U.S. Soccer

[InterFCAustin]

I wonder why he likes Shea so much??? Two games in a row,he is a waste of space.Dempsey looked liked he wasnt even there today.I cant blame him tho,no support whatsoever.And Altidore seems like got a big head...he plays so lazy...he thinks he his some world class forward or smthng!!!Lazy bum!!

 

[AxigZag.ESIOLAG.]

@ Coast: yeah Klinsmann is not a coach. He is a play boi lol...He is here to make some hot cash & be gone...Why the US thinks a high profile "name" is what that team needs baffles me...& why is Adu not playing? I think he might be better than Altidore.

 

[Coasterfreek]

@ Coast: yeah Klinsmann is not a coach. He is a play boi lol...He is here to make some hot cash & be gone...Why the US thinks a high profile "name" is what that team needs baffles me...& why is Adu not playing? I think he might be better than Altidore.

Who should they have choosen instead of Klinsmann? I'm not saying I wanted him in the first place... but I just wanted fresh blood....

 

[dynasty27]

Bruce Arena was the fucking man!

 

[vitomins]

It was clear as day to me who they should have got....Gerardo Martino!

The guy did amazing for Paraguay in the World Cup and Copa America. Bradley was fired on July 28th...Martino left Paraguay on July 29th. The problem is, USA has had Klinsmann as the next manager ever since he left Germany. Martino would have this team at least showing some progress.

1-1-4 with 2 goals from 6 matches is a joke...especially considering some of the teams they have played.

 

[n4l]

The problem with the US NT is similar to the problem with England NT; people are wrongfully expecting better from the team when the reality is, the talent is playing to the best of it's ability, so the blame goes on to the coach.

The truth is, the best US talents (Dempsey, Donovan, Altidore) are, in their best form, mediocre players in the grand scheme of things.

People want the US NT to play expansive, attacking football when the truth is, the technical level is simply not good enough to do it, and there in lies the real problem. It would serve better if the US played a defensive/counter game; this style matches the skill level of the team. However, if a coach comes in and does this and will be criticized for it.

 

[vitomins]

The problem with the US NT is similar to the problem with England NT; people are wrongfully expecting better from the team when the reality is, the talent is playing to the best of it's ability, so the blame goes on to the coach.

The truth is, the best US talents (Dempsey, Donovan, Altidore) are, in their best form, mediocre players in the grand scheme of things.

People want the US NT to play expansive, attacking football when the truth is, the technical level is simply not good enough to do it, and there in lies the real problem. It would serve better if the US played a defensive/counter game; this style matches the skill level of the team. However, if a coach comes in and does this and will be criticized for it.

As a coach, I completely agree with this. But the combination of mediocre players and a mediocre manager makes it even worse. At the time we got Mourinho, many people still thought we would not be a threat in Europe, because aside for a few solid players, the rest of the team was full of aging and/or mediocre players. Even in the group phase of our title year, many still said we just did not have the players. However, sometimes a solid manager can crank out wins even though the players are not up to snub.

It is the reason why South Korea and Turkey played in the semifinals in 2002. It is the reason why Greece won Euro 2004 and it is the reason why Uruguay got 4th place. I am not saying that USA is as good as these teams or are worse than these teams, just making a point that good managers can win games without having an elite squad.

 

[I4E]

It is the reason why South Korea and Turkey played in the semifinals in 2002. It is the reason why Greece won Euro 2004 and it is the reason why Uruguay got 4th place. I am not saying that USA is as good as these teams or are worse than these teams, just making a point that good managers can win games without having an elite squad.

Agree about good managers.

Bora Milutinovic done pretty dam well for the US in WC94. Its just unlucky that the US had to face an impressive Brazilian team. I thought the US under Bora were pretty good.

Alexi Lalas :slick:

(Sadly the thing that stands out most about that US v Brazil game was Leonardo's disgusting violent elbow)

 

[n4l]

As a coach, I completely agree with this. But the combination of mediocre players and a mediocre manager makes it even worse. At the time we got Mourinho, many people still thought we would not be a threat in Europe, because aside for a few solid players, the rest of the team was full of aging and/or mediocre players. Even in the group phase of our title year, many still said we just did not have the players. However, sometimes a solid manager can crank out wins even though the players are not up to snub.

It is the reason why South Korea and Turkey played in the semifinals in 2002. It is the reason why Greece won Euro 2004 and it is the reason why Uruguay got 4th place. I am not saying that USA is as good as these teams or are worse than these teams, just making a point that good managers can win games without having an elite squad.

A good coach can eek out some, no doubt, which is why Bruce Arena did the best of all (WC 2006). But, notice his best was not appreciated, because the perception was that the team could do even better; a flawed perception based on the overrating of the players available and the expectation for US NT to play more expansive football.

The cases you've outlined are really anomalies, but in addition to that, those teams had a few players with extremely high technical quality. The US NT has NOBODY with that type of technical quality and really should not be trying to play expansive football, especially against better teams.

Even Inter had to play defense/counter against the better teams. It is something the US HAS TO DO but the US media and football "pundits"/idiots like Lalas need to stop whining about playing "better" football. It is what forced Arena and then Bradley out, and it is what influenced the decision to go with Klinsman (to play "better").

