Pseudo Corner Kick

Tim Howard was on the bench, and Jonathan Spector was in the stands for Manchester United and Charlton Athletic, respectively, in United’s 3-1 win. Spector was unable to play for Charlton as part of his loan from United.

Brian McBride started and went the distance in Fulham’s 3-2 loss to Middlesbrough. McBride had a couple of opportunities to score, but could not put the ball in the back of the net. Fulham’s defense, missing Carlos Bocanegra to injury, struggled and twice surrendered the lead to Boro.

Brad Friedel was in goal for Blackburn Rovers’ nil-nil draw with Manchester City. The shutout was Friedel’s sixth clean sheet of the season. Claudio Reyna was still out through injury for City.

Bobby Convey scored the opening goal in Reading’s 3-1 win over Hull City. Convey was subbed off in the 76th minute, while Marcus Hahnemann started in goal for Reading.

Eddie Lewis started and went the full 90 in Leeds United’s 4-3 victory over Southampton. Leeds went down 3-nil in the first half, but mounted a spectacular 4 goal comeback in the second.

Jay DeMerit started in defense in Watford’s 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday. DeMerit was subbed off in the 79th minute, before Sheffield had scored their lone goal. Sheffield’s Frankie Simek missed the game due to yellow card suspension.

Jemal Johnson came on at half-time for Preston North End in their 2-1 win over Cardiff City.

Danny Karbassiyoon was on the bench for Burnley’s 1-nil win over Leicester City.

Kasey Keller was in goal for Borussia Monchengladbach’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. Kicker rated Keller a team best 2.5.

Steve Cherundolo started and played the full 90 at right back in Hannover 96’s 2-2 draw with Stuttgart. Kicker graded Cherundolo a 3.

Gregg Berhalter returned to the center of defense, after several games at left back, in Energie Cottbus’ nil-nil draw with Hansa Rostock.

Oguchi Onyewu received a four match suspension for 2 red cards he received over a course of 3 games.

Noone played in the Dutch Eredivisie as DaMarcus Beasley (hamstring), John O’Brien, and Cory Gibbs are all out with injuries.

Sorry this recap has taken so long, but work has been busy. In weekend action:

Brad Friedel’s Blackburn Rovers defeated Jonathan Spector’s Charlton Atheltic. Friedel started in goal for Blackburn, while Spector was Charlton’s left back. Spector had an up and down match, almost scoring early in the match, but he was the man marking Blackburn’s opening goal scorer (although the shot came from a tight angle), and a cross from his side of the pitch led to another Rovers goal.

Brian McBride and Carlos Bocanegra started in Fulham’s 2-1 win over Manchester City. A brace from Steed Malbranque secured Fulham’s win, with both Americans going the full 90. Claudio Reyna was still out for City with an injury.

Tim Howard was on the bench as Manchester United got back on track with a 1-nil win over leaders Chelsea. The win ended Chelsea’s 40 match unbeaten streak.

Eddie Lewis started and went the distance for Leeds United’s nil-nil draw with his former club side Preston North End. Jemal Johnson was curiously not named to Preston’s matchday squad.

Marcus Hahnemann and Bobby Convey started in Reading’s 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers. Hahnemann was in goal, and Convey started and was subbed off in the 71st minute.

Frankie Simek started and went the distance in Sheffield Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Derby County.

Jay DeMerit started in defense, and was subbed off in the 76th minute in Watford’s 2-1 victory over Hull City.

Danny Karbassiyoon was an unused sub in Burnley’s 3-2 win over Luton Town.

Kasey Keller recorded a shutout in Borussia Monchengladbach’s nil-nil draw with Hamburger SV. Kicker rated Keller a team best 3.

Steve Cherundolo started and went the distance in Hannover 96’s 2-2 draw with Mainz. Conor Casey did not play due to injury, but is starting to make his way back. Kicker gave Cherundolo a 3.5.

Gregg Berhalter started and went the full 90 in Energie Cottbus’ nil-nil draw with Ahlen. Berhalter received a 4 from Kicker.

DaMarcus Beasley tapped home a rebound for the second goal in PSV Eindhoven’s 3-nil victory over Sparta Rotterdam. Beasley started and was subbed off in the 55th minute.

