2010 World Cup Thread

[USSoccer]

Full credit to Bob Bradley. No matter what happens, his 4 years have been a fantastic success.

I think when the transfer market heats up, Mikey and Landon are going to be in demand.

 

Bob's going to get the call to Europe and I'm almost as excited about that as I am about any player getting transferred.

 

Let's talk about Benny Feilhaber. Benny has been the first midfielder off the bench for the last two games and he's been very good in both. It's the same role he played in the good run last summer. It's pretty evident that he's not a 90 minute regular starter, but what's his deal? I haven't seen him play a ton of club ball. He just seems like a really smart sub who gets a feel for the game's pace early on. He definitely raises his game on the big stage (BENNY...FEEEEEIIILHAAABER!!! YEEEEEESS!) but he's never really done anything eye catching at club level that I've been aware of.

 

I think it's helped that in both games we were chasing a goal. Benny's an offensive minded player who you just can't play if the result is level or if you're holding a lead. He's also the kind of guy who needs weapons around him, since he's a creative guy who's constantly looking to break down a defense. At Aarhus, he's surrounded by crap, and thus looks like crap.

 

I'll agree that in both games he hasn't taken long at all to pick up the feel for the game. There's been no adjustment period for him. He's filling his role perfectly.

[UMFan83]

Good point, I forgot that Essien is out. I knew the USA had a much better team with people like Bradley and Altidore among others emerging, but I needed people to spell it out for me. Thanks.

 

If you were going to buy a US jersey, who would you buy. I'm between Dempsey and Altidore. My friend wants me to get Spector because he grew up playing soccer with him and I've met him a couple of times, but no.

[USSoccer]

 

Didn't he play a full game in the confed cup championship when bradley was suspended and looked pretty good?

 

He started for Mikey in the final, looked good for about 50 minutes and then looked gassed and couldn't hold possession.

 

Our depth this summer>>>>last summer.

[wolf stansson]

What I'm most surprised about is how Benny has supplanted JFT and more interestingly, Holden as the first offensive mid off the bench. For me coming into the tournament, it was Holden. I wonder why Bob picks Benny. Experience? Quick to pick up the pace? Better long range passing?

[USSoccer]

Good point, I forgot that Essien is out. I knew the USA had a much better team with people like Bradley and Altidore among others emerging, but I needed people to spell it out for me. Thanks.

 

If you were going to buy a US jersey, who would you buy. I'm between Dempsey and Altidore. My friend wants me to get Spector because he grew up playing soccer with him and I've met him a couple of times, but no.

 

Dempsey, Bradley or Jozy are good picks.

 

My next jersey is going to be a Mikey one.

[wolf stansson]

If you were going to buy a US jersey, who would you buy. I'm between Dempsey and Altidore. My friend wants me to get Spector because he grew up playing soccer with him and I've met him a couple of times, but no.

If you like smooth, cool guys it's Dempsey. If you like red assed, hyper-competitive dynamos, go Michael Bradley.

[imb]

If you were going to buy a US jersey, who would you buy. I'm between Dempsey and Altidore. My friend wants me to get Spector because he grew up playing soccer with him and I've met him a couple of times, but no.

If you like smooth, cool guys it's Dempsey. If you like red assed, hyper-competitive dynamos, go Michael Bradley.

 

LOVE your sig. Buddle's just standing there like "woah wait a minute"

[wolf stansson]

If you were going to buy a US jersey, who would you buy. I'm between Dempsey and Altidore. My friend wants me to get Spector because he grew up playing soccer with him and I've met him a couple of times, but no.

If you like smooth, cool guys it's Dempsey. If you like red assed, hyper-competitive dynamos, go Michael Bradley.

 

LOVE your sig. Buddle's just standing there like "woah wait a minute"

Yeah that and Dempsey on his back leaning up on his elbows to see what happened after he crashed.

[USSoccer]

What I'm most surprised about is how Benny has supplanted JFT and more interestingly, Holden as the first offensive mid off the bench. For me coming into the tournament, it was Holden. I wonder why Bob picks Benny. Experience? Quick to pick up the pace? Better long range passing?

 

I think it's been situational. Against England, our defense was okay and we were protecting a lead, so we subbed Holden for Findley and pushed Clint up top.

 

In the others, we needed to break down a defense and score. Service from the wing was less important than the ability to unlock a bunker.

 

I think Holden is Clint's backup straight away on his side. Benny's just a general offensive sub.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Finally saw the replay that showed the actual throw Howard made to begin the winning breakout. That was insane.

[brinoch]

Good point, I forgot that Essien is out. I knew the USA had a much better team with people like Bradley and Altidore among others emerging, but I needed people to spell it out for me. Thanks.

 

If you were going to buy a US jersey, who would you buy. I'm between Dempsey and Altidore. My friend wants me to get Spector because he grew up playing soccer with him and I've met him a couple of times, but no.

 

Dempsey, Bradley or Jozy are good picks.

 

My next jersey is going to be a Mikey one.

 

Bradley. He gets a ton of crap because he's the coach's son, but he's really excellent. If his last name was Smith, everyone would constantly rave about him.

 

BTW, kudos to BB. A lot of people, including me, have railed on him. He coached an excellent game, and has really pushed the right buttons all tournament long. I'm a convert.

[imb]

If you were going to buy a US jersey, who would you buy. I'm between Dempsey and Altidore. My friend wants me to get Spector because he grew up playing soccer with him and I've met him a couple of times, but no.

