It hurts because we were good enough to go on. Just can't keep putting yourself in a position to have to fight back every game. It's too mentally and physically exhausting to do it every time out. I'm proud of the fight, the spirit, and the ability of this team. We'll be back in Brazil in 2014.
Davies if he fully recovers. Donovan will be 32, it isn't a sure thing. Jozy and Bradley should be significantly better as well.
Yeah, forward-looking time. I hope Holden is an important part of the team by then--I like him. We don't have any reason to think Charlie Davies is actually a good finisher, right, just better than Findley? I never have any faith that what Jonathan Bornstein will choose to do will be the right thing. Not like he had a bad game today, though. I also hope that a much better option than Jay DeMerit has emerged by then.
the thing is soccer has to do something to get americans back into it. thats why the world cup was huge for them. large stage/audience to expose the game to them. NFL, NBA, MLB all market the hell out of athletes and their sports that get the younger generations to keep their sports popular. i couldnt tell you when MLS games will be on tv. it just cant be, "well americans just dont care..they need to change their attitudes" soccer, the sport itself needs to help get americans into it.
They obviously weren't identical situations but Ghana's 1st goal was similar the one that Findley could've scored had he finished on his opportunity. Their 2nd goal was similar to Altidore's opportunity but Altidore didn't have as much space between him and the keeper. Still, the Ghana player managed to fight off the defender and finish under pressure. Our defense broke down one too many times in the end. And I think it's fair, as many people have been doing, to question Bradley starting Clark and Findley.
I kind of feel the same way too. Inconsistent bursts of energy, poor decisions, poor tackling, poor passing. I mean, he had flashes of brilliance, but I didn't feel he was ready to be starting. How old will Ching be? I hope that he's on the next iteration of this US team because I think he provides a stable presence this team was sorely lacking.
What about Dempsey? We missed Davies for sure. Questionable starting lineup to say the least. The first goal should have not happened. Effin Clark
Yep, I said yesterday this Ghana team was VERY talented. The media and everyone was looking past them to Uruguay/S.Korea, now the media can look ahead to 2014. In reality, USA needs better finishers. The only goal we scored was off a PK. We had a ton of chances again and only end up with one goal. How many 1v1 chances did we have? It was about 3 and could not score off of one. In reality, USA deserved to lose this. Ghana outplayed the team today, too bad though we did not steal a goal in Stoppage time again, it would have been magical. Maybe Donovan has done more for US Soccer than he has realized, maybe a young kid was inspired by this run, and maybe he'll grow up to be the next world player of the year...or maybe nothing has changed and Soccer takes a backdrop to everything else again.
I'd expect to see Donovan move overseas very soon with a record transfer fee for an American. He is not done and won't be in 4 years. His role might change, but he'll still be a big part of qualification. Dempsey as well. Altidore, Davies, Holden, Feilhaber, Edu, Bornstein, Oneywu, and probably Tim Howard will still be a part of this team for at least the next 4 years.
I'm not an avid Soccer watcher by no means. But I watch whenever the National team plays. What I've seen about Davies is that he is just a better decision maker and is faster than Findley. He looks more comfortable with Jozy and Donovan.
We played hard. We didn't play smart. And excuse it all you want, but the last 15 minutes of that game set soccer back in America. Pretty clear why we have a stopping clock in our major sports now.
How much money has he made already? If he goes and plays overseas , wil that be the equivalent to him "cashing in" ?
Stoppage time was added, if America doesn't give up that early goal, Ghana wouldn't have done all that. Not saying I appreciate what they did, but we let them do it.
Jonathan Spector? Dempsey will be 31, Donovan 32, so both could definitely still be there, but I hope Bradley and Davies are the best players on the team by then. The biggest thing for the US could be the development of Freddy Adu, he could be a great finisher up front for the national team, if he doesn't totally flame out.
No excuses. Phantom falling on your ass and getting carted off while the ref is standing over you telling your pansy ass to get up is weak. That's not good sportsmanship.
