Time for a sixth title in Brasil.I'm already excited about the WC next year.
Time for a sixth title in Brasil.I'm already excited about the WC next year.
Before the Guetamala friendly, Wondo had failed to score to in 11 USMNT matches. That includes at least two sitters that he missed that I can remember. I also think that Wondo is the type of striker who's sole contribution is getting goals. There's nothing wrong with that. That's his job. But it means that he can't really contribute in other ways. He isn't great holding the ball up. He doesn't stretch the defense with running. He can't head out to the wing. He's a fox in the box. And I personally think that a lot of tricks won't work against world class center backs (his goal against Chelsea in the MLS all star game notwithstanding).After being the leading goal scorer this year, how come Wondo hasn't earned a spot on the WC squad?
Just a guess since I don't watch MLS much, but it's possible to be a prolific goal scorer against weak competition and be completely unable to score when you have little time and have to create a half-yard of space for yourself to even get your shot off.After being the leading goal scorer this year, how come Wondo hasn't earned a spot on the WC squad?
FYI, it was apparently Parkhurst who crapped the bed on the set piece last night. He also had a nice assist, but I don't think he's covered himself in glory in the past two games. Which is a shame, as I've always liked him.Was it Orozco who lost his mark?
Assuming they stay in form, and injury free, at their club teams, I'd be shocked if either were left off the squad at this point.I guess we'll know more about Holden and LD after a few more Gold Cup games, particularly in the knock-out stages. Overall the competition looks pretty weak though, so who knows if either will play their way into the USMNT for the next round of qualification. I have a feeling that Sacha and/or Davis will get the boot.
I think it's great. It will be very amusing in Geordieland if they are stronger than Newcastle.Jesus, Sunderland is completely overhauling their team. Two more fullbacks today and still in it for Giaccherini. This is a team that looks like it's completely refashioning itself to play fast and on the ground. It will still be direct, but not in Stoke kind of way. More in the German kind of way.
I think it's a great move for Everton, and for Martinez in installing his possession and movement oriented system there.Deulofeu to go on loan for Everton this year. Should be a good move for the player's development since he is only 19.
We'll see if DiCanio can make the trains run on timeJesus, Sunderland is completely overhauling their team. Two more fullbacks today and still in it for Giaccherini. This is a team that looks like it's completely refashioning itself to play fast and on the ground. It will still be direct, but not in Stoke kind of way. More in the German kind of way.
Time for a sixth title in Brasil.I'm already excited about the WC next year.
Brazil's chances are greatly improved as hosts. I'd say the four favorites are Brazil, Spain, Italy and Germany.Time for a sixth title in Brasil.I'm already excited about the WC next year.![]()
Time for Germany's 4th.
I really think the climate could be murder for Germany. My money is on Argentina. I also have Columbia as a semi-finalist dark horse.Brazil's chances are greatly improved as hosts. I'd say the four favorites are Brazil, Spain, Italy and Germany.Time for a sixth title in Brasil.I'm already excited about the WC next year.![]()
Time for Germany's 4th.
Couldn't they have just said his name backwards when he was about to shoot and made him disappear?Mkitharyrin scores in his debut with Dortmund today vs Basel.
Having lived in Germany during two world cup years, I'm sure they view a harsh climate as an advantage. The Germans sincerely believe their training methods and fitness are so superior to the RoW that altitude, severe heat, snow, whatever, gives them an advantage or is at worst a neutral factor.I really think the climate could be murder for Germany. My money is on Argentina. I also have Columbia as a semi-finalist dark horse.Brazil's chances are greatly improved as hosts. I'd say the four favorites are Brazil, Spain, Italy and Germany.Time for a sixth title in Brasil.I'm already excited about the WC next year.Time for Germany's 4th.
I thought the heat at RFK really hurt the Germans this summer during the friendly (to the point that their late surge seemed to be tied to being able to sub liberally).Having lived in Germany during two world cup years, I'm sure they view a harsh climate as an advantage. The Germans sincerely believe their training methods and fitness are so superior to the RoW that altitude, severe heat, snow, whatever, gives them an advantage or is at worst a neutral factor.I really think the climate could be murder for Germany. My money is on Argentina. I also have Columbia as a semi-finalist dark horse.Brazil's chances are greatly improved as hosts. I'd say the four favorites are Brazil, Spain, Italy and Germany.Time for a sixth title in Brasil.I'm already excited about the WC next year.Time for Germany's 4th.
