From the "huh - who woulda thought" files:

"Niemi twice denied Trevor Sinclair and also Claudio Reyna, although David James was hardly idle in the City goal. The impressive Simon Elliott brought an excellent fingertip save from the England keeper, although Cottagers skipper Luis Boa Morte should have done far better than glance a close-range header wide seven minutes before the break." (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=186091&cc=5901)

"9 - Clint Mathis" (http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/scoreboard/game.jsp?match=04292006_HOUCOL)
Note the conspicuous absence of a little red arrow and "70" afterwards. Wow.


So, who was in charge of Taylor Graham's uniform tonight? 5 demerits for forgetting about the "Red Bulls" on the back (alternatively, well done on that one, now try to "forget" about the other 10 next time), and 3 off for affixing the Adidas logo somewhere around "epaulet on an army tunic" level.

Speaking of, I want to like Graham. Really, I do. A lot of Metrofanatics were skeptical of an A-League defender with his pedigree amounting to much, but I saw the possibility of another Mendes, or even Zavagnin story. So far, the skeptics have been right and I've been wrong. He's scaring the bejesus out of me back there. Come on Taylor, find your feet already.

So, if you'd written a script for "Metro: The Movie", you couldn't NOT write this part of the script; it's been a shitty start to the season, but finally the team looks half focused, like maybe they'll find a way to scratch out a desperately needed away result. It's neck and neck, and the first goal could make all the difference in the world; that's when the key to the offense pulls up lame 60 yards from where he SHOULD be. And where is our second best option on offense on this most crucial of nights? In a pink cumberbund, doing the Electric Slide at the Villa Maria Banquet & Catering Hall in Hasbrouck Heights.