The Official US Soccer thread

[Chaplin]

Of course not. We'll get no positive press for beating them 8-0. On the flip side, we sure got negative press for the lousy 1-0 win we had. Lord knows how bad it would have been had they drew 1-1 with us, as they deserved to do.

What do you care? Who cares if they get negative press? If they want to use it as motivation, fine. Use it as a teaching tool, fine. But as fans, who cares that they only won the game 1-0? They won, time to move on to a better opponent. Not much can be learned from such a game anyway.

 

[hafey]

I didn't even really see any negative press about the game.

 

[cardfaninfl]

...time to move on to a better opponent.

As much as I hate to applaud the Federation, scheduling friendlies against England, Spain and Argentina was brilliant. I hope they continue to have matches against some of the world's best in between the qualifiers.

There just are not enough quality teams in CONCACAF to improve through competition or judge the MNT's ability.

 

[Stout]

What do you care? Who cares if they get negative press? If they want to use it as motivation, fine. Use it as a teaching tool, fine. But as fans, who cares that they only won the game 1-0? They won, time to move on to a better opponent. Not much can be learned from such a game anyway.

If you don't find it disturbing we only managed to beat Barbados 1-0 (should have drawn, but for luck), and it doesn't worry you that our manager bascially threw in the towel on a WC qualifier, that's fine. I don't like it, nor should I have to like it. I have thought and still do think we're badly managed; this is only further proof. I won't tell you to get up in arms, though, so I figure I'm all right in not being happy with the game.

 

[Zeno]

What do you care? Who cares if they get negative press? If they want to use it as motivation, fine. Use it as a teaching tool, fine. But as fans, who cares that they only won the game 1-0? They won, time to move on to a better opponent. Not much can be learned from such a game anyway.

There were learning opportunties available, players who have had very little playing time up to this point had a chance to step up and do something special and they didn't Player selection for the friendlies and the first 2 WCQs was questionable...I had no problem with Donovan, Dempsey etc taking game 2 off but there was no reason to call in a player like Thorrington or playing Eddie Lewis & Michael Bradley the entire game. Michael Bradley looks exhausted and isn't really playing well, the second leg was the perfect time for the coach to sit his son and allow him a breather, bring in someone else to play that spot--he is getting awfully dependent on him, what happens if he does to the Olympics or gets injured? He hasn't developed an alternative there...while conversely he has done that at center back--our top pairing is obviously Bocangera and Onyewu and he rightfully gave Demerit & Califf a full match together. He should have rested Beasley over having him play out of position the entire game--Beasley as a lone forward? Really? Who seriously thought that was a good idea aside from Bradley?

If this had been our U23 team playing I'd have been more happy with 1-0 but only 6 of the 14 players who played are age eligible for the U23's...we can't use that as an excuse.

I blame MLS for a lot of the problems though. If they only observed int'l dates we probably could have seen Holden over Thorrington, Cooper over Barrett, Wynne over Moor and Alvarez or Rogers over Rolfe. USSF just gives MLS what it wants. It should be country before club always and the league should recognize that.

 

[Chaplin]

I'm sorry, but I'm MUCH, MUCH more inclined to pay attention to the friendlies versus England, Spain and Argentina than what was really a meaningless WC qualifier against Barbados.

The younger players didn't step up and perform like we thought they would--doesn't mean much in the scheme of things, no matter how much you want it to. Most of them will remain on the team and remain substitutes deep on the bench anyway.

 

[Zeno]

I'm sorry, but I'm MUCH, MUCH more inclined to pay attention to the friendlies versus England, Spain and Argentina than what was really a meaningless WC qualifier against Barbados.

The younger players didn't step up and perform like we thought they would--doesn't mean much in the scheme of things, no matter how much you want it to. Most of them will remain on the team and remain substitutes deep on the bench anyway.

US Soccer didn't use those friendlies to experiment much, they wanted so bad to play well that they played what they believed was our strongest group available, there was very little trying out of other players, they trotted out Josh Wolff for cripes sake.

