The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

Congrats to LD.

[soccer10k]

FWIW, I loved Mathis, but he was his own worst enemy. His fitness and focus robbed him of what could have been a stellar career. The US needs more guys like Mathis, which is partly why I like Dempsey so much. You need creative, attacking-minded players who don't back down, don't get intimidated and find themselves in the right spots at the right time.

 

I always loved his goal against South Korea in the 2002 World Cup (right at the beginning). Nothing fancy. A perfect trap and he flat out buried the ball in the back of the net.

[imb]

I only sort of follow this thread, so if you've seen these before, forgiveness please

 

Maradona repeat?

 

and then the greatest goal ever, which you've probably all seen. I came across this video a month ago and i probably watch it twice a week.

[soccer10k]

I only sort of follow this thread, so if you've seen these before, forgiveness please

 

Maradona repeat?

 

and then the greatest goal ever, which you've probably all seen. I came across this video a month ago and i probably watch it twice a week.

 

I have seen the Messi-Maradona video and the similarities between the two are very weird and interesting.

 

The second goal I had yet to see and that is amazing.

[soccer10k]

European League news:

 

-Bayern Munich will not be in the Champions League next year and will be forced to settle with the UEFA Cup after finishing fourth in the Bundesliga. The top two teams automatically qualify and the third goes into qualifying for the CL.

 

-Real Madrid can win its first Spanish title in four years with a win next Sunday at home against Mallorca. Ruud van Nistelrooy scored in the 89th minute to give Madrid a draw on the road while Barcelona surrendered an 89th minute goal at home and tied Espanyol 2-2. Barca and Real are tied with 73 points going into the final weekend.

 

-Meanwhile, Messi has done his latest Maradona impersonation this time replicating the infamous 'Hand of God' goal. Search youtube for 'Barcelona Espanyol' for highlights and you'll inevitably find it. It's pretty obvious.

 

EDIT:

. Around the 1 minute mark they show slow motion replays.

[Marco4]

While you're doing that; a little addition to those.

 

Munich have signed Luca Toni and Franck Ribery to aid them next season.

 

Real are grovelling to keep David Beckham after he has performed well for a month and a half. LA Galaxy says 'No'.

[USSoccer]

Real are grovelling to keep David Beckham after he has performed well for a month and a half. LA Galaxy says 'No'.

 

LA should say no, and for that matter so should Beckham. After the way Capello dealt with Beckham post MLS contract, Beckham should tell Real to go scratch.

 

Also, the Messi handball goal just goes to show that poor officiating isn't just limited to the NBA, MLB, NFL, and MLS. That was as obvious as it could be at ful speed. There's no way the RA should have missed that.

[Marco4]

Oh, I'm all with the Galaxy on this one. I can see Beckham might be a little torn because it'd make his international prospects a little brighter playing on in one of the world's premiere leagues, but he's got a contract.

 

I'll give the Messi goal a look in; I saw a photo, and that was plain as day.

[Marco4]

He got away with the obvious there.

 

Nice that he catches the keeper, as well.

 

Still, if the keeper dressed up for the occasion, instead of looking like a slob, maybe he'd have got something.

[USSoccer]

Oh, I'm all with the Galaxy on this one. I can see Beckham might be a little torn because it'd make his international prospects a little brighter playing on in one of the world's premiere leagues, but he's got a contract.

 

I'll give the Messi goal a look in; I saw a photo, and that was plain as day.

 

Playing in California doesn't help just because of the distance, but I don't necessarily buy the La Liga aspect. Obviously the top teams are light years better than MLS teams, but the better MLS teams would kill the bottom of the table La Liga teams. It's not playing in European competitions that would really damper his prospects.

 

Then again, when are England's next qualifiers? Aren't they like in the winter?

[Marco4]

Its the playing 38 games a season, plus Europe, plus the Copa del Rey, really. That's 50-odd games (if they do well).

 

England's next qualifiers are September, I think.

[USSoccer]

Its the playing 38 games a season, plus Europe, plus the Copa del Rey, really. That's 50-odd games (if they do well).

 

England's next qualifiers are September, I think.

 

Well, MLS + the idiotic Superliga + MLS Cup is somewhere around 40. More if Galaxy win the regular season or the MLS Cup.

 

Beckham would be available for any England games played after the MLS season ends, plus he would be in form for Euro 2008 as MLS would be in midseason, wheras the EPL based players would be playing at the end of domestic play and UEFA play.

 

I think it's still moot, though, because I don't believe for a second McLaren would keep Beckham on England for one minute longer than he had to in order to right the ship, so to speak.

[Marco4]

:lol: - Big fan of the Superliga, then.

 

I think when they* worked the air travel out, there was only three games that might pose a problem for him - all towards the end of this (calendar) year.

 

The newspapers.

[MPC]

U.S. 1

El Salvador 0

 

34th minute

 

DMB with a nice finish.

[MPC]

u.s. has been dominating the last ten minutes, but as usual in this gold cup, not much to show for it. beasley had two more huge chances and came up empty on both.

[MPC]

pk on an hand ball right on the edge of the box.

 

donovan takes it. blocked but he gets to retake it. i don't know why.

