Speaking of Weird Standards . . .

In my last post, I spoke about the weird definition of what can constitute success for smaller market soccer teams abroad. We go from there to the San Jose Earthquakes-LA Galaxy game. The Earthquakes' announcer opens the game by describing Galaxy keeper Donovan Ricketts as one of the best in the league.

Five minutes in, a long cross from the left wing bounces between Ricketts and one of his defenders, loops lazily over them, and falls for Chris Wondolowski to bury it from a tight angle. Sure, there are occasional flukes, but that timing was not very good for Ricketts.

Major League Soccer is getting better, but maybe we need to set higher standards. Too often with MLS, I see defensive lapses that are avoidable, just a bit of sloppiness, a bit more frequently than in the Premiership. For instance, Arturo Alvarez, a talented player for San Jose, got the ball in the penalty area, and took one touch too many, let it get away from him, and a defender cleared it before he got a good shot.

There is an interesting article in the current issue of World Soccer, in which Paul Gardner discusses the relatively low-key arrival of Thierry Henry to New York, and he speculates this is a sign of hope for MLS, that this time it might succeed to a greater extent than David Beckham's Galaxy career has done so far.

I want to see a faster pace, players sharper in possession and in the passing, better camera work from the broadcasters. But it is getting more entertaining every season, so that's good to see.