skinsngibbs4life

Still kind of bitter this game is on a Friday night as opposed to Saturday. Makes it tough to get the field in any time to enjoy the pre game festivities.

Draw came out for the WC semifinal round of qualifying. U.S. Got lucky and is paired with Trinidad (as opposed to panama or Honduras), and then two of either Guatemala, Antigua, Aruba, and one other Caribbean nation.

to get off the U.S. Ineptitude for a minute....

As many have mentioned, concacaf as a whole is a joke. For the second game in a row, they try to give Mexico the game. BS red card given in the 25th minute putting panama down to 10 men. Amazingly, panama took the lead 1-0 in the second half. Not surprisingly, these ridiculous Mexican fans are throwing anything imaginable onto the field.

It would make the loss tonight a little more tolerable if Mexico messes this up.

Your boy Bedoya has been hot garbage all tournament.ht.

Bedoya is coming off injury, and is still trying to regain form. Which is why he didn't play early in the tournament.

So i was talking with my brother about this, and i think it rings true. After all these years, the national team has finally added players with great vision, speed, and cut awareness. Before, it was just athleticism and speed. But they still dont have great first touches. First touches are what separates the great from the elite.

I think this game was an outliner. Bradley is generally our most skilled player, and even he was missing passes, couldn't settle the ball, etc. I have no clue what it was, maybe it was the surface ( the field was sod laid on top of plywood, wtf???), but there is no excuse.

The first thirty minutes of the game was a lot better, but it was like right when the first goal went in, we went into full panic mode. Inexcusable loss for klinnsmann.

Ugly ugly ugly soccer from the Americans. No possession. All direct. We deserve to lose.

Bradley's touch is garbage tonight.

Absolute garbage. Dominate the first thirty, only to concede a weak goal and demoralize us.

Bring in Yedlin for bedoya to give us a spark. Might need to change the formation up as well.

Fox has horrible soccer coverage for US games. I really wish ESPN still had the rights and for the future world cups.

US v Jamaica tonight at 7 on FoxSports1.

 

Jamaica has looked pretty good this Gold Cup.  And are always fast as hell.

 

Not sure what the lineup will be.  But my hope-

Guzan

Chandler, Alvarado, Brooks, Johnson

Yedlin, Mix, Bradley, Zardes

Dempsey, Aron

 

I know that wont be it.  Im sure Beckerman will start.

Yedlin won't get the start. Jurgen loves to bring in as a sub. Bedoya will get the start there if he is still healthy. Would love to see mix get some play as well, but like you said, beckerman will probably play.

Jamaica hasn't allowed a goal in their last three games. Definitely a tougher test than Cuba. Gonna be interesting how our average offense moves forward.

Thank lord. I did not want to face el sal in the quarters again.

Not because it would be a tough draw, but when we played them at m & t two years ago it was probably 80% el salvadorian in the stadium.

Well, Jozy not in the starting lineup tonight. Replaced by wondo :puke:

Let's not forget that Jozy is still battling back from that hamstring injury that he suffered in May. Both Jurgen and him have stated that he is not 100% at the moment. Obviously it could be said that if he isn't 100%, he shouldn't be on the field. But I think it is important to get Jozy these early, easy games now, with the hope that his form and fitness will improve by the time we reach the latter rounds.

 

I think everyone can admit that Jozy has not lived up to the lofty expectations that were bestowed upon him during the last 8-9 years. However, when in form, I still don't think we have a physical striker who is better than him (not counting Duece in that conversation, obviously).

I've agreed that they have looked better under JK, but it's still a long way to go. Yes. If you don't play like the best in the world then it looks like ****. One 30 pass sequence for a goal doesn't turn you into Spain. In our last meaningful match against Belgium our defending was porous. 

 

Controlling a game can be an illusion. Man City was really good at that. Other teams had the ball a lot but eventually the attack fizzled out when they got close to the Citeh goal. Then when they got their chance, they countered and scored. Just because you're attacking and have the ball, doesn't really mean you are in control of the game. How many times have Jose's teams proven that? 

 

So 95% of the world looks and plays like ****? This just screams of the Euro soccer (I'm sorry, football) snobbery mentality.

 

Obviously one sequence doesn't change the face of your team. But you asked me to elaborate on my stance. Therefore, to back up my claim, I provided an example. Why would I not use an example from the teams most recent game? I've never once claimed that this team is on, or even near, the level of the worlds elite teams. However,  that doesn't mean they are **** either. Their improvements over the last four years have made their style of play more enjoyable and even watchable. Nowadays they provide buildups and wonderful goals that we would have never seen in the past.

