The Soccer Thread

[Guest]

http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/2014/6/26/5846346/the-usmnt-survive-advance-and-nap

 

MORE IMPORTANTLY LET'S GO THROUGH ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO BE HERE AT THIS PARTY BUT AREN'T. OH LOOK, HERE'S PREVIOUS WORLD CUP WINNER ITALY. OH, LOOK, THE COUNTRY THAT INVENTED THE GAME, ENGLAND. WE'RE ABOUT TO EAT ALL THIS DELICIOUS SHRIMP COCKTAIL WITHOUT YOU. WELL I'LL BE TIKI-TAKA'D, IF THIS ISN'T THE SPOT RESERVED FOR SPAIN. WE HOPE Y'ALL WERE ALLERGIC TO SHRIMP BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO GIVE COLOMBIA AND GREECE ALL OF YOURS, AND SKIM A LITTLE EXTRA FOR OURSELVES ON THE SIDE, BECAUSE THE DOORMAN SAID OUR NAME WASN'T ON THE LIST AND AHAHAHAHAHAHHHAA WE'RE IN THE VIP DRINKING CHAMPAGNE ON YOUR TAB.

 

GREECE DOESN'T EVEN SCORE ON PURPOSE.

 

AND THEY'RE HERE TOO.

 

WE PLAY BELGIUM NEXT (PROBABLY!). AS SOON AS AMERICA LOOKS UP WHAT BELGIUM IS WE'LL FORM A DEFINITE AND VIOLENTLY FELT OPINION ON THE MATTER. BUT FIRST WE NEED TO LAY DOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DRINKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, AND NEED A NAP. YOU KNOW, LIKE THE KIND THE SPANISH TAKE IN THE AFTERNOON, WHILE THEY AREN'T WATCHING THEIR SOCCER TEAM THAT ISN'T IN THE WORLD CUP. YOU SHOULD WATCH GAME OF THRONES, SPAIN. IT'S A LOT LIKE THE WORLD CUP IN THAT EVERYONE DIES, AND AN AMERICAN STILL HAS A HAND IN WRITING THE SCRIPTS.

[wvcbxl]

BUT FIRST WE NEED TO LAY DOWN BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN DRINKING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY, AND NEED A NAP.

 

Honesty is something to appreciate. :good:

[wolf stansson]

Do we have Berti Vogts to thank for the Kyle Beckerman revolution? This formation with the three, tough center-mid's started when he got here.

 

It's the reason we're still alive.

[shnsajax]

Do we have Berti Vogts to thank for the Kyle Beckerman revolution? This formation with the three, tough center-mid's started when he got here.

 

It's the reason we're still alive.

 

Good question. I think the draw sort of forced this upon us. But is Bradley uncomfortable as a result, or simply off?

[USSoccer]

Do we have Berti Vogts to thank for the Kyle Beckerman revolution? This formation with the three, tough center-mid's started when he got here.

 

It's the reason we're still alive.

 

Good question. I think the draw sort of forced this upon us. But is Bradley uncomfortable as a result, or simply off?

 

Bradley's off because Jozy getting hurt forced Clint up front, removing another player with creative ability to combine with and attract attention from centrally. Bradley's basically trying to basically fulfill 3 responsibilities: he's covered more ground than any other player in the tournament, he's having to try and be the playmaker and also be the 2nd primary attacker. He's also pressing and at this point probably fatigued. If Jozy comes back, my guess is Bradley looks a lot better in the final third than he has.

 

Jones, Beckerman and Bradley have all played max minutes, and they've almost all been high-pressure minutes. Jones and Bradley looked visibly, clearly tired after about 30 minutes today. But we have nobody to rotate in there that can fill those roles. Mix is the guy we put in if we're chasing, not defending and keeping shape.

 

And yeah, I think we have Berti to thank for it, since Beckerman has vastly exceeded my expectations screening the back four.

[wolf stansson]

I'd be interested to see:

----------------------Deuce

-----------------------Mix

------Jones---------------------Bradley

------------------Beckerman

 

 

At some point. Not the time for experimenting and that formation offers no width but I agree completely that we're missing a combination player and Bradley is paying for it unfairly. Him being derided by people who check in on the US once every 4 years has easily been the worst thing about this World Cup.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Him being derided by people who check in on the US once every 4 years has easily been the worst thing about this World Cup.

 

It could be avoided if he'd stop turning the ball over so much. They aren't just imagining his poor form.

[wolf stansson]

I didn't deny that he's been poor.

I'm just tired of trying to provide context to people who'd rather just be like "WHATEVER HE SUCKS BENCH HIM."

 

That's on me though.

[USSoccer]

Him being derided by people who check in on the US once every 4 years has easily been the worst thing about this World Cup.

 

It could be avoided if he'd stop turning the ball over so much. They aren't just imagining his poor form.

 

While his first touch has deserted him, its worth noting again that he's covered the most ground of any player in the tournament by a full kilometer. That kind of fatigue tends to take its toll.

 

I'd be interested to see:

----------------------Deuce

-----------------------Mix

------Jones---------------------Bradley

------------------Beckerman

 

 

At some point. Not the time for experimenting and that formation offers no width but I agree completely that we're missing a combination player and Bradley is paying for it unfairly. Him being derided by people who check in on the US once every 4 years has easily been the worst thing about this World Cup.

 

I think we could get away with it, but JK would have to sacrifice Zusi or Bedoya. In which case, Zusi can be Bedoya's backup. Still, we'd be giving up a lot of defensive workrate and hoping that Mix would add enough possession and attack to offset it.

