Countdown to World Cup 2006

[sethuel1]

OK, what's everyone's opinion of the performance vs Latvia?

 

I'll post mine tomorrow when I'm not intoxicated.

[ConstableRabbit]

Have any of you ever looked at the ESPN soccer message boards? They're so ridiculous. They're all

 

USA LOSES HAHAHAHA

MEXICO PLEASE BEAT IRAN

AMERICANS ARE DUMB

 

it's pretty pathetic and seemingly modless

[USSoccer]

OK, what's everyone's opinion of the performance vs Latvia?

 

I'll post mine tomorrow when I'm not intoxicated.

 

My opinion is that I'm amazed and concerned that we didn't beat their brains in. Any other European team would have tied that game late. The Latvians had a couple of really good chances that they blew, and again, the US was content to knock it around the 18.

 

Eddie Johnson can't finish, and gets caught offsides like a high school sophomore.

 

Beasley looks like he's playing tentatively all the time, and probably shouldn't be in the first 11. He just looks like a shell of his former self. Maybe 4 years of getting crushed on the wing made him let up or lose something, but it's really concerning, because he's our best outside mid if he's on.

 

Donovan desperatly needs to have Reyna in the lineup. He sent a few nice balls through, but made some mistakes and looked indecisive at times. Bad of restarts and set pieces.

 

Our defense is suspect, still. If Latvia had any decent attacking players they'd have won the game. Conrad sucks, Cherundolo played decently but still had lapses of judgement, Mastroeni shouldn't have played if he had the flu, Convey should have scored when he found himself wide open at the penalty spot, but didn't, and McBride is good.

 

Brian Ching continues to suck.

 

If we play in Germany like we played in these 3 games we're going home early.

 

FWIW, my starting 11 is Cherundolo, Gooch, Pope and Lewis in the back 4, Mastro, Reyna, Dempsey and Convey, Donovan withdrawn, and McBride up front.

 

Beasley, Johnson and O'Brien and the primary subs.

[Balsa]

First game not far off. US better start playing better.....

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Have any of you ever looked at the ESPN message boards? They're so ridiculous. They're all pretty pathetic and seemingly modless

 

That's really all you needed.

[shnsajax]

OK, what's everyone's opinion of the performance vs Latvia?

 

I'll post mine tomorrow when I'm not intoxicated.

 

My opinion is that I'm amazed and concerned that we didn't beat their brains in. Any other European team would have tied that game late. The Latvians had a couple of really good chances that they blew, and again, the US was content to knock it around the 18.

 

Eddie Johnson can't finish, and gets caught offsides like a high school sophomore.

 

Beasley looks like he's playing tentatively all the time, and probably shouldn't be in the first 11. He just looks like a shell of his former self. Maybe 4 years of getting crushed on the wing made him let up or lose something, but it's really concerning, because he's our best outside mid if he's on.

 

Donovan desperatly needs to have Reyna in the lineup. He sent a few nice balls through, but made some mistakes and looked indecisive at times. Bad of restarts and set pieces.

 

Our defense is suspect, still. If Latvia had any decent attacking players they'd have won the game. Conrad sucks, Cherundolo played decently but still had lapses of judgement, Mastroeni shouldn't have played if he had the flu, Convey should have scored when he found himself wide open at the penalty spot, but didn't, and McBride is good.

 

Brian Ching continues to suck.

 

If we play in Germany like we played in these 3 games we're going home early.

 

FWIW, my starting 11 is Cherundolo, Gooch, Pope and Lewis in the back 4, Mastro, Reyna, Dempsey and Convey, Donovan withdrawn, and McBride up front.

 

Beasley, Johnson and O'Brien and the primary subs.

 

How he is ahead of Twellman is beyond me. I am really not that high on Twellman to begin with, but just never cared for Ching.

 

Dempsey might be the most underrated American in some time. I think Beasley will get the start. Beasley's defense I think is ahead of Convey and getting at least a point in the 1st match is huge.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Anyone remember how the team looked in the pre-Cup friendlies in 2002?

[soccer10k]

Anyone remember how the team looked in the pre-Cup friendlies in 2002?

 

The US had a similar stretch of games in 2002:

 

May 12 they won 2-1 against Uruguay

May 16 they won 5-0 against Jamaica

May 19 they lost 2-0 against Holland.

 

Here's the link:

http://www.ussoccer.com/common/stContent.jsp_16-TMNT11.html

 

I don't remember how the team actually looked in those games though.

