Category: Recaps

Week 23: How ‘Bout that Then?

Week 23: How ‘Bout that Then?

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Scores

(M) SC Freiburg 1 – Borussia Munchengladbach 0

For the first time in months, I actually had the capacity to sit and watch a match from start to finish. Thank you, Bundesliga for scheduling Friday naptime games .

The Griffins didn’t disappoint, once again bringing their best against a top tier team. Gladbach’s attack put the defense on the wrong foot and again Alexander Schwolow was called upon to cover more space than your average cell phone network. The attack had several fine chances, but couldn’t seem to make the final connection between Vincent Grifo and Gian-Luca Waldschmit.

So it fell to Nils Petersen to again play super sub and again he obliged with another blistering header past the goalkeeper to provide the only goal that Freiburg needed (particularly as some silly behavior from Alassane Plea earned him two red cards and limited Gladbach’s resources.

It was an excellent win made even sweeter by being able to watch it myself.

FK Vozdovac 1 – Napredak 0

Two in a row! FK Vozdovac has vaulted up the Boot Room Table to 8th place and it was never particularly close.

With a surplus of opportunities against an uncertain Napredak, the Red Dragons (who are again wearing blue…which I still don’t understand) seemed to only need enough time to make it count. And count it did in the 74th minute when a seeming corner kick clearance lulled Napredak into a sense of comfort, only for a second ball to return to Jovan Nisic whose long cross was volleyed home by former Partisan striker Aleksa Jankovic.

Jankovic’s shot was the kind of rattling blast that came from nowhere and left the opponents flat footed. A little like an unexpected goal from the back line on your foosball table. As an added perk, fans were let in to the stadium to provide a special touch of dynamic ambiance to the affair.

(W) SC Freiburg 6 – USV Jena 0

Okay, to be fair, USV Jena is at the bottom of the Women’s Bundesliga. They’ve only managed two draws all year. They’ve let in 6 goals in three of their last four matches.

To be unfair: WHOOOOO HOOOOOO! 6 Goals! A brace from young Janina Minge!! We’ve got backups to Klara Buhl!!!

Freiburg’s onslaught has certainly boosted their profile, taking a jumbled mid table and making all the more dramatic with 4th through 7th separated by only 5 points. This might be the start of a big spurt, but with one week to go tot he big battle with top of the table Wolfsburg (who likely won’t end up with the same bickering backline as USV Jena), there’s no time to let up.

News & Notes

Rosenborg Win’s Alex’s Affections

One benefit of being a little bit behind in publishing this is that Alex got a chance to see my phone chime with news of another friendly goal for Rosenborg BK. A few taps later he was watching delightedly as the camera panned around Lerkendal Stadion, and he said (honest to god) “I wish you could take me there”.

So congrats Rosenborg, the kid’s on board.

Yes Alex, I will take you there

Loons prepare to fly south

While I usually have about as much sympathy for the billion/million-aire club owners as a treetop has for a hungry brontosaurus, I have to admit this is a tricky time to run a team, let alone a league.

You can only make money if you have games, you can only have games if you have players, but putting players together in a space risks illness and worse. But, if you don’t have games, the players don’t get paid. And, with all of this, you have fans who both want you to come back for their entertainment and need you to stay away to avoid taking away resources.

Unclear where this giant rodent will play

So Major League Soccer here in the states lit on a plan to take all 26 teams down to Orlando Florida for a mini-tournament, that both gives them the chance to make some money while only inconveniencing the Walt Disney Corporation (which…hey..that’s okay too). Exact terms of the contest are due to come out in the coming days, but it’s nice to know plans are in place. (It will be awkward that the NBA will also be at Disney World…but maybe we can get a great set of inter-league pranks going.)

Woman of the Matches

Torn again between all the strong Freiburgian showings I have to tip the cap to Alexander Schwolow again. At a time when his defense has been shaky, he’s showed up ready to defend the goal to the last drop of his strength.

Schwolow saves the day

What’s Next

Wednesday, June 10

Thursday, June 11

Friday, June 12

1:00 PM Rad Beograd v. FK Vozdovac

Saturday, June 13

8:30 AM Wolfsburg v. Freiburg (M)

Sunday, June 14

7:00 AM SC Freiburg v. FC Koln (W)

Monday, June 15

Tuesday, June 16

1:30 SC Freiburg v. Hertha Berlin (M)

Week 22: Back but Brutal

Week 22: Back but Brutal

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Scores

(M) Eintracht Frankfurt 3- SC Freiburg 3

More games against the bottom sides in the Bundesliga = more trouble for Freiburg.

