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Tyles
June 13, 2010 at 08:04PM View formatted
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So our backup is just that bad, or Tim Howard is just that instrumental to our success? Because Algeria and Slovenia aren't exactly Brazil and Spain.
FuriousGiorge
[Edited on 6-13-2010 by FuriousGiorge]
June 13, 2010 at 08:13PM View BBCode
Yeah, I'm pretty skeptical about that idea. This isn't hockey, where the swing between good and bad goaltending can make the difference against both good and bad teams. Against a good team in soccer, a good keeper can make the difference - against a bad team, anything better than complete suckitude in goal only really affects the game at the margins. Unless we're starting the corpse of Gary Coleman in goal, the difference will be at midfield (and making sure we manage to finish a couple of times), not in the goal.[Edited on 6-13-2010 by FuriousGiorge]
Tyles
June 13, 2010 at 08:23PM View BBCode
So I'm looking forward to the Dutch vs. the Danes in the battle of countries that are probably a lot less similar than I think they should be.
FuriousGiorge
June 13, 2010 at 08:28PM View BBCode
Yeah, I always get those confused too and no, they're not really that similar.
Tyles
June 13, 2010 at 08:31PM View BBCode
(We can blame the Dutch, who can't seem to reach any consensus on what to call their country or themselves. The Danes are innocent bystanders here.)
FuriousGiorge
June 13, 2010 at 08:36PM View BBCode
Oh, no question. More importantly, the Dutch can be pretty unpleasant, and the Danes are like the best people in the world. It's unfair to them to be mistaken for the fucking Dutch.
shep1582
June 13, 2010 at 08:39PM View BBCode
[url=http://g.sports.yahoo.com/soccer/world-cup/news/controversy-over-world-cup-ball-won-t-die--fbintl_ro-worldcupball061310W.html]Here's a beauty.[/url]
Hamilton2
June 13, 2010 at 08:44PM View BBCode
Yeah, I have the same difficulty. I even taught 9th grade geography last year and Denmark/The Netherlands just kind of blend together in my brain for some reason.
shep1582
I can't wait for what's next...
June 13, 2010 at 09:01PM View BBCode
the conversation has turned stunningly interesting.I can't wait for what's next...
DwightKSchrute
This.
I'm not concerned with the result of those games. I'd just love to see a meaningful victory for the US this go around.
June 13, 2010 at 09:09PM View BBCode
Originally posted by Tyles
or Tim Howard is just that instrumental to our success?
This.
I'm not concerned with the result of those games. I'd just love to see a meaningful victory for the US this go around.
FuriousGiorge
June 13, 2010 at 11:44PM View BBCode
[url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1286360/Ian-Ladymans-World-Cup-diary-Blow-Evra-just-bad.html?ito=feeds-newsxml]I have to assume that it only seems like everyone in France is an enormous vagina.[/url]
shep1582
June 14, 2010 at 12:03AM View BBCode
vuvuzelas, from the latin, vulva, is south african for "a vagina you blow into"
(Eric)
(the Danes tend to play in a sort of traditionally Dutch style, and quite a few from their team either play or have played in Holland.)
((yes, I know))
June 14, 2010 at 04:07AM View BBCode
Howard's quite a bit better than Hahnemann or Guzan. The other two aren't bad, but Howard's pretty damn good. It won't be a disaster if he can't play, but it's certainly preferable that he does. I guess it's less likely to be the difference than against England, but it's certainly still possible. Especially considering that the US are more likely to be put in situations where they send numbers forward and possibly get caught on the break, and that one-on-one after a simple ball through the defense is a scenario where Howard is a lot better than most.(the Danes tend to play in a sort of traditionally Dutch style, and quite a few from their team either play or have played in Holland.)
((yes, I know))
(Eric)
Australia were horrible. I mean, their tactics, their play, everything. Horrible. Germany are quite good though, yea. They don't have any one star, really, but they're very solid all over the place, with Badstuber coming as close as they get to a weak spot. I have to say that they play quite nicely, too. They're good to watch, and extremely cohesive in possession. All their players are good with the ball.
It will be interesting to see how they do against stronger opposition. They have had certain situations which they've tended to struggle with recently, and Australia didn't really attempt to exploit them in any way that they could have potentially been hurt. Not that they necessarily would have been able to, they probably wouldn't have, but they could have tried to, at least. Anyway.
[Edited on 6-14-2010 by (Eric)]
June 14, 2010 at 04:12AM View BBCode
Originally posted by Tyles
Apparently the pre-match reports of Germany's demise were greatly exaggerated.
Australia were horrible. I mean, their tactics, their play, everything. Horrible. Germany are quite good though, yea. They don't have any one star, really, but they're very solid all over the place, with Badstuber coming as close as they get to a weak spot. I have to say that they play quite nicely, too. They're good to watch, and extremely cohesive in possession. All their players are good with the ball.
It will be interesting to see how they do against stronger opposition. They have had certain situations which they've tended to struggle with recently, and Australia didn't really attempt to exploit them in any way that they could have potentially been hurt. Not that they necessarily would have been able to, they probably wouldn't have, but they could have tried to, at least. Anyway.
[Edited on 6-14-2010 by (Eric)]
drew
June 14, 2010 at 04:26AM View BBCode
Why isn't Freidel playing? Was it his choice? It must have been. I don't see any reason why they'd have taken Guzan over him, otherwise.
(Eric)
Yea, Onyewu tried to (and tends to always try to) step up far more than was really necessary, especially considering the extent to which the midfield was packed. He did do well in a lot of other scenarios, though, to go some way towards making up for that. It's a lot better than either playing Goodson or putting Bocanegra there and having to play one of Spector or Bornstein, anyway. But yea, Onyewu definitely has to be smarter, because eventually those situations will end horribly.