 

How the team performed in 1998 warmups looks closer to how they performed this year:

 

May 16 they tied Macedonia 0-0 T

May 24 they beat Kuwait 2-0

May 30 they tiied Scotland 0-0.

[soccer10k]

I don't think the US is going to advance out of the group stage this year. None of the teams they played were very good and the US didn't have one great game. I think the combination of bad play and the Group of Death will send the team home early. Hell, even if the team plays well but suffers a couple bad breaks, they might not advance out of the group stage.

 

That being said, Claudio Reyna only played about 15 minutes in these three games. If he is healthy, this is a completely different team and for the US to have a chance of advancing, Reyna MUST be healthy. Bruce Arena better whip this team into shape in 2 weeks because they have a date with the #2 team in the world and they had better be ready to play.

[USSoccer]

 

How he is ahead of Twellman is beyond me. I am really not that high on Twellman to begin with, but just never cared for Ching.

 

Dempsey might be the most underrated American in some time. I think Beasley will get the start. Beasley's defense I think is ahead of Convey and getting at least a point in the 1st match is huge.

 

I'm with you on Dempsey. He's one of the few players on this team who can be creative and run at defenders. He should be starting, no ifs ands or buts about it.

 

Twellman should be there ahead of Ching. He and Wolff blow more scoring opportunities than anyone else on the roster.

[sethuel1]

I've been impressed with Convey. Unfortunately, he's pretty much the only player that's impressed me in the tuneups. Dempsey's been good but I doubt he'll start for some reason. i'll stop there since i'm preaching to the choir on that one, I think.

 

I completely agree on Beasley. The last time I saw him play well was the WC qualifier against Mexico last September. Therefore, here is my preferred lineup vs the Czechs:

 

Keller

Dolo-Gooch-Pope-Lewis

Mastro - Reyna(if healthy)

Donovan - Dempsey - Convey

McBride

 

It's a real offensive tack, I know. If we wanna have a more defensive formation, I'd swap out Dempsey for O'Brien and have a 3-man defensive midfield. I think Mastroeni is a necessity for playing the Czechs because he can man-mark Nedved and drive him crazy. nedved is petulant and will retaliate.

 

We really have almost no subs that i trust to do anything. I'm not happy about that.

 

Ching had better just be backup for McBride. Wolff drives me up the wall. Pope scares me, especially against a team like the Czechs where he'll probably end up against the relatively small, quick Baros since Gooch will take the big man, Koller. For this reason, it may be better to play Bocanegra (this is where missing Gibbs hurts) simply because he has experience against Baros in the EPL. I think Pope is better suited to take on a bigger, slower and more physical attacker such as Gilardino (although Gilardino could probably also eat him alive).

[USSoccer]

Pope scares me, especially against a team like the Czechs where he'll probably end up against the relatively small, quick Baros since Gooch will take the big man, Koller. For this reason, it may be better to play Bocanegra (this is where missing Gibbs hurts) simply because he has experience against Baros in the EPL. I think Pope is better suited to take on a bigger, slower and more physical attacker such as Gilardino (although Gilardino could probably also eat him alive).

 

I have said before that Pope is going to be like Agoos in 2002. Overmatched and outplayed. It's imperative that Mastro and Gooch are able to help him out, or else we're toast.

 

The only possible justification for not starting Rappin' Clint is his defense, and even that's a bit thin, since O'Brien's value is in the attacking third of the field. I can see Arena starting O'Brien and putting Dempsey in after half time.

 

Johnson coming off the bench is about the only sub I trust. Beasley's been so poor, you are almost stuck. If you bench him, he'll sulk (I see a bit of petulance in him at times). If you start him, I think you're not putting your most effective player out there. I don't like Wolff; he hasn't done anything meaningful in 5 years. I'm terrified of Berhalter and Conrad, and Ching is a waste of a spot.

 

I guess the key is finishing. If we can get a lead, Mastro can sinkback and can help the backline, and that will open up our conterattack. If we fall behind, well, we saw how much we struggle against mediocre teams that pack the defensive third. Imagine trying to come back against Italy.

[soccer10k]

Pope scares me, especially against a team like the Czechs where he'll probably end up against the relatively small, quick Baros since Gooch will take the big man, Koller. For this reason, it may be better to play Bocanegra (this is where missing Gibbs hurts) simply because he has experience against Baros in the EPL. I think Pope is better suited to take on a bigger, slower and more physical attacker such as Gilardino (although Gilardino could probably also eat him alive).

