The Soccer Thread

[seanimal]

Dudes, Freddy Adu is really fun to watch. I can't wait until he is on a team that will show every weekend here in the states.

 

The US U-20 vs Poland game is still what I think of with Adu.

 

Damn tv box isn't working so missing tonights game.

 

That was exciting. I have a feeling I'm going to like this soccer thing.

[seanimal]

what is "U-20"

[shnsajax]

what is "U-20"

 

It was from the Under 20 World Championships last year.

[USSoccer]

I'm going to send Rui Costa a letter and ask him to retire so that Freddy can start at Benfica and get his development on.

 

The best part about this tournament has been watching him. He's simply been on a completely different level than his opposition.

[seanimal]

I'm going to send Rui Costa a letter and ask him to retire so that Freddy can start at Benfica and get his development on.

 

The best part about this tournament has been watching him. He's simply been on a completely different level than his opposition.

 

Portugal? Why there? (wikipedia wouldn't tell me)

[USSoccer]

I'm going to send Rui Costa a letter and ask him to retire so that Freddy can start at Benfica and get his development on.

 

The best part about this tournament has been watching him. He's simply been on a completely different level than his opposition.

 

Portugal? Why there? (wikipedia wouldn't tell me)

 

For a player of Adu's age and skillset, the Portuguese league is a good place for him to get his feet wet in Europe. Unfortunately, he's on a team with a national hero on it who won't retire.

[brinoch]

I'm going to send Rui Costa a letter and ask him to retire so that Freddy can start at Benfica and get his development on.

 

The best part about this tournament has been watching him. He's simply been on a completely different level than his opposition.

 

Portugal? Why there? (wikipedia wouldn't tell me)

 

The Portuguese league is ranked #6 in Europe behind La Liga, EPL, Serie A, Ligue 1, and Bundesliga -- the top leagues of Spain, England, Italy, France and Germany -- which is good enough for 3 Champion's League places.

 

Benfica is the largest club in Portugal and usually among the top 3. The talent level at Benfica (as well as its opposition) is much, much superior to MLS and really gives Freddy the experience he needs against top flight players, both at practice and in games. Benfica is experienced at developing talent, and will likely bring him along at a good rate.

 

The style of play in Portugal or Spain is also very conducive to the development of an offensive-minded player like Adu.

[seanimal]

I'm going to send Rui Costa a letter and ask him to retire so that Freddy can start at Benfica and get his development on.

 

The best part about this tournament has been watching him. He's simply been on a completely different level than his opposition.

 

Portugal? Why there? (wikipedia wouldn't tell me)

 

The Portuguese league is ranked #6 in Europe behind La Liga, EPL, Serie A, Ligue 1, and Bundesliga -- the top leagues of Spain, England, Italy, France and Germany -- which is good enough for 3 Champion's League places.

 

Benfica is the largest club in Portugal and usually among the top 3. The talent level at Benfica (as well as its opposition) is much, much superior to MLS and really gives Freddy the experience he needs against top flight players, both at practice and in games. Benfica is experienced at developing talent, and will likely bring him along at a good rate.

 

The style of play in Portugal or Spain is also very conducive to the development of an offensive-minded player like Adu.

 

Awesome, thanks.

[wolf stansson]

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/

There has been a lot of buzz on the silly Internet machine the last few days that Benny Feilhaber was not included on the U.S. roster because of a scuffle with teammate Freddy Adu during a closed-door, intrasquad scrimmage in Bradenton. My understanding is that the situation was terribly exaggerated and, as often happens in our rumor-must-surely-be-fact world, a myth was born. Feilhaber's fitness and form -- physical and mental -- were the reasons for the omission.

[seanimal]

oh duh, I should have asked this a long time ago. What websites do you guys go to, both news and analysis-wise? Since I'm going to be focusing on MLS this summer to get my feet wet, anything that deals with that is bonus, but I'm certainly not averse to international/European oriented sites.

[wolf stansson]

oh duh, I should have asked this a long time ago. What websites do you guys go to, both news and analysis-wise? Since I'm going to be focusing on MLS this summer to get my feet wet, anything that deals with that is bonus, but I'm certainly not averse to international/European oriented sites.

 

http://www.soccerbyives.net - New York Red Bull insider, covers everything major in the soccer world with a US slant.

http://www.thisisamericansoccer.com - Covers everything US.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/ - Mainly a DC United blog, covers US MNT as well.

http://dunord.blogspot.com/ - Covers MLS, Europe and everything US.

http://www.nytimes.com/pages/sports/soccer/index.html - Jozy Altidore contributes here occasionally.

http://www.yanks-abroad.com - Covers all Americans out of the country.

http://www.worldsoccerdaily.com - I listen to the podcast every day. Mainly cover European action, but also touch on MLS and US MNT.

[shnsajax]

I'm going to send Rui Costa a letter and ask him to retire so that Freddy can start at Benfica and get his development on.

 

The best part about this tournament has been watching him. He's simply been on a completely different level than his opposition.

 

Funny that Freddy and Jozy can do this whole Olympic thing again in 4 years :-).

[wolf stansson]

I'm going to send Rui Costa a letter and ask him to retire so that Freddy can start at Benfica and get his development on.

 

The best part about this tournament has been watching him. He's simply been on a completely different level than his opposition.