Everything seemed handled. Vincent Grifo’s lucky first goal benefited from a deflection. Nils Petersen knocked in a ripping header after some chippy Frankfurt play and a Lucas Holer breakaway seemed to put it beyond all doubt. (Sure there was a botched clearance that gifted an ugly goal to Frankfurt, but c’mon those happen.)

Then, in about 5 minutes, it all went wrong. Daichi Kamada capitalized on Robin Koch’s ill advised dribble back towards goal. Then American Timmy Chandler capitalized on a solid cross to level the score again.

(M) SC Freiburg 0 – Bayer Leverkusen 1

Again Freiburg managed to play well against a strong team, but came away from the game with nothing.

Lucas Holer had a golden chance on another break away, only to break hearts instead when he missed wide. It proved costly as Leverkusen took over the opportunities and capitalized when Lukas Kubler and Nicholas Hofler turned off their defensive brains and Dominique Heintz couldn’t save the day.

It was ugly, and uglier still when some late chances were similarly lacking, but sometimes that happens.

(W) SC Freiburg 3 – Turbine Potsdam 2

This was a thriller, which makes sense since even though both Freiburg and Potsdam are far off the pace for the Champions League, they’ve had their last two matches decided in the final 5 minutes of time. So, of course it happened again Sunday.

After an opening goal was disallowed, the lady Griffins let in a pair from Potsdam within a half an hour. Then they came roaring back with three in the second half, including Klara “Killing Em Softly” Buhl’s tenth goal and Naomi Megroz’s opportunistic winner just before the final whistle.

This is what we’ve been missing.

Macva Sabac 0 – FK Vozdovac 1

The Red Dragons won a game! The Red Dragons won a game! Great day in the morning the Red Dragons won a game!!

Granted, they were playing the bottom team on the table in Serbia, but even after Milos Stojcev was shown a red card for a high elbow and the team was reduced to ten men, there was hope. In the 85th minute Ivan Milosavljevic made the magic happen with a blistering half-volley and finally Vozdovac found a ray of hope in 2020.

News & Notes

Rosenborg Back Klub

After months of training, extensive not training, and then retraining, Rosenborg is gearing up for the return of the Eliteserien in 2 weeks. Their first tune up against Bodø/Glimt was a valuable run out, letting teams shake off the rust. New man Kristoffer Zachariassen, who joined from Sarpsborg, netted the only goal early on.

I like Jadon Sancho now…

That’s it, that’s the news.

YUP
I know he’s approximately 9000% more expensive than we can afford, but c’mon MNUFC, make it happen.

Ross County Cut Costs

The Staggies are facing a hard situation.

There are no more matches, which means no more gate receipts, which means little to no more income.

There are players on the payroll they need to keep happy, lest they lose some of the skill they need to survive next season against the Scottish top flight.

But players cost money. Money that county doesn’t have. So…the teams said goodbye to 14 players.

10 Reservists heading out the door meant pretty much an entire back up squad was sliced out of the budget. The bigger names are the four senior players: Richard Foster, Sean Kelly, Lewis Spence, and Declan McManus. It’s hardest to say goodbye to Foster who has played for the team twice, returning from England to help see the team to the top level of Scottish football again.

Lest we think that Ross County are cheap (and confirmation of an old…if true…Scottish stereotype) they could have done what other struggling clubs did and take government money to pay workers in need of a new contract. Instead they said they’d be honest and work it out on their own.

Honesty is a small solace for Foster and others, but such is the lousy nature of the world we live in these days.

Woman of the Matches

Klara Buhl remains the decisive force in Freiburg, lifting the team to excellence when she’s on form. Her late equalizer was crucial to a needed win, and reminded us that, as the person responsible for 1/3 of her team’s goals, she will be much missed when she moves to Bayern Munich this summer.

