The Official US Soccer thread

[Mulli]

Get your anti-US rhetoric out of here.

USA USA!

 

[Dback Jon]

USA USA!

USA!! USA!!! USA!!!!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Well this place took a strange turn...

 

[Chaplin]

Well this place took a strange turn...

Strange? Slinslin posting something at least vaguely slamming the US isn't strange, it's normal.

 

[Mulli]

Well this place took a strange turn...

Love it or leave it! USAUSAUSA!

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Strange? Slinslin posting something at least vaguely slamming the US isn't strange, it's normal.

Good to know we're in his head.

 

[Zeno]

US was awful offensively versus Scotland, boring, lacking creativity...they had no spark untl AJ and Shea came in. No Donovan, Dempsey or Zusi probably contributed to that...but still it is disappointing against a very average Scotland.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

I watched the replay, I want those two hours back. Boring all around.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Brad Evans is painfully slow at RB. We need a better option there or we will be torched down that side come WC.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Klinsmann is fired up

 

[Chaplin]

Breaking News: Klinsman and US have agreed to 4 year extension.

 

[Gaddabout]

Breaking News: Klinsman and US have agreed to 4 year extension.

Awesome. Hope this means he can work on some of our multi-country players to join the team.

 

[Stout]

Breaking News: Klinsman and US have agreed to 4 year extension.

He's also taken on the technical director job. I'm of two minds, here. With our group of death, we may take an extreme beating, making this deal look way premature. Of course, if we advance and make noise, we'll be lauded as brilliant for thinking ahead. I'm fine with it. I don't think there's a ton of risk, because let's be frank--we're supposed to lose in this group. I like the idea of long-term stability under JK.

 

[cardfaninfl]

I like the idea of long-term stability under JK.

Nailed it! Nine months ago The Sporting News was reporting USMNT players were questioning Jurgen's methods, tactical acumen, leadership skills, and were accusing him of losing the locker room.

This is an amazingly bold (and correct) decision to inform everyone involved with this program: This is the direction we have chosen. Step in line, or step off.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Michael Bradley from AS Roma to Toronto FC for an MLS record $10M transfer fee. Not a fan of successful USMNTers coming back to the MLS while still in their prime and at great European spots, but that appears to be the trend.

 

[Chaplin]

Was there really no market for Bradley in Europe? Seems strange.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Apparently there were multiple Euro teams interested, but MLS threw him the cash.

 

[cardfaninfl]

For weeks, the rumor from Fulham was they wanted Michael to strengthen their middle and pair the two American internationals' chemistry (Dempsey on loan) for the second-half run to avoid relegation.

I'm torn by this trend to bring the USA's best back to MLS. If the league is financially stable enough to spend these kind of transfer fees, that is good news. Hopefully, this translates to more fans in the stands; I've watched more MLS games since the return of Duece than I have the last two years combined. Bringing back what the player have learned in training could also help improve the MLS, and these players can always return to Europe on loan during the off-season. Most importantly, the returning players will see consistent minutes on the pitch for every match.

However, its difficult to imagine they can retain the competitive edge that is necessary when it is a battle to get in the starting XI of a top European club team, every week. Not to mention the loss of facing world-class talent every match.

The best-case-scenario would be for these players to retain their discipline in training hard and bring that level of intensity toward becoming better, to MLS. Unfortunately, I have not yet witnessed Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey making club players around them remarkably better.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Unfortunately, I have not yet witnessed Landon Donovan or Clint Dempsey making club players around them remarkably better.

I think there are a lot of LA Galaxy players, current and former, that would disagree including but not limited to Edson Buddle who parlayed playing alongside Donovan into a trip to the World Cup. Say that a few times. .......Edson Buddle.....World Cup. Yes, it happened. And LD had a huge part in it.

 

[Gaddabout]

Toronto is AWFUL. Can't blame a guy for cashing in, though.

 

[SO91]

Was he getting consistent minutes at Roma? If so, this is a backwards move (not talking about $$ obviously).

 

[Chaplin]

Toronto is AWFUL. Can't blame a guy for cashing in, though.

They got Dafoe and Bradley. Not a bad offseason for them.

 

[Gaddabout]

Was he getting consistent minutes at Roma? If so, this is a backwards move (not talking about $$ obviously).

When he got there he was a rising star and had his moments. This year he'd been relegated to first guy off the bench ... still very good, but clearly demoted with his form here and there. He was very upset about it.

 

[Stout]

Hugely disappointed he didn't stay in Europe with the top competition. This will end up hurting the U.S. team. Not in a large way, but with two of our stars moving to MLS, it can certainly snowball.

I'd be willing to bet his injuries had a huge impact on his playing time with Roma, too.

 

[Gaddabout]

I'd be willing to bet his injuries had a huge impact on his playing time with Roma, too.

Well, that and the new manager wasn't a huge fan.