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***Official Soccer Discussion Thread*** (2 Viewers)

'The Z Machine said:
I agree. He can't be asked to be a creative offensive force. He's suited to being an enforcing presence in the defensive midfield, but claudio reyna he is not. And that ain't syaing much...
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I can't figure out what the formation is. Clark for Larentowitz was obviously a straight swap but Wando for Benny had to have changed things.
 
Neither of these teams understand the concept of "passing into space". Every pass is to the feet of their teammate, and when the ball gets there so does the defense.

 
'The Z Machine said:
Neither of these teams understand the concept of "passing into space". Every pass is to the feet of their teammate, and when the ball gets there so does the defense.
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Benny was the only one who had a bit of vision. Ironically this is Zusi's strength but he looked so lost on the wing when he usually has the whole field to work with.
 
'NewlyRetired said:
'The Z Machine said:
Neither of these teams understand the concept of "passing into space". Every pass is to the feet of their teammate, and when the ball gets there so does the defense.
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Benny was the only one who had a bit of vision. Ironically this is Zusi's strength but he looked so lost on the wing when he usually has the whole field to work with.
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Zusi was horrible- just horrible. My first real look at him since the juniors... very disappointed. Soooooo slow with his decision making, and way too many touches. Frustrating to watch.
 
'The Z Machine said:
Ricardo Clark might have cost me some happy time tonight... definitely NOT redeemed in my eyes.
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Are you telling me that the prospect a listless draw in a B team international friendly left your wife ready to bang, but a miracle header from a waste of carbon suddenly changed things?
 
'The Z Machine said:
wifey says "this has been a parade of ineptitude. Even the tv production is garbage."
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:goodposting: Whoever was directing that had no idea when to show replays or what to show as replays. I kept sitting there waiting, and I'd get nothing but closeups of players' faces. Thanks for that. Makes me want to get into soccer tv production- that kind of thing kills me when I'm watching.

 
It was tough to see what kind of formation the US was playing. Seemed like Benny was up top with Bunburry? And Jones was all over the field. But I liked the overall desire to try and possess the ball, even though when the pass required was to a guy showing, that guy couldn't hold the damn ball :broken-record:

Hamid- didn't have to do much at all. I liked that he came into traffic once and punched with authority. Didn't like his distribution, particularly from goal kicks.

Parkhurst and Cameron looked good in the middle- not really tested much, but they did a great job of keeping the overall shape together (I mentioned that it falls apart without Boca) and keeping the defensive middle fairly danger-free. Sometimes a little slow with their passing and decision making, but not bad. I liked seeing that nice tight line across the back all game.

Pearce seemed his usual, just a bit below this level self. Nothing glaringly bad or good.

I actually really liked Dela Garza. I know he was told to push forward by JK, and I thought he did a good job doing it. Put himself in good spots to support the attack and had a nice touch. Made some good, smart quick passes and decisions with the ball, but sometimes lacked a final touch on the cross. Got up and back well. THought he did himself a solid on the night.

Zusi was terrible. Too many touches, too slow deciding what to do. Worked hard though.

Jones- wow. Looked like the only guy in mid-season form. Made a handful of horrific passes and looked ready to stomp on some feet from almost the opening whistle (VZ must have seen that video and known to go after him), but otherwise was the MOM for me. Moved the ball around well, dribbled well, was all over the field and consistently broke up the middle of the field defensively.

Laurentowitz is a very good MLS player, but is like Pearce- clearly a rung below this level. Consistently puts his first touch in the wrong place, and then spends the rest of his possession catching up to that. A touch slow in his decision making. But positions well defensively and tackles with bite- and I know he's got a rocket of a shot if given the chance.

Shea looked like a guy in off-season form. So easy to see what makes him special- that quick first step, long legs in for tackles, eagerness to go at players and show some creativity on the ball. But his touch failed him more than not, especially as he tired, and he was a step slow mentally most of the night. Some poor decisions going at guys vs passing vs holding things up. His defensive spacing seemed off too- usually too close to a team-mate, while leaving space and players open around him. But he's young, and he's in his off-season, so I'm not too worried about him. Loved that he found some dangerous seams and could've put two in on the night.

Thought Benny looked really good on the ball and actually defended really well. I wanted to watch him more directly, but got caught up in the game and forgot... it seemed like he needed to get more involved and did his usual disappearing for too much of the game for a #10. Perhaps because Jones was so involved in the middle? Dunno. But I would have liked to see him get the ball at his feet more, which usually means working harder to find the space.

Bunburry seemed like yet another guy up front for the US. Didn't seem to make strong runs, didn't play the ball off quick or well enough for my liking, and didn't hold the ball. But a couple of nice turn and shoots- which is a step up for our usual forward. Just didn't see much from him that tells me he's going to chance anything for the positive for US up front.

Wondo's uses for the US are fairly limited, but man he was constantly johnny on the spot tonight. dare I say it... looked a little Ching-esque, winning the ball, scrapping and playing some nice balls off to runners- also obviously has a good sense of timing in front of the goal and could have had a couple tonight. Might have played himself into some WCQ team.

