***Official 2014 World Cup Thread*** (1 Viewer)

[Ilov80s]

Barcelona doesn't care if 195 of those 200 kids never even sniff their first team. They'll gladly pay for their training (and in some cases room and board) for a decade if it means they find 1 Lionel Messi or Xavi. (plus a handful of other squad players and a bunch of others that they can sell to lesser clubs to recoup some of their investment)

That's where the financial model of European soccer really helps them out. Huge incentive for clubs like that to invest in youth development. Here you're not going to do that with a kid only to watch him go to college or a draft instead of into your lineup.

The kids are more like race horses. They are commodities. Sell a player for 80 million Euros and that covers the cost of training generations of kids.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Wow I can't wait for this next cycle. It is going to be so full of great games.

Friendlies to see new players

Gold Cup 2015

World Cup Qualifying 2016-2017

Copa America 2016

Confed Cup in 2017 (fingers crossed)

WC in 2018 (everything crossed).

 

[Native]

1. What can I say. Another exhilirating soccer game. I lost my voice screaming at the bar and am mentally and physically spent. Last 12 minutes were as exciting as any I can remember. Too bad we couldnt pull out one more.

2. For the umpteenth time, let me say how proud I am of our guys. They fought valliantly until the end but ultimately lost out to a more deserving squad. Literally left it all on the field. So much to build on.

3. Love the FBG soccer family. So much fun watching and sweating and bantering with you.

4. Cant wait for the Gold Cup and Copa America!

 

[NewlyRetired]

I for one will be pushing my son to play soccer. He doesn't come with good genes (I'm 6'5" and 260), but after suffering numerous injuries (concussions primarily) in football there is no way in hell I'm letting my 5 year old play football before HS.

Show him Omar Gonzalez. He is 6'5". Sure he is not an elegant player but there are plenty of big CB in soccer.

True.

I for one will be pushing my son to play soccer. He doesn't come with good genes (I'm 6'5" and 260), but after suffering numerous injuries (concussions primarily) in football there is no way in hell I'm letting my 5 year old play football before HS.

I hope you have have $3k-$5k a year to budget for this if he excels.

Same can be said for pretty much any sports program, no? But my point is being missed. If somebody like me, a parent who played football from a very young age, is not going to let their children play football won't other parents be doing the same? Thereby having more kids play soccer, baseball, basketball, etc?

The only problem is that soccer has its own concussion issues. The Italian professional soccer league actually started the research project that the NFL jumped in on which tied concussions to ALS like conditions.

Sorry, but I can't see putting soccer on the same level, or even close, to football in terms of concussions.

Soccer has serious concussion issues. It does not help that the sports leaders still think it is 1970 in terms of how to handle this stuff.

 

[ffldrew]

Barcelona doesn't care if 195 of those 200 kids never even sniff their first team. They'll gladly pay for their training (and in some cases room and board) for a decade if it means they find 1 Lionel Messi or Xavi. (plus a handful of other squad players and a bunch of others that they can sell to lesser clubs to recoup some of their investment)

That's where the financial model of European soccer really helps them out. Huge incentive for clubs like that to invest in youth development. Here you're not going to do that with a kid only to watch him go to college or a draft instead of into your lineup.

Kids that go thru MLS Academies play with that club - it's a bit new but they are "owned" by the club - (college soccer is about dead in this country as pathway to the "big leagues" by the way)- what the problem with this Barca example is that Barca makes a billion dollars a year because of Champion League etc - over here an MLS club gets around $250K to spend on Academies

 

[sporthenry]

I for one will be pushing my son to play soccer. He doesn't come with good genes (I'm 6'5" and 260), but after suffering numerous injuries (concussions primarily) in football there is no way in hell I'm letting my 5 year old play football before HS.

Show him Omar Gonzalez. He is 6'5". Sure he is not an elegant player but there are plenty of big CB in soccer.

True.

I for one will be pushing my son to play soccer. He doesn't come with good genes (I'm 6'5" and 260), but after suffering numerous injuries (concussions primarily) in football there is no way in hell I'm letting my 5 year old play football before HS.

I hope you have have $3k-$5k a year to budget for this if he excels.

