A shame. Fulham just did not create many decent chances. Clint did a good job battling and won some FKs(all wasted poorly) but got no service near the goal.
What a tough way to go out. As a Fulham fan, I am sad. But oh what a season! Dempsey back to health and good form before the Cup. You're welcome very much. COYW! USA!!!
A lot of people saying completely unsubstantiated things such as Dempsey's last match for the whites...and yet, i can see it. Hodgs WILL sell Clint if someone comes calling for 5mm or more. And I think if Pinaar leaves, Everton will have the funds and interest. Sure Everton is the most boring substance on earth, but gets him closer to the CL.
And we are off.... in spain, he is a striker. he thinks of himself as a midfielder. in the EPL he is a midefielder. Dont know if he will give up a place in the middle to play pass and dive for Espanyol.
I think Hodgs pushed his luck. Duff should not have played. He had two young wing players who deserved the start ahead of him. Murphy was terrible. Greening is a yellow card fest, but with Panstil on the bench, this is my post Fulham was going to penalties after 116 minutes lineup: --------------The Zanimal------------------------ -------------------Gera Magicians Assistant (I never disappear)-------------- Dempsey------------------------------------------------------Davies---------- ------------------------Baird-------------Etuhu-------------------------- Konch---------------Brede--------------------Howard Hughes--------Panstil----- --------------------------------Blackie---------------------------------
I always liked Konchesky... remember when he hit that cross goal in the FA cup final with West Ham... brilliant.
Well, three of my four goals were hit for today's game (in order): 1. Clint played 2. Clint didn't get hurt 3. Clint played well 4. Fulham won Would have loved for #4 to come true, but very happy the first 3 came true.
Here is the full match for those that missed it: http://watchsocceronline.blogspot.com/2010/05/watch-entire-match-fulham-vs-atletico.html
I'm getting pretty f**king sick and tired of NONE of the teams I want to win winning Cup finals (and a few semifinals): Fulham's loss today, Friedel and company lost to ManU in the Carling (?) Cup final, then they lost in the FA Cup semifinal, Mexico shredded the US's D squad in the Gold Cup final, Real Salt Lake beat the LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup final, Howard and company lost to Chelsea in the FA Cup final last year, Bocanegra scored what should have been the game-winner for Rennes last season in the French Cup final but they choked away the lead to a friggin second division team, no MLS team made it to the semifinals of the CONCACAF Champions League AGAIN, and of course the Confederations Cup . . . . . . . . . . The worst part is Clint was part of 2 of those. He must be frickin devastated. *sigh*
I know because Woy didn't start Dempsey many US fans want to blame the coaching, but there is not much else he could have done. Zamora was effective in the first half despite his shortcomings. That first goal doesn't happen without him. With the form he has been in this season, if he's healthy for this match Fulham would have had a much better chance at winning. I heard a lot of posters bashing Etuhu early on. Dude was solid. Most DMs are underrated by fans, but greatly valued by coaches. I don't know if Etuhu usually plays as a DM, but he was today. US fans should be wise to this by now with Armas, Mastroeni, Clark, etc. Gera played his ass off. He fits in very well in that Cahill SS role. He is a weak winger and he is not a great technical player, but he runs his ass off and is a pest for the other team. Schwarzer was great again as well. I bet Austrailia is very comfortable having him in goal for the World Cup. The back line was solid (in defense) all day. Konchesky made a great diving stop on Aguero (I think) late in the game that kinda typified their performance: outmatched but valiant = US vs. Spain. However, when Aguero got to that ball in the 115th minute, I knew Hughes (?) was in trouble. Davies was one of Fulham's best players in the first half, the GK saved his first volley, and the goal was saweet. I think he got tired in the second half because he started getting sloppy. Murphy was bad. In attack, Konchesky was bad; he had quite a few horrible giveaways. The reason Dempsey started out on the bench was because Hodgson had no one else who could deliver the same type of spark Deuce can. Nevland and Greening perfectly exhibited that fact. I don't know about Duff. I mean, with the way he has played this year, you want him that game, but he seemed off. I see this as similar to the Confederations Cup final last summer. In the last game, both coaches were limited because of injuries and the situation so fans jump to blame the coach. Bob tried to protect the lead against Brazil, looked down his bench, and saw that his only fullback option was Bornstein. Then he needed offense and realized Adu was rusty and Torres was too green, so he put in Kljestan. Hodgson did what he could. Atletico was just the better team.
Its been the year of the runner up. I feel the same way in all sports. Starting with Confeds Cup, MLS Cup, Super Bowl, US Hockey, NCAA Basketball, and Europa League. Maybe the World Cup will break the streak and the US gets the Cup. I would say at least the runs to the title games have been unbelievable.
Must spread rep. I share the exact same sentiment. I'm an Oklahoma Sooner fan, and they lost in the BCS National Championship game in January. Then the FA Cup Final and the French Cup Final last year, then the Confederations Cup. The Houston Dynamo lost to the LA Galaxy of last year's MLS Cup playoffs, and then the USA hockey team lost to Canada in sudden death overtime in the Olympic Final. I thought this would break the trend. I seriously am tired of saying, "well, they have a lot to be proud of, anyway." Maybe so. All that means to me is that they were THIS FREAKING CLOSE and then lost.
Great point, but that kinda makes it hurt more. That's why when people kept talking about the "great story" of Fulham making it to the finals, I just thought about how last summer's "great story" . . . . .
Damn you for bringing that back up. That was only like the 5th hockey match I ever watched. Along with the "great story" and the great runs, all of those games have been epic though, kinda like every single championship game/series in 2008.
I'll be honest, the only way I'll completely get over the Confederations Cup is if we win the World Cup this year, not in the future. The thing that haunts me most about that is seeing Landon, Clint, Timmy, and Boca all look on, completely gutted, at the Brazilians as they danced in celebration. If they can't get redemption, then it will never be right.
Yeah, I couldn't watch the postgame of any of these games. The only time I saw postgame from the Confederations Cup was making videos. I can't stand seeing our guys gutted time after time after time. Howard, Bocanegra, Guzan, Friedel (okay one of his was a semi), Dempsey, and Donovan have all lost at least 2 cup finals in the last year.
I've had horrible luck the last 12 months with finals. LA Galaxy MLS Cup. Defeat. USA Confed Cup final. Defeat. USA Gold Cup. Defeat. UT BCS National Championship game. Defeat. USA Hockey gold medal game. Defeat. Fulham Europa League final. Defeat Honestly guys, I think I'll do everyone a service if I go ahead and off myself.
A few of Fulham's famous fans enjoying (ok, maybe not enjoying) the match. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbi...lose-UEFA-European-Cup.html?ito=feeds-newsxml