The Soccer Thread

[Guest]

This match is completely meaningless for analysis.

 

So will that Haiti match next Saturday as well as our first knockout round match, unless Costa Rica or Mexico really screws up and places third in their group.

 

I'm hoping Costa Rica can win their group so we potentially have three decent matches in the tournament - Honduras, Costa Rica and (if we won that one) Mexico in the final. But if Costa Rica gets second, they'll be on Mexico's half of the knockout draw unless Mexico gets third.

[wolf stansson]

This match is completely meaningless for analysis.

 

That said, I think I rate Holden and Rogers above Adu at this point.

 

One of Holden and Rogers will be the Dempsey of 2010. I like Holden's pedigree and poise, and Robbie has some jukes.

Unfortunately for them, Dempsey will still be Dempsey in 2010. And probably 2014. Then factor in young guns like Mikkel Diskerud and various other next great hypes and I really don't see anyone on tonight's squad, other than Davies, ever being first or even second choice for the MNT. They're depth.

 

Btw, where the hell is Danny Szetela?

[Mark Priors Calves]

Btw, where the hell is Danny Szetela?

 

this is a great question. i've always thought he would be a contributor for the senior team, and i still think he will because he's still 22 but i thought his progress would be great by now. he did well in the u-20 world cup a few years ago, but hasn't been given much of a chance for the nats.

[shnsajax]

Btw, where the hell is Danny Szetela?

 

this is a great question. i've always thought he would be a contributor for the senior team, and i still think he will because he's still 22 but i thought his progress would be great by now. he did well in the u-20 world cup a few years ago, but hasn't been given much of a chance for the nats.

 

I was wondering this exact same thing watching the match. So much so, it took me 20 minutes to think of his name.

 

I really liked Rodgers, the back line made me uncomfortable. They were not bad, but they were playing Grenada and just look unorganized at times. It seemed like this team was much more willing to shoot from 20+ out.

[USSoccer]

This match is completely meaningless for analysis.

 

That said, I think I rate Holden and Rogers above Adu at this point.

 

One of Holden and Rogers will be the Dempsey of 2010. I like Holden's pedigree and poise, and Robbie has some jukes.

Unfortunately for them, Dempsey will still be Dempsey in 2010. And probably 2014. Then factor in young guns like Mikkel Diskerud and various other next great hypes and I really don't see anyone on tonight's squad, other than Davies, ever being first or even second choice for the MNT. They're depth.

 

Btw, where the hell is Danny Szetela?

 

-We still need the depth, though. Who's Clint's backup? Who's Landon's?

 

-Szetela got fat and didn't play for Brescia and I think he's hurt.

 

EDIT: I know Torres is probably Clint's backup, but we do need the depth.

[USSoccer]

You know what team is just horrible right now?

 

Mexico. They beat Nicaragua 2-0 on the crappiest PK ever, and a soft goal on an undefended cross late. For most of the game, they looked like they had no ideas on how to break down a defense.

 

Also, Carlos Vela left his ACL somewhere in short center field. He's done for 2009.

[wolf stansson]

Jesus. Mexico is unraveling.

 

Rogers and Holden are wing depth. I agree with that. I'd probably slot in Feilhaber and Torres ahead of either despite them being better suited in the middle.

 

 

Here's more Gooch talk:

 

http://www.noshortcorners.com/2009/07/could-it-be-you-ch.html

I'm not yet sure what level of excitement you may be in for, but here's the deal: I have been told by two unconnected local birdies that Ajax are hoping to unveil a new player on Monday. There are three possibilities for this signing - a third keeper, hot topic Partizan Belgrade left back Ivan Obradović or U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu.

 

...

 

Which bring us to our man Gooch, who also has offers on the table from Genoa, either Parma or Palermo, and either Espanyol or Valencia. I am now about 80% sure that the suitor breakdown falls just like that.

 

...

