First off, congrats to WPS' first champion, Sky Blue FC. If you knew going into this season all the turmoil this team would face, there's certainly no doubt that this squad would have had the worst odds for winning it all. Three coaches---the final being captain/player/coach Christie Rampone---a run of roster changes, a struggling superstar (in Natasha Kai, who's facing off-season shoulder surgery), and needing to accomplish a worst-to-first turnaround all made a title seem unlikely. Even heading into the playoffs---which Sky Blue backed into (LA beat Boston on the final day of the regular season after Washington beat Sky Blue the evening prior)---the Jersey team looked to have little chance...as the #4 seed, they'd face 3 road games in just 8 days, having to play at teams they hadn't beat this season. But you have to give the girls credit---they never once looked like a team that didn't belong, outplaying Washington, St. Louis, and LA for long stretches in each game, and picking up crucial goals along the way. After an extremely shaky regular season, Jenny Branam had a HUGE postseason (SoccerJunkie is still trying to figure out how Mark Rogandino and Jenn Hildreth believed that she was one of the best 'keepers in the league this year...they did attend games, right??? Branam struggled to hold on to the ball, making meals of easy saves, even dropping a cross---directed parallel to the goal---into her own net against Boston). But in the playoffs, Branam was nothing short of a complete monster---aggressive, sure-handed, and took one heck of a beating, but somehow managed to pop back up to hold on for the win (granted, against both Washington and St. Louis, I'm not sure Branam would've finished the game if Sky Blue hadn't already used all three subs). While Heather O'Reilly was named MVP---and she correctly named Rampone as a better choice for MVP---I'm not sure there was any single MVP...Jen Buczkowski replaced Euro-bound Anita Asante along side Rampone in the central defense and never missed a beat; Keeley Dowling capped an outstanding defensive effort with the game-winning goal against St. Louis; Kerri Hanks stepped into a starting role, and had a couple of terrific games before giving way to super-sub Kai in the final; Rosana moved from her customary midfield position to become the second striker with ease; and Kacey White terrorized on the outside midfield, doing everything but scoring a goal. From top to bottom, this is the definition of TEAM. And if team efforts win championships---which they do---then there is no more deserving champion than Sky Blue FC. Congratulations, ladies.
To say it's been a week of changes for the Red Bulls would be an understatement... After Juan Carlos Osorio "resigned" (by mutual consent...so let's be honest, the franchise let him save face by resigning before he was fired), the team managed to get off the schnide with a 3-2 home win over FC Dallas on Sunday afternoon. Juan Pablo Angel tied the Gio Savarese's franchise record for regular season league goals with a nifty chip over FC Dallas 'keeper in the first half, then passed it---and tied Clint Mathis' franchise record for goals in all competitions---with the game-winner, a rebound of a terrific shot from Mac Kandji late in the second half. Dane Richards added his second of the season in the first half, a one-touch finish of a John Wolyniec cross. Wolyniec had a strong game, starting up front as Kandji continues to work back from a hamstring injury, and turning in the workman-like effort we've come to expect from the vetran.
(Richards scores in the first half...)
(and is stopped by Sala in the second...)
(while Danny Cepero comes up with a first half save)One win doesn't mean this is a turn-around, though. The team is still a point shy of the league-record for fewest points in a season, and is being led by an interim coach, Richie Williams. Whether or not this team is really going to make a true turnaround---which it can't with this personnel on the field---will hinge on the decision the owners make this offseason regarding the front office of the team. If history tells anything...don't hold your breath. Since purchasing the team, Red Bull has appointed two people to lead the franchise...Marc de Granpre, a marketing exec from the drink side of the company, and Eric Stover, a stadium guru (handy to have with the opening of Red Bull Arena this coming Spring) who currently leads the front office. Neither of these men has ANY experience leading a professional sports franchise, and it's shown---leading to a revolving door of coaches and GM-style positions (which have had a variety of names). After the company got Mo Johnston to step down, Bruce Arena was brought in to assume both roles (without much down time following his 8-year reign with the US National Team), then dropped without being given a chance to really shape his team. Enter Juan Carlos Osorio (at the cost of draft picks to get him from Chicago) and Jeff Agoos (who has no previous executive experience), who are held as equals by the franchise---which should lead to Agoos' dismissal at the end of the year. Almost every player signed by this duo has failed miserably---Angel, Cepero, Goldthwaite, Richards, Wolyniec, Stammler (even Sassano and Ubiparapovic) were Arena signings (or prior)...while players like Rojas, Mbuta, Pietrovallo, Cinchero, Pacheco have all struggled mightily during their tenure. The next coach/GM that Red Bulls bring in need to have a clear understanding of the American game, and be given appropriate time to build their team. There's a reason Americans succeed in Europe, but few have in South America (Jonny Walker is the only player I can think of off the top of my head), and the next coach and GM need to realize that. Jurgen Klinnsmann is still available, right???
The new Premiership season is underway, and already there are some surprises. Who would've thought that one of the last teams on 0 points (and bottom of the table thanks to a 6-0 thrashing against Arsenal) would be Everton? And who would've thought that newly-promoted Burnley would shock Manchester United and Everton? Liverpool tied for first is no surprise, but Tottenham leading the way is a bit of a stunner. Granted, it's early (remember Tottenham's start to last season? Or Hull's start, then finish?), so there's nothing but time for the usual suspects to make this a two-horse race, but things could easily be interesting at the bottom of the table all season long, as SoccerJunkie will predict now that at least one "established" team WILL be relegated this season.
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