Same can be said for pretty much any sports program, no? But my point is being missed. If somebody like me, a parent who played football from a very young age, is not going to let their children play football won't other parents be doing the same? Thereby having more kids play soccer, baseball, basketball, etc?

The only problem is that soccer has its own concussion issues. The Italian professional soccer league actually started the research project that the NFL jumped in on which tied concussions to ALS like conditions.

Sorry, but I can't see putting soccer on the same level, or even close, to football in terms of concussions.

The bad, blackout type concussions, no. But the smaller concussions, who knows? Even if it doesn't rise to the level of concussions, heading a ball punted 70 yards in the air or deflecting a shot in the wall isn't good for your head.

 

[flapgreen]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

I'm disappointed now. Lalas said something I agreed with after the match. The team needs to actually win more instead of just being talked about as always giving a good effort.

 

[D_House]

Great game despite the result. I don't have the time to follow any sport atm but this team and this Cup have reignited my interest.

 

[Ilov80s]

Anyone else watch at a bar? My local pub was standing room only by 2:00. Chants all through the game...just a wild party atmosphere.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Barcelona doesn't care if 195 of those 200 kids never even sniff their first team. They'll gladly pay for their training (and in some cases room and board) for a decade if it means they find 1 Lionel Messi or Xavi. (plus a handful of other squad players and a bunch of others that they can sell to lesser clubs to recoup some of their investment)

That's where the financial model of European soccer really helps them out. Huge incentive for clubs like that to invest in youth development. Here you're not going to do that with a kid only to watch him go to college or a draft instead of into your lineup.

MLS actually has a rule where you can sign someone who came from your own development academy without having to go through the draft. They can even go to college and you can still stake claim to them. The bigger problem is that the MLS' transfer rules means the league gets a cut of the player's transfer fee.

The rule is called "Homegrown Player Rule". It started in 2008. Yedlin is the first to play a WC game.

Here are the details for those interested

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homegrown_Player_Rule_(Major_League_Soccer)

 

[TLEF316]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

If everything breaks right from a development/citizenship stand point, we could have a much more dynamic/technically skilled squad 4 years from now. Its just way too early to tell how far along the Junior Flores' of the world are going to be by then. (although he'll be 22 at that point. It will be pretty much put up or shut up time if he's going to be an elite player)

In 2018, we could boast an attacking core of Green, Fagundez, Flores, Nagbe, Johanson, Agudelo and Altidore (not to mention a guy like Bradley in the center of the midfield). Compare that to where we were just 5 years ago (when Connor Casey was starting world cup qualifiers).

 

[gump]

It may have (probably has, actually) been brought up in here already but i'm concerned for US soccer interest in the immediate future. Such a big draw for this WC but the time zones really benefit that growth in interest. Russia and then Qatar (if it stays there) means at least 12 years before we get another chance of having our team draped in the flag in prime time.

I'm relatively new to the sport and for me the NBC addition of PL and other matches across Europe will keep me interested but I love sports and competition. The fringe fan may be lost in the next decade or so. Now, if they move the Qatar to the states, of course it'd be huge. Such a fun sport and i'm glad I found interest in it.

People keep saying this in the face of a strong long-term progression in popularity of the game between World Cups. The demographics are different now. The two youngest generations of consumers are into it big time.

That's a positive sign...MLB is really struggling with teens, and the league doesn't seem to have much of an urgent concern about it.

I have read a ton of articles saying that soccer strongest foothold are the demographics which lean heavily young and have a healthy mix of white and hispanic.

Why does MLB not also benefit from the enormous and growing young hispanic population?

Its an old-white guy's game right now. It is dying on the vine, and no real way to spruce it up.

Yea...the player mix is terrible (who cares about Trout other than Angel fans for example)...and the game is slow.

And the Mkt isn't connecting...the #1 MLB player on Twitter is Nick Swisher.

MLB has had record revenues for maybe a decade running and is at about 85% of the NFL in gross revenues. You're both incredibly wrong.

What does that have to do with the sports popularity among the next spending generation?

The league and it's partners see the trend...not sure what's being done successfully about it yet though.