[Guest]

I've downed quite a bit of scotch kool-aid this evening so...

 

USA 2, Belgium 1, a.e.t.

 

I Believe

[shnsajax]

I wonder if we can get Ozil to talk to Wenger about Yedlin?

[jersey cubs fan]

Him being derided by people who check in on the US once every 4 years has easily been the worst thing about this World Cup.

 

Oh come on, get over your expert self.

[USSoccer]

Him being derided by people who check in on the US once every 4 years has easily been the worst thing about this World Cup.

 

Oh come on, get over your expert self.

 

No, he isn't wrong. The game is a hell of a lot more complex that people who don't know it or follow it regularly understand. All they see is the disconnect between the hype and the end product.

 

His first touch has been bad. It's a product of fatigue due to the ground he's having to cover combined with pressing. And even with his first touch being bad, he's still completing a high percentages of his passes and breaking up plays.

 

The responsibilities he's being asked to cover are too much for one player, and the fact that he's done an okay job at it speaks volumes for his quality. He had a poor first game, a good 2nd game other than the shot off the line and the miscontrol (and even that doesn't hurt us had the defense not been pushed up far, far higher than they should have been) and everyone looked exhausted yesterday.

[jersey cubs fan]

Him being derided by people who check in on the US once every 4 years has easily been the worst thing about this World Cup.

 

Oh come on, get over your expert self.

 

No, he isn't wrong. The game is a hell of a lot more complex that people who don't know it or follow it regularly understand. All they see is the disconnect between the hype and the end product.

 

His first touch has been bad. It's a product of fatigue due to the ground he's having to cover combined with pressing. And even with his first touch being bad, he's still completing a high percentages of his passes and breaking up plays.

 

The responsibilities he's being asked to cover are too much for one player, and the fact that he's done an okay job at it speaks volumes for his quality. He had a poor first game, a good 2nd game other than the shot off the line and the miscontrol (and even that doesn't hurt us had the defense not been pushed up far, far higher than they should have been) and everyone looked exhausted yesterday.

 

You aren't responding to anything that was said in these two statements quoted.

[USSoccer]

Him being derided by people who check in on the US once every 4 years has easily been the worst thing about this World Cup.

 

Oh come on, get over your expert self.

 

No, he isn't wrong. The game is a hell of a lot more complex that people who don't know it or follow it regularly understand. All they see is the disconnect between the hype and the end product.

 

His first touch has been bad. It's a product of fatigue due to the ground he's having to cover combined with pressing. And even with his first touch being bad, he's still completing a high percentages of his passes and breaking up plays.

 

The responsibilities he's being asked to cover are too much for one player, and the fact that he's done an okay job at it speaks volumes for his quality. He had a poor first game, a good 2nd game other than the shot off the line and the miscontrol (and even that doesn't hurt us had the defense not been pushed up far, far higher than they should have been) and everyone looked exhausted yesterday.

 

You aren't responding to anything that was said in these two statements quoted.

 

Okay.

[wolf stansson]

Him being derided by people who check in on the US once every 4 years has easily been the worst thing about this World Cup.

 

Oh come on, get over your expert self.

Ironic.

 

 

Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if that nerve injury in his foot that MB missed time for right before training camp gets addressed immediately after the World Cup.

[USSoccer]

Him being derided by people who check in on the US once every 4 years has easily been the worst thing about this World Cup.

 

Oh come on, get over your expert self.

Ironic.

 

 

Anyway, I wouldn't be surprised if that nerve injury in his foot that MB missed time for right before training camp gets addressed immediately after the World Cup.

 

I wouldn't be either. LD alluded to guys carrying injuries that have been unreported. I'm guessing this is one of them.

[Guest]

Sounds like Jozy is training at least partially today.

 

EDIT:

 

@GrantWahl Klinsmann on Altidore's chances of playing vs #BEL: "We are very optimistic. Every day is a big step forward for him."

[Guest]

Jermaine Jones has a broken nose.

[shnsajax]

Sounds like Jozy is training at least partially today.

 

EDIT:

 

@GrantWahl Klinsmann on Altidore's chances of playing vs #BEL: "We are very optimistic. Every day is a big step forward for him."

 

Got to hope for good field conditions on Tuesday. If it's wet or at all slippery I doubt he goes.

[OleMissCub]

How good was Beckham in his prime? Was he top 10 in the world? Or was he overrated because he was a heartthrob?

[shnsajax]

How good was Beckham in his prime? Was he top 10 in the world? Or was he overrated because he was a heartthrob?

 

He finished 3rd once or twice for Fifa POTY. I would probably say in his prime he was a little underrated cause of that and also the English hating him for a bit cause of '98.

[wolf stansson]

How good was Beckham in his prime? Was he top 10 in the world? Or was he overrated because he was a heartthrob?

There are so many skill sets in soccer and different roles for the same position that it's difficult to quantify or rank players. For example, he was a winger at Manchester United. The winger that replaced him was Cristiano Ronaldo. Their athleticism, skill sets and styles are vastly different even though they play the same position.

 

He was both overrated and underrated if that makes any sense. He was incredibly fit, able to run and contribute defensively and offensively. He was incredibly smart. He wasn't particularly fast.

 

He definitely got the most out of his talent and really refined his skills through an incredible work ethic. If he wasn't famous, incredibly PR and media savvy and incredibly handsome, he could have just as easily had a relatively workman-like career like a James Milner or Gareth Barry. Good not great. Valuable if not elite.

[shnsajax]

Starting to sound like Kompany will be out Tuesday.

[wolf stansson]

Solstice, shmolstice. It's not summer until English clubs spend 100% too much on English talent.