And on Wednesday, Frankie Simek started, went the full 90, and received a yellow card in Sheffield Wednesday’s 3-1 Carling Cup loss to Cardiff City.

Bruce Arena announced his 20 man roster today for the upcoming friendly with Scotland.

This is a European heavy roster, and while injuries are forcing some of the absentees (Claudio Reyna, John O’Brien, etc.), it is still an intersting roster. And there is plenty for us to ponder. Like:

- Kasey Keller, again? I would like to see Tim Howard get the start. Not saying he won’t, but with Keller on the roster, it makes me think it won’t happen. Not a big deal though.
- Heath Pearce, and not Frankie Simek, Jay DeMerit, or any of the other young European defenders? I understand Pearce plays left back, a weak position, but so does Jonathan Spector. If Spector starts there against Scotland, will Pearce play? If not, what has he done to deserve being in camp over the others?
- Brian Carroll over Ricardo Clark? Not saying it was either or, but it sure seems like it. Carroll’s stock has sky-rocketed, and again I ask, why?
- Ben Olsen? With him and Carroll, Arena’s love for D.C. United players needs to stop. NOW.
- Benny Feilhaber? Good young player, but playing reserve team games merits a call-up? Bruce, come on now.
- Carroll, Olsen, Feilhaber, Eddie Gaven, Santino Quaranta and any other midfielder over Freddy Adu? With no Reyna and O’Brien, this roster is short of attacking midfielders. Gaven has had a poor season. Quaranta continues to not impress with his many looks. Perfect opportunity for Adu. Perfect opportunity wasted.
- Chris Rolfe? Where have you gone Jeff Cunningham?

Last, but not least, the BASA Player of the Year Award goes to….

…drumroll…

…Dwayne DeRosario.

We voted:
1. Dwayne DeRosario, SJ
2. Jaime Moreno, DC
3. Shalrie Joseph, NE
4. Pat Onstad, SJ
5. Taylor Twellman, NE

Our top five are the same as the top five in the final results. We showed Moreno more love and Twellman less love than the final results showed.

Moreno and Twellman’s goal scoring numbers speak for themselves, Joseph was New England’s midfield engine and Onstad backstopped the top notch defense, but in the end, it was DeRosario’s play for the number 1 team in regular season that earned him the BASA Player of the Year.

In Champions League action, DaMarcus Beasley and PSV Eindhoven topped AC Milan 1-nil. Beasley was a terror on the wing for 90 minutes, forcing defender Jaap Stam into his second yellow card and ejection. With the win, PSV passed Milan to go top of the group on 7 points after games.

Tim Howard was on the bench for Manchester United’s 1-nil loss to Lille. United are now tied with Lille for second in the group with 4 points.

Zak Whitbread was not in the matchday squad for Liverpool’s 3-nil win over Anderlecht. Liverpool are top of Group G with 10 points.

In Coca-Cola Championship action:

Jemal Johnson scored in his second game for Preston North End, putting in the first (and game winning) goal in thei 3-nil victory over Hull. Johnson started and was subbed off in the 78th minute.

In another battle of three Americans, Marcus Hahnemann’s and Bobby Convey’s Reading defeated Frankie Simek’s Sheffield Wednesday by a 2-nil scoreline. Hahnemann recorded the shutout for Reading, while Convey started and played 71 minutes, attacking down the left wing, where Simek went the full 90 as Wednesday’s right back.

Eddie Lewis played the entire match and received a yellow card in Leeds United’s 1-nil loss to Crewe Alexandra.

Jay DeMerit started in defense in Watford’s 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers.

Danny Karbassiyoon was on the bench for Burnley’s 2-1 win over Millwall.

Today scaryice announced the BASA Best XI of the Year. The lineup includes Pat Onstad in goal, Danny Califf, Eddie Robinson, and Tyrone Marshall in defense, Shalrie Joseph, Ronnie O’Brien, Christian Gomez, and Dwayne DeRosario in midfield, and Landon Donovan, Taylor Twellman, Jaime Moreno in attack.

