Someone Call The Cops!

So I'm watching the Fulham v. Everton game today and it is a fairly entertaining match. It's 1-1 in the last 30 seconds or so, and although Everton has dominated large stretches of the match it is a pretty fair result. After all, Everton's only goal had come on an own goal.

However, then the refs decide they want to give the game to Everton, literally. First Everton's Louis Saha kicks the ball out of bound. It was very clear. Everyone in the park could see it...everyone, we are supposed to believe, except the assistant ref who gives it to Everton. Off the throw the ball comes bounding into the box off of the shoulder and arm of an Everton player. Because of the poor touch of the Everton player the ball was way, and I mean WAY, out of his reach. But the ref calls a bullshit penalty because after the ball had bounded away the Everton player clattered into a Fulham player. There is no way that is a penalty. If you think it IS, well, that just proves you are an idiot who knows nothing about the game.

Look, I root for each side because they each have American players, so I am hardly biased. I just want a fairly played match. All I can say is I'd love to see the bank accounts of the officials for today's game.

One Down, One To Go

Notts going up:

Notts County secured promotion to League One after a six-year absence with a comfortable win over Morecambe.

The League Two leaders underlined their title credentials with three goals in the opening 20 minutes.

Lee Hughes guided home Craig Westcarr's cross, Ricky Ravenhill netted with a superb 20-yard effort and Hughes then converted Ben Davies' free-kick.

Graham Parker once sang the definition of the "lunatic fringe" was to be relegated to the third division. What does it mean when you are promoted to the third division?

On the table Notts is top by one point with five to play, plus they have a game in hand. Got to keep winning to take the league championship. We might as well as we are here already.

Notts County Goes To Top Of The Table!

Holy jumpin!

County goes up by one point with 6 fixtures to go. They also have a game in hand.

Promotion to League One is all but assured.

This Seems To Be DC United, Sadly

I was out of town last week and didn't get to see the destruction of DC United last week in KC, so tonight's game was my first look at the club.

All I can say is...fuck me. This was not a case of a team that just looked bad on a given evening. This. Team. Sucks.

Where to start? OK, it is time to face facts. Jamie Moreno's days a an MLS caliber player are over. He's been slow as molasses for a few years now but he had made up for that by being damn near impossible to push off the ball. Tonight Kate Moss could have muscled him off the ball. Its time for us to enter the second decade of the 21st century already, and Jaime needs to ride off into the sunset. I'll miss him, but somebody buy the man a gold watch.

I know its early days, but Christian Castillo looks like a bust. He lacks the pace to play wide, he lacks the touch to play inside, and he lacks the vision to play as a withdrawn striker. He's a triple threat.

Based on what I saw tonight I have serious reservations about the ability of Curt Onalfo to guide this team. The lineup was suspect, the scheme lacked imagination, and his substitutions were hit and miss. Generally speaking, the team gave off an air of laziness most of the evening, which often speaks to the coaching.

On the plus side Pontius played pretty well. Thus endeth the "plus side."

GASL's DC Player Ratings:

Troy Perkins - 5
Carey Talley - 4
Dejan Jakovic - 4
Juan Manuel Pena - 5
Rodney Wallac - 5
Brandon Barklage - 5
Kurt Morsink - 4
Santino Quaranta - 4
Cristian Castillo - 3
Jaime Moreno - 4
Chris Pontius - 6
Thabiso Khumalo (62) - 4
Andy Najar (70) - 5
Julius James (76) - 4