Isn't It Nice To Be Back Home Again?

apologies to James Taylor

Back from California, not completely sure what day or time it is.  Just the Union result to report on but figured I'd get back to something close to a normal schedule.

Keep Shooting

The Union were in Orlando Wednesday night but I was in Santa Monica so all I could do was follow the updates on my phone while drinking Topa Topa Brewing Company's Dos Topas Lager.  Dismayed to see them fall behind 2-0 in the second half but then Jack McGlynn slipped in this long shot in the 60th minute to cut the deficit in half.  At first you wonder why the keeper didn't move but as Danny Higginbotham explains, he was anticipating a touch from Carranza or someone else in the box.

The 107th career shot is a charm for Martinez

With time running out, I was getting ready to accept the loss when the screen changes and the score is 2-2 on a 90th minute shot from Jose Martinez.  I had no idea how amazing the goal was until I saw the highlights.  This is an easy choice for this week's YouTubeableMoment (linked fixed); it could end up being a candidate for Goal of the Year.  

In our section at Subaru Park, we sort of make fun of Martinez whenever he takes a shot.  So many end up high or wide or high and wide.  Jim Curtin summed it up well:

Incredible, incredible goal, obviously from Jose. He's now 1-for-286, I think.  The guys are just giving him alot of stick in the locker room.

For the record, Martinez now has one goal in 107 shots.  I fear that at Subaru Park, we will hear cries of "shooooot" whenever Martinez touches the ball in the attacking half.  Also, for the record, Martinez does a lot of other things well, mostly defensively; we just have low expectations about his shooting.  

A good point on the road, especially after the loss on the weekend.  The march to the top of the table, or at least second place, has slowed but sitting in fourth, four points out of second isn't so bad after that earlier slump.

Plundering Scots

Sorry I didn't alert everybody to Matchdays 3 and 4 of qualifying for next year's European Championships.  Recent results are here and group standings are here.  We note that both England and Scotland have four wins each so far.  As a reminder, Germany are in as the host nation, the top two in each group make it and then three more are added in a playoff process that includes 12 teams based on their performance in the UEFA Nations League, slightly countering my argument that Nations League are glorified friendlies.

Scotland's win over Norway was a bit improbable.  They trailed the hosts 0-1 late but scored in the 87th and 89th minutes to take all three points.  Check out this call of Kenny McLean's game winner, possibly the best use of sheep in color commentary.  

Speaking of Glorified Friendlies...

The 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup kicks off on Saturday.  I guess technically it is the championship of our federation but it has no where near the cachet of, say, the European Championship.  An article in Goal said something to the effect that "besides bragging rights for the continent, the winning nation gets $1 million."  It used to be a bigger deal when it got you into the FIFA Confederations Cup, a very useful competition for World Cup preparation.  That competition is no more so it's just bragging rights and money.

There are 16 countries who qualified through various routes divided into four groups.  After group stage play (6/24 through 7/4), the top two from each group go on to the quarterfinals (7/8-9) with the semi finals on 7/12 and the final on 7/16.

The USMNT (defending champions by the way) are in the group with Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and St. Kitts & Nevis.  Odds are pretty good they make it out of the group.  Note that there are just five players from the recently concluded Nations League competition and the roster has many players looking to make a name for themselves in this World Cup cycle.  In other words, this could be considered the B team.  US matches on 6/24 and 6/28 are at 9:30 on FS1.

We prefer Blake in his Union kit thank you

Somewhat annoying is that the MLS schedule continues unabated whilst the Gold Cup competition is running.  For the Union, this means no Andre Blake or Damion Lowe for at least four matches and up to six if Jamaica make to the finals.  Other teams are hurt too but it's hard to understate the difference Blake makes for this team.

I rag on the competition but you know I'll probably be watching.

The Silly Season aka The Summer Transfer Window

Type in EPL transfer news and you'll get a long list of stories and rumors that we will ignore for the time being.  Our policy will be to discuss once they've actually occurred.  The full list so far is here.  Most of the action to date has been players released.  Newcastle have signed Yankuba Minteh but he will go right out on loan.  Chris Wood's loan to Nottingham Forest was made permanent.  Dennis and I are giving thumbs up on Aston Villa's free transfer of Youri Tielemans; a good addition for their congested schedule this fall. 

Not Messi Around

The Union host Inter Miami tomorrow at 7:30.  Not my turn to go and it's behind the paywall so this is a WPEN 97.5 match for me.  Lionel Messi probably won't be playing for Miami until July 8th at the earliest.  Happy to see he's coming over but also happy we won't have to face him.  The U are big favorites here and I'd like to see them get all three points.

Now, if I can just get my body back on EDT...