Wunderbar, Klara! Also…please teach the guys to finish one-v-ones before you go

What’s Next

Wednesday, June 3

Thursday, June 4

Friendly–Stojordals Blink v. Rosenborg BK

Friday, June 5

1:30 PM SC Freiburg v. Borussia Muchen Gladbach (M)

Saturday, June 6

11:00 AM FK Vozdovac v. Napredak

Sunday, June 7

7:00 AM FF USV Jena v. SC Freiburg (W)

Monday, June 8

Week 21: Back in Business

Week 21: Back in Business

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Scores

SC Freiburg 0 – Werder Bremen 1

The griffins might well wonder if video referees are a little rusty too. One week after having a late dinner called off for being a couple of goosebumps offsides, Freiburg lost a late equalizer against Bremen.

Center back Manuel Gulde has reason to be particularly sore. Having both scampered back from being out of position to miss a block on Leonardo Bittencourt’s goal, he settled down for the rest of the match. He even struck a late rebound back in to tie the game. But he didn’t factor in a Nils Peterson shin bone that poked past the last defender and rendered his goal moot.

While it’s nice that Werder Bremen climbed up the ladder and got closer to safety, we’d have preferred if they did it against someone else.

News & Notes

Vozdo-BACK

The red dragons of FK Vozdovac had a practice run out on Saturday against second division FK Kolubara. With both teams based in Belgrade there was less risk of traveling transmitters, and much bettter likelihood of a goodnight sleep for all involved.

I try not to recap training matches, but one special note: the 2-0 victory was Vozdovac’s first in 2020. (We only count competitive games in our standings but still: YAY DRAGONS!!)

Filip Stuparevic would have made it 3-0 but for a pesky crossbar.

Man of the Matches

There are plenty of people to thank for the chance to watch soccer. But I sometimes have to remember that part of why we and so many others were able to escape relatively lightly is because of Li Wenliang, who first alerted authorities to the disease in December of Last year. He was by all accounts a fried chicken and k-pop loving father of two. Thank you again Dr. Li for speaking up for the rest of us.

Dr. Li Wenliang (photo from Time Magazine)

What’s Next

Tuesday, May 26

1:30–Frankfurt v SC Freiburg (M)

Wednesday, May 27

Thursday, May 28

Friday, May 29

1:30–SC Freiburg – Bayern Leverkusen (M)

Saturday, May 30

6:00 PM – SC Freiburg v Turbine Potsdam (W)

Sunday, May 31

12:30–Macva Sabac v FK Vozdovac

Monday, June 1

Week 20: Is it true…is it really, true?

Week 20: Is it true…is it really, true?

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Scores

Soccer 1 – Boredom 0

Huzzah!! Soccer is back (for the time being). We’ve got games to watch and goals to cheer (until a spike in cases ends this little effort). Quickly! To the televised sporting events: there isn’t a moment to lose (because it could all end literally at any moment).

RB Leipzig 1- SC Frieburg 1

The first game back for our teams featured the Griffins of SC Freiburg visiting those well-heeled heels of the Bundesliga: RB Leipzig.

Despite the disparity between the teams’ bank accounts and international profiles, Freiburg managed to frustrate Leipzig in front of their home…uh…seat backs. Okay, it was weird hearing echoes of player reactions rather than the roar of the crowd, and there was clearly a lot of rust shaking loose from the players’ runs, positioning, and defending, but still, it was soccer, it was live, and it made a difference to the race for the title (keeping Leipzig behind the top two) and the Europa League (allowing Freiburg to keep in shouting distance).

Yousuf Poulson got the goal, but not the glory.

While the Red Bulls had the better run of play, peppering goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow repeatedly, Freiburg capitalized on the chances they had. A lucky deflection opened the scoring, and Schwolow’s sterling keeping kept them ahead well into the second period. Finally Leipzig got a well earned goal back (from Danish star Yousuf Poulsen…a man I’d love to steal for Minnesota United, but that’s beside the point).

A draw could have been satisfying, but midfielder Robin Koch nearly did Freiburg one better, slashing home a late winner.

Except…not…

Because he received the pass from an offside teammate so it was all bang and no bucks as the match ended 1-1.

News & Notes

Changes are Brewing

Business has begun to pick up around the world, and things are starting to settle into something like a plan.

Ecuador has joined Mexico in cancelling the spring season, preparing to kick off again for the fall campaign.

Scotland joined France and India in cancelling the rest of their season. The league won’t add any more teams so Ross County won’t suffer any short fall from two fewer visits from radical road fans from Rangers or Celtic.

The Site of the proposed MLS tournament. Not pictured: Mickey Mouse breaking a rookie’s heart by not signing an autograph.

