The Beautiful Game (The All Inclusive Soccer Thread)

[tommymtcom]

I'm not really sold on Neymar. I think once he comes up against some decent defending he may have some trouble.

[verb_to_trust]

He is talented, but a young player making the jump across seas like he is to the one of the top teams in the world is always a risk. Barca also has a wealth of strikes so there's that too...

[jwfocker]

He is talented, but a young player making the jump across seas like he is to the one of the top teams in the world is always a risk. Barca also has a wealth of strikes so there's that too...

Also, I think we should dish out some respect. Neymar's taking a real risk and a serious challenge by changing leagues at such a young age. He knows he isn't a finished product and that the Brazilian league isn't making him better. Good to see. I think this will be good for the game too.

Watching him and Messi will be potentially awesome and at the least very entertaining.

[jwfocker]

Champions League final has been a wonderful match so far...

Awesome game. I was really rooting for Dortmund. Especially after all of the Bayern flopping. I really enjoy Dortmunds all out attacking style. We need to see more teams play like that.

[VinylGuy]

He is talented, but a young player making the jump across seas like he is to the one of the top teams in the world is always a risk. Barca also has a wealth of strikes so there's that too...

Also, I think we should dish out some respect. Neymar's taking a real risk and a serious challenge by changing leagues at such a young age. He knows he isn't a finished product and that the Brazilian league isn't making him better. Good to see. I think this will be good for the game too.

Watching him and Messi will be potentially awesome and at the least very entertaining.

its always a risk guys...who can bet for sure that Neymar is going to be successful in Barcelona? Everything seems to indicate that but who knows?

Im really exited to see him near Messi, thats for sure.

[Electromatic]

With a midfield as spectacularly creative and talented as Barcelona, I can only imagine putting more talent infront of them is going to be a good thing.

[VinylGuy]

With a midfield as spectacularly creative and talented as Barcelona, I can only imagine putting more talent infront of them is going to be a good thing.

yeah, but he can always be a case like Alexis Sanchez too....

[tommymtcom]

With a midfield as spectacularly creative and talented as Barcelona, I can only imagine putting more talent infront of them is going to be a good thing.

yeah, but he can always be a case like Alexis Sanchez too....

Ugh, I hate Sanchez. What a cunt.

[E.H. Ruddock]

Have I said already how much I don't like Alexi Lalas?

[VinylGuy]

Have I said already how much I don't like Alexi Lalas?

i remember him. 1994, right?

[Electromatic]

Have I said already how much I don't like Alexi Lalas?

Even Nickelback dislikes Alexi Lalas.

Also I say again, what is so enticing and exciting about Klinsmann as a head coach? 2.5 million a year so far for regression and no progress.

So far he's going over about as well as Mike Singletary's faure in the NFL.

[tommymtcom]

Has Klinsmann even nailed down his best starting eleven yet?

[E.H. Ruddock]

Have I said already how much I don't like Alexi Lalas?

Even Nickelback dislikes Alexi Lalas.

Also I say again, what is so enticing and exciting about Klinsmann as a head coach? 2.5 million a year so far for regression and no progress.

So far he's going over about as well as Mike Singletary's faure in the NFL.

Lalas was on ESPN last night talking about how good this U.S. team is, even after the blowout.

[jwfocker]

Have I said already how much I don't like Alexi Lalas?

Even Nickelback dislikes Alexi Lalas.

Also I say again, what is so enticing and exciting about Klinsmann as a head coach? 2.5 million a year so far for regression and no progress.

So far he's going over about as well as Mike Singletary's faure in the NFL.

Regression? What did we regress from? I missed the period of time when we were a juggernaut with dynamic attacking flair. We drew against Mexico in Mexico and beat Italy. That's progress man. It isn't pretty right now but to say we are regressing is, in my opinion, a mistaken perspective.

[Electromatic]

Have I said already how much I don't like Alexi Lalas?

Even Nickelback dislikes Alexi Lalas.

Also I say again, what is so enticing and exciting about Klinsmann as a head coach? 2.5 million a year so far for regression and no progress.

So far he's going over about as well as Mike Singletary's faure in the NFL.

Regression? What did we regress from? I missed the period of time when we were a juggernaut with dynamic attacking flair. We drew against Mexico in Mexico and beat Italy. That's progress man. It isn't pretty right now but to say we are regressing is, in my opinion, a mistaken perspective.

Up until the injury to Charlie Davies Bradley actually had them in the best playing shape in thier history. The first half against Brazil in the last world cup tuneup game was brilliant. They have been down hill pretty much since.

