The Soccer Thread (IV)

I don't know if any Hokies read this thread, but I'll go ahead and mention Joe Gieck so you don't have to.

 

So. Well. Done.

 

Every U.S. team that Adu has been a part of has played well.
At every level.
U-19s in 2005 beat Argentina, albeit in part because the dope ARG coach didn't start Messi.
U-19s in 2007 beat Brazil and made the semis.
U-23 at the 2008 Olympics had Netherlands beat until they screwed up a late free kick.
Adu was a huge contributor to every one of those teams. I'm not sure what people expect, but Adu has been at least as good a youth player as Donovan was.

 

It's not just superstitiion. It's also about keeping a pro-US crowd in place.

 

In coach's defense, I think he was trying to play the ball.
Why he was trying to play the ball, I have no idea.

 

Play the ball? The ball was on the ground and Aguirre's foot was up by the Panama player's crotch.

Nothing will happen to Mexico because it's Mexico, and the last thing CONCAlaugh wants to do is offend its cash cow (just think of the drop in gate receipts if Mexico goes out early!). Aguirre will get the one-match ban that was coming to him anyway while the Panama player gets banned for three matches.

Justice? No. CONCACAF? Absolutely.

 

I take it back. I've watched it 6 or 7 times now, and I think I was misled by Aguirre's Roger Clemens-style reaction -- he looks down at the ball after he kicks at the player and it seems like that's what was on his mind. But you're right, Troop. The ball is in the ground. He wasn't trying to stop it. What he WAS trying to do, I just don't understand.

 

I'll be in Philly for the Gold Cup quarterfinals. Looking forward to it.

 

Mexico has no class. Remember when their goalie tried to trip the American after a goal scored in a friendly? Remember the assistant coach for Mexico slapping Fankie Heijduk after their most recent loss to the USA?

It is actions like that that don’t make me the least bit upset about throwing the whole 2-0 win in their face.

I agree with this as being a huge part of it. What I was taking umbrage at was the idea that US selects Columbus for cold weather when that really isn’t the case.

Awesome. You can find me. I’ll be wearing red in the Sam’s Army section... More specifically, North Jersey Brigade stuff, probably some flag stuff and possibly a fun hat that Twoback is a huge fan of!

 

That was my first reaction, too. It seemed like he was trying to stop the ball and then kind of instintively held his leg out because somebody was running toward him. Almost to slow down the player.

It's happened before when a coach puts his hands around a player running out of bounds. But with his leg up, Aguirre put his leg out for the same effect.

Or, at least, that's my PR spin on it.

 

At age 20, Donovan was a breakout star for the US in South Korea. Adu has been good at the youth levels (he was very dangerous in 2005), but he's been less effective as the competition has increased. He has flashes of excellent play, but mostly he's a capable attacking midfielder/support striker and nothing more.

 

This team frequently needs a capable attacking midfielder, so I'll take it.