The Soccer Thread

[Guest]

GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (8) : Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Edgar Castillo (Club Tijuana), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Maurice Edu (Stoke City), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Michael Parkhurst (Nordsjaelland)

MIDFIELDERS (8) : Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Roma), Joe Corona (Club Tijuana), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Danny Williams (Hoffenheim), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

FORWARDS (5): Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos), Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders)

 

 

Welp, at least Donovan and Shea were healthy enough to be included.

[bukie]

Yep, unconscionable unless for some reason AZ didn't release Altidore.

[USSoccer]

Klinsmann is German Dusty Baker. He sucks.

[wolf stansson]

Yep, unconscionable unless for some reason AZ didn't release Altidore.

It's a FIFA fixture date, clubs have to release any players called up. Not optional.

 

Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders)

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

 

WHAT THE [expletive]

Alan Gordon is like a third as good as his own damn teammate, let alone Jozy Altidore. Is there a Quakes game that Wondo can't miss to try to take down the goal record or something?

[Guest]

I thought this was a pretty well spoken take on why Jozy is (justifiably?) not on the roster: http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/usa-2014-world-cup-qualifying-concacaf/2012/10/9/3477016/jozy-altidore-united-states-mens-national-team-roster

 

Maybe Klinsmann is sending a message to Altidore, but he isn't cutting off his nose to spite his face because he's not dropping a good national team player. At least not one who has been good recently.

 

In 12 matches for Klinsmann, Altidore has failed to pressure the ball with any consistency, create chances or make the runs off the ball to free up teammates. And then there is that one measly goal on a penalty, and a lone assist to boot.

 

Amazingly, this has all come while Altidore is in fine form for AZ. But that fine form didn't keep him from turning in a pair of listless performances against Jamaica. Altidore's 15 goals for AZ last season didn't help him in Klinsmann's first nine months either. So while Altidore's club form is all well and good, there is absolutely no evidence that good form in the Eredivisie is an indicator that he will play well for the U.S.

 

The Eredivisie features some amazingly exciting play, but part of that is a result of lackadaisical defending. Altidore has feasted upon on those defense and he has done so without working hard for 90 minutes because, frankly, few players in the Eredivisie do.

 

Klinsmann expected Altidore to put in maximum effort for 90 minutes, though. And even if Altidore wanted to put in the work Klinsmann expects of him, he can't do it because he doesn't do it regularly for his club and isn't fit enough to reach Klinsmann's expectation.

[wolf stansson]

Deuce has a cool bass boat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y0U1p6yUxR8

[USSoccer]

I thought this was a pretty well spoken take on why Jozy is (justifiably?) not on the roster: http://www.starsandstripesfc.com/usa-2014-world-cup-qualifying-concacaf/2012/10/9/3477016/jozy-altidore-united-states-mens-national-team-roster

 

Maybe Klinsmann is sending a message to Altidore, but he isn't cutting off his nose to spite his face because he's not dropping a good national team player. At least not one who has been good recently.

 

In 12 matches for Klinsmann, Altidore has failed to pressure the ball with any consistency, create chances or make the runs off the ball to free up teammates. And then there is that one measly goal on a penalty, and a lone assist to boot.

 

Amazingly, this has all come while Altidore is in fine form for AZ. But that fine form didn't keep him from turning in a pair of listless performances against Jamaica. Altidore's 15 goals for AZ last season didn't help him in Klinsmann's first nine months either. So while Altidore's club form is all well and good, there is absolutely no evidence that good form in the Eredivisie is an indicator that he will play well for the U.S.

 

The Eredivisie features some amazingly exciting play, but part of that is a result of lackadaisical defending. Altidore has feasted upon on those defense and he has done so without working hard for 90 minutes because, frankly, few players in the Eredivisie do.

 

Klinsmann expected Altidore to put in maximum effort for 90 minutes, though. And even if Altidore wanted to put in the work Klinsmann expects of him, he can't do it because he doesn't do it regularly for his club and isn't fit enough to reach Klinsmann's expectation.

 

None of our offensive players not named Clint Dempsey have looked good under Klinsmann. He hamstrings guys who need service (like Altidore) by insisting on playing 8 non-attacking players in every lineup. And the Eredivisie isn't any less open than the Mexileague, and people have no issues calling up the middling crap that plays there.

 

That article is horsecrap, appealing to the meatball faction of US fans (not you,TT, so don't think I'm ripping you) that feel that Jozy is lazy and doesn't care. Just like the meatball faction thought about Dempsey circa 2008-9.

[wolf stansson]

USS, that's kind of why I don't get your anti-Kljestan stance. At least guy can put together a forward pass.

 

Jones, Williams, Edu, Beckerman...none can really string together a forward pass or combine with the wings to get forward.

 

Spacing has also been a huge issue under JK. Bob Bradley was pragmatic and played to our strengths, Donovan and Dempsey cutting in from the wings (ironically enough the player that suffered the most was his son who was forced to play deeper), but from a combination of tactical ineptitude and not having a first choice squad consistently (Bradley was very fortunate with player health over his tenure) has led to JK's administration being over a year in and still seeming like he has no idea what his best 11 is. If we aren't able to play a high defensive line and our wing backs are pinned in their defensive third, we have zero width and playing through the middle is impossible without Bradley and a pairing with another center mid who can ping a pass like Holden or Kljestan.

[USSoccer]

USS, that's kind of why I don't get your anti-Kljestan stance. At least guy can put together a forward pass.

 

Jones, Williams, Edu, Beckerman...none can really string together a forward pass or combine with the wings to get forward.

