The Soccer Thread

[bukie]

Part of me is hoping that front line scores 3-4 goals tonight, just to actually make Bradley think that this may be a line to go with long term.

[wolf stansson]

Edu was crap. Sacha was mediocre, as were Torres, Adu and Beas. The combination play without LD, Deuce and Bradley was crap. Jozy again had one of his super human efforts in the box that he has at least once a game. I like Davies a lot. Califf and Frankis were ass but I liked Orozco. Pearce was meh.

 

Overall I think Jozy is first choice, Davies should make a lot games and Adu, Torres, Edu and Guzan are clearly subs at this point.

 

Our best IX is

TH

SC-OO-CB-HP

MB-Sk

CD-LD-DB

JA

 

Adu & Davies are super subs.

[USSoccer]

Hmmm..for me, the best two players on the field were Adu and Torres...and it was more based on their movement off the ball.

 

They were always checking back, looking to play combinations, and as the game progressed Torres seemed to gain confidence. The willingness to play little combinations freed up several chances for Frankie Hejduk to shank or squander on the flank. Man, that guy would be Phillip Lahm if he could cross a ball to save his life.

 

So I was a BIG fan of that. I liked the willingness to check back. Our midfield held possession well, I though, except for when Edu or Beasley touched the ball. DMB's touch kind of sucks and Edu had a bad night. Sacha turned the ball over a LOT and didn't have a very good game.

 

Jozy...was ok. He blew that sitter, which I don't like, and committed the foul that led to the PK...which wasn't good either. I don't like him giving RoboBob any excuses not to play him.

 

Guzan did not impress. Too many rebounds given.

 

Orozco played ok, I thought.

 

Davies seems like the exact kind of player Eddie Johnson should be/should have been. He has pace AND touch. He's the perfect late game sub when a backline might have tired legs. Obviously it's just one cap and goal, but I'm intrigued.

[wolf stansson]

Adu & Torres did nothing for me going forward. Maybe they are too small to play together because they were outmuscled by T&T.

[USSoccer]

Adu & Torres did nothing for me going forward. Maybe they are too small to play together because they were outmuscled by T&T.

 

I think this was it. Also, because Adu was better in the first half and Torres was much better in the 2nd half.

 

Freddy needed to be pushed up more, and then you can play JFT as that attacking mid with MB behind him.

[wolf stansson]

The Madrid derby was fantastic. Royston Drenthe came on late and terrorized Atletico on the wing and eventually drew the penalty that won it.

 

The reason I like to see that, even though I could care less about either of these teams, is because Marvelle Wynne made him his bitch for 90 minutes in the olympics. Drenthe has "world class" pace and it showed against Atletico, but as we saw in the Olympics, Wynne was able to run him ragged. Drenthe being in his offseason and Wynne being in mid-season form plays a part, but I think it says enough for Marv to take some time away from Frankie and Cherundolo in the future.

[USSoccer]

The Madrid derby was fantastic. Royston Drenthe came on late and terrorized Atletico on the wing and eventually drew the penalty that won it.

 

The reason I like to see that, even though I could care less about either of these teams, is because Marvelle Wynne made him his bitch for 90 minutes in the olympics. Drenthe has "world class" pace and it showed against Atletico, but as we saw in the Olympics, Wynne was able to run him ragged. Drenthe being in his offseason and Wynne being in mid-season form plays a part, but I think it says enough for Marv to take some time away from Frankie and Cherundolo in the future.

 

Come 2010 Hejduk is going to be on a beach watching the tourney, and Cherundolo might not even be our 1st choice RB.

 

We need to start really, really exploring these options in the next 12 months. Our defensive depth is pretty untested. Beyond the starters, you have:

 

Califf=Bad

Wynne=Untested

Simek=Untested

Spector=Good, but raw and injury prone

Demerit=I think he's good, but untested

Bornstein=Hejduk 2.0

Orozco=Untested

Gibbs=DOA

 

I still, still think DMB converting to left back and Edu converting to a center back makes the most sense given our midfield logjam by 2010. We have the Gold Cup, the Confederations Cup, Camp Cupcake and the lame friendlies in the winter/early spring and, of course, the Hex to work with. I don't want to be blooding major contributors in 2010 in some sendoff series of crap games or some half assed European Tour of Poland and Austria that don't simulate the enviroment they'll face.

[wolf stansson]

Good ten minute runout for Jozy today. He tracked back well, got involved and made some dangerous runs. His teammates were looking for him but the service & opportunity wasn't there.

[sethuel1]

The Madrid derby was fantastic. Royston Drenthe came on late and terrorized Atletico on the wing and eventually drew the penalty that won it.

 

The reason I like to see that, even though I could care less about either of these teams, is because Marvelle Wynne made him his bitch for 90 minutes in the olympics. Drenthe has "world class" pace and it showed against Atletico, but as we saw in the Olympics, Wynne was able to run him ragged. Drenthe being in his offseason and Wynne being in mid-season form plays a part, but I think it says enough for Marv to take some time away from Frankie and Cherundolo in the future.

 

Come 2010 Hejduk is going to be on a beach watching the tourney, and Cherundolo might not even be our 1st choice RB.

