Countdown to World Cup 2006

[USSoccer]

Evidently Beasley has been in bad form almost all season at PSV, so his performance yesterday wasn't much of a surprise to those that have seen him a lot this year.

 

Zavagnin is crappy.

 

Donovan needs to play in a more advanced role. he simply can't hold the ball in the midfield.

 

Dempsey drew a hell of a lot of attention and really powered his way through it. he looked pretty good.

 

The Gooch is a hammer in the back.

 

The problem is that Donovan also isn't a great finisher, so where does that leave him? I think he will end up playing upfront as long as Reyna is healthy, but it's not ideal, either.

 

I had heard rumblings about Beasley being bad at Einhoven, but is there a reason for it? Maybe all the hard challenges are taking their toll...

[sethuel1]

Evidently Beasley has been in bad form almost all season at PSV, so his performance yesterday wasn't much of a surprise to those that have seen him a lot this year.

 

Zavagnin is crappy.

 

Donovan needs to play in a more advanced role. he simply can't hold the ball in the midfield.

 

Dempsey drew a hell of a lot of attention and really powered his way through it. he looked pretty good.

 

The Gooch is a hammer in the back.

 

The problem is that Donovan also isn't a great finisher, so where does that leave him? I think he will end up playing upfront as long as Reyna is healthy, but it's not ideal, either.

 

I had heard rumblings about Beasley being bad at Einhoven, but is there a reason for it? Maybe all the hard challenges are taking their toll...

 

I'd play Donovan in an advanced right wing position, basically opposite Beasley.

[USSoccer]

Did those two play on the same side of the field in Korea?

 

Hopefully yesterday ended the Kerry Zavagnin Experience.

[sethuel1]

Did those two play on the same side of the field in Korea?

 

Hopefully yesterday ended the Kerry Zavagnin Experience.

 

IIRC, beasley played wide left and Donovan played support striker, usually to the right of McBride.

[USSoccer]

Good article breaking down why the US struggled against Poland:

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=360503&cc=5901

 

It's funny how he echoes a complaint I have had against Reyna for a long time. Also, he touches on this discussion of where to play Donovan.

[sethuel1]

Good article breaking down why the US struggled against Poland:

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=360503&cc=5901

 

It's funny how he echoes a complaint I have had against Reyna for a long time. Also, he touches on this discussion of where to play Donovan.

 

Yep, I tend to agree with him on most of the points.

 

Also, your link took me to another article. here's my link to the same article if anyone else has trouble

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=360511&root=us&cc=5901

[USSoccer]

Good article breaking down why the US struggled against Poland:

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=360503&cc=5901

 

It's funny how he echoes a complaint I have had against Reyna for a long time. Also, he touches on this discussion of where to play Donovan.

 

Yep, I tend to agree with him on most of the points.

 

Also, your link took me to another article. here's my link to the same article if anyone else has trouble

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=360511&root=us&cc=5901

 

Whoops! I must have been clicking about and messed up.

 

Have you been readin the articles where Arena gets angry at the European press for continually asking him about Adu? Classic stuff, really.

[sethuel1]

Good article breaking down why the US struggled against Poland:

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=360503&cc=5901

 

It's funny how he echoes a complaint I have had against Reyna for a long time. Also, he touches on this discussion of where to play Donovan.

 

Yep, I tend to agree with him on most of the points.

 

Also, your link took me to another article. here's my link to the same article if anyone else has trouble

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=360511&root=us&cc=5901

 

Whoops! I must have been clicking about and messed up.

 

Have you been readin the articles where Arena gets angry at the European press for continually asking him about Adu? Classic stuff, really.

 

yeah. I don't blame him. The questions are ridiculous

[sethuel1]

My USMNT lineup (not that it will happen, since it's a formation Bruce has never used):

 

------------------ Keller ----------------------------

-- Cherundolo -- Pope -- Onyewu --- Lewis --

----------- Reyna ------ Mastroeni/O'Brien -----

-- Donovan ----- Dempsey ----- Beasley------

------------------- McBride ------------------------

[USSoccer]

My USMNT lineup (not that it will happen, since it's a formation Bruce has never used):

 

------------------ Keller ----------------------------

-- Cherundolo -- Pope -- Onyewu --- Lewis --

----------- Reyna ------ Mastroeni/O'Brien -----

-- Donovan ----- Dempsey ----- Beasley------

------------------- McBride ------------------------

 

Why Dempsey in the middle?

 

 

Also, good article on Italy's national team:

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=360907&root=worldcup&campaign=fp&src=360907&cc=5901

[goonys evil twin]

I know this isn't World Cup related, but it is futbol related. I feel like this is the 3rd or 4th match-fixing story I've read in recent months. Is euro-ball in a dilly of a pickle or are these just small fries?

 

BRUSSELS, March 9 (Reuters) - Police arrested three players

from Belgian first division side Sint Truiden during training on

Thursday and took them for for questioning as part of an

investigation into alleged match-fixing.

"I can confirm that Cyril Ramond, Marco Nijs and Ilija

Stolika were arrested by police this morning and are currently

being questioned while their houses are being searched," a

spokeswoman for the Belgian federal prosecutor said.

[Marco4]

As more and more cases come up, the more and more worried one should become - clearly - however, I'm not aware of it being a massive problem.

[goonys evil twin]

As more and more cases come up, the more and more worried one should become - clearly - however, I'm not aware of it being a massive problem.

 

I could have read further. Weren't there also some German refs who got busted?

 

The arrests are the latest in a growing scandal that has

involved at least five Belgian teams. Last month a former coach

of Lierse admitted he fixed two matches because his family was

threatened. He and two former Lierse players were sacked by

their new teams.

