USSoccer

There's nothing that could have been done to take back how stupid the Miles signing was, but the resolution to it was as good as it could have possibly been.

My idea is that leadoff hitter isn't a position, and Fukudome is just fine there.

I actually think a decent argument can be made for him to stay in MLS until the summer transfer window. That way he's coming into form right around June instead of ending the spring Euro season possibly worn down. EDIT: Adu sure seemed sure he was going to get some burn but ended up left on the bench again. That guy needs out of Europe. Come back to MLS and get ready for next cycle.

This would be a good move.

No, same thing happened to me watching the FIFA.com app at work. I was shocked when they weren't dumped in our group.

You're completely wrong. Our ranking (according to ELO and Voros) have been relatively steady over the last couple years. Our first choice XI is pretty clear as well. We're not some wild card team filled with unknown quantities. We have an identifiable style of play and players that opponents are going to know they have to key on. We're going to clog the middle with Bradley and whoever, soak up pressure and then counter through Altidore, Dempsey and Donovan. Furthermore, bunker/counter is a completely valid tactic to play. The worst thing we could to is try to play England straight up. They'd beat us handily, and put us in a goal differential hole that I'd rather not attempt to climb out of. Bunker/counter plays to our strengths and zeros in on areas where England can be attacked. It's not as simple as "playing for the tie". It's "giving yourselves the best shot at a result". This isn't Honduras at Soldier Field or some friendly against Mexico where you can play teams straight up and gauge how your side is progressing. This is a very short tournament that's not going to forgive stupid tactical decisions. Algeria and Slovenia, yeah, whatever, play them straight up because we're probably better technically and definitely better athletically, but England, again, is a much better version of us.

Okay, now that my daughter is asleep and I'm not at work, here's my .02c: -Last time we played England, at Wembley, we marched this XI out: ------------Johnson----Wolff------------- Beasley-----Bradley---Clark------Dempsey Pearce------Boca----Onyewu---Cherundolo -----------------Howard----------------- 4 of those guys won't be on the roster. That said: England are just like us, only better. We're modeled after them in so many respects. They play high pressure, high workrate ball. Rooney will be a pain in the ass all 90. In 2008, our midfield couldn't contain theirs at all, and adding Jones isn't a panacea. A Capello-led England and it's midfield ripped apart a Germany midfield anchored by Jones last year. Remember, Jones is just a better Rico Clark. Lennon on the wing will be a nightmare for whoever's out there. If Bradley plays the Spain backline, assuming health, Boca will get murdered on the wing. Even if fully fit, England play on the ground so well with Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney. They could cut us to ribbons on the right day. They will probably trot out: ------------Rooney----Heskey------------- Gerrard-----Barry---Lampard------Lennon Cole------Terry----Ferdinand---Johnson -----------------James----------------- Capello will have that team prepared. No team wants to drop points on Matchday 1. They won't overlook us. They also will be completely prepared for what we're likely to do: clog the middle, play for the counter and pinch the flanks in. However, with the XI we have, Bradley would be nuts to not do this. We could try a tactical wrinkle to throw them off in the first 15, but they're just better than us. This is one occasion where bunkering and playing defensively is the right one. Ashley Cole will leave space on his side with his constant wanderings. Glen Johnson is a very suspect RB. Their keepers-whoever it ends up being is immaterial-are shite. Rio is out of form as well. Bunker/Counter is probably the best tactic we could play-catch them once and we could knick a win, or put a shot on frame and have Robert Green cough it up for a tap in. Or Clint does what he does and finds a goal. If not, 0-0 or a low GD loss would be fine. What you don't want is to get smoked 3-0 or something like that. I'd go 4-4-2 (assuming Davies isn't back or Adu doesn't get some burn, and change Bradley's mind about him) with Clint up top so he can drop into a 4-5-1. We won't be trotting Josh Wolff and fricking EJ out there up front. We'll have LD, so the 2008 result will be a bit misleading. We have 6 months to prep for this one. This will be Bradley's biggest test as a coach (obvious understatement) and it will show a lot about everything we've all argued and analyzed over the past cycle. Can he tactically adjust? Pick the right players? Prepare his team? FWIW, we looked good against Italy until the idiotic red card Clark picked up, and IIRC were even at 1-1 against Argentina in Copa America 2007 until the wheels came off with our C team in the 2nd half, so this *might* be an area he's decent at. -Algeria are the weakest African side not named South Africa. They play like all North African teams do. They drew 0-0 with fricking Rwanda during qualifying. If we don't beat them in a similar fashion that we handled Egypt this summer, we don't deserve to advance. -Slovenia are probably the weakest Euro side in the entire tournament. Very organized, defensive minded. Strong in the central mids physically and a tough backline. They have a great keeper. They actually use this to push forward and tend to get caught on the counter, but don't concede much. They are a bit like us in that they arent super technical but are real athletic. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is the trap game in the group. We have terrible luck breaking down packed defenses in CONCACAF, and this side is better than a CONCACAF side. We'll probably have the best two field players on the field, barring injuries or cards, so that probably makes the difference. I see us going: 0-2 v England 2-1 v Slovenia. 3-1 v Algeria Although that could easily be a draw on MD 2 and come down to goal difference, which makes not getting our doors blown off by England quite key.

