(NQR) The USMNT Thread [R]

Mate, I wish the rank and file over on the USA Men's boards, where I co-moderate, felt the way you did, instead of clinging to the fetish of that of "yeah, we need (not 'want', but 'need') a foreign coach".

And yes, my choice of words... "fetish". Figure it out.

Oh, and welcome back, mate.

 

I've probably said it elsewhere before, but Guatemala will play the same way against us -- and likely against anyone else -- in the Gold Cup, and again in the WCQ's.

Better to be frustrated now, and learn how to break them down (with some creative wing play, or with some concentrated possession, perhaps?) than to make the same mistakes when the games really mean something.

 

That's it.

 

I said "break them down"... not "break them apart".

 

Does anyone have any idea as to how ticket sales are going?

With the pathetic ticket sales in Dallas last week, I'm wondering if the SJ Giants will out-draw the MNT on June 2.

 

I do know that 100 tickets have been sold in the Sam's Army section.

 

Good call Nap.

I think they should never have called him interim. That's just insulting. Kudos to Bradley for taking the job in spite of the lousy title.

As for giving it to him through the 2010 run, I think USSF should have given him the proper Head Coach title through 2008. That way he's got a fair stretch of time to both show what he can do, and make the changes he needs. Then, they could replace him if they felt it was necessary, or extend his contract, showing confidence in him, his players, and his program.

But what do I know?! I'm just a BigSoccer poster. I clearly don't have Sunil "Prince of Darkness" Gulati's experience or intelligence. Please. Sunil is a lying bastard who ought to have his skin pulled off piece by piece. And he's stupid into the bargain. Why do jerks like this get these sorts of jobs? I mean, does he have incriminating photos of important people or what?

QUAKES FOREVER!!
GO USA!!!

- Mark

 

That's all?

 

Oh, so I am already booked that day.

 

Now...we've talked about this. How much beer must I bribe you with?

If you call the soccer game that night, during the post-game debrief and alcohol consumption meeting I could give you your Christmas gifts from 2006.

 

You've never been to one of these before? As long as you discuss work...you've got to consume more.

 

Yeah, like "F work...next subject" is the whole of that conversation.

 

Can you expense meetings like this?

 

I don't know if the tax code specifically lists positive or negative criticism.

 

As long as the other person you're meeting with is arguably a business contact, you have an independent business, and you weren't in a strip club, I think it's ok.

Of course, you might need:

• for the other person to lie for you.
  
• to lie about where you were.
  
• to provide actual receipts from an actual restaurant.

But hey, that's half the fun of filing right?!

QUAKES FOREVER!!
GO WOLFF!!
GO SSV!!
GO SJSU!!!!
fuaeg!
fumls!

- Mark

 

There have been some very, very strange stories told. There was that NY businessman who used his company credit card at a "gentleman's club" and ran up over $200,000 of expenses in one night.

That must have been more like camping out rather than a lap dance.

 

So what did you think of Feilhaber and Bradley in the center of the pitch? It looked to me a little like the Ronnie and Ritchie show with two more or less holding mids. Of course, I haven't watch all of the USA vs Squatamala yet, so my opinion isn't very definitive.

Anyone?

QUAKES FOREVER!!
GO USA!!!

- Mark

 

I thought they did well considering their experience level. Feilhaber looked pretty good against Ecuador. They have the skills to keep from giving the game away but not the experince to change the way the attack should go to adapt to the wall Squatamala put up.

I was just pissed at the two defenders on the right, who kept playing long ball.

 

Here's another thought on the Nats.

Is Bradley playing two holding mids because Narcissus is so effective up front? Or is Bradley playing other central mids because he is certain that Narcissus is not the answer in the center of the pitch?

QUAKES FOREVER!!
GO USA!!!!!!

- Mark

 

I think it's to give Donovan more of a free role, really.

 

I do not believe this, because ever since his 2000 debut, Landon Donovan has made himself available for every match the USA has played. The guy is a "gamer", at the international level for the USMNT. He'll get called in for the China match, no question about it.

(Also, I wish you guys would get over it and stop calling him "Narcissus"... I'm more narcissistic than he is, and I can prove it. )

I think when Bradley officially gets the USMNT job without this "interim" bullcrap attached to it, he's going to allow Landon to be the meal ticket, and in doing so, give him a free role in the attack. To me, it's just a natural transition from the Reyna era under Bruce Arena.

Landon Donovan is the most talented offensive player produced to date in USA colors; why wouldn't you want to build around that?