The Soccer Thread

[USSoccer]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=406395&cc=5901

 

As expected, Dempsey, Convey, Bocanegra and Howard added to the roster for next week's beatdown of Mexico in Glendale, AZ.

 

Also, Cuauhtemoc Blanco is back on the Mexican team's roster.

[minnesotacubsfan]

has anyone heard anything about a Philadelphia team yet?

 

mls?

[shnsajax]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=406395&cc=5901

 

As expected, Dempsey, Convey, Bocanegra and Howard added to the roster for next week's beatdown of Mexico in Glendale, AZ.

 

Also, Cuauhtemoc Blanco is back on the Mexican team's roster.

 

Its good to see that he can take time off from beating his wife to play for Mexico again. What is he 40 now? Although I would not mind seeing him with his little jump move he was able to pull off a bunch about 4 years ago :-).

[USSoccer]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=406395&cc=5901

 

As expected, Dempsey, Convey, Bocanegra and Howard added to the roster for next week's beatdown of Mexico in Glendale, AZ.

 

Also, Cuauhtemoc Blanco is back on the Mexican team's roster.

 

Its good to see that he can take time off from beating his wife to play for Mexico again. What is he 40 now? Although I would not mind seeing him with his little jump move he was able to pull off a bunch about 4 years ago :-).

 

He's 34, and I cannot wait to see him try and pull some crap with Dempsey in the midfield that he used to pull with Reyna.

 

Since we're not playing Mexico at the top of their stupid mountain stadium, and since I don't think they're going to pump smog into University of Pheonix Stadium, I think Blanco's going to be a bit dissapointed in the end result.

[davecubsfan]

I was waiting for this and knew it would happen

 

David Beckham will appear on US TV in one of the sought-after half-time advert slots during Sunday's live coverage of the Super Bowl. (Telegraph)

[circlechange]

Italian football has certainly hit peaks and valleys this past year.

 

Fan Violence in Italy

 

"The head of the Italian Footballers' Association, Sergio Campana, called for the leagues to be halted for at least a year."

[shnsajax]

I would like to officially nominate a new option for the US since they are in no hurry to announce this year.

 

Frank Rijkaard.

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=408960&cc=5901

[sethuel1]

I would like to officially nominate a new option for the US since they are in no hurry to announce this year.

 

Frank Rijkaard.

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=408960&cc=5901

 

I'd like it.

[davecubsfan]

I would like to officially nominate a new option for the US since they are in no hurry to announce this year.

 

Frank Rijkaard.

 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=408960&cc=5901

 

I would love to see Rijkaard at least get an interview, but I don't see it happening. IMO, he's much too big of a name to be our national team coach and will end up at Bayern or as Chelsea's replacement should Mourinho head to Real/Barca/Bayern

[Jon]

The Chicago/Zidane rumors have started up again, but Guppy denies that there have been any discussions.

 

Next week's Champions League TV schedule (central):

 

Tuesday

1:30, PSV Eindhoven vs. Arsenal FC, ESPN2

4:00, Real Madrid CF vs. Bayern Munich, ESPNC

 

Wednesday

1:30, FC Porto vs. Chelsea FC, ESPN2

4:00, FC Barcelona vs. Liverpool FC, ESPNC

[USSoccer]

The Copa America draw came out. We are in Argentina's group. Speculation is that we'll send our "A" squad to the Gold Cup and the "B" squad to Copa America. Which would be a real mess against a side like Argie.

[brinoch]

The Copa America draw came out. We are in Argentina's group. Speculation is that we'll send our "A" squad to the Gold Cup and the "B" squad to Copa America. Which would be a real mess against a side like Argie.

 

Should send them the other way around. Copa will have some excellent competition. Playing against good teams like Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay is better than the scrubs in the CONCACAF Godl Cup.

 

World Cup teams like Argentina and Brazil are the teams we should be playing.

[shnsajax]

The Copa America draw came out. We are in Argentina's group. Speculation is that we'll send our "A" squad to the Gold Cup and the "B" squad to Copa America. Which would be a real mess against a side like Argie.

 

Should send them the other way around. Copa will have some excellent competition. Playing against good teams like Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay is better than the scrubs in the CONCACAF Godl Cup.

 

World Cup teams like Argentina and Brazil are the teams we should be playing.

 

The US really values winning the Gold Cup though.

[USSoccer]

The Copa America draw came out. We are in Argentina's group. Speculation is that we'll send our "A" squad to the Gold Cup and the "B" squad to Copa America. Which would be a real mess against a side like Argie.

 

Should send them the other way around. Copa will have some excellent competition. Playing against good teams like Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay is better than the scrubs in the CONCACAF Godl Cup.

 

World Cup teams like Argentina and Brazil are the teams we should be playing.

 

The US really values winning the Gold Cup though.

 

I understand wanting to win your Zone so you can play in the Confederations Cup.

 

We could win the Gold Cup with our B team, though. CONCACAF sucks.

 

Our best players should play against the best competition. That's the only way we'll improve.

[shnsajax]

The Copa America draw came out. We are in Argentina's group. Speculation is that we'll send our "A" squad to the Gold Cup and the "B" squad to Copa America. Which would be a real mess against a side like Argie.

 

Should send them the other way around. Copa will have some excellent competition. Playing against good teams like Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay is better than the scrubs in the CONCACAF Godl Cup.

 

World Cup teams like Argentina and Brazil are the teams we should be playing.

