View Full Version : 3/6/06: Take Me Up to the Top of the World
As Far as Predictions Go, U.S. Is Wise to Listen Up-LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-soccercol6mar06,1,523407.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-soccer)
Coach says individuality, passing are fundamental-Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/soc/3701757.html)
DCSharksFC
06 Mar 2006, 10:08 AM
As Far as Predictions Go, U.S. Is Wise to Listen Up-LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-soccercol6mar06,1,523407.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-soccer)
since when was mexico an unworthy opponent for ghana's world cup warm up?
SYoshonis
06 Mar 2006, 10:39 AM
As Far as Predictions Go, U.S. Is Wise to Listen Up-LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-soccercol6mar06,1,523407.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-soccer)
I love this:
Such fiction aside — England and Germany have as much chance of reaching the final as Togo and Trinidad — there is merit in the predictions offered for the U.S. team, judging by the real-life performances of its three first-round opponents last Wednesday.A) Predictions laced with stupidity all of a sudden gain legitimacy when the USA suffers, and B) One game is sufficient to characterize a team's quality, if that game jibes with pre-conceived notions.
Typical.
cdin
06 Mar 2006, 11:14 AM
As Far as Predictions Go, U.S. Is Wise to Listen Up-LA Times (http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-soccercol6mar06,1,523407.story?coll=la-headlines-sports-soccer)
Goalkeeper — Kasey Keller (Marcus Hahnemann and Tim Howard).
Right back — Steve Cherundolo (Frankie Hejduk).
Center backs — Oguchi Onyewu (Eddie Pope) and Greg Berhalter (Jimmy Conrad).
Left back — Eddie Lewis.
Holding midfielder — Claudio Reyna (Pablo Mastroeni).
Right wing — Clint Dempsey.
Attacking midfielder — Landon Donovan (John O'Brien).
Left wing — DaMarcus Beasley (Bobby Convey).
Forwards — Brian McBride (Taylor Twellman) and Josh Wolff (Eddie Johnson).
He may be correct, but I don't see how you exclude O'brien from the midfield if he is health. I also don't think Bruce would exclude Mastroeni, but I can understand that one more.
Goodbye 1836, hello Houston Dynamo-Houston Chronicle (http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/3703868.html)
John_Harkes_6
06 Mar 2006, 12:22 PM
He may be correct, but I don't see how you exclude O'brien from the midfield if he is health. I also don't think Bruce would exclude Mastroeni, but I can understand that one more.
Mastro is listed as back-up Holding midfielder - or I am missing something in your comment?
Colin Grabow
06 Mar 2006, 12:27 PM
Josh Wolff a starter?
No mention of Jon Spector?
And England is not a legit contender?
Yeesh.
SoulflyTribeFC
06 Mar 2006, 12:35 PM
since when was mexico an unworthy opponent for ghana's world cup warm up?
I think you missed the point.
• The lackluster Ghanaians were beaten, 1-0, by Mexico in Frisco, Texas, and will not be a factor in their first World Cup. Even with the supposedly gifted Michael Essien in the lineup, the West Africans looked slow, unimaginative and totally incapable of scoring. And it was only Mexico they were playing, not a legitimate contender.
Pyro
06 Mar 2006, 01:23 PM
Josh Wolff a starter?
No mention of Jon Spector?
And England is not a legit contender?
Yeesh.
Ok on Wolf, but given your other two comments, you must be a big fan of the Premiership.
Spector has done nothing here or there and if England made it to the semi-finals it would be a surprise.
bbsbt
06 Mar 2006, 01:30 PM
I think you missed the point.
What's there to miss?: "And it was only Mexico they were playing, not a legitimate contender".
His point was clear... Mexico is not a legitimate contender.
SoulflyTribeFC
06 Mar 2006, 01:34 PM
What's there to miss?: "And it was only Mexico they were playing, not a legitimate contender".
His point was clear... Mexico is not a legitimate contender.
The writer's point was clear; both you and I understand that. But DCSharks said something that lead me to believe that he did not get what you and I got from that statement.
since when was mexico an unworthy opponent for ghana's world cup warm up?
Colin Grabow
06 Mar 2006, 01:48 PM
Ok on Wolf, but given your other two comments, you must be a big fan of the Premiership.
Spector has done nothing here or there and if England made it to the semi-finals it would be a surprise.
Spector just played against Liverpool -- the reigning European champs -- and based on what I saw did a fairly decent job. Todd Dunivant, meanwhile, will face off against the Revs on MLS opening day.
Now, I'm not saying that Dunivant sucks or Spector should be a lock, but I can't believe he didn't even get a mention.
And yeah, I don't see any reason to count England out. Their midfield is stacked and the defense is pretty tight. Plus if you look at the schedule they should make the quarters without too much of a problem, likely needing a win against either Argentina or Holland to get to the semis. No easy task but hardly mission impossible either.
Crazy_Yank
06 Mar 2006, 02:26 PM
Berhalter as a starter?!?! I'm sure we can do a lot better than Berhalter.
cdin
06 Mar 2006, 02:55 PM
Mastro is listed as back-up Holding midfielder - or I am missing something in your comment?
I was thinking about the starting 11. Assuming that both where health, I don't think Bruce would leave either JOB or Pablo out of the starting 11.