Fighting Talker

This is a sign of how bad DC United’s defense has been at times this season (and especially in SuperLiga).

When I saw the news on Goff’s Soccer Insider that Abel Xavier had been let go by the Los Angeles Galaxy, my first thought was, “Oh, DC should go get him.”

Then I came to my senses, remembering how poorly I had seen him play when United routed the Galaxy, 4-1, late last month.

Then, for a split second, I had the “sign him” thought again.

Perhaps the heat and humidity are getting to me.

Carvallo had his debut and finale in the same game.

I just wanted to post some quick words of remembrance for Jose Carvallo. No, he’s not dead. But his D.C. United career is. He was waived by the club this week, unable to take the starting job away from Zach Wells - who you may remember doesn’t have a clean sheet in a league match lasting longer than 16 minutes yet this season.

Carvallo played one memorable game in a United uniform. He played the kind of game that those of us mere mortals really will never forget. The kind of game that the record books will note well into the future, and one that we will be telling our grandkids about way into the 2050s.

That game saw him give up a remarkable 4 goals on just 6 shots on target. It was a 4-0 loss to the long-time Western Conference power, Real Salt Lake. I think I can safely say that as a nation, and to a man, we all remember where we were the night Carvallo made his much anticipated debut, and finale, all in the same night. I don’t really remember it, but I’m sure you guys do.

Somewhere, somehow, Nick Rimando was laughing. … Well, of course he was, he was the goalkeeper on the other side of the field.

Yes, folks, the Jose Carvallo era in DC is over. He probably won’t make the Ring of Stars or whatever they call it now, but it’s still worth taking time to pause, pour some out for our now departed goalkeeper, and go forth into the future knowing we’ll never see one of his like again. But yet, we’ve got to go on with our lives.

God bless you, Jose Carvallo. God bless you, indeed.

From the SE’s web site:

He’s the typical MLS winger, fast, industrious, goes in for 50/50 balls, etc…

Where is crossing the ball on that list? I am not sure I’ve seen him put in one decent cross yet, not one. I know the league isn’t great, but I would hope the “typical MLS winger” occasionally put in a cross.

Thanks for the introduction - I’ll be here all week. Try the veal.

I watched with somewhat stunned amusement on Saturday night as D.C. United had what I can only call an out-of-body experience. I don’t mean that they died, saw the light of Heaven or Hell or Sheboygan, only to come back to life and realize that Hell and Sheboygan are somewhat tough to distinguish … but the whole match seemed to me to be decided from above, as if we were watching a match between God and George Best on Heaven’s mega PlayStation3 console (146-inch plasma screen, baby) and there really wasn’t anything the teams on the field could do themselves. (more…)

I’m putting out an all-points bulletin requesting the kind of clever tabloid headline a story like this deserves.

The New England Revolution has announced that defender Chase Hilgenbrinck has decided to leave the club and retire from soccer to enter a Catholic seminary in Maryland to prepare for a new career in the ministry. Hilgenbrinck, 26, signed with the Revolution on March 28, 2008 following a four-year career in Chile. He made four appearances in MLS first-team matches, including one start. A native of Bloomington, Ill., he also started the Revs’ two U.S. Open Cup victories this month. Additionally, he started all six of the reserve team’s games for which he was available, captaining the team twice. “After years of discernment, I feel strongly that the Lord has called me to become a priest in the Catholic Church,” he said.

I am thinking along the lines of New career choice collars Hilgenbrink, or Hilgenbrink cuts from different cloth now, that kind of thing.

Have at it commenters.

Part I Here

This brings us to Group B in the Superliga, one that has the potential to be a bit more unpredictable.  (more…)

It’s made for TV. It’s on at weird times. It inevitably means that DC will play Chivas. It’s the Superliga, America’s favorite made-for-TV money grab that has occasional moment of compelling action. It gets underway this weekend, here are my thoughts on the clubs involved. Today we discuss Group A.   (more…)

Kyle Sheldon, DC United’s Manager of New Media and Public Relations, has confirmed to Fighting Talker that United possesses video of Blanco’s post-game actions and are providing it to US Soccer and Major League Soccer.

That takes away one potential excuse for MLS/USSF inaction.

(Update to the Update) Soccer Insider has the same info plus a quote from DC PR honcho Doug Hicks. (more…)

Sounds like I missed a thriller last night at the Soccerplex. Conference calls at work that go for 3 hours, 57 minutes tend to ruin well-laid plans, as so happened last night with me. I’ve already commented on the Blanco’s alleged misbehavior, so let’s focus on the match.

Great to see Namoff and Doe find their way into the scorebook. I imagine United will put up video of the goals today, as they did for the Rhinos game, but until then let me say… I am still not sure DC actually scored on a corner kick. It might have been a mirage. It might have been some kind of false-flag goal actually scored on a soundstage in Burbank. It might have been pushed in by an invisible member of the Trilateral Commission. Did anyone see Henry Kissinger or someone looking like Agent K quietly skulking around the goals?

Come on, all that is just as likely as DC scoring a big goal off a corner.

Anyway, if DC goes on to beat Chicago in the playoffs and rid ourselves entirely of Chris Armas juju, curse, or whatever that Chicago has had over us, I will be curious to see if this match is mentioned as some kind of turning point. Even, not having been there, it kind of feels that way.

I did not make it to last night Open Cup triumph over Chicago, so my comments on it are coming later on. Turns out some of the most serious action may have been off-the-field.

It’s from From MLS Rumors, to take it as you wish:

According to multiple reports, Chicago Fire midfielder, Cuauhtemoc Blanco may finally have gone off the deep end in what many describe as an assualt on a stadium employee after being red carded in tonight’s US Open Cup Quarterfinal match at DC United. We are still trying to gather more information on just what happened and would love any of you who have photos, or video of the incident to contact us. Did you witness the event? If so share your thoughts in the comments section. Here are some eyewitness reports: (more…)