it was the worst year in us soccer history considering all the hype the team got before the cup and their failures. what made it twice as painful was the fact that the team on paper was as good as any team in our history however they did not perform. if you combine the world cup with their dreadful friendlies, and the six months of hibernation after the cup, there's no more i can say, just so demoralizing what we can look for is only positives since we have now reached our lowest point in a while with the coaching failures. hopefully our boys perform on the field in 07 in copa and gold cup because this would be the only way we could regain our respect but for now, we just sit and wait at a turning point in our history, could we regain our respect or are we going to stay a nation outside the top 30
This was a year when we really could have raised the profile of the sport in the game. I really thought that with the increased attention to the World Cup, the promise of our squad that we would finally get a little momentum and force USSF to begin to address some of the larger structural issues in our sport. This hasn't just been a lost year, but a year when we've taken a step back. 6 months to hire an interim coach. Is there anyone out there who can force USSF to be open to new ideas? or raise the profile of soccer here in the US?
There have been positives too.. Look at the increase in Yanks abroad in places like England.. The Demerit story.. I'm sure there's more things but I just can't think of them at the moment..
Gulati needs to be fired. we need someone more aggressive and that will force as many games down the coach's throat...and then give him the freedom to mold the team however he wants. Ditka!!!
Is that one full sized Ditka for the senior team or several little Ditkas too for the youth teams also? Sorry.. Someone had too..
If Pekerman can get a hold of this team we will look back on this and say WHAT A GREAT THING IT WAS WHEN KLINGSMAN SAID NO.
No, I agree 2006 was crap start to finish. The only highlight was Dempsey's salute celebration after scoring a header in the snow in Ktown against Poland.
Demps was a highlight during the year both for his goals and well...being Sucka'Punch MC. Past that, yeah wasn't much to celebrate.