My last response to you ever. You are a completely moronic simpleton. You hate America. Good for you. Have you ever been to America? I think not. Welcome to my ignore list.
Praise the Lord. I wouldn't want to go to America, full of twats who believe whatever the Politicians and btw its Iraq, and not I RACK or EYERACK.
Well, now that it's the knockout rounds, everything else can be thrown out the windows. Once you reach a tournament's knockout rounds a lot of upsets can happen, especially in one legged affairs (unlike the CL). I am excited for the knockout rounds. Even though I am not completely sold on the USA's performance, I am happy to have a 3-0 record. If we can raise our level of play a couple more notches we can go on to win this tournament. It's also good to see some of the veteran players stepping up into leadership roles and leading the team to good performances (like DmB and Landy). Still confused by the attacking choices and the reason to play lil' Bradley. Bob, we get it, he's your son and he's a decent player, now, let's get Clark and Mastroeni in to wreak havoc and get to the final.
Panama will be no walk over. They played well against El Tri and might easily have won. Honduras is also playing well. I thought the USA looked good against El Salvador but remember that's kind of like playing the Faroes or San Marino. Not really a true test. Mexico will play better now that it's the knock out round. I still expect that it'll be the two border rivals in the Final. Vamos los Estados Unidos, esta semana tenemos que ganar.
Agreed. He was great against Ecuador and has provided diminishing returns since. I think he's one to keep an eye on for the future, but I want to see Benny and Rico paired in the middle. I'm not a Mastro fan. Panama is really depleted after the defections and the red cards. I say we rest a few players while we can, pre-Copa, and give Mapp, Clark, and DeMerit a shot. FWIW, I think Jay's one of our better CB's and I'd rather see him in a game that counts than Bocanegra.
Why not? Personally he's one of my favorite players, although I admit that he probably will be on the way down by the time 2010 rolls around. I've only seen the game against Trinidad during the Gold Cup so far, but I was really impressed with Mapp.
I second the mastro comment, one of my favorites as well. I'm thinking... -------------------EJ---------------------- Mapp---------Donovan---------Dempsey --------Pablo-----------Clark------------- Hedjuk----Demerit----Parkhurst----Boca-- -----------------Howard------------------ Rest Beasley...also maybe rest Donovan or Dempsey and play with two strikers. Also, maybe get Ralston a game. No one can deny EJ's blistering club form, if the USA could just get another type of striker like Brian McBride we would be good. The thing about McBride was he created chances for himself and others while keeping a physical presence in the game. Thoughts for a lineup, I will be DVRing the game as I will be away on coaching and playing duties in Montana.
Yes, they will...3-0 USA. We haven't played stellar "soccer" but have still given the best performances in a very poor competition - we're only getting better.
I just don't like Mastro's lack of technical skill or ability to contribute to the attack. I realize he's a purely defensive midfielder, but that's just a bit of a wasted starter to me. I want a two-way midfielder in BB's system, and Rico Clark brings a lot more to the table, IMO. Mastro is like Momo, minus the tremendous workrate, speed, and potential. I like the fact that he brings bite to our midfield (something we need against dirty CONCACAF opponents), but he's a bit of a liability. That tackle against Pirlo last WC was just nasty - something you don't want to see on any field. I appreciate that he was laying down the law a bit, telling the Italians that we're not to be ********ed with after DeRossi's malicious elbow, but in the end it was a reckless, stupid tackle. He often makes those types of plays. Rico has a better workrate, is tactically more sound, is a better passer and dribbler of the ball, and has a rocket from distance. Plus, he's got about 5 years on Mastro. I like the leadership, experience, and toughness Pablo brings, but I feel like he's a player of the old generation of U.S. players. Mapp is awesome. I've heard rumors that Everton wants him, which would be good for him, though I'd rather see him play for someone other than the bluenoses. I think a move to Spain would be great for him. He's got workrate issues himself, but you can't deny his fluidity, creativity, speed, and willingness to go at defenders. I hope Mapp gets some more time and that he's our starter on the left in the Copa.
The only issue is that we're already deep on the left. I really wish we could find a solid right winger (Dempsey's good, but he's not a winger).
I like Rico as well. I'd like to see him get more time. I was impressed with his play against Mexico back in January, especially in light of his lack of experience with the Nats.
So true. More often than not you see Dempsey cut inside and either shoot or pass it on the ground. He rarely crosses it.
Remember Cheatin Bob is the coach who traded Clark so his kid could play in that position for the Metro. Stupidest trade in MLS that year -- always a high mark to reach.
And to think I sent a PM to this snivelling excuse for a 13 year old wanker saying that "I thought that he was above this shite and could be a valuable contributer to the board" BOY WAS I EVER WRONG!!! Or how's this? It'd be funny if it wasn't so sad really, perhaps if he starts taking his Prozac again, he'll get over it. At the moment though I think he's about to implode. He seems determind to make a fool of himself on each thread he posts on, after trying so hard to impress....Oh well! He's on my ignore list now.
Canada dismantles Guatemala, 3-0. Thank God, I don't know if my eyes could have taken another US-Guate game.
OK, what the hell is Michael Bradley doing in this lineup? It's clearly designed as a first-choice lineup, yet we stick Bradley in the one spot where we can't really afford it. He doesn't have the skill, experience, or confidence to make any incisive passes, and he's terrible at positioning himself on defense, meaning that Mastroeni and the central defenders have to do more work while Bradley runs around like a chicken with his head cut off (he's too slow to catch up with them, to top it off). And on the offensive end, our strategy basically looks like trying to smash it into Donovan and Twellman where they pinball it back to Dempsey or Beasley. Against anyone decent, this will never work. Even now, it's keeping a game close that never should've been in the first place. Seriously Bob Bradley, quit the shit with your son. It's the ********ing national team - we can't really afford playing favorites at this level. I'm actually really happy with this lineup, it's just that it needs someone experienced in distributing the ball forward to make it work (like Clark, who's conveniently sitting on the bench). Instead, we get to see an overmatched kid keep us mired in mediocrity.
Dempsey blew a chance to make it 3-0 that I think I would have finished, then Panama came back and got one with about 5 minutes to go. A couple of tense moments near the end, but the US hold on for the 2-1 win. US-Canada in the semis.
That was solid. Besides Bradley and that terrible mix-up on the Panama goal, everyone performed reasonably well. I don't like Hejduk playing RB behind Dempsey, however. Dempsey roams so much that Hejduk is forced to come down the wing, and his crossing is so poor that it's a serious liability. My MOTM is probably Beasley.
Bring on the Canucks! No way that match should have even been close. Ref was absolute shite throughout the match, both ways. We need to learn to fnish, Gooch is a clutzy bull in a china shop, Bob Bradley's subs mystified me...and we won. Panama were thuggish, and flopped like a decked full of haddock. How did they beat Mexico?
Dempsey should have made it 3-0...if I were the coach I'd scream my head off. Panama's #7 gets past 3 defenders to make it 2-1...that really looked pathetic. Subs were quite the mistery and I have to agree about Gooch - but he was there to win headers down the stretch. I don't get how we allowed them to control posession with 10 men. Panama did have some nice breakaways and they could have scored 1st if it had not been for some nice saves - Panama had 1-0 in 55th when #7 missed an open header.
