View Full Version : Will US field their top squad @ T&T on Feb. 9th?
flem16
09 Jan 2005, 03:35 AM
I sure hope so because I'd hate for them to start off the hexagonal on the wrong foot. For those of you in the know what is your opinion - does the contract dispute get settled in time?
geordienation
09 Jan 2005, 08:11 AM
Neither news nor analysis.
andylovesoccer
09 Jan 2005, 10:12 AM
They funking better have this issue resolved. I voted yes (my optimism shining through) because I am not sure how I will respond if the first qualifier is not played with a full squad. I could get rowdy or something.... ;)
metro24freak
09 Jan 2005, 11:03 AM
They're going to fix it because if they haven't figured it out already if the players don't throw a fit over not playing the best team the fans deffinately will, and if we lose this time I know I won't place any blame for the loss on the players, it's all on the USSF and USNTPA for being idiots.
st ryma 7
09 Jan 2005, 12:49 PM
They're going to fix it because if they haven't figured it out already if the players don't throw a fit over not playing the best team the fans deffinately will, and if we lose this time I know I won't place any blame for the loss on the players, it's all on the USSF and USNTPA for being idiots.
agreed.
Footer Phooter
09 Jan 2005, 02:32 PM
They'll get it together. I see it being an 11th hour solution though.
st ryma 7
09 Jan 2005, 03:27 PM
They'll get it together. I see it being an 11th hour solution though.
if thats the case, then we wouldnt really be getting it together. if its a last minute solution, its almost as bad as not rushing the agreement, becuase our players will have no match training, escept those that are playing somewhere <europe>, and there will have been no preparation for the match, even tho it is just TandT.
metro24freak
09 Jan 2005, 03:35 PM
if thats the case, then we wouldnt really be getting it together. if its a last minute solution, its almost as bad as not rushing the agreement, becuase our players will have no match training, escept those that are playing somewhere <europe>, and there will have been no preparation for the match, even tho it is just TandT.
Better that be the case for T&T than Mexico. Plus we can always get some U-20 players, they're in camp right now. It's not the best possible team if you just get the players in Europe and some of the U-20's but it's better than nothing.
Lithium858
09 Jan 2005, 03:41 PM
Better that be the case for T&T than Mexico. Plus we can always get some U-20 players, they're in camp right now. It's not the best possible team if you just get the players in Europe and some of the U-20's but it's better than nothing.
Yeah that's true. Is T&T a hard team to beat? I know the full squad would be able to beat them but I don't know how the U-20 players would fare against them.
metro24freak
09 Jan 2005, 03:44 PM
Yeah that's true. Is T&T a hard team to beat? I know the full squad would be able to beat them but I don't know how the U-20 players would fare against them.
They're good enough to make it to the hex but I don't think they're one of those anybody really loses any sleep over. To be honest I don't know how good they are but the U-20's couldn't take their full team, but if you get the U-20's in MLS who are in the camp now (Eddie Gaven, Arturo Alvarez, Danny Szeletela, and Freddy Adu) and mix them in with the players in Europe who're still playing and haven't not had the kind of training you get when you have a game every week it's a team that can handle T&T.
FC Tallavana
09 Jan 2005, 06:00 PM
if thats the case, then we wouldnt really be getting it together. if its a last minute solution, its almost as bad as not rushing the agreement, becuase our players will have no match training, escept those that are playing somewhere <europe>, and there will have been no preparation for the match, even tho it is just TandT.
If it's a last minute deal, this is the team we need...
------McBride-Johnson
--Lewis-Convey--LD---DMB
Spector-Boca-Gibbs-Cherundolo
-----------Howard
That squad provides the best mix of guys who have played together and guys who have played recently and are in form.
AndyMead
09 Jan 2005, 06:12 PM
So... Where are Nike, Philips, et al?
st ryma 7
09 Jan 2005, 10:33 PM
If it's a last minute deal, this is the team we need...
