Confederations Cup: Brazil's Demise Has Been Exaggerated

As generations of fans have come to seemingly know and accept, Brazil's place at the top of the world's game is seen as being all but unrivaled and unquestioned. The legendary names to have been adorned with the famous yellow shirt make up a list that reads like something of a VIP list, and collectively the efforts of these near mystical figures have led to Brazil amassing a gaudy collection of World Cup conquests. 

Yet, despite the reverence that Brazil has rightfully garnered for decades on end, a funny thing has been happening with the dialogue surrounding the Brazilian mystique over the last year or so. A growing wave of doubts has been surrounding this Brazil side due to a rash of uninspiring performances in friendlies that ultimately led to Mano Menezes' dismissal and the return of Luiz Felipe Scolari. While performances under Scolari leading up to this year's Confederations Cup represented a marked improvement, doubts still remained about how Brazil would fare in a tough group.

Alas, as we have now seen on the strength of three games in the competition so far, Brazil looks set to reassert its worth on the international stage once again.

The Ryan Martin Show: 6/24/13

If you missed today's show, take a moment and listen to it now. The Confederations Cup, the US National Team, MLS, transfer news, and the Atlanta Silverbacks' title aspirations in the NASL were amongst the topics.

USA 1, Honduras 0: A Dream Month in CONCACAF Ends

Even after a previous four point haul from their last two-game foray into CONCACAF World Cup qualifying that looked to have steadied the ship well enough, it would have taken only the most optimistic of American fans to think that a further nine points from games against Jamaica, Panama and Honduras would have been on the cards. In light of a porous performance in the friendly against Belgium at the beginning of the month, such an output seemed like even less of a likelihood.

Yet, as the dust settled at Rio Tinto Stadium following the USA's scrappy 1-0 win against an injury-riddled Honduras side, the top of the in this final stage of qualifying was firmly in the USA's possession, and it  was certainly no less than they deserved. Though the outing scarcely mirrored the passing clinic Klinsmann's men put on in Seattle, the increasingly cohesive defensive partnership of Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler earned a few more stripes, and Fabian Johnson continued to show his worth once again in setting Jozy Altidore up perfectly for a fourth goal in four games. With such vital pieces of the puzzle clicking now, the enthusiasm in the American camp could hardly be any higher.

With confidence sky high at the moment, there is perhaps no better time for the USA to head into this summer's Gold Cup. We can't forget, however, that the product we see on the field next month will look a bit different than what we've grown accustomed to of late.

The Ryan Martin Show, 6/17/13

Yesterday's show is now available, replete with chatter about the US, the Confederations Cup, MLS, moves made by Wigan and Hull, and the Atlanta Silverbacks. Have a listen!

US Open Cup: Looking Ahead

If you've not been paying attention to this season's US Open Cup, then it is undoubtedly your loss, as there have been plenty of upsets and compelling games games on the way to the upcoming quarterfinals. So far we've seen the likes of the Des Moines Menace upset the NASL's Minnesota United, San Jose lose away to Charleston of the USL, Real Salt Lake taken to extra time at home by both Charleston and the NASL's Atlanta Silverbacks, and the Carolina RailHawks unofficially crowned as champions of Los Angeles after beating the Galaxy and Chivas USA. Domestic cups around the world tend to throw such massive upsets our way, and the pattern is certainly repeating itself here stateside. 

With already so much to digest from the preceding rounds of the US Open Cup, the quarterfinal draw looks set to give us even more to consider when the competition resumes on June 26th. 

USA 2, Panama 0: Finally Comprehensive

If anything, the last few weeks for the US have been nothing less than an embodiment of what life has been like during Jürgen Klinsmann's reign. Indeed, we've seen an abject performance against Belgium, and initially inspired but ultimately nervy win against Germany, and a late dramatic winner at Jamaica that was only made necessary following an equally late Jamaica equalizer. Still, despite the schizophrenic nature of these aforementioned performances, the US had every chance to sit at the top of the table in CONCACAF once the final whistle blew against Panama, even as a complete performance had proven to be continuously elusive.

