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U.S. Men's National Soccer (Official Thread)

Well, that was semi-productive. Nice that we can take a team so hard hit by injuries to play a really good team like the Netherlands and look respectable. Could've easily have been a tie. De Jong should have been red carded for his tackle on Holden. If there's any time to protect the players, it's in a friendly. Seriously, what the hell is he thinking making a tackle like that. I hope the Sheikhs sell him to Abu Dhabi. Also, the penalty call was weak but it was dumb of Bornstein to even touch him.

My evaluations of players whose roles are not quite settled yet:
Demerit: Still better than Boca, I think.

Bornstein: Looked good going forward, shame about that whole "defending" stuff. I'd prefer Dolo at LB. And Pearce needs a start against the Czechs or Turks, I'm thinking.

Holden: Looked good in the short time he played.

Torres: Demonstrated that he's a clever player with good touch and range, but he still looked very outclassed. Might get to ride the bench in SA, but I certainly wouldn't play him.

Edu: Looked really good, I thought. Definitely looking forward to seeing him in SA.

Beasley: He looked very dangerous, though his last touch was off. Certainly far better than the trainwreck at the Confed Cup. Might be a good veteran to bring along. Though I can think of an up-and-coming US star who is very disruptive but can't finish that I'd rather we bring along...

Bedoya: Not an option this cycle, of course, but one to keep an eye on in the future.

Findley: Perhaps the worst player in the entire pool. Heck, maybe in the entire world.

Everyone else: Not enough time.
 
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How was that not AT LEAST a yellow on the foul against Holden? Then the Dutch vag takes a dive in the box and gets a penalty. There was no real contact whatsoever. This is the number one thing that frustrates me about international soccer.
 
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TDG;1668227; said:
De Jong should have been red carded for his tackle on Holden. If there's any time to protect the players, it's in a friendly. Seriously, what the hell is he thinking making a tackle like that. I hope the Sheikhs sell him to Abu Dhabi.

osuteke;1668231; said:
How was that not AT LEAST a yellow on the foul against Holden?

Seriously, De Jong is officially a p.o.s.

Bolton's Stuart Holden out for six weeks after extending stay - Barclays Premier League - ESPN Soccernet

Bolton midfielder Stuart Holden faces at least the next six weeks on the sidelines after fracturing his right fibula.

Holden, who joined Wanderers in January on a short-term deal until the end of the season, sustained the injury during USA's 2-1 friendly defeat to Netherlands on Wednesday night.
Holden had started Bolton's last two matches, impressing manager Owen Coyle, who also confirmed the 22-year-old's contract has been extended through to the end of next season.
Holden had been looking GREAT, both for the Nats and for Bolton. He was truly playing with some confidence at just the right time. USMNT takes another hit from the injury bug. :(


Fuck De Jong


usa.jpg
 
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And we're fighting against the odds, proly for the rest of our lives (all of us, soccer fans, future soccer fans, etc), it won't change and US will screwed on calls because there's no other defense to say otherwise, or a national following defense to make it change.
 
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Charlie Davies returned to training five months after a near-fatal crash - Soccer - SI.com

Davies returns to Sochaux training five months after near-fatal crash

SOCHAUX, France (AP) -- Charlie Davies has returned to training with Sochaux, hoping to boost his chances of making the U.S. World Cup roster.
Five months after a near-fatal car crash in Virginia, the 23-year-old is working on fitness and doing some work with a ball.
He said Friday that he is "closer and closer to being back" and hopes to play for Sochaux before the end of the season on May 15.
"This upcoming week, I'll be on the field much, much more, and the shots and long balls will continue," Davies said. "More cutting and dribbling, hopefully some finishing."
 
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More tickets for World Cup games were purchased by Americans than any other nation. There could be some serious fan support. If the US is clever, the team will make some positive comments about South Africa when they arrive, especially about Mandela, and get the South Africans behind them.
 
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Absolutely CRUSHED for Charlie. :(

30-man preliminary roster announced today. Countless practices, training sessions, and 3 friendlies await these guys in their final shot to make the final 23 for S.A.
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton, England), Tim Howard (Everton, England).
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, France), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Jay DeMerit (Watford, England), Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway), Chad Marshall (Columbus), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan, Italy), Heath Pearce (Dallas), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England).
Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro, Sweden), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus, Denmark), Stuart Holden (Bolton, England), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus), Jose Torres (Pachuca, Mexico).
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Hull, England), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles), Brian Ching (Houston), Robbie Findley (Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla, Mexico), Eddie Johnson (Aris, Greece).
Sucks for CD9. On top of the world as one of the rising stars for US soccer and a late-night crash takes away his dream of the World Cup. He worked hard to even be training 6 months after he almost died. I imagine watching the games this summer will be rough. He just never got full clearance from his club team (Socheaux FC).

Oh well. Interesting that Dempsey is listed as a forward on the official USsoccer.com roster. He's usually a mid, as seen on the list ESPN uses. Wouldn't surprise me if we're looking at an Altidore-Dempsey pairing up top. Edson Buddle has been on a HOT streak in MLS (yeah...MLS), which is nice because a hot striker is importance. We need his confidence and ability to score. Too bad we know nothing of these two things when it comes to international soccer. I think he has like 2 games with the Nats. Robbie Findlay has no chance. Terrible choice. I'd honestly take an 80% Davies, with still a month to get ready, over him. Eddie Johnson is the same story every year. Looks decent for his club. No confidence with the USMNT. Never goes 1-v-1, just passes it back and blends it. Forwards are scarce in the US pool, so he gets the benefits.

