All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

I should have tempered my comments with how atrocious the defense was. I'm not sure Ecuador came to play the full 90, because they looked like they could do whatever they wanted to up front for huge chunks of the first half. Little better in the second, but they didn't have much spark after Donovan's two shockers.

 

Feilhaber had a tough moment or two, but I thought he threw some great balls out there as well. I thought a time or two that he was giving what JOB used to.
With Convey, Bradley, Feilhaber, Dempsey, Donovan, Beasley, the American midfield is looking pretty promising.

 

That backline is going to get absolutely, positively shredded against technical opposition.

I also don't trust Tim Howard. Not one bit...

 

Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks and Montreal Canadiens owner George Gillett completed the takeover of Liverpool today...

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/6614308

 

I hope you enjoy your position in that ever-narrowing minority.

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Given the dearth of reliable American forwards, I'd say Donovan needs to be playing up top for the time being -- preferably as a withdrawn forward running off of Ching or Cooper. EJ needs time to get his head straight, Twellman needs to show he can score when not presented with an empty net and the other options (Rolfe, Esky, Jaqua, Noonan, Adu, Altidore) have even more to prove.

It could be worse, though. We could be England.

 

I love Timmy, but he still needs to be more assertive on crosses and on communicating with his defenders.

 

What "technical" opposition?
The U.S. already has beaten two World Cup squads this year, Mexico and Ecuador.
I know the defense wasn't good in either game, but they just started playing under this coach a week ago. The U.S. has more good backline players available now than at any point. How about we give them a chance to get their act together?

 

I've seen enough ManU games (particularly the Champions League) to know that I wouldn't trust Timmy in big situations. Just wait.

Mexico and Ecuador aren't really considered technical sides. Plus, the U.S. owns Mexico up here...so that win was a given. If you look at the Ecuador game, the first goal was a fluke. The second goal came against the run of play. The third goal was absolutely stellar. Ecuador has also shown it's not the greatest side when playing outside of Quito and the elevation.

Outside of the Donovan strike, what has there been to be impressed about?

 

Timmy wasn't as bad in the CL as the legend goes. He spilled the FK against Porto, but that was a tough shot to grab. He also had a bad goal against, I think, Lille. But otherwise he was solid.

His biggest problem with United was that the defenders listened to Keane more than they did to him.

 

The comeback begins today against the Giants of Andorra! For gods sake could someone please score.....

 

Did you forget Hernan Crespo and the world's softest header eluding Timmy H at the San Siro?

 

That was a perfectly placed shot. Not quite sure what you wanted Howard to do about it. Guy gets a free header six yards from goal and places it in the far corner.