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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (5 Viewers)
- Thread starter jpeace121
- Start date
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
The US midfield without Bradley reminds me of gluten free pizza.
T Bell
Footballguy
Certainly pretty lifeless. Work rate seems low and there isn't much of a feeling of control of the game.
T Bell
Footballguy
dparker713
Footballguy
Gooch is running in mud out there. He just looks brutal.
Moe.
Footballguy
dparker713
Footballguy
The Gator
Footballguy
bentley
Footballguy
I know. This game is the posterchild for every criticism I've heard from soccer haters. The only thing it's missing is flopping.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Insert Nutty Professor gif here.
dparker713
Footballguy
That was a pretty nice chip to Hercules and a decent flick on net.
dparker713
Footballguy
Not exactly Pirlo, but it worked. Landon has looked fairly dangerous up top.
dparker713
Footballguy
6 per side.
Goodson should have gotten called for the foul in the box. Pretty blatant.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
I'm pleasantly surprised at how bright Holden has looked.
dparker713
Footballguy
He's certainly looked rather good. Next step is a start and 60, then a full 90. He's still got a long way to go though to break into the starting 11.
dparker713
Footballguy
Landon looking dangerous yet again.
dparker713
Footballguy
Now that was pretty all around between Mix fighting through , the give and go, the layoff, the cross and the finish. Just sweet.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Bruin always scored that against DC. He's Ronaldo against Ben Olsen teams.
dparker713
Footballguy
I haven't generally been a Jermaine Jones fan, but he certainly brings something that Holden doesn't. His physicality is sometimes not pretty, but its often necessary, especially on the road. Plus, Klinsman obviously loves him. Holden looks great, but he hasn't had to play any defense tonight.
Ramsay Hunt Experience
Footballguy
Goodson for trequarista.
dparker713
Footballguy
Gooch has looked poor to me out there. He's just not particularly comfortable with the ball at his feet and he looks to have really poor acceleration.
Only watched the second half, but his positioning, and instincts have served him well. You cant teach experience. But, I agree, its hard to judge against a JV squad. If he is not fit enough to play against the big boys, then he won't be going to camp.
strykerpks
Footballguy
n00b questions...sorry
I've watched maybe 15 US matches since the 2006 World Cup. I've also watched maybe 5 in the last 6 months. My BIL married a British woman, a high executive in Chicago. She's awesome and has made a concerted effort to like football. So my BIL (an engineer for a major agricultural equipment company, yet a redneck at heart) asked me to help him with soccer and we're trying to learn.
On to my questions, sorry I've been drinking. Is the US team more aggressive than in years past? Are they just playing lesser competition lately? Are they just getting better? It just seems to me that they've been on the devensive (say a few years ago when I last paid much attention) compared to the higher goal counts I kinda noticed.
I understand the milestone, but is Donovan someone who can make an impact during the WC or is it kind of a nice story at this point?
6 goals, that's like 84-0 in football, right?
Lastly Who pays these guys for friendlies? Are the national teams finances easy to explain?
I've watched maybe 15 US matches since the 2006 World Cup. I've also watched maybe 5 in the last 6 months. My BIL married a British woman, a high executive in Chicago. She's awesome and has made a concerted effort to like football. So my BIL (an engineer for a major agricultural equipment company, yet a redneck at heart) asked me to help him with soccer and we're trying to learn.
On to my questions, sorry I've been drinking. Is the US team more aggressive than in years past? Are they just playing lesser competition lately? Are they just getting better? It just seems to me that they've been on the devensive (say a few years ago when I last paid much attention) compared to the higher goal counts I kinda noticed.
I understand the milestone, but is Donovan someone who can make an impact during the WC or is it kind of a nice story at this point?
6 goals, that's like 84-0 in football, right?
Lastly Who pays these guys for friendlies? Are the national teams finances easy to explain?
dparker713
Footballguy
Wow, quite difference a half makes. Or more like what a difference a change in center mids made. Holden was everything you could have hoped and more. He's got to start in the Gold Cup, and hopefully he'll prove to be fit enough to go 90. Plus, LD looked really dangerous up top. First half was tough since the team had possession without purpose, but he's well on his way to taking a spot in the starting XI.
Only thing I wish we'd seen was better CB play. It was a little sloppy at times and its still the area where I think we're weakest.
Just an entirely dominant second half. Just more evidence the US is deeper than ever.
Only thing I wish we'd seen was better CB play. It was a little sloppy at times and its still the area where I think we're weakest.
Just an entirely dominant second half. Just more evidence the US is deeper than ever.
1. Yes, US is generally playing more aggressively. They are getting better. Tonight they were facing the 93rd ranked country in the world, and I don't know that Guatemala brought their best squad - particularly for this match. Its also not as much about goals, as it is holding possession - against good teams in the past, we would be outclassed.