I'm really wondering why I keep reading that SA should be happy with that group. They are going to finish dead last in that group. I would be stunned if they take points from anyone. I'm really very pleased at our draw right now. When I saw England, I was really worried, but I don't see an easier group to have been a part of, really.

4 points should be enough to get 2nd in the group. England are going to roll through Algeria and Slovenia. I think we should beat Slovenia with some comfort and ease, and Algeria was the weakest African side possible. If we don't advance, I'll be disappointed, injuries and all. I'd rather have faced England on matchday 3 but whatever. That game's going to get massive ratings. ABC/ESPN must have wet themselves when they saw that. If we could somehow draw with England I'd be ecstatic. Beasley should have about the same perspective as I do on 6/18...watching at home. Group G is nasty. Imagine Brasil not advancing...

USA v ENG 6/12 USA v SVN 6/18 USA v ALG 6/23

WOOOOOOHOOOOOO

WOW

They aren't doing Bafana Bafana any favors. They might not advance.

Whew. At least Algeria suck

That is so not good. That's an awful matchup for us.

oh no

OH COME ON

http://www.fifa.com/live/competitions/worldcup/finaldraw/index.html

Come ON, South Africa's group

You think England would be a tougher draw than Brazil or Spain? Oh yeah. I think we match up more favorably with Spain and Brazil. It's not a big difference, but in group stage play there isn't another team I'd rather not see than England-except maybe Germany. They are a machine under Capello. I feel we match up with South American sides reasonably well-even Brasil, who we usually play well enough against. Spain, for some reason, I think can be had in a group stage game. They don't exactly have a stellar World Cup resume, either, and I think that's in their heads a bit. EDIT: In order of "most like to face": South Africa Italy Argentina Holland Brasil Spain Germany England I think Italy is past it. South Africa is the worst host/seeded team since us in 1994. Argentina are a mess under Maradona, have no defense and a poor keeper. The Oranje could win the World Cup or flame out. Then you get the better four teams. Brasil have so much depth-kind of hope if you draw them, you get them in the third game and they've already gone through. Same thing with Spain. Germany haven't not reached the quarterfinals since World War II. England look very, very good.

I'm stunned they seeded the Oranje. Best case: SA, USA, Paraguay, Slovakia Worst Case: England, Cote d' Ivory, USA, Portugal

Apathy is preventing me from reacting beyond saying this is typical Cubs stupidity.

It was a horrible missed call by the AR, who should have been in position to see it, and absolutely highlighted the need for an official behind each goal. A replay was not permissible per the rules of the game, which I get, and bad calls happen all the time (the US, mind you, got hosed in 2002 when Frings handled a ball on the goal line). It sucked for Ireland, who were the better team on the night and deserved at least a shot at penalties. Henry should face a 3 match ban for handling the ball with intent, which is exactly what he did if you watch the replay. FIFA suck for changing the way the Euro qualifiers would be seeded, favoring the larger nations.

Chuck D thinks he can be back by the Cup...

Gosh, if only we had a top QB, then all our problems will be solved.