OT: World Cup

[Leebo]

It was just a dig at Pedroia.

 

[intlzncster]

That was my thinking as well- at least, wishful thinking!

Even so, the US has never really been a team that can keep possession as well as many teams. The blame will naturally fall on Bradley, since he's on of the few on the team that is comfortable with the ball (opposing defenders usually give him some of that respectful space), but even with him playing better, we can't expect this current US team to control the midfield as they simply do not have the players for it.

They'll need to excel at counterattacks, set pieces and runs by the 'wings,' Johnson and Beasley.

If Bradley doesn't play well from here on out, we won't get another point. Have that facilitator in mid field is everything. He was a turnover machine.

 

[intlzncster]

Given Pepe is an idiot. The red card is "cheap" because the German, Muller, embellished what was arguably incidental contact. Muller parlayed Pepe's hot temper into an ejection, much like the intent of Materazzi against Zidane. The win was "cheap", in the sense that winning against 11 is more impressive than winning against 10. Germany is a very good team, perhaps the best. I don't think Portugal wins even if they played at full strength. But I want to see more from Germany than what I saw against Portugal before I crown them the very best team.

They were absolutely striping Portugal prior to the ejection though.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Given Pepe is an idiot. The red card is "cheap" because the German, Muller, embellished what was arguably incidental contact. Muller parlayed Pepe's hot temper into an ejection, much like the intent of Materazzi against Zidane. The win was "cheap", in the sense that winning against 11 is more impressive than winning against 10. Germany is a very good team, perhaps the best. I don't think Portugal wins even if they played at full strength. But I want to see more from Germany than what I saw against Portugal before I crown them the very best team.

Are you saying that, because Muller pretended that the initial contact was more than it was, Pepe was then goaded into further violent behavior? I'm not sure I buy that. Germany won against a weakened side (but that's always a possibility with Portugal), but it was absolutely self-inflicted, and the ref made the appropriate call.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I remember watching adverts for soccer training videos from England when I was in highschool. The kids, all about 10 years old, were consistently crossing and finishing with bicycle kicks on net one after another. I remember thinking, damn they start young. Only 2 guys on my highschool team could bike with any regularity, and we were ranking 6th in the nation in USA Today my junior year.

Coaching is massively important at the youth level.

I never played except pickup games and intramural at UConn. But when I was about 14, my neighbor's youngest son, who was about 7, scored something like 65 goals in a season youth soccer in Manchester (this was probably 1980). Next highest scorer in the league had less than 10. His dad was from Haiti and his mom from Columbia, and his dad had played and was quite good. This kid had a ball on his foot as soon as he could stand, a knowledgeable coach in his dad and it showed.

 

[CallMeBruce]

If Bradley doesn't play well from here on out, we won't get another point. Have that facilitator in mid field is everything. He was a turnover machine.

Another reason that I wish Donovan was on the roster. If Mikey can't handle the #10 role, I'd swing him down so he's playing opposite Jones, and having Lando under the forwards would be perfect.

 

[John]

I remember watching adverts for soccer training videos from England when I was in highschool. The kids, all about 10 years old, were consistently crossing and finishing with bicycle kicks on net one after another. I remember thinking, damn they start young. Only 2 guys on my highschool team could bike with any regularity, and we were ranking 6th in the nation in USA Today my junior year.

Coaching is massively important at the youth level.

My son is very into soccer, and he's trying to catch-on with a premier level team (he's 13, but has been only playing a couple of years so he's playing catch-up with the other kids skills-wise). He keeps doing tryouts but has been cut every time, which has been disheartening for him and us. I already think that it's too late for him, and the kid's only 13.

 

[intlzncster]

Another reason that I wish Donovan was on the roster. If Mikey can't handle the #10 role, I'd swing him down so he's playing opposite Jones, and having Lando under the forwards would be perfect.

