Soccer thread

GB_Simo · Post by **GB_Simo** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:34 pm

Maybe. We could be certain of a playoff spot as early as next Friday night, though I've had more than enough of those in the last 7 years, thank you very kindly. Since you're still kind enough to give two hoots about HUFC, squiddy, have a look at where I was this Sunday afternoon, paying particular attention to the second goal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOQ8M9fTKH8

Question marks over the 'keeper, in my view, but still, a stunning effort.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Mon Mar 26, 2007 11:50 pm

We will always be connected mate! From the time Drew Talbot rounded the keeper and slotted it home to secure promotion. Darlington fans, classy as ever!

sfz_T-car · Post by **sfz_T-car** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 1:02 am

US should lose the pinstriped kit

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Tue Mar 27, 2007 2:11 am

sfz_T-car wrote:US should lose the pinstriped kit

Absolutely horrible! That shade of blue is awful as well.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:06 pm

Boy howdy, was that US-Guatemala game an all-out stinker! I'm submitting a written request to US Soccer in an attempt to get those 2 hours back.

That's the first game that I think Bradley really screwed up. That was a textbook demonstration of how not to break down a team playing 10 men behind the ball. The manager has to do a better job of getting the right tactics executed, and he failed utterly.

I will place some blame on the fact that the squad was new to each other, but I think Wynalda hit the nail on the head when he said the players on the pitch seemed to be oblivious to the type of game they were involved in. I blame the manager for that, plain and simple.

On the bright side, I thought Bradley and Mapp played well. Mapp's service needs to be better, but he attacked people and played aggressively. I absolutely love the fact that Bradley plays with his head up all the time and demonstrated an excellent work rate from box to box.

On the whole it was positively miserable to watch, though. Oh, and the combination of Guatemala's time-wasting and diving, and the Mexican ref was quite a hoot as well.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 1:47 pm

Frankie Simek, this is the start of a LEGEND

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 2:17 pm

I missed most of the match, but it seems to me the US generally had the wrong personnel for the job. Against a team that is playing so defensively my plan would put Donovan at AM, physical poachers in front of the net (Twellman, Ching), and get guys who hit good crosses out wide.

Mapp and Dempsey are very creative players, but both are most dangerous cutting inside, not going wide and serving the ball in. Adding to the problem is that neither Simek or Spector are much for overlapping from fullback and hitting a cross a la Cherundolo, Lewis, or even Convey. Now the lack of availability of those guys isn't Bradley's fault, but that didn't make the result any less disappointing.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 2:30 pm

Adding to the problem is that neither Simek or Spector are much for overlapping from fullback and hitting a cross a la Cherundolo, Lewis, or even Convey.

Simek does it all the time for the Owls. He really only got one chance last night to do it.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 3:18 pm

I agree with Rob. This game is very much what most of the qualifiers will be like, and regardless of who is available to play, we need to be able to put a team out there than can break them down and score a goal. I don't kow what the missing element was, but Bradley needs to find that answer before it's too late. Donavan wasn't enough of a factor when he was up top, I think he is much better for the team behind two forwards. Maybe if there is another good AM out there who can feed him, he will be effective up top, but last night he was pretty invisible until they brought Feilhaber off.

It was a good experience for the younger players, gives them a taste of CONCACAF qualifying, complete with the time wasting, diving, kicking while they're down, gullible ref (or worse) etc. But Bradley has got to be able to put together a plan to create a goal, because whatever players he has in camp are good enough to do against Guatemala. I'm not saying it's easy, but if that were a qualifier, we'd be in trouble.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 3:36 pm

I'm very disappointed at Dempsey's performances in these last two games. Granted his match fitness is not ideal, but OTOH he should have been well rested and it's not like an off-season situation. He might be in the wrong place out there on the right as well, which is a problem because if you play him in the middle, where do you play Landycakes?

I wonder if playing Mapp on the right may not be an idea. As Naples points out, he's a direct player so being left-footed on the right side may work out. When he cuts inside the ball would be on his naturally-strong foot. That's assuming that DMB ever finds his form...

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 5:47 pm

fsquid wrote:
Adding to the problem is that neither Simek or Spector are much for overlapping from fullback and hitting a cross a la Cherundolo, Lewis, or even Convey.
Simek does it all the time for the Owls. He really only got one chance last night to do it.

You've obviously seen him play more than me. Is this a strength of his game? Cherundolo excels at using his speed to overlap and hits an excellent long ball (arguably best right footer in US squad), but Simek struck me as a totally different type of fullback player.

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Thu Mar 29, 2007 10:50 pm

Not his top strength. His strength is one on one defending and his tackling skills. He does have good spend and I won't say that he crosses as well as Cherundolo, but he's certainly good enough to not count against him at the international level.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:09 pm

Looks like the rumors about Blanco signing with the Fire are legit.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/so ... rtstop-hed

I truly have no idea what to do about this situation. The closest equivalent that I can recall is when the Bulls signed Rodman. Then again, I didn't hate the worm nearly as much as I hate Blanco. In general my allegiance to the US National team is more intense than my allegiance to the Fire which complicates things further.