 

UPDATE: On a related note, both French and Swedish reports are claiming that Hammarby forward Charlie Davies is all but set for Sochaux. Should the Saturday night scorer (I'm sorry, Grenada or not, the entire goal was pure class by all three players) join Les Lionceaux, I think he stands a great chance of slotting in behind active front man Václav Svěrkoš for the recently PSG-departed speedster Mevlüt Erdinç.

 

UPDATE UPDATE: Back to Gooch... despite reports now surfacing in the Netherlands that Onyewu is the player Ajax hope to present Monday, I have been informed that the deal has not yet been sealed.

 

There was also a television report in Spain today that said former suitor Real Madrid may have interest in the U.S. defender, but I haven't come across anything to support it.

[shnsajax]

Jesus. Mexico is unraveling.

 

Rogers and Holden are wing depth. I agree with that. I'd probably slot in Feilhaber and Torres ahead of either despite them being better suited in the middle.

 

 

Here's more Gooch talk:

 

http://www.noshortcorners.com/2009/07/could-it-be-you-ch.html

I'm not yet sure what level of excitement you may be in for, but here's the deal: I have been told by two unconnected local birdies that Ajax are hoping to unveil a new player on Monday. There are three possibilities for this signing - a third keeper, hot topic Partizan Belgrade left back Ivan Obradović or U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu.

 

...

 

Which bring us to our man Gooch, who also has offers on the table from Genoa, either Parma or Palermo, and either Espanyol or Valencia. I am now about 80% sure that the suitor breakdown falls just like that.

 

...

 

UPDATE: On a related note, both French and Swedish reports are claiming that Hammarby forward Charlie Davies is all but set for Sochaux. Should the Saturday night scorer (I'm sorry, Grenada or not, the entire goal was pure class by all three players) join Les Lionceaux, I think he stands a great chance of slotting in behind active front man Václav Svěrkoš for the recently PSG-departed speedster Mevlüt Erdinç.

 

UPDATE UPDATE: Back to Gooch... despite reports now surfacing in the Netherlands that Onyewu is the player Ajax hope to present Monday, I have been informed that the deal has not yet been sealed.

 

There was also a television report in Spain today that said former suitor Real Madrid may have interest in the U.S. defender, but I haven't come across anything to support it.

 

It is refreshing to see a US player have this many rumors attached to his name. I am really not sure which team would be the best fit for him, but I love seeing him potentially tied to Ajax.

 

I watched about half of the Mexico game and :rotfl: . They seriously look like they could finish 4th in Concacaf.

[brinoch]

As I've mentioned before, it would be great for the USA if Mexico finished fourth and won the playoff with CONMEBOL's fifth place team. It means that it would be really tough for FIFA to put CONCACAF in a pot with AFC. Assuming New Zealand loses to the Bahrain/Saudi Arabia winner.

 

The seeds will be Brazil, Italy, Spain, England, South Africa and three of Argentina, France, Portugal and the Netherlands (depending on who qualifies and such).

 

Keeping in mind the amazing run of luck giving Host nations easy groups, I think we're unlikely to get drawn with South Africa (but I do think that Sepp and company will want SA facing a CONCACAF team rather than a CONMEBOL team). So, if we're to advance past the group stage it would be good to have as many factors as we can in our favor. One of these is having a team from AFC rather than CAF as the fourth team. Our group would then be: Seed pot / UEFA pot / USA / AFC and CONMEBOL pot. Even better would be to be drawn with Brazil/Argentina. In that case, we could get a group like: Brazil, Switzerland, USA, N. Korea.

[bukie]

WC 2010 seeding based on current qualifying standings

 

The author assumes Mexico beats the 5th place CONMEBOL team, and assumes the Saudis win the other playoff spot. That then proceeds to make uneven pools to draw from, and I like his solution of putting the highest ranked AFC/CONCACAF team in the same pool with the CAF/CONMEBOL teams. The US team could still potentially get a bad draw, but there would be many more favorable options this way.

[sethuel1]

Gooch to AC Milan!

[wvcbxl]

Gooch to AC Milan!

