The Soccer Thread

[shnsajax]

Arshavin scores twice in the final 7 minutes, both times to give Arsenal the lead and the win. The 2nd in the 89th minute was a thing of beauty. His work rate up front for Arsenal is going to be a big boost for them and a great target for Cesc to find. I am worried about the backline for Arsenal. The announcers were terrible though to listen to.

 

I'm ready for the season to start.

 

[wolf stansson]

Michael Bradley missed a penalty in the DFB Cup. I don't know if it was blocked or missed, but it would have been nice to get him on the board that early. They won anyway.

[USSoccer]

Michael Bradley missed a penalty in the DFB Cup. I don't know if it was blocked or missed, but it would have been nice to get him on the board that early. They won anyway.

 

It says something about BMG's opinion of him that he's taking the PK's at his age.

[shnsajax]

So in FC Dallas first game without Cooper they win 6-0 over Kansas City with Cunningham scoring 4, WTF.

[shnsajax]

Jack Wilshere is an impressive young player.

[wolf stansson]

Jack Wilshere is an impressive young player.

The impending Wayne Rooney Part II Bonerfest from English fans and media is going to be annoying.

 

So in FC Dallas first game without Cooper they win 6-0 over Kansas City with Cunningham scoring 4, WTF.

That is a terrible move for Coop, btw. A mid table Bundesliga II team over MLS? Terrible for the league to lose players like him to leagues/teams like that.

[shnsajax]

Jack Wilshere is an impressive young player.

The impending Wayne Rooney Part II Bonerfest from English fans and media is going to be annoying.

 

So in FC Dallas first game without Cooper they win 6-0 over Kansas City with Cunningham scoring 4, WTF.

That is a terrible move for Coop, btw. A mid table Bundesliga II team over MLS? Terrible for the league to lose players like him to leagues/teams like that.

 

As long as he is not a complete douche like Rooney I'm ok with it. Helps that he plays for Arsenal ;-).

[wolf stansson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVXLktkH59I

 

American keepers are good in pk's. That ill-fated stint of MLS eneding games in pk's must have did us well. Del Piero trying to punk Guzan unsuccessfully.

[wolf stansson]

This is awesome.

 

Mo Edu keeps it realer than real deal Holyfield.

First Gooch to Milan and now this? American footballers are breaking new ground left and right. Our first tabloid scandal!

[wolf stansson]

DEUCEDEUCEDEUCEDEUCEDEUCEDEUCE

[wolf stansson]

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2009/08/arsenal-interested-in-subotic.html

Arsenal is in the market for a center back and the club has set its sights on Borussia Dortmund defender Neven Subotic.

 

Subotic is reportedly being pursued by the Gunners, who sold center back Kolo Toure to Manchester City last week. Subotic, 20, is coming off an impressive first season in the German Bundesliga, scoring six goals in 33 league games to help Dortmund to a sixth place finish.

 

The Serbian international, who recently signed a new five-year deal with Dortmund, is also allegedly receiving interest from Manchester City and Chelsea.

Soooooooooo gay.

[USSoccer]

DEUCEDEUCEDEUCEDEUCEDEUCEDEUCE

 

This was a solid interview.

 

So on August 12th, do you start the same back 4 as the Spain game? Can Boca hang with Dos Santos/Guardado?

[wolf stansson]

So on August 12th, do you start the same back 4 as the Spain game? Can Boca hang with Dos Santos/Guardado?

Have to think so. Especially if DeMerit provides the cover he did against Spain and Brazil.

[USSoccer]

So on August 12th, do you start the same back 4 as the Spain game? Can Boca hang with Dos Santos/Guardado?

Have to think so. Especially if DeMerit provides the cover he did against Spain and Brazil.

 

I see Boca getting smoked on the wing though.

 

I would almost, almost be tempted to start Hejduk and Spector with Boca/Gooch in the center.

[wolf stansson]

So on August 12th, do you start the same back 4 as the Spain game? Can Boca hang with Dos Santos/Guardado?

Have to think so. Especially if DeMerit provides the cover he did against Spain and Brazil.

 

I see Boca getting smoked on the wing though.

 

I would almost, almost be tempted to start Hejduk and Spector with Boca/Gooch in the center.

Why do you think that little head band wearing girl would expose Boca when Fabregas, Ramos, Maicon and Robinho didn't? With Boca out there, it's all about bend but don't break. If they stay organized, they should be fine.

[USSoccer]

So on August 12th, do you start the same back 4 as the Spain game? Can Boca hang with Dos Santos/Guardado?

Have to think so. Especially if DeMerit provides the cover he did against Spain and Brazil.

 

I see Boca getting smoked on the wing though.

 

I would almost, almost be tempted to start Hejduk and Spector with Boca/Gooch in the center.

Why do you think that little head band wearing girl would expose Boca when Fabregas, Ramos, Maicon and Robinho didn't? With Boca out there, it's all about bend but don't break. If they stay organized, they should be fine.

 

Spain didn't attack the flanks. They kept trying to jam the ball through the center of our defense either out of stupidity or arrogance. Xavi had a ton of passes in that game-and most of his touches came in the center of our third. Boca was pinched in a ton in that game. Brasil did the same thing in the 1st half, but when they attacked the flanks, they broke us because Boca and Spector kept getting smoked. Brasil adapted and we didn't counter.

