.  Newcastle added three players of varying skill at the back (Kevin Trippier, Dan Burn and Matt Targett), a dynamic midfielder in Bruno Guimaraes and a striker in Chris Wood.  Sure, it wasn't perfect.  A pacey attacking midfielder would have been nice.  Burn and Targett weren't necessarily first choices.  And, they clearly overpaid for what they got.  On balance though, this is an A or A- window.  There is some criticism about the lack of a "wow" signing but IMHO that vastly underestimates the possibilities that Guimaraes offers; he plays for the Brazilian national team for crissake (highlights from his performance against Paraguay here).  He might bomb out in the EPL but this signing is a clear indication, as discussed by Louise Taylor in this article in the Guardian, to break away from defensive style the Magpies have been known for recently.  How about his nickname - Piano Carrier - which is apparently a Brazilian term for a player who does the "unseen work."

Newcastle weren't the only busy club in the window.  Aston Villa added Lucas Digne at left back, Philippe Coutinho for attacking midfield, Calum Chambers for defensive depth and Robin Olsen as back up to Martinez in goal.  That's a good window right there. Grabbing Bissouma from Brighton or Bentancur from Juventus (damn you, Spurs) would have made it a home run. 

A link to all the transfers from this window can be had here.  An assessment of winners and losers in the window is offered here.  Somewhat interesting is that despite landing Bentancur, Spurs and Conte are listed among the losers here.  I guess there were higher expectations.

Local Guy Makes Good

Auston Trusty wasn't with the Union that long but he is an academy product.  We read that he has signed with Arsenal in a permanent transfer from the Colorado Rapids.  The good news for us is that due to clauses in the deal that sent him from the Union to Colorado, the Union will receive a nice chunk of whatever transfer fee Colorado get.from Arsenal.

Hold Onto To Your Butts

Sound advice for the coming weeks

We will do well to heed the advice of Samuel L. Jackson's character in Jurassic Park.  Between the EPL (including all the rescheduled matches), the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup, Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, the early opening of the MLS season and the CONCACAF WC qualifiers, the next two months are packed.

This weekend is mostly Round 4 FA Cup action.  The schedule includes a Friday 3 pm match between Man United and Middlesbrough.  We're never ones to pass on Friday afternoon football.  Saturday is crowded, especially the 10 am time slot.  A full list of fixtures is here. Basically you can find anything from classic FA mismatches to clashes between EPL sides.  

Complicating Saturday is a rescheduled Burnley - Watford EPL match at 1 pm on Peacock.  Given the relegation implications, we'll be going with that over any FA Cup action.  The Clarets are favorites at home but this will be the first match for Watford under Roy Hodgson, the club's third manager this season.  

EPL Matchweek 24 will play out over Tuesday - Thursday.  And me with potential jury duty on Thursday. Will the judge accept missing Wolves - Arsenal or Liverpool - Leicester as a hardship or will he say you can watch on DVR or catch the replay on Peacock when you get home?  

Big match on Tuesday for Newcastle's new look line-up as they take on Everton (2:45 on Peacock).  Not a slam dunk and steeling myself for a draw.  The Toffees have been in awful form and the match is home but they have new manager Frank Lampard and did some nice work of their own in the January  window.  Tuesday's other choices are West Ham - Watford (2:45 on Peacock) and Burnley - Man United ( 3 pm on USA); though I wish it weren't so, I'll be rooting for the Hammers and the Red Devils.

Four more on Wednesday.  We'll be going with Aston Villa hosting Leeds at 3 pm on USA.  We like Villa's chances here plus we're hoping they keep Leeds within shouting distance of Newcastle.  Other choices - all on Peacock at 2:45 - are Man City - Brentford, Norwich - Crystal Palace, and Tottenham - Southampton.  Frankly, we recommend the neutrals go with Aston Villa - Leeds as the likely most interesting watch.  

Both Thursday matches look good but we'll probably go with Wolves - Arsenal as they are both in shouting distance of the fourth spot in the table.

Get ready for more crowded weeks like this.