Zero Point Zero Zero

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by HouseHead78, Oct 12, 2013.

  1. y-lee-coyote

    y-lee-coyote Member+

    Dec 4, 2012
    Club:
    --other--
    You are ignoring the fact we are on the cusp of several records related to goal scoring. You profer the idea that friendlies have no value since there is such a variance, and I stated you could only justify that position if there was a very small number or some sort of outlier relative to the usual number of friendlies we played. Taken as a whole they are more than likely similar in a similar WC hex year.

    The fact that our numbers have stayed at the usual level, while the total number of goals are siginificantly less, indicates we are getting more than our share by remaining constant. The numbers argue that defense may have stepped it up some, and in the context of that better defense, we are still scoring the same number of goals in qualifiers MOL.

    I rejected your hypothesis that friendlies do not mean anything, and I also reject your opinion that this is nothing new. We have never played this many players and we have very seldom if ever attempted to play jugo bonita or defend by maintaining possession.

    As to liking you, I don't even know you. The less paranoid version might be that we don't see eye to eye on footy. I think I tend to take a more positive outlook concerning our team, our players, and our coach and your version of realism comes off as pessimistic to me. No worries go USA
     
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  2. MLSFan123

    MLSFan123 Member+

    Mar 21, 2011
    Boston Area
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    how are we to judge a team if we reject the vast majority of games played by said team?
     
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  3. USvsIRELAND

    USvsIRELAND Member+

    Jul 19, 2004
    ATL
    This is a lovely statistic but there are two problems.

    1. We won't be playing at home in the World Cup.
    2. We won't be playing Concacaf teams in the World Cup.
     
  4. iad_22201

    iad_22201 Member+

    Jan 2, 2009
    Washington, DC
    Club:
    Fulham FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I can't speak for Martin, but I suspect he'd say by our performances in WC qualifiers. And that's not an insignificant number of games (15 in the last 16 or so months, I believe). And while you (and others) certainly place more importance on performances in friendlies than Martin (and I), I'd like to think that we'd all agree that we really can't judge our "A" team on the basis of matches the majority of them played no part in (see, eg, 2013 Gold Cup, Camp Cupcake friendlies).
     
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  5. MLSFan123

    MLSFan123 Member+

    Mar 21, 2011
    Boston Area
    Club:
    New England Revolution
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think there are a lot of variables.

    In general World Cup Qualifiers are certainly more important than friendlies, but I don't think it is unfair to say we could learn more about the team in an away friendly in Italy, Russia or Bosnia than we can in a home WCQier against say Antigua or Guatemala.

    YMMV. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer here.

    Unlike you, I prefer to look at the whole set of games to judge and not just arbitrarily throw out games that I don't feel are worthwhile.
     
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  6. HouseHead78

    HouseHead78 Member+

    Oct 17, 2006
    Austin, TX
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Well then I'm glad I didn't say that such a stat guaranteed World Cup glory.
     
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  7. truefan420

    truefan420 Member+

    May 30, 2010
    oakland
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Honestly the HEX means little to me. We should be a lock to advance to the World Cup even if we have an off year. Case in point Mexico. Having a horrible year and will still qualify in the 4 spot and all they have to do is beat New Zealand. Right now I feel like this team has the best chance to do something at the World Cup than any previous team, baring major injury or the group of death.
     
  8. HouseHead78

    HouseHead78 Member+

    Oct 17, 2006
    Austin, TX
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The non-weed-related portion of your username is kinda misleading, methinks.
     
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  9. truefan420

    truefan420 Member+

    May 30, 2010
    oakland
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    was a name from another site i used for sports figured id leave it to make it easier to remember but that was ages ago

    and misleading how?
     
  10. HouseHead78

    HouseHead78 Member+

    Oct 17, 2006
    Austin, TX
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    True fans think all the games matter, right? But I was just playing around and I should have done a smiley face of some kind.
     
  11. truefan420

    truefan420 Member+

    May 30, 2010
    oakland
    Club:
    Chelsea FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    no more of truefan of the sport and all the games do matter to me as a fan but we should be a lock for qualification every year we need to set higher goals now
     
  12. y-lee-coyote

    y-lee-coyote Member+

    Dec 4, 2012
    Club:
    --other--
    We do have goals higher than qualifying for the WC. We also have steps on the way, and we can only do the step in front of us. The journey to the top begins with one step. As a fan I am going to enjoy the journey

    Part of the goal this cycle was to play more attractive football and while were not always succesful at that, we mostly tried. I would say in light of the numerous offensive and results records that goals would have to be checked. We also have decent depth and can win without our stars.

    We may go to Brazil and get found out. We may find that we are simply not good enough to play attacking, pretty football with the big boys, but we will know what to do for the next step before Russia.

    We are close to becoming a top ten team in the world rankings. I know many will rush to say ranking dont matter, yada, yada , yada but they are pertinent to Russia and beyond. As a fan every game matters to me and I want to see whoever suits up for us playing with heart and pride and professionalism trying for all their worth to win.
     
  13. RidiculousLichaj

    May 18, 2012
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    My pokemon brings all the nerds to the yard...
     
  14. Martin Fischer

    Martin Fischer Member+

    Feb 23, 1999
    Kampala. Uganda
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    OK, you do understand what a fact is What you miss is that I am not "ignoring" this fact - I recognize that it exists. I just don't think it has much value for the reasons I and others have posted.

    That's an opinion, but mine is different. I think friendlies vary very widely based on factors specific to a particular game. The more there are, obviously this reduces the risk of variance. In my view, it doesn't eliminate it. If it makes you feel better, FIFA agrees with you.

    There are several facts in here. First, please support the fact that the USMNT has never used this many players in a World Cup cycle or a year. I haven't seen this statistic and Bob Bradley did use a lot of players in his day. Second, do we have any actual numbers about possession under JK versus previously? Again, I don't know of any source for this other than JK and other expert's statements. Finally, again, JK's performance has improved as he moved more back towards using players as they were used in the past - for example, no more three dmid formations that were good for possession but had little in the way of creating chances.

    I don't have any problem, though I think your version of "optimism" is close to drinking the Koolaid and mine is optimistic, but realizes that what has been achieved so far is limited and the only real way for the USMNT to excel is at the World Cup Finals. If you would stick to this instead of making false accusations, we can end this nonsense.
     

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