While a comprehensive win had been evading the US going into last night, it certainly wasn't at the end of the night, as the Americans resoundingly registered one of their best performances in a meaningful game for quite some time. Indeed, the widely bandied concept of "peaking at the right time" seems apt here, as memories of the overwhelmingly poor performance at Honduras at the opening of this final round of qualifying are surely beginning to subside.

At the very core of such a quality win were several praiseworthy performances to be mentioned. Likewise, there are still of couple of questions to entertain in advance of the game against Honduras next week.

The Ryan Martin Show: 6/10/13

If you missed yesterday's show, here's your chance to catch what you missed. Frank Yallop's departure, the USA's win over Jamaica, and Atlanta's fight for first place in the NASL were just a few of the talking points.

Atlanta Silverbacks: The Spirit of the Game Is Alive and Well

Like many others living in the southeastern United States, I've often bemoaned the fact that MLS has expanded into seemingly every other part of the country outside of this one. Yes, Tampa Bay and Miami were once MLS markets before the Mutiny and the Fusion were contracted following the 2001 season, but as people in Alabama, Georgia and even the panhandle of Florida would be quick to tell you, the Florida Peninsula doesn't necessarily equate the Southeast in and of itself.

While it would be easy for many people in Georgia and eastern Alabama (where I reside) to be resigned to a perceived fate of not having a quality soccer team in the region to support, whether from a distance or live and in person, such assumptions would indeed be quite faulty in nature and rather myopic. For those in this part of the country so longing for a more accessible soccer experience, and indeed a club to support that is not hundreds or thousands of miles away, the collective gaze needs to go no further than Atlanta.

United States: Looking Ahead to a Pivotal Month in CONCACAF

Almost predictably, especially as the US National Team world turns, recent friendlies against a full-strength Belgium side and a patchwork Germany squad gave us all plenty to praise, criticize and otherwise ruminate over in advance of a crucial stretch of World Cup qualifiers that will see the US travel to Jamaica before returning home for games against Panama and Honduras. It's a stretch of games that is just as likely to be problematic for the US as it will be a path to seizing control of the top spot in this final stage of qualifying.

Though the aforementioned friendlies offered us more questions than answers in various doses, the sample size of these 180 minutes certainly presents enough of a canvas on which we may begin to paint the picture of what we think this month will ultimately look like for Klinsmann and company.

The King Returns

It may have only been six years since José Mourinho stepped away from Stamford Bridge in the aftermath of an uninspiring draw with Rosenborg in the Champions League and a falling out with Roman Abramovich, but in terms of perceived time at Chelsea, it must seem like he departed ages ago. Chelsea fans have perpetually, and rightfully so, exalted his name to the point of him being something like a deity in Chelsea circles, and the constant revolving door of the manager's office has done little to placate fans and their desires to see him on the club's touchline again. Perhaps only Roberto Di Matteo has even approached captivating the Chelsea faithful as Mourinho did, but even his abbreviated yet very successful reign fell victim to Abramovich's whims.

There is a German saying, man sieht sich immer zweimal im Leben, that seems so very apt in the wake of yesterday's news of Mourinho's long awaited return to Chelsea and the Premier League. Even with the rather acrimonious circumstances of his 2007 exit, and even as both Mourinho himself and Chelsea have moved on and won their respective trophies post-separation, it just always seemed, if only rather anecdotally, the spiritual cord between Mourinho and the club had never been entirely severed. Fate just always seemed to suggest that the once happy marriage between the two parties would be renewed again.

The Ryan Martin Show: 6/3/13

Today's show was dominated by big headlines, as topics such as the week that was for the US, Mourinho's return to Chelsea, Falcao's move to Monaco, and Bayern's treble were talked about at length. A look back on MLS, the US Open Cup, and the Atlanta Silverbacks also featured prominently. Enjoy!