The second leg of Barbados offered the US the perfect opportunity to give guys who have a chance to have a future with the team a cap and a learning experience and for the most part they didn't give them that chance. Those they did play failed to seize their opportunity and the fact they didn't against a weak opponent speaks volumes about our depth, coaching and the development of certain players.

 

[Chaplin]

US Soccer didn't use those friendlies to experiment much, they wanted so bad to play well that they played what they believed was our strongest group available, there was very little trying out of other players, they trotted out Josh Wolff for cripes sake.

The second leg of Barbados offered the US the perfect opportunity to give guys who have a chance to have a future with the team a cap and a learning experience and for the most part they didn't give them that chance. Those they did play failed to seize their opportunity and the fact they didn't against a weak opponent speaks volumes about our depth, coaching and the development of certain players.

Yes, but how many of those players aren't going to be on the WC roster anyway? I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to beat Spain or Argentina. Would you have rather they put the roster that played Barbados this weekend instead? It WAS a friendly, after all.

Coaching is already a pretty big issue, no matter who is playing. But how many of those players have extensive experience playing with each other?

 

[Zeno]

Yes, but how many of those players aren't going to be on the WC roster anyway? I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to beat Spain or Argentina. Would you have rather they put the roster that played Barbados this weekend instead? It WAS a friendly, after all.

Coaching is already a pretty big issue, no matter who is playing. But how many of those players have extensive experience playing with each other?

Would you rather have Wolff or Cooper? Wynne or Simek than Hejduk? Was there a reason Eddie Johnson got 3 starts? Wasted opportunities.

 

[Stout]

US Soccer didn't use those friendlies to experiment much, they wanted so bad to play well that they played what they believed was our strongest group available, there was very little trying out of other players, they trotted out Josh Wolff for cripes sake.

The second leg of Barbados offered the US the perfect opportunity to give guys who have a chance to have a future with the team a cap and a learning experience and for the most part they didn't give them that chance. Those they did play failed to seize their opportunity and the fact they didn't against a weak opponent speaks volumes about our depth, coaching and the development of certain players.

 

[cardfaninfl]

Would you rather have Wolff or Cooper? Wynne or Simek than Hejduk? Was there a reason Eddie Johnson got 3 starts? Wasted opportunities.

This got me thinking who I would rather have in the player pool. I was hoping the U23, friendlies and qualifiers would make the decision a little easier, but as Zeno stated...wasted opportunities. Ok, my top three by position

Goal-
Tim Howard - After Argentina he is a net-minding God that can be the difference in 2010.
Friedel/Hahnemann - Guzan just is not technically sound for my comfort level.
Guzan - He is big, he is brave, just lacks proper coaching. Maybe 2014.

Back Line-
LB
Heath Pearce - Didn't like him at first but has shown remarkable improvement.
Jonathan Bornstein - I like this kids game. Best justification I can make.
Carlos Bocanegra - Started with Fulham at LB and can not think of anyone else.
CB
Oguchi Onyewu - Tall, athletic and shows ability on set pieces. Instincts should improve with experience.
Bocanegra - An effective leader and captain.
Califf/Demert - Very similar. In tournament play they may need to carry four.
RB
Steve Cherundolo - I hate smurfs, especially old smurfs but he can play.
Jonathan Spector - Frustrating injuries have slowed his progress.
Marvell Wynne - Simek maybe better, but I like the fire he showed in the U23.
2014
Michael Parkhurst - I actually like him more than Califf/Demert.
Michael Orozco - This guy's passion I love, but a little too reckless.
Neven Subotic - Make up your mind.

Midfield-
RW
Clint Dempsey - I hope for all of us he is tired physically, not emotionally.
Sacha Kljestan - Non-stop motor. He just looks like he is having fun.
Eddie Gaven - Not seen very much of him but everyone has good things to say.
LW
DaMarcus Beasley - To my surprise, the most consistent player over the last months.
Justin Mapp - Every time I watch MLS, he is the most exciting player on the pitch.
Lee Nguyen - Maybe the best young star we have...including Freddy.
...........................Attacking Mid/Trailing Forward
Landon Donovan - Say what you like, we are different with him out there.
Freddy Adu - Exciting, imaginative...just wish he would grow 5 inches.
Arturo Alverez - Would someone please tell me why he is not getting an opportunity, like slowly.
.....................................Defensive Mid
Michael Bradley - Did anyone have their dad coach little league? Feel sorry for him.
Maurice Edu - Inconsistency will hopefully improve. Shows flashes.
Brek Shea - If Sir Alex likes him, so do I.
......................Center Mid (aka "The Other Problem")
Pablo Mastroeni - Has looked the best paired with Bradley...so far
Ben Olsen - May never recover from serious injury.
Greg Dalby - I'm grasping at straws but this shows my concern for this position.

