The Official US Soccer thread

[Zeno]

Unfortunately as long as Gulati is in charge of US Soccer we may never be able to lure the top coaching talent. As merely average Bradley has been(he hasn't been BAD just "meh"), Nowak makes him look like a cross between Mourinho and Ferguson.

Nowaks player selections, odd lineups, player subsititutions and tactics have made our Olympic team looking like they are incapable of scoring goals or playing with any kind of style. If we win against Canada tonight it will be a testament of how weak the CONCACAF is rather than a testament to his coaching or how strong our side has played.

 

[Stout]

Unfortunately as long as Gulati is in charge of US Soccer we may never be able to lure the top coaching talent. As merely average Bradley has been(he hasn't been BAD just "meh"), Nowak makes him look like a cross between Mourinho and Ferguson.

Nowaks player selections, odd lineups, player subsititutions and tactics have made our Olympic team looking like they are incapable of scoring goals or playing with any kind of style. If we win against Canada tonight it will be a testament of how weak the CONCACAF is rather than a testament to his coaching or how strong our side has played.

If that's the case, why doesn't U.S. Soccer sack Gulati?

 

[Zeno]

If that's the case, why doesn't U.S. Soccer sack Gulati?

Great question, the guy has a lot of power. Plus he kisses the MLS's butt's all the time so he has their backing as well.

Oh, 1-0 US against Canada, Adu with a curling free kick for a goal.

 

[Zeno]

2-0 US Freddy again with a Beckham-like free kick, Canadian GK was totally frozen.

Best player for US by leaps and bounds all tournament.

 

[Stout]

On a side note, how indicative is it of a bad team that they pass so often back to the keeper? I think it is a big indicator. I've watched a wide range of soccer in the last few months, and it seems like the better teams don't do this very often and the worse teams use the keeper like a crutch. To me, it's just so much of a give-up, and it's dangerous to boot. It kills me that Newcastle does it so much.

 

[Zeno]

On a side note, how indicative is it of a bad team that they pass so often back to the keeper? I think it is a big indicator. I've watched a wide range of soccer in the last few months, and it seems like the better teams don't do this very often and the worse teams use the keeper like a crutch. To me, it's just so much of a give-up, and it's dangerous to boot. It kills me that Newcastle does it so much.

Indicative of the midfield players being unable to get open to receive a pass. The GK is a crutch, he's always open. So yeah, you are right, it is a team that is lacking talent or confidence...I always love it when it backfires and the other team is able to beat the GK to the pass.

Newcastle VS Fulham this weekend...uh oh.

 

[Stout]

Indicative of the midfield players being unable to get open to receive a pass. The GK is a crutch, he's always open. So yeah, you are right, it is a team that is lacking talent or confidence...I always love it when it backfires and the other team is able to beat the GK to the pass.

Newcastle VS Fulham this weekend...uh oh.

Go Magpies!

Chances that this game is actually televised...crap.

 

[Milgod]

I don't think that the national team will get stuffed in those games, and I don't think they are thought of as minnows any more either. England and Spain are both inconsistent teams, hell it was only an unfair 2-1 loss to England a couple of years back. Argentina will be tough obviously, but we can't expect the US to be one of the top few teams in the World yet. They are safely in the 2nd tier group, not far below the top 10/11 teams, and thats a good place to be in right now. Hopefully Altidore will turn into the striker that he promises to be, that is the one area the US seems to lack in international play. Donovan and Dempsey are not strikers.

 

[Zeno]

Go Magpies!

Chances that this game is actually televised...crap.

Its on FSC

 

[Stout]

Its on FSC

Really? What time?

 

[cardfaninfl]

If that's the case, why doesn't U.S. Soccer sack Gulati?

There have been complaints for a couple of years that as long as Gulati was at the head of this ship, US soccer would never be top tier. As a Cardinal fan I could understand their arguement but never gave it much thought.

Then he hires Greg Ryan as the manager for the WNT and it was obvious from the very beginning to the disasterous end, that Ryan had no business being at the head of a high school team. I'm not a criticizer of the Bradley hiring, but there are many others with better pedigrees and even the biggest Bradley supports had to wonder why the US was not more aggressive in pursueing other canidates.

Now the complete lack of promotion from Gulati's organization towards the Olympic tournament has honestly made me angry. I live in Tampa and heard about these games first and much more often on this board.

If progression of quality and fan base is important to US soccer... Sunil must be shown the door. He just does not get it on a fundamental level.

PS Come on Fulhamerica! Come on Fulhamerica!

 

[cardfaninfl]

Really? What time?

Saturday 11:00am EST.

 

[Stout]

Saturday 11:00am EST.

Coolio. Now come on Toon Army!!!

 

[Zeno]

The US plays in Poland in 3 days and I haven't seen a roster posted anywhere. I'm gonna guess its going to be pretty much all Euro based players (but probably not Adu since he just finished up the Olympic tournament).

Will they even ask Donovan? We know how he seems to get out of every away game.

We know Bradley will be there...he just scored 2 more goals yesterday, including the game winner.

I just find it odd they haven't even named a roster or had any kind of camp and the game kicks off on Weds.

 

[gr000000vy]

here it is...

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Marcus Hahnemann (Reading, England), Tim Howard (Everton, England).

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Fulham, England), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Jay DeMerit (Watford, England), Cory Gibbs (Charlton Athletic, England), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard Liege, England), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock, Germany), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England).

Midfielders: Michael Bradley (Heerenveen, Netherlands), Ricardo Clark (Houston), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Benny Feilhaber (Derby, England), Eddie Lewis (Derby, England).

