***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (4 Viewers)

[prefontaine]

4-3-3 tonight. I like! At least should be interesting. Hopefully Lichaj gets in fairly early

-------------------Altidore-----------------------

--------Shea--------------------Holden----------

---------Bradley-------------Jones--------------

-----------------------Edu--------------------------

Pearce------Onyewu-----Goodson------Spector

---------------------Guzan------------------------

 

[Steve Tasker]

No Lichaj in the starting lineup.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Just look at those US jerseys in 1994

Pretty crazy watching this clip of The Two Escobars....especially seeing Harkes and Lalas 16 years later.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Lalas is crying on the air. Jesus.

 

[Eephus]

4-3-3 tonight. I like! At least should be interesting. Hopefully Lichaj gets in fairly early-------------------Altidore-------------------------------Shea--------------------Holden-------------------Bradley-------------Jones-------------------------------------Edu--------------------------Pearce------Onyewu-----Goodson------Spector---------------------Guzan------------------------

Glad to see Bradley trying some different stuff

 

[Steve Tasker]

Pretty empty stands tonight. Not a large Colombian population in the Philly area, I take it?

I'd love to go to a USMNT game (senior team, not U-20s, which I've seen) sometime....these people don't know what they're missing out on!

 

[TLEF316]

good lord this match is boring

 

[Eephus]

Hopefully Colombia will sub in Escobar at the half to create some US offense.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Real snoozer of a first half.

 

[Steve Tasker]

EJ and Dempsey look to be checking in, along with others.

Dempsey with the captain's armband.

ETA: Dempsey in for Shea, Parkhurst in for Gooch, Lichaj in for Spector , EJ in for Edu

 

[Native]

Lichaj = Pronounced Lehigh

Who knew?

 

[Steve Tasker]

Looks like Bradley going for a little more offense this half. Probably revert to his favored 4-4-2...EJ and Jozy up top, with Dempsey/Holden on the wings and Bradley/Jones in the CM.

 

[TLEF316]

Ok Look, Eddie Johnson is back in....

and he passes up a shot 9 feet from the net

 

[Bonzai]

I know Lalas is a bit of a goob, but his halftime analysis was spot on. It's a shame that we can't seem to find a place for all 3 of those guys.

 

[scoobygang]

I like Lichaj's athleticism. Ihave mouthing else nice to say about this game.

 

[Steve Tasker]

 

[Native]

Julie Foudy

 

[Eephus]

If the US gets the 2022 WC, does that mean 12 more years of Gulati?

 

[Native]

Or maybe this games just so damn boring that Im seeing mirages in the desert.

 

[Steve Tasker]

Eddie Johnson is inexperienced?!?!

41 senior caps with 12 goals, 26 years old with 10 years of professional experience and nearly 200 first-team appearances in leagues around the world....and we're excusing his mistakes due to inexperience??

 

[Steve Tasker]

What a dreadful play by Jozy there. He's got 2 players in support 30 yards from goal, and he buries his head and tries to do it all by himself...dribbles himself into trouble, commits a foul, argues with the ref, and gets a yellow.

Oof

 

[prefontaine]

I like Lichaj's athleticism. Ihave mouthing else nice to say about this game.

Lichaj looks like he has a TON of potential. Really surprised how good he looks. Was sort of expecting a game more like Shea's but he really impressed. The moment certainly didn't faze him.

If the US gets the 2022 WC, does that mean 12 more years of Gulati?

It's probably just wishful thinking but maybe he gets fired as soon as it is announced one way or the other. Just don't want to rock the boat ahead of that.

Eddie Johnson is inexperienced?!?!

I'm assuming this was an announcer comment. What else are they gonna say? Eddie Johnson is simply not an international level forward? It's honest but probably doesn't play well to the audience.

 

[Eephus]

Lichaj had one very shaky clearance early in the half but he settled in pretty well. He came up on the wing a few times and had a beautiful, albeit unchallenged, cross into the box. Jozy predictably failed to finish but you couldn't have asked for a nicer cross. I hope he'll find his way onto Houllier's lineup at some point. Top level experience will definitely help him.

It wasn't much of a game to watch, far less entertaining than the Poland match. But there were some good things to take away.

But if I EVER hear anyone in this thread call him Germany Jones, I'm going to cut and paste the entire history of Wimbledon football

 

[El Floppo]

Germany Jones looked like our only player worth mentioning.

