USSoccer

Yeah, it's not something I would ever try in a shootout.

I've probably seen 25 Man U games in the last year. He probably creates something out of nothing 7 times out of 10 runs like that down the wing. He'll win a deep throw, draw a foul, shoot or set someone up. The reason he tried to dribble backs is because there isn't a back in Europe that can run with him, let alone keep up with the jukes. The one thing I will say he does too often is look for his own shot. He seems to have a very quick trigger from distance.

Cristiano Ronaldo says hi. Messi's great, but Ronaldo is better than anyone running around on a field anywhere. Running being the key word there, because Ronaldo doesn't realize he has teammates half the time. Oooo, I don't know about that. I think he gets a bad rap because he's a very flashy player, but he's extremely creative, and usually finds teamates in good positions to finish. I think part of the probl;em is that his teamates aren'tr eady for some of the balls he gives them. Sometimes he screws himself up trying to dribble thru traffic, but half the time he does that something good happens. I can't think of a more talented player in nearly every phase of the game than Cristiano. Maybe Kaka, but Kaka doesn't have the pace of Ronaldo. He's so, so, so good.

Normally it pisses me off when players do that on a PK, but for Sanchez I make an exception. Anything that makes Oswaldo look stupid is worth it. I laughed when Riquelme hit the ball. I missed it, what did he do on the PK. He ran up to hit it, and when Oswaldo dove, Riquelme nonchalantly slowed down his foot and chipped it lazily right down the middle where Oswaldo was. By the time the ball hit the net, Sanchez was getting up from where he dove to. It was hilarious.

Normally it pisses me off when players do that on a PK, but for Sanchez I make an exception. Anything that makes Oswaldo look stupid is worth it. I laughed when Riquelme hit the ball.

Cristiano Ronaldo says hi. Messi's great, but Ronaldo is better than anyone running around on a field anywhere.

I have no issue with the yell, as playing sports for many years, I have yelled to distract in baseball, basketball, soccer, etc. The slap is pretty cheap and un-defendable however. Then you are bush league too. You don't do that, period. Yes, absolutely. All competitive sports should be played in complete silence, with neither side trying to do anything that would upset the delicate balance of competition.

Since I get neither ESPNU or Galavision, I watched Argentina toy with Mexico. What's funny about that game is that Mexico had two absolutely golden chances to go up 1-0 in the first half, but both were blown in glorious fashion by players being stupid. But it didn't matter, since Argentina probably could have put 10 in if they'd wanted to. That's how much better than Mexico they are. Messi's chip was sicksicksicksicksick. Also, wathcing Riquelme embarass O'Sanchez on the OK was glorious.

that's just a silly idea when you can have both right, right, i know...it is silly call me crazy, but i really do not like a-rod at short...at all... first off...if, by the miraculous grace of divinity, we can acquire that man-god called rodriguez...well then, why not use dlee as a tasty piece of talent bait...? let aramis and alex figure out who is going to be 3rd and who is going to be 1st... short-stop is a bit tricky, but the pieces will fall into place... You realize that ARod is still the best SS on his current team, right? Why would you not play him at SS in Chicago?

Alexi Lalas should be shot out of a cannon into the sun.

Bradley just isn't as naturally talented as some of the other U-20's. There were several stretches he just looked lost.

The U-20's showed something no USMNT team has shown against anyone but Mexico since June of 2002: They showed a fierceness and an aggressiveness that rewards good teams. They attacked, pressed and deserved the win. They didn't hold possesion pointlessly, or squander chances, or take weak shots. It helps when you have the best 2 players on the field. Jozy and Freddy were class. Adu in particular caused Brazil fits. They had to account for him at all times, and the senior team needs more players like that. Right now it's Donovan, Beasley and Dempsey. That's not enough impact players, especially when you consider how flawed each of them are in their own right, despite their talents. Bradley needs to cap Adu ASAP, and stick him in an attacking mid role. Freddy could really thrive in a lineup with Donovan, Dempsey and Beasley all flowing into attack. His size is not such an issue to me. If he has space, he can create. I'm also thinking Jozy needs to be capped sometime this year as well, to get him ready for next year. That way you can line up a team like this: Altidore Dempsey Beasley Adu Donovan Feilhaber Bradley Bocanegra DeMerit Conrad Bornstein Howard I'd take that lineup right now, every qualifier out. Screw the Eddie Johnson/Brian Ching/Taylor Twellman suckfest. Jozy has something none of them have: an ability to not only hold the ball to play to attacking wings, but an actually deadly shot. His finish on the first goal tonight was one I would wager not one of those 3 could pull off. I'd even go so far as to say that as of right now, I would put Gabe Ferrari and Kenny Cooper ahead of Johnson and Twellman in pecking order. The Copa America mess hopefully has shown Bradley that there are certain players that have the talent and drive to succeed at the non-CONCACAF level, and some that may have talent, but are unable to succeed at that level.