 

But I guess for some, unless you are the best in the world, it doesn't really matter what type of improvements you make, you're still going to be ****.

pointy pretty much answered it.

just talking about the women for now... Before last night, they hadn't really played much (any) what I would consider "not-****" soccer. Constantly losing possession, choosing to hit mindless passes, non-existent combinations in the attacking third. They have a great group of players for the women's side but just because they win doesn't mean they play good soccer.

The men are getting better and have gotten very nice results against Germany and Holland recently. But they're still not at the level of Holland or Germany. Are they as bad as Bahrain? No. But they're probably still a third tier nation.

Now you elaborate why you think they play good soccer.

Pretty sure I put some thoughts into that above. I guess it all comes down to what you consider "playing like ****" to be. Is anything that is not Germany, Argentina, Netherlands, or really anything outside of the top 8 deemed to be playing like ****? Just because we are not one of the top squads in the world doesn't mean they are complete ****.

As I mentioned, the team has made major strides under klinnsmann. They went from a bob Bradley high school style attack of booting it forward and hoping for the best, to a more possession based creative style. As seen in the most recent Germany game, they have shown that they can build solid attacks by maintaining possession( as seen by the 30+ pass build up to their first goal), and have shown that they can dominate play and possession for long periods of time against good teams ( as seen by the second half domination against the Germans). They are able to knock the ball around and dictate their style of play. Gone are the days of just sitting back and praying for a solid counter attack. If you want to delve further, you can look at the youth systems as well. If you watched any of the u-20 World Cup recently, this change in culture and play is even more evident. Players like Emerson hyndmann and Gideon Zelalem provide creative sparks that we never showed in the past. Its pretty clear what type of style klinnsmann has put an onus on with his teams.

So like I said, it all depends on what you consider playing like **** to be. I guess if you consider not being on the same level as Germany or the Netherlands as playing like ****, then sure, we "play like ****". But that would be a pretty ridiculous standard to hold.

Aren't you an el sal or Honduran fan anyways?

Also, For anyone interested, the U.S. mens have a friendly tonight at 6 30 against Guatemala. This is their final tune up game before the gold cup kicks off next week against Honduras.

Actually I kind of agree with the assessment.  US soccer has struggled to have creative, technical players that can work the ball out of the back, through the midfield and challenge teams back line without playing direct.  One of the weaknesses of USWNT has been, IMO, that when Abby was playing they looked to just launch balls towards her and hope she wins it.  But...this tournament they have been much more dynamic, better touches & possession and some very nice runs off the ball.  Doesn't hurt that Johnston has played solidly in the back line and can also look like a CM with the ball at her feet as well. 

 

Men's team has made strides, but don't think they have enough pieces in starting 11 to play fast-paced 1&2 touch possession soccer the length/width of the field.

 

Edit:  Actually I don't think they play like **** necessarily, just not the kind of soccer they need to play to win WC (for women) and for the men how they need to advance another round.  The women this year have a chance if they play like they did last night.

I was thinking mainly for men. But as for the women, I think without Wambach in the lineup, like you said, they are a lot less predictable. In the first game when she started, the US had the mentality to just kick the ball over the top, and hope that Abby would be able to control and hold up, or flick on to another team. This is actually very similar to how the US men use to play under Bob Bradley. Kick it up top to Altidore, hope he is able to settle and maintain possession until teammates are able to support.

 

But the US team under Klinnsman has been completely different. You don't have to look past the last friendly that we had against Germany. During the second half, we controlled possession, and mainly dictated the pace of play. Even going back to their goal in the first half, it consisted of a 30 pass build up that culminated in a fantastic over the top through ball from Bradley.

 

I use to be critical about how the US use to play in the past, because it did seem to consist of very high school like kick and run style. But to imply that the team has not improved in the team aspect over the last four years with Klinnsman is naïve.

But just to comment on the game as a whole, I'm super critical of US teams because they play like ****.

 

This cracks me up.  Have you been stuck under a rock the last 4 years? Are you stuck with 2010 Bob Bradley soccer?

 

Please elaborate on why exactly you think US soccer "plays like ****".

Also, since this a U.S. soccer thread as a whole, I'll add some USMNT News as well. For those U.S. Soccer fans in the DC area, it was just announced that the men's national team has a friendly against Peru scheduled for September 4th at RFK. The game lands on a FIFA approved international match day, so each club should be able to bring most of their best players. Peru is looking like a more formiddable opponent after a solid semifinal run in the copa America over the last couple weeks.

Also, DC United was in action last night in the U.S. Open cup. They faced Philadelphia on the road. Even though the U.S. were up a man for over a half, and despite being up 1-0 at half time, they ended up losing 2-1. I didn't watch the game, but from the sounds of it, it is a ridiculous way to lose. How you lose a lead to a 10 man team is beyond me. Granite, Olsen chose to play a lot of backups since this was a midweek game (resting others for league action this weekend), you should still be able to dominate play up a man. Disappointing finish, and bad way to be knocked out of the tournament.

