The Soccer Thread

[wolf stansson]

I find it sad that Tim Howard has gone viral the exact moment his career in tournaments casual American fans care about ends. But it is kind of cool that he is the talk of the country at the moment.

If he wants to, he could easily be our starter in 2018. I don't see him wanting to, but it's possible.

[Mark Priors Calves]

SI's projected 2018 roster:

 

Goalkeepers (3): Cody Cropper, Brad Guzan, Bill Hamid

 

Defenders (8): Matt Besler, John Brooks, Geoff Cameron, Greg Garza, Omar Gonzalez, Fabian Johnson, Will Packwood, DeAndre Yedlin

 

Midfielders (7): Michael Bradley, Joe Corona, Mix Diskerud, Luis Gil, Julian Green, Joe Gyau, Kelyn Rowe

 

Forwards (5): Juan Agudelo, Jozy Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Aron Jóhannsson, Jordan Morris

[Mark Priors Calves]

What's the likelihood of Darlington Nagbe choosing US, assuming he gets citizenship? Liberia's program is abysmal, with his dad as the former captain of the national team I could see him getting pressured to play for them.

[wolf stansson]

100%

[wolf stansson]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2014/07/03/50-random-thoughts-from-the-2014-fifa-world-cup-in-brazil/

44. Oddly, the No. 1 story on The Post’s sports site for a spell this week was my blog item from two months ago about Arsenal’s Ethiopian-German-American teenager Gedion Zelalem nearing U.S. eligibility. (To the best of my knowledge, he got it.) Family and confidants remain mum, but with the U.S. World Cup campaign over and a new cycle starting, confirmation can’t be far away.

[UMFan83]

But now, with the United States eliminated after its 2-1 loss to Belgium on Tuesday, Donovan isn’t joking around anymore.

 

“I think we’re all disappointed in what happened yesterday,” he told MLS.com after practicing with the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday. “I think the most disappointing is we didn’t seem like we gave it a real effort, from a tactical standpoint. I thought the guys did everything they could, they did everything that was asked of them, but I don’t think we were set up to succeed yesterday, and that was tough to watch.”

 

He continued:

 

“It’s a results-oriented business, and so, results-wise, you can hold your head high,” he said. “If you really look at the performances, there were some good performances by guys, some not-so-good performances by guys. As a whole, I think tactically, the team was not set up to succeed.

 

“They were set up in a way that was opposite from what they’ve been the past couple years, which is opening up, passing, attacking – trying to do that. And the team’s been successful that way. Why they decided to switch that in the World Cup, none of us will know. From a playing standpoint, I think the guys will probably be disappointed in the way things went.”

 

Donovan wasn’t done, saying Michael Bradley was played in an “unnatural position” at attacking midfield when he should have been played deeper with someone in front of him (like, say, Donovan). “Michael was put in the wrong position,” he said. “He was put in a position that he’s not used to playing. … I think that was clearly an error.”

 

http://m.washingtonpost.com/blogs/soccer-insider/wp/2014/07/03/landon-donovan-takes-a-shot-at-jurgen-klinsmann-i-dont-think-we-were-set-up-to-succeed-at-world-cup/

[bukie]

As usual, Donovan cares 6 months after we need him to.

[wolf stansson]

Would love to know the role Berti Vogts played tactically. Everything changed in the last friendly. National teams don't figure out their tactics a week before the World Cup. This one did.

[wvcbxl]

I find it sad that Tim Howard has gone viral the exact moment his career in tournaments casual American fans care about ends. But it is kind of cool that he is the talk of the country at the moment.

 

Great pic:

 

As it should be: teammates picking up real life after the end of hostilities.

[shnsajax]

Great pic!

[Guest]

While I don't necessarily disagree with Landon, I have to think some of the tactical decisions in the last couple games were due to not having Jozy out there. If Jozy doesn't get hurt, Clint doesn't have to play up top and Bradley doesn't have to play as far forward.

 

If we had a replacement for Jozy, it would have been a simple one for one swap. But we didn't and were forced to improvise 40 minutes into the Cup.

[shnsajax]

Today would be a good day for Gideon to announce his one time switch.

[Guest]

Today would be a good day for Gideon to announce his one time switch.