Absolutely agree. The loss of Altidore is also a factor there. Donovan is not the same player, but the US attack could change stylistically with LD in there and not lose an enormous amount. Not having Jozy or LD hurts. That's where I really think JK erred, not accounting for injuries to critical (irreplaceable) players.

Dempsey has a basal fracture of the nose. I'm hoping they can get his breathing sorted out. It definitely affected his play. Said he was choking up blood all game.

 

[ZooCougar]

Aren't 99% of hammys tied to preparation? Amazing to have this now. Ghana looked like the better team for 80+ minutes, I liked the win, but this team is going nowhere, even if they somehow come out of the group

Dumb. I can't tell you how many times I have seen teams "dominate" play only to lose. Silly to predict the outcome for future games based on last night.

Remember getting smoked by Poland in the last game of group play in 2002? We trounced Mexico in the next game and "dominated" Germany in the quarters.. and lost.

The scoreboard is what matters. When the game was tied, they scored.

 

[bobbygt]

Dumb. I can't tell you how many times I have seen teams "dominate" play only to lose. Silly to predict the outcome for future games based on last night.

Remember getting smoked by Poland in the last game of group play in 2002? We trounced Mexico in the next game and "dominated" Germany in the quarters.. and lost.

The scoreboard is what matters. When the game was tied, they scored.

Gary Linekar quote after the 1990 WC Semifinal defeat to Germany:
Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win

 

[intlzncster]

My son is very into soccer, and he's trying to catch-on with a premier level team (he's 13, but has been only playing a couple of years so he's playing catch-up with the other kids skills-wise). He keeps doing tryouts but has been cut every time, which has been disheartening for him and us. I already think that it's too late for him, and the kid's only 13.

Depends how athletic he is and if he has any standout strengths. If he's big, or becomes big, and has some speed, he might be able to step in on D. Also, if he's very fast, you can leverage that on the wing.

If he's starting late, and he's truly committed, you have to get him 2-4 weeks of a quality soccer camps in the summer. He needs that training. Also, he's got to play year round (fall/spring/indoor and summer camps). But that's only if the kid really wants it. Each situation is different, and you don't necessarily want to burn him out.

I didn't really blossom as a player until 7th or 8th grade, but I had played since age 5.

 

[housekeys]

[QUOTE="CallMeBruce, post: 991615, member: 4984"]Are you saying that, because Muller pretended that the initial contact was more than it was, Pepe was then goaded into further violent behavior? I'm not sure I buy that. Germany won against a weakened side (but that's always a possibility with Portugal), but it was absolutely self-inflicted, and the ref made the appropriate call.[/QUOTE]
That is exactly what I am saying, and I maybe in the minority. The rules are the rules and it is not like I am saying Germany must apologize for the result or the way it happened.

 

[John]

Depends how athletic he is and if he has any standout strengths. If he's big, or becomes big, and has some speed, he might be able to step in on D. Also, if he's very fast, you can leverage that on the wing.

If he's starting late, and he's truly committed, you have to get him 2-4 weeks of a quality soccer camps in the summer. He needs that training. Also, he's got to play year round (fall/spring/indoor and summer camps). But that's only if the kid really wants it. Each situation is different, and you don't necessarily want to burn him out.

he's been playing year round for the two years now. He loves playing, he's definitely settled on this being his sport after trying different ones over the years. He's signed up for Everson Soccer Camp this summer, went there last year too, and the year previous to that he went to Nunes in Bridgeport. I never played so I'm useless with helping him. He's small, which I've been told hurts him, but he's a junkyard dog out there. We've been told that he does have "something" that the coaches like, but they cut him based on skills like touch. I think if he could get his growth spurt (he's way overdue) and ramp up his skills even a little bit, then his tenacity coupled with those things will serve him well. He's been approached about joining a comp level team, just becuase he actually practices hard and the coach wants to use him to show his "prima donnas" how to work hard. So I guess that's something, just wish he could catch on with a premier club so he could get that really good coaching.

