Official World Cup 2010 thread

[Lorenzo]

Project 2010 a complete failure

One of these years the US will find someone with the ability to finish - frustrating watching the same errors and weakness game after game, year after year

bradley is a crap coach and should resign

jozy has a lot of growing up to do - he looked lost out there for the better part of the game, not close to being on the same page about how to position himself to be in on the play, uncertain of what to do when he was able to receive the ball and all too often completely unable to make a good first touch

I don't want to bag on the kid too hard because he is so young, does some good things and is unfortunately the best we have right now .... but he's got a long way to go if he wants to be as good as he thinks he is

I will have to agree with most of this. I wouldn't say bradley is a complete crap coach, but you have to question his moves today going back to his original lineup that was instant failure against england. he never figured out what to do with his lineup. He seemed like he could never get it right until the second half of games, but would then go back to the same failures to start games. this trend should have been squashed after the slovenia game. I think harkes made a good point today by mentioning that the USA should just start the game like the do the second half? I think that was a shout to bradley. I do think that bradley's tenure was a success and got the USA back to where they needed to be. However, ultimately getting knocked out by ghana should be looked at as a failure. Also you can't overlook that the team gave up goals in the first 10 mins of every game...probably should have against algeria too. I would like to see a fresh face who is going to get better results.

i defended jozy on here...and I stand by that even now. and eventhough he did not score...i felt like the last 3 halves of play b4 this game he was strong. but today was his worst game and he was a non-factor even in the second half when the rest of the team showed progress. I won't place complete blame on him though because no one else outside of dempsey really stepped up and put their stamp on this game offensively. I do think when feilhaber came on the whole team had a shot in the arm moving forward.

 

[Chaplin]

All the problems we've discussed before were in full evidence in this game.

-- Poor lineup decisions
-- Jozy looking like anything but an international starting striker
-- Bradley making the wrong substitutions (even though Feilhaber was a good one--he should have started though)
-- No technical prowess on the ball (Buddle would have helped rather than Gomez)
-- Bad passing - a staple of American soccer
-- Complete change of philosophy after a positive result

Ghana just wanted it more than we did. And by the time we had some steam, we were too tired.

 

[Lorenzo]

All the problems we've discussed before were in full evidence in this game.

-- Poor lineup decisions
-- Jozy looking like anything but an international starting striker
-- Bradley making the wrong substitutions (even though Feilhaber was a good one--he should have started though)
-- No technical prowess on the ball (Buddle would have helped rather than Gomez)
-- Bad passing - a staple of American soccer
-- Complete change of philosophy after a positive result

Ghana just wanted it more than we did. And by the time we had some steam, we were too tired.

can't argue with any of that. I can't blame jozy for the fact that he is all we have there. Our midfield is lacking so much that our best striker(dempsey) has to step back. then bradley never got it right pairing someone with jozy and sticking with it.

 

[Shzm13]

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Our turn to keep making history :-D

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Permission to represent the CONCACAF? Granted.

 

[hafey]

At least we still have Mexico to root against.

 

[Stout]

Okay, so I really want to vent my frustrations here, but first I have to acknowledge that my expectations were too high. Everyone's expectations were too high. Yes, there are some tangible, should-have-been-avoided reasons that I'll get into when I rip into U.S. soccer in a while, but we have to face the facts.

Fact #1: We did not have our TOP Striker (Davies)
Fact #2: We did not have our TOP Central Defender (*****)

Yes, I know ***** was on the roster and that he played two games, but that doesn't mean that he was there. The guy was clearly not anywhere close to match fitness, and wasn't at all in synch with the defense. Had we known this, it would have been very easy to predict our defensive difficulties. And yes, difficulties is putting it mildly.

Altidore was so up-and-down, did not put many quality shots on goal, and though he put in a few solid performances, definitely underachieved. Yet he led the U.S. in goals during qualifying. Why? Because he had a striker playing beside him with pace and finishing ability. He didn't have that in the World Cup. Instead, we were looking to HIM to be the go-to guy, and he clearly isn't ready for that role yet. He may grow into it, but he isn't there yet.