Gibbs you're out of your mind if you don't think that was a foul on Alex Morgan. Before I get into that, I will say this though:

- you could argue either way as to whether the Julie Johnston foul on the German PK should have been a red card. At the end of the day, it's at the refs discretion to make that determination. The U.S. May have been lucky to avoid the red, but that's how the game falls.

- the foul against Alex Morgan, while it WAS a foul, was not in the box, and not a penalty. Contact was initiated outside the box, and with that type of foul, means it's a free kick and not penalty.

As to whether it was a foul or not, it clearly was. The German player made no attempt to play the ball, and purposefully obstructs the attackers movement. Watch the video, she moved directly in the path of Morgan, prohibiting her from her run, without playing the ball. That is a textbook definition of obstruction. I can see you arguing it wasn't a PK, but to say it wasn't even a foul is just simple trolling.

At the end of the day, the Americans were the better team, and took advantage of their opportunities which Germany did not. With the way the U.S. defense is playing, I honestly cannot see Japan or England winning the final. Although, we said the same thing last World Cup final against Japan, so obviously anything can happen.

HUGE win for US U-20's over Columbia to advance in the U-20 World Cup. Got really interesting in the 80th when the U.S. picked up a red card for a foul in the box. Goalie Zach Steffen came up huge though, and saved the penalty to preserve the 1-0 win.

U.S. will take on Serbia next in the quarterfinals.

If actually pay him to start one. A suspension would force Randy to do what he should've done already

Please nene start a fight. Gets his worthless ass out of the game, and hopefully a hawk player too.

He has been pathetic at best.

LAC winning without Paul last night is still leaving me with a bit of optimism.

Yeah, but they did that with a huge triple double from Blake. It would take an insane performance from beal I think to win this one. And with his ankle being bum, I'm not sure he has it in him tonight. Hoping for the best, but a little pessimistic now. Made Sunday's game that much more important now

So question all.

I always thought that the NBA playoffs reseeded after each round. So hypothetically, I thought we would play Cleveland (2) if Atlanta (1) for whatever blew their series.

Is this incorrect? Is it a bracket system with the NBA? Are the potenial match ups set up when seedlings are determined after the season? And is there a set bracket?

you got that right I speak like a striker.  Given I've played mid field too but yeah I am a striker.  I know what its like to do everything right and not get rewarded for it.  Heck sometimes in your head you see the ball and goal and tell yourself this one is going in and something fluky happens.  Like this year when I had a mid season drought for a few games (Had nice assists,runs,etc).  I went around all the defenseman in the box and the goalie went down.  I ended up climbing over defenders and the keeper trying to get to the ball went got loose from me.  All I see the ball a yard ffrom the line and the goal wide open.  The ones of the defenders on the ground stuck his foot out and tripped me to stop me from getting it. I went flying into the goal and my teammate behind me got a easy one. That's what's in Altidore's head right now.  He keeps trying so hard that it actually kind of hurts him.  He plays his best when the game flows for him not when he's trying to do too much.  That's how strikers work.  The game doesn't flow through us.  We flow with the game and thus why it's a position that gets so much freedom.  Never have I heard a teammate tell me he wants me follow a certain way.  Why?  Because strikers adjust on their own because they read the game.  Defenders and striker are not so different.  Both read the game before it happens.  Mid fielders read the game as it goes and build upon what they see.  Defenders and Strikers go by what they see and what others don't see.  They do that because in both cases a goal can happen whether it be a goal because a defender didn't see it or a goal because the striker did see it.  This may not completely make sense to some but I bet GHH gets what I'm saying here.

Don't you think kilnsmann knows all of this? Better than probably 99.9% of the people in this world. He even touched on this exact topic during the road to brazil documentary on espn.

Half of the battle with jozy is he isn't getting the service to put him in scoring positions. Sure, he is still getting chances, but nothing like he was in 2013. Jozy is a hold up striker, he is not the type of player that can continuously create opportunities for himself like Dempsey or johannsen. He is reliant on his services. When he does get opportunities though, he is a good finisher. If we can get him some more looks up top, I'm confident that he will come through. And the biggest thing, klinsi believes that he can fight through this slump and get back to the form that we saw last year. And frankly, no offense to you all, but I will take klinnsmans analysis of jozy over anyone on this board. I mean, let's face it, he's watched jozy play more in the last week than any of us have over his entire career.

Uhmm, who?

Hail.

 

18 year old who is currently on the bench with Bayern's first team. Will most likely start getting minutes with them shortly once Bayern wraps up the league in a few games.

 

Probably a shoe in to make the 23 man world cup roster for the US.