 

[CL82]

My son is very into soccer, and he's trying to catch-on with a premier level team (he's 13, but has been only playing a couple of years so he's playing catch-up with the other kids skills-wise). He keeps doing tryouts but has been cut every time, which has been disheartening for him and us. I already think that it's too late for him, and the kid's only 13.

If he's a righty, spend the summer working his left foot. Being equally strong with each foot is probably one of the biggest things that separates the better players from the pack. He should be juggling everyday. If he puts the time in, he'll catch on somewhere.

 

[CallMeBruce]

Absolutely agree. The loss of Altidore is also a factor there. Donovan is not the same player, but the US attack could change stylistically with LD in there and not lose an enormous amount. Not having Jozy or LD hurts. That's where I really think JK erred, not accounting for injuries to critical (irreplaceable) players.

Dempsey has a basal fracture of the nose. I'm hoping they can get his breathing sorted out. It definitely affected his play. Said he was choking up blood all game.

It's actually a nasal fracture (a basal fracture is a skull fracture that would have had Dempsey in the ICU, but ESPN misreported this), but yeah, I think Dempsey will be fine in a few days.

My issue with Klinsmann's roster decisions are that he brought too many role players and not enough depth. Now we need cover for Altidore, and on the bench you have Johannsson, a skilled, creative scorer, and Wondolowski, a one-dimensional poacher, rather than someone who can bring Altidore's target and hold-up skills. Johnson, Boyd, or Agudelo would have fit nicely there over Wondo.

Furthermore, bringing both Davis and Green, neither of whom can play anywhere but LM (and then starting neither of them) is completely indefensible. Davis only brings one skill - setpieces, which would be replicated by Donovan or Zusi.

Also, bringing a nicked-up Gonzalez and whatever's left of Beasley was foolish. If I were in charge, I'd have left Wondo, Davis, Beasley, Gonzo, and probably Green (though it seems like bringing him may have been required in order to get him to commit to the US) at home, and brought EJ, Donovan, Ream/Parkhurst, Goodson, and Edu (cover for Beckerman, if he's going to be starting consistently).

 

[housekeys]

They were absolutely striping Portugal prior to the ejection though.

Games are 90 minutes and momentum comes and goes. But, I do not believe Portugal's fortunes would change, even if they were at full strength. I do not think it would have been 4-0, however. But, hey, maybe I am wrong on Germany. We shall see.

 

[housekeys]

If Bradley doesn't play well from here on out, we won't get another point. Have that facilitator in mid field is everything. He was a turnover machine.

This is a big issue for Klinsman. The opposition knows that our offense runs through Bradly and taking him out of the game is a priority. What does USA do as a team to counter that type of strategy? I hope we have the counter-strategy and the players to implement it.

 

[CallMeBruce]

This is a big issue for Klinsman. The opposition knows that our offense runs through Bradly and taking him out of the game is a priority. What does USA do as a team to counter that type of strategy? I hope we have the counter-strategy and the players to implement it.

I don't think it's that easy to take a guy out of the game without committing multiple players to him, and that opens up the counter pretty severely. Bradley was lousy yesterday because he was lousy. He just took bad touches and played tentatively.

 

[Waquoit]

I'm laughing at those who are still second-guessing Klinsmann.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

The red card wasn't cheap. Pepe headbutted a player deliberately. That's violent conduct, and an automatic red. He's probably suspended for the Ghana game, as well.