I wanted to see more of Sapong- not much to judge tonight, but I liked how forceful he was making his runs. Looking forward to seeing more.

So... For my money, Shea and Jones are obviuosly in the mix for hte regular team. But on the night, the following guys played their way into more consideration for me: Cameron, Parkhurst, DelaGarza, Benny, Wondo.

 
RBNY Transfer Rumors: NY Red Bulls Could Lose Ream, Rodgers and Agudelo This Month

Tim Ream leaving the New York Red Bulls has seemingly been in the works since the conclusion of the 2011 Major League Soccer campaign. Ream is slated to join Bolton upon receiving a long-awaited work permit, a permit he's expected to get early next week. Two other fan favorites may also soon be leaving the club, for two very different reasons.

Either Luke Rodgers or Juan Agudelo, or possibly both, could soon find themselves out of MLS. Rodgers, arguably New York's MVP during the 2011 campaign, has been dealing with visa issues caused by previous legal troubles. Agudelo, on the other hand, could soon be sold to a European side. New York head coach Hans Backe spoke to Brian Lewis of the New York Post on Friday about the team's current roster. Lewis quoted Backe as saying "I don't expect them to come back, because I know from last year and 2010 already with the visa problems for Luke, the rumors about Juan of course, today I can't count on them. Hopefully we'll have an answer in the next two weeks."

Rodgers actually replaced Agudelo in Backe's starting 11 last spring, a move that was a much-needed shot in the arm for a Red Bulls attack that was, at the time, struggling mightily. His toughness coupled with his ability to create and bury goals made Rodgers one of the most popular players on the 2011 squad. Rodgers was forced to sit out for much of the summer, however, due to a continuous battle with plantar fasciitis. He returned during the pivotal last stretch of the season, and even found the back of the net in the club's final match of the season, the playoff loss at LA Galaxy.

Agudelo had a different kind of roller coaster 2011. Things started out rather well for the young forward, as he buried the game winning goal in New York's season opener against the Seattle Sounders. He then scored for the US Men's National Team in the team's 1-1 draw with Argentina, a nationally televised game played just a short drive down the road from Red Bull Arena. Agudelo just didn't mesh with New York captain Thierry Henry as did Rodgers, however, and he fell a bit out of favor with the Red Bulls head coach. Backe gave Agudelo limited playing time throughout the campaign, and rumors regarding Agudelo's departure from the club surfaced even before the team's elimination from the 2011 MLS Playoffs.

Agudelo has completed training stints in Germany and with Liverpool during the current MLS offseason, and he has been linked with potential loans and transfers to several European sides. One "in the know" individual told me during the holiday season that the Red Bulls are not interested in loaning Agudelo to any club. Making a clean break seems to be in the best interests of all parties at this point.

The Red Bulls acquired Portland Timbers forward Kenny Cooper in the hours leading up to the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. At the time, it was thought that Cooper was possibly an "insurance move," with Agudelo slated to be busy playing with Team USA in the upcoming months, and both Rodgers and Henry likely to miss at least a bit of playing time during the upcoming season due to fatigue/injuries. As rumors continue to swirl, however, it's looking more and more like Cooper may be a replacement for at least one of the team's more popular goal creators.
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My problem with de la garza is his crossing. I can't stand a wing back that doesn't have many defensive responsibilities because the opposition is toothless, but spends the majority of the game overshooting his crosses, and being basically worthless as an outlet pass. Yes it's good he got up and down all night, but it's not like he had to do a lot with a useless VZLA offense on the field.

Hamid didn't impress me with his goal kicks at all. He didn't have a lot of work to do, and I think he made an unnecessary risk with that punch at the edge of the box.

Shea lost a lot of passes in the offensive midfield. He was the biggest threat so the US kept going back to him, and he had some creativity, but the passing and touch was just poor, especially late in the game.

This game needed some Clint Dempsey.

 
'The Z Machine said:
'Steve Tasker said:
Bibotelli lucky to still be on the field after his attempted stomp on Parker. The FA isn't going to like that.
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It looked almost intentional. I'm really not sure it was though as he was spinning and falling. Not a good thing though regardless.
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I think the first one was accidental, but the second looked pretty bad. I imagine it'd happen so fast that Howard Webb didn't even see it.
 
City avoids two easy red cards for dirty play and get a miracle in the end. How completely absurd.

Tottenham have a tough schedule coming and that is going to be hard to get over.

 
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Really great start for Arsenal but they faded as it went on. That goal was always coming, it was only a matter of time....if I had to pick a defender to #### it up though, it wouldn't have been Vermaelen. Arsenal have no ideas going forward, no creativity, RvP has no service at all. This is a role I think that Arteta would excel in, he was always so creative at Everton and I just think Arsenal doesn't use him properly...but he's not available anyway. I think they've gotta get Benayoun in for Rosicky immediately...at least he's capable of creating something. I love Ramsey, but he's getting beaten in the midfield. I think Song is having one hell of a first half, as always....I think he's the second best player on the team.

 
On a lighter note, I'm watching with my 81 year-old grandmother who knows nothing about soccer. She called Sir Alex "precious" and says that Ryan Giggs looks really old. :lmao:

 
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