News: Klinsmann announces 30 man preliminary WC roster

Yep.

Perception is always key.

And playing that WC at home certainly took away from any real "Cinderella"-ness of that team, imo.

 

I'm trying to point out that if LD is going to play SS he needs to work on his outside shot to keep the defense honest, otherwise the scouting report is going to say that he is just a passer.

 

Yeah, Landon, you've got 4 weeks ahead of the WC to finally work on your outside shooting.

It better improve. The only shot I ever remember you taking was that one that Oliver Khan somehow saved in the 2002 WC quarterfinal. Hopefully you'll make that type of shot now, assuming you've been working at all on that type of thing over the past 12 years.

We wouldn't want some opponent's scouting report of the USA's all time leading scorer and assist man to say you are "just a passer."

Or maybe we do want their scouting reports to say just that. Shhhhh!

 

I'm 27, I remember the tournament vividly. Anyway, I'm sorry I just refuse to call any German team, in a group of Ecuador, CR and Poland..AT HOME, a "Cinderella Story." They went 3-0-0 with a +6 GD in the group stages. They then disposed of Sweden easily, going up 2-0 inside of 12 (!) minutes. Then, the Swedes went down to 10 men in the 35th and Germany cruised. They could have won by more, no doubt. They only had to win 1 game (vs. Argentina) in which they weren't the favorites - and even that is up for debate - in order to get to the Semis..where they lost. The 3rd place game ended up being a comfortable win after a tight first half. They were up 3-0 on Portugal until the 88th minute where Portugal got one back. That is not a Cinderella Run. If the German public were down on their team, it was out of self-loathing, not based in reality or the group/situation they found themselves in.

We're just going to have to agree to disagree on this, but I'm surprised we're having to, because that narrative is a weird one.

 

Like I said, it has been a long time, is not something he currently posses in his arsenal.

 

You guys response on my comment is that he did it before, never mind how long ago, and the only recent ones has been of a half volley type, dead ball or a goalie that is caught out of place because the ball got intercepted. I know pointing out LD's CURRENT shortcoming is taboo with some of you. We should see where JK puts him and how he does, I'm sure if or when he does bad the same folks will come up with an excuse as always.

 

If Donovan is taking shots from the 18, it means that we are down 3 goals and desperate. I hope it doesn't come to that.

 

And if or when Donovan plays well and/or produces for the US in 2014, what will be your excuse?

Will it be that the opponents weren't able to scout him properly because he took a sabbatical in early 2013 or that he is just a different (although still effective) player now?

 

Classic moving the goalposts. You could admit you were wrong about the outside the 18 claim, that you made once asking to be corrected if wrong, and then again after supposedly checking.

 

No no no, THIS is what you said:

"I just checked his goals video and he has never scored outside the 18 for the national team."

YOU referred to his history, and you were really, really ********ing wrong.

 

I think JK by selecting so many RB and 2 of them can also play LB (Chandler, Parky) he is keeping his options open for Fabian as a possible LW starter.

 

I did say for the national team but I meant in WC, his only goal was the deflection of 2002 vs. Portugal.

 

OK, so then you just had a stupid standard. Good to know.

 

whether he scores from 40 yards or 40 millimeters-who cares as long as it goes in and counts! ;-)

 

Look, here are all the goals scored by the USA in the World Cup after the 1950 World Cup (I've never seen a video of any of the four goals the USA scored in that tournament, one of which was a penalty kick.)



Here are the ones scored outside the box:
Wynalda versus Switzerland, 1994, free kick, indoors.
(Earnie Stewart versus Colombia in 1994 was just inside the box.)
Donovan versus Portugal, 2002, deflected.
Dempsey versus England, 2010, horrible goalkeeper mistake.

So no USA player has scored a goal from outside the box in the World Cup in living memory that wasn't on a set piece and didn't involve help from the other team. Faulting Donovan, the all-time top World Cup goal scorer from the whole CONCACAF federation, for not having done so is, quite frankly, bizarre.

 

The one thing I think this tells us, along with Klinsman's comments is that Donovan is not considered a first 11 player. That could be a good thing though. Him and Green could be huge impact subs

 

Way to miss the point . It's certainly arguable that Fabian Johnson, Zusi and or Bedoya should start if Donovan isn't in good enough form. It's ridiculous, however, to hold him to a higher standard (i.e. one per game to not "suck") when it comes to goals and assists than anyone else from those positions.

In any case, Beasley hasn't scored or assisted in years, though he plays as a left back for the US and would expect to have fewer chances. Donovan has 8 goals and 9 assists in the last year playing as a second striker and winger, with his last assist coming this past February.

 

I don't know about all of it, but the paunch that was displayed is pretty much gone.

 

Why would I come out with an excuse for him excelling expectations? If he proves me wrong by cracking one from 20 yards then be it, is not like I'm wishing the guy to fail. I just don't have that high expectations like you guys simply because he did it years ago.

 

It was rare that we had anyone who could and therefor would attempt a shot from distance. The good thing this year is- I've seen Bedoya, Bradley, Chandler, Johnson, Johanssonn and Diskarud as non-forward players who have shot and/or scored from outside the box this past year. This has to happen in Brazil to open up the defenses.

 

Whenever I look at those match reports I look for all the little colored dots that represent shots on goal. We need a lot of those little dots this summer. Here's to COLORED DOTS!

 

Own goal has to be in our top 3 of leading goal scorers in World Cup games

 

Tied for third with McBride . He's our secret weapon.

 

He's had a long career.