Fulhams amerikanske hitman Brian McBride oplyste i går, at han vender tilbage til hans fødeland, hvor han i sin tid startede sin professionelle karriere i Milwaukee Rampage!

Hvor han nu skal garne sine mål er på stående fod uvist, men en ting er sikker; han bliver aldrig glemt i Fulham FC.

Kærligheds historien om McBride og Fulham startede tilbage i januar 2004, da han blev hentet i Colombus Crew for den minimale sum af 700.000 engelske pund.

I sin første kamp for klubben valgte McBride at banke en kasse ind mod Spurs, og hans dedikation til spillet gjorde, at supporterne hurtigt forelskede sig i den hårdtarbejdende angriber.

I de følgende sæsoner scorede McBride regelmæssigt, og den sympatiske amerikaner skød sig hurtigt op som den mest populære spiller (Måske sammen med Moritz Volz) i Fulhams trup.

I sin sidste sæson i Fulham blev McBride gjort til anfører for holdet, men måtte, allerede i august, udgå med en alvorlig knæskade efter at have scoret en kasse mod Boro.

Tabet kunne mærkes i Fulham truppen, og de sank hurtigt i tabellen, hvilket bl.a. kostede katastrofen Lawrie "Dirty" Sanchez jobbet som træner...

Da McBride vendte tilbage til Premier League, i Februar 2008, hed manageren Roy Hodgson, og Fulham lagde under stregen via en særdeles ringe formkurve...

Den kurve forsøgte McBride dog at vende med et par vitale mål, bl.a. i en 1-0 sejr over Everton i marts, og det lykkedes gudskelov Fulham at redde sig i allersidste runde i en hektisk slutfase..

En værdig afsked for en legendarisk fyr både udenfor og indenfor kridtstregerne.

Da jeg i 2004 var praktikant i klubben, mødte jeg faktisk Brian McBride, og en flinkere fodboldspiller skal man lede længe efter.

Jeg ønsker ham alt muligt held og lykke i fremtiden, og jeg håber, han har nogle år på fodboldbanen i sig endnu..

Brian McBride Facts

Født: 19. juni 1972 i Arlington Heights, Illinois, USA

Højde: 183 cm

Position: Angriber

Force: Hovedspillet og målnæsen

95 landskampe og 30 mål for USA

Tidligere klubber: St. Louis University, Milwaukee Rampage, Wolfsburg, Preston (lån), Everton (lån) og Colombus Crew

Købt til Fulham fra Colombus Crew i januar 2004 for 700.000 pund

139 kampe

32 mål

Former USA international striker Brian McBride announced that he will leave Fulham FC to return to MLS.

McBride, 36, played four and a half seasons for Fulham, scoring 32 goals in 139 appearances.  What he lacked in talent, he made up for with toughness, earning the admiration of many English fans.  McBride served as club captain for the 2007-8 season.

McBride played eight seasons in MLS for the Columbus Crew.  He has not yet signed a new contract.

Mit vækkeur ringede.. Højt og grusomt, syntes jeg selv...

Jeg klaskede min knyttede næve ned over det lille SWATCH-ur og åbnede mine øjne, så godt som jeg nu kunne..

Det var middag, og jeg kunne godt mærke, at jeg havde siddet oppe til klokken 3 i nat...

Jeg rejste mit dvaske kadaver fra sengen, og begyndte at klæde mig på...

Sløvt gik jeg langsomt ned af trappen, og indtog en plads i køkkenet..

Jeg var dagen forinden taget hjem til de gamle, da jeg skulle have lidt afstand fra alle distraktionerne (jf. øl, kabeltv og Football Manager) i Dobbelt A, så jeg kunne blive færdig med mit teori til P4 projektet på Uni..

Anspændtheden var tydelig i mine skuldre denne morgen, og min mimik viste en smule nervøsitet, mens jeg slubrede mine cornflakes ned i mavesækken..