 

Obviously Guardado and Dos Santos aren't Robinho and Kaka, but its still a concern. And in Azteca I have worries about bending and breaking. Communication will be tough because of the noise-might it be simpler to put the experienced pairing in the middle and have faster players on the wing?

 

I dunno. The best way to protect whoever is in the back four will be to score early and not have the midfield get overrun. Clark/Bradley in the center, right? If Bradley is smart, he'll start Jozy and Charlie and bring on Ching with a lead to play the Casey holding/possession forward, which would be a role Ching would actually be good at.

 

If we're behind, who provides late game speed off the bench? Will Bradley continue to make his subs ten minutes too late?

[Guest]

I'd say go with what worked (for a while) in the Confederations Cup and keep Boca on the left with Gooch and DeMerit in the middle. Unless DeMerit can play out left, which I'm assuming he can't since Bradley put Boca out there instead of DeMerit. How much of a downgrade would it be to put Hejduk out wide and Boca in the middle instead of Boca out wide and DeMerit in the middle?

 

I assume we're going to see the same starting XI that we saw against Spain and Brazil.

 

And yeah, I fully expect Bradley to wait too long to make his subs once again.

[wolf stansson]

DeMerit has no experience on the outside. Boca plays left back for Rennes, played some for Fulham in 06-07 and even played some right back and right mid when injuries decimated the squad. He's the only choice if we're moving someone out left from the middle. I think the most important factor at Azteca is confidence and I don't know if we've ever had a more confident squad that this Confed's squad. The right mixture of success, experience and failure to give them the right perspective.

 

The middle will be Bradley and Clark. I'm concerned. They both have a penchant for bad cards. Benny has been a maestro lately and throughout his career against Mexico. He's on a great run of form right now, so if he started over Rico, I don't think that's a terrible idea. I'd be happy with Bradley and either of those two, I just hope Mikey and Clark keep their heads on straight.

 

 

---------------------------Howard------------------------------

----Spec----------Gooch-----------DeMerit----------Boca----

------------------Clark------------Bradley---------------------

-----Deuce-----------------------------------Donovan--------

-------------------Jozy-------------Davies---------------------

 

 

Those forwards are just too much for the Mexican back line. After that fiasco at the meadowlands, Brian Ching can f off. I don't care if he's our third best forward option. He's not getting on that field if I'm Bradley. I'd call up Jeff Cunningham or Eddie [expletive] Johnson before I put Ching in there. Ching was lazy in the final and that is inexcusable.

[shnsajax]

DeMerit has no experience on the outside. Boca plays left back for Rennes, played some for Fulham in 06-07 and even played some right back and right mid when injuries decimated the squad. He's the only choice if we're moving someone out left from the middle. I think the most important factor at Azteca is confidence and I don't know if we've ever had a more confident squad that this Confed's squad. The right mixture of success, experience and failure to give them the right perspective.

 

The middle will be Bradley and Clark. I'm concerned. They both have a penchant for bad cards. Benny has been a maestro lately and throughout his career against Mexico. He's on a great run of form right now, so if he started over Rico, I don't think that's a terrible idea. I'd be happy with Bradley and either of those two, I just hope Mikey and Clark keep their heads on straight.

 

 

---------------------------Howard------------------------------

----Spec----------Gooch-----------DeMerit----------Boca----

------------------Clark------------Bradley---------------------

-----Deuce-----------------------------------Donovan--------

-------------------Jozy-------------Davies---------------------

 

 

Those forwards are just too much for the Mexican back line. After that fiasco at the meadowlands, Brian Ching can f off. I don't care if he's our third best forward option. He's not getting on that field if I'm Bradley. I'd call up Jeff Cunningham or Eddie [expletive] Johnson before I put Ching in there. Ching was lazy in the final and that is inexcusable.

 

I think that is what I am most excited about. Donovan is probably playing the best he has ever played, and I want to see him stick it to Mexico more than anyone in Azteca. Deuce has really stepped up in providing something in big games even if he is invisible for parts. I still haven't figured out why, but this just seems to be a different team with Davies on the field.

 

I think the odds of Clark or Bradley taking a card in the middle vs. Dos Santos are very good. Hopefully its nothing stupid because like you mentioned they need to come out confident and even physical in the middle.

[wolf stansson]

Hull wants to buy Jozy.

6.5 million pounds is $11,002,666.22. Villarreal could actually turn a profit despite the loan fiasco? That'd be cool. He could re-break his US international transfer record.

[shnsajax]

Hull wants to buy Jozy.

6.5 million pounds is $11,002,666.22. Villarreal could actually turn a profit despite the loan fiasco? That'd be cool. He could re-break his US international transfer record.

 

Is Hull the best place for him. I think he would perform well in England, just wondering about Hull.

[wolf stansson]

Hull wants to buy Jozy.

6.5 million pounds is $11,002,666.22. Villarreal could actually turn a profit despite the loan fiasco? That'd be cool. He could re-break his US international transfer record.

 

Is Hull the best place for him. I think he would perform well in England, just wondering about Hull.

I like it. He'll get good minutes, decent service if Bullard is healthy and I'm sure he'll have a relegation clause.

[wolf stansson]

Jozy's twitter: England early in the morning so im going to get some sleep ill tweet all day tomorrow on my bb and let you guys know whats going on!

[shnsajax]

Jozy's twitter: England early in the morning so im going to get some sleep ill tweet all day tomorrow on my bb and let you guys know whats going on!

 

thats interesting.

[CubInOK]

Xabi Alonso to Real for 30M euros