------McBride-Johnson
--Lewis-Convey--LD---DMB
Spector-Boca-Gibbs-Cherundolo
-----------Howard
That squad provides the best mix of guys who have played together and guys who have played recently and are in form.
im not trying to be a smart a$s here or anything, but i didnt know that howard got off the bench at man u. or maybe he hasnt?
metro24freak
09 Jan 2005, 10:35 PM
im not trying to be a smart a$s here or anything, but i didnt know that howard got off the bench at man u. or maybe he hasnt?
I don't think he has gotten off the bench, but isn't Kasey Keller not playing that much now either, and I know Bobby just played his first full game yesterday since he left MLS (that's not including that reading reserves game). I think there are a few players that don't see a lot of playing time in Europe but still come over play and play well for the US.
JoseP
09 Jan 2005, 10:36 PM
im not trying to be a smart a$s here or anything, but i didnt know that howard got off the bench at man u. or maybe he hasnt?
I don't know if he did yesterday or not. But, believe me, it will be happening soon.
st ryma 7
09 Jan 2005, 10:52 PM
I don't know if he did yesterday or not. But, believe me, it will be happening soon.
lets hope so, hes defs the best keeper from the US.
Ronaldo's Idol
09 Jan 2005, 11:09 PM
If it's a last minute deal, this is the team we need...
------McBride-Johnson
--Lewis-Convey--LD---DMB
Spector-Boca-Gibbs-Cherundolo
-----------Howard
That squad provides the best mix of guys who have played together and guys who have played recently and are in form.
Convey in the middle? You have to pick either Convey or Lewis, and put them out wide. I agree with your choice of Lewis for right now. I guess that means either Zavagnin or Mastroeni should take the other CM spot, perhaps more as a defensive role.
Howard? I don't trust him. Should be Keller. He's played more games over the past few months and frankly, is more reliable than Howard for WCQ's based on experience and perhaps even ability.
Otherwise, I think you are spot on. So, who wears the captain's armband? I vote for LD again.
Donny
09 Jan 2005, 11:44 PM
lets hope so, hes defs the best keeper from the US.
Timmy was the keeper in yesterday's draw with friggin' Exeter.
I'm with him for the totally biased reason that his wife is from Memphis, very lovely, and we apparently frequent the same coffe shop (at least when they are back this way)
...oh and he doesn't suck as a keeper either. But really, we have such a wonderful problem in that we have quite a few U.S. keepers that rock!
andylovesoccer
10 Jan 2005, 10:13 AM
So... Where are Nike, Philips, et al?
I sent e-mails to each of the sponsors on the USSF page that went something like this:
I am concerned that your sponsorship of US Soccer is going to
get you less exposure than you had anticipated. There is currently a
labor dispute between US Soccer and the players which threatens not only
the upcoming qualification matches, but the possibility of going to the
World Cup in 2006 in Germany. If there is any way you could help move
these labor discussions toward a beneficial end for all parties, including
yourself, it would be greatly apprecited by the fans of US Soccer. Please
be aware that your "advertising dollar" is at stake.
Thanks,
A concerned soccer fan and Chiquita customer
I got form letters back from each except for one (Chiquita). They stated they have no control over labor issues and couldn't help. I responded that threatening to pull their sponsorship because the USSF wasn't "living up to the deal" (meaning, they weren't doing everything in their power to get the team to WC '06) was "having control".
Honestly, I don't think the sponsors are aware. That, or they don't care. I don't see how they could sit idly by while watching their "advertising dollar" go down the drain.
Gary V
10 Jan 2005, 10:30 AM
... They stated they have no control over labor issues and couldn't help. ...
Honestly, I don't think the sponsors are aware. That, or they don't care. I don't see how they could sit idly by while watching their "advertising dollar" go down the drain.The sponsors might be reluctant to admit interfering in contract negotiations lest they be seen in a bad light by their own unions.