All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

You saw those pictures......

 

I don't blame him for avoiding donning that new kit for as long as possible. ;D

 

Hey, I've admitted I'm considering getting a Beasley jersey, just to support a YA, even though he's with Rangers. That's got to count for something, right?

(Though I'm also considering the new sky blue Partick Thistle away shirt or the Hibs 07 home shirt as well.)

And WTF is up with Wynalda signing with a PDL team? Is he hoping to parlay that into some sort of coaching gig?

 

And after a good opening spell, Jozy Altidore takes advantage of a Brazilian giveaway in their own half and buries it in the bottom left corner of the net. 25th minutes 1-0 USA.

The Fieldturf is playing a few tricks on both teams.

 

I understand your point, but didn't Feilhaber and Bornstein do it? Didn't several big-name Mexican stars? Isn't little Bradley playing his ass off for the U-20s now? It would have been challenging to play two events, but not impossible.

 

I almost picked up a Partick Thistle kit not that long ago. And Hibs are my number two team. So, I guess its okay.

There is a big difference between Copa America and the U-20s. Feilhaber and Bornstein showed the result of wear and tear in the Paraguay game.

As to Mexico, their European players are not in Copa America. The players that went down play in the MFL.

The other factor is that FIFA is under no obligation to force European teams to allow the US players to go. So, even if Dempsey was willing to forgo a small summer vacation, Fulham could easily say "No, we don't want him to go. He needs to practice with us."

Sometimes it is better for the US coach to not push it with player commitments. They need to have a good repoirte with the club coaches or those club coaches will be loathe to further acquire American players.

 

FWIW: Marquez (Barcelona), Guardado (PSV), and Castillo (Olympiacos) made the trip. El Tri seemed to understand this Copa America thing is a pretty big deal. And aren't the African stars leaving Euro club teams during the season for their Nation's Cup? I'm sure we could have sent better if Bradley had pushed, though as you say, I can see why he didn't.

It just would have been nice to give ourselves a fighting chance. That's all I'm saying. I was proud of the effort for the first two games. But anytime the ticker flashes, "Paraguay 3, USA 1," there is no explanation as to how that really happened. Just another excuse for the soccer-bashing element to crow about the USMNT.

On the other hand, I'm really enjoying watching the U-20s play. I really feel the US has a shot to win the tournament, given the advantages of playing near home on a faster surface.

 

"Adu is a very special footballer with the kind of ability you see usually only in South American players. He showed the efficiency that we were lacking," said Brazil coach and renowned talent spotter Nelson Rodrigues.

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Let me be the first to say that Darren Rovell should stick to business reports and quit the soccer analysis.

 

Oh, and where's the fellow who said the Columbus Crew were "just dreadful" to watch?
Now six in a row without a defeat, from last in the division to tied for third!
Here they come, Pastor!

 

So when does the Beckham countdown begin? Why do I get a strange feeling he'll be popping up more on E! than he does on most sports highlight shows after a month or two?

 

Oh, it wasn't me saying they were dreadful to watch. I sort of root for them to do well based on their youth. Although, much of that youth isn't here.

There is a difference between Mexico and the US. Despite his recent hiring, Sanchez's head is on the chopping block. He has yet to defeat the US and despite running his mouth about how bad the previous coaches were and how things were going to be different under him, he has yet to show it.

Copa America, no matter how you would like to play it, just isn't important to us. Bradley was never going to take his best team. And any coach that would do so, especially after coming off winning the Gold Cup which instantly generated money, would be foolish.

The US team that went down there was embarrassing. But I've sort of gotten over the soccer bashing crowd. In honesty, if someone is going to bash American soccer based on the Copa America, they just don't really understand.