The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

IT'S ALL HAPPENING

 

Adu started, played 68 and drew a penalty in a friendly against Juve. Be still my heart.

[USSoccer]

Outstanding. There's no reason that he shouldn't be playing. That team is terrible. That said, Freddy needs to work a lot harder, as 1st team spots in Europe aren't just handed out.

[sethuel1]

color me excited when it doesn't happen in a pointless friendly

[USSoccer]

I was doubting his inclusion in even pointless friendlies at Monaco.

[sethuel1]

also does anyone else enjoy that even though it was a pointless friendly pavel Nedved still managed to get himself yellow-carded? What a douche

[wolf stansson]

I'm starting to dislike Freddy just because I assume he doesn't try.

 

So now I move on to this kid: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=575144&sec=us&root=us&cc=5901

 

I like this part.

In the past Phillip Gyau says coaches, including one in the U.S. system, tried bottling up his speedy son, telling him to give up the ball more and not dribble as much.

For Joseph, it was like playing in slow motion.

 

"I told Joseph, 'If you play like that, you will never have success,'" the father says. "Those players are a dime a dozen. You have to be a difference-maker. Go out there and just run at the defenders."

 

No, Joseph Gyau's never stopped running. Just like all his heroes in those videos he still watches.

 

 

Also, I just noticed this, but Bob Bradley speaks in the same tone and cadence as Barack Obama. He could do a great Obama.

[USSoccer]

Wait, so a US coach told a talented youth player to stop dribbling, taking on defenders, and told him to pass the ball more?

 

Stunning.

 

Our coaches/player development people suck.

[sethuel1]

Wait, so a US coach told a talented youth player to stop dribbling, taking on defenders, and told him to pass the ball more?

 

Stunning.

 

Our coaches/player development people suck.

Certainly individually talented players are not what puts you over the top.

[wolf stansson]

Wait, so a US coach told a talented youth player to stop dribbling, taking on defenders, and told him to pass the ball more?

 

Stunning.

 

Our coaches/player development people suck.

Certainly individually talented players are not what puts you over the top.

Haha, I just got done watching highlights from Messi's hat trick the other day.

 

Btw, this is cool to see: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_4763619,00.html

[sethuel1]

Wait, so a US coach told a talented youth player to stop dribbling, taking on defenders, and told him to pass the ball more?

 

Stunning.

 

Our coaches/player development people suck.

Certainly individually talented players are not what puts you over the top.

Haha, I just got done watching highlights from Messi's hat trick the other day.

 

Btw, this is cool to see: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11827_4763619,00.html

badass. Jozy rules.

[USSoccer]

Jozy=Awesome....

 

I dunno if I'd want him in the Prem, though.

[wolf stansson]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=607837&sec=transfers&cc=5901

"The squad is prepared for the battles of the second part of the season," said Pellegrini. ''I have demanded the continuity of Altidore within our club, but the final decision lies with the directors."

Villarreal have confirmed there is interest in young American striker Jozy Altidore, but they have no intention of letting him leave.

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=607951&sec=europe&cc=5901

According to Hoeness, the offer and demand are now "very close".

 

"We are in talks with Cologne and when I return next week we will reopen these talks," Hoeness told Germany's ZDF television channel. "I think we will reach a solution by the end of the month.

 

"There are only small technicalities to put in place. I think we will manage it."

 

Landon's going to get his shot.

[Guest]

Chelsea had allowed 3 goals on the road in 10 EPL games this year before today, when they lost 3-0 at Man U.

 

And apparently Man City is about to beat Arsenal for Arshaven.

[shnsajax]

Chelsea had allowed 3 goals on the road in 10 EPL games this year before today, when they lost 3-0 at Man U.

 

And apparently Man City is about to beat Arsenal for Arshaven.

 

This sucks.

[USSoccer]

Citeh is about to overpay severely. I don't think there's too much of a difference between Arshavin and Donovan.

 

And Dimitar Berbatov looks like he should be smoking a cigarette while on the field.

 

Scolari is going to get sacked. Man U have at least one game in hand as far as I can remember, maybe two, and Chelsea look like they're in very poor form.

[Guest]

Citeh is about to overpay severely. I don't think there's too much of a difference between Arshavin and Donovan.

 

And Dimitar Berbatov looks like he should be smoking a cigarette while on the field.

 

Scolari is going to get sacked. Man U have at least one game in hand as far as I can remember, maybe two, and Chelsea look like they're in very poor form.

 

They've got two in hand and are one point back of Chelsea and five back of Liverpool. Man U gets Wigan on Wednesday as one of their games in hand.

[USSoccer]

We're now one month away from the opening Hex game. Here are my 5 key points:

 

-Does Bradley go safe and start Beasley on the left, despite the fact he's been pretty much terrible for over 3 years now? Or, does he get crafty and put Torres (please) or Sacha out there?

 

-Going hand in hand with the first, assuming Sacha K. isn't on the left, is he starting alongside MB in the middle, or do we see the Empty Bucket return with Rico Clark or Mo Edu?

