The Beautiful Game (The All Inclusive Soccer Thread)

[numbers]

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

The Costa Rica/Mexico games put them in pretty good standing to qualify, but before those games were played I had serious doubts about Klinsmann's ability to lead this team through the qualifying campaign. I never doubted the ability of Bradley or Arena to do that. I'm not saying Bradley or Arena are better managers than Klinsmann, but they seemed much better suited for this job. Now, maybe Klinsmann get squeak through to Brazil and then have this team well prepared to make a decent run in the WC, but until then I remain very skeptical.

[Electromatic]

What I wanted to see from Klinsmann most was real progress from players like Altidore and continued development of young goal scorers.

So far, it looks like he's just throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping he finds a player or two.

[E.H. Ruddock]

How's Freddy Adu doing?

[numbers]

I think he's riding the pine for a Brazilian team.

[verb_to_trust]

What I wanted to see from Klinsmann most was real progress from players like Altidore and continued development of young goal scorers.

So far, it looks like he's just throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping he finds a player or two.

Altidore has developed quite a bit....just not for USMNT. The guys scored 30 goals in the Dutch league this season and is going to transfer to bigger club this summer. I don't think hes a great player but his complete lack of production is proof JK is inept. He has no idea how to use him.

[numbers]

What I wanted to see from Klinsmann most was real progress from players like Altidore and continued development of young goal scorers.

So far, it looks like he's just throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping he finds a player or two.

Altidore has developed quite a bit....just not for USMNT. The guys scored 30 goals in the Dutch league this season and is going to transfer to bigger club this summer. I don't think hes a great player but his complete lack of production is proof JK is inept. He has no idea how to use him.

To be fair, we just dont have the partner Altidore needs to be successful. Bradley couldnt find a way to use him either.

[verb_to_trust]

What I wanted to see from Klinsmann most was real progress from players like Altidore and continued development of young goal scorers.

So far, it looks like he's just throwing spaghetti against the wall and hoping he finds a player or two.

Altidore has developed quite a bit....just not for USMNT. The guys scored 30 goals in the Dutch league this season and is going to transfer to bigger club this summer. I don't think hes a great player but his complete lack of production is proof JK is inept. He has no idea how to use him.

To be fair, we just dont have the partner Altidore needs to be successful. Bradley couldnt find a way to use him either.

At least he scored a goal once in awhile under Bob. I'm not wild about our strike partner options either but you have an Eddie Johnson, who can use his head pretty well and Herc Gomez who would run his ass off. To me, either one of those options is better than expecting him to work off of Dempsey, who ends up too far up field dropping back for the ball many times. Jozy is not a lone striker, he doesn't hold up play or use his head well and is poor with his back to the goal. He scored all those goals in the Dutch league out of a 4-3-3. He needs a strike partner.

[verb_to_trust]

Word is EJ and Jozy have the flu. I'd like to see Boyd get the start against Germany. It would mean a lot to him because that is where he was born, I also think he has a ton of potential. He also has a tattoo of a bald eagle and American flag on his arm and has played at our youth levels. He loves America. He is the anti Chandler.

[Angus]

A bit late to the party, but as to US - Belgium: with a decent referee we probably could have won 1-8. We really really really need to make the World Cup. If this team doesn't do it, I don't know who will.

[verb_to_trust]

A bit late to the party, but as to US - Belgium: with a decent referee we probably could have won 1-8. We really really really need to make the World Cup. If this team doesn't do it, I don't know who will.

If they make it, and I think they should, I don't see why they can't be a contender to win the whole thing. Past the obvious choices of Spain and Germany, I don't know who I view as better.Its also a pretty young team too...

[shinkdew]

Preliminary US national team roster for 2013 Gold Cup:

Goalkeepers (4): Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

Defenders (11): Corey Ashe (Houston Dynamo), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla/Mexico), Tony Beltran (Real Salt Lake), Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Carlos Bocanegra (Racing Santander/Spain), Edgar Castillo (Tijuana/Mexico), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (Brondby/Denmark), Oguchi Onyewu (Málaga/Spain), Michael Orozco Fiscal (Puebla/Mexico), Michael Parkhurst (Augsburg/Germany)

Midfielders (13): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Alejandro Bedoya (Helsingborgs/Sweden), Joe Corona (Tijuana/Mexico), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg/Norway), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Josh Gatt (Molde/Norway), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers/England), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders), Brek Shea (Stoke City/England), Jose Torres (Tigres UANL/Mexico), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)

Forwards (7): Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo), Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Herculez Gomez (Santos Laguna/Mexico), Alan Gordon (San Jose Earthquakes), Jack McInerney (Philadelphia Union), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich/Germany)

[Electromatic]

Much better effort today. Bradley obviously is important but Evans had a great half.

[verb_to_trust]

Germany is definitely on holiday but the tactics seem much different today with more direct balls played forward. Altidore's best game is quite some time as a result. Dempsey is also balling today...

[verb_to_trust]

[verb_to_trust]

Dempsey, like a boss:

[numbers]

That might have been altidores best game with the national team. Dempsey has just taken his game to another level this year, we could be seeing the best all around player this country has ever produced at his peak right now.

[shinkdew]

Altidore is streaking.

[verb_to_trust]

Great work by Zusi on the goal.

Defense still looks unstable.

[verb_to_trust]

What a roller coaster the last five minutes of that game was. To give up a game tying goal off a set piece was very disheartening. Gonzalez just seems shaky and for Tim Howard to just stand on his line like a statue on a ball inside the 6 is just shocking. Brad Evans saves the day though.

I hope Fab Johnson is just hurt because he looked terrible on LW....

[Let's all laugh at Rangers]

Anyone know when next seasons conference fixtures come out?