 

Spacing has also been a huge issue under JK. Bob Bradley was pragmatic and played to our strengths, Donovan and Dempsey cutting in from the wings (ironically enough the player that suffered the most was his son who was forced to play deeper), but from a combination of tactical ineptitude and not having a first choice squad consistently (Bradley was very fortunate with player health over his tenure) has led to JK's administration being over a year in and still seeming like he has no idea what his best 11 is. If we aren't able to play a high defensive line and our wing backs are pinned in their defensive third, we have zero width and playing through the middle is impossible without Bradley and a pairing with another center mid who can ping a pass like Holden or Kljestan.

 

My anti-Kljestan stance has more to do with him being extremely hit or miss. He's either really useful or really terrible, depending on his confidence level. He's got a hugely useful skill set, if it could be consistently unlocked.

[wvcbxl]

My anti-Kljestan stance has more to do with him being extremely hit or miss. He's either really useful or really terrible, depending on his confidence level. He's got a hugely useful skill set, if it could be consistently unlocked.

 

Kljestan spent the entire game on the bench last Sunday (a match at Standard Liège that turned out to be a disgraceful war - Anderlecht's coach seems to share your sentiment)

[wolf stansson]

So he starts in the San Siro and sits in a league match and that means the coach doesn't think he's reliable?

[wolf stansson]

Donovan and Shea ruled inactive for the next two friendlies.

 

PERHAPS MAYBE YOU'D HAVE THOUGHT JURGEN MIGHT POSSIBLY HAVE NOTICED THAT THEIR TEAMS DIDN'T PLAY THEM LAST WEEKEND BECAUSE THEY HAD REAL INJURIES MAYBE POSSIBLY?

 

No immediate replacements announced = Jurgen won't put his tail between his legs and call up the obvious replacements because he has terrible relationships with Altidore, Wondo, Feilhaber etc. Someone find Deuce and wrap him in foam, please.

 

Zero width now. Zero.

 

I predict:

 

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

Dempsey--Williams-Zusi-Bradley-Jones-Edu-Beckerman-JFT-Cameron-Kljestan

 

His dream of playing 10 center mids is going to come true!

[USSoccer]

The only thing keeping me from outright panic about getting knocked out in the semifinal round (wtf) is that Clint will be in far better form than a month ago, and we'll have Bradley around to actually be a useful attacking mid.

 

Unless our idiot coach wants to send more messages and bench Mikey, we know he'll at least push the play and provide Clint and Gomez some service.

 

And so help me God, if Eddie Johnson sees the field...

[Mark Priors Calves]

 

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

Dempsey--Williams-Zusi-Bradley-Jones-Edu-Beckerman-JFT-Cameron-Kljestan

 

His dream of playing 10 center mids is going to come true!

WHY ARENT U USINGN THE NEW SOCCER WEBSITE TO MAKE THIS?

[wvcbxl]

So he starts in the San Siro and sits in a league match and that means the coach doesn't think he's reliable?

 

That's not what I mean.

San Siro was completely different situation; they would try to control things and anything but a blowout was an ok result there.

Liège was a high-tension war (and had been billed as such all week) that looked very ugly on TV.

My guess is their coach views Kljestan as someone very useful in certain situations, but maybe mentally not up to it when things get ugly.

 

To Kljestan's credit, I have to admit he's looked very solid (and sometimes even impressive) in every game I've seen him play so far.

[shnsajax]

 

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

Dempsey--Williams-Zusi-Bradley-Jones-Edu-Beckerman-JFT-Cameron-Kljestan

 

His dream of playing 10 center mids is going to come true!

WHY ARENT U USINGN THE NEW SOCCER WEBSITE TO MAKE THIS?

 

Because it looks more like a rugby lineup rather than a soccer lineup.

[USSoccer]

So guess what, guys?

 

Fabian Johnson is out Friday with the flu. He's still in GERMANY.

 

Edgar Castillo (who sucks, but whatever) also got hurt today in practice.

 

BUT WE WILL NOT CALL UP REPLACEMENTS BECAUSE JUERGEN KNOWS ALL

 

idiot.

[wolf stansson]

I understand that he wants to send a message, but World Cup Qualifying is not the god damn time to do it.

 

Anyway, I'm guessing Eric Lichaj and Chris Pontius get a call with next week in mind.

[USSoccer]

Oh, also, Jermaine Jones didn't practice. Because of an ankle injury.

[wolf stansson]

Castillo out for both. Fabian in for game 2. No replacements as of yet.

[shnsajax]

[expletive] Adu will starting before you know it at this rate.

[wolf stansson]

http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2012/10/10/hyndman-injured-shea-called-miami-see-specialist

This explains a lot. Shea has been secretly nursing an injured left leg since April.

[Guest]

Anxiously awaiting the "Howard collides with Bradley in training, both out with thyroid cancer" headline that's surely coming.

[USSoccer]

Anxiously awaiting the "Howard collides with Bradley in training, both out with thyroid cancer" headline that's surely coming.

 

It's like the 2004 Cubs, right down to the incompetent manager.

[wolf stansson]

Anxiously awaiting the "Howard collides with Bradley in training, both out with thyroid cancer" headline that's surely coming.

 

It's like the 2004 Cubs, right down to the incompetent manager.

According to twitter, EJ is starting wide left in a 4-3-3. Our manager knows jack [expletive] about our player pool. EJ is [expletive] but even worse when asked to do anything but play center forward. He's desperate for speed apparently.