The Soccer Thread

[sethuel1]

When we did the "who should never play for the Nats again" thing a couple of pages back, I seriously considered putting both Hejduk and Mastroeni, but then I thought "wait, there's not way these guys are seriously being considered, is there?"

 

God dammit

[Guest]

Mourinho named new Inter coach.

 

In Euro news, Fabio Cannavaro will miss the tournamentwith an ankle injury.

[wolf stansson]

Just a heads up for you US Soccer fans who may not know who Jorge Flores is, you should. He was the heir to Freddy Adu's U-20 arm band and plays for Chivas USA.

 

The reason he was semi-famous in MLS circles up until the last three weeks is because last year he won a reality show that awarded a developmental contract to the best player off the street who tried out for Chivas. The reason he is famous in MLS circles this year is because he has scored 3 goals in his first 3 games including this class volley last week against Columbus.

 

He's only 18, has a sweet nick name (El Sueno) and looks pretty legit. Keep an eye out.

 

http://goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=720346

 

Fyi, Chivas plays NY Thursday on ESPN 2.

Edited June 3, 2008 by wolf stansson

[MPC]

chelsea is close to signing carlo ancelotti as their manager away from ac milan.

 

mark hughes is jumping from blackburn to man city.

[USSoccer]

Any other federation that considered itself a world-class side would have Bradley on the shortest of short leashes. I'm beginning to question what the point of these 3 friendlies was. If we wanted to showcase our crap depth players like Jacqua, Wolff and Califf who are out of contract, we could have played some lower profile sides and not embarrassed ourselves.

 

There should be no excuse for this kind of roster, ever. MLS in season? So what. Screw you, FC Dallas. Kenny Cooper should be there. Piss off, Houston Dynamo. Brian Ching should be there. Jozy should be there, although his absence is somewhat forgiveable from the European fixtures. If he is absent against Argentina, it's a joke. Donovan should borrow Beckham's big boy pants and play.

 

We should never, ever go into a game against Spain or England with Hejduk, Mastroeni, Califf, Johnson, Wolff and Jacqua on the 22 man roster. Ever. The way Bob Bradley and the USSF is wasting these high pressure friendlies by allowing camp fodder to be showcased for jobs that still won't make them any better is borderline [expletive]. Seriously, that roster reads like our B/C team. It's awful. If this were 2006 again and we had to put together a WC roster with the current player pool, I would bet that half this roster (at least) isn't on it.

 

And this is not even touching on his in game tactics.

[wolf stansson]

The thing that bothers me the most is that the bench guys aren't getting much playing time anyway. Would an in-form Benny Feilhaber, Altidore, Adu and Kenny Cooper getting major minutes make us that much better? Maybe, but the way we played against England was 30% our players sucking and 70% bad tactics and motivating by Bradley.

 

Also, if you ask me, Bradley has done a piss poor job of developing our strikers. Everyone knows about Jozy at this point, but sticking with Wolff and EJ is inexcusable. Jaqua is an [expletive] JOKE. He was the third choice striker on an admittedly very good MLS team. A nice MLS player, but nowhere near the a national team player. Now all of a sudden he goes to play in a crap European league and he is worth a call up? Screw that. I'm very pro-European when it comes to where our best players should play, but not to that extent. Josh Wolff, EJ and Jaqua offer nothing. Kenny Cooper, Jozy Altidore and Freddy Adu should be playing major minutes. Hell, even Ching. How are we going to know what works up there if we keep trotting out what we know does not work? I don't know if Kenny Cooper is the answer. He probably isn't, that's just not the point though.

 

Maybe I'm wrong. I hope not because that means we aren't as good as I thought we were. All I know is that tomorrow is going to suck. I'm looking forward to Argentina more because with the European season over, Altidore living three blocks from Giants Stadium and MLS players being able to travel that we'll have our first choice squad. Donovan will play because he wants to get his 100th cap at home. We saw at the u-20's how beautifully Altidore and Adu combine. That will be the game that makes or breaks Bob Bradley for me. As of now, I'm not expecting much.

[wolf stansson]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=542328&cc=5901

The AC Milan coach issued an unequivocal statement this evening pledging his loyalty to the Serie A side for the foreseeable future.

 

'I'm staying at AC Milan for sure, and for many seasons to come,' the Italian said.

 

'I've not spoken to anyone at Chelsea - any other reports are football talk and pure speculation.'

[wolf stansson]

Sven is in for Mexico. I'm shocked this happened. It'll be weird/annoying playing a real manager.

[USSoccer]

Sven is in for Mexico. I'm shocked this happened. It'll be weird/annoying playing a real manager.

 

Sven is going to make them very good.

[sethuel1]

Sven is in for Mexico. I'm shocked this happened. It'll be weird/annoying playing a real manager.

 

Sven is going to make them very good.

and he's going to throw out the old riff-raff players that badmouthed him.

[shnsajax]

Sven is in for Mexico. I'm shocked this happened. It'll be weird/annoying playing a real manager.

 

Sven is going to make them very good.

and he's going to throw out the old riff-raff players that badmouthed him.

 

hopefully he loses an important game and they fire him 8 minutes later. I would take Sven for the US.

[Jon]

The new women's team has officially been named the Chicago Red Stars:

 

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/06/03/red_stars_team_2.jpeg

 

I like.

[wolf stansson]

Klinnsmann was such a slam dunk that I don't want to even dwell on it anymore.

 

It's fine, he's better off where he is and at least I have him at the helm of one of my teams. He would've brought the respect, tactical creativity and charisma the US desperately needs.