Jeg sad og stirrede lidt tomt ud i luften, og mest af alt lignede jeg en fjernstyret robot, der i takt løftede og sænkede skeen gang på gang..

Det var lørdag den 3. maj 2008, og Fulham skulle møde Birmingham i Premier League..

En vigtig kamp i den engelske bundstrid, og en af de vigtigste kampe i Fulhams historie..

Begge hold lå under nedrykningsstregen, og med en sejr kunne Fulham, hvis alt flaskede sig, rykke op over den røde streg..

Jeg varmede lidt op til bundbraget med kampen mellem Manchester United og West Ham, hvor "De Røde Djævle" klart var deres modstander overlegen..

Jeg sad selv og håbede på samme scenarie i Fulham kampen, men tvivlen lagde stadig i baghovedet..

Klokken var nu 15.46, og stillingen var 4-1 til Manchester United, der, selv med en mand i undertal, havde forholdsvis let spil mod et svækket West Ham mandskab, der dog bed godt fra sig i dele af kampen...

Tilbage i Kanal 5 studiet sad Claus Thomsen og indikerede, at han ikke troede på Fulhams overlevelseschancer, mens Jacob Laursen høfligt mente det modsatte..

"Bare Jacob Laursen får ret", tænkte jeg, hvorefter jeg søgte mod køleskabet for at finde en lille let snack til kampen..

Tilbage i lænestolen med et par leverdrenge i mit skød, var jeg nu klar til dagens helt store brag: Fulham versus Birmingham på Craven Cottage..

Kampen havde påtaget sig klart mest opmærksomhed i de engelske medier, da det var en kamp mellem liv og død, og man kunne næsten føle nervøsiteten gennem skærmen fra alle involverede...

Fulhams startellever havde fået selskab af tomåls-skytten fra sidste weekends meriterende comeback mod City, Diomansy Kamara, mens David Healy havde taget plads på bænken..

På slaget fire fløjtede dommer Chris Foy kampen i gang, og jeg kunne nu se frem til 90 neglebidende minutter i selskab med to hårdt kæmpende mandskaber i bunden af verdens bedste liga.

Brian McBride - GOOOOOAAALLLL

Fulham var altdominerende i startfasen af kampen, og man fornemmede, at de virkelig prøvede at vise deres fans, at de fortjente deres plads blandt de bedste..

Flot flydende spil langs jorden førte til flere gode chancer for Fulham, der kulminerede i Brian McBrides hovedstød på overliggeren allerede efter fem minutter, som dog fejlagtigt blev dømt offside.

Efter tyve Fulham dominerede minutter, begyndte Birmingham at komme bedre med i kampen. Brede Hangeland kom godt imellem et par halvfarlige Birmingham forsøg, og den gigantiske midtstopper viste rigtigt format i denne hektiske fase af matchen.

I det 42. minut kunne det dog være gået galt, da James McFadden, efter et Jimmy Bullard boldtab på midten af banen, fandt en fri Mikael Forssell oppe i front, men en befriende fod fra nordirske Aaron Hughes reddede Fulham fra at komme bagud..

De to hold måtte gå til pausen med stillingen 0-0, men man fornemmede stadig en opløftet stemning på et fyldt og larmende Craven Cottage.

"Pyha...", tænkte jeg, "... jeg er sgu for gammel til det her pis", mens mit hjerte langsomt begyndte at optage en normal hastighed efter hektiske 45 minutter.

Et hurtigt kvarter senere gik de to hold på banen til anden halvleg, og pludseligt røg mit signal på computeren... "NEEEEEJJJ", råbte jeg, mens jeg bandede og svovlede...

Jeg spurtede ind og hev kablet til modemmet ud, som man nu gør, når Internettet ikke virker... Men intet skete, og forbindelsen var stadig ikke at se nogen steder... "Argggh.. Det er ikke fair", småhulkede jeg, mens jeg forbandede alt og alle...