Had Davies and ***** been healthy and playing healthy for us, I think we would have breezed through the group and probably beaten Ghana and Uruguay to reach the semis. Crazy? I'll point everyone back to the Confederations Cup for my proof.

Looking back on our tourney, it should have been clear that we weren't going to penetrated deep into the tourney. How far would Uruguay go without Lugano (sp?) and Suarez? Spain without Villa and...don't know their top defender, but without them? Portugal without Ronaldo and their top defender? Not far.

 

[CaptTurbo]

I said we dont have a good shot against Ghana. 4 years ago proved that. For a supposed non "fast" team Ghana got to the ball first on every single occasion. We do awful against fast teams.

 

[Chaplin]

Our problem today was the same problem we've had for years: We're notoriously slow starters and give up early goals. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough in the tank to make up for it.

 

[slinslin]

Your problem is that your teams are simply not as good as you seem to think.

You don't have a single player on your roster that would make the German squad for example or any other top side. How can you expect to go far without talent? That happens only once a century and this century it already happened with Greece in 2004.

 

[Milgod]

I couldn't post anythign yesterday as it hurt too much. I sat in the same place for an hour before moving after the final whistle.

The game went OK. Terrible spells followed by really good ones. We had enough chances to win it though and should have taken at least one. I'll do my own player review later but initial thoughts are that Clark needs to be shot. Demerit needs to learn where he is heading the ball. B.Bradley makes great subs, but only because he makes bad decisions in the first place. Donovan really is a special talent. He could start for most premiership teams.

Even though most of us will feel pretty mad I don't think this tournament was a waste. We have gained a lot of respect in the UK. The commentators last night were bigging us up big time. More than they did in 2002. The hardest thing to take is that we have to wait 4 more years to try again.

Just seen slinslin's comment. He is wrong about no player making the German side. Donovan would definitely make their squad and Dempsey would be close. I actually like Germany but this guy makes himself look like an absolute cornholio every post.

 

[rode kardinaal]

Am i the only one who thought Howard was most to blame on the first goal? Of course Clark didn't help either, just as Demeritt's backpedaling until Boateng got an easy shot wasn't exactly textbook defending, but the near corner of the goal should always be the goalkeeper's corner. I think Howard was positioned way too far to the middle of the goal.

As for the game, good game by Ghana. You guys are playing against your identity. You don't have the players to play a technical style. You don't have the players to play power football. In my view you guys are a sort of 'will power'-team, as evidenced by coming back from behind every time. When playing from behind, the game becomes a bit more opportunistic, everybody gives it their all, and that's when you're at your best. When tied, all of a sudden you guys revert back to a more tactical style of play, and with all due respect, most teams seem lightyears ahead in that department. Quality of the players or quality of the coach, i can't tell for sure.

 

[Milgod]

It will take time for the game to continue its growth in the States. Things have gone well over the last 20 years, even if it doesn't always feel that way. We just need a few younger players to make that next step up. MLS is getting stronger all the time. US players are playing better abroad as well. I think in another 2/3 WCs we'll be pretty strong.

I will be supporting the Dutch from now on because I put money on them at 11/1 at the start of the tourney.

Slinslin, for somebody who acts like they are the god of all football knowledge why is it you didn't get every group prediciton correct? I thought you knew everything.

 

[Zeno]

Go Argenina & England, that is what I will be watching today...those results will make the weekend a little more bearable.

We need a new coach for obvious reasons but I think keeping a coach for more than 1 cycle is a mistake unless he is something really special and Bradley ain't that. Hopefully Bradley calls it quits soon so it doesn't have to get ugly. USSF needs to spend some of that money on a proven coach and backs him 100%

 

[Milgod]

Go Argenina & England, that is what I will be watching today...those results will make the weekend a little more bearable.

We need a new coach for obvious reasons but I think keeping a coach for more than 1 cycle is a mistake unless he is something really special and Bradley ain't that. Hopefully Bradley calls it quits soon so it doesn't have to get ugly. USSF needs to spend some of that money on a proven coach and backs him 100%

It's funny not living in the States and seeing things from the British point of view. Over here they rate Bradley highly. They have said what guts he showed by taking off Clark after only 30 minutes. They don't seem to see what a mistake it was to put him in to start with!