If you like smooth, cool guys it's Dempsey. If you like red assed, hyper-competitive dynamos, go Michael Bradley.

 

LOVE your sig. Buddle's just standing there like "woah wait a minute"

Yeah that and Dempsey on his back leaning up on his elbows to see what happened after he crashed.

 

the true star of the celebration is either jozy for his crazy hops on the pile dive OR demerit for his goofy-ass late to the pile body flop.

[Jon]

Finally saw the replay that showed the actual throw Howard made to begin the winning breakout. That was insane.

I have yet to see that.

 

 

By the way, how about Ian Darke's call? Just a perfect soundtrack to the goal. Wonderful build up.

[chuckywang]

Finally saw the replay that showed the actual throw Howard made to begin the winning breakout. That was insane.

 

Link? ESPN cut away from that when it happened.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Finally saw the replay that showed the actual throw Howard made to begin the winning breakout. That was insane.

 

Link? ESPN cut away from that when it happened.

 

They had it on Sportscenter while I was at the gym.

[chuckywang]

I gotta say this has been quite the year for my teams so far. Duke won the basketball championship and the lacrosse championship. Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup. USA hockey provided some of the most thrilling moments of hockey I have ever seen. And now USA soccer plays some heartstopping games in the World Cup.

 

G-d-it Cubs ...

[Derwood]

the American Outlaws vid was awesome

[Guest]

Finally saw the replay that showed the actual throw Howard made to begin the winning breakout. That was insane.

 

Link? ESPN cut away from that when it happened.

 

They had it on Sportscenter while I was at the gym.

 

Yeah. I saw it on World Cup live after the second round of games.

[UMFan83]

http://cache-04.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/39/2010/06/0623pile.jpg

 

LOL look at Jozy (I think) in the air in that picture. Looks like he's about to hurt someone in a half second.

[CubInOK]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704629804575324972912236204.html

 

Remember June 23, 2010: the day the lame old "Soccer is Boring" argument finally died in the U.S.

[wolf stansson]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704629804575324972912236204.html

 

Remember June 23, 2010: the day the lame old "Soccer is Boring" argument finally died in the U.S.

I've loved the few people who still insist on mentioning that they think soccer is stupid when they see me in my world cup craze. Hey guy, I couldn't give a s. I used to concern myself with things like "why don't people like soccer?" or "how can I get more people to like soccer?" but now I don't care. We're a large enough community to matter on a global scale, our players are good enough to matter on a global scale and everyone who isn't on board now is just missing out.

 

I can only imagine how exciting this would be for a new fan who just now discovered this US team. For a real sports fan, it's gotta be like hearing Bob Dylan or Wu Tang for the first time. It's just awesome.

Edited June 24, 2010 by wolf stansson

[Guest]

per grant wahl

 

United States set new World Cup record by winning a group with fewest total minutes in the lead: 2. (Old record: 21 by Netherlands '94)

 

Haha, that's awesome.

 

You don't know how sucky it trying to get updates via text message and Blackberry while at work.

 

Watching on Tivo - how did Dempsey miss the shot off the post and then the rebound around the 60th min?

[shnsajax]

random thoughts but I wonder if this will lead to 4 concacaf spots in 2014.

 

Is LA going to be ready to sell Landon after this? Where will Bradley go. Demerit has been great too, could he make a higher jump back into the Premiership? Timmy should be on a top 10 club in the world.

[Exile on Waveland]

random thoughts but I wonder if this will lead to 4 concacaf spots in 2014.

 

Is LA going to be ready to sell Landon after this? Where will Bradley go. Demerit has been great too, could he make a higher jump back into the Premiership? Timmy should be on a top 10 club in the world.

 

I will be stunned if Donovan and Bradley aren't series transfer targets and I think Howard is soon to be (back) on a top-10 club.

[UMFan83]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704629804575324972912236204.html

 

Remember June 23, 2010: the day the lame old "Soccer is Boring" argument finally died in the U.S.

I've loved the few people who still insist on mentioning that they think soccer is stupid when they see me in my world cup craze. Hey guy, I couldn't give a s. I used to concern myself with things like "why don't people like soccer?" or "how can I get more people to like soccer?" but now I don't care. We're a large enough community to matter on a global scale, our players are good enough to matter on a global scale and everyone who isn't on board now is just missing out.

 

I can only imagine how exciting this would be for a new fan who just now discovered this US team. For a real sports fan, it's gotta be like hearing Bob Dylan or Wu Tang for the first time. It's just awesome.

 

Agreed. I really could care less about how big soccer is in the US anymore. I'm sick of seeing tons of articles written about it everywhere. Every 4 years, its the same crappy recycled stories. To be truthful, soccer really will become big when people stop questioning its popularity. If you are a journalist and a soccer fan, good write about it. If you don't like soccer, that's fine just ignore it.

 

Also you are right, the US fans brought the most people out of any country to SA. Maybe our whole country doesn't stop what they are doing for a US world cup game, but the US has a huge fanbase and it makes itself known. I see people in the streets wearing USA jerseys on game day, I hear the same people who jumped on the blackhawks bandwagon a few weeks ago talk about where they are going to watch the game. Girls too. It's popular enough that I don't give a [expletive] anymore. I know I'm not as hardcore as US and soccer10k and the rest of the frequent posters in the soccer thread, but I consider myself more than a casual fan. And as that, I take a ton of pride in seeing this team play like it has.