The Beautiful Game Thread, 11/12

[fsquid]

I'm fine with heavy losses against good teams as Klinnsman continues to get the US to adopt this fluid one touch style of play.

[toonarmy]

The squad clearly still needs to get used to Klinsmann's style. I was not a Bradley hater and think he moved us up a notch or two. Hopefully Klinsmann can move us up even further. Defense still seems shaky for us and Donovan did not have a good game. For whatever reason he was too wide much of the match. I think that Klinsmann will end up doing a fine job and will put an entertaining product on the pitch. Our main problem continues to be a talent issue. We will not compete consistently at an elite level until we can produce more elite players. Fitness and heart can only take you so far.

[RobVarak]

Brian Phillips does the business for Grantland today. Good analysis and great writing. Simmons was smart to grab him from RoP.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/799 ... -klinsmann

[miget33]

BTW, the Mexican youngsters keep winning tournaments, (U17WC Champs, 3rd Place U20WC, Panamericanos Champs, qualified to 2012 Olympics, now Champions of Toulon Tourney)

[fsquid]

BTW, the Mexican youngsters keep winning tournaments, (U17WC Champs, 3rd Place U20WC, Panamericanos Champs, qualified to 2012 Olympics, now Champions of Toulon Tourney)

couldn't care less about that shithole.

[miget33]

I guess Roy is trying to prove he can manage Liverpool by calling up yet another. Jay Spearing must surely be next "on call"

[Jimmydeicide]

I threw up in my mouth when i saw him come on the pitch.

[10spro]

It was a little Tango in Buenos Aires last night for the WC qualies as the home team beat up on Ecuador 4-0. And no you can't call the visitors a weak team any more in Latin America but Di Maria, Higuain, Aguero and of course Messi were too dangerous, too often for Argentina.

Watch this lethal counterattack.

[fsquid]

Jesus, the US looked like utter s*** last night. I'm sure someone has a positive, but I have zero.

[Naples39]

Jesus, the US looked like utter s*** last night. I'm sure someone has a positive, but I have zero.

Maybe we were wise to treasure the Scotland game while we could.

[Zeppo]

So much for soundly beating inferior teams. It doesn't look promising for away at Guatemala where I'm sure we will have all sorts of horrendous calls go against us.

[fsquid]

So much for soundly beating inferior teams. It doesn't look promising for away at Guatemala where I'm sure we will have all sorts of horrendous calls go against us.

I always put at Guatemala and Costa Rica matches as losses

[Naples39]

I think I've seen enough of Torres in the starting 11. He moves off the ball and can play one or two touch soccer, but he's just not a threat to the opposing defense. When he gets the ball he stops dead in his tracks, even when the defense is backing off completely.

[fsquid]

Gooch is done

[RobVarak]

Gooch is done

At least for the near term, for sure. They need to do some surgery on that back 4.

That was a dreadful performance for a game at home versus a team of that quality.

Apparently nobody's paying attention in training, because there were more long balls in that game by the US than you'd see in a 1950s English league game. Terrible.

[10spro]

Helluva a game between Argentina and Brazil with Messi just scoring the go ahead goal with 5 minutes to go. Attacking soccer at its best folks.

[Naples39]

Anybody else see the USA-Guatemala game last night?

I guess you can't be too upset with a draw, but a so-so performance.

A well-taken goal by Dempsey, but the US gave up a few very good chances and was wasteful and indecisive on the counter in the 2nd half. The officiating then got predictably skewed, but could've been worse.

Still not feeling quite secure.

[Macca00]

Twitchy got fired.

HAHAAHAAAHAHAAAAAAAAA


EDIT:

Looks like they're going after Moyes. Will be interesting to see how he does with a job that has;

i. Actual expectations
ii. No excuses

Also, what odds on Everton to get relegated if he does leave? This is brilliant stuff, Everton fans are shitting themselves.

[RobVarak]

Those of you up on your Balkan history know there's no love lost between the Italians and the Croats.

Please, tell me you're all up to speed on your Balkan history!!

Well trust me on this one...


Can we hide Corluka all game, or will the Italians exploit our obvious weak spot? Will Modric be able to pull the strings against a true world class midfield?

Let's call my disposition this morning cautious at best.

[wco81]

More hatred than between any other Balkan countries?

Italy has motivation enough in getting out of the group and losing to Croatia will just about kill their chances.

[RobVarak]

Thanks to Italy for being Italy.

I can't believe they didn't push forward more in the second half. The Croatian defense was very lucky not to concede a couple in the first half. Instead they lay back and let the Croats lob cross after cross into their bigs.

I thought 5 min of injury time was going to be the Croatian undoing with fresh-legged Italian attackers running at that back 4.

Now let's go Ireland!

[RobVarak]

ESPN continues to make broadcast history with the worst studio show of all-time.

Bob Ley: Balotelli had a great game. What do you think, Michael?

Michael Ballack: Yeah, great...

Bob Ley: ... ... ...

[JRod]

The two-man teams are fantastic however.

I like Bob Ley and does a good job. Keller and Twillman are good as well.

[Jimmydeicide]

FANTASTIC!!!!! Thanks Rod that was the word i was looking for to describe those two.

[JRod]

FANTASTIC!!!!! Thanks Rod that was the word i was looking for to describe those two.

Huh? I mean the two-man booths. I've found the commentary teams very good. Just like the world cup, for the 90 minutes, there are some well-called games.