I think I'll go with denial. If it hasn't happened, I don't have to have a reaction at all I suppose

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 1:39 pm

I'm lovin' it! Wooooooow! (As Shep would say). This just gives me ever more reason to hate, hate, hate the Fire!

Plus, we got our Cletus back. HE'S BACK BABY, and as crazy as ever. Apparently Reyna was a big part of making the deal happen

, and Coach Arena is very enthusiastic as well. I'm so freaking psyched about Cletus, it's sick.

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Apr 04, 2007 7:00 pm

Spoiler, Champions League.

I've been watching the Italians and I really like them in this tournament. It's only a first legger but while everyone likes Bayern, Chelsea, ManU, Liverpool, not many are paying attention to Roma.

Entertaining game between Chelsea & Valencia ealry today where Shevchenko got a good elbow in his face. A Golazo by Silva.

Naples39 · Post by **Naples39** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:11 am

Word is that the Columbus Crew have signed Guillermo Barros Schelotto to a 2 year contract at $2m per. He turns 34 next month, but I'd have to imagine he'd instantly be among the league's elite.

And PK, don't you love that guy?

http://www.tycsports.com/notas.php?id=28524
http://mlsunderground.blogspot.com/

The MLS season continues to get more interesting. They've brought in the most identifiable English and Mexican players (Beckham & Blanco), brought home an American legend (Reyna), and now an iconic figure in South American soccer. Maybe the DP rule isn't such a bust after all...

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:34 am

Go Bayern

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:18 am

Naples39 wrote:Word is that the Columbus Crew have signed Guillermo Barros Schelotto to a 2 year contract at $2m per. He turns 34 next month, but I'd have to imagine he'd instantly be among the league's elite.

And PK, don't you love that guy?

http://www.tycsports.com/notas.php?id=28524
http://mlsunderground.blogspot.com/

The MLS season continues to get more interesting. They've brought in the most identifiable English and Mexican players (Beckham & Blanco), brought home an American legend (Reyna), and now an iconic figure in South American soccer. Maybe the DP rule isn't such a bust after all...

I do, I do, even though he plays for Boca. GUILLERMO! A real showman and character.

Take care,
PK

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:36 am

pk500 wrote:
Naples39 wrote:Word is that the Columbus Crew have signed Guillermo Barros Schelotto to a 2 year contract at $2m per. He turns 34 next month, but I'd have to imagine he'd instantly be among the league's elite.

And PK, don't you love that guy?

http://www.tycsports.com/notas.php?id=28524
http://mlsunderground.blogspot.com/

The MLS season continues to get more interesting. They've brought in the most identifiable English and Mexican players (Beckham & Blanco), brought home an American legend (Reyna), and now an iconic figure in South American soccer. Maybe the DP rule isn't such a bust after all...
I do, I do, even though he plays for Boca. GUILLERMO! A real showman and character.

Take care,
PK

It may be Guillermo's last game in Boca this weekend vs their nemesis River Plate. (Get your tivo ready, PK). He's one of Boca's latest heroes and even at 34 he can contribute a lot to MLS. He wanted to be a starter for his much loved Boca Juniors but when Riquelme went back to La Bombonera, he wasn't to be among the 11 starters. I always enjoyed his play and he'll be missed,

Those of you that's never watched this classic Boca-River confrontation, it's always a separate game within the game. Vamos Boca!

pk500 · Post by **pk500** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 11:56 am

10spro wrote:It may be Guillermo's last game in Boca this weekend vs their nemesis River Plate. (Get your tivo ready, PK).

Already set, mate.

Take care,
PK

fsquid · Post by **fsquid** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 12:25 pm

I'm assuming this game is on Sunday? Time?

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Tue Apr 10, 2007 4:27 pm

fsquid wrote:I'm assuming this game is on Sunday? Time?

When it comes to the Superclasico Fox gets it Live, at least where I am, and so far it's listed at 14:00 PST, Sunday afternoon.

Players to watch for if you haven't been following Futbol Argentino are Ferrari, Belluschi, Poncio and Ortega (although he may start in the bench) on River's side while for Boca, Palacio, Riquelme, Cardozo and Schelotto (may not start among the 11) will be heavily marqued.

Atxj · Post by **Atxj** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:14 am

10spro wrote:Spoiler, Champions League.

I've been watching the Italians and I really like them in this tournament. It's only a first legger but while everyone likes Bayern, Chelsea, ManU, Liverpool, not many are paying attention to Roma.

Entertaining game between Chelsea & Valencia ealry today where Shevchenko got a good elbow in his face. A Golazo by Silva.

Boy did they play great today...

10spro · Post by **10spro** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:29 am

Unbelievable touchdown by the Reds, they were lethal and Chelsea maintained their chase for four trophies as they scored at the end of the game. Wow.

RobVarak · Post by **RobVarak** » Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:43 am

I don't know that I've ever seen a team in the CL fold like Roma did today. After that second goal it was basically ManU v. 11 cones. Staggering on the part of both teams.