Arguably the biggest changes will come right here at home. The Big Sky Conference announced that women’s soccer will not have a tournament to cap the season: it’s all about the table to get the invite to the big dance. Meanwhile, Major League Soccer is plotting to have something like a mini-tournament in June and July in Orlando, because if there’s one place you want to engage in grueling physical activity it’s the middle of Florida in the middle of the summer. Minnesota United might end up in a mini group playing about 10 games in the hopes of making a conclusive tournament. It’s nothing close to the 25th anniversary hullabaloo the league might have wanted, but it might well keep the tv money flowing and that’s nice to have too.

Following Up on Punjab FC

Last week I threw up the idea that Punjab FC might be on the verge of a major move up to India’s top league.

This week I did the responsible thing and followed up with the excellent blog The Away End where I first found the details about East Bengal’s power play. I asked author Nehal what they made of the warriors odds of joining the top flight. He didn’t quite douse the flame of hope, but it’s a lot more damp now than it was before.

 Punjab FC have held talks with the ISL folks, but I doubt it’s going to happen in the upcoming season. There isn’t much buzz around it and their lack of activity in the market is telling. All things said, I really hope they pull it off sooner rather than later. The more the merrier!

Nehal (The Away End, 5/13/2020)

Man of the Matches

With the pressure and skill of RB Leipzig in full flow, we have to tip our cap to the man who stood in their way: Alexander Schlowow. His eight saves more than doubled Freiburg’s total shots. Thank you, Alexander.

Schlowow’s sacrifice
(Photo Christian Schroedter POOL)

What’s Next

Wednesday, May 20

Thursday, May 21

Friday, May 22

Saturday, May 23

8:30 AM: SC Freiburg v Werder Bremen

Sunday, May 24

Monday, May 25

Week 19: I wanna play football with somebody…

Week 19: I wanna play football with somebody…

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Scores

Corona-virus 3.9 Million – Hope 1

As well as Corona-virus has done, this past week there were some signs of a momentum shift.

Even though we haven’t had any more matches, many leagues had athletes return to training, Serbia announced they would be back on May 30th and most relevantly of all: Germany announced that the Bundesliga would return next weekend (behind closed doors). Notably for us with SC Freiburg facing RB Leipzig on Saturday morning.

If that weren’t enough, I just found out that former World Player of the Year and current President of Liberia George Weah also released a song to educate his citizens about the virus. And, as a former World Music DJ, I gotta say: it’s a solid afropop bop

News & Notes

Punjab FC on the verge of Promotion?

I never fuss too much with soccer business news. But there are some transactions in India that warrant our attention.

First, India’s governing body decided, like several other shallow leagues around the world to cancel relegation and promotion for the next few years. (Note: shallow leagues is a totally made up term of mine for leagues that are relatively new and don’t have a deep well of teams, fans, or wealth leagues like India, Mexico, the US, Ghana, etc.) As fans of lower level underdogs, like Punjab and Alebrijes de Oaxaca, that stings. As fans of top tier teams who still just squeak by with minimal support, like Ross County and Minnesota United, it makes sense to protect the biggest clubs from a double financial body blow of Coronavirus and relegation.

Rajit Bajaj celebrating
(Times of India)

However you might feel about that decision, one clear consequence of that call was to make Punjab FC founder and co-owner Ranjit Bajaj sell his shares to co-owners “RoundGlass”. According to Bajaj, without the possibility of promotion or Asian continental competition, there was little point to staying in the professional game. He’s turning his attention to continuing the Minerva Academy, with the goal of developing World Cup champion calibre players in the next thirty years. Leaving RoundGlass to run the traditional club with an academy. (Sidenote: RoundGlass founder and CEO Gupreet “Sunny” Singh got his masters degrees in Bozeman, Montana!)

Meanwhile, the India Super League is seeking to grow to 12 teams next year. But as I-League Champions Mohun Bagan of Kolkata merge with ISL champion ATK, there’s no clear team to move up, let alone two. If you believe much of the online banter Mohun Bagan’s rival East Bengal will be joining the league soon.

The 12th team is unclear. To be a Super League team, you would need a major population center and a wealthy benefactor. The two sides that seem to best suit those goals would be the Delhi based Sudheva FC, but as a smaller and newer side, they might be better suited to the I-League. But Indian sports vloggers say that the 12th team could well be our own Punjab FC as it represents a new territory and has a growing set of resources.