 

Funny that Freddy and Jozy can do this whole Olympic thing again in 4 years :-).

Oh god I hope they don't. This is a youth tournament.

[USSoccer]

Fulham is done. 2-0 to Newcastle today.

 

Their coach is flipping stupid to start Davies over Dempsey.

[wolf stansson]

Michael Bradley nets two, including an absolute rocket volley in the box for the game winner.

[USSoccer]

Michael Bradley nets two, including an absolute rocket volley in the box for the game winner.

 

Holy freakin crap that was a great strike.

 

Wow. I'm just...wow. I am struggling to think of any other current 'nat who could do that properly without shanking it.

[wolf stansson]

Michael Bradley nets two, including an absolute rocket volley in the box for the game winner.

 

Holy freakin crap that was a great strike.

 

Wow. I'm just...wow. I am struggling to think of any other current 'nat who could do that properly without shanking it.

I've seen Jozy do it in the game against the Galaxy last year. Freddy could, but not as powerfully and I'm not sure he could put himself in that position.

[USSoccer]

Michael Bradley nets two, including an absolute rocket volley in the box for the game winner.

 

Holy freakin crap that was a great strike.

 

Wow. I'm just...wow. I am struggling to think of any other current 'nat who could do that properly without shanking it.

I've seen Jozy do it in the game against the Galaxy last year. Freddy could, but not as powerfully and I'm not sure he could put himself in that position.

 

While admittedly I wasn't thinking of Jozy or Freddy, the only "current" or former player I can think of who I would have had confidence in their ability not to spike themselves or shank it would have been Clint Mathis. I think Freddy would not have had the strength to be in that position. Jozy, no doubt, could. I've seen Dempsey miss those badly, and you rarely see Donovan inside the penalty spot anymore.

 

Mathis was such a talented player. It's too bad his attitude and his knee let him down.

[Jon]

Twellman can do it.

 

Just not for the national team.

[USSoccer]

Twellman can do it.

 

Just not for the national team.

 

Twellman can do a lot of things in MLS that he can't for the national team. Like be useful. Or score.

 

It takes real talent to do it against real talent.

[shnsajax]

Fulham is done. 2-0 to Newcastle today.

 

Their coach is flipping stupid to start Davies over Dempsey.

 

So where does Dempsey go next season. Hopefully he gets transfered to a club in the Premiership. Man City and Portsmouth could use a 2nd striker.

[shnsajax]

Michael Bradley nets two, including an absolute rocket volley in the box for the game winner.

 

Holy freakin crap that was a great strike.

 

Wow. I'm just...wow. I am struggling to think of any other current 'nat who could do that properly without shanking it.

I've seen Jozy do it in the game against the Galaxy last year. Freddy could, but not as powerfully and I'm not sure he could put himself in that position.

 

While admittedly I wasn't thinking of Jozy or Freddy, the only "current" or former player I can think of who I would have had confidence in their ability not to spike themselves or shank it would have been Clint Mathis. I think Freddy would not have had the strength to be in that position. Jozy, no doubt, could. I've seen Dempsey miss those badly, and you rarely see Donovan inside the penalty spot anymore.

 

Mathis was such a talented player. It's too bad his attitude and his knee let him down.

 

I still can't believe just how much he has progressed this past year. 4th in Holland in goals this year. Hopefully Heerenveen can qualify for Champions League. At the very worst they will be headed to the UEFA cup. Now he just needs to carry some of this over to the National Team this summer.

[wolf stansson]

Michael Bradley nets two, including an absolute rocket volley in the box for the game winner.

 

Holy freakin crap that was a great strike.

 

Wow. I'm just...wow. I am struggling to think of any other current 'nat who could do that properly without shanking it.

I've seen Jozy do it in the game against the Galaxy last year. Freddy could, but not as powerfully and I'm not sure he could put himself in that position.

 

While admittedly I wasn't thinking of Jozy or Freddy, the only "current" or former player I can think of who I would have had confidence in their ability not to spike themselves or shank it would have been Clint Mathis. I think Freddy would not have had the strength to be in that position. Jozy, no doubt, could. I've seen Dempsey miss those badly, and you rarely see Donovan inside the penalty spot anymore.

 

Mathis was such a talented player. It's too bad his attitude and his knee let him down.

 

I still can't believe just how much he has progressed this past year. 4th in Holland in goals this year. Hopefully Heerenveen can qualify for Champions League. At the very worst they will be headed to the UEFA cup. Now he just needs to carry some of this over to the National Team this summer.

I saw an article a few weeks ago showing that he is only a few goals behind the all-time record for midfielder scoring in the Eredivisie.

[Jon]

Chelsea vs. Arsenal is on at 11 AM central this morning. The U-23 Qualifier finals are at 4 PM.

[USSoccer]

Fulham is done. 2-0 to Newcastle today.

 

Their coach is flipping stupid to start Davies over Dempsey.

 

So where does Dempsey go next season. Hopefully he gets transfered to a club in the Premiership. Man City and Portsmouth could use a 2nd striker.

 

The only speculation I saw anywhere was a transfer to QPR if they get promoted, but honestly, I'd say he might end up at a Reading or something like that. As much as I like Clint, his skillset isn't properly suited for the Prem, and there are only a few teams that would know how to best use him, and most of those teams probably wouldn't want him.