wolf stansson

Hold on who is a good kicker?

You said they aren't in next season and that you don't consider it CL football until the first phase. Well, the draw for the group stage is in about two weeks, aka this year. So like I said, they are out this year because of the loss to FBK Kaunus that you cited as the reason they aren't in "next year." We have no way of knowing whether they will be in or out next year, but given that a non-Old Firm team has cracked the top 2 only once in the last 10 years I think it's pretty safe to assume they'll qualify for at least the qualifying stage and that they won't get massively upset like they did this year. Whatever. Next year, this year; we're just arguing semantics at this point. I was confused by our exchange.

Also, according to world soccer daily, Bruce Arena is the new head Beckham cheerleader/coach of the Galaxy.

You said they aren't in next season and that you don't consider it CL football until the first phase. Well, the draw for the group stage is in about two weeks, aka this year. So like I said, they are out this year because of the loss to FBK Kaunus that you cited as the reason they aren't in "next year." We have no way of knowing whether they will be in or out next year, but given that a non-Old Firm team has cracked the top 2 only once in the last 10 years I think it's pretty safe to assume they'll qualify for at least the qualifying stage and that they won't get massively upset like they did this year.

I like the SPL for him too. Three years or so at Rangers. Get some Champions League football next season, experience the Old Firm derby and play in a pressure filled environment in front of even better fans than Toronto. Minor detail but Rangers won't be in the Champions League next year. They lost to FBK Kaunas in the qualifying stage. No they won't be in the Champions League this year. SPL and CL already started. One can only assume they'll be in the top 2 with Celtic and qualify for CL action at the end of the season.

I like the SPL for him too. Three years or so at Rangers. Get some Champions League football next season, experience the Old Firm derby and play in a pressure filled environment in front of even better fans than Toronto.

Deuce McAllister

Mailing it in all year. He plays in a few perfectly weighted balls a game, Landon gets on the end and then he just jogs around for the rest of the game. His free kicks suck, his crosses are lacking and he just doesn't look like he has it. I think all he cares about at this point is his celebrity and his England career. Playing for an outfit like the Galaxy, I can't really blame him. Mo Edu set for a $5 mil move to Rangers. Nice. Feilhaber to AG Aarhus. I'd rather Feilhaber come to New England in MLS than Denmark. At least I'd get to watch him more. The standard in Denmark isn't any better than MLS and Nicol and Mariner are the two best coaches this side of Dom Kinnear in the league. http://www.agf.co.dk/grafik/content/5614.jpg Gooch drawing lots of continental interest. Speculation includes Lazio, Cologne, Lyon, Marseilles and Inter Milan. Some big teams there, I'll believe it when I see it. Heath Pearce moving to either Eredivisie or another Bundesliga club.

You probably nailed the starting 11 and it is [expletive]. And I don't mean it is the [expletive], I'm mean it is [expletive]. Screw Eddie Lewis, screw Eddie Johnson, screw Brian Ching, screw Carlos Bocanegra and bring on Altidore, Cooper, Adu and Feilhaber. This is the toughest game of our round and we are treating it like a second rate friendly (unless Cooper is called up in which case I take it all back).

This is a weird statement to make about the third winningest manager of all time. His consistency with every team he's been with is amazing. You and others may not like some of his tactics, but it's really hard to argue with the results.

9 months from now, I will be Argentina, trying to kidnap this baby. Feilhaber to New England? He, Shalrie Joseph, Steve Ralston and Syanni Nyassi would be the best midfield in MLS. Better than Beckham, Donovan, Lewis and whoever.

IF: Holden crosses to Kljestan instead of shooting into the keeper we beat Holland and win the group. Sacha Kljestan doesn't jump on the wall it ricochets and we win the group. Michael Bradley lets Stuart Holden take the yellow for delaying play, he starts against Nigeria and we have one of our strongest players and maybe win the group. Orozco gets a brain and doesn't elbow that flopper, no red; we maybe win the group. The [expletive] call by the German ref on Orozco is only a yellow, we play full strength and maybe win the group. The ref doesn't call a very sketchy penalty for Holland, they tie and we advance at second in the group. As you see, there are 6 occurrences in two games that drastically changed our chances of advancing. FOUR (4!!!!) of them were things that were totally in our power! The last two weren't and calls that are out of your power are going to go against you in any tournament. It's just going to happen. That's why it is even more inexcusable to have 4 f ups where you shot yourself in your foot. You have to be professional and play prepared and smart soccer to get the results to match the talent on the field. Very disappointing tournament.