 

[Ilov80s]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

I thought Yedlin was really exciting. He looked like our most dangerous player with the way he was able to handle 1:1 situations, use space and threaten outside the box. He had a hell of a tackle as well. He shined today.

 

[TLEF316]

Anyone else watch at a bar? My local pub was standing room only by 2:00. Chants all through the game...just a wild party atmosphere.

I was at a bar in Morristown, NJ. 3 full floors of wall to wall people. Just an awesome atmosphere.

Although the dopes who insisted on sitting at the bar (taking up extra room and making it a pain in the ### for people to get past them for drinks) did put a damper on proceedings. How do people not realize how much they're inconveniencing others when they do this?

 

[CBusAlex]

The US will never get to this point, mostly because the parents in our culture will never accept it. The idea of letting 195 kids wash out in order to find 1 or 2 stars just doesn't work in America.

We do have one big advantage over the likes of Spain and Germany though: 300 million people. We only need to be 20% as efficient at identifying and developing talent as them to be on a level playing field.

 

[culdeus]

Just curious. What start times are we looking at for Russia? 2am?

 

[Bluestaples]

Whoa, the Bob Ley summary piece on World Cup Tonight was awesome!

P.S. F it... USA USA USA!

PS2 this thread should be a bit more readable by Thursday, right?

Best part of this run for me?

WE ARE GOING...

WE ARE GOING...

WE ARE GOING TO BRAZIL!!

WC14 was a success for me. All good things, all good things

 

[NewlyRetired]

Just curious. What start times are we looking at for Russia? 2am?

I am not sure but if they play in the western part of Russia, it should be similar to Germany 2006 which was roughly 9:00, 12:00, and 3:00

The middle of the night start times only occurred in 2002 when in Japan/SK.

 

[Premier]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

I thought Yedlin was really exciting. He looked like our most dangerous player with the way he was able to handle 1:1 situations, use space and threaten outside the box. He had a hell of a tackle as well. He shined today.

He is going to be getting Paid with a capital p soon.

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Pretty classy

Vincent Kompany (@VincentKompany)

7/1/14, 7:11 PM

Two words.. TIM HOWARD #Respect #BelUSA

Howard has obviously been around for awhile, particularly in Europe, but it was interesting to watch the pre-game walk out for all the games when the players were still in the tunnel - nobody got more attention/recognition from the other teams than Howard. He has earned so much respect over his career - once to see it recognized.

Several Everton connections on Belgium as well (Fellaini, Lukaku, Mirallas)

 

[Ilov80s]

Anyone else watch at a bar? My local pub was standing room only by 2:00. Chants all through the game...just a wild party atmosphere.

I was at a bar in Morristown, NJ. 3 full floors of wall to wall people. Just an awesome atmosphere.

Although the dopes who insisted on sitting at the bar (taking up extra room and making it a pain in the ### for people to get past them for drinks) did put a damper on proceedings. How do people not realize how much they're inconveniencing others when they do this?

Our waiters did a yeomen effort. I don't know hoe they got through the crowd and always kept everyone wet.

 

[General Malaise]

Anyone else watch at a bar? My local pub was standing room only by 2:00. Chants all through the game...just a wild party atmosphere.

I was at a bar in Morristown, NJ. 3 full floors of wall to wall people. Just an awesome atmosphere.

Although the dopes who insisted on sitting at the bar (taking up extra room and making it a pain in the ### for people to get past them for drinks) did put a damper on proceedings. How do people not realize how much they're inconveniencing others when they do this?

Bar seats are off limits??

I was sat at a bar all game...it was packed. Servers floated, nobody inconvenienced by bar seats.

What was funny was how fast the Pacific Time Zone packed bars cleared out after Belgium scored twice. Back to the office for most. Still enough remained to watch the US comeback. Some flocked back in.....

 

[Premier]

Just curious. What start times are we looking at for Russia? 2am?

I am not sure but if they play in the western part of Russia, it should be similar to Germany 2006 which was roughly 9:00, 12:00, and 3:00.

9 am, 12 and 3 pm, for the rookies.