"GOD DAMMIT YOU F*CKING PIECE OF CRAP"

"Det er ikke fair, det er ikke fair, det er ikke fair", blev jeg ved med at gentage, alt imens jeg rodede rundt med ledningerne bag i computeren...

Efter 7 minutters frustrationer var signalet på mystisk vis tilbage, og jeg hoppede ind i det 50. minut...

Bare to minutter senere sendte Jimmy Bullard et frispark ind i feltet, hvor Brian McBride dukkede op med sin amerikanske skal, og gjorde det til 1-0!!

"JAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!", råbte jeg højlydt, mens min mor var ved at tabe både potter og pander... "Du var ved at give mig et hjerteanfald", vrissede hun, mens jeg hoppede rundt i køkkenet som en kænguru på speed...

Troen var for alvor tilbage, og det var da også Fulham, der stadig havde teten.. Bare få minutter efter havde Kamara en ganske god chance for at afgøre kampen, men hans flade skud voldte ingen problemer for den tidligere Fulham-keeper Maik Taylor.

Mellem det 70. minut og det 80. minut begyndte Fulham at have lige lovligt mange boldtab, som dog ikke førte til det helt store for modstanderholdet, der kvitterede med selv at smide bolden tilbage i Fulhams sort/hvide favn.

I Fulhams højreside fortsatte  walisiske Simon Davies med at voldtage Birminghams venstreback med mange gode raids op af kanten.

Bagved ham fortsatte, den i Tottenham, lånte Paul Stalteri med at overbevise ledelsen om, at han ikke skulle have en permanent kontrakt.. Jeg ved ikke selv, hvor mange gange jeg råbte: "Hvad Fanden laver du Paul Stalteri din canadiske retarterede skovhugger"!!!

Klokken rundede nu de 85 minutter..

Frustrationerne hos Birmingham-spillere og tilhængerne var nu brudt ud i lys lue, mens Fulham fansene optimistiske sad og svingede med flag, scarfs og hvad de ellers havde i hænderne..

Ude på sidelinjen stod træner Roy Hodgson og var eftertænksom, mens ejer Mohammed Al-Fayed så mere rolig ud med et uldtæppe foldet hen over sine ben.

Fulham har dog i denne sæson indkasseret mange mål i de sidste ti minutter, så jeg sad stadig og borede mine negle ned i egetræsbordet foran mig.. Desuden har Fulham været foran i 13 kampe og kun vundet tre, så intet under at dette sad i baghovedet...

Erik Nevland - Pure Class

Men ud af det blå kom forløsningen i det 87. minut...

Venstreback Paul Konchesky hoofer en lang hold op af banen, hvor Birminghams venstreback, den tidligere Fulham-mand Frank Queudrue, ser ud til at have styr på begivenhederne..

Men Queudrue går håbløst galt i byen, og får slet ikke kontrol over bolden, hvorefter indskiftede Erik Nevland hugger den lille runde kugle og udplacerer Taylor i Birmingham målet..

Mine øjne blev større end tekopper (Lige en lille intertekstuel reference til Fyrtøjet), og jeg gryntede højt i triumf, som boede jeg i en hule sammen med Osama i Afghanistans bjergrige sydvestlige region... Jeg strakte begge arme op i luften, knyttede mine næver og skrålede: "FULHAAAAAAAAM... YAAARRRRRRHHHH"..

Min mutter fik igen et chok, men undlod at kommentere på det, andet end: "Nå, nu står der to nul eller hva?"... Jeg havde store bloklys i øjnene, og smilet fyldte hele mit lalleglade fjæs, for hun havde ret..

2-0... Nu kunne det ikke gå galt... Og det gjorde det da heller ikke...

Chris Foy fløjtede af efter fire minutters overtid og alle supporterne holdte deres "Come On You Whites" skilte op mod himmelen..

Klasse perfomance med gude spillere, som Martin Birn sikkert ville have udtrykt det!

