UMassHoops.com

It was a great display of soccer on Sunday, especially after Thursday's disappointment. I know what Poch was doing, especially since we don't nee the Europa League to get into the Champions League anymore, but it still hurt.

Going forward Spurs have a huge month of April ahead (no games this weekend because of the international break) especially starting with Liverpool and Man U. Hopefully, with the disappointment of losing to So'ton, Liverpool will no longer be interested in league play and their focus will be on using the Europa League to get back to CL, plus the obvious headline of Klopp going back to Dortmund to take on his old team. Leicester has a pretty easy schedule from here on out so Spurs can't afford to lose to Liverpool or Man U. Although it's at home, Man U is likely the tougher of the two matches as they've gotten themselves back in the hunt for a top 4 spot and have played well lately. Spurs and LC both have 7 matches left with LC holding a 5 point lead. I'd have to think that Spurs will need to get at least 18 of the possible 21 points to have a chance, and hope to LC realizes that they are LC and starts to let a few matches slip. What's the tiebreaker if the two clubs tie? Hopefully it's GD and not head to head.

It's GD, so we're good

Tough one to take cam. I know a lot of MA people who root for Pool because of the John Henry connection. May not get any glory this season but I think you guys will be fine with Klopp.

I'm kinda rooting for the City to 5th/Europa story just for the lols. Their big new coach Pep wouldn't even have champions league football his first year! Although if that happened City would probably spend a bazillion dollars in the offseason.

Huge next few days for US Men's soccer. Starting with the U23's, they face Colombia away on Friday and home on Tuesday in a playoff with the winner getting the last spot in the Olympics. Can't say I have high hopes about this one. The good news is we have the 2nd leg at home. Need to keep it close tomorrow in Colombia, and maybe get an away goal or two...I'm assuming away goals is the tiebreaker. Game tomorrow is on FS1 at 5pm, it'd be a huge blow to not make the Olympics, so lets hope all goes well.

The senior team continues it's qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. The play match #3 of this round Friday in Guatemala, and then back home on Tuesday against the same Guatemala team. They started this stage off with a win and a draw, so they're not in bad shape, but if they let one of the next two slip then things will be much more worrisome than it should be at this point and there will be major questions (from everyone, not just some) about Klinnsman...especially if the U23's fail to qualify. With two wins, they'll all but clinch moving onto the Hex. Something to watch in these 4 matches is the goaltending. For the first time in a long time goaltending is not a strength for the USA. Either Guzan or Howard need to show they can play at a high level for another few years, or someone from the U23's, U20's or elsewhere needs to start looking like a keeper who can play at the highest level....right now there isn't one.

A huge 5 days for US soccer coming up in more ways than one.

On another note, Charlie Davies is the new father of twins, unfortunately they came 3 months early! From Charlie himself, the twins are doing as well as can be expected but I'm sure they could use some prayers ans well wishes.

Great result in Colombia a few hours ago as the U23's tied Colombia 1-1 in the first leg 1 of the Olympic qualifying playoff match. Colombia dominated possession with over 70% possession, but the USA scored early and hung on for a draw after a penalty gave Colombia a tie. USA had two great chances to add more goals, especially a great shot from Jordan Morris from outside the box which hit the woodwork. The tiebreaker is away goals so that early goal is huge, making a 0-0 draw on Tuesday a positive result foe us which would send us to Rio. Can't see a scoreless match though, but going back home with a draw was huge. They have a real chance of going through now.

The senior team plays at Guatemala at 10pm. With the Trinidad win over St. Vincent earlier it means two wins over Guatemala tonight and Tuesday would put us through to the Hex regardless of the results from the last two matches (@ St. Vincent, home to Trinidad).

USMNT needs a new head coach.

Yeah I don't think there's barely anyone not on the fire kinsman train at this point.

Across the pond Tottenham English national team Hotspur comes back from 2-0 down to 3-2 victory! Goals from Kane and dier (and vardy) and Alli was almost certainly the MotM despite missing a sitter. Danny Rose looked good too. #COYS

We're not going miss the Hex. We were in the same position last cycle. Klinsmann put his Cali home on the market today, so maybe he's sees the writing on the wall. I'm not pro-Klinsmann any more but whenever I talk about firing a coach/manager I always say...who do you have lined up to replace him? I'm not sure who that is right now unless you can steal Poch from the Spurs!

Speaking of the Spurs, boy is England going be a tough team to play in the coming years. I'm already predicting a Spurs intersquad match for the finals of WC18 between England and Belgium. The Euro's is sure going be fun to watch.

Huge day for American soccer tomorrow. U23's set themselves up nicely with a 1-1 draw to give them a real chance at going to Rio. The senior team will bounce back with a 3-0 win. Klinsmann will see this team through the WC.

I plan on betting some money on the Euros. It's too bad England is absurdly short on everything due to the prominence/absurd overestimation in their media. I do plan on putting a small bet on Belgium to win the tournament.

If we somehow lose this game in Columbus tonight then Jurgen is fired immediately after. You don't get more home field advantage than Columbus,

We'll win tonight, we'll go onto the Hex, then it's tome to really worry

Much better offense-centered starting XI tonight. I see a 3-0 w

3-0 right now

Klinsman for Prez

Should be 4-0! What a terrible call of offsides!!!

A side from that, very well played. Hopefully Klinsmann sticks to playing Bradley up the field and Beckerman in the 6 role.


Now onto the 23's to cap off a great night!

The guys just saved Jurgens job. For now.

Welcome back, Rangers!