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Disagree to a degree. Right before his big injury with Milan, he showed me a mich more 'refined set of skills on the ball, including his passing and vision. But then he got hurt and *poof* went those new skills. I do agree that he is likely done at the nat level.
re: Boyd...
who doesn't realize that he's close? He's making and playing for the national team as a young guy... how much closer are you thinking he needs to be for people to realize that he's closer than they're thinking? I'm confused about Cherundolo too. He repeatedly chased down speedy Jamaican attackers, both with his speed (which is clearly still there) and with his positional sense which is amazing and can make up for any mismatches in pace. Unless we're talking about people with world class sprinting speed, I don't recall seeing him beaten by pace while healthy. But yeah, he's pushing up against the ceiling for age and might lose a step sooner than later, especially if he gets hurt again.I agree that Jozy dropped the ball this cycle so far. When I see highlights of his AZ games, seems like he's playing solitary up front with 2 or 3 guys running off him. Seems to me for the nats that he hasn't figured out how to play alongside Gomez, who is making all the juicy runs while Jozy does... dunno... stuff. Which is strange, because Jozy played his best alongside Davies, IMO, and Davies was another guy who made all the tough runs off of Jozy.And you left Adu off your list of young players. 
Given the way it played out I'm glad it took them so long to score. If they'd scored earlier and lost their mojo as quickly and completely as they did I have no doubt Jamaica scores.
Take it to the soccer thread, guy.
Well, it helps if you put a few posters on ignore.And with today's television coverage, you can really branch out a bit more than just EPL all the time. That's like watching just the AFC in football. I don't get a chance to watch much La Liga, or Bundesliga, but I do follow what I can - and I enjoy the thoughts of those that do, even if they are a wee bit Barca heavy.And I don't care for international soccer much (waste of time and resources)...but I don't mind all that much the discussion that comes from it.
There is a bunch of EPL talk in this thread. You just picked a poor time to read up I think as the EPL was on international break and obviously many were focused on the qualifiers. The EPL talk will pick up again starting this weekend I would think.Was this really your first post since joining FBG more than 5 years ago or do you typically post under another name?
I'm a big fan of the major Euro leagues. I just can't stand minor league soccer (MLS) or the US national team in general. I'm American but never liked anyone except Dempsey.
the sides with the best pitches...when we have to go play on astroturf in third world countries...not good.Ok here is todays questionAssume US makes it to HexWhat teams would you prefer to see in the Hex with them (in terms of giving the US the easiest path to the finals, in terms of home and road games).Choose 1: Jamaica or GuatChoose 1: El Salvador or Costa RicaChoose 2: Panama, Canada, or HondurasMy thoughts:*Very hard for me to choose between Jamaica or Guat. Both present significantly different problems for the US. Not having to play against Ruiz would be ok though*The second choice is easy. El Salvador is a pain in the ### to play, but they would do everyone in the hex a big favor to dump out Costa Rica*The third group I would most want to see Canada advance (even though I don't think they will). There are no road issues to be concerned with for Canada and their best player is getting long in the tooth in DeRo. The other two teams are going to be nightmares for the US on the road. Honduras is loaded with talent, whether they can play together as a good team will be their issue. Panama was pegged by many of US as the dark horse and their fans are really supporting them and Blaz Perez IMO is one of the top #9's in the entire region.
I know he's committed verbally and played in the Olympics but has Andy Najar been cap tied to Honduras at a Senior level yet?the sides with the best pitches...when we have to go play on astroturf in third world countries...not good.Ok here is todays questionAssume US makes it to HexWhat teams would you prefer to see in the Hex with them (in terms of giving the US the easiest path to the finals, in terms of home and road games).Choose 1: Jamaica or GuatChoose 1: El Salvador or Costa RicaChoose 2: Panama, Canada, or HondurasMy thoughts:*Very hard for me to choose between Jamaica or Guat. Both present significantly different problems for the US. Not having to play against Ruiz would be ok though
I don't think so. According to wiki he has two senior caps, one of which was in a friendly. I am searching for his other cap. He has not appeared in any of Honduras's WCQiers so far and he was not on the Honduran roster for the Gold Cup. I think these were the only two places he could have been cap tied.
I'm picturing a PSA... "If you watch cup quarterfinal matches from 13 years ago involving at least one team of no serious repute you may need to call Soccaholics Anonymous at 1-800-Socahol."
He's also young enough that he could switch later. That's possible, right? You can switch countries if you hold nationality on both and are under 23 or something, even if you'd played a senior FIFA sanctioned game. Am I making that up?
