Player
It's the talking point after every trade in any sport: Who got the better deal?
Numbers don't lie, and although they are certainly not exempt from an open interpretation, the data speak for themselves. And regarding the goalkeeper swap of Donovan Ricketts and Troy Perkins between Montreal and Portland, the results are fairly persuasive.
Montreal found a winner in Perkins.
Ahead in almost every category, the newly acquired Impact netminder has a higher catch success rate, fewer drops and more saves parried away to safety to name a few.
Yes, there are certainly some intangibles that are overlooked (e.g. Ricketts 90-plus international caps), but Montreal clearly appear to have gotten an upgrade. Timbers GM and interim head coach Gavin WIlkinson believes that the Timbers received an upgrade as well.
What do you think? Who got the better deal: Montreal or Portland? Let us know in the comment section below.
|
Perkins |
Player Surname |
Ricketts |
|
35 |
Goals Conceded |
39 |
|
27 |
Goals Conceded Inside Box |
33 |
|
8 |
Goals Conceded Outside Box |
6 |
|
66 |
Saves Made |
61 |
|
31 |
Saves Made from Inside Box |
32 |
|
35 |
Saves Made from Outside Box |
29 |
|
65.35% |
Saves to Shots Ratio |
61.00% |
|
53.45% |
Saves to Shots ratio Inside Box |
49.23% |
|
81.40% |
Saves to Shots ratio Outside Box |
82.86% |
|
3 |
Goalkeeper Smother |
1 |
|
31 |
Catches |
18 |
|
15 |
Punches |
9 |
|
3 |
Drops |
7 |
|
2 |
Crosses not Claimed |
4 |
|
93.88% |
Catch Success Rate |
79.41% |
|
3 |
Clean Sheets |
3 |
|
214 |
GK - Pick up |
165 |
|
0 |
Error leading to Goal |
3 |
|
0 |
Error leading to Attempt |
2 |
|
105 |
Shots On Conceded |
104 |
|
62 |
Shots On Conceded Inside Box |
69 |
|
43 |
Shots On Conceded Outside Box |
35 |
|
59.05% |
% Shots On Conceded Inside Box |
66.35% |
|
40.95% |
% Shots On Conceded Outside Box |
33.65% |
|
24 |
Saves Parried Safe |
20 |
|
7 |
Saves Parried Danger |
15 |
|
22 |
Saves Caught |
8 |
|
13 |
Saves Collected |
15 |
|
26 |
Keeper Sweeper Successful |
32 |
|
5 |
Keeper Sweeper Unsuccessful |
6 |
|
0 |
Recoveries in Opp Half |
0 |
|
0 |
Goals Conceded from Fast Break |
0 |
|
4 |
Attempts Conceded from Fast Break |
6 |
|
29 |
Big Chance Faced |
35 |
|
15 |
Big Chance Goals Conceded |
22 |
|
2 |
Big Chance Saved |
5 |
|
12 |
Big Chance Missed |
8 |
|
11.76% |
Big Chance Prevention % |
18.52% |
La première journée de compétition en Ligue des champions s’est mieux poursuivie qu’elle n’avait commencé pour les équipes de MLS. Après la défaite initiale de Salt Lake à Herediano, Toronto a empilé les buts et s'est imposé 5-1 contre Aguila (résumé vidéo).
Face aux Trinidadiens de Caledonia, un adversaire qu’il a étudié de manière peu académique, Seattle n’a pas été aussi prolifique mais a facilement assuré la victoire, menant 3-0 à la pause et contrôlant la rencontre de bout en bout (score final 3-1).
Pour sa part, le meilleur buteur du championnat, Chris Wondolowski, est muet depuis le 14 juillet. C’est la troisième saison de suite qu’il connaît un passage à vide à cette période de l’année ! Mais généralement, ça ne dure pas longtemps…
Le 5 août, Wondolowski sera le joueur au centre du premier épisode de MLS 36, une nouvelle émission qui suit une vedette de la compétition durant 36 heures avant un match. Ce sera ensuite au tour de Fredy Montero. Après ? À vous de donner votre avis en répondant à ce sondage.
