I stopped by the office today to pick up my home kit. It looked like the Stars were training in the PM and not in the mornings as they typically do. There were several players sitting around the office watching the England/France Euro 2012 match.

I am really not big on motivational speeches, but I told the guys that the fans were excited to see them work hard in the recent away matches, we recognized their extraordinary efforts (traveling over 15,000 miles in the past few weeks), and that although I love watching the play soccer, it is so much better watching them in person.

Saturday was a big let down. They got spanked. However, I know that they are re-charging their batteries, and they will come out swinging Saturday night against the Rowdies.

Come on you Stars!!!

+++++++++

I would like to see someone like Wes come up with a "Sweet Home Nessy" or something like that...

Big wheels keep on turning
Carry me home to see my kin
Singing songs about the Southland
I miss Alabama once again
And I think it's a sin, yes

Well, I heard Mr. Young sing about her
Well, I heard ol' Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern man don't need him around anyhow

Sweet home Alabama
Where the skies are so blue
Sweet home Alabama

hmmm. I like the welcome home idea, but something about Sweet Home Alabama strikes me as too easy. That and as a Yankee I want very little to do with that song.
In the past we've done a version of Country Roads, right? (Yes, I know that this is even more cliched, but CR is so much more fun to sing.)

Also, I forget every about the Rowdies. We need a jackassery scouting report.

Hmm, how about the Green, Green Grass of Home?

Down the lane I walk with my sweet Mary, hair of gold and lips like cherries.
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.
Yes, they'll all come to meet me, arms reaching, smiling sweetly.
It's good to touch the green, green grass of home.

Uh, how about...

Up to Blaine I walk with Nessie, to see the Stars play like Messi
It's good to watch the blue, blue stars at home.
Yes, they'll all come to meet me, arms reaching, smiling sweetly.
It's good to watch the blue, blue stars at home.

Yes, that's a shite rhyme, but "Mary/Cherries" and "meet me/Sweetly" is terrible too.

Wow. Deep cut.

How about a version of 500 Miles?
Hell, you don't have to change a word, we'll all just romantically sing about waking up next to the Stars.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rynxm_GQEsI

I'm not sure I could pull off the accent.

Rowdies scouting:

Don't forget, they now have a player named Fafa. Forward Fafa Picault. Fafa. He came from Fafa away to lose in MN...

Rowdies are looking forward to conceding their first, first-half goal of the season. Coach Hill said this: "It’s kind of a strange stat that we haven’t conceded a league goal in the first half of any game this season..."

And then they really fall apart in the second half, especially if the Stars score early. "for whatever reason in the second period no matter what we try to put into the player’s minds, the tempo and the intensity drops...in the second period. If we concede a goal during that time, then it’s going to be even harder for us to score two during the final 45 minutes."

Coach Hill also commented on the team's "inability to handle our assignments on a set piece."

Shane Hill - coach's son - has had 4 yellow cards this season. Easy taunting target?

that's all I've got for this morning.
Anyone else have anything for the 'scouting report'?

Hooligans, I don't think I have it in me to make the drive home on Saturday to make the game and will be crashing in Duluth with my buddy.

Let me know if you're interested in meeting up Friday evening. I sent you a PM with my number.

Shane Hill, interestingly enough, is not just the coach's son, but is a terrible soccer player.