I had an idea. If you encounter a great post made by another poster in US Mens or US Mens N&A sections, post it here. Its a way to remember the times of US Soccer, but also to compliment others for a Grade A post. Its not meant for controversial posts. It's not meant for every single post you hit the like button on or chuckled, but the truly great posts. Maybe its not even something funny, it could be a story someone told or a unanimous sentiment from the board. I think this can be one of those epic threads that someone bumps in a year or two, and it will make for a great read.
The great gatsby of Bigsoccer posts regarding dual-nationals, courtesy of @Tejas. This was posted right after Zelalem became eligible. "This could be a big signing for the program in the near future but like it or not Wahl's "hyphenated Americans" comment at the beginning of this piece reminds us of the fine line in the impression/perception of this type of talent acquisition. To some degree there will always be a cloud hanging over it or an asterisk next to it, regardless of the myriad details behind each players claim to citizenship and authenticity. When it seems to become the core focus of your program's talent "development" you begin to walk the line of looking less like a genuine national team of aspirants and more like a team of mercenaries, fair or not."
old school: anyone remember vivacobi and "haterade"? Good times, good times.... couldn't find it when i searched.
Wow. Well, to be tapped to start BigSoccer Hall of Fame posts thread. I just. This ranks up with my Wedding Day and birth of my 1st child! Ironically, half the complaints there were quasi @ussoccer97531 quotes Oh, and I messed up the Horvath line. I should be, "He's just gonna sit the bench. Leave him in Norway so he can start his club season; Cut." For Hall of Fame stuff, I recommend checking out this thread: http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/the-princess-bride-usmnt-thread-the-sequel.356108/ Too bad the original was lost.
This post by "Clint Eastwood" is both great and more than a little sad. It's a perfect expression of the pride and optimism that once was possible for the USMNT, and why that pride and optimism was justified, and a reminder of just how far we have fallen in the last three years. Sunil, Flynn, you should ponder this. "I think your analysis is pretty spot on. The US is in the category of nations like Japan, Croatia, etc. who aren't in that upper group...................but on any given day can beat one of those "WC contenders." We've shown that over and over again. I mean, I don't take much stock in rankings.................but we are ranked 13 in the FIFA rankings for a reason. Right now we're 4 spots ahead of darling England [And 50 slots ahead of Scotland] We're ranked that high based on real results. We take care of the CONCACAF teams we're supposed to take care of, and then have beaten a number of really good teams in friendlies over the past year. [The best being Italy in Italy in my view. Beating the #1 team in the World in the 2009 Confederations Cup helped our rating for a long time.] One thing you'll note about USMNT fans is we're not a patient group. In the back of our minds we know it'll take a generation (at least) to be actual contenders at a World Cup. But Americans want it NOW. And frankly, the progress we've made in the past 20 years has been remarkable. Americans don't stand back and look back like that. MLS' first game was only in 1996. That means we made the knockout stages of the 1994 World Cup and semifinals of the 1995 Copa America without actually having a professional league. And only in the past 5 years has MLS started to truly develop their youth programs. Prior to that there wasn't even a mechanism for MLS clubs to sign youth players. [We've just had our first two "homegrown" MLS players signed by Euro clubs. Andy Najar to Anderlecht and Juan Agudelo to Stoke. Many, many more on the way.] So we're just progressing and building, and there's a reason to be very confident. It'll just take time. Slow and steady progress..................... Clint Eastwood, Sep 19, 2013 #138 "
I'm gonna sprain my shoulder here. http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/arena-interview-on-los-tecnicos.342926/page-6#post-8205913 I wrote this in April 2006. "Or greatest disinformation. I hope to God the latter. 1. McBride does not have the skill set of a lone striker, his greatest asset as a striker, consistently, is how well he sets up his partner, which he won't have one of, and he failed at the position at Fulham. 2. I'll buy Pope in the Llamosa+ role...vet who's lost a step to come in late to hold down the fort. As a starter, well, he won't be Goose, but he'll be in the same area as Goose. This lineup, we go 3 and out, and with 1 point at best. I forget who nailed it...but our chances of scoring from the run of play is near nil against Italy and the CR. As for the Dempsey debate...if this is really Bruce's plan, and not a mind********, then Dempsey damn well better be out there, because he scores goals."