I have started to like Bradley more than I did 2 years ago. He isn't afraid to make changes and he does seem to have them team together (which many countries can't claim). However, he makes too many mistakes at the start that he then has to rectify later in the game.

 

[Zeno]

Our problem today was the same problem we've had for years: We're notoriously slow starters and give up early goals. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough in the tank to make up for it.

We have become notoriously worse under Bradley when it comes to that recently. Contrast that with Arena in '02 we score against Portugal in the 4th minute, we score against Korea in the 24th minute and against Mexico in the 8th minute. It has to be mental preparation and focus and that has to fall on the coching staff.

 

[Zeno]

It's funny not living in the States and seeing things from the British point of view. Over here they rate Bradley highly. They have said what guts he showed by taking off Clark after only 30 minutes. They don't seem to see what a mistake it was to put him in to start with!

I have started to like Bradley more than I did 2 years ago. He isn't afraid to make changes and he does seem to have them team together (which many countries can't claim). However, he makes too many mistakes at the start that he then has to rectify later in the game.

Yeah Bradley grew on me too, he did really well with building them as a team. I also was impressed that he cut Kljestan & Ching, I thought he would be blinded by his loyalty for them, he also brought a ton of players in to camp during his tenure. He just makes too many lineup errors and the team starts too slowly under him. 8 years under the same coach though leads to stale predictable tactics...Arena was a better coach and it happened to his team too.

 

[cardfaninfl]

Go Argenina & England, that is what I will be watching today...those results will make the weekend a little more bearable.

The Three Lions were my first love for a national squad, so I will now be (quitely) cheering for them.

Maradonna use to be Public Enemy #1, in my book. But watching his child-like enthusiasm and obvious joy of the game forces me to root for the little Hobbit.

 

[slinslin]

Just seen slinslin's comment. He is wrong about no player making the German side. Donovan would definitely make their squad and Dempsey would be close. I actually like Germany but this guy makes himself look like an absolute cornholio every post.

No they wouldn't, they wouldn't even get close.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Go Uraguay. My future home.

 

[Zeno]

Go Uraguay. My future home.

You are moving there, really? When? I've never even been to South America--but that will change in 2014.

 

[Milgod]

No they wouldn't, they wouldn't even get close.

Aw bless you. It must nice nice in that little world you live in where everything revolves around the brilliance of German football.

You will disagree but Donovan is better than players like Khedira, Marin and Trochowski.


You really do act like you are the god of football knowledge. Funny that you got just as many predictions wrong as everyone else. What happened there then? To busy kissing your picture of Low?

 

[Zeno]

Aw bless you. It must nice nice in that little world you live in where everything revolves around the brilliance of German football.

You will disagree but Donovan is better than players like Khedira, Marin and Trochowski.


You really do act like you are the god of football knowledge. Funny that you got just as many predictions wrong as everyone else. What happened there then? To busy kissing your picture of Low?

I can't even reply to this guy anymore. He can't see beyond the German borders...I guess thats fine I have no problem with national pride, but arrogance is his issue.

Germany is going to go home from Africa just like us--without lifting the trophy and I am willing to bet their combined club salaries is probably 5-7 that of the US roster.

 

[Milgod]

Right, I'm off to the shop quickly before the game starts.

Tough one to call. If England turn up then they will win but if they aren't 100% then I see the German's exposing them at the back. Should be a good game.

 

[slinslin]

You will disagree but Donovan is better than players like Khedira, Marin and Trochowski.

Wuahahaa

Market Value Estimates:

Donovan 3.000.000


Khedira 15.000.000
Marin 14.000.000
Trochowski 8.500.000

I hate Trochowski but he is easily at worst as good as Donovan individually.

And well yes:

USA ~60.000.000 Team Value
Germany ~300.000.000 Team Value

The USA team is absolute average at best in the World Cup and like I predicted struggled heavily and needed a miracle to get out of the group with Algeria and Slovenia.

 

[Shzm13]

:-O Germany putting an Australia-like whoopin on the Britts