Forwards-
Jozy Altidore, Eddie Johnson, Kenny Cooper, Edison Buddle, Jemel Johnson, Gabriel Ferrari, etc.
Take your pick. Right now the MNT has no top three.

 

[Zeno]

US roster for the upcoming qualifier...

GOALKEEPERS: Tim Howard, Brad Guzan.

DEFENDERS: Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, Heath Pearce, Steve Cherundolo, Frankie Hejduk, Jay DeMerit.

MIDFIELDERS: Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Pablo Mastroeni, Eddie Lewis.

FORWARDS: Landon Donovan, Eddie Johnson, Brian Ching, Clint Dempsey.


Eddie Johnson & Brian Ching again? How good does Kenny Cooper have to look to get a camp invite? Umm what about Altidore or even Charlie Davies?

Frankie Hejduk again????

Michael Bradley I guess shouldn't come as a surprise but he played like crap in the Olympics. Sacha Kljestan and no Freddy Adu?

Bob Bradley is leading this team no further than his mediocrity allows.

 

[Chaplin]

Edson Buddle should be in there over Eddie Johnson. Is this a roster based on politics and not skill?

 

[Stout]

Yeah, this is ********. How do the likes of Gulati and Bradley still have jobs? I mean, does anyone feel even a little that these guys will lead us to the next level? Didn't think so.

 

[Zeno]

Maurice Edu has been transfered to Glasgow Rangers for $5 Million.

Feilhaber is now with AGF Aarhus in Denmark after his deal to MLS fell through.

 

[gr000000vy]

anyone see the game last night? my tivo didn't record it and i only saw the highlights.. looked more like a brawl then soccer match..

cherundlo out next match... dempsey, pablo and somebody else on yellows.... could get interesting glad they pulled one out in a hostile environment though...

 

[Stout]

anyone see the game last night? my tivo didn't record it and i only saw the highlights.. looked more like a brawl then soccer match..

cherundlo out next match... dempsey, pablo and somebody else on yellows.... could get interesting glad they pulled one out in a hostile environment though...

It was an embarassing display all around. Embarassing for Guatemala because of some really dirty and cheap play, which cost them the game. They were attacking us in waves and we had just gone down to ten men. Instead of increasing the attack and taking the goal they would have rightly deserved, a man flew in and pretended to try a header on a 50-50, but threw a well-disguised elbow that broke open Lewis' head. Fortunately (and amazingly) the ref saw and made the right call--a red to even it up. That one player (Carlos Ruiz, was it?) was so dirty I wanted to jump through the screen and punch him until he stopped moving. He even kicked Howard in the head when he was down on the ball. Pretended it was an accident. Cha, right!

It was embarassing for the ref because he was absolutely abysmal all game long. I don't know about Cherundelo's first yellow (didn't show a replay, but the American announcers didn't seem upset with the ref about it). His second one was justified, though. You can't grab a player's leg when you're on the ground and he's running away from you. Idiotic. Aside from that, the ref made horrific calls all around, giving a yellow on us when a player clearly dove without any contact even close to being made. He called a clear foul on us instead of letting Guatemala play the advantage, which would have seen them put a player in the clear down the right side. Finally, instead of carding the Guatemalan for kicking Howard in the head, he carded Howard for getting upset with the player about it. Just bad officiating.

It was embarassing for us because we looked not like a 2nd-tier team, but a 3rd-tier team. I mean, we SUCKED. We could barely complete a pass, we were giving the ball away in our own goal area, every time we had a break we slowed it up (and invariably gave the ball away), and only for about two minutes (somewhere in the 80th minute range) did we look like a real team, though it didn't last long. I mean, we should be imposing our will on teams like this, but I swear that it didn't even look like we had practised.