:Lamp:Evilgrin 72 said:Couldn't they have just said his name backwards when he was about to shoot and made him disappear?guru_007 said:Mkitharyrin scores in his debut with Dortmund today vs Basel.
On loan from who?In his previous Nats stint, Holden was normally played on the wing. He seems to have regained his acceleration, so my sense is that Stu is one of the more versatile players on the team and could play either CM position, on the right flank, and possibly in the hole behind a loan striker (although I think Deuce and Landon are the clear first and second choices in that position).Didn't realize Holden's 27 already. Still think of him as one of the young guys.
Is he a straight backup for Bradley, or is there another way to get him on the field?
Not to get too excited about Guatemala and Belieze but the difference between an effective goal scorer and a goal scorer is confidence. The more Wondo gets the easy ones the higher his confidence builds. With the US being a team that struggles to score in big tourneys, it is hard to leave behind a confident goal scorer. While he doesn't start, he's definitely an option off the bench when we need a goal. I say he's doing a lot right now to make it tough to keep off the squad. If I'm Herc, I'm nervous about Wondo.Before the Guetamala friendly, Wondo had failed to score to in 11 USMNT matches. That includes at least two sitters that he missed that I can remember. I also think that Wondo is the type of striker who's sole contribution is getting goals. There's nothing wrong with that. That's his job. But it means that he can't really contribute in other ways. He isn't great holding the ball up. He doesn't stretch the defense with running. He can't head out to the wing. He's a fox in the box. And I personally think that a lot of tricks won't work against world class center backs (his goal against Chelsea in the MLS all star game notwithstanding).After being the leading goal scorer this year, how come Wondo hasn't earned a spot on the WC squad?
They also had the advantage of NOT having played 120 minutes + penalties.Brazil pressed early on a ton vs Spain. But they had the luxury of an extra day of rest, and having fewer knockout games compared to the WC format. They may be challenged more in the quarters or semis, which could diminish their advantage vs a team like Spain.
But with that said, they looked tremendously athletic and fit, and coupled with the home nation advantage, they will probably look like one of the most fit teams in 2014.
You could consider the Germans as playing at home what with Mengele and the Boys from Brazil and all.Brazil's chances are greatly improved as hosts. I'd say the four favorites are Brazil, Spain, Italy and Germany.Time for a sixth title in Brasil.I'm already excited about the WC next year.Time for Germany's 4th.
Not a done deal.DAMNIT, Thiago is gonna rejoin Pep in Bayern and not go to United.
This was one signing I was very interested in United getting done. While keeping Rooney is obviously a personal preference of mine, I think Thiago would have filled a glaring need for United.
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Really doesn't make sense at all. United is perfect for him while Bayern is probably the toughest midfield in the world to break into.DAMNIT, Thiago is gonna rejoin Pep in Bayern and not go to United.
This was one signing I was very interested in United getting done. While keeping Rooney is obviously a personal preference of mine, I think Thiago would have filled a glaring need for United.
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A lot of people think Pep is going to drop Martinez to CB.I don't think Pep would make a point of making Thiago his ONE transfer target if he didn't intend to use him.
Just as a matter of preferences, it's hard to see Pep starting two DMs like Schweiny and Garcia together. He never did that at Barca. I could see him liking Thiago more than Kroos, or something.
I'm actually having a hard time envisioning what Pep intends to play.
I've come to the conclusion that the powers that be behind Barca and RM are nothing but a bunch of back-stabbing female dogs. It's worse than a sorority.
Interesting that he is blaming Rosell for the media's rumor mill. Most managers don't get nearly this upset by the BS in the daily papers.
Pretty major power struggle at Barcelona with the previous president (Laporta) doing his best to take down the current one (Rosell).I've come to the conclusion that the powers that be behind Barca and RM are nothing but a bunch of back-stabbing female dogs. It's worse than a sorority.
All Mourinhos fault no doubt. It was all one big happy love-in for RM and Barca before he poisoned Spanish football.I've come to the conclusion that the powers that be behind Barca and RM are nothing but a bunch of back-stabbing female dogs. It's worse than a sorority.
His biggest crime in their eyes was that he was just himself and refused to play their games, and unapologetically so. Amusing actually. They hired someone who was a bigger ####### than they were.All Mourinhos fault no doubt. It was all one big happy love-in for RM and Barca before he poisoned Spanish football.I've come to the conclusion that the powers that be behind Barca and RM are nothing but a bunch of back-stabbing female dogs. It's worse than a sorority.