 

[prefontaine]

I'm quite interested to see how Germany Jones connects with LanDon

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Hicks and Gillett lose; Liverpool sale may proceed

However, in an interesting twist, it appears the Singapore bidder Peter Lim is back in the game. My impression is that the general consensus outside the US is that NESV ownership will be no different than Hicks/Gillet. Lim has gone public in recent days asserting that his bid is superior to Henry's.

 

[guru_007]

holy crap, I tried to give USmnt a chance here, but that was the most boring ####### game ever.

Never watching another national game outside of the WC.

Caught the Germany Euro 2012 qualifier yesterday afternoon. They look really good. And the field they were playing on was artificial turf, I think a lot of stadiums should make the switch tbh. Pretty sure the ball was moving nice and true the whole game. Made for lots of opportunities.

Also watched the Brazil friendly on Monday. Brazil had the beautiful game working again. Tons of short, quick passes moving the ball around effortlessly, nice. They did have a few lapses in the back and could have drawn or lost that game (disallowed goal, goal post...), but in the midfield and attack they were smooth as silk

 

[Sammy3469]

If the US gets the 2022 WC, does that mean 12 more years of Gulati?

yes

 

[The Gator]

Hicks and Gillett lose; Liverpool sale may proceed

However, in an interesting twist, it appears the Singapore bidder Peter Lim is back in the game. My impression is that the general consensus outside the US is that NESV ownership will be no different than Hicks/Gillet. Lim has gone public in recent days asserting that his bid is superior to Henry's.

I read one article where Lim guaranteed 40mil for the next transfer window...

 

[guru_007]

not sure if any of you caught it, but the Serbia/Italy game was abandoned due to crowd unrest.

From reports I've read, the Serbian fans were downright insane, fights, attacking the team bus, attacking riot police, throwing flares onto the field of play, etc... After the game it got no better and huge crowds 200k+ were marching around. Serbs are probably going to have to take a forfeit there and Italy gets the three points.

 

[The Gator]

not sure if any of you caught it, but the Serbia/Italy game was abandoned due to crowd unrest.From reports I've read, the Serbian fans were downright insane, fights, attacking the team bus, attacking riot police, throwing flares onto the field of play, etc... After the game it got no better and huge crowds 200k+ were marching around. Serbs are probably going to have to take a forfeit there and Italy gets the three points.

Saw this last night on Fox Soccer Report...completely insane. Dudes in masks cutting stuff down and throwing ####. The flare came onto the field in the 18yd box when there were players in the area.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I remember the Serbia fans from South Africa - they were downright scary crazy, and the players fed it. I usually say the hooligan stuff is 90% hype, but there's no way I would attend a game where Serbia or Red Star Belgrade were playing.

 

[Eephus]

Germany Jones looked like our only player worth mentioning.

It was autumn, 1889, and more than the windmill was stirring on Wimbledon Common. Football was all the rage. There was already the Wimbledon Association side at the bottom of the hill. Now the lads at the top decided it was time to form a club of their own.These were former pupils from the Old Central School in Camp Road. It was the principal elementary school in the village, but, like the Wimbledon Football Club of today, it had such humble beginnings. It was a school built for the poor kids; a charitable concern that began life back in 1758 as The Round School. William Wilberforce was among its first trustees. In the early 19th century it became the Old Central School and it was that title that the footballers at the top of the hill decided to adopt. And so, 100 years ago, Old Centrals were born.This, then was how the local football scene had progressed when the Old Centrals took the field for the first time on November 2,1889. Westminster provided the very first opposition; the venue: The Common, by Robin Hood Road. And the result? A one nil win for the Dons. "An exciting game," trumpeted the local paper, the Surrey Independent and Mid Surrey Gazette, the following weekend.Wimbledon's next match report in the Independent was a little more forthcoming. Belmore had provided the opposition on November 30, and the Old Centrals triumphed this time 2-1. "An exciting game," it said, again, with the following tribute: "Messrs. G. Rayment, E. Anstee and S. Watts played ex­tremely well for the winners." Rayment was the club's first skipper, with F. Preston elected his vice captain. It was this pair who led the first Dons onto the park, already kitted out in their famous navy blue and white colours.

 

[Desert_Power]

not sure if any of you caught it, but the Serbia/Italy game was abandoned due to crowd unrest.

From reports I've read, the Serbian fans were downright insane, fights, attacking the team bus, attacking riot police, throwing flares onto the field of play, etc... After the game it got no better and huge crowds 200k+ were marching around. Serbs are probably going to have to take a forfeit there and Italy gets the three points.

Probably the only way they can get them.

