The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

The real story here was JFT. We haven't looked that dominant and that technical in the midfield in forever.

Seriously. Not since O'Brien and Reyna. This is a huge shot for him to. He wants to go to Europe and this is his show case.

[USSoccer]

Torres has been playing like we've all wanted with much more confidence and speed. Looks like he belongs.

Also, I guess it's possible that Bob Bradley knows way more about soccer than us. Findley looked like Charlie Davies out there today.

 

So is this our best 11?

 

------------------------------Howard----------------------------------

-----Cherundolo------DeMerit-------Onyewu-------Bocanegra-----

----Donovan---------Bradley--------Torres----------Dempsey------

-------------------Findley-------------Altidore------------------------

 

 

It was only one game, but I can't stress enough how awesome Torres and Findley were. They filled our biggest weaknesses. Link up through the midfield and speed opening up space for Landon. If that 11 had played the whole game, we could have won 4 or 5 nil.

 

Findley showed that pace can help spread a defense and create pockets for Clint and Landon. He also showed by dribbling the ball over the touch line that he's still not anywhere near as good as Davies. I think Buddle might be a better starting choice, but Findley showed justification for his selection today.

 

Also, Torres is right now what we all hoped Adu would be by now.

[Guest]

Our back 4 is overall still a real worry. We only played good attacking soccer for a half, scored 2 and hit 2 posts. I think we can score goals. I worry about conceding them like a sieve.

 

Absolutely. Wayne Rooney's going to be drooling whenever he watches the performance of our back line today. But that was always going to be the key for us to do anything at the World Cup.

[USSoccer]

Our back 4 is overall still a real worry. We only played good attacking soccer for a half, scored 2 and hit 2 posts. I think we can score goals. I worry about conceding them like a sieve.

 

Absolutely. Wayne Rooney's going to be drooling whenever he watches the performance of our back line today. But that was always going to be the key for us to do anything at the World Cup.

 

But look how deep Torres would drop at times to help the back 4. I think/hope Bradley may have stumbled upon something here. Mikey's always going to be high pressure, lots of work rate, chicken with the head cut off sort of mid. You can't play two guys like that. Torres' composure and skill complimented it and really helped our back 4, because with Bradley and Clark, they too often left their back 4 on an island with guys running at them. Torres provided cover and would always find the right outlet.

 

The question is, is England a good matchup for him, and is Bradley gusty enough to start him against England?

[wolf stansson]

England is a loss, so its not a huge difference either way but I worry about his confidence against guys like Lampard and Gerrard. i think Edu will start.

[wolf stansson]

England is a loss, so its not a huge difference either way but I worry about his confidence against guys like Lampard and Gerrard. i think Edu will start.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I liked the determination that was shown in the second half, but our defense still scares the [expletive] out of me. If Bornstein gets any burn in SA we better be up or down by 3. He's awful.

[CubInOK]

Japan scored all 3 goals in an England 2-1 victory this morning. Many accounts say England didn't play their hardest. Ohh Lampard missed a PK in it as well.

[Jon]

A nice match at Toyota Park tonight between the Fire and AC Milan. Unfortunately a real bad defensive lapse led to a 1-0 defeat, but the Fire had plenty of good chances

[Marco4]

Yeah, England looked pretty shabby against Japan, but it was a different England to the one that will start in a week or so. Darren Bent started, Walcott was quick but ineffective on the right, Lennon was quick and cut inside a lot on the left.

 

The most encouraging aspect was the devil looking to be back in Joe Cole - looked like he was back to something like his best (it was his cross that brought about the first own goal) which is a valuable option to have.

 

All in all, England games look like they're going to be pretty boring affair again. Good job there's another 31 teams to watch, too.

[Guest]

Grant Wahl retweeting that Walcott didn't make England's final cut.

[wolf stansson]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup-2010/teams/england/7786599/World-Cup-2010-England-told-they-have-nothing-to-fear-from-USA-says-Guus-Hiddink.html

A class above is how Guus Hiddink ranked England in relation to the United States after watching his Turkey side head for the beaches early in Philadelphia. Like England in Graz, the USA recovered a first-half deficit with a heightened response. Turkey persisted for an hour until Jozy Altidore poked America level. After that they were on the plane home.

"They can fight, they can work hard, but I know England. They are at a higher level,"

 

Donovan and Dempsey can be a handful up front if given encouragement. Behind them, America is a land of opportunity for England.

[wolf stansson]

Suck it, Giuseppi Rossi.

[bukie]

Suck it, Giuseppi Rossi.

I'd bet playing for the US team doesn't sound like a bad idea now.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Suck it, Giuseppi Rossi.

BHAHAHAHAHA

[wolf stansson]

http://www.worldcupblog.org/files/2010/05/mag_05172010.jpg

 

http://www.entertonement.com/clips/vcfhzqhncj--Price-is-Right-Loser-Horn-MP3-Sad

[shnsajax]

All 23 players for Italy play in Italy. I found that a little odd.

 

That magazine cover is great :twisted:

[Mark Priors Calves]

All 23 players for Italy play in Italy. I found that a little odd.

 

That magazine cover is great :twisted:

 

I could be misremembering this, but I thought I remember Rossi being the first ever Italian player to play in a league other than serie a.

[wolf stansson]

All 23 players for Italy play in Italy. I found that a little odd.

 

That magazine cover is great :twisted:

 

I could be misremembering this, but I thought I remember Rossi being the first ever Italian player to play in a league other than serie a.

Yeah, you're definitely misremembering that.

 

 

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/09/09/article-1053715-02A5247A000004B0-856_468x667.jpg

 

 

And many others.

[USSoccer]

Apparently Gio Dos Santos is throwing a fit because his brother Jonathan got cut from Mexico's 23 today and he's threatening to quit.

[Mark Priors Calves]

All 23 players for Italy play in Italy. I found that a little odd.

 

That magazine cover is great :twisted:

 

I could be misremembering this, but I thought I remember Rossi being the first ever Italian player to play in a league other than serie a.

Yeah, you're definitely misremembering that.

 

And many others.

 

Wow, I really whiffed on that one. Zola, jeez. Maybe, it was their 2006 team that was entirely made up of Serie A players.

[shnsajax]

Apparently Gio Dos Santos is throwing a fit because his brother Jonathan got cut from Mexico's 23 today and he's threatening to quit.

 

Good. At least the US team doesn't have any little @#%$ like Mexico.

[sethuel1]

All 23 players for Italy play in Italy. I found that a little odd.

 

That magazine cover is great :twisted:

 

I could be misremembering this, but I thought I remember Rossi being the first ever Italian player to play in a league other than serie a.

Yeah, you're definitely misremembering that.

 

And many others.

 

Wow, I really whiffed on that one. Zola, jeez. Maybe, it was their 2006 team that was entirely made up of Serie A players.

correct

[reggiemiller rules]

I can not figure out why Capello would take Upson over Dawson. Dawson had an amazing season for Spurs. I also would have taken Johnson over SWP but I can understand taking the veteran player I guess.

[wolf stansson]

I can not figure out why Capello would take Upson over Dawson. Dawson had an amazing season for Spurs. I also would have taken Johnson over SWP but I can understand taking the veteran player I guess.

I agree with the Walcott exclusion because England has bigger fish to fry than us, but Walcott would have absolutely murdered our back line.