 

he drills it the second time.

 

2-0 us going into the half.

[MPC]

twellman makes it 3-0 as the u.s. is cruising.

[MPC]

4-0 beasley in the 90th.

[USSoccer]

DMB scored twice, but should have scored at least three. Still was the MOTM. Nice game. He's slowly starting to get his form back.

 

Dempsey played pretty good up front, and pretty good when Ching came on. Passed well. Created 2 chances our usual forwards would never have in the 1st half. Was unlucky not to score. BTW, anyone else notice that when he's up front he plays like Pipo Inzaghi? I don't know about anyone else, but I'd be thrilled if he became Inzaghi up front.

 

On that note, I liked the 4-3-2-1 formation. Bradley has allowed his creative players license to create. Bradley/Feilhaber/Mastroeni are more than capable of playing solid defense and holding possesion, which allows Beasley, Donovan and Dempsey license to roam a bit and use their skills. This is something Arena never did, and I hope it continues as the US plays more difficult opponents. The trouble is that I don't think the kid mids are ready yet to hold possesion against a really good team. Likewise, I'm curious to see what Demspey would look like playing up front against a good defense.

 

Bornstein has nice pace, but cannot pass the ball to save his life. Left back is going to continue to be a problem, I think, for a while.

 

Spector played very well. Nice to see that. Gooch needs to control his temper.

 

Donovan played ok. I thought he made some questionable decisions with the ball, but was decent overall. I don't give credit for PK goals, though.

 

Nice to see Mastro back. He's a really good defensive mid. FeilBradley played pretty well, although it would be really nice if the US stopped developing defensive mids and developed a couple of offensive/creative mids.

 

Nice win overall. Probably their best performance so far in the Gold Cup.

[sethuel1]

Bornstein has nice pace, but cannot pass the ball to save his life. Left back is going to continue to be a problem, I think, for a while.

I'd like to see what Heath pearce can do.

[soccer10k]

Bornstein has nice pace, but cannot pass the ball to save his life. Left back is going to continue to be a problem, I think, for a while.

I'd like to see what Heath pearce can do.

 

As would I. Although I might be a bit biased because I played with him as a kid. The couple games I've seen him in with the U.S. he's played decently well. Nothing spectacular but no mistakes either.

[soccer10k]

Though I didn't see the game, I'm glad to see the U.S. team actually convert its opportunities today. Hopefully they can keep that up in the next round.

[sethuel1]

Bornstein has nice pace, but cannot pass the ball to save his life. Left back is going to continue to be a problem, I think, for a while.

I'd like to see what Heath pearce can do.

 

As would I. Although I might be a bit biased because I played with him as a kid. The couple games I've seen him in with the U.S. he's played decently well. Nothing spectacular but no mistakes either.

Considering the fact that it looks like Bornstein's entire game revolves around overcommitting himself and then running like hell to make up for it, that would be an improvement.

[USSoccer]

Bornstein has nice pace, but cannot pass the ball to save his life. Left back is going to continue to be a problem, I think, for a while.

I'd like to see what Heath pearce can do.

 

Doesn't Bob Bradley have some sort of irrational hatred for Pearce? Hopefully he'll play in Copa America and impress, because a good team would absolutely abuse Bornstein.

[shnsajax]

DMB scored twice, but should have scored at least three. Still was the MOTM. Nice game. He's slowly starting to get his form back.

 

Dempsey played pretty good up front, and pretty good when Ching came on. Passed well. Created 2 chances our usual forwards would never have in the 1st half. Was unlucky not to score. BTW, anyone else notice that when he's up front he plays like Pipo Inzaghi? I don't know about anyone else, but I'd be thrilled if he became Inzaghi up front.

 

On that note, I liked the 4-3-2-1 formation. Bradley has allowed his creative players license to create. Bradley/Feilhaber/Mastroeni are more than capable of playing solid defense and holding possesion, which allows Beasley, Donovan and Dempsey license to roam a bit and use their skills. This is something Arena never did, and I hope it continues as the US plays more difficult opponents. The trouble is that I don't think the kid mids are ready yet to hold possesion against a really good team. Likewise, I'm curious to see what Demspey would look like playing up front against a good defense.

 

Bornstein has nice pace, but cannot pass the ball to save his life. Left back is going to continue to be a problem, I think, for a while.

 

Spector played very well. Nice to see that. Gooch needs to control his temper.

 

Donovan played ok. I thought he made some questionable decisions with the ball, but was decent overall. I don't give credit for PK goals, though.

 

Nice to see Mastro back. He's a really good defensive mid. FeilBradley played pretty well, although it would be really nice if the US stopped developing defensive mids and developed a couple of offensive/creative mids.

 

Nice win overall. Probably their best performance so far in the Gold Cup.

 

The biggest problem I have seen with Beasley is that he just seems to not have control of his body and pace lie he used to. He just seems very irratic. His first goal was a nice change from that.

 

He may not have gotten the goals, but Dempsey was the most impressive IMO. I was very happy just to see some quality shots from outside the box for the first time in a while. Since Donovan's goal a couple of months ago. Dempsey is the wild card in an otherwise predictable team.