Orozco took a red in the third minute, they dropped Jozy into the midfield and eventually brought Feilhaber in to be a more defensive presence. I can't believe I wake up two hours early, turn on my dvr and settle in just in time to see a bonehead elbow get Orozco sent off. F me. All I know is that elbow was pretty standard fare. There are elbows like that thrown in every run of the mill soccer game you'll ever see from high school games to Champions League games. Difference being that the people who throw them usually are smart enough to realize the ref is two feet away and they should wait until he's gone to get their shot in. Unfreakingbelievable. Orozco plays in the mexican league and going by what I've seen of the mexican teams in Super Liga and with the MNT, I can't say I'm surprised it happened. It very easily could have cost us a medal. If we won, which I think we could have, we would have drawn Ivory Coast. We can beat them and we're in a medal game. Bah...I hate this. Now visions of the elbow, Holden's stupid [expletive] non-pass against the Netherlands, his stupid foul against the Netherlands and being the only guy in the wall who jumped on that free kick. F%$* Edit - I guess the bright side is that we have a full squad for the qualifier in Guatemala City. Really this is all I care about: -------Altidore--------Cooper--------- If those are the starting forwards then I'll be happy (I'm not gonna be happy).

If he can't figure out a way to get a result v Nigeria (even without Adu and Bradley) he should be sacked. And by sacked I mean forced into a sack, beaten with soap and tossed into the Yalu River. Seriously. You have Jozy. Szetela. Benny. McBride. Holden and Rogers. You should be able to draw. Glad to see you still have high standards. I'm so scared before every USS game that I just convince myself to be happy with a good effort. I'd love to see him go to the Galaxy on the merit of how hilarious it would be to see his stubborn ass yelling at Beckham and his handlers for mailing it in. If it's not him, it'll be Arena and I won't be able to watch that fellating joke fest between he and Beckham's nuts without getting really pissed off.

The American David Beckham joins the Galaxy.

Piotr Nowak is the leading candidate for the Galaxy job as per Ives Galarcep. I've never been a Nowak fan, but he has impressed me in the Olympic run. I still wouldn't mind getting him out of the USS system.

Goff Whatever. This whole season has been a huge disappointment. I really, really had high hopes for Benny after last summer. I still watch him play with the Nats and think he is a very good player but not getting a game at Derby is bad. Gooch Nets two off set pieces. Boca plays 90, but his team gives up 4.

Hahahaha Alexei Lalas = fired. Ruud Gullit = resigned. Landon Donovan = wants out to England. David Beckham = what the hell did I get myself into. Good times, super club.

If he puts together some good decision making on when to get forward and some good crosses, that boy has some unbelievable speed as a right back. He seriously had two steps on Drenthe all game, who is supposedly Holland's burner.

How bout them cowboys who play defense.

Oh my god I'm pissed. After that goal, you start to think about the missed chances. If Holden would've crossed it to Sacha... God dammit. From minute 30 to minute 90 we were head and shoulders the better team over the two-time U-20 European champs. I felt we could get a result, but giving away a win and an automatic spot in the quarter finals is a heart breaker. That [expletive] Dutch coach and his "average players" blast knows he just got very, very lucky and as much as they'll probably try to sell it as an under performance by the Dutch, we were the better, faster, stronger and more organized side today. Marvell Wynne ran Royston Drenthe ragged. He didn't look Madrid quality. Babel's goal was a lucky rebound after a fantastic save by Guzan. DeGuzman didn't do a thing. Adu was cutting through their defense. Going forward, Jozy needs to play 90. All there is to it. I said it before this game and it's a shame Nowak didn't do it. -------------------Guzan--------------------- --Wynne----Edu----Parkhurst----Orozco-- --Holden--Kljestan--Feilhaber--Szetela-- ------------McBride---Altidore------------- That formation can get it done against an also depleted Nigerian side.

