USSoccer

Good point, although there is undoubtedly a team-wide problem of not getting runners in from 3rd, of not finishing off a promising start to an inning (rare as it is) by converting 2nd and 3rd w/none out into at least 2 runs. It's not just a throwaway issue solved by sabermetrics. Even our good sabermetrics guys have there problems w/RISP. To me, the two issues at hand - getting on base and "clutch" hitting - converge on one issue, being smart as a team in the approach. It seems like games are being treated as one big BP session for the hitters, and most of the starts (other than Z and Maddux) seem like the pitchers are still in Spring Training. All of this can be pinpointed in one direction IMO. Given that clutch hitting cannot be measured tangibly, the sensible thing to do would be to make sure you had as many scoring opportunities as possible to minimize the effect of having a guy struggle with RISP. That means utilizing OBP.

The US core should be: Johnson Donovan (but for the love of Kent, go play in Europe) Beasley Dempsey Gooch Cherundolo Howard Those 7 players should play every qualifier and friendly possible. You can mix in your Twellman's, Ralston's and whoever else, but those 7 are the core right now, and they need to assert themselves as mainstays. Using that core, they need to begin the process of mixing in players like Freddy Adu, Lee Nguyen and Jonathan Spector, and even Michael Bradley. Build up the depth in the talent pool, so you don't see the 2010 equivalents of Berhalter and Wolff on the roster. 2007 needs to see the USMNT schedule every possible game with European clubs in Europe. Qualifying for Euro2008 starts in 2007, and the US needs to be willing to play friendlies with any team that wants one. They need to consistently play against the powerhouses to take the next step. Playing against CONCACAF is just not going to do it.

If you have any illusions about WC crowd, watch a game with South Korea involved. Best fans, hands down, in the world. Nonstop energy. And the original poll question is like asking if breathing oxygen is better for you than breating CO2. There's no comparison that's even close.

To play devil's advocate, who else would/should take that band? Also, for a fun exercise, how about separating who we can pretty much guarantee will not be around for South Africa. Keller Reyna McBride Hahnemann Pope? Lewis? Berhalter? Would that make Howard the only keeper with any Caps? Does Thornton(who will be 37 in 2010) have any? Eddie Lewis or McBride would have made better captains. I can tell you for certain that Reyna, McB, Pope, Lewis, Wolff, Berhalter, Bocanegra, and Hahnemann won't be there. I'm not convinced Keller won't have an outside shot at being on the roster.

I don't doubt that Arena is gone. I think he was going to take a leave after the Cup anyway, but his crap-the-bed coach job will simply formalize what was going to happen. And quite frankly, it's not a bad thing. He was the right coach to follow Sampson, but he's not the right coach now that we have a much deeper talent pool. Now we need the kind of coach that can take an EJ, of Adu, or Nguyen or Donovan and make them into a Nedved or a Totti. The kind of coach that doesn't misuse our most creative player (Dempsey) and our fastest wing player (Beasley). Whether or not Klinsi is available will depend largely on Germany's ability to win the Cup. If they win, he won't be. If they tank out in the next 2 rounds, he probably will be, and the USSF needs to be all over that. The worst thing the USSF could do is bring in some crap coach that came up in the US system, who's too used to playing not to lose, or bring in an overrated hack like Sven Goran Eriksson, who makes Dusty look like Bobby Cox when it comes to young players vs vets. As far as the refs go, I think it's a learning process. We need to earn that respect on the field. If you had an alien reffing the ITA game, we likely win. Ditto for today, although we deserved a win today far less than on Saturday. We have to earn the respect of officials before we will stop getting hosed on borderline calls.

I'll impart some wisdom on Landon Donovan. "get the hell off this team! Go to Europe, learn to play again, then come back and I might give you a roster spot." 1000000% agreed. He needs to get over his silly homesickness for the sake of his international career, unless he wants to peak as Eric Wynalda. And after the PK, I just had my head in my hands. I just came to expect getting shafted by the refs after that. When you're a ref, and you call that kind of foul in the 18, you're basically saying "If that foul doesn't happen, they have a clear shot on goal, so therefore here's a free goal". Merk gave Ghana a goal they didn't earn, and for that matter, so did Neifi Reyna.

Here is my Fred Hornkhol impression: Of all 32 teams in Germany, the U.S. will finish No. 32 in terms of shots on goal with four. The next worse is Trinidad and Tobago with seven. Iran have 19. England, 21. Germany lead the pack with 27.