 

[sporthenry]

Barcelona doesn't care if 195 of those 200 kids never even sniff their first team. They'll gladly pay for their training (and in some cases room and board) for a decade if it means they find 1 Lionel Messi or Xavi. (plus a handful of other squad players and a bunch of others that they can sell to lesser clubs to recoup some of their investment)

That's where the financial model of European soccer really helps them out. Huge incentive for clubs like that to invest in youth development. Here you're not going to do that with a kid only to watch him go to college or a draft instead of into your lineup.

Kids that go thru MLS Academies play with that club - it's a bit new but they are "owned" by the club - (college soccer is about dead in this country as pathway to the "big leagues" by the way)- what the problem with this Barca example is that Barca makes a billion dollars a year because of Champion League etc - over here an MLS club gets around $250K to spend on Academies

I wouldn't go so far as to say college soccer is dead. Besler/Gonzalez/Zusi all went to college. So did Nagbe. It might not be the most efficient system but it at least gives kids a bit of a fallback option.

But I wouldn't compare us with Barca, compare us with Ajax. That Ajax article said they've made $80 million off 4 or 5 players which has kept their development program afloat. Which is why I'd like MLS to let them sell players and keep 100% of the proceeds. At that point, finding the next Sneijder or even Jozy would fund your operations for years and at the same time allow the team to afford more talent.

 

[jestertj]

Will any of the guys on this US team be playing in the 2016 Olympics?

 

[Stinger Ray]

Anyone else watch at a bar? My local pub was standing room only by 2:00. Chants all through the game...just a wild party atmosphere.

I was at a bar in Morristown, NJ. 3 full floors of wall to wall people. Just an awesome atmosphere.

Although the dopes who insisted on sitting at the bar (taking up extra room and making it a pain in the ### for people to get past them for drinks) did put a damper on proceedings. How do people not realize how much they're inconveniencing others when they do this?

Then the bar should remove the bar stools. Of course people are going to sit at them. That's one of the reasons people go to bars early for events is to get good seats.

 

[Spartans Rule]

Bar seats are off limits??I was sat at a bar all game...it was packed. Servers floated, nobody inconvenienced by bar seats.

Yeah I don't get that. I sat at a bar too. The seats were going to be there taking up space either way so it didn't inconvenience anyone.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

I thought Yedlin was really exciting. He looked like our most dangerous player with the way he was able to handle 1:1 situations, use space and threaten outside the box. He had a hell of a tackle as well. He shined today.

He looked great.

He has a unique talent in being able to get the cross off when he wants. His first step creates so much space.

If the US wants him to play RB, they have to come up with tactics that work. He can not be expected to be getting to the baseline and then get back on defense if the cross is taken out.

I think he might be better served at the international level at right half but JK has 4 years to experiment.

One thing is for sure, Seattle's phone will be ringing from some interested Euro teams but his price is going to be higher than the typical American player I think.

 

[Ilov80s]

Yeah sit at the bar because if you don't, I will. That's prime seating.

 

[sporthenry]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

I thought Yedlin was really exciting. He looked like our most dangerous player with the way he was able to handle 1:1 situations, use space and threaten outside the box. He had a hell of a tackle as well. He shined today.

He had a very good game but he does have to work on his defense. I haven't seen him enough in the MLS but he was caught up quite a bit. I guess he could switch to a MF role but that makes him a bit less valuable but either way, he seemed to be without a position for the Nats.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Will any of the guys on this US team be playing in the 2016 Olympics?

Probably. It will depend on the schedule for Copa 2016 which will take precedence obviously.

Yedlin and Green will be young enough and you are allowed 3 overage (over 23) players as well.

 

[TLEF316]

Anyone else watch at a bar? My local pub was standing room only by 2:00. Chants all through the game...just a wild party atmosphere.

I was at a bar in Morristown, NJ. 3 full floors of wall to wall people. Just an awesome atmosphere.

Although the dopes who insisted on sitting at the bar (taking up extra room and making it a pain in the ### for people to get past them for drinks) did put a damper on proceedings. How do people not realize how much they're inconveniencing others when they do this?

Then the bar should remove the bar stools. Of course people are going to sit at them. That's one of the reasons people go to bars early for events is to get good seats.

I agree that its partially on the bar. However, it was pretty obvious that everyone else was being inconvenienced because they insisted on sitting there. You've got dozens of people queuing up at the 5 feet of open space where nobody is sitting instead of spreading out.

