World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

[J.D.]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Looks like the Honduras coach is wearing jeans...don't see that every day.

[J.D.]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

And once again we prove to be terribly defensively...I see not much has changed

[joecct]

How do the French surrender without raising their arms?

Where do you think the wave started??

[Jimjamesak]

And once again we prove to be terribly defensively...I see not much has changed

I have serious doubts about us even qualifying at this point.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

That wasn't great. Let's not overreact though, we always drop a match or two on the road in the Hex. Mexico drew with Jamaica at Azteca, I'd call that an even worse result.

That being said, I can't say I'm crazy about the Geoff Cameron experiment. If you're going to call Bocanegra back from Europe, he should be playing. Also, Sacha Kljestan is crap.

[Slap Shot]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

That wasn't great. Let's not overreact though, we always drop a match or two on the road in the Hex. Mexico drew with Jamaica at Azteca, I'd call that an even worse result.

That being said, I can't say I'm crazy about the Geoff Cameron experiment. If you're going to call Bocanegra back from Europe, he should be playing. Also, Sacha Kljestan is crap.

Jamaica getting a point is bad for the US as there's no way Mex doesn't qualify. And you're right not having Boca in that game was a terrible decision given the overall youth on the line without him.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Jamaica getting a point is bad for the US as there's no way Mex doesn't qualify.

Yeah, I recognize that in an objective sense, but still, Muck Fexico.

[Craig P.]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

It depends on your point of view. From an independent observer, the Mexico result is worse than ours because they lost two points against expectations while we only lost one. From a what-does-it-do-to-our-chances-to-qualify point of view, the impact of Mexico drawing is debatable but most likely bad.

[MountieBoyOz]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

I wonder what the mothership would do if the US didn't qualify. A lot of casual fans that would latch on because the U.S. isn't playing would skip the Cup IMHO.

[Slap Shot]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

In theory a tie at home is worse than one on the road, but in reality the Mexico tie is worse only if you believe the US is more likely to recover from these results than El Tri and that neither Honduras nor Jamaica can build off the results.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Interesting article on USMNT tactics, 1990-today

[pirate]

Interesting article on USMNT tactics, 1990-today

Wow, that is a good article.

Combine that with the general consensus that US youth soccer breeds big, system players and you have the basis for long term concern. We will continue to produce run fast, play hard players unless we can matriculate enough immigrant players through a 'pay to play' system.

Regional and tournament brackets consist of 3-4 big system teams and 2-3 non-English speaking teams. Usually the big teams win but I'm seeing more parity as players age and size evens out.

A big club team will have "stars" at u11-u14 who tend to be the kids who are the oldest and biggest. But they aren't the most skilled on the pitch...they overcome that with the run fast, play hard theme

[manurespreader]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Seemed to me the author was pro Bradley and anti Klinsmann. I didn't like Bradley and I'm glad he's gone.
I think if there's anyone who can change US soccer it's Klinsmann, but it won't be easy. We have too many coaches in the development ranks who do not know what they are doing, so they try to beat you with conditioning.IE. Work hard, play hard. But this is not a winning strategy.Tim Howard is right, we have to be better at adjusting, and our average player isn't exposed to what that is.

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Robbie Rogers reveals that he is gay, will step away from soccer

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

I was watching highlights of the Fulham U18s beat the Chelsea U18s 5-0 (because it's awesome), and it got me thinking: how badly would a Premier League academy U18 team beat a good US high school team (which is about the same age group)?