From what I gathered from reading SBI, What's SBI? I'm looking new places to read up on footie. also, i'd be interested in a prem fantasy league. SBI=Soccer By Ives. Ives Galarcep covers RBNY for some newspaper in NJ, but he also writes for ESPN.com's Soccernet. I find that it's a pretty good read most of the time. It's a little RBNY/MLS heavy, but that's understandable.

Unreal. Just unreal.

Yes.

How did Onyewu fare during the Euro season? I'd be hesitant to have him fall from "stud defender/central back of the future" to "oaf off the bench" based just on the Gold Cup. he didn't look good for Newcastle. hasn't been in form in a while When Newcastle decides they don't want you, you've done something very wrong.

How did Onyewu fare during the Euro season? I'd be hesitant to have him fall from "stud defender/central back of the future" to "oaf off the bench" based just on the Gold Cup. I think a big part of his "stud" rep came from tossing Jared Borgetti around in Columbus. However, in hindsight tossing a player like Borgetti around doesn't seem all that impressive. He barely played at Bolton in the EPL, isn't fast or quick, isn't that technical, but he's good in the air. He was the perfect matchup for Gooch. He uses his hands way too much when battling for position, and that coupled with his size means he's going to always be prone to drawing stupid fouls in our end. It's not that I don't think he's useful-I think against certain forwards he's a real asset. He's just a terrible matchup against anyone with pace or quickness.

I'm seeing a lot of support for a Simek/DeMerit/Bocanegra/Bornstein backline amongst the interwebs. I can't say I disagree with the Simek/DeMerit stuff. I'm beginning to seriously question Gooch's spot.

I get the feeling that Bradley is utilizing Bornstein the way Bobby Cox developed young position players. He's letting him play through his growing pains. He still has a long way to go, especially learning to cross and not get caught out of position upfield as much, but to read about his defense on Messi is definetly encouraging. Feilhaber, to me, probably is the best out of the group of central mids that we have. He seems to have all the positive qualities of Reyna without the crippling negatives. I don't care for Clark, much, but I think he could be a useful piece. Conrad is a known quantity for me at this point. He's steadier than Bocanegra and smarter than Gooch. I like what DeMerit brings to the table. I'd really like to see Bocanegra not playing alongside Gooch, anymore, if possible. Gaven suckity sucks. Wynne might yet be good, but I don't think he's ready to be defending guys like Tevez, Crespo, etc. Justin Mapp is Bobby Convey with less talent. Think about that. He should be a backup option. We have better wings right now, and better wing prospects upcoming. Beckerman I refuse to think about until he gives Mastro his 2002 hairdo back. What continues to trouble me is that our best forward combo right now is probably Ching/Dempsey. That's not going to cut it long term.

I liked Noah at 9. I'm ticked that Gasol didn't make it to 49. I don't care for the Aaron Gray pick, and I would have rather had Green than Curry. I don't get the Ray Allen deal at all. Good luck to the Knicks with Randolph, Crawford and Marbury all chucking up shots every chance they get. Wilson Chandler was also a reach at 23. Golden State pantsed Charlotte. MJ is a terrible decision maker. I hope Yi blows off going to Milwaukee.

Isn't that the problem with EJ, though? That he hasn't developed at all since 2004? BTW, I totally called tonights final score earlier in the thread. I said it would be much like the US/Germany friendly last spring. From what I gather, it sounds like it was almost the exact same game, with Gaven playing the Kerry Zavagnin role.

Gaven can't even start for a mediocre MLS team. He has no business being on the field for the US. Ditto that for Marvell Wynne.

From what I gathered from reading SBI, Twellman was invisible and Johnson refused to run at defenders again.

I can't believe it's 1-1

8:45 est on goltv. Boo to Univision and Telemundo not picking this game up in my area. come to the Globe and watch Might be tricky with my wife out of town and the 11 month old. Although she loves Benny Feilhaber. She shrieks and laughs every time she sees him on TV. Where's the Globe?