Arrived in Houston and have just been training at the stadium and noticed that they have the American football lines on the pitch.

I think it is an absolute disgrace that the League allows this!

They had it once before in New England and I didn’t have a clue where I was because you use the line and midfield line to know where you are on the pitch. When lines is everywhere you don’t know when to shot or do anything, -it is a massive problem!

Anyway, great weather down here and not as hot as last time and they think it will stay around 75 for the game. When we played here during the regular season it was over a 100. Heard that the game is sold out at around 27,000 and that a lot of Sounders fans is supposed to have traveled down here, so I am really excited to see what kind of atmosphere you guys will be able to create.

Houston defended well in the last game but will for sure be coming out being more offensive in this game which will open up a lot of chances for us. We have played well down here before and should have won with a couple of goals but missed a lot, like an open goal chance, so this time we need to play a lot better with more speed in our passes as it is a smaller pitch and get better results on all our chances. If we do this the game will be ours.

I feel great and the whole team is geared up and positive so I hope it will be enjoyable to watch.

// F

A lot of  people around the Sounders are working to get the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and I want to help out by asking you to visit GoUSAbid.com and sign thepetition showing your support. Lets bring it to Seattle!

As a Swede I have great memories of the World Cup being hosted by the United States as Sweden sensationally got the Bronze medal in 1994!

Gearing up for some really important things, – the big game on Sunday in Houston!

//F

Photo: Rbk.no

(I enclose text in Swedish below)

Saw online today that Erik Hamren, currently coach of Rosenborg in Norway, will be the new Swedish National Team Coach.

From the names that has been mentioned lately I personally preferred Erik or Hasse Backe as it is important for Sweden to get a coach with personal experience from both Swedish and International football. That can definitely be said about Erik Hamren.

Have never had him as a coach but remember Erik from when he was at another club in the Swedish league some years back, as it was very clear that he had a positive impact on the team since they started playing very positive football after his arrival. I wish Erik all the best with his new job!

Finally I would like to say that I think the “media circus” around the appointment has been sad to watch and in fact unworthy this very important job, it should have been handled much better.

Good night

//F

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Såg på nätet idag att Erik Hamren blir ny förbundskapten vilket låter riktigt bra.

Av dom namn som nämnts på senare tid tyckte jag det stod mellan Hamren och Backe eftersom det är viktigt att Sverige nu får en tränare med erfarenhet av både svensk och utländsk fotboll. Det tycker jag helt klart man kan säga att Erik uppfyller med sina framgångar i Sverige, Danmark och Norge.

Har ingen personlig erfarenhet av honom som tränare men kommer ihåg när han tränade Örgryte eftersom man tydligt kunde se den inverkan tränaren hade på laget pågrund av att dom började spela en riktigt rolig fotboll. Önskar Erik all framgång med Svenska landslaget!

Kort sista reflektion är att jag tycker den “media cirkus” man lyckats skapa runt tillsättande av detta stora jobb är tråkig och ovärdig, det borde ha kunnat hanteras mycket bättre.

God natt

//F

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Started thinking about the five best football stadiums I ever played at and came up with my personal “top 5″ list that I wanted to share with you.

I really like to play at stadiums where you get the feeling that the stands  “hangs over the pitch” and you have the fans very close. It is an impossible feeling to describe.

All of my “top 5″ are fantastic places, but I really wish all of you could be able to experience walking in on the pitch at a packed Bernabeu in Madrid !

// Freddie