2. Yes, LD can make an impact - he is working his way back into the team (and I don't think anyone really knows what went on between him and Klinsmann) But he remains one of the most creative offensive players we have - and we'll need that.
3. Yeah, 6-0 is a pretty big rout. Its sort of like 6-0 in hockey.
4. USMNT has a number of revenue sources, including TV revenues.
2. Yes, LD can make an impact - he is working his way back into the team (and I don't think anyone really knows what went on between him and Klinsmann) But he remains one of the most creative offensive players we have - and we'll need that.
3. Yeah, 6-0 is a pretty big rout. Its sort of like 6-0 in hockey.
4. USMNT has a number of revenue sources, including TV revenues.
T Bell
Footballguy
I'll take a shot here, but I welcome others to chime in.
The US Team is probably better now in terms of overall quality than it's ever been in its history. We've traditionally been poor technically and shaky tactically, and have relied upon speed, fitness and sheer tenacity to succeed. We've now, however, got some players who are actually very good and could play competitively in any league in the world. This is particularly critical in midfield and striker where speed, guts and discipline only get you so far if you're lacking in talent.
As for Guatemala, they're not very good, and this was very much a low-intensity friendly. I'd be surprised if Guatemala was ranked as high as 50th worldwide. I don't know the economics of friendlies, but it's in Guatemala's interest to play them as well, so I'm sure they welcomed the opportunity despite the very lackluster performance.
Donovan is an excellent player. He'd be a good player if he played in the English Premier League, as he demonstrated during two loan spells with Everton in the last few years. He's a kind of moody guy which is why he's not wanted to play overseas and he needed time away from the national team, but make no mistake about his talent.
I'd say each goal is a touchdown, so this was 42-0.
strykerpks
Footballguy
Thanks for the explanations. I don't get to watch much but I try to when I can. I may be back with more n00b questions, but carry on, I'll hang up and listen.
dparker713
Footballguy
1) Yes, Klinsman has the team playing more aggressively in general. However, tonight was a home game and playing at home makes a major difference, especially in the region. Teams on the road generally look to sit back and try to counter either for a draw or the rare win. The US still does this against tougher opponents. Its certainly how we earned a draw in Mexico.
2) I don't think the teams they're playing are getting worse. In fact I think they're getting better. The MLS has helped the US depth, but it also has improved the frontline players of other countries in the region, except maybe Mexico. Plus, Klinsman has scheduled much harder friendlies in general - Italy, Russia, Belgium, Germany. And Guatamala isn't generally a push over. They nearly made the final 6 for the region in WC qualifying. But since they didn't they're basically starting over, playing young, and trying to gear up for 2018.
3) IMO, yes. The team is improving. We have more players playing at higher levels than ever. We have more depth than ever before. We lack a truly great talent, but we certainly have several players that are extremely good, Dempsey, Altidore, Landon, Howard, and the best atm - Bradley. The MLS has also greatly improved, which has led to more players available from that league capable of coming in and contributing.
4) To me, Donovan is still a difference maker. He's not as fast as he was, but he's still able to make plays and create chances.
5) 6-0, yeah, its an absolute blowout.
6) I think US Soccer pays the players, though not much. The amount may be set by FIFA. US Soccer earns money through the tickets they sell to matches and various other ways. I'm not really sure how it all works, though players receive very little relative to what they make from their club teams - similar to NBA players and playing in the Olympics.
Good Posting Judge
Footballguy
Another good thing to know is that near the beginning of World Cup qualifying, an article got written in SI where a bunch of players blasted Klinsmann for being clueless re: tactics, style of play, etc. Since then, they've looked great. They also switched to a 4-2-3-1 counter-attacking style and away from a 4-3-3 ball possession style, which was a good move all the way around.
And wa la, US is now in good shape to qualify for the WC.
Lots of Americans are now in the EPL, Dempsey plays for Tottenham, Edu, Shea and Cameron play for Stoke, Howard plays for Everton, Altidore plays for Sunderland as of a couple days ago. Bradley plays for Roma, but the Italian league is boring and completely corrupt. There's also an American kid in Barca's youth system, which is like a Mongolian getting a football scholarship to Alabama.
And wa la, US is now in good shape to qualify for the WC.
Lots of Americans are now in the EPL, Dempsey plays for Tottenham, Edu, Shea and Cameron play for Stoke, Howard plays for Everton, Altidore plays for Sunderland as of a couple days ago. Bradley plays for Roma, but the Italian league is boring and completely corrupt. There's also an American kid in Barca's youth system, which is like a Mongolian getting a football scholarship to Alabama.
The Gator
Footballguy
strykerpks
Footballguy
I'm a ways away from understanding the bolded. But is that like going from a 4-3 to 3-4 or is it like going from a West Coast to Power I type thing?
T Bell
Footballguy
Interesting video clip I just came across looking for something else - 60 Minutes piece on Barca and La Macia.
The Gator
Footballguy
Like going from the power I to the west coast. One is more possession based, one is more attacking
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