SOCCER SPORT !

[shameless]

Last Saturday I took the family a couple of hours west to Charlotte, NC for the Chelsea v. PSG preseason friendly. This is the closest that they've come to home in all the years of doing preseason tours, so we could not miss the opportunity given that the cost and logistics of taking a family of 6 to Stamford Bridge is beyond what I can handle! It was blazing hot (94/34 degrees) and very humid, but we are southerners who can handle the heat, and it did not keep the crowds away. Attendance was 62K, and I'd say a good 50K of those were Chelsea supporters. The Blues have huge support already in the US, and up until last year, our very large local youth football club was a partner of the Chelsea development system. So there have been at least a couple hundred thousand families over the last decade who were given a default PL team to support as the logo adorned their children's jerseys and local fields.

The game was a good one, with more edge than the usual friendly given the recent rivalry between these two teams. Chelsea started sluggishly and went down 1-0 at the half, but dominated for long stretches of the second half and could have easily won it in regulation time. It went to a tension-filled penalty shootout, with Courtois playing the hero by saving two PSG PKs and then burying the winner himself in the top corner. Fantastic finish for the throngs of Chelsea faithful on hand, as well as a great memory for my kids. It was after 1am by the time we finally made it home after a very long day, but it was well worth the expense and exhaustion. We sat in the upper deck of the stadium so I didn't take many pics, but here are a few:

Even from great distance, Luiz's hair was visible like a torch. He was lustily booed with every touch for the entire game.

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looks like you have the makings of a good back four there Gabe - i love the colour but not the badge great images btw

[OTGabe]

looks like you have the makings of a good back four there Gabe - i love the colour but not the badge great images btw

Thanks! My daughter is quite a good keeper (she's no fan of running) but she's making the transition to volleyball because that's what her school friends are playing. One of my middle boys is a very direct, goalscoring midfielder in the mold of Lampard. The other is a speedy winger with great footwork but no desire to get banged around in the box. The youngest is a bit of a puzzle. He's very impressive when playing with his siblings or doing drills in practice. But in the chaos of a U7 game, he tends to get overwhelmed. I keep waiting for the moment when the light switches on and he starts making more of an impact for his team. I'll be coaching all the boys again starting in two weeks so my life is about to get a lot busier!

[shameless]

cannot wait for the 8th August for the season to start - although it means i'm back in the bookies on a daily basis !!!!

[OTGabe]

cannot wait for the 8th August for the season to start - although it means i'm back in the bookies on a daily basis !!!!

Same here. Better than Christmas morning!

[Steppy]

Confirmed Ricky Lambert signs for West Brom for £3m

Please get rid of Balotelli soon!

[Raza]

Never saw Ricky Lambert as a top player - £3M to West Brom is about right for him

That's about right at his age.

[Raza]

Confirmed Ricky Lambert signs for West Brom for £3m

Please get rid of Balotelli soon!

Best of luck to Rickie.

But Balotelli should stay.

[Steppy]

Liverpool picked 2 squads for 2 friendlies on the same day yesterday. The main squad went to Helsinki, the remaining stayed in Uk for a friendly with Swindon.


Balotelli was not in either squad. By all accounts Balotelli's behaviour in pre-season training has been more of the same, no hard work and messing about

[Raza]

Liverpool picked 2 squads for 2 friendlies on the same day yesterday. The main squad went to Helsinki, the remaining stayed in Uk for a friendly with Swindon.


Balotelli was not in either squad. By all accounts Balotelli's behaviour in pre-season training has been more of the same, no hard work and messing about

Well, his dad did just die a few weeks ago. Cut him a little slack.

It would be a shame if he were to go on the wall of players Brendan Rodgers has set up for failure.

[Raza]

Less than an hour until the Community Shield. Go Gunners!