Ramos praises the DA like any good USSF apparatchik, but if he's really praising something, it's the MLS academies. Very few rostered players had a long-running association with a DA outside of MLS.
They almost all had a significant relationship with non-MLS DA clubs: Patedores, Vardar, Central Aztecs, Classics Elite, MN Thunder, FC Delco, Mustangs. Alot of players also played for non-MLS academies prior to joining MLS teams, Bradenton or leaving the country. Not that I care but your forced remarks on trying to label the DA as pinko commies I find funny. Why not try the latest in denigration and call them bullies or sheeple or black flag opps.
I want to be optomistic about our chances but for some reason my gut keeps churning that things are not going to go well. I can't wait to win the first game so i can relax.
Apparatchik is a Russian word for a member of the apparatus. Ie, a bureaucrat who just follows the directions from above.
I know what it means. He used a word that conjures up a very specific context that refers to the negative aspects of communism first used during the 40's. He chose that word for a reason to describe Tab Ramos or anyone else who says positive things about the DA. A blindly following communist.
Well Hararea can speak for himself but I didn't interpret it to have anything to do with communism and instead as a reference to the a blindly following bureaucrat, which is the origin of the word and makes a lot more sense in this context than a reference to economic policy.
You're probably right but I interpret the word as predominantly used as a derogatory term for blindly following a proven failed concept of communism. It can be used generally but the etymology is quite strong and specific.
I would have agreed with you if you had written, "predominantly used as a derogatory term for blindly following the direction of superiors."
If it happens, it happens. We all understand how treacherous this format is. Just think positive though.
Funny how a word or a phrase can have such a different visceral meaning based on our life experiences. Intellectually I know it has multiple meanings but I feel the communism bent much more than you do.
It gets far more tense after the first game, which is against a minnow. Then it's Costa Rica and then the all important QF game.
Clint's hypothetical was "multiple caps." With Camp Cupcake, Gold Cups, qualifiers, and friendlies, we cap a ton of guys. Timmy Chandler's presence alone (and I still don't all the way trust him, btw, despite being cap-tied), won't preclude any player from getting a few caps.
Yeah after Chandler and Parkhurst there really isn't a lot of depth at the position. Cherundolo is going on 34 and injured. Parkhurst is 29 After that you're left with Geoff Cameron moving out wide. Beitashour, who is 26. Tony Beltran, 25. Out of position Alfredo Morales or Perry Kitchen, 22 and 21. Orozco Fiscal, 27. An out of position Josh Gatt, 21. There's plenty of room for a quality fullback to move into the void there if Yedlin progresses.
Sheanon Williams (22) and Kofi Sarkodie (21) have to be considered fringe prospects too. Yedlin certainly might pass them both but he'll have to get on the field for the Sounders first.
Andrew Farrell will also likely start all season at RB as a 20 year old. There are quite a few decent RB options in MLS.
Of course I'm not saying he's better than anybody, just that the field is wide open. Those two would need to get called up first.
I watched the Seattle-Salt Lake preseason game tonight and DeAndre Yedlin came on and was very strong. Didn't look at all out of place, defender well, was comfortable going forward and showed crazy pace. If Eric Miller is better than he is, he must be pretty damn good, and that's a good thing. If not, Tab's an idiot.
Some highlights from the first Jamaica game, Joya's goal was nice (1:45), and the offensively maligned Okwuonu by some on these boards (in terms of playing RB) with the assist on Villarreal's header.
Was reading the article about the 3 guys playing in Mexico. They talked about how Tab has them playing a more possession based style and such. They (u23s,u20s, past u20s ,u17s even full NT) have talked about it for the past few years and I obviously seen some improvement on our style of play, mostly with the YNTs but I cannot wait for when this philosophy becomes 100% real. I'm excited about this tourney, hopefully they do not disappoint, because it hasn't been a nice couple years for US teams.
Travis Clark with an incredible job detailing each player called up this U20 cycle, the number of camps attended, and whether they made the final qualifying roster. A must-see. http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/u20-call-up-list_aid28451 Also, a TDS podcast preview of qualifying. http://www.topdrawersoccer.com/college-soccer-articles/concacaf-u20-championship-preview_aid28449