Goal.com's MLS Player Of Week 8 is former Silverback, Macoumba Kandji

Reprinted From Goal.com:
Macoumba Kandji has won Goal.com's Major League Soccer player of the week for round eight.

The Senegalese striker dominated the New York Red Bulls' 4-1 drubbing of the San Jose Earthquakes. He won the free kick for the first goal, assisted the next two, and scored the last. All of this, of course, happened in the first half.

“It's Kandji. Really, it's not close,”

said MLS columnist Kyle McCarthy. New York signed Kandji on loan midway through last season, but the 6'4 striker hardly played a part in the Red Bulls' run to the MLS Cup. That didn't deter the club from purchasing the striker outright and partnering him with Juan Pablo Angel in the 2009 season.

“The 23-year-old's performance shows such incredible promise, it will be exciting to see how he develops with the Red Bulls,”

said Bay Area correspondent Jennifer Dawson.
That development might not be too far off. In seven starts he has two goals and three assists.

“His imposing play built on blistering pace and overwhelming power has started manifesting itself in goals for New York,”

said associate editor Zac Lee Rigg.

“Against San Jose he was nearly unplayable. More performances like that is just the tonic Juan Carlos Osorio needs for peaceful nights' rest.”

Teammate Jorge Rojas come in at second place in the voting. The Venezuelan playmaker was deployed on the left side of the midfield against San Jose, but didn't let that keep him from chances at goal. Rojas scored the first free kick and found himself in the right place to tap in a Kandji cross for the second.

“In search of a much needed victory, Rojas was the spark plug to New York's success on the night, contributing two goals, and causing San Jose trouble all through the night,”

said D.C. correspondent Steven Streff.

Man Utd. Is Through to the Champions League Final in Emphatic Fashion

It was always going to be an uphill battle for Arsenal, coming in to the second leg – even at The Emirates - a goal down.

And as Arsen Wenger aptly pointed out in the post match interview, the game was over in 11 minutes really as Park and Ronaldo notched one a piece for the Red Devils.

But for my money, the moment of the match was goal three. Pay attention to this one kids, Manchester United’s counter attack goal against Arsenal was among the best you’ll ever see.

Speed, passing to the correct foot in stride, quick touches, and solid finish – Ronaldo, Park, and Rooney combined to cover at least 80 yards in under 10 seconds for a positively picture perfect counter attacking goal.

Observe and learn:

What the hell was Joey Barton thinking?

My guess is, like many thinks related to Joey Barton, is that he wasn’t thinking.

His reckless lunging tackle which sent Xabi Alonso out of the match and earned him a straight red card was the epitome of unprofessional. No, wait. The tackle was the epitome of short sighted and dangerous football, his “what did I do wrong” reaction afterward was unprofessional.

To be sure, Alan Shearer was furious with the Magpies troublemaker, and the BBC reported that the two exchanged pleasantries in the locker room post match.

The net result? Joey Barton has been released from Newcastle indefinitely and the club has no further comment. In other words, Joey…You’re Fired!