 

He got a 3 year deal too. 8-)

[shnsajax]

Gooch to AC Milan!

 

He got a 3 year deal too. 8-)

 

Wow didn't see this coming. I'm glad to see this over him playing in Turkey.

[wolf stansson]

The heir to the legend of Maldini is....Gooch?

 

Unexpected. I really, really hope this works out for him. Third American and first out-field player on a super club?

[wolf stansson]

Bradley clarification.

U.S. national team midfielder Michael Bradley has been handed a four-match suspension by FIFA for his run-in with referee Jorge Larrionda following the U.S. national team's 2-0 win vs. Spain in the Confederations Cup, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl reported on Tuesday.

 

The suspension will not keep Bradley out of the Aug. 12 World Cup qualifier vs. Mexico in Mexico City. In fact, Bradley will be able to serve the suspension during the Gold Cup even though he has not been called in. He served the first match of the suspension during the Confederations Cup final, with the first two U.S. Gold Cup matches covering the next two matches of the ban. The fourth match is a suspended sentence that will kick in if Bradley has another incident during a probationary period of six months.

 

Bradley had words with Larrionda near the locker rooms following the Spain match, a match that saw Larrionda issue Bradley a highly-questionable red card in the 87th minute. Reports out of Spain suggesting that Bradley attempted to attack Larrionda have been proved false.

[Mark Priors Calves]

wow. this is great for gooch. i'm stunned.

[shnsajax]

Bradley clarification.

U.S. national team midfielder Michael Bradley has been handed a four-match suspension by FIFA for his run-in with referee Jorge Larrionda following the U.S. national team's 2-0 win vs. Spain in the Confederations Cup, Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl reported on Tuesday.

 

The suspension will not keep Bradley out of the Aug. 12 World Cup qualifier vs. Mexico in Mexico City. In fact, Bradley will be able to serve the suspension during the Gold Cup even though he has not been called in. He served the first match of the suspension during the Confederations Cup final, with the first two U.S. Gold Cup matches covering the next two matches of the ban. The fourth match is a suspended sentence that will kick in if Bradley has another incident during a probationary period of six months.

 

Bradley had words with Larrionda near the locker rooms following the Spain match, a match that saw Larrionda issue Bradley a highly-questionable red card in the 87th minute. Reports out of Spain suggesting that Bradley attempted to attack Larrionda have been proved false.

 

Even though it will have no impact, 4 games is harsh for that. How many games did Drogba get after the semifinal loss?

[Exile on Waveland]

AC Milan???

 

Wow, that's great for Gooch. Damn.

[USSoccer]

AC Milan....wow. I'm impressed but wary.

[shnsajax]

van Persie is staying at Arsenal. Still wondering if Adebayor is out the door. I'm fine with Van Persie and Arshavin being up front but they need some depth.

[wolf stansson]

van Persie is staying at Arsenal. Still wondering if Adebayor is out the door. I'm fine with Van Persie and Arshavin being up front but they need some depth.

And apparently Vela isn't going to be ready...ever. If Adebayor is gone, they should go after Huntelaar.

[shnsajax]

van Persie is staying at Arsenal. Still wondering if Adebayor is out the door. I'm fine with Van Persie and Arshavin being up front but they need some depth.

And apparently Vela isn't going to be ready...ever. If Adebayor is gone, they should go after Huntelaar.

 

I would love that. Actually I would prefer to sell Adebayor and bring in Huntelaar. I want to see them healthy and play like they did in 2007 before they ran out of gas.

[USSoccer]

The only interesting things about the Gold Cup have been Robbie Rogers and Kyle Beckerman. Freddy isn't very good.

[USSoccer]

Upon further watching, Quaranta could be interesting if he lays off the coke and booze.

 

Rogers is getting beaten around the pitch like teams try and beat Clint around. That's a good sign. His decision making is solid.

 

Bradley's sub patterns still need to improve.

 

I like Marshall as CB depth.

[USSoccer]

This game has been exciting