Forwards: Brian Ching (Houston), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Eddie Johnson (Fulham, England), Josh Wolff (1860 Munich, Germany).

 

[Zeno]

Eddie Lewis? again? Well I guess its due to injuries and the U23 tournament just ending, unfortunately our best Left Mid is injured (Beasley) and his back-up is recovering from an injury and was in poor form last time he played (Convey).

Josh Wolff? Brian Ching? Ugh. There are no options there at all especially with Altidore just finishing a tournament (where he only had 1 decent game and scored zero goals).

The defense at least looks solid.

 

[Zeno]

3 - 0 USA, goals by Bocanegra, Onyewu and Lewis all off of set pieces.

Everyone on defense looked really good to me, Bradley was very disruptive in the midfield but contributed nothing to the attack. Donovan played a good game but he should have buried his shot on a break away, he assisted on the first 2 goals(free kick & corner). Dempsey looked OK but was never very dangerous or creative on the ball like we used to see from him.

Ching had 1 good chance on goal but otherwise he might as well of not been out there. Johnson looks like he has no instincts, he had 2 great chances at goal but didn't even manage a shot off on one an on the other he struck it poorly.

I'll admit Eddie Lewis looked very good today though even if he did only play 25-30 minutes.

Still beating Poland in Poland so decisively is a good sign. Poland may not be on par with Germany, Spain, Italy etc but they won their qualifying group for the Euros (Portugal was 2nd) so they are a quality side.

 

[Milgod]

Poland are a very solid side and this is a GREAT win. The US are really looking to secure themselves in the second tier of International teams, just outside the top 10 or so.

 

[Zeno]

I really like the new away jerseys, a break from the traditional red, white & blue but pretty sharp. Way better than the new home jerseys or last years AYSO pin stripe royal blue jerseys.

Oh and Bocanegra needs to leave Fulham he is too good of a player to be on the bench for a relegation destined team...same goes for Feilhaber at Derby.

 

[Stout]

Well, I think we know who is taking all of our free kicks from now on

Excellent match. Offensively we didn't have much rhythm, but that's to be expected when the team is kind of thrown together like that. Outside of a few lapses I really liked our defensive play. Our midfield did a decent job, and if our timing had been down, we would have gotten good service in to the forwards.

Eddie Johnson...the guy's no good. He has pace, and he has...he has...what else does he have? Oh yeah, nothing. I saw him for Fulham, where his speed always created yet his instincts always spoiled it. Same in this game. Bring on Altidore, please.

 

[Chaplin]

I thought we looked great. Still a little rough, especially in the center of the field, but there was very little to complain about except for a lack of finesse. That header by Demerit was a missile--wish it would have gone in. Ching didn't show much, and Eddie Johnson... man, that guy reminds me of Boris Diaw--tons of talent, just can't realize it when it's needed. He can't really control the ball inside the opponent's box--like he's trying to hurry too much.

I liked Dempsey in the 1st half, not so much in the 2nd. Donovan looked great too--looking forward to the start of MLS on Saturday. Yeah, he should have made that breakaway, but in his defense, the Polish goalkeeper IS one of the best in the world and he definitely altered LD's shot.

But really a solid game all around. I know I don't post much on this thread, but I'm a big soccer fan (played for several years) and saw the match today. Love Tivo.

 

[Stout]

I thought we looked great. Still a little rough, especially in the center of the field, but there was very little to complain about except for a lack of finesse. That header by Demerit was a missile--wish it would have gone in. Ching didn't show much, and Eddie Johnson... man, that guy reminds me of Boris Diaw--tons of talent, just can't realize it when it's needed. He can't really control the ball inside the opponent's box--like he's trying to hurry too much.

I liked Dempsey in the 1st half, not so much in the 2nd. Donovan looked great too--looking forward to the start of MLS on Saturday. Yeah, he should have made that breakaway, but in his defense, the Polish goalkeeper IS one of the best in the world and he definitely altered LD's shot.

But really a solid game all around. I know I don't post much on this thread, but I'm a big soccer fan (played for several years) and saw the match today. Love Tivo.

Yeah, the problem with Dempsey is that he hasn't been starting, so he couldn't really keep up a full game. You could tell at the end of the first half he was dragging quite a bit.

I agree about the game. Pretty solid all around. The only guy I will harshly criticize and don't want to see on the field again is EJ.

 

[Zeno]

The only guy I will harshly criticize and don't want to see on the field again is EJ.

Ching was pretty invisible, I could do without him too. Of course lack of depth at forward and the fact that in the Olympic tournament it showed Altidore can't operate effectively as a single striker means we'll probably see one of those 2 again starting.

 

[Stout]

Ching was pretty invisible, I could do without him too. Of course lack of depth at forward and the fact that in the Olympic tournament it showed Altidore can't operate effectively as a single striker means we'll probably see one of those 2 again starting.

Ching wasn't getting any service AT ALL. As a holding striker, he's only going to be as good as the help he gets. On the one chance he had, he nailed a solid header that just happened to go right to the keeper. Several times EJ should have gotten him the ball, only to choke and turn it over. I won't say Ching had a great game, but I don't want to judge him too harshly for it.

 

[gr000000vy]

my guess is ching and ej would be replaced by Jozy and Adu....

Looking forward to the USA/England matchup.. hopefully we can bring players from both teams to that one.....

Donovan played well outside... his free kicks are so hit or miss and he was definitly hitting them early on... That header by Carlos was pure quality and dempsey helped take out *****'s mark on the 2nd.. good game overall...

I actually liked the all dark uniforms as well... i'm not overly excited about a friendly win over a team that was tinkering as much as they were, but a quality win regardless.....