Pepe’s history will also weigh heavily on FIFA. Last thing they want is him to have another meltdown and go off on a star player in front of 3 billion soccer fans on TV. Best guess is he will banned for 3 games, which based on how Portugal has played so far, means the rest of the Cup.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/06/16/uk-soccer-world-m13-por-pepe-idUKKBN0ER28820140616

 

[intlzncster]

he's been playing year round for the two years now. He loves playing, he's definitely settled on this being his sport after trying different ones over the years. He's signed up for Everson Soccer Camp this summer, went there last year too, and the year previous to that he went to Nunes in Bridgeport. I never played so I'm useless with helping him. He's small, which I've been told hurts him, but he's a junkyard dog out there. We've been told that he does have "something" that the coaches like, but they cut him based on skills like touch. I think if he could get his growth spurt (he's way overdue) and ramp up his skills even a little bit, then his tenacity coupled with those things will serve him well. He's been approached about joining a comp level team, just becuase he actually practices hard and the coach wants to use him to show his "prima donnas" how to work hard. So I guess that's something, just wish he could catch on with a premier club so he could get that really good coaching.

The only thing is to keep working. Effort can take him farther than skill alone.

For touch, keep it simple. He's got the spend hours with one and two touch passing close up to a wall. Juggle in the back yard. Buy him some cones so he can practice dribbling in between them. Both Inside/outside of foot, one foot, other foot, alternating feet, concentrating on good form. Practice cutting with cones, inside/outside of both feet. Dribbling really quickly between the insteps of his feet. Form/touch first; Build up speed quickness over time. Always focus on staying on balls of the feet. Remember to not look at ball; head up at all times.

If you don't object, let him carry a ball on his foot throughout the house. Just keeping the ball on his foot builds unconscious memory of that skill (and feel).

Touch is about practice. The amount of time the ball spends on his feet, the better his touch will be. He's got to put in the hours.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Dynamic warmups Conehead. That has literally changed my life. I've pulled/strained/torn every leg muscle known to man. Every time I stepped on the field it was an accident waiting to happen. That's what killed my college career.

I switched to dynamic warmups only in my 30s. It's been smooth sailing since...and I'm still playing against the college kids in summer league.

I have literally stopped all static stretching whatsoever, even on offdays. Minimal yoga with minimal strain sometimes. Stretching weakens your muscles to too great a degree.

Actually, sitting in an office 8/10 hours a day has killed mine. If I did not have bills to pay, I would be out there more. My left calf tear happened a night I was rushing to the game after work and had not time to warm-up/stretch. I knew it was a mistake and paid for it.

 

[DarthGrumpy]

Can't use baseball as an example of athleticism. John Kruck single handedly destroyed that notion. Drank a 6 pack before games sometimes supposedly.

But you did retort accurately.

Babe Ruth was a model athlete

 

[CallMeBruce]

I'm laughing at those who are still second-guessing Klinsmann.

Why? I loved the win yesterday, but it was a tactical disaster. The US was dominated in possession and relied very heavily on an outstanding game from Tim Howard. Meanwhile, his unconventional roster choices leave them without a target forward in an offensive scheme that requires a target forward. The counterattack yesterday was shambolic, and there are players on the bench with only one redundant skill. Meanwhile, the most creative attacker in the pool is doing analysis, while the player Klinsmann chose to run his offense through was awful. I think Bradley will bounce back, but this is the most offensive responsibility he's ever had. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he won't be able to play the #10 spot effectively at this level.

 

[UConnSwag11]

Why? I loved the win yesterday, but it was a tactical disaster. The US was dominated in possession and relied very heavily on an outstanding game from Tim Howard. Meanwhile, his unconventional roster choices leave them without a target forward in an offensive scheme that requires a target forward. The counterattack yesterday was shambolic, and there are players on the bench with only one redundant skill. Meanwhile, the most creative attacker in the pool is doing analysis, while the player Klinsmann chose to run his offense through was awful. I think Bradley will bounce back, but this is the most offensive responsibility he's ever had. It's not out of the realm of possibility that he won't be able to play the #10 spot effectively at this level.

the only reason they dominated in possession was because every time the US got the ball they tried to counter... they gave the ball almost every time it seemed... the center mids played bad they need to play better, hold the ball, possess and counter when they can not every time... i liked the formation it just needs to be tighter and they need to play better(the midfield)... whos the most creative attacker thats doing analysis(being serious idk who youre talking abou)