They're well within their right to sit there, but I certainly wouldn't.

edit: the bar tender ended up removing a few of the seats mid-game because nobody could get to the front to get drinks. Like 7 people would have to move in order for the guy 3 people deep to get up to the front.

One mope politely asked me if he could slide in front of me to get a drink (which was obviously fine) and then after he does, he stays there right in front of me blocking my view of the TV.....while wearing a red white and blue Dr. Suess hat.

 

[Sonny Lubick Blowup Doll]

I found our game against Germany far more exciting.

 

[Christo]

My dog was born in Germany, I guess I'm rooting for them.

Probably your most logical post in this thread.

 

[Slapdash]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

If everything breaks right from a development/citizenship stand point, we could have a much more dynamic/technically skilled squad 4 years from now. Its just way too early to tell how far along the Junior Flores' of the world are going to be by then. (although he'll be 22 at that point. It will be pretty much put up or shut up time if he's going to be an elite player)

In 2018, we could boast an attacking core of Green, Fagundez, Flores, Nagbe, Johanson, Agudelo and Altidore (not to mention a guy like Bradley in the center of the midfield). Compare that to where we were just 5 years ago (when Connor Casey was starting world cup qualifiers).

What? Five years ago the US was in the final of the Confederations Cup. Charlie Davies was starting games and the team looked better than any time since.

Maybe the attack will be better in four years, maybe it will be worse. The team certainly takes a big hit without Howard, today showed his importance.

 

[Ilov80s]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

I thought Yedlin was really exciting. He looked like our most dangerous player with the way he was able to handle 1:1 situations, use space and threaten outside the box. He had a hell of a tackle as well. He shined today.

He had a very good game but he does have to work on his defense. I haven't seen him enough in the MLS but he was caught up quite a bit. I guess he could switch to a MF role but that makes him a bit less valuable but either way, he seemed to be without a position for the Nats.

Yeah, I was speaking to his game as an attacker.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

If everything breaks right from a development/citizenship stand point, we could have a much more dynamic/technically skilled squad 4 years from now. Its just way too early to tell how far along the Junior Flores' of the world are going to be by then. (although he'll be 22 at that point. It will be pretty much put up or shut up time if he's going to be an elite player)

In 2018, we could boast an attacking core of Green, Fagundez, Flores, Nagbe, Johanson, Agudelo and Altidore (not to mention a guy like Bradley in the center of the midfield). Compare that to where we were just 5 years ago (when Connor Casey was starting world cup qualifiers).

That is a nice group of players you listed. The best thing about Nagbe will be that Bradley can move back to a deeper role in front of the center backs which should work out nicely.

I hope Gedion Zelalem was watching Julian Green today. He could be Julian in 2018.

 

[Christo]

That final 15 minutes was awesome. That's losing with dignity.

The set piece up the middle that came oh so close to tying the game was a world-class play. Just needed a world-class finish.

Dempsey ran into a world-class keeper.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

My dog was born in Germany, I guess I'm rooting for them.

Probably your most logical post in this thread.

Thanks coach.

 

[Slapdash]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

If everything breaks right from a development/citizenship stand point, we could have a much more dynamic/technically skilled squad 4 years from now. Its just way too early to tell how far along the Junior Flores' of the world are going to be by then. (although he'll be 22 at that point. It will be pretty much put up or shut up time if he's going to be an elite player)

In 2018, we could boast an attacking core of Green, Fagundez, Flores, Nagbe, Johanson, Agudelo and Altidore (not to mention a guy like Bradley in the center of the midfield). Compare that to where we were just 5 years ago (when Connor Casey was starting world cup qualifiers).

That is a nice group of players you listed. The best thing about Nagbe will be that Bradley can move back to a deeper role in front of the center backs which should work out nicely.

I hope Gedion Zelalem was watching Julian Green today. He could be Julian in 2018.

I think it is clear Bradley is better playing deeper. Jones was much more effective getting forward than him and had a great tournament. Neither really was the playmaker the US needed, but Jones had some flashes.