Beasley screwed himself plenty, too, but I simply have no idea why Arena chose to play a 4-5-1 with Beasley basically playing a holding mid. Olson was okay. He whiffed embarrasingly on that late attempt, though. We really, really missed Mastro today. If Mastro is playing, Reyna isn't in that position to make another stupid decision. I cannot wait for Brazil to obliterate Ghana.

I echo most of your sentiments, but want to add a few things. First of all, can anyone defend the coaching decisions of Bruce Arena? I have always been a suporter, but the lineups, the in game decisions and the strategies were all wrong. One forward setups are terrible. You neutralize the skills of McBride by leaving him up there alone. When I look at the good teams in the cup, I notice one thing, they all have one or two very creative, attacking midfielder. We don't have that. Additionally, could we be any less of a threat on set pieces and conversely, could we be any worse at defending them? Not likely. I would love to see Juergen Klinsmann coach this team to South Africa. This will all be for naught, however, if we cannot come up with a more creative attack and get better on set plays. I still have faith in the future of US Soccer (the team and the NSBB poster :) ), but this was embarrassing. Arena was definetly exposed during this tournament as a somewhat lacking tactician. His managing of the Czech game was just awful, and his formations today were baffling. RynoRules, I think, asked if this was the most dissapointing performance ever. I'd have to say no. 1998 was far, far worse than this. I'm still upset at the US play, but the facts are that we lost to the best African team and a very strong Czech team, and outplayed Italy. Should we have advanced? On paper, yeah, but this is international soccer. We got hosed by some calls, hit a couple posts, and that's that. We played much better in the final two games, and it's just a bummer that another very questionable call and poor service cost us a win today. Arena has taken the team as far as he could, but when building a sport, you plateau on the way to the next step. Clearly with the next generation of US players like Adu, Lee Nguyen and Jonathon Spector on the radar, we need a coach that's more in line with European styles of play. Klinsmann, IMO, would make an excellent choice. Offensive minded, lives in CA, and could probably impart a great deal of wisdom to Eddie Johnson and Donovan.

I finally got to watch a game live, and it's the game we get bounced... I hope Claudio Reyna never plays another minute for the USMNT. He is useless. He consistently makes cripplingly bad decisions, slows the pace of attacks down which plays to our weakness, and is an offensive nonfactor. His crap decision making with the ball v ITA and his junior high-eque giveaway today cost the US both games. For your captain and supposedly most experienced player to not realize that it's stupid to dribble out of the back is unforgiveable. I cannot, cannot stand watching him on the field for the US. Landon Donovan needs to shut up and go play in England or Spain and learn how to finish. He was by far the most dissapointing player in the 3 games. It certainly didn't help that Arena played him out of position the entire tournament, but he didn't do anything either. If he wants to stay in MLS, he'll never progress beyond a CONCACAF impact player. Beasley sucked with the exception of one non-goal and one pretty assist to Dempsey. He played tentatively the entire Cup. Bocanegra's clearance put Gooch in a crap position on the PK foul, but there is no planet that exists where that little bit of contact deserves a PK in stoppage time at the end of a half. Terrible, terrible call. Just awful. Once again, terrible service from the wings, and flat out pathetic set pieces. The US will continue to struggle against top competition until the develop a real striker and better wing players. Dempsey took his goal well, but I am thinking he might be better served in more of a central role. Convey looked aggressive but couldn't put a pass on target the entire time. What a depressing setback for soccer in the US.

I mostly agree with you. A couple things: Amoah is the starting forward that isn't banned. Appiah is the other midfielder you're thinking of. The one that looks like a tank and runs people over. Plays in Turkey. And before that he played for Juve. he's learned well. With Pope and Mastro out, I put Conrad and O'Brien in. Same lineup as before, which is basically a 4-1-4-1 or a 4-5-1 or a 4-2-3-1. I think. I'm not really sure what we've been playing, to be honest. Unless O'Brien isn't fit, in which case I'd put Eddie Lewis into a midfield role. Unless we think Reyna can play Mastro's ballwinning tough guy role, but I don't think he can. Then again, I don't think Lewis can either. And he's be on the same side as Convey, and we all know how that worked last time. basically I hope O'Brien can play. I do know that we need 4 at the back. I hope to god these suspensions don't mean Berhalter sees the field, because that's simply not acceptable. I miss Gibbs. Ghana is overconfident. We have to hit them early, I totally agree with that. You're right. Appiah is who I'm thinking of. If Berhalter is on the field we're in trouble. And all indications are that O'Brien isn't fit enough to play signifigant minutes yet. I even heard the name Ben Olson mentioned as a replacement for Mastro. Which makes me sick to my stomach.