 

I have said before that Pope is going to be like Agoos in 2002. Overmatched and outplayed. It's imperative that Mastro and Gooch are able to help him out, or else we're toast.

 

Oh no, not Jeff Agoos. That can't be good.

[ConstableRabbit]

Have any of you ever looked at the ESPN message boards? They're so ridiculous. They're all pretty pathetic and seemingly modless

 

That's really all you needed.

 

Well, those pathetic thread titles contributed to what I was attempting to convey.

[brinoch]

Pope scares me, especially against a team like the Czechs where he'll probably end up against the relatively small, quick Baros since Gooch will take the big man, Koller. For this reason, it may be better to play Bocanegra (this is where missing Gibbs hurts) simply because he has experience against Baros in the EPL. I think Pope is better suited to take on a bigger, slower and more physical attacker such as Gilardino (although Gilardino could probably also eat him alive).

 

I have said before that Pope is going to be like Agoos in 2002. Overmatched and outplayed. It's imperative that Mastro and Gooch are able to help him out, or else we're toast.

 

Oh no, not Jeff Agoos. That can't be good.

 

Thankfully Oguchi is a much better defender than Agoos.

[shnsajax]

Pope scares me, especially against a team like the Czechs where he'll probably end up against the relatively small, quick Baros since Gooch will take the big man, Koller. For this reason, it may be better to play Bocanegra (this is where missing Gibbs hurts) simply because he has experience against Baros in the EPL. I think Pope is better suited to take on a bigger, slower and more physical attacker such as Gilardino (although Gilardino could probably also eat him alive).

 

I have said before that Pope is going to be like Agoos in 2002. Overmatched and outplayed. It's imperative that Mastro and Gooch are able to help him out, or else we're toast.

 

The only possible justification for not starting Rappin' Clint is his defense, and even that's a bit thin, since O'Brien's value is in the attacking third of the field. I can see Arena starting O'Brien and putting Dempsey in after half time.

 

Johnson coming off the bench is about the only sub I trust. Beasley's been so poor, you are almost stuck. If you bench him, he'll sulk (I see a bit of petulance in him at times). If you start him, I think you're not putting your most effective player out there. I don't like Wolff; he hasn't done anything meaningful in 5 years. I'm terrified of Berhalter and Conrad, and Ching is a waste of a spot.

 

I guess the key is finishing. If we can get a lead, Mastro can sinkback and can help the backline, and that will open up our conterattack. If we fall behind, well, we saw how much we struggle against mediocre teams that pack the defensive third. Imagine trying to come back against Italy.

 

Luckily momentum carries more wieght in this tournament than almost any other event in the world, and the phrase speed kills actual means something unlike this freakin baseball team. Beasley is one run away from breaking out of his slump, of course that is a lot easier said than done :)

 

I don't know what is going to happen, and this Cup looks like it could be more unpredictable than '02. As crazy as it sounds I think Brazil could struggle getting out of their group as well. I think this years winner comes from Europe (not really going out on a limb there) and I think its between Holland and England.

[sethuel1]

Yeah. As much as I look at the Italy defense and think about how it's impenetrable, I also remember that they looked absolutely lost against South Korea 4 years ago. So anything's possible.

 

As far as brazil struggling to get out of their group, I think you're crazy.

[Marco4]

I don't know what is going to happen, and this Cup looks like it could be more unpredictable than '02. As crazy as it sounds I think Brazil could struggle getting out of their group as well. I think this years winner comes from Europe (not really going out on a limb there) and I think its between Holland and England.

 

England have real problems. The best two strikers - Rooney and Owen - will be nothing like fit (Rooney won't even play until the knock-out stages, Owen is just getting his fitness back) for the finals. The central defence, where England have such strength, is weaker than I can recall - Campbell's been out with mental problems for a while, Ferdinand lapses regularly, which leaves John Terry to have confidence in.

 

Anything further than the quarter finals I'd see as a huge achievement.

 

The Dutch are well-equipped. However, they're always well-equipped.

[soccer10k]

I don't know what is going to happen, and this Cup looks like it could be more unpredictable than '02. As crazy as it sounds I think Brazil could struggle getting out of their group as well. I think this years winner comes from Europe (not really going out on a limb there) and I think its between Holland and England.

