The Official US Soccer thread

[Chaplin]

This comment is regurgitated hundreds of times over by folks trying to prove that they know the game. You are a soccer, um I mean football, expert. Funny how the English didn't even qualify for Euro though even though they pass like badasses.

No matter how much of an MLS fan you are (and are able to ignore the obvious problems with the style of play), you can't deny what he's saying about the passing on Saturday. It was simply EMBARRASSING.

 

[Zeno]

This comment is regurgitated hundreds of times over by folks trying to prove that they know the game. You are a soccer, um I mean football, expert. Funny how the English didn't even qualify for Euro though even though they pass like badasses.

The best players in England aren't even English.

The US does have plenty of work to do but we do have some talented players but the system our coach chooses to play doesn't always put those players in the best position to succeed (and it puts some good players on the bench).

 

[Chaplin]

The best players in England aren't even English.

The US does have plenty of work to do but we do have some talented players but the system our coach chooses to play doesn't always put those players in the best position to succeed (and it puts some good players on the bench).

We have to admit though that it's not Bradley's fault that the guys kept botching passes left and right in that game.

 

[Zeno]

We have to admit though that it's not Bradley's fault that the guys kept botching passes left and right in that game.

You are right. But I question his tactics of trying to go down the middle when the El Salvador team was clogging the middle. They should have kept Dempsey & Beasley out so wide they almost were on the touch line and popped eveything in the middle immediately to one of them (of course Beasley was awful so that might not have worked either).

 

[gr000000vy]

We have to admit though that it's not Bradley's fault that the guys kept botching passes left and right in that game.

that pitiful play v El Salvador was directly Bradleys fault.. who sets up the lineup? Who creates the tactics? Pearce and Calif really? Come on... Demerrit and Spector should have been in that match..

Sasha plain out SUCKS and I am tired of his hype.. Ching is not the answer... Dempsey looked like he didn't care... Did Donovan even play? Bradley showed up in the second half to make stupid tackles..

I think it's insane when people cheer on the "Heart" yea they played great for 20 min... also means they played horrible for 70min...

 

[Chaplin]

that pitiful play v El Salvador was directly Bradleys fault.. who sets up the lineup? Who creates the tactics? Pearce and Calif really? Come on... Demerrit and Spector should have been in that match..

Sasha plain out SUCKS and I am tired of his hype.. Ching is not the answer... Dempsey looked like he didn't care... Did Donovan even play? Bradley showed up in the second half to make stupid tackles..

I think it's insane when people cheer on the "Heart" yea they played great for 20 min... also means they played horrible for 70min...

Come on now, I'm not defending Bradley, he's not a good coach, but giveaways have nothing to do with the coach, it is a basic football mistake that was made over and over and over.

Yes, the lineup was lacking, but come on now. These guys are still professional soccer players that are better than any of us--they should still be able to connect on simple passes.

 

[gr000000vy]

for sure.. you don't see Dempsey making those mistakes with Fulham do you? They weren't able to handle the pressure of the fans and I don't think Bradley prepared them the right way...

 

[azsouthendzone]

that pitiful play v El Salvador was directly Bradleys fault.. who sets up the lineup? Who creates the tactics? Pearce and Calif really? Come on... Demerrit and Spector should have been in that match..

...

+1

 

[CaptTurbo]

This comment is regurgitated hundreds of times over by folks trying to prove that they know the game. You are a soccer, um I mean football, expert. Funny how the English didn't even qualify for Euro though even though they pass like badasses.

First there are a ton players in the premier league that are not English.

Second I used the Premier league in my example beacsue I have been eatching it lately. Insert Brasil, Germany, and many others.

 

[azsouthendzone]

First there are a ton players in the premier league that are not English.

Second I used the Premier league in my example beacsue I have been eatching it lately. Insert Brasil, Germany, and many others.

Yeah I knew it. Anyone who busts out the EPL when talking the international game is just trying to look for some cred. Nice try.

 

[Chaplin]

Yeah I knew it. Anyone who busts out the EPL when talking the international game is just trying to look for some cred. Nice try.

Dude, he has a point, why are you getting all personal about it? No need to be a jerk, is there?

 

[Zeno]

The US better get their 3 points tonight. Over 20K will be there for a mid-week game against Trinidad (including me and my wife) so the home support will be there.

It'll be a nice clear night too around 60 and no rain in the forecast.

I hope Bradley makes some changes, particularly taking Kljestan out of the lineup.

 

[Chaplin]

Totally different team out there. The passing was 500% better in this game. And Altidore needs to start every game.

 

[gr000000vy]

ah so so soooooo much better... Jozy is the friggin man.. Beasley at LB was crazy, he has speed but was all over the place defensively Frankie and Ching actually did ok.. would still rather have Torres start and Adu get some play... Pablo played very well as well...

Needed to put a second one in the 1st half.. we let teams hang with us and we give them confidence. All is well but it's still T&T at home....

 

[English on tour]

How did Jones and Edwards get on for T&T?

