**Official USMNT Soccer Thread**

[ice city fc]

Idk if any info on the lineup has been released but JK said he wont be resting anybody and he's gonna field the strongest possible squad.

I'm with you on Wondo. If he continues to produce in the latter stages of the Gold Cup through the remaining qualifying matches then I'd like to see him in Brazil. I'd rank him over Boyd at the moment but for me Wondo has to prove he can produce against greater competition than Cuba and Belize. If he can be a legitimate scoring threat late in matches against WC quality opponents then in my mind he has to be in Brazil, if not it could be worth giving a young forward like Boyd/McInerney/Agudelo the experience instead. 

 

[deepinthajeep]

Yup. If he can show the same finishing techique against the big boys in Sept, I say bring him in.

Sidenote - I'd love to see Jack Mac at least get some run before the tourney ends....

USMNT starters vs. Costa Rica: S. Johnson; Parkhurst, Orozco, Goodson, Beasley; Bedoya, Holden, Diskerud, Torres; Donovan Wondolowski #USMNT
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) July 16, 2013

 

[Deleted member 38182]

Agreed on Wondo>Boyd..... but I just don't like Wondo

I wouldn't give a damn about the WC if the USMNT didn't qualify for it :\

 

[Kimchi Papi]

PSK, Very well put and I think your points are valid ones. Your suggestion of combining CONCACAF and COMMEBOL to make one federation is a interesting (especially a relegation/promotion model you presented) one and I wish there were an alternative 4 year tourney that would do this. However, I maintain that over time our Federation will continue to improve, it has already. You must admit that qualifying in 2002 was a little less difficult than it has been this cycle and the cycle before. Yes, playing top-notch competition every game during qualifying would improve our side but every federation in the world has teams teams destroy and never make it out of qualifying. For lack of a better argument, that's just the way it is - every federation has its fair share of "minnow" teams, right. You maintain CONCACAF has more, correct?

Either way, the fact that we're even having this conversation is good for the sport in this country. This is only the beginning - wait until you see what happens after Brazil.

Thanks & your points were well communicated also, I just don't agree. I do think CONCACAF has too many minnow teams & the disparity between the top & bottom is larger than any of the other confederations. We're talking about nations/island nations in abject poverty versus a top world super power. Shoot, Belize doesn't even know if they can travel to the rest of the games it has scheduled for the remainder of the year.

I also agree with Ham/Ice in that I'd CAF higher (maybe even much higher) than CONCACAF which is only 3 maybe 4 teams strong. CAF has possibly/almost double that, plus a deeper pool of talented players. The US had trouble with Jamaica's speed earlier this year which the Reggae Boyz couldn't capitalize on. Not sure how the US would do consistently playing against African sides that have size & speed.

I think the one thing the US really needs to work on is the midfielders. Any bloke can play defense & up front. We need to develop midfielders that combine tactical/technical aspect of the game with speed & dribbling ability along with passing & scoring. That's where we truly suffer when comparing against the rest of the world.

Games are won with great midfield play. It's something I see sorely missed when watching MLS games (the creativity, the passing, the attacking, really determining the flow of the game). The US have midfielders that really don't know how to play the role like European & South American counterparts.

All that said, looking forward to seeing The USNT play tonight. Don't know about you guys but I'm so glad KIinsmann is the manager.

 

[Kimchi Papi]

Shame on you Hartford CT for all those empty seats...SMH...

 

[demps]

rather see corona or even castillo over bedoya..


better defenders will pick up wondos runs..easily.

 

[Deleted member 38182]

Has Beasley not gotten dinged up in any match this year for the national team??

That knee to the head :x

 

[Kimchi Papi]

Speaking of which, the US midfield play has been horrible. Pretty much non existent...a big pile of mush in the middle

 

[Deleted member 38182]

We know, we know....

 

[Kimchi Papi]

Beasley running around like Barca's Puyol (in his hey day)...

 

[deepinthajeep]

28 mins in and Torres has look very solid. Cutting inside and creating when he can.

 

[Deleted member 38182]

This ref is awesome

 

[Deleted member 38182]

How humid/hot is it over there in Hartford??

 

[Kimchi Papi]

It's been in the mid to high 90s in the east coast all week with humidity in the 90s also...

If Wondo made that back heel attempt I would've **** a diamond...

 

[dlo13]

Not a great half, but whatever.

 

[gabers]

Wondolowski is not good, definitely not starter material. Dude is a muddler, just muddles things up for everyone else.

Torres is looking good out there.

If Beasley had any semblance of a right foot he would be lethal out there cause he's still
fairly pacy and the ability to cut back inside would be

Holden callin the Costa Rican player a "f'ing p*%sy" to his face was awesome. Reminded me of high school and
club soccer where we used to talk a whole bunch of crap on the field lol.

 

[Deleted member 38182]

Castillo warming up?

 

[Deleted member 38182]

Wondo

 

[Deleted member 38182]

Crc's goal keeper this game is horrid

 

[Deleted member 38182]

Stu

 

[Deleted member 38182]

This Reggie Miller fellow gets kicked in the head and all of a sudden can't walk.

Seems legit

 

[Kimchi Papi]

Holy crap the Texan gets it in!!!!

 

[Deleted member 38182]

That's how you ******g counter lets go!

 

[lyonbc1]

Brek with some redemption...was wondering why he was even getting subbed in

 

[Chopper]

Great one touch ball by Donovan. Brek damn near shot that right at the keeper. Awful shot (as seen from the latest replay angle).