Samtidig tabte Reading til Spurs, og det betyder, at Fulham selv kan afgøre sin skæbne mod Pompey på udebane i næste uge.. En gyser af dimensioner!

Portsmouth har ikke noget at kæmpe for samtidig med, at de har en pokalfinale få dage senere... Fulham har naturligvis ikke den bedste udebanestatistik, men med to udebanesejre i træk er formen god, og jeg håber naturligvis på et hattrick...

"Cheer Up Roy, you old buggar, We got a fucking Victory"

Come On You Whites

Das Zimmer direkte fra Craven Cottage blandt eufori og pure class!

Arsenal Reserves drew Liverpool Reserves 1-1 in a Saturday thriller.  Rafa went with Jermaine Pennant and frisky Peter Crouch.  Arsene started two English lads.  Liverpool should have put the match away earlier.  Crouch had a brilliant effort saved.  Riise missed a sitter with his footballingly handicapped foot.  Benayoun missed another.  Even with United's draw, the match killed Arsenal's minute title hopes.  See you at Anfield for round three.

Middlesbrough retained the title of big club bully by holding Man United 2-2 at the Riverside.  Sir Alex sent out a stronger side than at midweek.  They got outplayed.  Alfonso Alves at last lived up to his transfer fee, scoring two.  Had they a competent partner rather than Aliadiere they would have had at least two or three more goals.  Ferdinand looked flummoxed without Vidic at his side.

Aston Villa blew out Bolton 4-0.  England cuspers Gareth Barry and Gabby Agbonlahor served up three with a cherry from Marlon Harewood.  Bolton's defending was dreadful.  Davies and Diouf did not communicate.  The Wanderers look doomed.

Sunderland beat Fulham 3-1, in a relegation six-pointer.  The win puts Sunderland on 36 points, 10 points clear.  Fulham remain on twenty-four with fate fast approaching.  Brian McBride can count to infinity twice, but it won't keep Fulham up.  All credit should go to Roy Keane for the wonders he's done with the worst squad in the League besides Derby.

Fulham FC sprang back to life on Sunday, with a startling 1-0 victory over European-bound Everton.

The win, Fulham's fourth of the season, places gives them 23 pts – an effective four points away from safety.

However, Odds and Sods will now make a bold prediction.  Fulham will not be relegated.

The club has momentum.

Fulham finally has started to mesh in this latter part of the season, spurred by the return of Jimmy Bullard and Brian McBride.  They have also had an impressive run, earning four points from two grueling fixtures against top half opposition in Everton and Blackburn.

The club was unlucky at the onset, bafflingly blowing a few first-half leads, followed by a morbid holiday respite – lasting through Februrary.  Fulham are a decent side with extraordinarily bad luck.  They are due for some good football.

Fulham also have an easier schedule.

They do face a problem.  They have only three home matches remaining and have not won away all season.  However, two winnable relegation six-pointers come in the next two away matches at Newcastle (Mar. 22) and at Derby (Mar 29.).  They also have additional six-pointers with Sunderland and Birmingham at home and Reading away.  Should Fulham climb the table it will come at the direct expense of their fellow bottom dwellers.

The only top four side that Fulham play is Liverpool at home (Apr. 19) – who may be conserving players for a Champions League run.

If Fulham finagles four points, from the next two matches.  That leaves them with 27 pts with six matches remaining.  If they again get four from Sunderland and Birmingham at home, that is 31 pts.  It's not unreasonable they get four pts from the other four matches amassing the total 35 pts.  That may be enough to keep them up, particularly with some help.

That estimate also assumes merely a reasonable level of competence, not an impressive run.

Bolton have a much tougher road.  They still must travel to Man Utd., Chelsea, Aston Villa and Tottenham.  They also host Arsenal and Man City.  They have only one relegation six-pointer at home to Sunderland (May 3.).  Relegation seems a certainty at this point.

Birmingham have a slightly less arduous schedule, but still must host Liverpool, Man City, Blackburn and Everton.