 

Just saw that he's getting his US passport this weekend. How exciting.

[USSoccer]

The single biggest task for the upcoming cycle will be to find a way to replace the 96 goals that Donovan and Dempsey have been responsible for during their NT careers. I don't think LD's going to play again under JK, and while I think Clint could last through the next WC, it's definitely no sure thing, and whether or not he lasts through Copa America or the WC, we have to find a way to be less D&D dependent.

 

Just looking at the guys currently on-the-radar, we need Luis Gil and Juan Agudelo to take the next step forward in their development. Of the guys who have had caps, those two have the most upside in terms of attacking nous, but both need to make progress forward.

[shnsajax]

Jozy will carry some of the load but we need a goal scoring midfielder as well if we are going to truly turn into that offensive possession oriented team we all want.

[Guest]

Germany becomes the first team to make four straight World Cup semifinals.

[USSoccer]

Come onnnn Columbia. Schadenfreude is my favorite team the rest of the way.

[wolf stansson]

Like everyone, I've been thinking a lot about US player development and the future of the national team.

 

One thing I've been thinking about a lot is our talent level's progression.

Our top-end talent hasn't really grown as much as you'd expect since 2002. 2014 Michael Bradley, Jermaine Jones, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard aren't that much better than Claudio Reyna, John O'Brien, Landon Donovan, Brian McBride and Brad Friedel. That's disappointing, but ultimately not the whole story.

 

If you go back to 2002 and compare the average talent level of American players in MLS and compare it to the average level of the American players in MLS today and you're looking at two completely different leagues. The average american player being produced is so much better and there are so many more of them that it's not even comparable. That's a great sign.

 

The single biggest hurdle among a few pretty big hurdles is how we develop our players from age 18-22. For every Wil Trapp, Kelyn Rowe and DeAndre Yedlin doing their thing, there is a Luis Gil or Darlington Nagbe who, for as good as they are, haven't honed in on their true position yet. Their coaches value their versatility too much and they're yanked around the field way too much to truly develop their skills to the best of their ability. Those two are really the best case scenario for the 18-22 break down. Think about how many names have popped up in the u-20 levels that get hyped and then disappear? Some wash out in Europe, but way too many go to MLS and do nothing. The college system gets criticized fairly, a lot, but it's not like college ball didn't help DeAndre Yedlin transition to the pros, or Omar Gonzalez or Matt Besler or…the list goes on and on. We shouldn't completely tear down the system. Ideally you'd have the baseball system where some players go straight to the pro system and some go to college. Either way, we need to do better getting them more games, more training at a high level and more continuity.

 

If you're interested in our youth development and our current crop of prospects, I can't recommend yesterday's Soccer Morning podcast enough. Jason Davis did a panel with Will Parchman and Travis Clark from Top Drawer Soccer and they did a great job discussing our developmental system fairly and answered questions about our up and coming prospects.

You can download from iTunes or watch/listen here: http://soccerly.com/article/soccerlypodcast/soccer-morning-july-3rd

 

After that podcast, its safe to say I am now officially excited for when Jordan Morris goes back to the Sounders from Stanford. So much so that if Obafemi Martens doesn't can it with his new contract demands, they should sell him immediately and let Deuce show Morris how to play and train.

[Derwood]

Colombia and Netherlands are my only rooting interest now

[Derwood]

"Loosest" officiating I've seen in the tourney so far. They aren't calling fouls on every incidental contact

[Derwood]

Maybe too loose? Letting Brazil charge that free kick was ridiculous

[UMFan83]

I find it sad that Tim Howard has gone viral the exact moment his career in tournaments casual American fans care about ends. But it is kind of cool that he is the talk of the country at the moment.

 

Great pic:

 

As it should be: teammates picking up real life after the end of hostilities.

 

That's awesome. I love Everton.

[USSoccer]

[expletive] Brazil. They are the dirtiest collection of cheap shot artists. They've been kicking Rodriguez around the entire game and the CR is allowing it

[Derwood]

BOOOOOOO

[USSoccer]

If the favorite is trailing or tied, take the amount there should be and add 3. If the favorite is winning, subtract 3. Thats how this tournament has treated stoppage time.