Adios to the National Team Boards

[Calcio]

Until fairly recently these boards have been a good source of information, sprinkled with the occasional rant by some idiot about the national team. Lord knows its tough to find news about the NATS, and I've enjoyed and used the boards to keep up.

After reading a few posts after last night's match, however, I'm done with it. A few posters (everyone knows who they are) need a large does of perspective. All I read last night was "Reyna (or Donovan or Hejduk or Vanney or Armas or Stewart or especially McBride . . .) sucked and should be cut." And Arena should certainly be fired, in spite of the NATS having the strongest team in their history.

Let's look at that perspective:

1. At this level, in a qualifier, the only thing that matters is the result. There are no style points. If I remember correctly, the NATS did get a good result last night. If you don't agree with this, get a life.

2. Vanney and McBride made mistakes in sequence, and the ball ended up behind Keller. You'll notice they realized it right away, from Vanney's reaction to the turnover leading to the corner, and McBride's reaction to letting his mark inside him. Other than that mistake, Vanney did the job. Yeah, McBride has had better days, and he will again.

3. The level of athletic talent in the Jamaican team is scary. These guys are very tall, very fast, and very skilled on the ball. Playing a side like that before a wildly supportive and noisy crowd is something none of us, no matter how high a level we played, have ever faced. See point #1, the result is all that matters, and it was a good one.

4. The defense did not suck, sorry. 1 goal, from the 2 mistakes. Other than that I remember only 2 or 3 other dangerous chances. Let's see, 90+ minutes, 1 goal, and few other close calls. Sounds pretty good to me.

5. The posts that re-hash every mistake are clueless. 90+ minutes, a very worthy opponent, and some of the guys make mistakes. Apparently our guys are supposed to play a perfect match, never making a mistake of any type. Even when being chased and pounded by someone with size, strength, skill, and speed.

6. Arena's decisions may not be ideal (whose are?), but they get the job done. I read, if Ching wasn't in, we wouldn't have scored. Funny, but he was. The side he put out there, and the substitutions achieved the desired result. I'm sure for El Salvador at home, we'll se a vastly different line up. One more suited to attack and get those 3 points that would/will put the NATS in first in the group. Arena has shown his flexibility in matching his team to the opponent. The back line last night was chosen for speed and ability to mark and step to the ball on the right (Hejduk), for strength, positioning, and marking in the center (Pope and Boca), and for positioning and service on the left. It worked last night. September 4 will certainly see a different back line, given El Salvador's leser attacking threat, and the NATS need to score goals. The same thing can be said for the midfield and up top. I'll be at Gillette to see it, sitting with Sam's army, and I can hardly wait.

7. It appears the hostile/complainer/whining posters' major problem is that Arena does not choose his roster, starters, substitutes, and everything else according to their posts. They post, nothing happens. They become more and more shrill, and still nothing happens. Thank goodness Bruce ignores this group, but this only makes them more angry. The NATS are in good hands. The fact that Arena isn't taking this unsolicited advice makes me very happy.

Enough of this. Flame away, but I won't be back to read it. That leads to the question, "if a moron screams and no one listens, does he make a sound?"

Go Nats.

[Karl K]

Until fairly recently these boards have been a good source of information, sprinkled with the occasional rant by some idiot about the national team. Lord knows its tough to find news about the NATS, and I've enjoyed and used the boards to keep up.

After reading a few posts after last night's match, however, I'm done with it. A few posters (everyone knows who they are) need a large does of perspective. All I read last night was "Reyna (or Donovan or Hejduk or Vanney or Armas or Stewart or especially McBride . . .) sucked and should be cut." And Arena should certainly be fired, in spite of the NATS having the strongest team in their history.

Let's look at that perspective:

1. At this level, in a qualifier, the only thing that matters is the result. There are no style points. If I remember correctly, the NATS did get a good result last night. If you don't agree with this, get a life.

2. Vanney and McBride made mistakes in sequence, and the ball ended up behind Keller. You'll notice they realized it right away, from Vanney's reaction to the turnover leading to the corner, and McBride's reaction to letting his mark inside him. Other than that mistake, Vanney did the job. Yeah, McBride has had better days, and he will again.

3. The level of athletic talent in the Jamaican team is scary. These guys are very tall, very fast, and very skilled on the ball. Playing a side like that before a wildly supportive and noisy crowd is something none of us, no matter how high a level we played, have ever faced. See point #1, the result is all that matters, and it was a good one.

4. The defense did not suck, sorry. 1 goal, from the 2 mistakes. Other than that I remember only 2 or 3 other dangerous chances. Let's see, 90+ minutes, 1 goal, and few other close calls. Sounds pretty good to me.

5. The posts that re-hash every mistake are clueless. 90+ minutes, a very worthy opponent, and some of the guys make mistakes. Apparently our guys are supposed to play a perfect match, never making a mistake of any type. Even when being chased and pounded by someone with size, strength, skill, and speed.