In just his second appearance, Kyle Miller scored quite the golazo for Sporting Kansas City against Stoke City Tuesday night. The kind of goal nobody is likely to see again anytime soon, if ever.
Stoke City opened up the scoring in the 84th minute in KC despite being put under pressure by the home team for much of th match. And while some thought the game was over, Miller, well, who knows what he was thinking? In stoppage time, he found himself in the right place at the right time, as Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic's clearance made a beeline for his noggin and the resulting header looped into an empty net from 40-yards out.
Check out the highlight from KickTV above and let us know what you think. Luck? Skill? Likelihood of being repeated anytime soon?
Chris Wondolowski is once again the leading goalscorer in MLS, topping the 2012 scoring charts with 17 strikes thus far, a four-goal lead over second-place Álvaro Saborío.
But some people are wondering why they haven’t seen any Wondo goals in the last three matches, since July 18. Luckily for the Quakes, the forward's dry spells tend to be short and come during certain times of the year. The last came May 13-19, lasting only two games.
His longest dry spell since his explosion onto the scene was early on, in 2010 between June 5 and August 7, when he failed to score for seven games. There is a pattern for the player that reassures us his current drought won’t last for too long. Most noticeably, he often goes cold in July and, whether it's the heat or just the midseason slog, he always seems to pick up his scoring form as the stretch run gets underway.
So even if Wondo may have dropped off after his impressive hat trick against Real Salt Lake, don't expect to wait too long until he picks up his push for Roy Lassiter's single-season scoring record, his first opportunity coming on Aug. 11 against the Seattle Sounders.
Seven Game Dry Spell
June 5 – Aug. 7, 2010
Five Game Dry Spell
July 23 – Aug. 20, 2011
Four Game Dry Spell
July 2 – July 16, 2011
Three Game Dry Spell
Aug. 28 – Sept. 11, 2010; April 2 – April 16, 2011; July 2 – July 16, 2011; July 18 – July 28, 2012
Two Game Dry Spell
Sept. 29 – Oct. 2, 2010; Sept. 17 – Sept. 21, 2011; May 13 – May 19, 2012
Last week it was Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal that were rumored to have interest in D.C. midfielder Andy Najar, this week it's Wigan Athletic, Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion.
That list might grow even larger now that Honduras are into the quarterfinals with a date against Brazil and Neymar, a group that's sure to have a few interested eyes monitoring their progress in London.
Najar may not be having his best season in black and red in 2012 – contributing two assists in 13 games, 10 of which were starts – but he's still just 19 years old and one of the most promising prospects in Major League Soccer. And, of course, success on an international stage certainly can't hurt his stock.
Is he ready for an overseas move? If so, what would the best fit? Let us know in the comments section below.
Ever wonder what the days are like in the life of MLSers leading up to matches?
Well, now you can find out. Major League Soccer and NBC have announced a new, day-in-the-life series, MLS 36. The program – which follows in the footsteps of fellow NBC Sports Network series Fight Night 36, IndyCar 36 and NHL 36 – takes viewers behind the scenes for a player's 36 hours prior to kickoff.
San Jose Earthquakes star and golden-boot leading Chris Wondolowski wil be the first league player highlighted, when his preparation for the 2012 MLS All-Star Game will air on Sunday, August 5 at 9:30 pm ET on the NBC Sports Network. The second installment is set to air the following Friday, August 10 when Seattle's Fredy Montero's preparations are recorded ahead of the Sounders' World Football Challenge match vs. Chelsea on July 18.
Additional episodes and players of MLS 36 will be announced at a later date. Which player to the right would you want to see featured? Or, let us know who else you would want in the comments below.