Donovan-Edu-Bradley-Holden in the midfield. Love the depth here. Feilhaber, Clark, and Torres provide a good variety of skills. Not to mention if Dempsey slides back. He's a starter and Holden would come on late, with Deuce moving up top to score goals. Beasley and Kljestan being there are a joke, Bob Bradley. Robbie Rogers too. Don't get those picks.

Defense is still a bit of musical chairs. Bocanegra-Demerit-Onyewu-Cherundolo/Spector. Who knows???. Onyewu hasn't played in months and an out-of-form Onyewu is scary as hell when it comes to international competition. I'll just assume he gets 1 red and 1 PK in the 3 group games. No disagreements with the selections here, just hope we find a good group to send out. Bornstein probably starts against England (faster) and Boca slides into Demerit's spot next to Gooch. Cherundolo is steady, Spector is younger but has had his struggles in England lately.

Goalies were a given. Howard between the pipes. No complaints. All three are VERY capable keepers (Hahnemann is a top 10 in the world in, I believe Kickers, ratings). If US does anything well, it's goalies (Friedal, Keller, Howard, Hahnemann).

Interesting note- if an injury were to occur to one of the future "23" before the World Cup begins, the replacement player does NOT have to come from this group of 30. They can be anyone. Pre-WC camp injuries are likely as these guys will be going hard for the next month. Sucks, but wouldn't surprise me (especially with the injury bug the US has had the last 6 months). Throw in Kljestan's wreckless tackles and the percentages go up. :p
 
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OHSportsFan9;1702606; said:
Oh well. Interesting that Dempsey is listed as a forward on the official USsoccer.com roster. He's usually a mid, as seen on the list ESPN uses. Wouldn't surprise me if we're looking at an Altidore-Dempsey pairing up top. Edson Buddle has been on a HOT streak in MLS (yeah...MLS), which is nice because a hot striker is importance. We need his confidence and ability to score. Too bad we know nothing of these two things when it comes to international soccer. I think he has like 2 games with the Nats. Robbie Findlay has no chance. Terrible choice. I'd honestly take an 80% Davies, with still a month to get ready, over him. Eddie Johnson is the same story every year. Looks decent for his club. No confidence with the USMNT. Never goes 1-v-1, just passes it back and blends it. Forwards are scarce in the US pool, so he gets the benefits.

Donovan-Edu-Bradley-Holden in the midfield. Love the depth here. Feilhaber, Clark, and Torres provide a good variety of skills. Not to mention if Dempsey slides back. He's a starter and Holden would come on late, with Deuce moving up top to score goals. Beasley and Kljestan being there are a joke, Bob Bradley. Robbie Rogers too. Don't get those picks.

Defense is still a bit of musical chairs. Bocanegra-Demerit-Onyewu-Cherundolo/Spector. Who knows???. Onyewu hasn't played in months and an out-of-form Onyewu is scary as hell when it comes to international competition. I'll just assume he gets 1 red and 1 PK in the 3 group games. No disagreements with the selections here, just hope we find a good group to send out. Bornstein probably starts against England (faster) and Boca slides into Demerit's spot next to Gooch. Cherundolo is steady, Spector is younger but has had his struggles in England lately.

Goalies were a given. Howard between the pipes. No complaints. All three are VERY capable keepers (Hahnemann is a top 10 in the world in, I believe Kickers, ratings). If US does anything well, it's goalies (Friedal, Keller, Howard, Hahnemann).

Interesting note- if an injury were to occur to one of the future "23" before the World Cup begins, the replacement player does NOT have to come from this group of 30. They can be anyone. Pre-WC camp injuries are likely as these guys will be going hard for the next month. Sucks, but wouldn't surprise me (especially with the injury bug the US has had the last 6 months). Throw in Kljestan's wreckless tackles and the percentages go up. :p

Summed up my feelings perfectly, especially Davies at 80% over Findley, who hasn't a shot in hell at making the team and, in my opinion, shouldn't even be considered for meaningful national team games. Hell, I'd rather have seen a cold Conner Casey or an aged Brian McBride than Findley. He looked absolutely LOST last time he played with the Nats. Get well soon, Charlie.

I love Gomez off the bench. He's the perfect offensive minded super sub. I just hope he can handle the pressure and perform under those conditions.

Congrats to Robbie Rodgers and Chad Marshall for making the 30-man roster!! That said, I'm really surprised Robbie made this cut, but he and Beasley won't be on the 23 man roster. Klejestan I'd consider a sleeper here, but he's also very likely to stay home.

Not many MLS-ers in this group, but the amount of ex-MLS players is astounding! If this team can make it far, MLS has a LOT to hang it's hat on for helping develop what looks to be 3/4 of the final roster in their early years... including all three of those goalkeepers.

Really interested to see the final roster and look forward to figuring out everybody's role on this team. I'm fairly confident about our defense (especially with a healthy Timmy Ho between the pipes). It's gonna be all about the offense on this team and who brings what to the table.
 
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I don't understand not giving Davies a chance. Plus, imagine the spiritual lift it would give the team if he were with the team in SA. I don't even really care if the fitness won't be there. It's a 23-man roster and only 11 of them can be on the field at a time. Realistically, they're probably only going to go about 16 or 17-deep as far as actual playing time goes anyway? Why not give him a spot?
 
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