Calvin Lobo in Punjabi camo.
(The Bridge)

To be clear: this is all conjecture at this point. The entire season may fall through. The ISL might prefer to stay at 10 teams. With East Bengal raiding rosters around the I-League including Punjab’s own Calvin Lobo, Girik Kholsa, and Dilliram Sanyasi, it’s unclear how Punjab would build up the roster to the super league calibre. So time will tell, but it’s something to look to.

Man of the Matches

With training coming back soon. It’s nice to just appreciate the fact that players missed the games as much as we did.

Translation: “#Sometimes football is finally back”

We don’t know which player that is precisely, but we know that we feel the same. So thanks FK Vozdovac social media. You know us even when we don’t know you.

What’s Next

Wednesday, May 13

Thursday, May 14

Friday, May 15

Saturday, May 16

9:30–RB Leipzig v SC Freiburg

YES REALLY!!! A REAL ACTUAL MATCH!!!

Sunday, May 17

Monday, May 18

Week 18: Light in the tunnel

Week 18: Light in the tunnel

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Scores

None…yet…

Jeonbuk Motors Revving up…

While Corona-Virus continues to run roughshod over the rest of the world and established institutions, there may be some reason to hope. Several countries have flattened the curve. Several more are carefully studying ways to return to something like normalcy. And most importantly, for our purposes and only our purposes, South Korea will start their season next weekend.

This is great news, especially after Mexico and France fully abandoned their seasons. While we don’t have a Korean side to root for, we may just be in the market for one as it would allow us to watch soccer without the bitter aftertaste of tolerating totalitarianism in Belarus and Nicaragua.

News & Notes

Making Ends Meet

We’ve seen record breaking unemployment claims in America and jaw dropping economic contractions around the world. Many people are in dire financial straights, and, so too are soccer teams.

The most notable case of this comes from Ross County, who has established “The Staggies Army” to create stabilized funds for the club when there’s no guarantee that they can even sell season tickets for the next campaign.

Love you too…Klara Buhl

This system neatly mirrors another beloved institution in our home: National Public Radio. But in lieu of a tote bag, this comes with a welcome letter and club shop discounts. (Seriously, anyone reading this who is interested, please contact me to go in on a membership)

Meanwhile, SC Freiburg found another way to make ends meet: sell off your star player. Klara Buhl, the wunderkind who bombed goals in for both Baden and the national team is off to Bayern Munich’s women’s team. Good luck Karla, thanks for the memories.

Women of the Non-Matches

As a teacher, I love National Signing Day, the day in the spring when high school seniors announce where they intend to continue their education (and often times, athletic pursuits). I love seeing my students find their future, and it is in that spirit that we award this week’s honor to the six future Grizzlies who will for sure have some classes next fall (and hopefully some matches under the big blue Montana skies).

Shout outs to you Elizabeth Basile, Reese Elliot, Alejandra Melendez, Meredith Udovich, Josie Windauer, and Camellia Xu. Equal shout outs to the parents, teachers, coaches, family and friends who backed you up throughout the journey.

What’s Next

Wednesday, May 6

Thursday, May 7

Friday, May 8

Saturday, May 9

SC Freiburg v. Bayern Munich. (Okay , probably not, but we’re not giving up hope until Angela Merkel shakes a disapproving finger at the guys before sending them back home)

Sunday May 10

Monday May 11

Week 17: Don’t drink bleach

Week 17: Don’t drink bleach

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Scores

Logic 0 – Craziness 1

One of the long standing mantras of this who Coronavirus crisis is “stay safe, stay sane.” Much as I feel like the weekend isn’t the weekend without a soccer match somewhere in the world, I wouldn’t say I’m going crazy.

Would that the same could be said for our leadership who this week suggested, maybe “injecting disinfectant” could be researched because “it kills the disease immediately” (on tables…not your lungs). While he attempted to use video review to claim it was sarcasm, it’s pretty clear that word doesn’t mean what he thinks it means.

News & Notes

We’re In the Endgame Now…hopefully

A few more leagues have sorted out what they hope to do to work out the snafus in their league schedules.

Scotland has all the drama of a board meeting on Succession with slightly less profanity and more, as the BBC put it, “bunfighting” . It sounds like the four divisions of Scottish soccer may be condensed to three leagues of 14 teams each. This would save some of the teams on the cusp of relegation (Ross County this year), award teams who would have been promoted (Ross County last year), and only irk the big teams (not Ross County).