 

[TLEF316]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

If everything breaks right from a development/citizenship stand point, we could have a much more dynamic/technically skilled squad 4 years from now. Its just way too early to tell how far along the Junior Flores' of the world are going to be by then. (although he'll be 22 at that point. It will be pretty much put up or shut up time if he's going to be an elite player)

In 2018, we could boast an attacking core of Green, Fagundez, Flores, Nagbe, Johanson, Agudelo and Altidore (not to mention a guy like Bradley in the center of the midfield). Compare that to where we were just 5 years ago (when Connor Casey was starting world cup qualifiers).

What? Five years ago the US was in the final of the Confederations Cup. Charlie Davies was starting games and the team looked better than any time since.

Maybe the attack will be better in four years, maybe it will be worse. The team certainly takes a big hit without Howard, today showed his importance.

Ok, so 4 years ago (post Davies injury). Connor Casey scored 2 goals in the game that secured US qualifying for the 2010 world cup. Dude was a hack.

 

[Ilov80s]

That final 15 minutes was awesome. That's losing with dignity.

The set piece up the middle that came oh so close to tying the game was a world-class play. Just needed a world-class finish.

Dempsey ran into a world-class keeper.

He wasn't the first to do so today.

 

[TLEF316]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

If everything breaks right from a development/citizenship stand point, we could have a much more dynamic/technically skilled squad 4 years from now. Its just way too early to tell how far along the Junior Flores' of the world are going to be by then. (although he'll be 22 at that point. It will be pretty much put up or shut up time if he's going to be an elite player)

In 2018, we could boast an attacking core of Green, Fagundez, Flores, Nagbe, Johanson, Agudelo and Altidore (not to mention a guy like Bradley in the center of the midfield). Compare that to where we were just 5 years ago (when Connor Casey was starting world cup qualifiers).

That is a nice group of players you listed. The best thing about Nagbe will be that Bradley can move back to a deeper role in front of the center backs which should work out nicely.

I hope Gedion Zelalem was watching Julian Green today. He could be Julian in 2018.

Knew I was forgetting someone. Zelalem could obviously be a huge part of the puzzle.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

I thought Yedlin was really exciting. He looked like our most dangerous player with the way he was able to handle 1:1 situations, use space and threaten outside the box. He had a hell of a tackle as well. He shined today.

He had a very good game but he does have to work on his defense. I haven't seen him enough in the MLS but he was caught up quite a bit. I guess he could switch to a MF role but that makes him a bit less valuable but either way, he seemed to be without a position for the Nats.

See my post on this topic. I don't think this is on Yedlin as much as the tactics. A player can't be expected to get to the baseline to cross a ball and get back on defense constantly. It is a recipe for disaster, unless you are the dominant team holding possession.

Yedlin at RB should work in qualifying but if they want him as a rb to be the main supplier of crosses, they have to provide cover for him when he gets so deep.

 

[Ilov80s]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

If everything breaks right from a development/citizenship stand point, we could have a much more dynamic/technically skilled squad 4 years from now. Its just way too early to tell how far along the Junior Flores' of the world are going to be by then. (although he'll be 22 at that point. It will be pretty much put up or shut up time if he's going to be an elite player)

In 2018, we could boast an attacking core of Green, Fagundez, Flores, Nagbe, Johanson, Agudelo and Altidore (not to mention a guy like Bradley in the center of the midfield). Compare that to where we were just 5 years ago (when Connor Casey was starting world cup qualifiers).

That is a nice group of players you listed. The best thing about Nagbe will be that Bradley can move back to a deeper role in front of the center backs which should work out nicely.I hope Gedion Zelalem was watching Julian Green today. He could be Julian in 2018.

Knew I was forgetting someone. Zelalem could obviously be a huge part of the puzzle.

What's it going to take to get him with the US?

 

[Premier]

Man it feels lame to go back to pulling for a local sports team. That was so great.

 

[Christo]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

If everything breaks right from a development/citizenship stand point, we could have a much more dynamic/technically skilled squad 4 years from now. Its just way too early to tell how far along the Junior Flores' of the world are going to be by then. (although he'll be 22 at that point. It will be pretty much put up or shut up time if he's going to be an elite player)

In 2018, we could boast an attacking core of Green, Fagundez, Flores, Nagbe, Johanson, Agudelo and Altidore (not to mention a guy like Bradley in the center of the midfield). Compare that to where we were just 5 years ago (when Connor Casey was starting world cup qualifiers).