It would be hard for anyone to be a bigger ##### than Jose Mourinho.His biggest crime in their eyes was that he was just himself and refused to play their games, and unapologetically so. Amusing actually. They hired someone who was a bigger ####### than they were.All Mourinhos fault no doubt. It was all one big happy love-in for RM and Barca before he poisoned Spanish football.I've come to the conclusion that the powers that be behind Barca and RM are nothing but a bunch of back-stabbing female dogs. It's worse than a sorority.
Can you unpack that a little? Am I missing something, or why is it that he should care if Man U gets pissed?Really doesn't make sense at all. United is perfect for him while Bayern is probably the toughest midfield in the world to break into.DAMNIT, Thiago is gonna rejoin Pep in Bayern and not go to United.
This was one signing I was very interested in United getting done. While keeping Rooney is obviously a personal preference of mine, I think Thiago would have filled a glaring need for United.
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Pep sure doing his best to burn bridges though.
I suspect he's referring to the recent statements in the press about Barca, and perhaps also his signing of Thiago away from Barca.Can you unpack that a little? Am I missing something, or why is it that he should care if Man U gets pissed?Really doesn't make sense at all. United is perfect for him while Bayern is probably the toughest midfield in the world to break into.DAMNIT, Thiago is gonna rejoin Pep in Bayern and not go to United.
This was one signing I was very interested in United getting done. While keeping Rooney is obviously a personal preference of mine, I think Thiago would have filled a glaring need for United.
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Pep sure doing his best to burn bridges though.
With Barcelona, not United. That is a seperate thought from the first two sentances.Can you unpack that a little? Am I missing something, or why is it that he should care if Man U gets pissed?Really doesn't make sense at all. United is perfect for him while Bayern is probably the toughest midfield in the world to break into.DAMNIT, Thiago is gonna rejoin Pep in Bayern and not go to United.
This was one signing I was very interested in United getting done. While keeping Rooney is obviously a personal preference of mine, I think Thiago would have filled a glaring need for United.
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Pep sure doing his best to burn bridges though.
Gotcha. Thanks.With Barcelona, not United. That is a seperate thought from the first two sentances.Can you unpack that a little? Am I missing something, or why is it that he should care if Man U gets pissed?Really doesn't make sense at all. United is perfect for him while Bayern is probably the toughest midfield in the world to break into.DAMNIT, Thiago is gonna rejoin Pep in Bayern and not go to United.
This was one signing I was very interested in United getting done. While keeping Rooney is obviously a personal preference of mine, I think Thiago would have filled a glaring need for United.
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Pep sure doing his best to burn bridges though.
Barcelona's Villa for Rooney deal gets harder every dayHow's this for a monkey wrench thrown into transfer rumors - Rooney out for a month with a hamstring injury.![]()
The irony about this sort of news is that it could also be an outright lie to use as cover for him not traveling with the team during preseason as they shop him, that is if they've decided to transfer him.Barcelona's Villa for Rooney deal gets harder every dayHow's this for a monkey wrench thrown into transfer rumors - Rooney out for a month with a hamstring injury.![]()
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The silly season is painful to go through. You never know what is just blantly made up out of the blue either.The irony about this sort of news is that it could also be an outright lie to use as cover for him not traveling with the team during preseason as they shop him, that is if they've decided to transfer him. In short, it could mean the opposite of what you'd initially suspect, that he's leaving United instead of staying.Barcelona's Villa for Rooney deal gets harder every dayHow's this for a monkey wrench thrown into transfer rumors - Rooney out for a month with a hamstring injury.![]()
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The Guardian seems to understand the absurdity of it all: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/jul/11/football-transfer-rumours-daniele-de-rossiSlapdash said:The silly season is painful to go through. You never know what is just blantly made up out of the blue either.T Bell said:The irony about this sort of news is that it could also be an outright lie to use as cover for him not traveling with the team during preseason as they shop him, that is if they've decided to transfer him. In short, it could mean the opposite of what you'd initially suspect, that he's leaving United instead of staying.Slapdash said:Barcelona's Villa for Rooney deal gets harder every dayT Bell said:How's this for a monkey wrench thrown into transfer rumors - Rooney out for a month with a hamstring injury.![]()
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