The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

Bob experimenting again.

 

--Spec-----Gooch------Goodson-----Pearce--

--Jone------------Edu----------Bradley-------

--Holden-------Altidore-----------Shea------

 

 

Should be fun.

[wolf stansson]

The three destroyers are having a terrible time bringing the ball through the midfield. We still miss Donovan big time, Shea not really providing any width. Seems a little slow on the ball and not confident. Understandable for a 20 year old in his first cap. Need Dempsey to come in for some spark.

[wolf stansson]

Dempsey, Lichaj and Parkhurst in for Shea, Pearce and Onyewu respectively. Hopefully Parky didn't forget how to play the ball at his feet while in Denmark because Onyewu has been a donkey. Spec and Goodson not much better. I thought Pearce was solid at left back but I'm excited to see Lichaj.

 

 

 

Scratch that. Lichaj for Spector. Excellent. I like it. Specs is crap.

[wolf stansson]

EJ for Edu as well.

 

Granted its 4 minutes, but I really like the look of Lichaj. Strong, good with both feet and really getting forward. Looks like he has a good motor.

[USSoccer]

Guzan looked sharp at least in the first, and Pearce ditched his hideous pornstasche. Both are positives.

 

Harkes actually brought some decent analysis at the half, showing how the 3 CMs just got into each other's way. If you're going to play that Xmas tree, you dont use Jones, Edu and Bradley, you use two of the three and use Holden or Clint as the CAM.

 

If Specs were a baseball player right now, he'd be the definition of replacement level.

 

Ooooo, EJ with a clever ball that Jozy didn't read just there (I'm catching up on the DVR.)

 

Offense looks way, way better with Clint in there.

[USSoccer]

Yeesh. That was ugly.

 

There were some positives, but overall a lethargic performance.

 

Lichaj showed well on the right.

 

I think tonight showed if Clint or Landon aren't on the field, we're not very good in the final third right now.

 

ETA: I want to see our full strength lineup with LD and Clint on the wings with Jones and Bradley in the middle. I really, really like Jones a ton, and once he gets fully integrated we're going to be strong in the center.

[wolf stansson]

ETA: I want to see our full strength lineup with LD and Clint on the wings with Jones and Bradley in the middle. I really, really like Jones a ton, and once he gets fully integrated we're going to be strong in the center.

Holden has to play. Do you put him in the middle with Landon and Clint on the wings or Clint in the middle/withdrawn striker and Holden on the right? I prefer the second.

[USSoccer]

ETA: I want to see our full strength lineup with LD and Clint on the wings with Jones and Bradley in the middle. I really, really like Jones a ton, and once he gets fully integrated we're going to be strong in the center.

Holden has to play. Do you put him in the middle with Landon and Clint on the wings or Clint in the middle/withdrawn striker and Holden on the right? I prefer the second.

 

I prefer Stu in the center for a couple reasons: Clint is better when he touches the ball more, and if you put him opposite Donovan it prevents teams from concentrating on one or the other. Also, I feel Stu in the center makes for a nice balance with our attacking players. He can still provide some defensive bite if we're pinned back, and he can shoot from distance.

 

I think it's the best arrangement for our attack, although Clint can certainly play in the center.

[Jon]

Trib[/url]"]The United States has withdrawn its bid to host the 2018 World Cup and will focus entirely on the bid for the 2022 tournament, the country's bid committee said on Friday.

 

"For some time we have been in conversations with FIFA and UEFA about the possibility of focusing only on the 2022 bidding process, an option we have made reference to many times," said Sunil Gulati, Chairman of the USA Bid Committee and President of U.S. Soccer. "

 

We are confident this is in the best interests of the USA Bid," he said.

 

Still about a month and a half away.

[Guest]

Seems like a pretty good idea. Isn't it a virtual lock that a European team gets the 2018 Cup? Might as well put everything towards 2022 if that's the case.

[shnsajax]

Seems like a pretty good idea. Isn't it a virtual lock that a European team gets the 2018 Cup? Might as well put everything towards 2022 if that's the case.

 

Thats the way it seems, though I don't really understand why Europe/England is a lock for 2018 though it makes it a lot easier for the US to win 2022. I don't see how they could justify going to Japan or South Korea over the US. That leaves us to worry about Austraila or Qatar.

[CubInOK]

So... about Liverpool's ownership situation mess... :-"

[USSoccer]

They aren't going to host a World Cup in effing Doha, Qatar.

 

It's us or the Aussies.

[wvcbxl]

They aren't going to host a World Cup in effing Doha, Qatar.

 

It's us or the Aussies.

 

The US chances may depend on the perception of the 2014 tournament in Brazil being on the "American continent". But I agree with your view that it's between the US and Australia.

The 2018 one is between England and Russia, imho.

[wvcbxl]

Isn't it a virtual lock that a European team gets the 2018 Cup?

 

If you mean a European country organizing the tournament, then the answer is yes, since all four bids are from Europe.

As to which team will win in 2018, who knows? :)

[shnsajax]

They aren't going to host a World Cup in effing Doha, Qatar.

 

It's us or the Aussies.

 

I agree, I just don't like Blatter hyping up the Middle East.

[shnsajax]

Van der Sar just made a huge mistake, West Brom ties it at 2-2 at Old Trafford.

[Exile on Waveland]

Van der Sar just made a huge mistake, West Brom ties it at 2-2 at Old Trafford.

 

That was unexpectedly poor for him. Few goalie gaffes this season -- Howard's drop ball leading to a goal week one, Reina's bobble into the goal against Arsenal (which was really more unlucky than a gaffe), Van der Sar now.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Champions league gets fired up again tomorrow.

[wolf stansson]

This Rooney nonsense is awesome. I love it. What a [expletive].

[shnsajax]

This Rooney nonsense is awesome. I love it. What a [expletive].

 

You talking about his contract?

[wolf stansson]

This Rooney nonsense is awesome. I love it. What a [expletive].

 

You talking about his contract?

Yeah, his transfer request, the possible contract buyout, the Man City rumors, Fergie lying about injuries etc. Gorgeous. Rooney is [expletive].

[shnsajax]

This Rooney nonsense is awesome. I love it. What a [expletive].

 

You talking about his contract?

Yeah, his transfer request, the possible contract buyout, the Man City rumors, Fergie lying about injuries etc. Gorgeous. Rooney is [expletive].

 

He is a complete douche, biggest one since Gazza. That said I almost wouldn't mind if Arsenal used the Cesc money on him. But I am sure Wenger will just invest the money into CD or something.

 

Edit: After thinking about I wouldn't want him on Arsenal as much as I just want Wenger to make a big splash somewhere.

[Guest]

Nightmare game for Tottenham. Inter scored two minutes in before Gomes got redcarded in the eighth and Inter scored the penalty. Inter then scored in the 14th and the 35th and leads 4-0 late in the first half.

[CubInOK]

Maurice Edu scored against Valencia.