Forever, Michael

The most famous football player in Fulham FC's history has finally been given the proper tribute.  Michael Jackson - one of the most dangerous attacking midfielders to ever grace a pitch - has been honored with a statue outside of Craven Cottage.  For those that are not aware of Jackson's heroics, Craven Cottage is the home ground of Fulham.  A place that visiting teams feared while Jackson was a mainstay in the starting IX.

Over the course of an eleven year career - cut short due to a recurring knee injury - Jackson averaged 19.2 goals a season.  During the famous 1986 season, Jackson scored 33 goals and was named Player of the Year. 

Fulham were relegated to the English Third Division.

Gary, Indiana - The Dream Begins

As a child growing up in Gary, Indiana USA Jackson learned he had a gift.  He could do things with balls at his feet that no other player in the Midwest of the US could dream of.  Jackson led his local high school to 4 straight state championships.  His coach would often start 9 players just to make the matches competitive. A local reporter once asked Jackson how he became the most famous high school soccer player in the country.  Jackson responded, "I have no idea".

As a senior the Gary High School stands were filled with scouts, managers and team owners from world renowned clubs.  Liverpool, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Boca Juniors and the Milwaukee Wave all came armed with professional contracts and the promise of fortune, fame and women. 

Jackson said he had no interest in women.   He just loved playing the game.

The player would shock the world by spurning the advances of all the top clubs by signing with one of the worst clubs in London.  When asked why he chose Fulham over the likes of Madrid, Milan and Liverpool Jackson responded, "They speak English in London".

The number of people Jackson inspired cannot be underestimated.  Although, in a recent study some think it is in the thousands.  Youngsters that never thought they could play the game at its highest level now believed they could because of Jackson.  Most failed miserably.

Jackson talking to aspiring Fulham players

Despite being an American, Jackson never featured for the US National Team.  He claimed to be a "player of the world".  And that he didn't feel comfortable in the colors of any country - especially one that was as atrocious as the US.

This only endeared him to the Fulham fans.  This only endeared him to the fans of the greatest game in the world.  Jackson's jersey is still the #1 seller at the Fulham club shop.  In fact, so beloved is Jackson in England that his name is adorned on more club jerseys than any other player.  That is how adored this man remains.

I was just getting into the game when Jackson was in his prime.  His later years were marred by injury, questionable decision on and off the pitch and financial troubles.  I try not to let this cloud the grainy video footage I watch on my laptop of the Great Man.  Without Jackson there would be no Zidane.  There would be no Xavi.  There would be no Joey Barton.

God bless Fulham for this statue.  This is a monument that fans around the globe will flock to for decades. 

Is Michael Jackson the greatest of all time?  This will be debated long after I am gone.  Long after the internet has faded into the sunset and some new fad has taken its place.  But football will always be here. 

And where football is played - where little kids run free playing the game - Michael Jackson's presence will always be felt.

Failed States

Looking Back at the 2007 U20 FIFA World Cup

Vein of Form recently lashed out at the development (or lack thereof) of the youth players in the US Soccer system.  There is a serious cause for concern when you look at the current squad and see very few young, exciting and talented players working their way into the squad.  Juan Agudelo has looked great in a handful of performances.  But beyond the youngster from NYRB, you could imagine if the World Cup were held this summer, Bob Bradley would take a near identical squad to what was fielded in South Africa.

Quite simply, the national team system has failed and I would go so far as to say the domestic league - MLS - has done an equally poor job producing homegrown players.

Where did it all go wrong?

I'd ask that you think back to 2007.  For US Soccer fans this was a very exciting year.  The 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup was something of a showcase for the a promising collection of players that you'll recall topped their group by drawing South Korea (1-1), crushing Poland (6-1) and beating Brazil (2-1).  The topped Uruguay in the Round of 16 before falling to Austria in the quarterfinals.

Allow me to throw some names out at you that were top performers for the US during this competition:  Michael Bradley, Danny Szetela, Freddy Adu, Jozy Altidore, Sal Zizzo, Gabriel Ferrari.

