The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

I think I like the idea of a diamond formation with Altidore-Donovan-Dempsey-Bradley with Altidore up top and Bradley in the back with Dempsey and Donovan on either side between them, but I'm not sure the best way to fill out the roster behind them.

That's a tough sell for me because the biggest success has come from width. Dempsey and Donovan in the diamond (like the Bradley regime played them) narrow the field and make us too one dimensional. I like the pivot CMF with Jones and Bradley.

 

I think our best XI is:

------------------------------TH

--Dolo/TC-----------OG-----------Besler-----------Fab

------------------------Jones----------------------------

-------------------------------Bradley-------------------

-Zusi-------------------------------------------Donovan

-------------------------Dempsey

----------------------------Altidore

 

Or keep Beasley at LB, keep Fab at LM and use Landon as a super sub. The challenge has always been meshing Donovan and Dempsey. As in the Lampard/Gerrard famous England dilemma, we have two key attackers who have different strengths but are at their best occupying the same space with different skill sets.

[bukie]

Enjoyable ASN article on yesterday's tactics: http://www.americansoccernow.com/articles/high-pressure-proper-shape-lead-u-s-to-victory

 

AKA Why in the world was Honduras's strategy to funnel everything to Donovan in the middle?

[ConstableRabbit]

Just got a ticket for Sunday and it will be my first USMNT in person. I'm sitting in the American Outlaws section ... any tips for a first-timer?

[USSoccer]

-Goodson is terrible; I wouldn't let this Gold Cup's defensive performance outweigh all the terrible he's shown in the last 3 years.

 

-The difference with Lampard and Gerrard is that those two wouldn't defer to the other. Donovan and Dempsey can play well together, but they've never really been on the field for a significant amount of time in this system. If it were me, I'd simply plug LD in for Zusi and then done.

[shnsajax]

Just got a ticket for Sunday and it will be my first USMNT in person. I'm sitting in the American Outlaws section ... any tips for a first-timer?

 

Save your voice starting 24 hours prior. Get in lots of rest, enjoy sitting down prior to walking into the stadium as you won't again for 3 hours. Don't be shy, and have some fun. You will bounce up and down the entire time while chanting well into early pregame.

 

Start studying

http://www.theamericanoutlaws.com/events/chants

[wolf stansson]

Just got a ticket for Sunday and it will be my first USMNT in person. I'm sitting in the American Outlaws section ... any tips for a first-timer?

Just don't take part in the "you suck [expletive]."

[wolf stansson]

-Goodson is terrible; I wouldn't let this Gold Cup's defensive performance outweigh all the terrible he's shown in the last 3 years.

Yeah, people need to keep in mind that CONCACAF teams other than Mexico range from amateur hour to solid MLS team quality, so it shouldn't be a surprise when a team with the quality of an MLS all star team rolls over them like it's nothing. Goodson will look this good when he suits up for San Jose too. Doesn't mean he's international quality. Watch Boca with Chivas. He'll be one of the best defenders in the league and still have no place on this US team.

 

The difference with Lampard and Gerrard is that those two wouldn't defer to the other. Donovan and Dempsey can play well together, but they've never really been on the field for a significant amount of time in this system. If it were me, I'd simply plug LD in for Zusi and then done.

You're probably right, but I think we need to get Beasley off the field in the World Cup and moving Landon left is the best existing option.

[wolf stansson]

Bob Bradley is on the Daily Show tonight to talk Egypt.

[wolf stansson]

http://i.imgur.com/iMhfUaY.gif

[UMFan83]

Hmm didn't realize the new rule where the 2013 and 2015 Gold Cup champions will play for a spot in the 2017 Confed Cup. Gives me something additional to cheer for on Sunday. Good rule change.

[shnsajax]

Yep. Lets make it simple and win 2013 & 2015.

[wolf stansson]

Jurgen apparently called up John Anthony Brooks for the Bosnia friendly. Big deal if he accepts. Best American CB prospect ever.

[bukie]

Good read on the USMNT midfield depth: http://www.americansoccernow.com/articles/midfield-logjam-sorting-out-the-u-s-depth-chart

 

Mentions using Donovan as a forward and Fab as LB to bring as many as possible since there's a dearth of depth elsewhere.

[wolf stansson]

Good read on the USMNT midfield depth: http://www.americansoccernow.com/articles/midfield-logjam-sorting-out-the-u-s-depth-chart

 

Mentions using Donovan as a forward and Fab as LB to bring as many as possible since there's a dearth of depth elsewhere.

ASN is my favorite site. It's the only site that writes as much about US Soccer as I think about it.

[wolf stansson]

The best sportswriter going writes the best Landon Donovan fan piece: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/9511167/landon-donovan-gold-cup

 

That pretty much sums it up.

 

He also threw in the best description of Jim Rome ever written, too.

Isn't it possible to get fed up with robotronic superstars who "control the narrative," meaning warp their whole personas to fit some moistly goateed blood-pressure addict's notion of how to overcompensate for masculine insecurity?

[Guest]

Klinsmann suspended for the final. Lame.

[Guest]

Klinsmann suspended for the final. Lame.

 

Well, that's ridiculous.

[Guest]

Real Madrid reportedly offered 100M Euros to Tottenham for Bale, which is 6M more than they gave to ManU for Ronaldo.

[shnsajax]

Not sure how they could not take that offer if true.

 

Really excited for today's game.

[wolf stansson]

Listen, it may be named after [expletive] Jack Warner, but it's still a trophy. Lets get it.

[wolf stansson]

Corona out left, eh? That's new.

[shnsajax]

Corona is in.

[UMFan83]

Not used to seeing Soldier Field grass so green

[Guest]

Holden hurt again.

 

Wonderful.

[shnsajax]

[expletive] looks like Holden is out, but don't think it should be serious.