 

[Eephus]

I'm quite interested to see how Germany Jones connects with LanDon

1890-91So, into season number two. Seventeen matches played, with six wins, five defeats and six draws. The goals, however, were hard to come by Old Centrals managing 16 in their inaugural season, but conceding 17. Although founder member J. W. Selby was the club's first president, with Mr. N. C. Jenkins the first secretary, it was George Rayment who took the chair at the Old Centrals end-of-the-first-season general meeting, held at the Ridgeway Coffee Tavern, on Saturday April 26, 1890.Old Centrals had 41 members and were looking to expand. The meeting agreed to stage a trial match in September before the start of their second season, the intention being to strengthen the squad and compete against a higher standard of opposition. Secretary Jenkins was also treasurer, and he was keeping his cards close to his chest. The club was in a sound financial condition, he reported, "able to carry over a considera­ble balance." What that was exactly, Jenkins wasn't saying.

 

[scoobygang]

If Jones remains a fixture into the next World Cup, we might get to Vinny Jones.

I can still say "LandyCakes", right?

 

[Eephus]

If Jones remains a fixture into the next World Cup, we might get to Vinny Jones.I can still say "LandyCakes", right?

This is the only good thing about Jones being 28 already.It's too bad he wasn't eligible for WC2010. The US could have really used him in So. Africa

 

[Steve Tasker]

Wenger has not brought a trophy to Arsenal since 2005 and, asked to defend his record, he said: ''Arsenal get better each season without losing 200 million euros a year. This is not true of all my colleagues in England and the rest of Europe...''

 

[The Gator]

Wenger has not brought a trophy to Arsenal since 2005 and, asked to defend his record, he said: ''Arsenal get better each season without losing 200 million euros a year. This is not true of all my colleagues in England and the rest of Europe...''

I hope he keeps making the team money and continues not winning anything:java:

 

[El Floppo]

holy crap, I tried to give USmnt a chance here, but that was the most boring ####### game ever.Never watching another national game outside of the WC.Caught the Germany Euro 2012 qualifier yesterday afternoon. They look really good. And the field they were playing on was artificial turf, I think a lot of stadiums should make the switch tbh. Pretty sure the ball was moving nice and true the whole game. Made for lots of opportunities.Also watched the Brazil friendly on Monday. Brazil had the beautiful game working again. Tons of short, quick passes moving the ball around effortlessly, nice. They did have a few lapses in the back and could have drawn or lost that game (disallowed goal, goal post...), but in the midfield and attack they were smooth as silk

whoa. dismiss the team because of a boring game? I've seen your Red Devils play some pretty boring games too...and field turf is horrible- it becomes a different sport with it. more about the short passing game and the tight touch (which is fine). long balls tend to run too long, footing is dicey, the ball spins weirdly when it bounces, sliding still takes some skin (although nowhere near the slice n dice astroturf), tougher to get under the ball. I get it if it's a question of dirt or field turf, but if grass is even remotely an option it needs to be the surface of choice.

 

[El Floppo]

But that was a pretty dismal game to watch.

 

[Eephus]

But that was a pretty dismal game to watch.

I'll take a clean sheet against decent competition. The US' tendency to give away goals is the most frustrating thing about this team that's not named Jozy.

 

[guru_007]

I dunno, I kinda like the field turf for soccer, didn't think I would. I guess it may be much better suited for colder climates, as it has to be preferred to playing over a frozen pitch. But the handful of games I've seen played on it have had a nice flow to them CL final between Chelsea and United was played on turf too if I recall.

 

[El Floppo]

I dunno, I kinda like the field turf for soccer, didn't think I would. I guess it may be much better suited for colder climates, as it has to be preferred to playing over a frozen pitch. But the handful of games I've seen played on it have had a nice flow to them CL final between Chelsea and United was played on turf too if I recall.

dunno- maybe the games have had good flow not because of the field, but because they're good teams? like watching teams on a wet field- the lesser EPL teams' players struggle with their touch, but the good teams/players play as if it's dry.fwiw- the turf I've played on doesn't do well in the cold (get's very, very hard)... but the pro fields probably have warmers under them.

 

[Eephus]

I dunno, I kinda like the field turf for soccer, didn't think I would. I guess it may be much better suited for colder climates, as it has to be preferred to playing over a frozen pitch. But the handful of games I've seen played on it have had a nice flow to them CL final between Chelsea and United was played on turf too if I recall.

apples and oranges I know, but Field Turf saved my son's head in a game this spring. He ended up with a concussion anyway but it could have been a lot worse if the game had been on one of the usual rock hard grass/dirt fields in the City.Synthetic fields have come a long way since the days of the high bounces at Loftus Road and the US-Switzerland game at the Silverdome.

