The Soccer Thread

[USSoccer]

Williams sucks.

He really does, doesn't he? We have like 9 (9!) central mids with equal talent but slightly different skills who are essentially the same player. It sucks. Torres, Kljestan, Williams, Jones, Bradley, Edu, Mixx, Beckerman, Johnson. You could make an argument to put Feilhaber on that list too. Ridiculous. Holden is our only true central mid who distinguishes himself and he's a gimp.

 

Anyway, Tim Chandler is good. Really talented etc. He isn't a left back though. He did Shea zero favors who had to track back too much to do what he does best, run at and off people in the final third.

 

Howard was great, Jozy was good and Clint did his damnedest, but everything else sucked.

 

There's no offensive quality around Clint and Jozy. None. We're a really bad team right now, and it's equal parts talent and roster construction. If you want an effective attack, you don't play what amounts to a 5-4-1 with Beckerman playing basically a sweeper. Edu is an offensive cipher. Those two have to be the engine room of the attack, and they both are offensively inept.

 

We're going to really struggle in qualifying if Klinsmann continues to structure his lineup and roster in the least efficient manner possible.

[USSoccer]

Also, Michael Bradley not getting on the field is asinine. He didn't all of a sudden become useless after a coaching change.

[wolf stansson]

We're going to really struggle in qualifying if Klinsmann continues to structure his lineup and roster in the least efficient manner possible.

Totally. He's putting aspiration over pragmatism (while Bradley did the exact opposite) and we need someone who can balance both. It seems like they think we'll pay dues and keep trying and eventually there will be this watershed moment where the talent fits the system, but as long time observers of US Soccer will tell you, that's not going to happen in this generation.

 

I'm dubious that even if all of a sudden the talent matched the system, it would work. I'm not so sure about that. Let me rephrase. I'm pretty sure that would not be the case. We'll breeze through the hex, but when it's go time, we should be nervous.

[wolf stansson]

Also, Michael Bradley not getting on the field is asinine. He didn't all of a sudden become useless after a coaching change.

Yeah, he's part of our best eleven. No question. This isn't a case of the typical US Soccer fan reaction where players that don't play or aren't called up are a magic elixir that would have put us over the top. Usually those players are equally mediocre. Mikey is not.

[shnsajax]

I loved Clint's work rate today, but all it did was expose how little he has around him. I'm curious as to how much ground he covered he covered and how many shots he took. I'm feeling good about Jozy's development. If we could only put the players and formation around him it would be great.

 

I still have hope Holden will recover, but he is about one injury away from falling off all together. Shea has essentially replaced him.

 

Thinking about it about 3 of the last 4 guys to develop are from Texas. I think 3 of the guys the will make the Olympic Q squad are from DFW. I might try to pay attention to them.

[USSoccer]

Also, Michael Bradley not getting on the field is asinine. He didn't all of a sudden become useless after a coaching change.

Yeah, he's part of our best eleven. No question. This isn't a case of the typical US Soccer fan reaction where players that don't play or aren't called up are a magic elixir that would have put us over the top. Usually those players are equally mediocre. Mikey is not.

 

The difference is that usually the US Soccer fan is clamoring for "grass-is-greener" unknowns like Danny Williams (who sucks and every time I type his name I'll point this out) while utterly tearing down the good players that are already there.

 

EXAMPLE: Big Soccer seems to think Clint sucks because he moves the ball too slowly, and that Danny Williams should be a lock starter in the #8 spot.

[wolf stansson]

Let's start naming big soccer legends who we think are mediocre.

 

 

Jose Torres. Mixx Diskerrud. Mixx deserves a showcase at some point though.

[wolf stansson]

Juan Agudelo.

Williams, for a German, plays unmistakeably American. All athleticism, no technique.

[USSoccer]

Jose Torres: Useful piece to have on the bench, or THE AMERICAN XAVI???

 

Danny Williams/Fabian Johnson: IRREPLACEABLE

 

Maurice Edu: Scottish Rec League legend. The American Essien.

 

Joe Corona: The answer to our goal scoring issues

 

Zombie Beasley: Playing in the Primera=Playing in La Liga.

[wolf stansson]

Tim Ream & Omar Gonzalez = Maldini & Lucio.

