The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

There is a chance Mexico won't make it out of their group. Obviously they should and probably will, but Canada, Jamaica and Honduras can all challenge.

 

Donovan is licking his chops looking at all the easy, stat-padding goals to be had in group one. Talk about a cake walk.

[wolf stansson]

Adu scored again over the weekend. I'm really impressed with his development in a league much more suited to his strengths. It's becoming apparent that his MLS struggles had more to do with the workmanlike level of talent and physicality and less to do with his attitude.

 

Billy Davies is finally out at Derby County. Hopefully the ridiculous situation of Feilhaber riding the pine will be rectified and he'll get a little first-team premiership action under the new coach before relegation. If not, he needs to transfer.

 

It also seems the Jozy to Madrid isn't dead. Real Madrid sporting director assistant Carlos Bucero is in New York discussing the club's interest. NYRB are rich enough that the only teams that can even be in the hunt for Jozy are big clubs looking to spend pretty big money. Normally I'm staunchly in the camp of getting our players to Europe asap, but I wouldn't be too upset if Jozy stayed one more year. He has never played a full season and playing with guys like Angel, Richards, Reyna and whoever the new manager brings could be worse in terms of his development. If Arena was still there it would be a different story. Playing Jozy at left wing was the most ridiculous decision he has ever made.

[USSoccer]

There is a chance Mexico won't make it out of their group. Obviously they should and probably will, but Canada, Jamaica and Honduras can all challenge.

 

Donovan is licking his chops looking at all the easy, stat-padding goals to be had in group one. Talk about a cake walk.

 

Nothing makes me more aggravated than when commentators talk about Donovan being the 'Nats all time scoring leader. Not only is it misleading as he has had many more games with which to pad said stats, but how many of them have come on PK's? How many were garbage goals against like St. Kitts and Nevis?

 

As soon as he scores from the run of play against someone other than Mexico in a meaningful game, wake me up.

 

As far as Jozy forcing his way out of RBNY, I don't think it's possible.

[USSoccer]

Adu scored again over the weekend. I'm really impressed with his development in a league much more suited to his strengths. It's becoming apparent that his MLS struggles had more to do with the workmanlike level of talent and physicality and less to do with his attitude.

 

Freddy, right now, is further along in his development than Geovany dos Santos at Barca. What's even more impressive is that he's scored 5 times in very limited minutes.

 

I'm very glad he's cap-tied.

[brinoch]

Fabregas and Rooney. John Terry and Micah Richards are in the mix.

[brinoch]

Adu scored again over the weekend. I'm really impressed with his development in a league much more suited to his strengths. It's becoming apparent that his MLS struggles had more to do with the workmanlike level of talent and physicality and less to do with his attitude.

 

Freddy, right now, is further along in his development than Geovany dos Santos at Barca. What's even more impressive is that he's scored 5 times in very limited minutes.

 

I'm very glad he's cap-tied.

 

I think we're going to be very happy with the team come South Africa 2010. I'm not a huge Bradley fan, but he's starting the rotation of young talent into the MNT, and that's wonderful to see (and much to his credit). Obviously, we still need to qualify, yadda, yadda, yadda, but I think with some combination of Adu, Altidore, Dempsey, Donovan, Beasley, Feilhaber and Johnson our attacking will be decent. I believe they will score plenty of goals. I'm more worried about our defense right now. By June 2010, here's what the current pool will look like, age-wise:

 

Albright -- 31

Barrett -- 34

Bornstein -- 25

Berhalter -- 36

Bocanegra -- 31

Boswell -- 27

Califf -- 30

Cherundolo -- 31

Conrad -- 33

Convey -- 27

DeMerit -- 30

Gibbs -- 30

Hejduk -- 35

Lewis -- 36

Mastroeni -- 33

Moor -- 26

Mullan -- 32

Namoff -- 31

Onyewu -- 28

Parkhurst -- 26

Pearce -- 25

Purdy -- 25

Simek -- 25

Spector -- 24

Wynne -- 24

 

My hope is that as some of our guys age, they begin peaking at the right time. Defenders, in particular, peak later than forwards. So, hopefully, in 2010 Bocanegra and Onyewu in particular are at the top of their game (and better than they are right now).

[wolf stansson]

This is who I suspect will step forward and deserve to start.

 

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

 

-----------Boca---------Parkhurst--------Onyewu-------

 

-----------------Feilhaber--------Bradley----------------

-----Donovan--------------------------------Szetela------

---------------------Adu----------Deuce------------------

 

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

 

Bench: Guzan, Cherundolo, Spector, Wynne, Edu, Zizzo, Beasley, Lee Nguyen, Eddie Johnson.

[brinoch]

I know, I know. It's old news. But, still, everyone will be shocked by this... but Mathis "fell out of favor" with Arena. Really? Arena is such a whiny little favorite-playing schoolgirl. I so hate him.

[Guest]

Man U not looking good at home against Sporting and is down 1-0 in the 35th minute.

[Guest]

Spectacular FK goal from Ronaldo in extra time will give Man U the group and make next week's game with Roma meaningless.

[Guest]

Mourinho puts his name out there for the England job. Story

[wolf stansson]

Mourinho puts his name out there for the England job. Story

They need to give him whatever he wants. No other manager out there has the experience with the English media or the English player with his superb pedigree as well. Somebody needs to go in there and make those whiny babies play like a team.

[MPC]

Mourinho puts his name out there for the England job. Story

They need to give him whatever he wants. No other manager out there has the experience with the English media or the English player with his superb pedigree as well. Somebody needs to go in there and make those whiny babies play like a team.

it would be a huge deal for the fa to get jose. i just can't picture him given into the demands and whining from the clubs about their players. he's a control freak and being in charge of a national team doesn't really allow you to do that. regardless, he's a great coach and will clearly improve england.

[Guest]

Beasley has an injured knee ligament and could miss several games.

 

He got hurt in Rangers' Champions League loss yesterday. Hopefully this is nothing too bad.

[Guest]

Drogba just netted his second goal to put Chelsea up 2-0 in Norway in the 20th minute. If the result stands, Chelsea will have secured a place in the next round.

[reggiemiller rules]

Liverpool up 1-0 on Porto on a Torres goal. They need to win their last 2 to advance.

[reggiemiller rules]

Merseilles just tied up Besiktas, meaning that Liverpool will have to break the 1-1 tie in the 70th minute to stay alive.

[reggiemiller rules]

Torres puts Liverpool ahead in the 77th minute, I hope they can hold on.

[Guest]

Torres puts Liverpool ahead in the 77th minute, I hope they can hold on.

 

3-1 now. That one's over.

[reggiemiller rules]

Torres puts Liverpool ahead in the 77th minute, I hope they can hold on.

 

3-1 now. That one's over.

 

Crouch adds a 4th goal, and Besiktas scored a late goal to win. Things couldnt have gone better for Liverpool today.

[Guest]

Groups A and C sure got interesting with the bottom 2 teams in each group winning games today and all four teams in each group are still alive. It's also the only group in which no team has secured a spot in the final 16.

[Brian]

had a blast watching UIC upset Northwestern to advance to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament

[USSoccer]

I enjoyed Cristiano Ronaldo's post goal celebratory facial expression.

[wolf stansson]

Beasley looks to be out until next fall.

 

Eddie Lewis, Bobby Convey, Danny Szetela and whoever are going to have to step up for qualifying.

[USSoccer]

Beasley looks to be out until next fall.

 

Eddie Lewis, Bobby Convey, Danny Szetela and whoever are going to have to step up for qualifying.

 

I have a feeling Dempsey might get dumped back onto the wing until Szetela is ready.