Germany continues to make clear their intent to come back to the field in May, preferably May 9th. The only thing standing in their way? Angela Merkel’s government. Merkel is obviously tremendous off the ball and has a great tactical mind, but the real strength is that 11 players for the soccer teams versus thousands from the government offer no real contest. Maybe the league will be back in later May, if there isn’t a second spike in cases (fingers crossed).

Mexico has the worst of it. With promotion postponed for five years, there are significant questions about whether or not lower level teams can survive. That’s fine by the top division sides, some of whom also own lower league teams and could do with the excuse to cut the budget. It’s significantly harder on independent sides like Oaxaca who opted for a league payout and financial security over stubbornly demanding a shot at the top tier. Weirder still, some theorize that this is actually a ploy to unite the Mexican and American soccer leagues with big name teams in a top tier and other sides (like say, Oaxaca and little old Minnesota United) being pushed down the pecking order.

Man of the Matches

Last week we saw what Germany is doing to tie players to gamers in a modified competition. This week we tip our cap to a local competitor in the same vein: new Minnesota United goalie Tyler Miller who played for the black and blue against Sporting Kansas City

Even though Miller lost 4-0 he’s still the paws down pick for Man of the Matches

What’s Next

Wednesday, April 29

Thursday, April 30

Celebrate Grandma Bekka’s Birthday with a hearty round of “Shalalalalala–Oh Rosenborg”

Friday, May 1

Saturday, May 2

Sunday May 3

Monday May 4

Week 16: Dancing, and dribbling, by myself

Week 16: Dancing, and dribbling, by myself

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Scores

None…still

The Corona-Virus remains unbeaten against athletic competitions around the world. Really, if they can beat the Olympics, what chance does Ecuador’s women’s league have

We’re getting so hungry for competition that several leagues have organized video game competitions between teams. I for one only hope someone writes a hot tale about how these games should count to the final table.

News & Notes

How does all this end?

Not the disease mind, but rather the various leagues going on a month of hiatus? Here’s a brief update on every league we follow.

In Europe, each country has their own plan. Germany wants to come back in just about 2 weeks to play at empty stadia, but with the government urging against gatherings of more than 2 people, that seems implausible. France’s similar strategy starting in six weeks may be more viable. Serbia and Norway are quietly waiting to see, and Scotland well…

Scotland has a right mess on its hands, with teams voting to continue or terminate their seasons under strange circumstances. Almost every team turned in a vote on that proposal over a week ago.

Every team except Dundee United who voted no, then said they weren’t sure and since no one had said “no take-backsies” they could change their mind. Naturally the teams on the verge of relegation were livid, those who won titles, far less so.

Elsewhere, Ecuador can afford to wait it out; however, Ghana is fretting about losing vital money for the newly restarted league; with the title decided, it only makes sense for India to wrap up now; Liga MX cancelled the Acenso spring season and ended promotion for five years…so Alebrijes is thoroughly hosed (and their fans are…not happy about it)

Here in the US, Dr. Anthony Fauci announced that the only way any sports would return this summer was without fans. That’s not an issue for the fall season Lady Griz, but could be a problem for the summer season MLS. Rather than mirror Germany and France, Minnesota United might be bound for a neutral site (say: LA) to live and train and play in front of empty stadiums so the athletes can be contained. How exactly television crews are allowed (or not) to cover the games has yet to be seen.

Man of the Matches

Another entry in the increasingly enjoyable world of e-sport substitution is the “Bundesliga At Home Challenge”

Each team is setting one regular team player and one e-sports player to battle against their league rivals. Sadly for Freiburg, they have no e-sports team and are instead sending two players out. Nico Schlotterbeck and Mark Flekken took care of business this weekend with wins against VfB Stuttgart’s players.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

What’s Next

Wednesday, April 22

Debate whether I can work and watch Sunderland Til I Die simultaneously. Continue until realizing mid-student phone call that watching a show that inspires me to adopt a Jordie accent probably isn’t good for instruction.

Thursday, April 23

Friday, April 24

Saturday, April 25

Sunday April 26

Monday April 27

Week 15: …That’s called clapping that doesn’t count

Week 15: …That’s called clapping that doesn’t count

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Scores

A month worth of nothing

It’s been a month since most of the major leagues around the world were in action, and next week we’ll have gone a full moon since Vozdovac, Alebrijes and Legon Cities were in action.

