2010 World Cup Thread

[Jon]

What an awful effort by the keeper. Didn't bother to get in front of it and completely whiffed.

 

Oh, and lovely to hear the speculation that Howard may have broken ribs.

[shnsajax]

What an awful effort by the keeper. Didn't bother to get in front of it and completely whiffed.

 

Oh, and lovely to hear the speculation that Howard may have broken ribs.

 

The US is now in a must win on Friday. But Slovena don't look like a huge threat either.

[Jon]

If that was Slovenia's effort in a game when they should be wide open and going for the win, I can't imagine what they'll look like Friday.

[brinoch]

I wasn't all that impressed with Slovenia. Even when they were bunkering, they were vulnerable.

[USSoccer]

They look organized in the back, at the least. They also know we're going to come out and try and win the game.

 

This is set up for bunker/counter against us, which means we have to have possession and be alert in the back.

 

We almost have to play Torres in this game. His ability to be a deep laying playmaker is going to be able to help us hold possession and switch the axis of attack rapidly and smoothly.

 

I'm not sure if Findley's speed helps us as much here. Jozy, apart from his run on Carragher, was absent for nearly the entire match. So what do we do up front? Buddle for Findley? Jozy/Clint and Holden on the wing?

 

Mikey, Demerit and 'Dolo all are on yellow cards. We also don't want to have some of our players too gassed to do anything going forward. Do you play Goodison for Demerit? Specs for 'Dolo?

 

This is going to be a very tricky game on a number of levels.

[brinoch]

Findley got the third yellow, not Bradley.

 

My changes: Buddle for Findley, Torres for Clark. I would not put in Goodson and Specs. Keep the same back line and hope they keep gelling.

 

------------Jozy-----Buddle---------

Deuce--------Bradley------Donovan

---------------Torres----------------

Boca-----Gooch----DeMerit---Dolo

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

 

Provided Timmy is okay, of course. There's speculation that he broke ribs, but Bradley seemed to down play it.

[shnsajax]

They look organized in the back, at the least. They also know we're going to come out and try and win the game.

 

This is set up for bunker/counter against us, which means we have to have possession and be alert in the back.

 

We almost have to play Torres in this game. His ability to be a deep laying playmaker is going to be able to help us hold possession and switch the axis of attack rapidly and smoothly.

 

I'm not sure if Findley's speed helps us as much here. Jozy, apart from his run on Carragher, was absent for nearly the entire match. So what do we do up front? Buddle for Findley? Jozy/Clint and Holden on the wing?

 

Mikey, Demerit and 'Dolo all are on yellow cards. We also don't want to have some of our players too gassed to do anything going forward. Do you play Goodison for Demerit? Specs for 'Dolo?

 

This is going to be a very tricky game on a number of levels.

 

I think we need someone up top how can also distribute the ball well to Landon and Dempsey, but I am not sure who that is if its Buddle or Findley. That was the one thing I noticed about Jozy yesterday. Most of his passes were weak and off target. Donovan can sneak into space. Findley's speed might not be a factor like you mentioned.

 

Torres should start the next two games.

[USSoccer]

Findley got the third yellow, not Bradley.

 

My changes: Buddle for Findley, Torres for Clark. I would not put in Goodson and Specs. Keep the same back line and hope they keep gelling.

 

------------Jozy-----Buddle---------

Deuce--------Bradley------Donovan

---------------Torres----------------

Boca-----Gooch----DeMerit---Dolo

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

 

Provided Timmy is okay, of course. There's speculation that he broke ribs, but Bradley seemed to down play it.

 

I was just about to edit that Bradley yellow. Good call. I thought he was booked before Holden came in and I had forgotten about Findley's studs up challenge.

 

Fun fact: Yesterday we had as many shots on goal (4) than in the entire tournament in 2006.

[bukie]

Ugh, 3 points for Slovenia means they're really going to bunker down and play for a tie against the US. That will be boring to watch.

[shnsajax]

Ugh, 3 points for Slovenia means they're really going to bunker down and play for a tie against the US. That will be boring to watch.

 

Once the US scores the game will really open up.

 

Curious to watch Germany/Australia. Should be a good barometer for how good Germany is.

[inari]

I want to watch these games, but I can't stand these damn horns.

[Garwilly]

Not to continue the argument, but even if the England draw didn't technically increase advancement odds much, it likely increased the chances of winning the group significantly.

Since I personally see Germany and Serbia as equals, I'm not sure that means anything anymore.

 

Thats assuming they both advance.

[Guest]

What the hell was that Serbian player thinking there?

 

Ghana looking very good to pick up the three points now.