La période des transferts internationaux estivale est terminée et de nombreux clubs en ont profité pour se renforcer. C’est le thème de notre émission Coup Franc cette semaine (à écouter ici), avec le menu suivant :
- Notre invité Eric Hassli parle de son transfert et de son rôle à Toronto, de son état de forme, de son style de jeu par rapport à celui de Danny Koevermans, évoque Vancouver à qui il est encore très attaché ainsi que de son amour de la liberté sur le terrain et en dehors.
- Les principaux transferts du mercato : quel est le meilleur coup ? Gros plan sur les arrivées les plus récentes : Tim Cahill (New York), Jerry Bengtson (New England), Frederico Higuain (Columbus), Christian Tiffert (Seattle), Sherjill MacDonald et Alvaro Fernandez (Chicago). Nous sommes curieux de connaître votre opinion à ce sujet !
- L’apport des joueurs du Honduras à la MLS : Najar, Espinoza et Bengtson éliminent l’Espagne aux jeux Olympiques, Bernardez et Chavez ont un rôle important dans la première place de San José, Houston est intouchable depuis l’arrivée de Garcia.
- La remontée de Philadelphie, contre New England (résumé vidéo) et au classement
L'émission Coup Franc est aussi disponible sur iTunes. Vous pouvez nous joindre par courriel (coup.franc@MLSsoccer.com) ou sur Twitter (@CoupFrancMLS).
A lot went into Tim Cahill's move to New York. And now that the former Everton midfielder is stateside, the journey is only just beginning.
In exclusive one-on-one interviews with NewYorkRedBulls.com, Cahill discusses his motives for joining Major League Soccer, how US internationals and Everton teammates Tim Howard and Landon Donovan influenced his decision, and what he's looking forward to the most in New York.
Check out each piece below. Does signing Cahill make the Red Bulls MLS Cup favorites?
Part I: Cahill's decision
Part II: Cahill's teammates
Part III: Cahill's drive
Part IV: Cahill's introduction
New York's acquisition of Australian attacking midfielder Tim Cahill was expected to have some knock-on effects. Looks like the first victim in the game of dominoes could be Mehdi Ballouchy.
According to this report on BigAppleSoccer.com, the Red Bulls are set to ship the Moroccan midfielder -- who was acquired from Colorado in 2010 -- to the San Jose Earthquakes. Nothing is confirmed by either club, and no word yet on what the Quakes are giving in return.
Ballouchy has made 16 appearances for NY this year, scored one goal, and posted two assists. In his two and a half seasons at Red Bull Arena, he has made a total of 51 regular-season appearances and five playoff appearances. He has scored four goals and added four assists.
Andriy Shevchenko has been regular grist for the MLS rumor mill, including in our very own Rumor Central, ever since he first started having troubles at Chelsea a few years back. Actually, it probably goes all the way back to when he married an American.
Well, starting today, we won't have to hear -- and scoff at -- those Sheva-to-MLS rumors anymore. On Saturday, the Ukrainian icon retired from the game and will now pursue a political career, working with the Forward Ukraine! party.
"Recently, there has been a lot of talk that I could sign a new contract with Dynamo Kyiv or play abroad," he said. "I can say, with confidence, that neither will happen. Perhaps this will shock everyone: I have decided to bring an end to my football career and to enter politics."
Shevchenko's career will go down as one of the most prolific and successful in history. At the club level, he scored 326 goals playing for Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, and Chelsea, winning five Ukrainian titles, an Italian title, and the 2003 Champions League.
Internationally, he scored 48 goals in 111 appearances for his country, including his final two in a 2-1 win over Sweden at EURO 2012, which Ukraine co-hosted.
He won the Ballon d'Or in 2004.
"I want to fulfill myself in politics, share the experience I gained in Europe, and do something for my country," he said, according to the Forward Ukraine! press service. "Forward Ukraine! is the party of the future, a party of young leaders, and it is a definite choice between the past and the future."