[wolf stansson]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/nov/14/rumours-christian-eriksen-manchester-united

In a move that will appease Everton fans everywhere David Moyes wants FC Dallas defender Brek Shea and travelled to watch the 21-year-old, who has been on trial at Arsenal, in USA's friendly with France on Friday. Moyes also wants Landon Donovan back at Goodison.

[wolf stansson]

Instant alalysis: Fab Johnson = legit. Michael Bradley = a starter, duh. 4-4-2, inferior opponent, working wonders for the attack.

[shnsajax]

WTF, 3 goals in one match?

[wolf stansson]

Ok, so the Fab Johnson hype was, if anything, not big enough. That dude ballz.

[bukie]

Was the backfield that bad today, or just a byproduct of the 4-4-2?

[bukie]

Also, the USMNT's World Cup qualifying group teams are now known: Jamaica, Guatemala and Antigua and Barbuda.

 

Group B: Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guyana

Group C: Honduras, Cuba, Canada, Panama

[wolf stansson]

Spain down 2-0 at the half. Costa Rica has had 29% possession. Bob Bradley shouold [expletive] sue those stealers.

[wolf stansson]

Was the backfield that bad today, or just a byproduct of the 4-4-2?

Dudes are struggling with the learning curve playing a much higher line. I like JK's reasoning at playing higher, but our defense's positioning has to get better and we need more speed. Playing high keeps guys onside for balls played deep behind the line.

[USSoccer]

Amazing what happens when you:

 

-Structure your formation around your talent

 

-Play players in positions they should be played in

 

-Put your most talented guys (READ: BRADLEY) on the field.

 

Mikey is just such a class above Edu, it's not even funny. Beckerman got exposed as unable to really effectively shield without another 6 out there. Goodson needs to not start games anymore for us; he's cover. Johnson was approx. 100000x better than Williams.

[wolf stansson]

Best 11

 

-----------------------------------TH------------------------------------

--SC----------------Gooch---------------Boca----------------Lichaj--

----------------------------Bradley-------------------------------------

--Donovan---------------------Holden-------------------------Shea----

---------------------------------Dempsey-------------------------------

----------------------------------Altidore-------------------------------

 

Shea and Lichaj pretty much interchangeable with Johnson & Chandler.

[shnsajax]

Euro 2012 pots. This is what I live about the Euro's almost every match is nuts.

 

A number of top nations find themselves in line to go head-to-head, with hosts Poland and Ukraine pushing Germany and Italy out of the top seeded pot.

 

World and European champions Spain are also in pot one for the draw, as are Holland, who are currently second in the FIFA rankings.

 

Pot two comprises Germany, Italy, England and Russia; pot three features Croatia, Portugal, Greece and Sweden; while pot four contains France, Republic of Ireland, Denmark and Czech Republic, who pipped Scotland to a play-off spot in the qualifiers.

[bukie]

Euro 2012 pots. This is what I live about the Euro's almost every match is nuts.

 

A number of top nations find themselves in line to go head-to-head, with hosts Poland and Ukraine pushing Germany and Italy out of the top seeded pot.

 

World and European champions Spain are also in pot one for the draw, as are Holland, who are currently second in the FIFA rankings.

 

Pot two comprises Germany, Italy, England and Russia; pot three features Croatia, Portugal, Greece and Sweden; while pot four contains France, Republic of Ireland, Denmark and Czech Republic, who pipped Scotland to a play-off spot in the qualifiers.

Spain-Germany-Portugal-France, please.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I can't wait for the Euros. The inclusion of the Irish make it all the better.

[Guest]

Euro 2012 pots. This is what I live about the Euro's almost every match is nuts.

 

A number of top nations find themselves in line to go head-to-head, with hosts Poland and Ukraine pushing Germany and Italy out of the top seeded pot.

 

World and European champions Spain are also in pot one for the draw, as are Holland, who are currently second in the FIFA rankings.

 

Pot two comprises Germany, Italy, England and Russia; pot three features Croatia, Portugal, Greece and Sweden; while pot four contains France, Republic of Ireland, Denmark and Czech Republic, who pipped Scotland to a play-off spot in the qualifiers.

Spain-Germany-Portugal-France, please.

 

Poland/Ukraine-Russia-Greece/Sweden for Ireland, please.

[shnsajax]

He's not anywhere near the top two but where would you rank van Persie right now with the form he has been in.