Sunderland still have to host Man City and Arsenal and travel to Aston Villa.

Any fixture poses a problem for the soccer circus at this point.  But Newcastle face away matches with Tottenham, West Ham, Portsmouth and Everton.  They also host Chelsea in the penultimate match.

It's not impossible that one or two teams from this group take a tumble, opening a door for Fulham.

They do have the fewest points, but they have the edge in talent and the easiest schedule.  If Fulham can denounce their doldrums and play at close to their potential, there is no reason they can't avoid the drop.

Fulham coach Lawrie Sanchez expects Brian to return to action on December 22nd against Wigan. The boss is certainly happy to see the big striker coming back.

Coach Sanchez said "We can't afford to miss players of Brian's quality - that's why the front two have been mixed and matched all season since then."

Brian is one tough S-O-B and as a fan of both American soccer and Fulham FC, I am thrilled to see he made such a speedy recovery. As I said, a nasty looking injury that I thought would keep him off the pitch for the rest of the season.

Kansas City Wizards to Face CSD Municipal of Guatemala in Inaugural New Mexico Cup

McBride on Fire's radar

Brian McBride is returning to MLS

Mediocrity in one more sport: It's always entertaining watching Kansas City lose!!!

Microsoft to sponsor Seattle Sounders - WSJ  First I had to give up purchasing Red Bull, next was Glidden, and then Volkswagen. Now I have to change my operating system because of Seattle.  Currently I strongly support Samsung...ask my flat screen and cell phone, oh and my wife...she can tell you about my lean toward Samsung as she finishes off her Carlsburg.  I look forward to the day that I can add another sponsor to our short list of companies to support.

Donovan must wait for 100th US game This saddens me how?

US Open Cup First Round set

 AG

An international crew consisting of British and Americans (with a smattering of other cultures) tunneled their way out of the prospect of imprisonment in the League Championship (read: Division 2) with some late-season heroics.

Three consecutive away victories, where previously there had been none, were capped with a final, last-game triumph over Portsmouth.

Fulham, whom I sometimes like to refer to as Team America World Police, features several Americans including veteran keeper Casey Keller, former NE Revolution star Clint Dempsey, and long-time international standouts Brian McBride and Carlos Bocanegra.

I don't know if Fulham have a 'theme song', the way Liverpool have "You'll Never Walk Alone", but I can't help but think that the famous Elmer Bernstein theme from the Great Escape could be the ad-hoc theme for the coming season.

A good outcome for both American soccer fans as well as those who admire Fulham as a London-based club retaining some of the characteristic charm of English football despite the overwhelming influence of huge money on the game.

Stars of the Lid, Adam Wiltzie and Brian McBride, came to Louisville's 930 Listening Room last night as part of their first North American tour since 2002. The duo lives a world apart (one in Brussels, one in L.A.), but have united to ride the wave of support for their new album. SOTL's 2007 album, And Their Refinement Of The Decline, was way up on most of the major lists. Behind Coltrane's Blue Train and Miles' Kind of Blue, this album is the third most played in my iTunes. Their sound is classical music with an electric ambient twist. Adam and Brian play guitar and keys and are accompanied by two violins and a cello. It is the perfect sound to fill the room when you want to relax, but not fall asleep.

SOTL's performance was enhanced by panoramic images and film projected onto a large screen behind the stage (ala The Photographic). The audience sat silent in the dark and were treated to an hour of ambient bliss. One problem, however, with solely instrumental performances is that it is hard for the audience to know when the song is over to show their appreciation with applause. There were a number of short awkward pauses between songs, followed by a smirk as the room remained quiet. After 45 minutes of playing, a simple "thank you" (aka it is okay to clap now) from the band prompted a hefty round of applause. The final song was was noted to be about "vegetarians;" but the reference was missed on me. It was great to finally have an image to compliment the compositions that I have heard a hundred times.