Belgian investigators have also said they intend to arrest a

Chinese businessman in connection with the scandal and have

asked Britian and Finland for permission to extend their

enquires into those countries.

[sethuel1]

My USMNT lineup (not that it will happen, since it's a formation Bruce has never used):

 

------------------ Keller ----------------------------

-- Cherundolo -- Pope -- Onyewu --- Lewis --

----------- Reyna ------ Mastroeni/O'Brien -----

-- Donovan ----- Dempsey ----- Beasley------

------------------- McBride ------------------------

 

Why Dempsey in the middle?

 

 

Also, good article on Italy's national team:

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=360907&root=worldcup&campaign=fp&src=360907&cc=5901

 

he distributes very well, and Donovan and Beasley are quicker/slashier in my opinion. Also, he's shown that he can hold the ball in the face of the defense fairly well, and draws free kicks well also.

 

Note: I'm currently enamored with the Roma system employed by Luciano Spalletti, which looks very similar to this. Less traditional target men up front and more runs from attacking midfielders results in more difficult marking jobs for the opposing defense.

 

Another note: If Christian Vieri makes the Azzurri, its a total waste of a roster space. it's a much better idea to put Inzaghi or Cassano on the team.

Edited March 9, 2006 by sethuel1

[sethuel1]

As more and more cases come up, the more and more worried one should become - clearly - however, I'm not aware of it being a massive problem.

 

I could have read further. Weren't there also some German refs who got busted?

 

The arrests are the latest in a growing scandal that has

involved at least five Belgian teams. Last month a former coach

of Lierse admitted he fixed two matches because his family was

threatened. He and two former Lierse players were sacked by

their new teams.

Belgian investigators have also said they intend to arrest a

Chinese businessman in connection with the scandal and have

asked Britian and Finland for permission to extend their

enquires into those countries.

 

yes. They fixed German second-division games, IIRC.

[goonys evil twin]

yes. They fixed German second-division games, IIRC.

 

So is this like the equivalent of minor league or independant league baseball, or maybe arena football? Or is this like MLB and NFL?

[Marco4]

yes. They fixed German second-division games, IIRC.

 

So is this like the equivalent of minor league or independant league baseball, or maybe arena football? Or is this like MLB and NFL?

 

I'm not 100% on the state of the German League, but I think its probably minor league baseball; certainly not MLB level.

[sethuel1]

yes. They fixed German second-division games, IIRC.

 

So is this like the equivalent of minor league or independant league baseball, or maybe arena football? Or is this like MLB and NFL?

 

I'm not 100% on the state of the German League, but I think its probably minor league baseball; certainly not MLB level.

 

In Germany it goes Bundesliga>1st division>second division

[goonys evil twin]

yes. They fixed German second-division games, IIRC.

 

So is this like the equivalent of minor league or independant league baseball, or maybe arena football? Or is this like MLB and NFL?

 

I'm not 100% on the state of the German League, but I think its probably minor league baseball; certainly not MLB level.

 

In Germany it goes Bundesliga>1st division>second division

 

How much gambling is going one for that low of a level of sport?

[Marco4]

I know the set-up, but I don't know the size/scope of the majority of the teams in the second tier. From what I know of those promoted to the Bundesliga, I'll stick with my 'minor league' judgement. Its a different kettle of fish in England, with teams in the third tier regularly pulling 10,000+ fans per week, and some pulling more than double that - I think there's a sharper drop-off in most European countries.

[sethuel1]

Actually, I just looked it up, and in Germany the first division is the Bundesliga. So we're looking at the level below the top.

 

Read about it here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bundesliga_scandal_of_2005

[USSoccer]

I think that if FIFA wants to look into match fixing, or referee irregularities they need look no further than Serie A. If your team isn't Juventes or AC Milan, you aren't getting the calls.

[brinoch]

I think that if FIFA wants to look into match fixing, or referee irregularities they need look no further than Serie A. If your team isn't Juventes or AC Milan, you aren't getting the calls.

 

Indeed.

[USSoccer]

My USMNT lineup (not that it will happen, since it's a formation Bruce has never used):

 

------------------ Keller ----------------------------

-- Cherundolo -- Pope -- Onyewu --- Lewis --

----------- Reyna ------ Mastroeni/O'Brien -----

-- Donovan ----- Dempsey ----- Beasley------

------------------- McBride ------------------------

 

Why Dempsey in the middle?

 

 

Also, good article on Italy's national team:

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=360907&root=worldcup&campaign=fp&src=360907&cc=5901

 

he distributes very well, and Donovan and Beasley are quicker/slashier in my opinion. Also, he's shown that he can hold the ball in the face of the defense fairly well, and draws free kicks well also.

 

Note: I'm currently enamored with the Roma system employed by Luciano Spalletti, which looks very similar to this. Less traditional target men up front and more runs from attacking midfielders results in more difficult marking jobs for the opposing defense.

 

Another note: If Christian Vieri makes the Azzurri, its a total waste of a roster space. it's a much better idea to put Inzaghi or Cassano on the team.

 

Don't despair that Arena wouldn't try a goofy alignment if he thought it would give his team an advantage. IIRC in the Round of 16 game vs Mexico in Korea he so confused Mexico by starting Reyna on a wing and playing a 3-6-1 that they subbed a player off in the 8th minute to try and counter the formation.

[sethuel1]

I think that if FIFA wants to look into match fixing, or referee irregularities they need look no further than Serie A. If your team isn't Juventes or AC Milan, you aren't getting the calls.

 

Indeed.

 

As a Roma fan, I obviously agree with this.