[reggiemiller rules]

I dont really watch much Serie A so this question if for those of you that do. Liverpool is close to signing full-back Dossena from Udinese. Does anybody know anything about him and how good he is.

[Guest]

Klinnsmann was such a slam dunk that I don't want to even dwell on it anymore.

 

It's fine, he's better off where he is and at least I have him at the helm of one of my teams. He would've brought the respect, tactical creativity and charisma the US desperately needs.

 

:(

[shnsajax]

Klinnsmann was such a slam dunk that I don't want to even dwell on it anymore.

 

It's fine, he's better off where he is and at least I have him at the helm of one of my teams. He would've brought the respect, tactical creativity and charisma the US desperately needs.

 

:(

 

I still believe he will someday be with the US. 2014 might be a better team to make a real run at the WC. Even if Bradley lasts through 2010 I don't see him here beyond that. I find it hard to see another Bruce Arena type tenure coming. Expectations have at least grown a lot over the past 10 years.

[USSoccer]

Klinnsmann was such a slam dunk that I don't want to even dwell on it anymore.

 

It's fine, he's better off where he is and at least I have him at the helm of one of my teams. He would've brought the respect, tactical creativity and charisma the US desperately needs.

 

:(

 

I still believe he will someday be with the US. 2014 might be a better team to make a real run at the WC. Even if Bradley lasts through 2010 I don't see him here beyond that. I find it hard to see another Bruce Arena type tenure coming. Expectations have at least grown a lot over the past 10 years.

 

If we struggle to make it to the Hex Bradley might well be in trouble.

[MPC]

Klinnsmann was such a slam dunk that I don't want to even dwell on it anymore.

 

It's fine, he's better off where he is and at least I have him at the helm of one of my teams. He would've brought the respect, tactical creativity and charisma the US desperately needs.

it's even more disappointing considered the ussf ended up with bradley as their choice.

 

is the us-spain match on tv?

 

i can't wait for saturday and the beginning of the euros.

[wolf stansson]

is the us-spain match on tv?

ESPN 2, 4:30 cst.

Klinnsmann was such a slam dunk that I don't want to even dwell on it anymore.

 

It's fine, he's better off where he is and at least I have him at the helm of one of my teams. He would've brought the respect, tactical creativity and charisma the US desperately needs.

 

:(

 

I still believe he will someday be with the US. 2014 might be a better team to make a real run at the WC. Even if Bradley lasts through 2010 I don't see him here beyond that. I find it hard to see another Bruce Arena type tenure coming. Expectations have at least grown a lot over the past 10 years.

After winning about 6 Champions leagues and the obligatory 6 league titles, I don't see Klinnsy leaving Bayern to work for Sunil. Maybe if he wants to ride off into the sunset and semi-retire. I don't know though.

[sethuel1]

I dont really watch much Serie A so this question if for those of you that do. Liverpool is close to signing full-back Dossena from Udinese. Does anybody know anything about him and how good he is.

He's pretty good. probably should have been picked for the Euro squad. Not a total whack it clear guy either, he can handle the ball and pass a bit too.

[Jon]

is the us-spain match on tv?

ESPN 2, 4:30 cst.

It'll also be live on ESPN360 in case anyone here actually gets that and doesn't want to wait for the tape delay broadcast.

[USSoccer]

Word is rapidly spreading that Jozy Altidore has been bought by Villarreal for the summer transfer window and will be loaned out to a lower level La Liga side. Which is just fine for me; I wanted him in Spain over England anyway.

 

Also, may I say that it is complete pants that I'm not going to be able to watch the game until like 8:30 tonight?

[wolf stansson]

Word is rapidly spreading that Jozy Altidore has been bought by Villarreal for the summer transfer window and will be loaned out to a lower level La Liga side.

Wow, I'm psyched if this is true. I really, really wanted him to develop in Spain. Villarreal will be a great situation, especially with a loan to get lots of pt.

 

Next step is giving Freddy 90 minutes against Spain so he can have a similar buy.

 

Edit - Ives is reporting Recreativo Huelva is the potential loan side.

[USSoccer]

Word is rapidly spreading that Jozy Altidore has been bought by Villarreal for the summer transfer window and will be loaned out to a lower level La Liga side.

Wow, I'm psyched if this is true. I really, really wanted him to develop in Spain. Villarreal will be a great situation, especially with a loan to get lots of pt.

 

Next step is giving Freddy 90 minutes against Spain so he can have a similar buy.

 

Edit - Ives is reporting Recreativo Huelva is the potential loan side.

 

I don't know that Freddy is going to find himself a better fit than Benfica right now. Rui Costa is retiring, right? The only reason he wasn't starting there is because they weren't going to bench their national hero for Adu. I think next season is when you'll see Freddy make a Michael Bradley type impact for his club side.

 

Quite honestly, I'd love for most of our better players to end up in Spain or Italy. Dempsey would be a better fit in La Liga. Donovan as well. I'm well known for wanting Bradley on Juve. I think Freddy would be a good La Liga player. Szetela is already in Spain. I don't think the EPL fits where we want our team to be. Too much kick and run, not enough technical development.

[shnsajax]

Word is rapidly spreading that Jozy Altidore has been bought by Villarreal for the summer transfer window and will be loaned out to a lower level La Liga side.

Wow, I'm psyched if this is true. I really, really wanted him to develop in Spain. Villarreal will be a great situation, especially with a loan to get lots of pt.

 

Next step is giving Freddy 90 minutes against Spain so he can have a similar buy.

 

Edit - Ives is reporting Recreativo Huelva is the potential loan side.

 

Awesome if true, I really hope it is.