 

-Can Dempsey hold his form?

 

-Will Bradley make the correct decision and start Jozy, or does he go with his safefy blankey in Brian Ching?

 

-How will the Bayern loan help Landon?

 

I'm a little wary of Mexico right now, actually. They've played so mediocre of late, but with so long to prepare for this game, will SGE have something planned other than the usual 'dominate possession but allow us to counter' thing that hasn't worked? Or will they make the clever and smart play, and allow us to hold possession and counter themselves? Remember, this is how the CR pantsed us in the WC opener.

 

Personally, that's what I'd do. I'd make the US mids and forwards try and break us down all game long and use Guardado's speed to counter a defense that doesn't exactly defend speed well.

 

Mexico will be without Magallon, Vela and one other guy due to accumulated yellow cards.

[wolf stansson]

I don't think there's too much of a difference between Arshavin and Donovan.

I think the biggest difference between the two is that Landon will occasionally score a goal or two...

 

Well that's not entirely fair. Landon obviously has more caps, but Arshavin's rate at Zenit really isn't impressive at all.

[wolf stansson]

http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/matchreport/2009/18288.php?fcb_sid=9a795123c37063a2c7e9c044e25405f3

 

The honour of rounding off the scoring fell ultimately to Donovan, controlling the ball with his back to goal before firing into the bottom corner of the net on the turn. Klose saw one final chance saved before the final whistle blew in Jeddah and the Bayern party set off to catch the plane home to Munich.

 

I'll post some highlights when they post them.

[sethuel1]

We're now one month away from the opening Hex game. Here are my 5 key points:

 

-Does Bradley go safe and start Beasley on the left, despite the fact he's been pretty much terrible for over 3 years now? Or, does he get crafty and put Torres (please) or Sacha out there?

 

-Going hand in hand with the first, assuming Sacha K. isn't on the left, is he starting alongside MB in the middle, or do we see the Empty Bucket return with Rico Clark or Mo Edu?

 

-Can Dempsey hold his form?

 

-Will Bradley make the correct decision and start Jozy, or does he go with his safefy blankey in Brian Ching?

 

-How will the Bayern loan help Landon?

 

I'm a little wary of Mexico right now, actually. They've played so mediocre of late, but with so long to prepare for this game, will SGE have something planned other than the usual 'dominate possession but allow us to counter' thing that hasn't worked? Or will they make the clever and smart play, and allow us to hold possession and counter themselves? Remember, this is how the CR pantsed us in the WC opener.

 

Personally, that's what I'd do. I'd make the US mids and forwards try and break us down all game long and use Guardado's speed to counter a defense that doesn't exactly defend speed well.

 

Mexico will be without Magallon, Vela and one other guy due to accumulated yellow cards.

 

I can't see how Mo Edu could be in the lineup, considering the complete lack of playing time he's had this year. Beasley hasn't had all that much more time, and I'd sit him down as well.

[USSoccer]

I don't think there's too much of a difference between Arshavin and Donovan.

I think the biggest difference between the two is that Landon will occasionally score a goal or two...

 

Well that's not entirely fair. Landon obviously has more caps, but Arshavin's rate at Zenit really isn't impressive at all.

 

Arshavin benefited from a good run of form during the Euro's, but I don't see much to get excited about there, really.

[USSoccer]

I can't see how Mo Edu could be in the lineup, considering the complete lack of playing time he's had this year. Beasley hasn't had all that much more time, and I'd sit him down as well.

 

One can hope, because that means there's a spot for Torres.

[sethuel1]

I can't see how Mo Edu could be in the lineup, considering the complete lack of playing time he's had this year. Beasley hasn't had all that much more time, and I'd sit him down as well.

 

One can hope, because that means there's a spot for Torres.

he's in form and in season. One of the few for us. Bob had better take advantage.

[USSoccer]

I can't see how Mo Edu could be in the lineup, considering the complete lack of playing time he's had this year. Beasley hasn't had all that much more time, and I'd sit him down as well.

 

One can hope, because that means there's a spot for Torres.

he's in form and in season. One of the few for us. Bob had better take advantage.

 

It would go against his m/o, which is a very conservative, safe mindset in big qualifiers.

 

but as you pointed out, he's in form and in season. That should mean more. Ditto Jozy over Ching. That's the one move that I think will be key.

[USSoccer]

Some blog took the WC2010 seeding and pot formula and projected the groups.

 

Group A: South Africa, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Chile

Group B: Argentina, Israel, Korea Republic, Egypt

Group C: France, Greece, Australia, Ghana

Group D: Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Uruguay

Group E: Brazil, Croatia, Iran, Cote d'Ivoire

Group F: Italy, Czech Republic, USA, Paraguay

Group G: England, Netherlands, Japan, Cameroon

Group H: Germany, Turkey, Honduras, Nigeria

 

Ours is nearly identical to 2006, Group A sucks, and D-G are ridiculous