Olympic Soccer Tournament

[gr000000vy]

wow talk about a boring tournament so far....

 

[Zeno]

wow talk about a boring tournament so far....

The US has played boring soccer but it taught us a few things, Freddy Adu is the best player on the US team, he is the only one constantly on the attack and causing his opponents fits. He plays with a high energy and a lot of passion...nobody else has even looked close to being as dangerous. Sasha Kljestan is less than mediocre, his passing is horrid, he plays poor defense and he disappears for long stretches & as a center MF thats pretty hard to do. Dax McCarty is better than I thought, I don't think he'll ever be a regular starter on the Nats but he can be a valuable sub/depth guy...same goes for Stuart Holden. Charlie Davies dives like an Italian. Lastly Nowaks team selection and in game tactics leave a lot to be desired...how he could see anything in Chad Barrett is beyond me.

There have been some exciting games, unfortunately all in the other bracket, Haiti's win over Canada was a good game, Canada trouncing Guatemala was good if you like offensive soccer, Canada pulling out a tie Vs Mexico was a good game as well.

The US is going to need to produce some goals in the semi-finals, hopefully Altidore starts playing well because he's been a disappointment so far. I'm also hoping Nowak sees the light and never lets Barrett touch the field again, because we might as well play with 10 when he is out there.

 

[gr000000vy]

best part of the tournament so far no doubt....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNg3udPrG7M

 

[CardEd]

best part of the tournament so far no doubt....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNg3udPrG7M

" Most over-dressed streaker ever....."

To Funny

 

[BirdMan21]

I am feeling pretty good about our chances Thursday, hopefully Adu can continue to paly well and maybe just take control of the game. Should be fun to watch, Canada seems to beleive in themselvs and you can't quite rule out an upset.

 

[Zeno]

Adu is the man! 3-0 US, Olympics here we come!

 

[BirdMan21]

Adu is the man! 3-0 US, Olympics here we come!

When I said I hoped that Adu could continue to play well and maybe just take control of a game....THIS is what I was talking about. He is really something special, hopefully we can have a good run in Bejing

 

[Zeno]

Roster for Beijing...

Goalkeepers- Brad Guzan, Chris Seitz

Defenders- Michael Parkhurst, Maurice Edu, Michael Orozco, Marvell Wynne, Nathan Sturgis, Patrick Ianni

Midfielders- Freddy Adu, Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan, Stuart Holden, Danny Szetela, Benny Feilhaber.

Forwards- Brian McBride, Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies, Robbie Rogers

Alternates: Dominic Cervi, Frankie Hejduk, Dax McCarty, Robbie Findley

Argentina brings Riquelme as an overage player, Brazil brings Ronaldinho and Robinho...we bring Michael Parkhurst...sigh.

 

[Mulli]

Goalkeepers- Brad Guzan, Chris Seitz

Defenders- Michael Parkhurst, Maurice Edu, Michael Orozco, Marvell Wynne, Nathan Sturgis, Patrick Ianni

Midfielders- Freddy Adu, Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan, Stuart Holden, Danny Szetela, Benny Feilhaber.

Forwards- Brian McBride, Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies, Robbie Rogers

Alternates: Dominic Cervi, Frankie Hejduk, Dax McCarty, Robbie Findley

Argentina brings Riquelme as an overage player, Brazil brings Ronaldinho and Robinho...we bring Michael Parkhurst...sigh.

 

[Chaplin]

Goalkeepers- Brad Guzan, Chris Seitz

Defenders- Michael Parkhurst, Maurice Edu, Michael Orozco, Marvell Wynne, Nathan Sturgis, Patrick Ianni

Midfielders- Freddy Adu, Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan, Stuart Holden, Danny Szetela, Benny Feilhaber.

Forwards- Brian McBride, Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies, Robbie Rogers

Alternates: Dominic Cervi, Frankie Hejduk, Dax McCarty, Robbie Findley

Argentina brings Riquelme as an overage player, Brazil brings Ronaldinho and Robinho...we bring Michael Parkhurst...sigh.

Is this a sign of incompetence in the national program or just that there aren't very many good American players?

 

[Zeno]

Is this a sign of incompetence in the national program or just that there aren't very many good American players?

A little of a lot of different things. They have a WCQ against Guatemala during the Olympic Tourney so they wouldn't risk Donovan or one of the first choice defenders. They have a coach who is going to town the line when it comes to Bob Bradley and we just have trouble developing trur world class talent.

 

[gr000000vy]

a sign of incompetence? are you for real? did you expect them to bring dempsey?

would have been great if spector could play... glad that McBride is going to go.. Too bad they couldnt get Friedel or Keller out there as well, heck even eddie lewis could have maybe helped mentor some of these young guys...

no way does Milan let Ronaldinho go, or Madrid let Robinho go.. Of course Riquelme is going to go just look where he plays... that would be like NE not letting Twellman play or something...

Olympics sadly enough are not a top rated program and i would love to see us do well, but in the grand scheme of things who cares...

 

[Chaplin]

a sign of incompetence? are you for real? did you expect them to bring dempsey?

would have been great if spector could play... glad that McBride is going to go.. Too bad they couldnt get Friedel or Keller out there as well, heck even eddie lewis could have maybe helped mentor some of these young guys...

no way does Milan let Ronaldinho go, or Madrid let Robinho go.. Of course Riquelme is going to go just look where he plays... that would be like NE not letting Twellman play or something...

Olympics sadly enough are not a top rated program and i would love to see us do well, but in the grand scheme of things who cares...

No need to get bent out of shape, if you thought it was a stupid question, I apologize.

 

[cardfaninfl]

Goalkeepers- Brad Guzan, Chris Seitz

Defenders- Michael Parkhurst, Maurice Edu, Michael Orozco, Marvell Wynne, Nathan Sturgis, Patrick Ianni

Midfielders- Freddy Adu, Michael Bradley, Sacha Kljestan, Stuart Holden, Danny Szetela, Benny Feilhaber.

Forwards- Brian McBride, Jozy Altidore, Charlie Davies, Robbie Rogers

Alternates: Dominic Cervi, Frankie Hejduk, Dax McCarty, Robbie Findley

I like the fact that they kept the younger midfielders together for this tournament. Freddy, Bradley and whomever can establish themselves as the other center-mid will be critical for 2010. With one or two exceptions, and understanding the senior team wanted Donovan for the WCQ...I like the selection in the middle.

I don't have a clue or even a quess who will be in the LB slot but Parkhurst, Orozco and Wynne are a few of my favorite young players. Maybe some day Spector will play a meaningful game for the MNT... but until then, this is an energenic back line.

It is impossible to explain my excitement for the pairing of McBride and Jozy. Brian may be forced to un-retire in 2 years but until then, Jozy should take notes every day he is with McBride. Very happy to see Brian back.

I may very well be wrong but only one natural left footer? Hejduk, seriously? How many chances to you give Feilhaber before you shake your head, sigh and label him an underachieving, head-case? They could not get one of the more experienced net-minders? Have Nguyen and Avlarez fallen off the radar? Ok, rant over. Overall...this is a solid squad that could surprise. Tough group to get out of though, they will have to get off to a good start.