International Soccer is rolling along and games, mostly without fans, are being played across the world. Lots of player testing and some positive cases popping up, but soccer has been able to control their environment reasonably well. Compare that to our state University, UW Madison, and we are not doing so well. Initially a report of just the QB, reports indicate Wisconsin Football now has 22 positive cases, has postponed their next game, and will need to improve results to avoid additional games being cancelled. The difference….not sure, but a college campus versus a controlled environment of a professional team training facility and fewer contacts might be the issue…..maybe a few more people wearing masks in Europe….not sure, but seems it will be an ongoing story of players testing positive and missing big games in College Football. Locally, club soccer in Eau Claire has completed their Fall socially distanced training. All reports are a successful training season. The big challenge is no games or scrimmages. The kids are managing things well, but as a coach, and I am guessing as a parent, you just really, really want to play some games. And as a player, you really, really, really, really want to play games. But these are the cards we were dealt. While other sports or leagues, or States, say it is okay to play games, I have no issue with the City of Eau Claire and the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association calling a time out. Lots of opinions out there on this topic, but for me, a little caution, a little patience, a little extra time to get this thing under control seems rational and reasonable. Okay, enough of that. I am confident that once WYSA and Eau Claire give us the green light, we will get the players back on the fields with a new sense of excitement and love for the game. Fingers crossed, toes crossed….everything crossed!
Premier League Match Week 7
With all the tournaments, Cup games, Champions League games and such, the current Premier League table is a bit tough to follow. We are completing Match Week 7, but not all 20 teams are wrapping up their 7th game. And the extended schedule means games are coming fast and furious and on many days of the week. As of 12:00 on Sunday as I am writing this post, about half the teams have completed or are playing their 7th game, while the other half sits at 6, and one team is at 5. Games still to be played today and tomorrow to wrap up this stretch of games. The once wacky and completely upside down table is now settling down….just a bit….but still as wide open and crazy as I have ever seen it. Everton and Aston Villa have come down to earth a bit, Everton with draw-loss-loss in the last three and Aston Villa with loss-loss in their last two. Both were undefeated in the first 4 games. But surprise surprise, Southampton and Wolverhampton have jumped up to fill some of that space and both enter the top 5. Crazy. Some big names are far down the table, but as well, have games in hand, and with wins can make a big jump up the table. Things are still wide open and a ton of teams within 3-4 points of the Top 3. But, just so things are not completely crazy….Liverpool is back on top of the table, but unlike last year when they threatened an undefeated season, they already have a loss and a draw and several close calls in their first 7. Let’s take a look at the table.
- Liverpool 5-1- 1 16 Points
- Everton 4-1-2 13 Points
- Southampton 4-1-2 13 Points
- Wolverhampton 4-1-2 13 Points
- Chelsea 3-3-1 12 Points
- Aston Villa 4-0-2 12 Points
Sitting in the next wave are Leicester City 12 Points (6 games). Tottenham 11 Points (6 games), Manchester City 11 Points (6 games) and Newcastle 11 Points. With LC, Tottenham and Man City wins, that would elevate them to Top 4 positions. It’s going to be an interesting year with the Table. Lurking even further back and playing right now….Manchester United in 15th with 7 points (5 games) and Arsenal in 12th with 9 points. At 65th minute, it’s 0-0 and a pretty good game. Arsenal has had a few really good chances and Man U has had a few close headers. I’ll update the results.
Oh man….as I am writing the post, an Arsenal pass into the box….. a Pogba foul, a PK for Arsenal and….bam, just like that, Arsenal up 1-0. Aubameyang hammers home the PK. Still 20 minutes to go, and I am thinking there are more goals! As we look at the bottom of the table and the early Relegation zone, here is what we see; Sheffield United 0-1-6 1 Point, Fulham 0-1-5 1 Point, and Burnley 0-1-5 1 Point. Sheffield United was the darling of the Premier League for much of last season in their first season up after being promoted. This league is tough…now they are fighting to stay up. Fulham, newly promoted, so not much of a surprise. This year’s darling are newly promoted Leeds United. If they can find a way to upset Leicester City tomorrow they would move up into a Top 6 position….crazy. How about some highlights. three really well worked goals in Chelsea’s 3-0 win.