[wvcbxl]

This is set up for bunker/counter against us, which means we have to have possession and be alert in the back.

 

This is Slovenai's preferred setup anyway.

In a sense, the Algeria game was the most difficult one for them, since they were required/expected to at least try and take the game to Algeria (something they are probably unable to do well against anyone other than San Marino)

Against both the US and England, they can put up a wall and look for a counter, so those could be tricky.for both favourites.

[Banedon]

I want to watch these games, but I can't stand these damn horns.

 

Is that what all that "buzzing" sound is behind the games? It sounds like a massive swarm of killer bees is hovering over the stadium the whole damn time.

[inari]

I want to watch these games, but I can't stand these damn horns.

 

Is that what all that "buzzing" sound is behind the games? It sounds like a massive swarm of killer bees is hovering over the stadium the whole damn time.

 

They're called vuvuzela horns. They're absolutely intolerable.

[Banedon]

I want to watch these games, but I can't stand these damn horns.

 

Is that what all that "buzzing" sound is behind the games? It sounds like a massive swarm of killer bees is hovering over the stadium the whole damn time.

 

They're called vuvuzela horns. They're absolutely intolerable.

 

Completely agree. Just looked them up. Looks like broadcasters and players are complaining about them too. I hope they ban them.

[UMFan83]

Wouldn't a tie be a bad thing for Slovenia? Assuming they can't get any points off England, and assuming we handle Algeria, we advance with a tie against them. If they do get points off England, then either we tie with both England and Slovenia (if they tied) and 2/3 advance, or Slovenia and USA advance (with Slovenia victory).

[shnsajax]

I want to watch these games, but I can't stand these damn horns.

 

Is that what all that "buzzing" sound is behind the games? It sounds like a massive swarm of killer bees is hovering over the stadium the whole damn time.

 

They're called vuvuzela horns. They're absolutely intolerable.

 

Completely agree. Just looked them up. Looks like broadcasters and players are complaining about them too. I hope they ban them.

 

According to The Sun fifa is looking into that.

[Exile on Waveland]

Not to continue the argument, but even if the England draw didn't technically increase advancement odds much, it likely increased the chances of winning the group significantly.

Since I personally see Germany and Serbia as equals, I'm not sure that means anything anymore.

 

Thats assuming they both advance.

 

Even if they do, winning the group would be a IMMENSELY beneficial. (Never mind the fact that Serbia is seriously behind the eight ball to advance now anyway, and I do not consider Ghana and Germany equals.) So in that scenario, the first knockout game would be against equals -- Germany or Serbia. OK. While the US wouldn't be favored against either, they could certainly defeat either. If the US finishes second in the group, then upsets Germany/Serbia, they'll likely play Argentina. Goodnight. If the US wins the group, then upsets Serbia/Germany, they'd play Mexico/Uruguay/France/South Korea/Nigeria. Anyone still think winning the group is irrelevant?

 

A 0-0 tie would have been great for Slovenia-Algeria, and the US has struggled defeating a bunker which Slovenia will now surely employ. And defending the counterattack is perhaps my biggest concern for this team. So the Slovenia games is worrisome in that way. However, they looked pretty poor in my estimation. Oh, and Torres must start.

[SpongeWorthy]

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/statistics/players/distanceandspeed.html

 

Apparently FIFA is using chips in players shoes to track speed and distance covered. Robbie Findley hit over 30 kilometers/hr and has the 3rd fastest top speed recorded thus far.

[Guest]

Time to watch the DVR of Algeria-Slovenia game. Disappointing to see Algeria held on for 79 minutes before surrendering the goal.

[Jon]

Time to watch the DVR of Algeria-Slovenia game. Disappointing to see Algeria held on for 79 minutes before surrendering the goal.

I give you 6 minutes before you just start fast-forwarding.

[wolf stansson]

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/statistics/players/distanceandspeed.html

 

Apparently FIFA is using chips in players shoes to track speed and distance covered. Robbie Findley hit over 30 kilometers/hr and has the 3rd fastest top speed recorded thus far.

Findley playing is our equivalent of Heskey playing. Heskey plays because it opens up space for Rooney and Findley plays because it opens up space for Landon. Simple as that.

 

A draw would have been nice today because Slovenia are not only going to bunker and counter, but that's when they are at their best. I think we can score goals on them though. I didn't see anything today that made me expect anything less than a win.

 

Btw - According to Steve Goff, Howard is undergoing tests but not x-rays. So nothing is broken. He'll be good to go by Friday, I'm sure.

[bcl412]

These horns ruin the atmosphere of the games for me. You can't even here any cheering on a goal.