We voted:

G: Pat Onstad, SJ
D: Eddie Robinson, SJ
D: Michael Parkhurst, NE
D: Wade Barrett, SJ
M: Dwayne DeRosario, SJ
M: Clint Dempsey, NE
M: Shalrie Joseph, NE
M: Ronnie O’Brien, FCD
F: Jaime Moreno, DC
F: Taylor Twellman, NE
F: Landon Donovan, LA

In italic are those that we voted for that made the final Best XI. We voted for 8 of the final 11. Two of the guys we voted for, Parkhurst and Dempesy, were in a 5-way tie for the last 3 spots in the Best XI, but missed out on tiebreaker.

Scaryice ann0unced the BASA Forward of the Year, and the winner is Taylor Twellman.

We voted:
1. Jaime Moreno, DC
2. Taylor Twellman, NE
3. Landon Donovan, LA

While I guess you can’t argue with Twellman’s MLS numbers, Moreno does more with less, and runs the show for D.C., making him the more indispensible of the two. In the BASA final results, the Herculez love continues. Gomez over Donovan? Come on. And where is the love for Jeff Cunningham?

Jonathan Spector started again at left back in Charlton Athletic’s 1-nil loss to Bolton. Spector played well for most of the match, but it was a shot that deflected off of him that lead to Bolton’s lone goal.

Carlos Bocanegra started in the center of defense in Fulham’s 1-nil last minute loss to Wigan. Bocanegra was subbed off in the 90th minute, but before Wigan’s added time winner. Brian McBride started on the bench, and came onto the pitch in the 81st minute.

Brad Friedel was in goal for Blackburn Rovers’ 4-2 loss to leaders Chelsea.

Tim Howard watched Manchester United’s 4-1 embarassing loss to Middlesbrough from the bench. Edwin van der Sar, United’s choice #1 over Howard, had a rough day in goal for Manchester.

Claudio Reyna’s injury forced him to miss Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Aston Villa.

Zak Whitbread was not part of the matchday squad in Liverpool’s 2-nil victory over West Ham United.

Jay DeMerit started in defense, headed in Watford’s first goal off a corner kick, and helped set up another goal in their 3-1 win over Wolverhampton.

In a game featuring three Americans, Reading and Leeds United drew 1-1. Marcus Hahnemann started in goal for Reading, while Bobby Convey and Eddie Lewis started on the left wing for Reading and Leeds, respectively. Convey was subbed off in the 87th, and Lewis was taken out in the 90th.

Having just arrived on a month long loan from Blackburn, striker Jemal Johnson started in Preston North End’s nil-nil draw with Leicester City. Johnson had a bit of a disappointing debut, receiving a yellow card for diving, and getting subbed off at the hour mark.

Frankie Simek started in Sheffield Wednesday’s 1-nil victory over Norwich City.

Kasey Keller was in goal for Borussia Monchengladbach’s 2-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund. Kicker rated Keller a 4.

Gregg Berhalter started at left back in Energie Cottbus’ 4-1 loss to Freiburg. Berhalter received a 4 from Kicker.

Steve Cherundolo watched Hannover 96’s 4-1 loss to Arminia Bielefeld from the bench.

DaMarcus Beasley started and played 57 minutes in PSV Eindhoven’s 1-nil victory over Twente.

Oguchi Onyewu had a rough night in Standard Liege’s 2-1 loss to Mouscron. Onyewu received a yellow card and later lost the ball, leading to a Mouscron goal.

John O’Brien, Cory Gibbs, and Conor Casey all remain injured.

The BASA Old Player of the Year Award goes to 37 year old Freddy Adu. Just kidding! Bad joke, although Torny Kornheiser would have loved it. The real winner is Youri Djorkaeff.

We voted:
1. Pat Onstad, SJ
2. Youri Djorkaeff, MET
3. Scott Garlick, FCD

While we didn’t put him number 1, no complaints here with Djorkaeff. He showed his pure class time and again throughout the year, and I think everyone wishes all big name players who come to MLS would perform like Youri. Onstad got our number 1 because he was the star for the best defense (and the best team overall) in MLS. Onstad finished second in the final voting. Garlick had a solid year in goal and was overlooked in the goalie voting.