Stick with me here.  Now, take a glance at some of the other players in this competition that you may have heard of:  Alexis Sanchez (Chile), Gerard Pique (Spain), Luis Suarez (Uruguay), Javier Hernandez (Mexico), David Luiz (Brazil), Sergio Aguero (Argentina).

Where Has All The Promise Gone?

See where I am going with this?  The non-USA players I listed were part of squads that have many players that now make the starting lineups of massive clubs all over the world.  None of the players from that promising USA team are even on the radar of top clubs.  Michael Bradley has not featured much since his move to Aston Villa.  And even then he has never been able to capture the magic he displayed for Heerenveen while in Holland which earned him a move to Germany to play for Borussia Monchengladbach.  He is a regular starter for the US - and deservedly so given his performances for the national team - but he has not reclaimed that box-to-box form that made him so impressive in Holland.

I'll talk about Adu and Altidore shortly, but great teams are made up of a collection of very talented players.  Danny Szetela went from Columbus Crew to Racing Santander after that great 2007 World Cup.  Then, he was loaned to Italian side Brescia (then in Serie B) before being sent to DC United in MLS only to be subsequently released.

Sal Zizzo went to Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga in '07, failed to make a dent and was loaned out to a German second division side called Fortuna Dusseldorf.  Poor performances and injury sent him back to MLS where he is now playing for the expansion team Portland Timbers.

Gabriel Ferrari has had more clubs than a pro golfer has in his bag.  He was on the books for Serie A club Sampdoria before bouncing around with Perugia, Foggia, Temana, Wohlen and now back to MLS trying to build a career with Chicago Fire.

Luis Suarez - Still Scoring

Patience - I will get to Adu and Altidore - but think about the Chilean Sanchez and how he is lighting it up with Udinese right now in Italy.  Pique is a rock for reigning World and European champion Spain while starting for the best club in the world - Barcelona.  Suarez made a huge move this winter to Liverpool, Luiz to Chelsea and Hernandez is possibly the best signing of the year in England scoring huge goals for potential champions Manchester United.  Aguero is admittedly having a down year with Atletico Madrid but has been considered one of the best young strikers in the world for the last 3 seasons.

Adu and Altidore - The Dream is Over

US Soccer has failed to develop a world class player from that 2007 squad and it is simply unacceptable.  It is an embarrassment and unfathomable that our national team's system is so devoid of coaching talent right now.  There is no light at the end of the tunnel.  Just a long dark road ahead - particularly when you focus in on Adu and Altidore.

Adu is without question the biggest fraud in the history of professional soccer.  Not just American soccer - world football.  You can argue he was a media creation that was never going to emerge as a star.  Or you could look at how MLS clubs DC United and Real Salt Lake could not develop his talents nor could US Soccer.  Stints with AS Monaco and Benfica before moving on to Aris in Greece were all fruitless and produced zero moments that made you think Adu was coming good.

He is playing for Rizespor in the Turkish second division right now.  Second division Turkish football.  I would argue Adu couldn't make the squad of most MLS clubs.  That is how far gone he is and whatever his true age may be he is finished at the international level and possibly at club level come season's end.  Adu has shown zero reason for any club to want to pay him to play football.

Altidore is a very worrisome case.  I honestly felt when he was playing for New York in MLS that he was going to be the first international superstar from the US that was a scoring threat at all times.  It is evident now that he moved way too soon and that his lack of match play and coaching from US Soccer has stunted his development.  Watching him against Argentina on Saturday was depressing.  Watching him in most matches is depressing as his touch is heavy, his finishing non-existent and his inability to beat defenders reason to think he should no longer be first choice up top.

Think about this:  The US National Team's striker has scored 2 goals at top club level since 2008.  He scored early in his brief stint with Villareal in Spain and again with Hull City during a loan spell in England.  Altidore is toiling away in Turkey right now with Bursaspor.  He should swallow his pride and return to MLS. As it stands, his dream to play at a top club in Europe is finished.

Not So Fast, Juan

I stand by what I wrote in the MLS preview - that I want major clubs showing interest in Agudelo come season's end.  I just don't want him to leave yet.  If he continues to rapid ascent it would be thrilling for MLS and for the national side.  But 18 is clearly too young of an age for an American player to move abroad.  Their skills are nowhere near the development of their South American or European counterparts.  The fact is American soccer players do not come into their prime until their mid-20s or late 20s.