6. Arena's decisions may not be ideal (whose are?), but they get the job done. I read, if Ching wasn't in, we wouldn't have scored. Funny, but he was. The side he put out there, and the substitutions achieved the desired result. I'm sure for El Salvador at home, we'll se a vastly different line up. One more suited to attack and get those 3 points that would/will put the NATS in first in the group. Arena has shown his flexibility in matching his team to the opponent. The back line last night was chosen for speed and ability to mark and step to the ball on the right (Hejduk), for strength, positioning, and marking in the center (Pope and Boca), and for positioning and service on the left. It worked last night. September 4 will certainly see a different back line, given El Salvador's leser attacking threat, and the NATS need to score goals. The same thing can be said for the midfield and up top. I'll be at Gillette to see it, sitting with Sam's army, and I can hardly wait.

7. It appears the hostile/complainer/whining posters' major problem is that Arena does not choose his roster, starters, substitutes, and everything else according to their posts. They post, nothing happens. They become more and more shrill, and still nothing happens. Thank goodness Bruce ignores this group, but this only makes them more angry. The NATS are in good hands. The fact that Arena isn't taking this unsolicited advice makes me very happy.

Enough of this. Flame away, but I won't be back to read it. That leads to the question, "if a moron screams and no one listens, does he make a sound?"

Go Nats.

Please, don't go away.

We need sensible posts like this, which are absolutely spot on.

Don't abandon this board to the hyperventilating, chicken-little, sky-is-falling moronic and pessimistic "arguments."

Stick around, keep posting, and maybe, just maybe, the informed and sensible discussion will crowd out the noisemaking.

[gekman]

This deserves a prime slot.

[Scotty]

Relax, dude.

These boards have always been a place to find delusional hysterics after a US game. Nothing new.

Keep posting and ignore the idiots.

[smith07]

yeah, 1 read 16 pages about how earnie shoudlnt be playing which was talked about plenty before the game

[Bill Archer]

I'm reninded of the long-time, ultra-high-quality BS poster who decided to leave and never come back.

He PM's me that he was "just tired of trying to out-shout the idiots."

(Most people think that guys leave BS because of trolling or whatever. In actuality, I think a lot more people quietly leave because they get tired of reading dreck from bigmouths who don't have a clue what they're talking about.)

I'm interested in the "Private Group" feature of this program which is not active. I for one can think of 20 or 30 guys who could have a thread on US soccer that I'd actually like to read (and I don't necessarily include myself). Have three or four guys who are in charge of inviting posters who seem to have a functional brain and have it otherwise unmoderated.

Just a thought.

Anyway, to the thread-starter. When the stupidity gets to you a little, take a week off. Get some perspective. Then figure out who's worth talking with or listening to and simply ignore the imbeciles. Life's too short.

BS can be a ton of fun, but you have to erect personal filters.

[Chicago1871]

Fire Andrulis now! Whoops, wrong thread.

[peledre]

I'm reninded of the long-time, ultra-high-quality BS poster who decided to leave and never come back.

He PM's me that he was "just tired of trying to out-shout the idiots."

(Most people think that guys leave BS because of trolling or whatever. In actuality, I think a lot more people quietly leave because they get tired of reading dreck from bigmouths who don't have a clue what they're talking about.)

I'm interested in the "Private Group" feature of this program which is not active. I for one can think of 20 or 30 guys who could have a thread on US soccer that I'd actually like to read (and I don't necessarily include myself). Have three or four guys who are in charge of inviting posters who seem to have a functional brain and have it otherwise unmoderated.

Just a thought.

Anyway, to the thread-starter. When the stupidity gets to you a little, take a week off. Get some perspective. Then figure out who's worth talking with or listening to and simply ignore the imbeciles. Life's too short.

BS can be a ton of fun, but you have to erect personal filters.
This was an idea I thought of as well. If we could somehow restrict discussion to senior posters or only posters that have been here a certain amt. of time, or somehow use the rep system to determine who can participate in discussion it would cut down on alot of the hogwash that clogs up post game and analysis threads.

[OBartleby]

While browsing US Men, N&A, I saw the title of this thread and that it had been moved. My first thought was, "Oh, dear. I wonder what some numbskull has written now to get his post moved off of N&A." Out of curiosity, I clicked the link and read the post and was more than pleasantly surprised.

I personally don't use the ignore list feature, but it sounds like you would benefit from it -- as much as we would benefit from reading your posts in N&A.

I sincerely hope you stick around.

[Casper]

And off into the sunset rides the best damn sockpuppet this town has ever seen.

[Casper]

1) It takes a fair amount of nerve to contribute relatively little to a board or a thread and insult everyone on the way out the door.

2) A large proportion of people agreed with all of the points made here. A majority of them said so.

3) Post-game analysis threads are often lengthy. If you hate them, don't read them. Start a separate thread on a narrower topic, and watch the intelligent discussions commence.

4) Acting like you're the only one who has a clue is not a great way to change the quality of posts.

[Access]

Bottom line, I was really proud of the boys last night. The crowd noise had to be deafening, you had the jamaicans pounding our forwards after they released the ball; and not being carded more for it. All in all pretty tough enviroment. Yet we made a couple adjustments and simply "Drove a dagger in Jamaica's Heart".