Klinsmann has been Giuliati's dream since he took that role with US soccer, I'm just not understanding why. There is no cohesiveness, they don't particularly posess the ball well, they aren't very inventive, they still have no idea what they are doing up top and now the defense is a game to game thing as to whether or not they are going to suck ass completely or play hard and not mistake prone. I know the idea is to play more wide open and in space, but you have to posess the ball to do that, and they aren't talented enough to play that way.

They don't seem to have an idea of what they are doing. They weren't winning a world cup under Bradley but they were overachieving given the level of talent on the team. On a global level the US doesn't matchup very equatably across the board with talent. They do in spots but not as a team. It is much more evident under Klinsmann who seems to still not understand what he's got, than it was under Bradley.

It's just not a very good team game to game right now. When they play well they can play with just about anyone, but they don't play well often.

[verb_to_trust]

Jurgen is terrible at player selection and then plays all those players out of position.

Cameron is not a RB, Beasley should be playing on the left wing, not left back.......Dempsey is not a creative midfielder, he is a poacher who likes to roam around. Altidore is not a lone striker, he doesn't hold up play....he needs a partner up top. Gomez and Johnson have both been played on the wing.....they are strikers.

I'm surprised Tim Howard hasn't played midfield at this point with Guzan up top

[numbers]

Have I said already how much I don't like Alexi Lalas?

Even Nickelback dislikes Alexi Lalas.

Also I say again, what is so enticing and exciting about Klinsmann as a head coach? 2.5 million a year so far for regression and no progress.

So far he's going over about as well as Mike Singletary's faure in the NFL.

Regression? What did we regress from? I missed the period of time when we were a juggernaut with dynamic attacking flair. We drew against Mexico in Mexico and beat Italy. That's progress man. It isn't pretty right now but to say we are regressing is, in my opinion, a mistaken perspective.

Call it what you want, but this is the first time I've been worried about the team qualifying for the WC in a long time.

Also, isnt it a bit odd that Landon Donovan now has to "earn" his spot on the team but any schmuck that speaks broken English with a German accent can just walk into the team?

[verb_to_trust]

Have I said already how much I don't like Alexi Lalas?

Even Nickelback dislikes Alexi Lalas.

Also I say again, what is so enticing and exciting about Klinsmann as a head coach? 2.5 million a year so far for regression and no progress.

So far he's going over about as well as Mike Singletary's faure in the NFL.

Regression? What did we regress from? I missed the period of time when we were a juggernaut with dynamic attacking flair. We drew against Mexico in Mexico and beat Italy. That's progress man. It isn't pretty right now but to say we are regressing is, in my opinion, a mistaken perspective.

Call it what you want, but this is the first time I've been worried about the team qualifying for the WC in a long time.

Also, isnt it a bit odd that Landon Donovan now has to "earn" his spot on the team but any schmuck that speaks broken English with a German accent can just walk into the team?

I agree. Tim Chandler had a pretty bad season and won't play for USMNT if he is required to board a plane and still gets selected. Jones and Johnson are the only Germans who are clearly first choice type players. Terrance Boyd also had a nice season but is just as anonymous as Jozy for the national team.....

I think it is pure insanity to go with guys like Brad Davis, Zusi, Eddie Johnson and Herc Gomez on the wings. Two of those guys are strikers and the other two are good MLS players who just aren't international quality. Here's hoping that Stuart Holden can somehow return to form and return to our midfield. If Klinnsmann is going tor refuse to play a natural winger, I would prefer it be an in form Stu. I understand Landon as looked pretty bad so far for LA, but its time to swallow pride and bring him back in because I just cannot watch this shit anymore....

We need to go back to a 4-4-2

Altidore Gomez


Dempsey Jones Bradley Donovan

Johnson Cameron Gonzalez Cherundolo

Howard


Bench:

Guzan
Demarcus Beasley
Eddie Johnson
Stu Holden
Edgar Castillo
Matt Besler
Shea
Boyd

Not that hard....

[numbers]

I dont even bother making mock XI's anymore because Klinsmann does things like play center backs at LW and strikers at CDM and I cant predict that insanity. I dont have a problem with guys like Jones, Johnson, or even Chandler getting call ups. They are good players that merit consideration for this team, but it drives me crazy how Klinsmann calls in any German he can find with an American passport, but then makes guys that have had great seasons in MLS wait around for a call.

[Electromatic]

Oh I think they'll qualify, but right now I have zero hope of them getting out of the first round.