Christopher Willits, out of San Francisco, opened and played a similar style of music as SOTL, but based solely on guitar lines layered with custom-built software. He to had images displayed on the screen behind him, providing the audience with visual stimulation to balance the rhythm and texture of his music. Needless to say, his set was a great way to get people ready for SOTL. He will continue to open for SOTL for the rest of the US/Canada tour, then SOTL heads to the UK.

A few from And Their Refinement Of The Decline (Kranky, 2007)...

Stars of the Lid- Dopamine Clouds Over Craven Cottage

Stars of the Lid- Humectez La Mouture

Stars of the Lid- Another Ballad for Heavy Lids

buy it

More pics below the break...

SOTL

Christopher Willits

It was Keller and Hahnemann in net- two goalkeepers from the Pacific Northwest and apparently on the Seattle Sounders radar come 2009. Hahnemann looks the more likely decision and you could see why today. A 2-0 win for Fulham was modest, thanks to Hahnemann who got his hand to a number of chances that should have been clear goals. The Cottagers hit the post FOUR times - one being the most acrobatic volley I've ever seen out of the 35-year old McBride.  David Healy worked hard today, but it was sub Erik Nevland who took advantage of his chances - finishing a run down the right side in the 91st minute. Carlos Bocanegra came in for Dempsey with about 20 minutes to go and shut his marks down. Therefore, the Americans played well - but where in the world is Bobby Convey? He makes a big fuss about dooming Fulham to relegation, how it doesn't really matter that there are other Americans on the team, and then he can't make the damn bench...

Oh. Right. Why focus on the relegation battle? No real reason...except that it was Fulham's first AWAY win in 34 - I repeat 34 - away games. That's almost two full years of NOT winning away from home. Why the sudden change? The burst of energy, desire to win? Did Hodgson just say to go out and play...cause they didn't look like Hodgson tactics today.

But once again, too little too late? They are now 4 points from safety, 4 games left, 2 away, and Liverpool's looming. You do the math.

Brian McBride- If Fulham's captain looks a bit poker faced all the time, it's for a very good reason: like a drunken sorority girl dozing at the bar- he can't feel his face.  During McBride's long career he's taken his share of hits, and many of them have gone directly to his head resulting in shattered cheekbones, and your run-of-the-mill heavy bleeding.  I certainly remember this particularly gruesome and unnecessary Italian elbow to the cheek during the 2006 World Cup.  After the match, he told the press corps, "I don't have a lot of feeling in my face. My nerves are all dead from the surgeries. You get hit and you get back up."  Never tell him soccer isn't a man's game.

Michael Owen-  Watching this striker regress from a fiery teenager speeding around the pitch on little wheel shaped legs, to a grown man attempting to avoid injury whilst maintaing the legacy he was seemingly destined to create for himself, is in a word- depressing.  His troubles began at the turn of the millenium as he was trying to recover from hamstring injuries that then led to lower back issues, leading to Owen seeking treatment from a German doctor with a hilarious sounding name.  These days were also the beginning of 8 years of press conferences in which Owen will swear he's fit, only to get knacked in a horrible way a short time later.  We're still waiting for him to regain even a shadow of his old form. 

Brian Clough- These days, it seems nearly everyone has had a torn ACL at some point.  According to a popular medical journal website, science has progressed to the point that there is now a 90 to 95% chance of an athlete returning to their pre-injury form within 6 months of the injury.  Sadly, Cloughie didn't have technology on his side- and his playing career was cut very short when he ruptured his ACL while playing for Sunderland.  Brian Clough once said no amount of managerial success (of which he had plenty!) would replace the feeling of playing football. 

However, I've always been a fan of Brian McBride and today he kept Fulham's slim hopes of avoiding relegation alive.

Dempsey last year, McBride this year? Could be. Could be...

[dailymotion id=x4qo2u&v3]

Watch it quick cause the EPL is pretty anal about clips being posted so don't expect it to last long.