80th minute….still 1-0 Arsenal.
I was wrong…Arsenal 1-0 over Manchester United. Arsenal move to 8th in the table while Manchester United stay at 15th with a game in hand. Still not a place they are happy with 6 games into the season with 2 wins, a draw and three losses.
International Soccer Updates
The Nations League has completed their first 4 of 6 games in the initial rounds. The top 4 Groups will compete for a Championship. This tournament has been a little controversial. Over the years, National Teams across Europe have played friendlies, to prepare for European Championships, to prepare for World Cup qualifying or Olympic qualifying. Many of these games were more relaxed and allowed countries to try new players, rest players, etc. But now…UEFA gas decided….we need another tournament. And countries now are taking the “friendly” matches a bit more serious, no rest for top players, no getting young players some time on the field to develop. The Club teams are not excited. Top players are off to play for their country and they come back a bit tired, or sometimes with a knock, for the next run of league games. I guess we will see. Of the top 4 groups, many of the 16 teams are still alive. Round 5 will start to clear up the top two teams from each group advancing. Games in the middle of November for Round 5.
UEFA Champions League has completed round two of the Group Stages. Still 4 games to play in Group stages before we advance into the Top 16 Round. Match week 3 of 6 starts this week with games on Tuesday and Wednesday. All the top tams are doing well with the exception of the All Time best team in Champions League, Real Madrid. RM sitting in 4th and last in their group after 2 games. They need to pick it up!!
National Womens Soccer League (NWSL) has completed their fall season. A shortened 4 game Fall season was held to help build awareness while also dealing with COVID. The fall season, dubbed the Community Shield for the winning team, and in a show of unity with their local communities, each team played for a charity or organization with the top 3 winning clubs passing on a donation on behalf of NWSL, sponsored by Verizon. A great concept. The top 4 finishers for the Fall season.
- Portland Thorns 3-0-1 10 points
- Houston Dash 3-1-0 9 Points
- Washington Spirit 2-1-1 7 Points
- Sky Blue FC 2-2 6 Points
Earlier in the year, the Challenge Cup tournament was held to kick off the season. The 23 game tournament finished with a Houston Dash 2-0 win over the Chicago Red Stars. In very encouraging news, the ratings for the games carried on CBS channels and streaming services was up significantly, almost 500% up, breaking records for viewership. More people watched Women’s Soccer this year than at anytime in the sport’s history. Let’s keep the momentum going. Here are some highlights from one of the games this fall. If they have games like this, count me in!
FA Women’s Super League has completed 5 of their 12 game schedule so far thus fall. Games will kick off again next week after a break in play for international play. Standings after Match Week 5.
- Arsenal 5-0-0 15 Points
- Everton 4-1-0 13 Points
- Manchester United 4-1-0 13 Points
- Chelsea 3-1-0 10 Points but with a game in hand.
Bristol City winless and in the Relegation Zone in 12th.
MLS continues its run to finish the regular season having just completed Match Week 21 of 23 for the Fall season. Just three weeks of games left before the playoffs begin. The playoffs expand to 18 of the 23-team league and kick off in November culminating the the MLS Cup on December 12th. Top 5 teams in each division with just a few games left….likely the MLS Cup champions comes out of this group.
Eastern Conference Western Conference
- Philadelphia Union 1. Seattle Sounders
- Toronto FC 2. Sporting KC
- Columbus Crew 3. Portland Timbers
- Orlando City FC 4. Minnesota United
- NYC FC 5. LA FC
A few highlights for our “local team” Minnesota FC.
I promise…more blogs coming your way. Hang in there with me.