We showed we are deep at every postion. Arena and the boys did well!

[Raider Red]

Bottom line, I was really proud of the boys last night. The crowd noise had to be deafening, you had the jamaicans pounding our forwards after they released the ball; and not being carded more for it. All in all pretty tough enviroment. Yet we made a couple adjustments and simply "Drove a dagger in Jamaica's Heart".

We showed we are deep at every postion. Arena and the boys did well!

At least we're not Costa Rica. Or Canada.

[FlashMan]

What an incredible game last night.

Any team that can finish with such high drama on the road is doing it the right way.

Great post calcio!

[Bill Archer]

Fire Andrulis now! Whoops, wrong thread.

Nonsense. There IS no "wrong thread" when it comes to firing Coach Stupid.

[Shannbo5150]

At least we're not Costa Rica. Or Canada.

Petulant and childish. If you don't like disagreement (even disagreements that seem idiotic or just ill-thought through) why the hell even bother going on a BB? I'm , an Englishman by birth and raising and a naturalized US citizen. I was pleased with England's friendly and relieved to see the US pull off a last minute rally that resulted in a point. I think it positions the Americans well enough to contest for a slot in the next WC and fully expect them to do so. anyway since you're not reading this (s************) farewell.
ps. You could of course change your screename and keep posting so you don't have to look like a complete wally.

[Shannbo5150]

Petulant and childish. If you don't like disagreement (even disagreements that seem idiotic or just ill-thought through) why the hell even bother going on a BB? I'm , an Englishman by birth and raising and a naturalized US citizen. I was pleased with England's friendly and relieved to see the US pull off a last minute rally that resulted in a point. I think it positions the Americans well enough to contest for a slot in the next WC and fully expect them to do so. anyway since you're not reading this (s************) farewell.
ps. You could of course change your screename and keep posting so you don't have to look like a complete wally.
No idea why the S****** appeared...It wasn't a swearword, it is a noun that means to giggle sarcastically to oneself... Just for the record.

[ShadowNC]

Glad to see this got on the front page, cause it's exactly how I feel. Folks around here should take this little snippet from Jeff Bradley's recap of the game (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/feature?id=307527&cc=5901) to heart.

As soon as the game was over, the reggae music was turned back on. The selection was, fittingly, Bob Marley's classic "Three Little Birds." Many of the fans began to sing: "Don't worry, 'bout a thing ... Cause every little thing, gonna be alright."

[Rahbiefowlah]

Yes, this was a very well thought out post to start an appropriate, detached thread. Well done.

Yes, we need packs of wild dogs who post **************** immediately after the match calling for everyone's head. Passion keeps everybody on their toes as much as wise analysis does.

What strikes me hard, is that this is the community for all of it. Nobody should leave. There are more lurkers than posters, I would think, and really good posts never go unappreciated.

What I would really like to see is a physical publication of Bigsoccer that is all the cream scraped off the top. Wouldn't that be a good read? There is undoubtedly enough analytical talent on these boards to create a sophisticated and respectable magazine. But finding all of it online is like panning for gold.

[studsup]

Sick and tired of reading posts from people not as smart as you are?

Tired of all the wanna bes who don't understand the game?

Had it with all the newbies that think Mia Hamm is on the team?

Can't stand to hear about the Cosmos and that league anymore?

Bothered by folks who have never even read the FIFA rules?

Can't stand the stupid TV annoucners?

Don't want to put up with inane posts from idiots who got it all wrong?

Tired of band wagon jumpers?

Where were they when you made your first post about The Open Cup and it wasn't called the Lamar Hunt Cup then either, sonny!

Had it with the old folks who long for the old Brazil style?

Tired of all the twits who call it soccer? Even this Big what-do-you-call-it site?

Out of breath from explaining off sides again?

Had it with telling idiots and fools what possession means?

Ready to express your own true meaningful insights into this beautiful game?
Never to be interupted again by those who don't share your view?
Stickys made from all your posts.
Newspapers carrying your quotes.

That final moment when Bruce Arena sez, "No, I can't take credit for the US winning it's first World Cup. I got all my tactics from a poster on Big Soccer."

Get it? (that's the sarcasm light)

Lighten up. Have a sense of humor about the whole proceedings. Be passionate and please realize that to grow the sport in America is to share it with whoever the F wants to come aboard. It belongs to as many of us who want to join. You can curse the team the whole damn game, but when we score at the end, you are more than welcome to cheer along with the rest of us.

We've all been wrong. We've all read the game completely wrong. We have all dismissed players that turned out to be great. Frequently we learn from others - others who shout rudely and obscenely at the games, others who post with a bizarre sense of the language, others who are total idiots until that one day they lay that sage observation on us that means they knew the game so well for so long... Others just like us.

And I for one, hope that group continues to get bigger and we as a nation play better and one day we get to hold that cup. You do, too other wise you'd not be here. Tell a friend. We got games coming up!