wolf stansson

Nice vid... too bad they got to the next image just when he was about to lose the ball. A cool move is nice, but if you don't pass enough, you're bound to lose the ball. Players that only play for themselves (like this boy does) rarely get anywhere. Luckily, this boy's only 8 years old, so he has lots of time to practice on teamwork. Bob Bradley? Is that you?

Very cool video to watch. But for every kid who starts out like that and makes it big, there are a dozen who start like that and find out everyone else has caught up to them athletically by the time they are 12. Definitely.

http://theoffsiderules.blogspot.com/2008/09/remember-this-name-eric-valentine.html 8 year old kid from Virginia who has some serious skills. Looks like his dad put a soccer ball and best of Ronaldinho dvd in his crib. It's seriously reminiscent of watching old clips of Ronny playing futsal.

Just saw this on SBI, Bakary Soumare wants to play for the US. He's the 22 year old center half for the Fire. http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2008/09/soumare-hoping.html Having watched him play a few times, he's a slam dunk to get in the team. I don't think he's long for MLS either, he is a really good player. A rotation of him, Gooch and Subotic post 2010 would be rock solid.

4-5-1 is not my preferred formation (dead horse abuse alert, but I prefer Klinssmann's more interchangeable styles getting his best XI on the field no matter where they play. His 3-5-2 two weeks ago was a juggernaut.), but I will say it's a vast improvement over the dreaded bucket. First and foremost because it allows the center mids to actually move the ball through the middle of the field. I'm really starting to believe that woeful central mid performances of Bradley and co had more to do with having to either back pass or push it wide than the actual players. I also liked Kljestan with Bradley, but think an in form Feilhaber would be just as good if not better. Bottom line, we still only got one goal in the run of play and the best squad wasn't picked. I love our ability on set pieces, but that should be a team's ace in the hole, not the thing they count on. Clint's goal that was in the run was still terrible defending and the fact that these crappy teams give us this much space shouldn't lead any of us to believe our offense is producing as it should. The marking tonight by T&T was a freaking joke. Yeah we won 3-0, but that's what we should have done against Cuba too. This was an expected result. We didn't wow, we just played more to our ability. There is a gap in class between US & Mexico vs the rest of concacaf and that gulf should be insurmountable. It should show every time we take the pitch. We need to have our foot on the gas every second of every game. This is why Mexico is more successful against big teams and in big tournaments. They don't have the "4 points and make it through" mentality. They play to win, and we don't always do that. For example, we did not need 4 defenders tonight. We shouldn't have against Cuba either. Anyway...I am baffled by he and Nowak's squad selection and tactics. The tactics appear to be improving, but we should be blooding Adu and Altidore so they are as prepared as possible for 2010. Period.

I was just thinking. Not that I want all theseguys on the senior squad, but I think this XI beats the one you'll see tonight: Reis Wynne Parkhurst Califf Robinson Holden Adu Feilhaber Rogers Altidore Cooper Bn Masteoeni Davies Davis etc Pretty sad when you think a second squad could smoke the first team.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/ I know you and Klinsi are tight, but don't push it with me, Landy. If you go there and fail, you are dead to me. Also, on a squad where Lukas Podolski can't get a game, you think you will? On a team with ZeRoberto, Van Bommel, Schweinstager, Ribery, Altintop, Toni, Klose and Podolski in the midfield and up top I just don't have much faith he'd have the balls to compete for a spot. He's certainly good enough, but I don't like his German track record. It could work because I think he'd fit well with Klinssmann's system and the way they played last week, they look like one of the best teams in Europe, but we all know Landon's history. They are in for Arshavin this winter already and if you ask me, he and Landon are the same player and Landon actually has a little more pace. Arshavin showed up big at the Euro's and Landon showed up big in '02. Obviously you'd rather have the guy who has done it recently on the world stage, but factor in price and I'd much rather they go for Landon.

For those of you who have seen complaints about the structure of us soccers youth development but don't know exactly what were talking about , read the latest Dempsey entry at http://www.thisisamericansoccer.com and read about the struggles non-wealthy families have being involved.

Oh btw, Jozy hit a hat trick in a friendly Friday night for Villarreal. http://yankedaround.wordpress.com/2008/09/06/altidore-hits-a-hat-trick-in-villarreal-friendly/ I just found that site today and I must say I like it.

http://www.thisisamericansoccer.com/tias-special-guests/the-game-dont-care/#more-1087 Adam Spangler kicks it with Deuce London style. Cool read.

Arizona State is better than last year.

This is my number one problem. That's what I mean when I say we don't have an identity. He's playing 10 men behind the ball, sometimes 11 and we have the talent to form our own attacking style. Instead we choose to play like a second rate England going route 1 and not playing to our strengths. We have the talent, we just don't have the manager to get them to play the way they should.

Bob Bradley has no marbles. None. This team has no identity and it shows. The U-20 team that showed so well last summer and the olympic team that very well could have medaled had they shown more discipline do have an identity. That's why they are successful. Near as I can tell, Freddy Adu is that identity. So what if his work rate is lacking and he isn't a good defender. Attacking players are supposed to attack. Not everyone is Roy freaking Keane and not everyone has to be. I liked the 4-5-1, but the wrong players were there. Put Landon on the right wing, put Dempsey on the bench and move Freddy to the middle. Obviously put Altidore up top. We have to find a better option on the left wing than Beasley, Convey or Lewis. I've made no secret for my distaste of Beasley and his horrific touch and finishing. Drives me crazy. Ching is what he is. He has good work rate and breaks up plays better than any forward in the US pool. That last sentence should say volumes of why he shouldn't play. Forwards are in the game to score. Period.

Arsenal and Man Utd could be the odd men out in 5 or so years if they don't pony up and get themselves an oligarch or sheik. 5 years from now you'll have the spending might of QPR in the premiership as well. This is bad news for the gooners and utd.

That's just posturing trying to shake up the Premiership establishment. The window is closed until January and if they are going to import superstar talent, it'll be from outside the pship.

1) Until Dennis Dixon got hurt last year, the Pac 10 had 2 legitimate and one borderline BCS team. 2) The Pac 10 is unquestionably better than the Big 10. 3) It may not be able to match Oklahoma, Mizzou, Texas and Texas Tech at the top, but USC, Arizona State, Oregon, Cal and maybe UCLA isnt' anything to sneeze at.

Robinho to city. This new ownership group is upsetting Roman's apple cart and if Chelsea and City are competing head-to-head on the table and in the transfer window this January, things could get out of hand with transfer values. Besides the fact that Robinho is going to be suspect in the Premiership and certainly isn't worth the pship's record transfer fee, Mark Hughes certainly seems vindicated. That job was looking like a huge mistake this time yesterday.

At least it isn't middlesborough. I like the league for him and I'll get to watch now.

http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/3d/88/0,,5~3770429,00.jpg http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/68/88/0,,5~3770472,00.jpg http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk/javaImages/47/88/0,,5~3770439,00.jpg

A striker who will probably be starting for the la liga runners up and will be on the pitch at old trafford for a European night has no business being on the field for meaningful games against the likes of Cuba or Trinidad & Tobago!

http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/author/jaltidore/ Later in the blog it goes on to say he isn't going to be loaned out anytime soon.

Never mind, I'm changing my pick to Ted Ginn Jr. I already drafted him. Drew Bennett it is then.

Haha! Steve McLaren wants Sacha! Things just keep getting better for big Gooch. This is his wife (nsfw)!

And on that note...

I was listening to the Guardian podcast and apparently Gooch was "immense" marking and shutting down Torres all game.