 

[vitomins]

A good coach can eek out some, no doubt, which is why Bruce Arena did the best of all (WC 2006). But, notice his best was not appreciated, because the perception was that the team could do even better; a flawed perception based on the overrating of the players available and the expectation for US NT to play more expansive football.

The cases you've outlined are really anomalies, but in addition to that, those teams had a few players with extremely high technical quality. The US NT has NOBODY with that type of technical quality and really should not be trying to play expansive football, especially against better teams.

Even Inter had to play defense/counter against the better teams. It is something the US HAS TO DO but the US media and football "pundits"/idiots like Lalas need to stop whining about playing "better" football. It is what forced Arena and then Bradley out, and it is what influenced the decision to go with Klinsman (to play "better").

I actually wish the US would hire Lalas as manager just so he could get beat by 3 goals for a few matches and then get fired. Maybe then he would finally shut up...even though I doubt it.

I think you meant World Cup 2002 by the way...they failed to make it out of the group in 2006. I actually do not think Bruce Arena was a good manager. I mean he did well in the 2002 WC, but was very inconsistent:

2000 Gold Cup: Quarterfinals (On home turf)
2002 Gold Cup: Champions (PK's to beat Canada in the semis)
2002 World Cup: Quarterfinals (His best performance)
2003 Gold Cup: 3rd Place (Lost to Brazil, good performance)
2005 Gold Cup: Champions (Won on PK's against Panama)
2006 World Cup: 4th place in Group E (Only 1 point and -4 GD)


Even though the US is not great, they definitely have the talent to finish top 3 in every Gold Cup and at least make it out of the group of every World Cup. Anything short of that should be considered a failure. Only one to do that was Bora


1991 Gold Cup: Champions
1993 Gold Cup: Runners-up
1994 World Cup: Round of 16

 

[n4l]

Talent to finish top 3 in gold cup is understandable. But out of group stage in WC? I think that has to depend on the quality of the group (like the 06 group with Italy, Czech, and Ghana was simply impossible to qualify).

Yeah..I meant WC02 for Arena. And Arena is a good coach. Not the best, but quite good.

 

[Coasterfreek]

I just feel this team lacks the overall talent. There's too much of a hole and the defending is quite a joke in the long run. It feels as if even the greatest manager cannot win with these guys.

 

[n4l]

I just feel this team lacks the overall talent. There's too much of a hole and the defending is quite a joke in the long run. It feels as if even the greatest manager cannot win with these guys.

And that's why it is unfortunate that idiots like Alexi Lalas are the ones on tv who keep deluding the public into thinking that there is enough talent...

 

[vitomins]

Talent to finish top 3 in gold cup is understandable. But out of group stage in WC? I think that has to depend on the quality of the group (like the 06 group with Italy, Czech, and Ghana was simply impossible to qualify).

Yeah..I meant WC02 for Arena. And Arena is a good coach. Not the best, but quite good.

That was a very tough group indeed, but I still feel that they had the talent to at least compete with the Czech's (not get smoked 3-0) and I also feel they were good enough to beat Ghana. At the time, Ghana had 7 players playing in the 5 major European leagues. The United States had 9, so it is not like Ghana had a bunch of more talented players.

But not qualifying out of that group is not the worst thing that could have happened, because it was the toughest group in the competition. I can give him a pass on that one.

 

[crzdcolombian]

And that's why it is unfortunate that idiots like Alexi Lalas are the ones on tv who keep deluding the public into thinking that there is enough talent...

People don't care in the US. Their are more Mexican NT fans in the US then US fans. Most people interested in soccer in the US are South American or European and we have douches like Rossi who are like play me on your NT at the World Cup at 17 or I am playing for Italy. Or Subtoic which play'd in all our youth teams then was mad he was benched at sub 20 level and jumped shit. That is why you see all these 17 year olds getting call up if they might potentially play for another team. That Juan Aguedelo kid was capped after like 3 pro games, think it was just to make sure Colombia never got the idea to cap him. Now they are going to cap a U-20 Peruvian to the senior team. The US has a bunch of decent players but many choose to play for their parents country then for the US. Or that Argie kid who plays for River Plate people are nutting over that was discovered on some US spanish channel become a pro tv show in Dallas

Imagine USA with Subtoic at CB and Rossi at Striker? World Class they are just lacking a couple players the midfield is very good, and they have one of the best goalies in the world in Howard. The defense and strikers are shit. Fine Jozy is fast and a tank but guy can't kick a soccer ball at goal to save his life.

 

[Coasterfreek]

Well, the team got a win today, was Slovenia playing it's scrubs though? The attack looked good, but obviously there is a load of work to be done.

 

[Coasterfreek]

Even though it was a friendly, this had to have been one of the most undeserving wins. Team scored late into stoppage time for a 1-0 win over Venezuela.

 

[Cal]

Scotland playing USA in May sometime.

 

[Coasterfreek]

Looks awkward to see this clip @ Genoa.

[youtube]jCW61Eycwps[/youtube]

 

[Ana Banana]

Why is that awkward?

Honestly a good goal from Dempsey, too.