Thread: The Official 2008-2009 Soccer Thread

Originally Posted by ASUcruz

Everyone wants Torres to play. There is no way Torres, Feilhaber, Donovan, Bradley, and Dempsey can all play in the same midfield together. There is exactly one ball winner in that group, Bradley. While those five are probably the most skilled midfielders the US has, there is no way they can keep the ball under pressure against top sides in order to make it work like Spain can or like Brazil when they are on there game can.

Once the ball is lost who is going to win it back? Also with that sort of set up, you are asking Bradley to simply play a holding role when he is one of our better players going forward.

The best midfield set up we have is what we played yesterday. With Clark's spot a competition between him, Edu, Jones (the German), Mastroeni. And Feilhaber's spot a competition between him, Adu, Torres, and Kljestan. I'd like it if Donovan would stick to playing on the wing, he has the tendency to drift into the middle. Not surprising since he's always played there but at the top level his best games have come playing wide.

I would have no problem dropping Dempsey. I don't think he has looked good at all with the Nats, and I shriek every time he insists on giving the ball away at midfield and in our own half.
Bradley can win balls, but I often watch and feel like he doesn't play as well against possession teams as the counter-attacking variety. Therein he starts chasing in circles. Thought he did very well against Italy as he was reading development, and stuffing attacks.
(of course they found it quite easy to counter-attack when our midfield kept giving the damn ball away)

Was talking to a relative of mine that has played professionally in Holland and coached there. Kept saying the one thing he loves about Torres is not only the technical skill, but the quickness of thought. He can read the game and make decisions in milli-seconds, sometimes before plays develop. Can't disagree. I don't see this as much in Feilhaber. I agree with your midfield set-up for the most part. But if its between Torres, Kljestan, and Feilhaber, I'm taking Torres.
I hate mexican football with a passion, but don't mind watching Pachuca to see him play.
Wow I'm talking Torres up way too much. He'll probably come on thursday and bring the suck.
Man crush? Seriously.

I still can't wait for Heyduk to get healthy.

And for Cid:

Originally Posted by ucsdguy1

And for Cid:

Lols- that's fantastico!

Liverpool close in on Pompey's Johnson for £18m - Transfers - ESPN Soccernet

A good buy! 18m sounds expensive but Portsmouth haven't paid for Crouch.

one more for Cid:

Objectivo Soccer Football Futbol T-shirts Rossi Judas T-shirt Born In The USA T-shirt, italy, World Cup - Objectivo Soccer T-shirts For Football Fans In The Know

Nice one, mate.

They've got some cool shirts on that site...

SO does the USA suck that bad?

I don't think losing 3-0 against Brazil is anything to be ashamed about.

Yes, they looked bad did anyone really expect them to beat Brazil?

Also it should be noted that the US was more than holding their own against Italy until Clark got sent off.

Yikes, i knew the U.S. wasnt going to win but I expected them to at least put up a fight. Pretty funny seeing Dempsey attempt to hot dog it EVERY time he had posession the last 20 minutes or so. Beasley was absolutely pathetic...dude used to be my fav player on the national team but that was a LONG time ago

Originally Posted by kba4life2

Yikes, i knew the U.S. wasnt going to win but I expected them to at least put up a fight. Pretty funny seeing Dempsey attempt to hot dog it EVERY time he had posession the last 20 minutes or so. Beasley was absolutely pathetic...dude used to be my fav player on the national team but that was a LONG time ago

Beasley is a shell of his former self. He probably shouldn't even make the bench of the team's best roster let alone the starting 11.