Think of Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey at Fulham.  Landon Donovan's brief stint with Everton when he finally impressed in Europe after a failed move to Germany. 

Steve Cherundolo can make a case that he is the best outfield American player of all time given his length at German club Hannover 96 and the fact he has been a long serving captain.  Maurice Edu is 24 and having success with Scottish giant Rangers.  The bulk of Coach Bob Bradley's squad are aging players that are toiling away at clubs near the bottom of their respective leagues or in MLS.

No internationally recognized names featuring for big clubs.  No one that is currently setting American fans' hearts on fire thinking of what may come in 2014 and beyond.

At the risk of sounding like an arrogant American, the USA should be dominating the game.  Because of the vast array of sports our youth can participate in the country produces more natural athletes than any other country on Earth.  Our 13 year olds are better athletes than those in any other country.  They just don't get the proper coaching to combine that athletic prowess with the technical ability found in Spain, Brazil or Germany.

The 2007 U20 squad is the prime example of the failure of the USA's development of the world's game.  Until someone within US Soccer steps up and stops this rot immediately there will continue to be disappointments such as Adu and Altidore.  There will continue to be a mediocre at best US Men's National Team.

We'll Make It I Swear

It is hard to imagine things more soul-sucking than a week that is dedicated to international fixtures.  The domestic leagues are reaching a boiling point and all the excitement is killed by these FIFA dates for friendlies and Euro qualifiers. 

For example, the English media are so devoid of interesting topics they are harping on the fact Gareth Bale may miss the upcoming Wales v. England qualifier.  And that it serves as some kind of boost for the England squad.  Seriously, dudes.

If England cannot easily handle a Welsh side with or without Bale then there are far more glaring problems than previously thought.

One of these is not like the other.

Moving right along, there are some good things to check out this week.  MLS doesn't stop for anything.  Not a World Cup and certainly not some ridiculous FIFA date.  Even though  The Nats are playing Argentina and Paraguay this week, the domestic league just keeps rolling on.  There are some interesting matches this week:  Columbus v. New York, New England v. DC United and Real Salt Lake v. LA Galaxy.

Both USMNT matches are televised.  The Argentina match is on ESPN2 at 7PM EST on Saturday and the Paraguay match is on the shitty Fox Soccer Channel at 8PM EST the following Tuesday.  These are friendlies and I'd rather see them play these teams in say, the Copa America, but remember that won't happen anytime soon because the US sent a C squad to the competition last time and pissed off the confederation.  Thus, probably never getting an invited to the second best regional competition on Earth.  USA!  USA!  USA!

Off the top of my head these things are worse than international breaks:  music by Jack Johnson, any TV show about doctors, women's college basketball and freezing temperatures in March.

Now watch this video:

Dream Big

The National Football League is currently in meltdown as the owners have locked out the players, the players are going to take these owners to court and the season starting on time / actually happening is in jeopardy.  This is a situation where billionaires are having an argument with millionaires over how to distribute billions of dollars amongst them.  Oh by the way the MLS season kicked off last weekend and there were some cracking matches. 

One more thing, superstar NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco for the Cincinnati Bengals wants to try out for the franchise Sporting KC.  Manager Peter Vermes has spoken with Ochocinco and claims the player is dead serious.  This has some fans of the sport concerned that it makes a mockery of the league.  That some dude thinks he can just walk onto the pitch of a sport he has zero professional or collegiate experience playing and act like it is no big thing.

I think just the opposite.  I think this is proof that fans of the US Soccer should be pissed off that we are not consistently killing it at the international level and that our development system is losing its best athletes to other sports.  Ochocinco can probably make this squad.  He is too fast, too strong and too great an athlete to embarrass himself out there.  He will probably look off the pace and positioned wrong but I'm not suggesting KC throws him into a starting role against Real Salt Lake. 

Football Players

Maybe they get a favorable draw in the US Open Cup and go for an early lead in the first half to kill the match.  Put Ochocinco on for 30-40 minutes and see what he does against mediocre competition.  Then, go ask the people in charge of development why players of such tremendous athletic ability are escaping them at a young age and it requires a work stoppage to get them interested in playing professionally.