Marc Bulger

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2008/08/dutch-olympic-t.html#more F you, Dutch coach. Bradley, Adu > DeGuzman, Altidore, McBride > Makaay. Hmm...depends. If Nowak puts Holden there, he has the pace and endurance to keep with him and Bradley will be able to help out. Biggest problem will be Orozco out of position at left back.

I think Monday against your Oranje mob. Btw, Netherlands and Nigeria tied 0-0 so we are firmly atop the group. Excellent results today.

Got up at 4:30 today to watch the US - Japan game. 1-0 US. Stuart Holden with a goal off a deflected cross in by Marvelle Wynne. Wynne got behind his guy on the right flank with a really nice turn and burst of speed, sent in the cross once he broke free, the defender kneed it out of the box right to Holden. Starting lineup was: ------------------Guzan------------------- --Wynne---Edu---Parkhurst---Orozco-- -----------------Bradley------------------ --Holden-----------------------Rogers-- -----------------Kljestan----------------- --------------Adu------------------------- ---------------------McBride------------- Subs that got in: Jozy (McBride), Feilhaber (Holden) and Szetela (Rogers). Guzan 8 - Made some very nice saves, was composed in the box, came off his line when necessary and was very assertive when doing so. Wynne 6 - Has a tendency to get caught out when coming up into the attack but did not today. Used his great speed to get up and put some crosses in. Biggest contributor to the only goal. He's the future at right back if he ever develops some touch. Edu 5 - I love a center back who can play with the ball at his feet. Edu could have a big future at the position if he plays there more often. Unfortunately he fouled a guy in the box late in the game that should have been a penalty but the ref didn't call it. Almost cost us possibly not getting out of the group stage. Parkhurst 6 - So solid. Didn't do anything significant good or bad, but his positioning is unparalleled in the US MNT setup. Knows exactly when and where to move when facing superior numbers. Orozco 5 - Got caught out a few times, not a natural left back; needs some seasoning there. Bradley 4 - Did nothing except a few hard fouls. Typical MNT Bradley performance as the holding mid with some rash challenges and bad passing. Holden 7 - Great tackles, great work rate, scored the goal with a good strike, made some good runs and really combines well on the right side. He's fun to watch play because he looks like he is having fun and is an intense competitor. Rogers 5 - I really like what I've seen of Rogers. Good ball skills, can take people on, makes quick turns and puts in a quick cross. Needs to work on the crossing, but the potential is there. Unfortunately he'd make a great turn and run but couldn't finish it with a good cross. Kljestan 4 - Not the Sacha I've been watching at Chivas. He reminds a lot of a young Deuce where he struggles to assert himself on the international stage the way he does in MLS. Tentativeness led to some dumb turnovers and didn't show the killer instinct he shows at Chivas. I hope the more experience he gets, the more aggressive he'll get because he is a fun guy to watch. At least he had some nice tackles today. Adu 5 - Poor Freddy was trapped all game. You could tell Japan's game plan was to not let Freddy beat them. He was marked all game but was still able to do some nice things on the ball and was of course good on the set pieces. McBride 7 - Got no service to speak of but drew 8 or 9 fouls with his trademark work rate and determination. You could tell he was just too much for the Japanese defenders. Jozy - Came in in the 74th, made a great run with the ball shrugging off two defenders in the box, but finish got away from him but had he been able to hold on, would've been a classic Jozy goal. I want to see him starting with McBride becaust McBride's skill with his back to goal and Jozy's skill facing the goal will be formidable for the Dutch to contend with. He's just a beast. Feilhaber - Honestly, he should start. I know he hasn't had a game all year, but put Kljestan on a wing and put Feilhaber in the middle. No one can link through the midfield like Benny and when he is playing confidently, he's the best midfielder on the squad other than Adu. Szetela - Barely a runout, not enough to judge. All-in-all the biggest problem today was the pitiful job by Bradley and Kljestan linking from back to front and not giving any service. I don't think Kljestan is suited for CAM in international play. He's better off on one of the wings as of now. We dominated possession, and it wasn't just England possession where they pass back from the midfield to the defenders and call it possession. We had it in the front third a lot. Unfortunately the Japanese put 10 back and just loaded the box. Japan had more of the dangerous scoring chances, and should/could have won 2-1 with a pk.