What? Five years ago the US was in the final of the Confederations Cup. Charlie Davies was starting games and the team looked better than any time since.

Maybe the attack will be better in four years, maybe it will be worse. The team certainly takes a big hit without Howard, today showed his importance.

Guzan is not a big drop. Just watch some of his club games the last two years. He knows something about being the only player on the field with a pulse.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

If everything breaks right from a development/citizenship stand point, we could have a much more dynamic/technically skilled squad 4 years from now. Its just way too early to tell how far along the Junior Flores' of the world are going to be by then. (although he'll be 22 at that point. It will be pretty much put up or shut up time if he's going to be an elite player)

In 2018, we could boast an attacking core of Green, Fagundez, Flores, Nagbe, Johanson, Agudelo and Altidore (not to mention a guy like Bradley in the center of the midfield). Compare that to where we were just 5 years ago (when Connor Casey was starting world cup qualifiers).

What? Five years ago the US was in the final of the Confederations Cup. Charlie Davies was starting games and the team looked better than any time since.

Maybe the attack will be better in four years, maybe it will be worse. The team certainly takes a big hit without Howard, today showed his importance.

Ok, so 4 years ago (post Davies injury). Connor Casey scored 2 goals in the game that secured US qualifying for the 2010 world cup. Dude was a hack.

That 2 goal game by Casey was before Davies accident and it was 5 years ago.

Davies got hurt the night before the last qualifier in DC, where Bornstein became the Honduran hero.

 

[Slapdash]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

If everything breaks right from a development/citizenship stand point, we could have a much more dynamic/technically skilled squad 4 years from now. Its just way too early to tell how far along the Junior Flores' of the world are going to be by then. (although he'll be 22 at that point. It will be pretty much put up or shut up time if he's going to be an elite player)

In 2018, we could boast an attacking core of Green, Fagundez, Flores, Nagbe, Johanson, Agudelo and Altidore (not to mention a guy like Bradley in the center of the midfield). Compare that to where we were just 5 years ago (when Connor Casey was starting world cup qualifiers).

What? Five years ago the US was in the final of the Confederations Cup. Charlie Davies was starting games and the team looked better than any time since.

Maybe the attack will be better in four years, maybe it will be worse. The team certainly takes a big hit without Howard, today showed his importance.

Ok, so 4 years ago (post Davies injury). Connor Casey scored 2 goals in the game that secured US qualifying for the 2010 world cup. Dude was a hack.

Better or worse than Wondo? Let's be real, the US striker situation has been poor for sometime.

As a whole, the team now is deeper than last cycle, but I don't think it is really better. There is a lot of talent to develop, but it hasn't yet. JK does seem like a much better coach than Bradley so far.

 

[NewlyRetired]

I think the main thing to take out of today were how great Yedlin and Greene looked today and Besler throughout. Couple that with the potential of Brooks and I feel like if don't go a round further in 2018 we have a right to be disappointed.

If everything breaks right from a development/citizenship stand point, we could have a much more dynamic/technically skilled squad 4 years from now. Its just way too early to tell how far along the Junior Flores' of the world are going to be by then. (although he'll be 22 at that point. It will be pretty much put up or shut up time if he's going to be an elite player)

In 2018, we could boast an attacking core of Green, Fagundez, Flores, Nagbe, Johanson, Agudelo and Altidore (not to mention a guy like Bradley in the center of the midfield). Compare that to where we were just 5 years ago (when Connor Casey was starting world cup qualifiers).

That is a nice group of players you listed. The best thing about Nagbe will be that Bradley can move back to a deeper role in front of the center backs which should work out nicely.I hope Gedion Zelalem was watching Julian Green today. He could be Julian in 2018.

Knew I was forgetting someone. Zelalem could obviously be a huge part of the puzzle.

What's it going to take to get him with the US?

Who knows. His dad appears to be pushing him towards the US.

It might take another JK promise like what ever he made to Julian.