 

[El Floppo]

But that was a pretty dismal game to watch.

I'll take a clean sheet against decent competition. The US' tendency to give away goals is the most frustrating thing about this team that's not named Jozy.

yeah, I guess. I still prefer the quality of the play over the result in these friendlies. And the play was pretty drab yesterday.... except for our main-man, Germany Jones.jozy... yeah- frustrating. but he's still getting into good positions pretty regularly, which is a good thing. just not doing the right thing with the ball pretty regularly- bad thing. I'd really like to see him play live, so I can watch what he's doing off the ball (I'm guessing he's doing the right things in that regard)- I washed my hands of EJ after watching him live play like an amateur running off the ball... and I use the word "running" loosely.

 

[El Floppo]

I dunno, I kinda like the field turf for soccer, didn't think I would. I guess it may be much better suited for colder climates, as it has to be preferred to playing over a frozen pitch. But the handful of games I've seen played on it have had a nice flow to them CL final between Chelsea and United was played on turf too if I recall.

apples and oranges I know, but Field Turf saved my son's head in a game this spring. He ended up with a concussion anyway but it could have been a lot worse if the game had been on one of the usual rock hard grass/dirt fields in the City.Synthetic fields have come a long way since the days of the high bounces at Loftus Road and the US-Switzerland game at the Silverdome.

I used to play at Balboa... pretty nice field right there. No skull cracking happening in that joint, at least not from the field. But I can imagine the typical city field isn't going to be so hot- feel like I played a few games in GG Park somewhere... come to think of it, they weren't so bad either. Here in NYC they've all gone the way of field turf, but they used to be pretty much dirt, scraps of grass here and there, and broken bottles/detritus.

 

[NewlyRetired]

Synthetic fields have come a long way since the days of the high bounces at Loftus Road and the US-Switzerland game at the Silverdome.

There was nothing synthetic about the Silverdome field during WC1994. It was all grass installed above the turf field that was currently in the Silverdome at the timehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontiac_Silverdome

 

[NewlyRetired]

holy crap, I tried to give USmnt a chance here, but that was the most boring ####### game ever.Never watching another national game outside of the WC.Caught the Germany Euro 2012 qualifier yesterday afternoon. They look really good. And the field they were playing on was artificial turf, I think a lot of stadiums should make the switch tbh. Pretty sure the ball was moving nice and true the whole game. Made for lots of opportunities.Also watched the Brazil friendly on Monday. Brazil had the beautiful game working again. Tons of short, quick passes moving the ball around effortlessly, nice. They did have a few lapses in the back and could have drawn or lost that game (disallowed goal, goal post...), but in the midfield and attack they were smooth as silk

whoa. dismiss the team because of a boring game? I've seen your Red Devils play some pretty boring games too...

yeah I agree that makes almost zero sense.Making a decision never to watch a team based on one meaningless friendly, and arguably the most boring game ever played by the US in years? Really has zero logic to it IMO but their was obvious bias in the statement. Nothing wrong with the bias either, some teams people just don't want to watch for what ever reason.As to the Turf, you guys are talking apples and oranges.The field turf we have in the US is 100% artificial. It is not the same product that is used in Europe for the most part which blends natural grass and synthetic fibers together

 

[Eephus]

But that was a pretty dismal game to watch.

I'll take a clean sheet against decent competition. The US' tendency to give away goals is the most frustrating thing about this team that's not named Jozy.

yeah, I guess. I still prefer the quality of the play over the result in these friendlies. And the play was pretty drab yesterday.... except for our main-man, Germany Jones.

1891-92So, season three got under way, and controversy was soon to follow. It came in the match against Kingston Wanderers on December 13. The Wanderers were 1-0 up but Wimbledon were fighting back. It was, however, getting dark. It was in the fading light that a Wimbledon boot met ball, and over the line it went. The referee never saw it, heated debate followed and the ref declared he couldn't give a decision either way, as it was far too dark.Wimbledon were furious, their good start to the season tarnished by an obviously short-sighted man in the middle. So off to The Welcome pub they went for the following Friday's general meeting, determined to put the record straight. Rayment was again in the chair and he put it to the vote. "Gentlemen," he would have said, "did, or did not, the ball cross the line?" Nine team members said it did, and that was sufficient. The result against Kingston was duly changed to a 1-1 draw.