 

[azsouthendzone]

Night and day. Altodore's second goal was one of the best goals I have seen by a US striker, ever. Ching actually looked really good up there with Jozy and Donovan's passing was superb. Eeveryone was passing well creating great opportunities.


And former LA Galaxy scrub Carlos Pavon scored to help Honduras beat Mexico 3-1.

 

[Stout]

Excellent, excellent match, with the exception of the beginning of the 2nd and not getting a 2nd goal in the first half. I hate to say this, but we need to stick with Donovan where he is and let Ching partner Altidore again. He still may not work out, but that trio was in the zone! Mastroeni...eh, he was invisible, which I hope means he was doing well. Beasley has the pace to be a good defender, but I don't know if he has the instincts or the size. And Altidore...YEAH!!!

 

[Zeno]

That was fun. The atmosphere didn't approach the game in Columbus VS Mexico or in DC VS Cuba but it was fun nonethless. 27,900+ was a pretty good turnout considering the opponent and it being a mid-week game.

That performance should merit Altidore starting every game. He wasn't even playing at his best all game, he easily could have had 4 or 5 goals, his passing was a little off and his first touch wasn't the best in the first half. When he shakes off the rust and gets more time on the field with the Nat's he'll fill up the goals. Rust and all it was the best perfomance by an American striker in a LONG time.

Donovan looked comfortable and effective on the left side of the midfield, his passing was sharp and most of his runs properly timed...I just wish he'd take shots from distance a little more often.

Now we have a long break...no games until June 3rd but then the schedule gets busy this summer. The next game I go to will probably be the October game in DC.

My one complaint with Bradley, that he didn't find a way to get Adu on the field. Kljestan should have been the one inactive.

 

[Zeno]

How did Jones and Edwards get on for T&T?

To be honest T&T didn't pose much of a threat all night. I was honestly not too familiar with their players though, the only player that looked quality most of the night was their right winger who seemed to have a fair amount of speed but couldn't hit much in the way of a quality cross...it also didn't help that he didn't have much in the way of a true target either.

Otherwise the only other player who stood out was the tall, skinny centerback...not because of skill but because he was so darned lanky. Sort of like a black Peter Crouch with corn-rows LOL

 

[Zeno]

Gold Cup

The Gold Cup will probably see most of our bench/fringe players trying to earn a roster spot for WC 2010 as our A team goes to the Confed Cup but it should be a fun tournament. Here are the groups...

GROUP A: Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jamaica

GROUP B: Grenada, Haiti, Honduras, USA

GROUP C: Guadeloupe, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama

And the schedule...

FIRST ROUND
July 3 at Carson: Canada-Jamaica, Costa Rica-El Salvador
July 4 at Seattle: Honduras-Haiti, USA-Grenada
July 5 at Oakland: Panama-Guadeloupe, Mexico-Nicaragua
July 7 at Columbus: Jamaica-Costa Rica, El Salvador-Canada
July 8 at Washington: Haiti-Grenada, USA-Honduras
July 9 at Houston (Reliant): Guadeloupe-Nicaragua, Mexico-Panama
July 10 at Miami (FIU): Costa Rica-Canada, Jamaica-El Salvador
July 11 at Foxborough: USA-Haiti, Honduras-Grenada
July 12 at Phoenix: Panama-Nicaragua, Mexico-Guadeloupe

Group A is the toughest group IMO.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Donovan looked comfortable and effective on the left side of the midfield, his passing was sharp and most of his runs properly timed

With Beasley playing back Landon was able to move around quite a bit as well, drift inside, move up. Definitley looked great in that position.

 

[Zeno]

Big stretch coming up for the US.

June 3rd in Costa Rica where we've never won.
June 6th against Honduras, who is the last CONCACAF team to beat us at home in a qualifier.
June 15th in South Africa against Italy.
June 18th in South Africa against Brazil.
June 21st in South Africa against Egypt.

The MLS guys are going to miss quite a few games during the course of this month. Luckily the Europe based players are done or will be after this weekend so there will be no issues there.

 

[Zeno]

Down 2-0 at the half, awful. The US hasn't been dangerous on attack at all and has been sloppy on defense. Ugh.

Maybe we'll see Adu in the second half and see if he can produce any offense.

 

[Zeno]

Costa Rica 3 USA 1 final

If it hadn't been for a stoppage time PK we would have been shut out. Terrible effort all around.

If the level of play doesn't improve we will get destroyed in the Confed Cup in 2 weeks.

 

[Stout]

I came home to discover that my DVR had not recorded the game as ordered. Some glitch must have prevented it. I realized the game was still on and, when tuning in, realized I was oh so glad not to have watched.

Bradley needs sacked. It's a bad time to get a new coach, but this guy needs to go before he authors any more damage. I don't know what happened in the game and I don't need to. Costa Rica may be a decent team, and they have been a personal bugaboo for us down in CR for a long time, but a team supposedly as good as we are should never have this happen to us. Unfortunately, we've seen too many uninspired performances out of Bradley's side. He needs sacked, and sooner rather than later. Otherwise, I see Arenas-like failure in the WC...IF we make it!