New location

We moved hotels yesterday, as our training camp switched to Glendale.  We are in a nice hotel, its more business like I feel like but its real nice.  We are right across the street from the University of Phoenix Stadium where the Arizona Cardinals play.  It looks pretty neat.  We loaded up a uhaul with all our team gear and personal suitcases before our game yesterday and came straight here after the game.

We lost our game 2-1.  Vancouver had the likes of Shea Salinas, Jay Demerit, John Thorrington and a few others.  They seemed like a quality side.  Eddie Gaven scored for us on a penalty kick and we played most of the guys in training camp. I, however, didn't get in.  Just gotta keep battling in training and hopefully that will change.  We train today at 11 and that's it.  We have our third preseason game tomorrow against the Seattle Sounders.  Should be a good game.  Only two weeks away from our first actual game against Real Salt Lake in the Concacaf Champions League quarterfinals.

After the game, some of the guys and I went to the yardhouse for some late lunch.  Pretty cool place, located in a huge open mall area, also located across the street.Weathers been great last four days so that's be nice.  Nothing but sun and 70s.  Watched IU lost to Purdue with Rich and Andy which stunk then we chilled for rest of day.  Went to Cracker Barrel late night for some food with Cole Grossman, Justin Meram, and my roomate Josh.  Had a nice little meal.  That was basically it.  Gotta keep grinding.  Appreciate ya checkin in.  Ill be back tomorrow sometime.  Much love.

EG

Back to training...

Had a nice day off yesterday and sadly saw the Packers won, but they are really good.  I knew once my bears let em in the playoffs during week 17 that it could come back to haunt us.  Sure did! oh well.  We trained this morning, started with some technical warmup, then on to possession, some finishing and finished with 11 v 11.  We then had lunch on our own, some of the younger guys and I had sandwiches from the hotel restaurant then sat out by the pool for a few hours.  Threw a football around and laid in the sun.  Weather was gorgeous today too, about high 70s and straight sunnnn! I got pretty pretty burnt, got me a nice tan going.

We had team dinner tonight provided by the hotel.  It was pretty good I had fish, steak, salad, taters, rice, and some veggies.  Topped off with some fruit and whip cream and I actually ordered some ice cream brownie thing with room service and it was super good.  Andy and I indulged.  Good group of young guys here at Columbus between Rich, Andy, Cole Grossman, and Justin Meram.  Been hangin with them a lot and we usually laugh our butts off.  I enjoy bein with them. 

We play our second preseason game tomorrow against the Vancouver Whitecaps.  It'll be interesting to see how it plays out, watching it and whether I will get in or not.  Either way I will be ready.  We are also switching hotels and cities tomorrow as we will be moving camp to Glendale Arizona.  Hope this nice weather continues.  That's it for now I suppose, appreciate the support and wishes.  Means a lot.  I will be back tomorrow with the game result and review of my day ha.  Thanks for checkin in.

EG

happy 78th birthday to my lovely oma today. love you grams

Superbowl sundayy...

We tied our game yesterday, 2-2..KC came out fast but it seemed like we slowly took over the game and control.  Robbie Rogers scored a PK for us and one of our trialist centerbacks got a header off a corner.  I didn't get in, but we ended up playing only 23 of our guys out of the 30 or so that are here.  KC played about 35 guys it seemed, we played three 30 minute halfs so.  Just gotta be ready when I am called, and that's all you can do.  Spoke with some of the KC coaches and training staff after the game, it was good to see them again.  They had some nice things to say so that was cool.  The Crew cut some guys too yesterday, sad to see them go too.  As we train and hang out, we all become close so it's always too bad when you gotta see someone go.  As for me, I am still here so that's a good thing.  Just gotta take it day by day and do what's in your control, and that's what I have been doing.  Keep the positive vibes comin my way please!

After the game, my roomate Josh, Rich, Andy, and I went to this burger joint Josh claimed was amazing.  Whataburger, ha I guess it was pretty good.  Had myself a nice burger and some fries.  We just chilled rest of the day, watched Indiana blow it against Iowa, which Rich, Andy, and I were not too thrilled about.  Superbowl today and it should be a good game man.  Still devastated my bears arent in it :( but oh well!  I would like to pick the packers to win it but as a die hard bears fan I just can't bring myself to do it!  Steelers 27 Packers 24!  We will see what happens, I just wanna see a good game!  That is all for now.  It's sunday morning and I'm gonna grab some food here in a bit and then just veg out with the fellas and watch the game (and commercials!)  We are off today so, got one training session tomorrow and then we play the Vancouver Whitecaps on Tuesday in our next preseason game.  Hope everyone is well, thinkin of you all back home!  Be back later!


EG

Shoutout to my family on this superbowl sunday, ma, pa, greg, opa, oma! enjoy the game and I miss you guys!

preseason game vs KC tomorrow...

Training went pretty well today, we opened with some organized warm-ups with ladders, hurdles, and cones.  We then went into 7 v 7 with passing into end zones to score goals.  Fairly tight space so you had to have good touches and good ball movement.  We finished with 11 v 11 and I got in the second part at central midfield.  Didn't give any balls away, and had some good passing so I felt good about it.  It was good to get the feet wet a bit in a game like situation before tomorrow in case I do get a chance to play.  Plus it will be against KC, who i trained with last preseason so it'll be fun.  We shall see. 