 

The US really values winning the Gold Cup though.

 

I understand wanting to win your Zone so you can play in the Confederations Cup.

 

We could win the Gold Cup with our B team, though. CONCACAF sucks.

 

Our best players should play against the best competition. That's the only way we'll improve.

 

I agree 100%. Hell Mexico won the Copa America about 5 years ago if I am not mistaken. Maybe it was 7.

[brinoch]

The Copa America draw came out. We are in Argentina's group. Speculation is that we'll send our "A" squad to the Gold Cup and the "B" squad to Copa America. Which would be a real mess against a side like Argie.

 

Should send them the other way around. Copa will have some excellent competition. Playing against good teams like Colombia, Argentina and Paraguay is better than the scrubs in the CONCACAF Godl Cup.

 

World Cup teams like Argentina and Brazil are the teams we should be playing.

 

The US really values winning the Gold Cup though.

 

I understand wanting to win your Zone so you can play in the Confederations Cup.

 

We could win the Gold Cup with our B team, though. CONCACAF sucks.

 

Our best players should play against the best competition. That's the only way we'll improve.

 

I agree 100%. Hell Mexico won the Copa America about 5 years ago if I am not mistaken. Maybe it was 7.

 

That's all right though, Sunil "beating scrubs is hard" Gulati is in charge. What a joke.

 

Seriously, we need a coach who understands -- and can teach -- attacking. And then we need to instill an attacking mentality in our U-20's. I think too many of our coaches here only understand how to run the counter (which is only slightly more difficult than breathing).

 

If we closed down like the Italians, I wouldn't mind playing a counter-attacking, closing-down style. Personally, I don't think we have the defensive personnel to recover when, inevitably, someone is beaten.

 

Secondly, we need to start building up our attacks from the back. And not with Reyna.

[USSoccer]

 

That's all right though, Sunil "beating scrubs is hard" Gulati is in charge. What a joke.

 

Seriously, we need a coach who understands -- and can teach -- attacking. And then we need to instill an attacking mentality in our U-20's. I think too many of our coaches here only understand how to run the counter (which is only slightly more difficult than breathing).

 

If we closed down like the Italians, I wouldn't mind playing a counter-attacking, closing-down style. Personally, I don't think we have the defensive personnel to recover when, inevitably, someone is beaten.

 

Secondly, we need to start building up our attacks from the back. And not with Reyna.

 

You're dead on about Gulati. Beating Venezuela and Costa Rica isn't going to cut it anymore. Hell, we won the Gold Cup last year with basically a scrub team until the semi's. Donovan was subbing in to games in the 80th minute and scoring goals.

 

Counter attacking doesn't work at the higher international levels. Just because Mexico is stupid and never adjusts to what we do when we play them doesn't mean that it's a viable strategy.

 

Look at what happened in the sendoff games and against the Czechs and Ghana. Teams sat back because they knew that Reyna-led US teams don't attack defenses, and we struggled to create chances.

 

Thankfully, Reyna's no longer in the USMNT picture.

[Jon]

According to the Section 8 board, the Fire believe that they will host three friendlies this summer: Celtic, which is likely for July, an EPL team, of which Reading, Newcastle, Liverpool and Fulham were named specifically, and a Polish team.

 

Nothing is set, though.

[shnsajax]

 

That's all right though, Sunil "beating scrubs is hard" Gulati is in charge. What a joke.

 

Seriously, we need a coach who understands -- and can teach -- attacking. And then we need to instill an attacking mentality in our U-20's. I think too many of our coaches here only understand how to run the counter (which is only slightly more difficult than breathing).

 

If we closed down like the Italians, I wouldn't mind playing a counter-attacking, closing-down style. Personally, I don't think we have the defensive personnel to recover when, inevitably, someone is beaten.

 

Secondly, we need to start building up our attacks from the back. And not with Reyna.

 

You're dead on about Gulati. Beating Venezuela and Costa Rica isn't going to cut it anymore. Hell, we won the Gold Cup last year with basically a scrub team until the semi's. Donovan was subbing in to games in the 80th minute and scoring goals.

 

Counter attacking doesn't work at the higher international levels. Just because Mexico is stupid and never adjusts to what we do when we play them doesn't mean that it's a viable strategy.

 

Look at what happened in the sendoff games and against the Czechs and Ghana. Teams sat back because they knew that Reyna-led US teams don't attack defenses, and we struggled to create chances.

 

Thankfully, Reyna's no longer in the USMNT picture.

 

Thus the reason why they need to hire a European coach.

[brinoch]

Anyone see the Arsenal/Blackburn FA match? Freidel was absolutely unbelievable. Completely saved Blackburn's behind in the last ten minutes.

[davecubsfan]

Anyone see the Arsenal/Blackburn FA match? Freidel was absolutely unbelievable. Completely saved Blackburn's behind in the last ten minutes.

 

Yep, it was a great game. Count me in for a trip to Chicago if Celtic is in fact playing the Fire. I'll be there with my green striped kit on. I love the Old Firm teams.

[soccer10k]

Arsenal-PSV about to start.

[shnsajax]

Arsenal-PSV about to start.

 

Wish Beasley was still with PSV.

[USSoccer]

Arsenal-PSV about to start.

 

Wish Beasley was still with PSV.

 

Is Lee Nguyen on the first team?

[Jon]

I won't read any spoilers, but I must say I forgot to stay away from the AP wire...

 

I think Colbert had it right.