Donovan and Dempsey will find themselves around the goal far more often in these next two games, where they likely won't be asked to track back nearly as much (I hope). I also wouldn't be surprised if Bradley goes with Buddle instead of Findley against Slovenia, as he's a more realistic goal scoring threat. I don't know. I'm trying to come up with ways to be really worried about these next two games, and I can't really pinpoint anything yet. So I'll go with the cover-all "something will go wrong", I guess. Whatever.
(SPAMMING THIS MOTHER)
June 14, 2010 at 04:26AM View BBCode
Originally posted by FuriousGiorge
Onyewu was pretty awful against England, or rather, he had several significant lapses in positioning.
Altidore has a (albeit short) history of being close but not quite as far as finishing. Green certainly made a great play but the problem with Altidore is that 9 times out of 10 he finds a way to just not make the shot, whatever the reason is, whereas a good finisher can be counted on with a lot more consistency. Our team just has to focus on keeping possession a fuckton and getting one or two home by default.
[Edited on 6-13-2010 by FuriousGiorge]
Yea, Onyewu tried to (and tends to always try to) step up far more than was really necessary, especially considering the extent to which the midfield was packed. He did do well in a lot of other scenarios, though, to go some way towards making up for that. It's a lot better than either playing Goodson or putting Bocanegra there and having to play one of Spector or Bornstein, anyway. But yea, Onyewu definitely has to be smarter, because eventually those situations will end horribly.
Donovan and Dempsey will find themselves around the goal far more often in these next two games, where they likely won't be asked to track back nearly as much (I hope). I also wouldn't be surprised if Bradley goes with Buddle instead of Findley against Slovenia, as he's a more realistic goal scoring threat. I don't know. I'm trying to come up with ways to be really worried about these next two games, and I can't really pinpoint anything yet. So I'll go with the cover-all "something will go wrong", I guess. Whatever.
(SPAMMING THIS MOTHER)
(Eric)
He quit the national team at some point after the 2002 World Cup. I can't recall if Arena had stopped calling him or if he immediately retired, but I don't think he's played for the US at all since that game against Germany. There was some problem between him, Kasey Keller, and Arena, having to do with how they all dealt with the controversy over who'd start in Japorea (or Kopan, whatever you prefer), I'm pretty sure. Anyway, yea, he'd be the number two keeper if he wanted to be. I guess if he'd kept playing for the US all that time he likely would have even continued to compete with Howard (who hadn't played much for the US until after the 06 World Cup, remember) for the starting spot, which is sort of interesting.
edit: he apparently played a friendly or two, but Keller had overtaken him for the starting spot, for whatever reason.
[Edited on 6-14-2010 by (Eric)]
June 14, 2010 at 04:36AM View BBCode
Originally posted by drew
Why isn't Freidel playing? Was it his choice? It must have been. I don't see any reason why they'd have taken Guzan over him, otherwise.
He quit the national team at some point after the 2002 World Cup. I can't recall if Arena had stopped calling him or if he immediately retired, but I don't think he's played for the US at all since that game against Germany. There was some problem between him, Kasey Keller, and Arena, having to do with how they all dealt with the controversy over who'd start in Japorea (or Kopan, whatever you prefer), I'm pretty sure. Anyway, yea, he'd be the number two keeper if he wanted to be. I guess if he'd kept playing for the US all that time he likely would have even continued to compete with Howard (who hadn't played much for the US until after the 06 World Cup, remember) for the starting spot, which is sort of interesting.
edit: he apparently played a friendly or two, but Keller had overtaken him for the starting spot, for whatever reason.
[Edited on 6-14-2010 by (Eric)]
Tyles
murdered nasty looks when he gets back to Denmark.
[Edited on 6-14-2010 by Tyles]
June 14, 2010 at 12:32PM View BBCode
Someone's getting[Edited on 6-14-2010 by Tyles]
happy
My favorite thing in soccer is when teams win. Ties are more depressing than losses cuz its like "wow i feel like i wasted my time."
im sure you get used to it.
that is all, go about your business.
June 14, 2010 at 12:50PM View BBCode
so yeah I watched the USA game. My friend was sleeping on my couch, he likes soccer, so, whatever. It wasnt that boring.My favorite thing in soccer is when teams win. Ties are more depressing than losses cuz its like "wow i feel like i wasted my time."
im sure you get used to it.
that is all, go about your business.
Tyles
That was the worst part of all -- it was a damn fine display. But as the Germans have proved, they're nothing if not ruthlessly efficient killing machines.
June 14, 2010 at 12:50PM View BBCode
Originally posted by (Eric)
Germany are quite good though, yea. They don't have any one star, really, but they're very solid all over the place, with Badstuber coming as close as they get to a weak spot. I have to say that they play quite nicely, too. They're good to watch, and extremely cohesive in possession. All their players are good with the ball.
That was the worst part of all -- it was a damn fine display. But as the Germans have proved, they're nothing if not ruthlessly efficient killing machines.
dirtdevil
i'd guess italy, myself.
(i'm cheering for spain)
June 14, 2010 at 02:23PM View BBCode
Originally posted by Jughead
What is the World Cup equivalent of those teams, Argentina?
i'd guess italy, myself.
(i'm cheering for spain)
Hamilton2
June 14, 2010 at 02:41PM View BBCode
Did anyone see the match early this morning? I'm at work and can't get scores/updates except from you lovely people.
dirtdevil
June 14, 2010 at 02:43PM View BBCode
i didn't see it, no. but i believe the dutch won 2-0. one own goal. japan seems to be up on cameroon 1-0 at the moment.
DwightKSchrute
June 14, 2010 at 03:54PM View BBCode
That match was a real let down for Cameroon they really need to beat teams like Japan.Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42