We had team dinner tonight the hotel put on for us.  They had real good tilapia and steak, and I made a nice big salad.  Got some goodies from 7 eleven for dessert with Rich, so that was a nice little treat after dinner.  We just laid low after that for the rest of the night, watched some sweet youtube videos and now I am here.  Feeling pretty tired and lookin forward to a goodnights sleep.  Gettin a nice little tan too it seems in the face lol I was casper white when I get out here.  The weather was nice today so that was good.  Hope tomorrow goes well.  Night everyone.

EG

Shoutout to a great man, Mr. Berrier, who sadly passed away this week.  RIP Love you casey and the rest of the family. Love you pappa B, you are with me out here.

daily doublee....

Sorrry I didnt post yesterday, was a bit tired so I just went to bed.  We had two training sessions yesterday and overall they went well.  In the morning, we started training with some technical drills different variations of passing with a group of about 8.  It was fun, I like getting good clean touches on the ball.  That stuff is where you really keep your touch sharp and keep things clean.  We went on to some 8 v 6 attackers vs defense. I played in front of the back four and was able to break up a lot of incoming passes and made it difficult for the attackers to score.  Thought I did well.  We then finished with some finishing and once again, I thought I was hitting some fluid shots, scored a couple nice goals.  We had a lunch break and then were back at it in the afternoon.  This training was strictly different patterns of crossing and finishing.  I basically was just pinging balls out wide to the crossers and then joined in on some crossing myself.

For the rest of the night I chilled with andy and rich again, I enjoy being with those fellas.  We ordereed some pizza for dinner and some wings, and watched college bball and some nba.  All along with rippin on eachother and cracking jokes.  Good times. 

Overall, it really has been a solid week, I am just trying to do my best, and do what is under my control.  And when i go back and think of all the things I have done, all things considering, I think I have done fairly well.  We got one training session today, and then first preseason game against Kansas City tomorrow.  I am not sure if i will get in, but I do know if I do get a chance, I will be ready.  That is all for now, I will be back this evening I am sure.  Take it easy everyone.

EG

Shoutout to my man Tony Deluca, lots of good memories brotha from our glory days at Loyola, can't wait for the wedding!

40s and windy out..:(

Today it was unusually cold out here in Phoenix as it was low 40s and windy all day basically.  We had our one training session at 11 after breakfast and we originally had planned on doin fitness and then some possession type drill.  We were all literally in pants and jackets with hoods on because it was pretty cold.  Once we got goin I guess it wasn't so bad but it sure was windy and that was annoying.  We started with some warmup with the ball and then on to the fitness, which was an obstacle course the coaches planned out.  It covered the whole field and we had to do it under 3 minutes, a total of six times.  Everyone did really well and the coaches seemed pleased.  The coach then even went on to call the training session and that was it.  I think the combination of us doing well and the weather prompted it.

After training I took a nice hot shower, and got some pizza with my buddy Andy Adlard.  It was pretty good, we got room service because we didnt wanna move ha.  We watched Cast Away that with Rich Balchan, it was on HBO.  What a movie!  I have seen it before but it get's me everytime.  Sad man, couldn't imagine! Tom Hanks is class too!  Andddd that leads me to now, gonna lay low for the rest of the day and grab some dinner soon.  We have two training sessions tomorrow so it will be nice to get some good hard ball work in, both with the team and individually.  Heard the snow has finally stopped back home so I hope everyone is doing well and staying warm!  Miss everyone!  Love you too! I will be back sometime tomorrow evening.  Talk soon.

EG

Shoutout to Billy the Nightrain Langevin for being a true friend man.  Love you buddy!

Day 2 in Arizona...

We had one training this morning and then a light session to work the goalies a bit.  This morning we started with a warmup and then we got divided into three teams.  Two teams played 2 v 2 to goal, then on to 3 v 3 and eventually 4 v 4.  The team sitting out did fitness.  My team was solid with Eddie Gaven, Andy Iro, and Dilly Duka to name a few.  We played first, then fitness, and played again.  The first time we played we defended the big goal and I made some good tackles and blocks.  For fitness I felt very good, we did some diagonal running to half and then strided it out to finish the full length.  I was pleased with how I felt fitness wise.  We then went on to attack to the big goal, which I made some good runs and made some nice passes.  Had a nice shot on goal too that the goalie stopped.  Overall, I was satisfied.  We finished training with some 7 v 7 to goals.  My team ended up winning and we had some nice combinations going. 

We then had team lunch, at the hotel.  I made a nice big sandwich and had some pasta ha. It was good.  This afternoon they had the other trialists and I work with the goalies and we basically just whipped balls in and provided some crosses.  It was crazy windy so it was a challenge gettin the crosses in but that was all we did.  It was a rather light session, didn't do any shooting or finishing so.  And that basically leads me to where I am at now, waiting to go out to dinner with a few of the guys.  Heard there is a HUGE snow storm back home, too bad I gotta miss it ha ;).  I love snow actually though, I feel like if it's gonna be winter in Chicago, let it SNOWWWWWW!!!!  Hope everyone is safe and keeping warm.  We just have one training tomorrow at 11 and that's pretty much it for the day so I will be back sometime tomorrow afternoon.  Keep the positive vibes comin my way! I appreciate the support.


EG

Shoutout to all my former teammates, from Lake Central to Loyola.  Love you guys like brothers.