 

We need to start really, really exploring these options in the next 12 months. Our defensive depth is pretty untested. Beyond the starters, you have:

 

Califf=Bad

Wynne=Untested

Simek=Untested

Spector=Good, but raw and injury prone

Demerit=I think he's good, but untested

Bornstein=Hejduk 2.0

Orozco=Untested

Gibbs=DOA

 

I still, still think DMB converting to left back and Edu converting to a center back makes the most sense given our midfield logjam by 2010. We have the Gold Cup, the Confederations Cup, Camp Cupcake and the lame friendlies in the winter/early spring and, of course, the Hex to work with. I don't want to be blooding major contributors in 2010 in some sendoff series of crap games or some half assed European Tour of Poland and Austria that don't simulate the enviroment they'll face.

that is the most positive review of Danny Califf that I have ever seen.

[wolf stansson]

that is the most positive review of Danny Califf that I have ever seen.

Douchey Slow Guys With Bad Facial Hair & Tattoos Monthly had a glowing article about him a few months back. I can't remember what month. It's the one with Dustin Hermanson & Scott Spiezio on the cover.

[wvcbxl]

I don't want to pollute this thread with politics, but this snippet fron The Hotline struck me:

 

Now that the debates are over, we're going to have to find some other 90-minute, uneventful, and often scoreless match to watch. Yup, it's back to watching soccer.

 

Shame on them.

 

Off to the stadium to see my boys (see avatar) take on their city rivals.

Jared Jeffrey (their player from the US) isn't in the lineup.

[wvcbxl]

36 goals in 8 CL games tonight, with only 1 draw.

:shock:

WTF??????

[shnsajax]

36 goals in 8 CL games tonight, with only 1 draw.

:shock:

WTF??????

 

Nice 5-2 for Arsenal with a win in Turkey only getting 6 shots on goal tonight too.

[wolf stansson]

Bayern look like a real team again!

 

So inconsistent. It's been a ridiculous season so far.

[Guest]

36 goals in 8 CL games tonight, with only 1 draw.

:shock:

WTF??????

 

Nice 5-2 for Arsenal with a win in Turkey only getting 6 shots on goal tonight too.

 

The highlight show on Friday should be all kinds of entertaining. Games that finished with scores of 6-3, 5-3 and 5-2 along with a couple of 3-0 games.

[wolf stansson]

Lol, the mockery continues...

 

Beckham to Milan on loan. What a joke.

[USSoccer]

Lol, the mockery continues...

 

Beckham to Milan on loan. What a joke.

 

Was this confirmed? I thought it was just speculation cause he was training with them so he can stay fit for England callups.

[shnsajax]

Lol, the mockery continues...

 

Beckham to Milan on loan. What a joke.

 

Was this confirmed? I thought it was just speculation cause he was training with them so he can stay fit for England callups.

 

 

Been running on all the news bottom lines today. Says he will stay with them till the end of the season.

[wolf stansson]

Lol, the mockery continues...

 

Beckham to Milan on loan. What a joke.

 

Was this confirmed? I thought it was just speculation cause he was training with them so he can stay fit for England callups.

 

 

Been running on all the news bottom lines today. Says he will stay with them till the end of the season.

Smart money says he never comes back.

 

What I'm trying to decide is if MLS would be better off. I know the Galaxy would be better off, but would MLS?

 

I think there is an argument to be made.

[USSoccer]

Chris Rolfe has a 1st half hat trick as the Fire are up 3-1 at the half over Flugtag FC

 

FWIW, the three teams I've really, really enjoyed seeing play in MLS have been Chivas, RSL and the Fire. The Fire's midfield is really, really good.

 

RE Beckham...

 

I think MLS would probably be best served selling him to Milan. Yeah, they'd lose some jersey sales and ticket sales, but realistically, he's a role player sucking up salary for a team and a market that badly needs an overhaul. Becks was a free transfer to MLS, so they could recoup some $$ by selling him to AC and then, if Landon leaves to go get abused in Germany some more, they could makeover that team.

 

I think the league is actually (I can't believe I'm saying this) better off without players like Beckham. The league is growing. The SSS's are working, and I think that if they stay patient and make smart decisions, you'll have a perfectly healthy league averaging 14-20k per night that can serve as as springboard league.

[wolf stansson]

YES

 

http://www.goal.com/en-us/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=928554

By Andrea Canales

 

Defender Neven Subotic’s numerous options for national team play have now been reduced by one. The German federation has been informed by FIFA that Subotic is not eligible to play for Germany.

 

The specific FIFA rule, which has recently come to light, bars players from playing for any countries of which they were not citizens during their first participation in a FIFA competition.

 

That leaves three other countries as possible options for Subotic – Bosnia, Serbia and the U.S. Neven’s father has expressed his wish that his son represent Serbia. The nineteen year-old has two years left to declare his choice of either Bosnia or Serbia. Once he turns 21, his eligibility defaults to the U.S., the country he has already represented.

 

Don't be a dick, bro. Serbia and Bosnia suck.

[USSoccer]

Its gonna be us. There's no way he chooses to be a borderline 23 man roster candidate for a team that may or may not qualify, over being a near lock for a starting IX spot.

[USSoccer]

A name to watch:

 

Diego De La Torre

 

He's going to be the next Mexican-American player cap-tied.

[wolf stansson]

A name to watch:

 

Diego De La Torre

 

He's going to be the next Mexican-American player cap-tied.

Never heard of him. What's the deal? Holding mid? I don't know how much midfield depth we need but I guess one more can't hurt.

[wolf stansson]

Deuce gets Fulham their first point in a long while with a great goal in the 87th.