Porter is a MASTER MOTIVATOR.

Well if he progresses he could be coaching some of these players at the next level...

 

Which is why my grandson is at Akron playing for Caleb

 

It's gonna be interesting to see how long he stays at Akron. He just signed a rather lucrative (by NCAA standards) long-term deal to remain there. He's already turned down one MLS offer from DC United. Whatever people think of the current finances of DCU........that's a good job.

People seem to want to push him to bigger and better things.............but it could be that this current gig is perfect for him. He can "coach up" the kids at one of the best NCAA institutions, and also coach the U23's.

 

I think the supreme test of any coach comes when his team takes the field against a superior opponent. At Akron, that doesn't happen. With the U23s hasn't happened yet. Won't happen in the qualifiers. We'll find out in the Olympics. So far Porter looks good and has had his team very well prepared, but imo the real tests lie ahead.

An NLF head coach once said of another that he greatly admired:

"He could take his'n and beat your'n; or take your'n and beat his'n."

Let's see if Porter is up to that standard.

 

Yes, but before the game on Wednesday people thought Mexico was better than us. In the post game comment Porter talked about the mindset he instills in his team before every game, which is nothing good comes from playing negatively. He will try to play the style we saw against Mexico even against a team like the UK, which will most likely be the best team in the tournament.

 

Of the teams that have qualified so far I'd think Brazil, Spain, and Uruguay would disagree with that. Team GB hasn't even trained together yet, and they don't even know if they're going to use an all-English team or include the Scots, Welsh, and Northern Irish.

 

No way Britain has the best team, not even close.


As for Porter, he seems to have a bright future but how long does he want to stay at Akron?

 

I thought they had decided they were going to use members from all of the GB nations. If that is the case, they are the favorite IMO. If I was misinformed and they are only using English players, youre right, I would say the South American nations are at least on par.

 

Actually, the unofficial agreement right now is that they will only use English players. But there have also been statements from higher ups to the effect that if Bale or Ramsey wants to play for the GB team, they may still be able to. So no one knows for sure at this point. I think they'll be strong either way, but I also think that Porter will come out attacking either way. It will be interesting to see for sure.

 

Bale and Ramsey are the two prominent names that have come out and said they'd like to play. The Welsh, Scottish, and Northern Irish federations are against it because they fear FIFA will see Team GB playing at the Olympics and decide the countries will lose there independence and play just as Team GB. Even with players from the 4 home nations it's still Spain's to lose.

 

Eh, who does Spain have. Not questioning just unknowledgable. I'm sure their overage players will be great, but what of their youth team? Plus adding Bale and Ramsey to a team with Oxlade-Chamberlain, jones, cleverly, Welbeck, etc. will make them the favorite IMO, but we may just havebto agree to disagree on that point. Just an opinion.

 

I know, just my opinion too. Here's Spain's team that won the 2011 Euro U-21's, from which a lot of the Olympic team will be comprised of: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_UEFA_European_Under-21_Football_Championship_squads#.C2.A0Spain

It will be an '89 tournament so someone like Mata would have to go as an overager. But you still have guys like Thiago, and the Spanish youth teams play just like the senior team.

 

I think you are overrating those players.

 

Thanks. Players that stood out are Thiago and De Gea, with a few of the other seeming to get decent time with their clubs, but not world beaters. Obviously they will most likely have the best 3 overage players at the tournament, with a possible exception being Germany if they make the tournament.

 

Germany isn't in it. The Euro teams that are in it are: Spain, Switzerland, Belarus, and the hosts GB. And also, of the English guys you named I don't know how many of them will be at the Olympics. Pearce said he's not selecting guys that are also going to Euro 2012.

 

First tackle. First foul. First shot. First goal.

Just sayin'.

 

That was O.A. "Bum" Phillips, coach of the old Houston Oilers. As for Porter staying at Akron, IIRC he has two young children, and he probably wants a stable situation for their formative years. He can stay at Akron for as long as he wants. Not so for an MLS job.

 

Iker Muniain is one of the better younger players in the world and just got his 1st senior team cap with Spain.

 

Nobody should sleep on that Swiss side..........they're awfully good. Quite a number of players on the Basel team that's doing so well in the Champions League should be on it. (Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka, etc.)

On paper, I'd take them over this US group. But that's just on paper.

 

Agreed. I'm interested to see how Shaqiri will do at Bayern next season. He worked Man United in the Champions League.

 

Spain is going to be the favorites. They are stacked from top to bottom. They are fielding most of the guys from the Euro 2011 u-21 Championship team which has been playing together for years. Most to all of those guys are regular and important players for their La Liga teams as well. Brazil I read is obsessed with winning gold this summer and are sending in their big guns like Sandro, Ganso, Pato and Neymar. The English FA said that they wont allow any players to play in the Olympics if they are playing in any other tournaments this summer. So guys like Chamberline, Jones, Cleverly etc. wont be released to team GB. The GB will be good but between the Euros and U-21 qualifying depleting their player pool, their team will be average unless Bale and Ramsey play but they're going to only be able to do so much for a team.

 

This team is long on potential, but will be pretty naive against guys getting regular experience in la liga and the epl.

But I will say that they took it at Mexico with a level of confidence we aren't used to as USA and mls fans. That may be something special from porter. Or it may be that these guys haven't gotten frightened by anyone yet.

 

This Mexican team doesn't believe that they are second to anyone and fully intend to win Olympics. Beating them the way Porter's team did is a very serious statement.

 

have you seen brazil's roster?