Find out from USMNT development what they are doing to drive prospects away, fail to attract them in the first place and cripple our progress in the game.  Are they showing prospects on the fence matches played by Barcelona, Manchester United, and Real Madrid?  Wait, are they flying them to these matches so they can soak up the atmosphere at major club matches?  Or are they hoping their parents plop down the extra $35 a month for FSC and FSC Plus and suggesting they watch on their own?

Anyway, my hope is that Ochocinco looks terrific and turns out to be a player of value. 

Look, this is what makes American sports great and what makes sports in the country a Land of Opportunity.  We have athletes that can play soccer, football, baseball, basketball or track & field all within the same year and turn pro in any of them.  We've got players that forgo multi-million dollar contracts in the NFL so they can pursue their passion for baseball and toil in the minor leagues for 3 or 4 years. We've got players that turn down pro contracts to represent their country in the Olympic Games.  That is heart, commitment and love for sport that other countries simply cannot provide.

Football Fan

The fact that Ochocinco can even have this option is what our forefathers had in mind from the beginning.  I'd love to go back in time and tell John Adams that it is all worth it because his heroics and love of country will benefit a sport that a majority of his fellow citizens don't care about in 2011.  And when J.A. looks at me all confused I'll tell him 2011 is just the start.  That young kids will tune into MLS because of Ochocinco (and who knows what other NFL players eventually) and thus the league prospers over the next decade and becomes not nearly as good as La Liga or the Premier League but certainly more entertaining than the dire Serie A.

See, Ochocinco even considering the MLS is the perfect representation of The American Dream.  I'm writing a soccer blog that 20 people read - if that - and think I know more than 90% of the soccer commentators in America.  Ochocinco inspires me too! 

This is the furthest thing from a mockery or a stunt.  This is a millionaire athlete saying he would rather play a sport that excites him, that he sees passion in and that is played all over the globe than get in a fracas with a bunch of greedy shits over whether they can even play a game.  I hope more join him.  I hope the league gets an influx of NFL stars in the coming weeks, months or whenever. 

Let the NFL stay locked out forever while MLS benefits.  Just don't bring your labor union hissy fits to our game.

Going Through Changes

It has been announced that the groundbreaking podcast, World Football Daily, will be going through a massive change.  Co-host, show founder and quite frankly one of the biggest influences on the game in North America - Steven Cohen - will be stepping away from the mic in two weeks time.

The show was started nearly a decade ago by Cohen and Nick Geber.  It has easily attracted more Americans to the World's Game than a David Beckham publicity stunt ever could.  Geber resigned from the show several years ago and Kenny Hassan assumed the official co-host role shortly thereafter.  Hassan will continue as a solo host for the time being.  Ensuring that one of the most robust, engaging and thought provoking sport podcasts in the world will go on...daily.

Cohen is a controversial figure to say the least.  As a Liverpool fan I feel I need to address the fact he has in the past been offensive, insulting and had a completely obnoxious attitude towards the club I support.  His comments regarding tragedies that have involved Liverpool Football Club got Cohen in hot water while a co-host on Fox Soccer Channel's Fox Football Phone-In and more recently incited a global protest against World Football Daily (known at the time as World Soccer Daily).

Essentially, the Liverpool supporters at the heart of the protest forced the show off satellite radio, drove sponsors away in droves and brought unnecessary (and illegal) threats against Cohen and his family.  The abuse that Cohen and his family endured are acts no moral and decent human could ever support or engage in.

Cohen persistently raged against Liverpool and its millions of fans.  Many of whom are paying WFD subscribers.  His rants have rendered Liverpool supporters extinct from participating in the show.  While the actions of many were (and continue to be ) reprehensible, Cohen often seemed to suggest that the entire fanbase were scum and not welcome to participate on his show.

While it is disappointing that supporters of one of the biggest clubs in the English Premier League - the primary focus of the show - are largely kept in the shadows, the show attracts world class journalists, players and managers.  It is without question that Cohen's vision has taken the show to the next level.

Five days a week listeners get insights, tactics and often times segments of sheer comedy that make whatever fee they charge a bargain.  Throughout the years regular callers and emailers have become like close friends to fans of this show.