Brian McBride entered today's match looking to find the ever-elusive first goal since returning from long-term injury. Timmy Howard entered the match looking to extend Everton's run of EPL form and let go of the heartbreak that was their loss in penalty kicks to Fiorentina in the UEFA Cup. Both definitely showed up to play. Problem was, McBride has support, Howard didn't.

Everton played NOTHING like a team chasing a UEFA Champions League spot. Fulham played exactly how they should have - determined, gritty, and for their dear Premiership lives. McBride, however, has had the problem of not getting the service he needs to put goals away. Simon Davies remedied that today and delivered the pinpoint cross that McBride powered past an outstretched Howard for a 67th minute stunner.

Eddie Johnson has been playing well for the Cottagers. Unfortunately, when your fighting against relegation, goals and goals only are used as the measuring stick for how "well" one is playing. Johnson hasn't found the net yet since coming over joining Clint Dempsey in the goal drought territory. All 5 Americans saw time in today's game - Keller, McBride, and Johnson started - while Dempsey came in for McBride late and Bocanegra worked a solid part of the 2nd half.

The Cottagers have a stretch of four games that they could certainly win, but it will involve more performances like the one against Everton today. Next 4 games - @ Derby County, @ Newcastle, vs. Sunderland, @ Reading. Good performances away from home are hard to find...especially when Fulham has yet to win away. Hmmm...

What do you think their chances of avoiding relegation are? If relegated, which Americans will stick around in the English Championship? 

I'll get more up on Olympic Qualifying and this weekend in the EPL tomorrow. If need more input on USA's 1-0 win over Honduras yesterday, check out Jeff's take and the live blog of the match, featuring a female streaker.

The UK's Daily Mail actually put out something today not rooted in rumor. A tribute - if you can call it that - to Brian McBride. As Fulham continues to slide, many wonder if it would have been any different had McBride been there the whole time. He's always been their guy to right the ship and with tomorrow's fixture vs. Manchester United looming, there's really only one guy the Fulham faithful can look to for any sense of survival. It's been that way for a while now and he's put in a lot of work to become that go-to guy at the club level - for Everton, Preston North End, Columbus, Milwaukee Rampage of the old USISL, VfL Wolfsburg.

McBride has scored twice in the past 3 games against United, but Fulham has only produced 2 goals in the last 5 league games. The truth is, NO ONE on the team has the same dedication, bravery, and aggression that McBride exhibits. This is a guy who holds an impressive resume of injuries - shattered cheekbones, broken eye socket, metal plates, blood clots, and most recently the dislocated kneecap that put him out for a solid 6 months. These aren't injuries sustained due to lack of fitness, etc. - they're what Ray Hudson would call 'gladiator' injuries. We all remember the Daniele De Rossi challenge in the 2006 World Cup...McBride had this to say after that,

I'm fortunate in that I don't have a lot of feeling in my face. My nerves are all dead from the surgery. You get hit and you get back up.

Without him, Fulham's two other proclaimed target men have done nothing for the team - Diomansy Kamara and Shefki Kuqi - while the guy meant to finish all of the challenges that these target men win, has hit for nothing [David Healy]. Now with Dempsey, Johnson, and McBride all healthy and getting consistent playing time - it's up to the American trio to pull a Wigan and find their way out of the depths.

I'll keep this from breaching man-crush territory and let you decide...

What was Brian McBride's career moment?  I'd say this could be up there...

Danny Szetela - newly loaned out to Brescia of the Serie B - looked decent in the last 10 minutes of a 4-2 Brescia comeback win.

Oguchi Onyewu played all 90 minutes in a Standard Liege shutout of Rosealare. Unfortunately, Liege couldn't find any offensive production either. 0-0 tie.

Not one American started for Fulhamerica in a 1-0 loss to Middlesbrough. Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey did get in. Dempsey after the break, McBride with 30 minutes to go. Kasey Keller sat on the bench, but is back and ready for selection. Eddie Johnson apparently got into a reserve game a couple days ago and scored in a 3-0 win.