 

England have real problems. The best two strikers - Rooney and Owen - will be nothing like fit (Rooney won't even play until the knock-out stages, Owen is just getting his fitness back) for the finals. The central defence, where England have such strength, is weaker than I can recall - Campbell's been out with mental problems for a while, Ferdinand lapses regularly, which leaves John Terry to have confidence in.

 

Anything further than the quarter finals I'd see as a huge achievement.

 

The Dutch are well-equipped. However, they're always well-equipped.

 

Holland and Spain always have good teams but they always find a way to fail. Although in Spain's defense, they got screwed over in 2002 and should have beat South Korea.

[Marco4]

Holland and Spain always have good teams but they always find a way to fail. Although in Spain's defense, they got screwed over in 2002 and should have beat South Korea.

I quite fancy Spain this year. Which is a death-knell for their chances, of course.

 

I just think the tournament's at the right time - and they do have David Villa, the player I'm most looking forward to seeing at the World Cup.

[USSoccer]

Pope scares me, especially against a team like the Czechs where he'll probably end up against the relatively small, quick Baros since Gooch will take the big man, Koller. For this reason, it may be better to play Bocanegra (this is where missing Gibbs hurts) simply because he has experience against Baros in the EPL. I think Pope is better suited to take on a bigger, slower and more physical attacker such as Gilardino (although Gilardino could probably also eat him alive).

 

I have said before that Pope is going to be like Agoos in 2002. Overmatched and outplayed. It's imperative that Mastro and Gooch are able to help him out, or else we're toast.

 

Oh no, not Jeff Agoos. That can't be good.

 

Thankfully Oguchi is a much better defender than Agoos.

 

Pope isn't, though. He's in the perfect position to be found out.

[USSoccer]

I don't know what is going to happen, and this Cup looks like it could be more unpredictable than '02. As crazy as it sounds I think Brazil could struggle getting out of their group as well. I think this years winner comes from Europe (not really going out on a limb there) and I think its between Holland and England.

 

England have real problems. The best two strikers - Rooney and Owen - will be nothing like fit (Rooney won't even play until the knock-out stages, Owen is just getting his fitness back) for the finals. The central defence, where England have such strength, is weaker than I can recall - Campbell's been out with mental problems for a while, Ferdinand lapses regularly, which leaves John Terry to have confidence in.

 

Anything further than the quarter finals I'd see as a huge achievement.

 

The Dutch are well-equipped. However, they're always well-equipped.

 

I'd be shocked if Man U release Rooney for WC duty. He's not going to be anywhere near game ready, so why risk the long term health of a 20 year old who will likely have 2 more chances to play for England in the WC for a run this year that he's not likely to have much of an impact on?

[sethuel1]

Zambrotta is out for the game between Italy and the US. Big break for the USA, Dolo would've had a lot of trouble with him. His replacement won't be nearly as threatening going forward. Edited May 30, 2006 by sethuel1

[brinoch]

With Gibbs out, and Berhalter rather than Spector replacing him on the roster, I'd probably go with a 3-6-1 alignment.

 

                    Keller

       Cherundolo - Onyewu - Lewis

                   Mastroeni
            Reyna     -     Convey
      Donovan   -   Dempsey  -   Beasley

                    McBride

 

I like O'Brien a lot, and if he's healthy he needs to be in there. If Beasley doesn't pull his head out of his posterior, then I'd bench him. I think Dempsey needs to be in there as well. Frankly, I like having our speed out there -- I think it causes a lot of problems and helps recover from some errors. I'd like to see O'Brien and Dempsey in the same midfield. I think they'd complement each other well. I like this 3-5-2.

 

                            Keller

               Cherundolo - Onyewu - Lewis

         Donovan - O'Brien - Reyna - Dempsey - Convey

                      McBride  -  Beasley

[brinoch]

I'm a firm believer of getting your best 11 players on the field, even though that may mean having only one forward, or 3 defenders, or 7 mids -- whatever. The key is to understand your weakness and to prevent the other team from exploiting them. For example, our defense has been a weakness, particularly on the wings. So, keep the midfield strong on the flanks and use speed as an advantage. With the speed of Convey and Donovan, they can help Cherundolo and Lewis out. I think the middle is solid. Most teams aren't going to succeed in funnelling their attack through Mastroeni or Reyna and then Onyewu to beat Keller straight on.