Once you are cap tied by playing an official FIFA game, that is it, no matter your age. However, what is new is that you can make a one time switch even after the age of 21 as long as you have not played in an official FIFA sanctioned game (which means you could represent a country at youth levels and at senior levels in friendlies but still switch later). Jermaine Jones is the perfect example. Up until the day Najar is officially cap tied, whether it be tomorrow or 7 years from now, technically he could choose the US to switch to. Here is more detail from online===========================Seven Big Questions on the FIFA Cap Rule by Benjamin Massey on Jun 28, 2009 4:01 PM PDT You've all heard about the new rule instituted by FIFA where players over twenty-one, once considered cap tied, were now international free agents. Whereas once a player would be considered safe after his twenty-first birthday, he is now fair game once more, and those of us who thought we had a young star sewn up must once again live in fear.1) So what, exactly, was the old rule?Back in the days of yore, a player could be cap tied in two manners. First, he could play a senior match at a FIFA-sanctioned tournament: the World Cup, the Confederations Cup, a continental championship, or qualifying for the same. Second, he could make his final decision on his twenty-first birthday. Once he turned twenty-one, that decision was carved in stone except in unusual cases like a country ceasing to exist.2) What's changed?Your twenty-first birthday no longer has any significance. Until you play a senior match at a FIFA-sanctioned tournament, you are completely fair game. You can play a billion U-20 matches, live in Canada your whole life, eat poutine and drink Rickard's Red, have a Danish grandfather and go play for Denmark because you think the women are better looking. By making the world of international football even more mercenary and less about representing your homeland on the world stage, players will get more money and everybody will win except for idiot fans.The punchline is that it's all retroactive, so players who had formerly been tied to one country can now do what they feel like.3) Why, how could this happen?At the FIFA general meeting earlier this month, Algeria put forward a motion to abolish the 21-years-old restriction, and the motion was passed with a 58% vote in favour. This was portrayed as a "surprise" and almost as a spur-of-the-moment decision by the board, but if you believe that I have some northern Ontario swamp land to sell you.
Real Madrid with their worst start in a decade. Not a century mind you, but nice to see nonetheless.
So goodhttp://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2012-09-15-ny-v-clb/highlights?videoID=200185
Too bad he's not good enough to consistently start for the United States.
Jozy has turned himself into quite an enigma.First he could not get any playing time for years in Europe but still played well for the US when called upon.Now he has settled in with a good team, playing and scoring regularly for more than a year and has been near invisible for the US.Too bad he's not good enough to consistently start for the United States.
I watched the game (ESPN Deportes). They play him as a the lone striker/target and where he's been getting his goals (today and in the highlights of earlier this season) are on breaks where they find him quickly to feet, he gives a one or two touch ball to a MF breaking and then turns and finds a slot of space to get the return wall pass. That said- I don't want to undermine the quality of his goals today (and he assisted the 4th goal by mi####ting his shot)- all three were really nicely taken and created.He's looked ok as the target- not winning many head-balls, but doing well with the ball when he doesn't have to jump. He's doing a nice job positioning himself to receive the ball and hold off the defender. I haven't seen the most dynamic runs from him, but I think AZ is relying on the 2 or 3 MFs to do that job with Jozy up top- and those guys are much different players than the guys who has played alongside Jozy for the Nats. Spritely, dynamic guys with really good touch and ability to open up space for themselves off the dribble. They also have another guy who plays behind Jozy who wins the 2nd balls and is more of an advanced holding MF than a true #10.Obviously Jozy's a good player and obviously he's scoring goals- but how those goals are being created doesn't seem to be mirrored by players for the US, so I don't (yet) blame JK for going with a guy who fits the other players better in Herc.Too bad he's not good enough to consistently start for the United States.
I only watched the first half... but what the hell happened there at the end? Go up 4-0 and then let 3 into the net in 10 minutes?
Here is a video of the games highlights. All three goals were very nice as you said. Scroll to bottom of article for videohttp://www.socceramerica.com/article/48254/altidore-goes-wild-with-hat-trick-and-assist.htmlI watched the game (ESPN Deportes). They play him as a the lone striker/target and where he's been getting his goals (today and in the highlights of earlier this season) are on breaks where they find him quickly to feet, he gives a one or two touch ball to a MF breaking and then turns and finds a slot of space to get the return wall pass. That said- I don't want to undermine the quality of his goals today (and he assisted the 4th goal by mi####ting his shot)- all three were really nicely taken and created.He's looked ok as the target- not winning many head-balls, but doing well with the ball when he doesn't have to jump. He's doing a nice job positioning himself to receive the ball and hold off the defender. I haven't seen the most dynamic runs from him, but I think AZ is relying on the 2 or 3 MFs to do that job with Jozy up top- and those guys are much different players than the guys who has played alongside Jozy for the Nats. Spritely, dynamic guys with really good touch and ability to open up space for themselves off the dribble. They also have another guy who plays behind Jozy who wins the 2nd balls and is more of an advanced holding MF than a true #10.Obviously Jozy's a good player and obviously he's scoring goals- but how those goals are being created doesn't seem to be mirrored by players for the US, so I don't (yet) blame JK for going with a guy who fits the other players better in Herc.Too bad he's not good enough to consistently start for the United States.
The Crew signed Federico Higuaín who is the brother of Gonzalo Higuaín. He looks to be a very nice player. He was named player of the week two weeks in a row shortly after being signed last month.
Somewhere Frank Stallone is smiling.
It's a bit of a balancing act. I'd say for the big European clubs, the CL and the league title are of about equal importance. Then the league cup is a step below that, and then all of the various other tournaments (Super Cup, Club World Cup, etc. etc.) are several steps below that.The CL might be a little bigger.
I'd say there is no higher aspiration than being champions of Europe.
Circle jerk. It always has and will always the the league.
Overall, the Champions League is a more significant title to win than even the top domestic leagues.But in the group stage, a lot of the biggest clubs are confident they can advance without playing their strongest lineup every game.So right now I'd say league games are the priority. But once we get to the knockout stages, it's on.