Timmy Howard won the battle of the American goalies as Everton beat Marcus Hahnemann's Reading 1-0 and put them into the relegation zone. Bobby Convey was not selected.

Benny Feilhaber was not selected for Derby's ass-whooping at the hands of Tottenham. Eddie Lewis is out injured.

Jonathan Spector was a last-minute sub for West Ham United in their 1-1 tie with Birmingham City.

Johann Smith wasn't selected for Bolton's 1-0 loss to Portsmouth.

Matt Pickens was on the bench for QPR's 3-2 triumph over Southampton. He didn't play.

Jay DeMerit was not in the line-up for Watford's 2-1 win over Ipswich.

Fullback Zak Whitbread went all 90 minutes for Millwall in a 2-0 loss to Nottingham Forest.

Jemal Johnson got on for the last 5 minutes in a MK Dons' 1-1 tie with Rotherham.

Steve Cherundolo started at fullback in Hannover 96's 2-2 tie with Karlsruhe. Sal Zizzo was on the bench, but didn't see any time.

Bryan Arguez wasn't selected for Hertha Berlin's squad and Preston Zimmerman didn't make the Hamburg squad.

Greg Dalby wasn't selected for Charleroi's game versus Sint Truiden.

Very happy to see Bullard back on track after a long and painful injury/recovery process. He's just the kind of player who makes football worth watching: always hustling, always creating opportunities and, occasionally, scoring game-winning goals in exciting fashion.

 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7210618.stm

Speaking of back from injury, welcome back to Brian McBride, American international and Fulham striker.

From the Galaxy standpoint, this should put them back in the playoffs. Donovan and Beckham now have a target in the middle for their crosses and corners, something LA has lacked. If the chemistry works out between these three super-stars (Beckham is international, Donovan is without question the biggest US soccer star, and The Fish is one of Central America's biggest stars) than Alexi Lalas just may be on the verge of successfully doing something that no MLS team every thought of doing... competiting internationally.I know, it sounds ridiculous, and I'm not suggesting that they are at that level. This may be a completely failed expirement, but it's what Lalas is trying to do... From an MLS fan standpoint, I despise the Galaxy almost as much as I despise Chivas USA, but from a US Soccer fan standpoint, I hope he succeeds. Mike from MLS Fan Central expands on Lalas' vision...

In the meantime, it looks like US-friendly Fulham is signing another young-gun... Eddie Johnson. He disappointed early in his career but had a really solid season in '07 for Kansas City. Fulham desperately needs a boost...  They play tough, but always come up short... I'd hate to see a team with 5 (assuming Johnson signs) US Nationals end up relegated.With McBride coming back from injury, maybe (hopefully, as I follow Fulham more than any other EPL club), they can avoid relegation and become competitive again.

Stars of the Lid, Adam Wiltzie and Brian McBride, hit the road for their first North American tour since 2002 and Louisville's 930 Listening Room will be hosting one of their shows on April 24th. SOTL's 2007 album, And Their Refinement Of The Decline, was way up on most of the major lists. The duo lives a world apart (one in Brussels, one in L.A.), but have united to ride the wave of support for their new album. They will be mostly playing 930-type museums/art galleries. It is rumored that they may add a few more stops along the way, but they are playing Louisville, so that doesn't matter much to me.No info on price yet (averages $10-20 bucks). Tix will most likely be available at Ear x-tacy in the near future. We will give you an update when we find out more.

Update: Tix are $10 bucks in advance or $13 at the door.  You can pick 'em up at Ear x-tacy after Feb. 2nd. 

A few from And Their Refinement Of The Decline (Kranky, 2007)...

Stars of the Lid- Dopamine Clouds Over Craven Cottage

Stars of the Lid- Humectez La Mouture

Stars of the Lid- Another Ballad for Heavy Lids

buy it