Funny line from the game. One of the announcers said they were doing a good idea of keeping Lewis out of the game. I laughed out loud. Laurel High School Soccer Club could keep Eddie Lewis in check!

I mean, seriously, when is enough enough? We continually fail to select the best players (how is Ching still starting? Lewis? Why didn't Edu start? Wheres Adu, Altidore and others?). We continually fail to play with the cohesion and unity we had just a few years ago. We aren't progressing. Instead, we're regressing. I see a side no better than, and probably not as good as, the 1998 WC team. I mean, we'll make the 2010 WC, but only because it will be Mexico, us, and who else? At this rate, though, we'll get crushed again. We need a real coach that knows what it takes and makes the right decisions for our team.

 

[Gorilla]

hey guys!! i was at the stadium last night and pretty much agree with everything Stout has to say about the match. It is embarassing for me as a guatemalan to see our players beat the hell out of oppossing teams players. The problem with our team (and not an excuse at all) is that Guatemalan's live and die for soccer..... but we don't have good players. Basically, all the players can give is an all out max effort..... unfortunately.... most of the times... a "max-effort" turns into stupid, crazy, dirty play.

I haven't had the chance to watch the replay on TV...but people here are bitching about a non hand call that could've been called a penalty..... what's your take on that???

 

[Stout]

hey guys!! i was at the stadium last night and pretty much agree with everything Stout has to say about the match. It is embarassing for me as a guatemalan to see our players beat the hell out of oppossing teams players. The problem with our team (and not an excuse at all) is that Guatemalan's live and die for soccer..... but we don't have good players. Basically, all the players can give is an all out max effort..... unfortunately.... most of the times... a "max-effort" turns into stupid, crazy, dirty play.

I haven't had the chance to watch the replay on TV...but people here are bitching about a non hand call that could've been called a penalty..... what's your take on that???

Frankly, I think you guys had a real right to be upset. I don't think it was intentional, but that's hard to say and open to interpretation. It was so blatantly obvious that I'm amazed it wasn't called, especially where the game was being played. I'm glad it wasn't called, of course

 

[gr000000vy]

I don't know about Cherundelo's first yellow (didn't show a replay, but the American announcers didn't seem upset with the ref about it).

I did see the replay of that.. he got a call against him or something and then he threw the ball which is what got him the yellow... stupid play...

 

[Zeno]

My DVR didn't record it either so all I can go by is what I've read on other sites.

Another game and another crap performance by our forwards it seems.

How long will it take USSF before they realize we are going nowhere with Bradley in charge?

 

[Zeno]

I guess Ruiz was up to his old tricks...

From Soccer By Ives...

Speaking of Carlos Ruiz, Tim Howard pulled no punches when discussing Ruiz, who kicked him in the head during one sequence when Howard had already pounced on a loose ball.

“He caught me. He kicked me straight in my head," Howard said of Ruiz. "With Carlos, you expect that. You know what, he's dirty. I wish I could say otherwise but I played in MLS and I’ve seen it. There is no place for it. It's reckless. It's there for everyone to see, but again, I kind of expect it."

Howard drew a yellow card for going after Ruiz and smacking his hand away after Ruiz "apologized" to him. Howard wasn't buying the apology."

“I think you would rather have him come and man up and say, 'Look, I don't like you, I’m going to kick you and I’m going to do all that.'" Howard said. "You can almost respect it in a funny way but he has this way about him where he kicks and punches, he's an cornholio and he wants to come and be your friend. There’s just no place for it."

 

[Chaplin]

You're saying the US team can't pass??

What a shocker!!

 

[Zeno]

Eddie Johnson was loaned by Fulham to Cardiff City. No surprise he couldn't hack in the EPL...how much longer before US Soccer looks in other directions?

 

[Stout]

Eddie Johnson was loaned by Fulham to Cardiff City. No surprise he couldn't hack in the EPL...how much longer before US Soccer looks in other directions?

With the soccer minds we have? He'll probably be in our plans for the next WC!