The Soccer Thread

[Guest]

What on earth just happened in the Champions League? ONE home team won? I just lost some cash, thanks guys.

 

Crazy, crazy day. Liverpool and Barcelona both lose at home while Inter is held to a draw. Rangers was also thrashed by a Romanian team.

[USSoccer]

Rubin Kazan is the Barca of the RPL, if that makes it any better...

 

 

Jermaine Jones switch = complete.

http://www.ussoccer.com/Social/MNT-Blog.aspx?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&UID=1a697a53-a181-4302-aa61-f454d97c88fd&plckPostId=Blog%3a1a697a53-a181-4302-aa61-f454d97c88fdPost%3a499d6ed9-1a43-4338-8cbb-2c4ea96f21c3&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest

 

Since this was posted, his shin has exploded and he's out another 5 months.

 

Not really. But seriously, he needs to quit being all Mark Prior.

[CubbieBum]

In a not surprising at all news item Donovan won the Honda Award for the 6th time, the most of anyone. Just makes me more excited to see what he does in the WC. See if he can truly become one of the best players in the world.

[Guest]

AC Milan just got boned in Madrid. Perfectly good goal that actually looked like it was knocked in by a Real Madrid player but because a pair of Madrid players lost their balance and hit the ground, the goal was disallowed.

 

EDIT: So much for that, Milan just scored with a couple minutes left to go up 3-2.

[CubbieBum]

AC Milan just got boned in Madrid. Perfectly good goal that actually looked like it was knocked in by a Real Madrid player but because a pair of Madrid players lost their balance and hit the ground, the goal was disallowed.

EDIT: So much for that, Milan just scored with a couple minutes left to go up 3-2.

 

Huh? Was a foul called or something?

[Guest]

AC Milan just got boned in Madrid. Perfectly good goal that actually looked like it was knocked in by a Real Madrid player but because a pair of Madrid players lost their balance and hit the ground, the goal was disallowed.

EDIT: So much for that, Milan just scored with a couple minutes left to go up 3-2.

 

Huh? Was a foul called or something?

 

That's all I can think. It was directly off a corner so it couldn't have been offsides. I guess maybe because the two Madrid defenders and the goalie went down that they thought the Milan player pushed them or something even though he didn't.

[wvcbxl]

\:D/

Nice 2-0 home win for Bruges over Partizan Belgrade today.

 

Everton were destroyed by Benfica: 5-0 :shock:

[wolf stansson]

Slovakian reports are that we have a friendly with them 4 days prior to the Denkmark friendly: http://theoriginalwinger.com/2009-10-23-us-friendly-with-slovakia-in-november

[USSoccer]

Slovakian reports are that we have a friendly with them 4 days prior to the Denkmark friendly: http://theoriginalwinger.com/2009-10-23-us-friendly-with-slovakia-in-november

 

Thats an interesting choice...

[wolf stansson]

Slovakian reports are that we have a friendly with them 4 days prior to the Denkmark friendly: http://theoriginalwinger.com/2009-10-23-us-friendly-with-slovakia-in-november

 

Thats an interesting choice...

I think we're pretty even matched with them in terms of talent. Same with Denmark. I think it's brilliant. Both games are winnable. Both are loseable. If we win we get the confidence boost of winning against good teams with some famous names in Europe. If we lose, we take it as a lesson on what we need to improve before South Africa. Perfect games to blood Jermaine Jones in as well. Hopefully he is healthy for camp cupcake. He can spend three weeks training and getting to know guys followed by difficult friendlies in familiar environs against familiar players.

[wolf stansson]

Oh to live in a world where Freddy went to Inter instead of DC United:

@USsoccerNews: Freddy Adu didnt make Belenenses bench today. TV commentators said coach not happy w/ Adu's "party every night" attitude!

 

We made a star out of a kid who was too immature to not buy into the hype.

[USSoccer]

Slovakian reports are that we have a friendly with them 4 days prior to the Denkmark friendly: http://theoriginalwinger.com/2009-10-23-us-friendly-with-slovakia-in-november

 

Thats an interesting choice...

I think we're pretty even matched with them in terms of talent. Same with Denmark. I think it's brilliant. Both games are winnable. Both are loseable. If we win we get the confidence boost of winning against good teams with some famous names in Europe. If we lose, we take it as a lesson on what we need to improve before South Africa. Perfect games to blood Jermaine Jones in as well. Hopefully he is healthy for camp cupcake. He can spend three weeks training and getting to know guys followed by difficult friendlies in familiar environs against familiar players.