And I am happy to call myself a fan.

Cohen has stated he has other interests to pursue and after 9 years you cannot blame him.  Yet, I don't for a second believe we will not be seeing him in some capacity contributing to the sport either through radio, television or social media.

I enjoy listening to Steven and thought the early incarnation of Fox Football Friday when he and Gerber sat on a couch in a dingy basement talking for an hour was one of the most entertaining and under appreciated shows in recent memory to air on a sports network.

The man is a pioneer - no question.  The man is controversial and that will never change.  His ego will not allow it.  The show will go on but will never be the same.  The sport will continue to grow in North America and more fans will adopt European clubs to support.

Call me melodramatic or over estimating a guy who started a podcast and his importance on the game in this country.  But I hope years from now when I see fields filled with kids playing soccer matches on the weekend, their parents know Steven Cohen by name, are still listening to World Football Daily and feel in some way his influence helped encourage their children to play the greatest game in the world.

Breaking News: Fernando Torres Sucks

Since departing Anfield at the end of the January transfer window, Fernando Torres has been talking more about Liverpool Football Club than some of the current players seem to.  Torres has spoken of turmoil at the club, his desire to win trophies and play in the Champions League.

Fair enough, this is a player that scored the winning goal for Spain at Euro 2008 and was part of the World Cup winning squad in South Africa.  Part of the squad meaning his poor form and nagging injuries kept him from being a contributor.  In 2008 Torres was a player in the ascent.  Possibly the best striker in the world at the

time, he bagged 33 goals in all competitions and made 46 appearances.  That return proved the money Liverpool spent was well worth it.  Some considered it a steal and the Anfield faithful were in love.

Happy days indeed.  The following season his appearances dropped to 38 and his goal tally to 17.  In 2009-2010 his appearances again declined to 32 while his goals trended upwards - 22 in total - but still well off that magical 2007-2008 run of form.  You know where I am going with this.  2010-2011 the injuries limited Torres to 26 appearances and 9 goals for Liverpool.  This was a player some felt was priceless at one point and now was highly injury prone, clearly not enjoying his football and regularly the focus of leaked reports that a move was imminent.

Where am I going with this?  You still have ask?

Torres was sulking on the pitch during the early part of this season with Liverpool (and some would say he is doing the same at Stamford Bridge).  He was blatantly using the ownership situation at Anfield to cover up his poor form.  Torres knows he is no longer the player from 2008.  We've seen this happen to young players before.  Brazilians seem most prone to flaming out by their late 20s as the matches pile up, the travel for domestic league takes its toll, Champions League matches and international appearances wears on them and next thing you know they are an afterthought.  A "could have been amongst the best" type of story. 

Wayne Rooney has been dealing with these accusations throughout the season but I think it is more obvious with Torres.  He is not just out of form but looks like he does not want to be playing football.  He got the move he supposedly desired most - to Chelsea Football Club where he will have the owner's finances to buy any support he needs, Champions League football and the global city to showcase his skill.

He is off the pace whenever he plays.  Has been that way for some time.  Torres is probably still nowhere near 100% fit but even if he were the attitude he displays proves Liverpool were right in selling when they did.  Bringing in a hungry Luis Suarez and the emerging Andy Carroll to replace a pissy Spaniard for a small cost to them was brilliant business.  Let Chelsea figure out what is wrong with Torres.  Let "role models" like Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka lead him back to his '08 form.

And there he was on the bench against FC Copenhagen midweek being "rested" for Chelsea's fixture against Manchester City this weekend.  The striker made an appearance in the 68th minute, plodded around the pitch for the remainder of the match and once again failed to score.  Should he bag a goal against City this weekend it does not mean he has turned a corner and regained form.

Should he come up with a massive goal against Manchester United in the Champions League quarter finals it would go some way to restoring his confidence.  Perhaps even his reputation.  But I don't see that happening.  Torres may be too far gone to re-emerge as one of the world's best.  David Villa has eclipsed him by a country mile as the best Spanish striker of this generation.

