Who's talking about conspiracy theories? That was a US failure out there from top to bottom, in a match that some outlets had handicapped as the US with four points in hand being the favorite against Poland, with no points. We got screwed, and I'm more than willing to admit it was our screwup.
that's fine...but don't say "we got screwed"... "we got screwed" implies there being something unfair about the results, which, if i am to understand your post correctly, is not what you are saying. so, we didn't get screwed, we just lost. there's quite a difference.
I'm willing to accept those consequences. The gloating over my european co-workers will more than make up for the loss in underdog status.
To say somebody, 6 years out from being placed into their position on a WC team, is "unproven" misses the point. EG, EJ, Spector, and Szetela are just as likely to fail as someone is likely to replace them. You sort of bring that up in the second sentence but then sort of let it drift there without realizing it helps prove my point. As far as a world cup quality left midfielder is concerned, a 28 year old Beasley (unless he cripples himself) is fine quality. Remember, this 2010 we're talking about, not 2006. In 2010, to believe we'll have 4 or 5 of the top 100 players, whether those players are Adu, Johnson, Donovan, Szetela, Spector, Gaven, or Bocanegra, in the world is hardly a stretch. And 4 or 5 of the top 100 players in the world is enough to make you a contender.
One way to stay optimistic about the USMNT on 06 and beyond is to rely on the fact that this team has long been better than a mere sum of its parts. Just looking at teams ranked around and behind the US by ELO : Croatia, Uruguay, Norway, Turkey, Nigeria, Russia, Ukraine. Those teams are stacked with star players on some very good teams and yet the US usually performs at a higher level without the same quality individuals.
Hmmm. An interesting comparison. I think this is an excellent point. I wonder how much of a factor hype plays here that those Nigerians, Turkish, etc. get to be stars. (Which makes you more right, not less.)
Howard, Countess, and/or Cronin Unless we run a 3-5-2...but Spector, Gibbs (who I like as a LB, at least for the time being with Boca and Pope in the middle), Simek, Whitbred, and Karbiyasoon (sp) all have potential here. JOB is also a potential candidate, as are Convey and Albright. Bocanegra, Spector, Gooch, Gibbs, Marshall...we'll wait to see how it pans out, but my bet is 2 of those 4 guys will fit your bill. Fro Adu?? Adu Donovan, Beasley, Gaven, Szetela Clark? Convey? Mapp? Dempsey? Martino? Eddie Johnson This one'll be tough. Santino Quaranta can do it if he ever gets healthy enough to play up to his potential (he's still only 21 or 22, got a lot of years left in him). And of course we don't know what 14-year-old kids are out there who'll be 20 in 2010. I see Freddy as the top-5 midfielder and GAM as the WPOTY candidate. I really do think he's that good. The question is the attack. Most of those guys need to pan out. I'm not worried about the d because we'll have a world-beating keeper--if Howard never regains his form of last year, then Countess or Cronin or someone will step up, no doubt in my mind.
Just to make it clear; this is a question, not a statement.. But doesn't the us often play...well...not so good sides, alot? 'cause of the geographic placement don't you play alot of "not-the-best-in-the-world-sides? When I've heard of European teams traveling to usa to play friendlies, the E. teams often comes over with a b-squad, and not making their "star" players travel the long distance? Where does these National teams you mentioned come "around usa" on a ranking? And I'm suprised (but impressed) over that Norway is mentioned in this sort of content, 'cause I guess the only "star" players Norway got is Solskjær and Carew?!
Well, there was your Steffan Iversen at the Spurs ... but if you don't like it, I can make Norway into the list of "overachievers". Oh, and the two are forwards, which is a biggie. As to the US vs. the world : the last time when it made a meaningful foray into Europe was in early 2,002 when it played Italy, Germany and Northern Ireland on the continent and then hosted Holland in Boston. It lost all four games. (The CONFED Cup'03 was technically not very European in flavor). However ... here's a thing. I am of the opinion that the US is really of two teams : team A consists of its Euro based players while Team B is mostly MLS based and there's a huge chasm in between them. Bruce Arena has basically played a mix&match style rather than fitting his style to the Europe based Yanks and will not probably change much until after the Hex when he will attempt to mold a stable roster amid the style that fits it. In 2,004, this led to the string of mediocre results against some less than average teams. But when the US pulls its players together for a long camp and fields out a tight crew, then it does very well against some stiff opposition. Historically, it has done very well against Mexico, Uruguay and Argentina and had some very close games against Brasil with one win. It has had a mixed record in Europe but, with the US talent going overseas, this will probably change for the better also. And it can only beat whom it can play. And if Euros fail to recognize it, then they'll pay for it during a World Cup.
SteffEn Iversen is actually a HUGE hit in Norwegian side Vålerenga at the moment, who hasn't lost a match since Iversen made his debut! 14 matches if I'm right.. (He is at the moment veeery hot on the transfer market.. Most interested club is Italian side Lazio.) Vålerenga chased RBK to the very last minute in the Norwegian League, and only lost the N. League on goal difference.. I can safely say that I doubt there has been a more exciting end to a League in history! Hehe..(Just for the record, Rosenborg has won the Norwegian League 13 years in a row, 1 year away from world record...) There was some norwegian league football history for you... No no! I like it! Hehe Why is that a problem? I can see your point there! We'll see Will we see you in Germany in '06?
Ya, I think either Dagbladet or Aftonbladet had him as the top rated player in the entire league. I don't read Norwegian but I can look at the tables/team standing and check out the player ratings ... of course, sometimes you click on a wrong link and see a photo of those two "enviromentalists" doing the deed on a rock concert stage ... anything for a cause, I guess. Only if Norway can overcome mighty Belarus ... but with so many BATE Borisov players on the Belarus roster, it might not be possible!
I'd agree the usa collectively plays beyond the individual sum of talent... AND, this is why arena is such a good manager...fundamental question becomes whether his successor will be able to similarly achieve.... if every promising player pans out and gets close to MAX performance, then USA will be in the mix to play with top level squads....having to win 4 matches against elite from the 2nd round on will require a lot on match-ups and sheer luck at PKs.... personally, I'd say the success rate of young talent will be 50-50.....if half become as good as we perdict, then that's a good rate...and there'll be a couple late bloomers who we don't even have on our radar, who'll be better than anyone can count..... 2054...that's the magic year....usa wins usa wins...mass delirium on big soccer 2054!!
Aftonbladet is Swedish.. But I guess you knew that? Hehe.. Yeah, that was a huge deal, apperantly.. Did you know the guy pulled down his pants in the court? Belarus will not be able to stop us!
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/02/s...oping-the-best.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all still attainable?
However, it certainly did some positive things for our national team. I'm tempted to rep just for successfully digging up a five year old thread.
That was indeed an impressive bump. I think the re-roganization of our Youth Club system was the biggest step we took towards contending for a World Cup title. We don't need a soccer nation, we need an inclusive system that offers soccer to anyone who wants to play.
Wow, blast from the past. I had to see what I wrote 4 years ago... Nice job, self - I still think the same way. We can't break a bunker to save our lives. I don't see us as a darkhorse for the title, though. What's worse, if the El Salvador game is the start of a trend, we won't have the luxury of a playing an unprepared team, either.