 

I think I like it more than deciding to play Holland, England and Germany and hanging out hat on trying hard while getting outclassed by a disinterested opponent.

 

Slovakia and Denmark are just interesting choices when you consider our likely group opponents.

[USSoccer]

Oh to live in a world where Freddy went to Inter instead of DC United:

@USsoccerNews: Freddy Adu didnt make Belenenses bench today. TV commentators said coach not happy w/ Adu's "party every night" attitude!

 

We made a star out of a kid who was too immature to not buy into the hype.

 

 

He's an idiot.

[USSoccer]

WTF, Gooch is out six months now...

 

A late April return is cutting it close.

[Guest]

WTF, Gooch is out six months now...

 

A late April return is cutting it close.

 

Definitely time to start planning to play without him. One setback and he'll absolutely be out for the World Cup.

[USSoccer]

WTF, Gooch is out six months now...

 

A late April return is cutting it close.

 

Definitely time to start planning to play without him. One setback and he'll absolutely be out for the World Cup.

 

Does anyone really feel that comfortable with a Boca/DeMerit center pairing?

 

Because I don't.

[shnsajax]

WTF, Gooch is out six months now...

 

A late April return is cutting it close.

 

Definitely time to start planning to play without him. One setback and he'll absolutely be out for the World Cup.

 

Does anyone really feel that comfortable with a Boca/DeMerit center pairing?

 

Because I don't.

 

I hope Castillo is ready to play, not center just in general.

[USSoccer]

WTF, Gooch is out six months now...

 

A late April return is cutting it close.

 

Definitely time to start planning to play without him. One setback and he'll absolutely be out for the World Cup.

 

Does anyone really feel that comfortable with a Boca/DeMerit center pairing?

 

Because I don't.

 

I hope Castillo is ready to play, not center just in general.

 

Our CB depth is really bad:

 

Gooch

Boca

DeMerit

Conrad

Marshall

Goodison

Califf?

Castillo?

Edu?

 

We could always shift Specs into the center, too, I guess.

 

This is another reason Jones will be key-if Gooch is out, we're going to need his bite in the DM spot.

[wolf stansson]

 

I hope Castillo is ready to play, not center just in general.

 

Our CB depth is really bad:

 

Gooch

Boca

DeMerit

Conrad

Marshall

Goodison

Califf?

Castillo?

Edu?

 

We could always shift Specs into the center, too, I guess.

 

This is another reason Jones will be key-if Gooch is out, we're going to need his bite in the DM spot.

All reports are that Castillo sucks at defending. With a weak, slow CB pairing, we can't have a liability who wants to get forward and can't mark anybody.

 

 

Our depth:

Gooch

Boca

DeMerit

Spector

Orozco

Parkhurst

Marshall

Conrad

Goodson

Gonzalez (Omar - Galaxy rookie cb)

Califf

 

In the event that Gooch doesn't make it back, I'd go:

--Cherundolo----Spector----Boca----Bornstein--

Edu is obviously the wild card considering we don't need another holding mid, especially if Jones makes it back.

 

Fyi, apparently Jozy was late to the match today (strike 1) and twittered about it (strike 2) and Hull isn't happy about it. This on the heels of the Belenseses manager saying he doesn't like Adu's "party every night" attitude.

[USSoccer]

WTF Jozy.

 

I had forgotten about Orozco and Omar Gonzalez. I rate Gonzo quite highly, actually.

[wolf stansson]

Yeah I like him a lot too. Held his own in the AC Milan and Barca friendlies quite well. Faster and more technical than Gooch and 1 inch taller.

[USSoccer]

Yeah I like him a lot too. Held his own in the AC Milan and Barca friendlies quite well. Faster and more technical than Gooch and 1 inch taller.

 

 

He's with the right coach for central defenders, too. Arena is responsible for just about every good one we've ever had.

[USSoccer]

Does Robbie Findlay have the pace to play the Davies role in our system?

[USSoccer]

So that's pretty much the United midfield I expected all season. They got overrun by a midfield that isn't that great (although I rate Benayoun highly).

[shnsajax]

So that's pretty much the United midfield I expected all season. They got overrun by a midfield that isn't that great (although I rate Benayoun highly).

 

And a midfield with their Captain on the sidelines. I really like Benayoun too.

 

Spector getting the start today vs. Arsenal. Arsenal need the win today and they will be able to keep pace with Chelsea. Right now I think the league is going to come down to those two.