Torres may not be first choice at club or for country any longer.  This is his own doing.  He is not mentally strong enough to rehab from injuries.  He is not mentally strong enough to shake off poor form and put the ball in the back of the net.  2008 was not so long ago in the hearts of Spanish football fans. 

2008 is ancient times when you try to remember the last time Fernando Torres simply could not be defended.

MLS 2011 Preview

Vein of Form will not be negative about our 2011 MLS season forecast. While we fully expect there to be slow build ups from the back, shoddy passing, periods of the match where it looks like no one wants to be out there and a ridiculous playoff format there is plenty to be excited about!

Friday Night Football. MLS will be featuring a Friday night match on Fox Soccer Channel throughout the season. This is fantastic. The matches will probably get shitty ratings but fans are going to tune in for this. What a better way to start off the footballing weekend? A quick glance and these Friday fixtures look like the match-ups of the weekend in MLS. Just look at these:

• March 25 - Seattle at Houston
• April 1 - Columbus at FC Dallas
• April 8 - FC Dallas at Colorado
• April 22 - Colorado at Seattle

Not kidding - I am so looking forward this change in the schedule and plan on tuning in to Fox Soccer Channel with the television on mute.

Red Bull New York need a big season. I want this to happen so bad. The league needs a true beast to emerge from the East and create a super rivalry of sorts with Galaxy or Real Salt Lake. A dream scenario would be for Thierry Henry to lead that charge. Imagine Henry banging in 30 or more goals and terrorizing MLS defenses like back in his days roaming the Highbury pitch. He remains my favorite all time Premier League player and is only 33 years old. A fit Henry approaching his mid-30s should still be unstoppable in this league. And hopefully he forms an explosive partnership with Juan Agudelo.

Agudelo is Vein of Form's MLS Player Whose Name You Should Get on the Back of Your Jersey. In my dream world by season's end Agudelo will have MLS bricking because a handful of European clubs are bidding on his services. The spurts we've seen of him - particularly at the international level with the US - reveal a raw talent that with a mix of coaching and guidance (read: Thierry Henry) could emerge as the new face of United States soccer.

The Henry / Agudelo duo has the potential to lead RBNY to MLS Cup and for the good of the league all fans should want to see this fulfilled.

Jason Kreis is a leader of men. It is crazy that the manager is the star of a franchise featuring Kyle Beckerman, Fabian Espindola and Javier Morales. People like to compare him to Jose Mourinho but Kreis hasn't won near enough...yet. I do like this whole mythology being built around him though. He drills his players hard, makes them believe they can achieve great things and allows them to sort it out on the pitch while he conducts from the sideline. I think he needs to upgrade his wardrobe a bit but that is another discussion.

He has one MLS Cup but need 3 or 4 more. Serious. He needs to lead RLS not out of a CONCACAF Champions League group but to a final. Then, he needs to win the CONCACAF Champions League. RLS are an exciting team that could very well be in contention for a Supporter's Shield and make a run at the cup final. But I will watch them every chance I get because of Kreis. I want to see a genuine managing prodigy grow into someone that eventually takes a job overseas. That experiences success in a more popular league and then takes control of the US National Team.

MLS expansion is working but shouldn't get out of hand. I don't want a league already struggling to prove its quality top to bottom becoming more diluted. The choices of cities have been astute in recent years. Toronto has fabulous fans that will become even more rabid once the product on the pitch improves. Seattle has blown away all expectations. They have the support and a squad that is pushing to be amongst the elite in the league. Philadelphia looked very much like an expansion team last season but the city is soccer mad and will support a winner.

This year we get the Portland Timbers - a city with a rich soccer tradition - and a roster that includes Kenny Cooper, Jack Jewsbury, Troy Perkins and the promising Darlington Nagbe. Essentially, a team of guys that have historically been good MLS players that could not cut it in Europe and are now hoping they gel in time to make some kind of impact in 2011.

Also, Vancouver Whitecaps are added and let's be honest, will not be very good. In fact, they may set a new standard for bad. Jay DeMerit is somehow an impact signing. I liked John Thorington when he was with Chicago Fire but he is not someone that can do it alone. And he is going to be expected to do so at times.

There you have it. Plenty to be optimistic about going into this MLS season. You can't claim this site is down on MLS in 2011.