Players continue to train. Managers continue to strategize. Fans continue to pine. Game day employees continue to look for any sign of relief. But until we flatten the curve, or at least find some way to minimize risk for athletes, we’ll be cooped up watching more documentaries, replays, and video game simulations than we ever thought possible.

News & Notes

Nicaragua more like Trick-a-rag-ua, right?

Last week I pointed out that they keep playing in Belarus, but they also have kept matches alive in Nicaragua.

Diriangen FC taking some precautions

In a case of sticking his head in the sand deeper than a nerd at Playa El Coco, President Daniel Ortega would sooner admit that his defense minister is a six foot tall bunny only he can see than he would admit that he ought to cancel a popular sporting league. Like his Belarusian counterpart, Ortega rules fiercely and with little fear of reprisal. But he also desperately wants to keep the bread and circuses coming, lest his people get restless (as they did in a near purge in 2018).

Of the 10 teams in Liga Primera, only Driangen FC advocated for shuttering the season. The others, loyally pledged to plow on. They also loyally pledged to keep cashing pay checks from local government authorities (like city governments or police forces). We’ll see if a return to normalcy allows Ortega to give his teams a break, or if Nicaragua is in it for the long haul.

Man of the Matches

Once again we have no matches, but we do want to tip the cap to three leaders already in action. Your Lady Griz 2020 Captains: Avery Adams, Alexa Coyle, and Clare Howard.

If you can’t see them, just check out the featured image.

Over the last two years with coach Chris Citowicki, the Griz have won a Big Sky Tournament and a regular season trophy, with Howard leading the program in career clean sheets, Coyle topping the team’s scoring list, and Adams organizing the back.

On top of all this, they’re also Academic All-Conference Award Winners (because the only thing cooler than destroying people on the pitch, is destroying them on the pitch, then having them ask to peek at your Environmental Biology notes)

What’s Next

Wednesday, April 15

Wait hopefully for FIFA to announce more #WorldCupAtHome games to fill the ever growing void in our hearts where football used to be. (Repeat daily)

Thursday, April 16

Friday, April 17

Saturday, April 18

Try to watch Sunderland ‘Til I Die while doing laundry…get too cold after twenty minutes and head back upstairs.

Sunday April 19

Monday April 20

Week 14: You can’t high-five yourself…

Week 14: You can’t high-five yourself…

by scruffyrube ♥ 1 Comment

Scores

None…Seriously…this is everywhere

The Corona-Virus continues its unbeaten run drastically altering life around the world. This week there were some mutterings about how exactly to get back to the silly, little, inconsequential world of professional sports.

To be sure, sports fans around the planet would love a live distraction right about now. But the people put at risk by every game (even those where fans are blocked from entering) from players, to officials, to security, to medical and transportation staff make it unlikely at present.

Add to this something I only realized when The Independent noted it, an injured athlete might need urgent medical care (say for a torn ligament or concussion) but that urgent care is going to the, you know, thousands of people diagnosed with a serious virus. However you slice it, things need to get a whole lot better before we get back to this.

News & Notes

Belarus more like Bell-a-RUSE! Right?!?

Let’s take one minute to acknowledge one place on earth where the games continue without a blink: Belarus.

Look, I didn’t wash my hand!

Since President Alexander Lukashenko announced that COVID-19 was actually just a western “psychosis”, it’s been dismissed. When he claimed that such a disease could be healed because, “in the villages, the tractor heals everyone. The fields heal everyone”, people just sort of kept living their lives. (Lukashenko’s iron grip on the country probably doesn’t hurt.)

So Belarus plays on with sweat, spittle, and germs spreading across the pitch and in the stands, and nobody ready to do anything about it. So…that’s going to be fun to see.

Man of the Matches

Once again we have no matches, but we do have a new front runner in best Social-Media Training

Like keepy uppies but with more international cat-burgler style

Legon Cities Keeper Fatau Dauda’s workout is equal parts reflex drill, acrobatic tumbling, and general unflappability. Even if all you have is a driveway, you can still train; so he does. For that Mr. Dauda you’re our man of the (non) Matches.

What’s Next

Wednesday, April 8

Wait hopefully for FIFA to announce more #WorldCupAtHome games to fill the ever growing void in our hearts where football used to be. (Repeat daily)

Thursday, April 9

Friday, April 10

Saturday, April 11

Sunday April 12

Monday April 13