Lalas on Colbert=Awesome! You're not 'Ghana' win...

So I'm really wary of Ghana tomorrow. They have a ton of speed. Crazy fast, plus they have 2 mids (Amoah and Essian) who, if given space, will dominate the US and create all sorts of issues, especially without Mastroeni. For the US to win this game, they are going to need to score early and knock Ghana's confidence back right off the bat. They need to defend the flanks and control the middle of the field. Service from the US flanks (I'm looking at you, Bobby Convey) needs to be much better. I'd almost be tempted to start Beasley tomorrow, given Ghana's speed. EJ definetly needs to start. With no Pope and Mastro, I put Conrad in the back and Johnson up front, with Donovan dropping to attacking mid. Your other option is to 3-5-2 your lineup, with DMB, Dempsey, JOB, Donovan and Reyna in the middle. I don't know if I trust 3 in the back in a must-win game, though. Keys: -Donovan. Needs to score. -Reyna. Needs to be better in the attacking third. -Gooch. We need the Italy Gooch again. -The first 15 minutes. Score. DO NOT LET THEM SCORE. -Limit set pieces in your area.

You have to explain Scots in terms of the movie Braveheart. otherwise we Americans won't understand. Well, well played, my friend!

Adults don't respond to every percieved sling and arrow with a steady stream of vulgarities. I cannot wait for that team to lose again, so he can be quickly fired and I never have to hear about him again.

Oh, man, Go Angola!!

If ever Hendry needs to seize an opportunity and sell high, this would be it. You could probably get one of the better players in what's left of that system, and get out of what's going to turn out to be a waste of $15m and a starting spot. This needs to be done yesterday.

The referee for tomorrow's game:

Owen is likely done for the rest of the tourney: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=371896&cc=5901

Hilarious. I do, which is why tools and scouts opinions and individual workouts are important. Hey now. I conceded that you were better informed, and I hope I'm wrong. I just personally don't see how he can be an impact player anywhere but defensively. You seemed to be arguing both sides is all. From Tyrus hasn't spent enough time in college ball to prove he's an elite prospect to college ball is too far away from the NBA to prove anything. Part of that has to do with me trying to type a coherent argument while distracted by work. :D

His physical gifts are off the charts and allow for a sky's-the-limit ceiling. Did you see him dominate in the NCAA's? You seem to be projecting him to take a step back with NBA coaching. Don't you think there's a big difference between dominating NCAA frontcourts and NBA frontcourts? Brandon Roy dominated NCAA backcourts, but isn't there a big difference between the NCAA and the NBA? Point taken.

Hilarious. I do, which is why tools and scouts opinions and individual workouts are important. Hey now. I conceded that you were better informed, and I hope I'm wrong. I just personally don't see how he can be an impact player anywhere but defensively.

His physical gifts are off the charts and allow for a sky's-the-limit ceiling. Did you see him dominate in the NCAA's? You seem to be projecting him to take a step back with NBA coaching. Don't you think there's a big difference between dominating NCAA frontcourts and NBA frontcourts?

FWIW, I think Aldridge ends up like PJ Brown. I'm not too convinced on him either, but at least you have a body of work to draw from. And like I said, 1908 is much better informed than I. I'm just trying to argue what might be a flawed opinion, and if they draft him, I hope I'm proven the wrongest of wrongs.

Defensive, rebounding force with an average offensive game. He's long, has an amazing vertical leap, is incredibly quick off his feet, has excellent hands (unlike Chandler) and timing, and is a bulldog. He'll alter a lot of shots. So on a team that is pretty good defensively, but lacks low post scoring and a big guard, you'd want them to take a guy that will be average at best offensively in the frontcourt? Come on, you're better than this. You ask him to list a player's worst case scenario and then trash the player based on that? I can do that with Roy or Morrison or Aldridge. But Raisin, the point I'm trying to make is that while Aldridge and Roy's best case isn't nearly as high as Thomas', their respective worst cases aren't as deep. Do you want to take a gamble on a player that has such a range of possible outcomes?