I appreciate the love you have for the US team though. No being born here and you pick the biggest underdog. Props!
The problem with the US is that most of there players STAY in the MLS or go to Europe but play for some average class club. Some examples... Bocanegra: Rennes, Findley: Real Salt Lake, Bradley: Borussia M., Dempsey: Fulham. To be great you have to be surrounded by great players. Take Barcelona, every single one of their players excluding Bojan and G. Milito (who didn't make it because Spain and Arg. are stacked) play for their national team. Sure Altidore and Onyewu don't get much playing time in AC Milan and Villareal but at least they get the feel and practice of working out with a legendary defender in Alessandro Nesta/Gianluca Zambrotta or playing with a team where half of the players are Agrentinian, Spanish or Brazilian. Freddy Adu. Had all the talent in the world, people ****ing compared him to Pele when he was 16!! Adu was possibly USA's first big soccer superstar. Manchester United offered him to come to their Academy so he could successfully grow into a very good player. No, spent 2 weeks there before he decided to come back to DC United because he wanted to play in his home country. C'mon now, the MLS won't equal the talent or success that the Barclay has had for a very long time. Expand your game.
You forgot Lando! Landon needs (ed) to branch out from the Galaxy and go to a real team. I think the MLS is promising in the same way I think the NBADL is promising. The DL has seen the likes of Aaron Brooks light it up, but that does not always translate well into the real NBA. I think in due time the MLS can actually have an All-Star league, but not until the teams become profitable. Did you know the LA Galaxy were the only team last season to turn a profit. Until teams actually make money, other teams (like AC Milan) will not want to branch out and form a sister team here in the states. The MLS needs to focus on money, where there is money talent soon follows.
Landon was on loan to Everton and he played very well for them. Only thing is that he said that he loves playing in his country and in front of all his family and friends in the USA. But if I were him I'd go to Europe full time.
He has earned a title with Galaxy. What more does he want in MLS? He's a great player who should be showcasing his stuff on the big stage. Most EPL teams would love to have a player like him.
Two really bad calls today!!! and for the first time, I saw a referee talking to a linesman about a call, after seeing the bad call in the replay of the stadium! like saying: I blew the call, but I already called one thing, and I cant changed it! Mexico played sometimes better than Argentina (especially in the end) just two costly mistakes, and one nice goal, cost us the game. And I know why Scola and ginobili flop so much, they watch the soccer team, especially at the end, they just did it. But anyways, Argentina scored when they needed it to, and Mexico couldnt score more goals. by the matches played I saw Germany stronger than Argentina. I didnt see a powerful Argentina. Germany has to play like Mexico did, playing more offensive if they can do those counter attacks like they did against England, they have big opportunities to win.
Yup you could see the linesman mouthing something to the effect of "i already made the call" or "i called it already" Argentina did play well but that had to take a mental toll on the Mexican team.
The USA is gone, no more rooting for the home country. Mexico is gone, no more rooting for my friends's/coworkers' team. The French sucked, Sweeden didn't make the damn tournement, but Germany is still alive!
Damn, US and Mexico lost to the team that eliminated both in the previous World Cup And for the people who said Ghana had bad sportsmanship by wasting time in the end, Argentina did it too, but nobody posted about that (why are you not mad because of the bad sportmanship?? ) or you just complain when happens against your team? and im not complaining about Argentina did it, because its part of the game the same thing happens on basketball, the team who is winning, runs the clock the more time they can, in NFL teams just runs to eat up the clock, if they are winning, snaps the ball until the play clock is near zero, so its not only soccer.
so?? people said that no matter what, you dont do that? or you only could do it, if you are winning by 2 goals or more, then its not bad sportmanship? Again Im not complaining, about Argentina did it, im complaining that people say that just because was against their team.
Now that I'm not so tired, some thoughts... 1) If this world cup doesn't get a replay system in on goals I don't know what will. No, it would not effect game play - if it's a review, play on and the booth will correct within x seconds. Or heck, just put an extra lineman at the box. It's too easy to get past the refs line of sight. 2) Germany's counterattacks off the push are brutal. Both of those goals were flawless. 3) Mexico got blown out of the water by a superior team. This happens every world cup. I don't know why it's a surprise or anything. I'd like them to move forward (especially over freekin argentina) but they don't match up at all against the big boys. 4) Ghana is going to be a challenge for any team. That defense is surprisingly good. 5) I sense that Uraguay is overrated, but it's hard to say because they have not really played anyone challenging yet. Easiest course to the quarterfinals ever, relatively speaking. 6) I am both pumped and terrified at the GER-ARG semis. 2006 all over again, I hope - but Argentina really looks like the team to beat... 7) Spain vs Portugul. It's like Boston vs Lakers. I hope they both lose.
Terrible mistakes last night. In both cases the best team won, but still these types of mistakes can influence an entire tournament. I agree with Rhad, Urugay is IMHO also overrated, and My guess is either The Netherlands or brazil is going to show that in the semi finals. Only an 1.5 hours and the Netherlands will play his next round. I'm of work early today. Looking forward to this game. I'm curious to see who will start in the place of Van der Vaart, my guess is either Affelay or Elia. (I think/hope Elia).
yeah but they (mostly) do it within the rules, not outside of the rules. Running the shot clock down is perfectly legal. Hell in the NFL even if you get a REAL injury with no timeouts, you get a 10-second penalty to prevent guys from faking them to stop the clock (though it still happens from time to time). Obvious time wasting, simulation and fake injuries aren't within the rules of soccer but they appear to be tolerated a lot more.
I was hoping my company would give us the day off. Our headquarters is in The Netherlands (Royal TenCate). No such luck, though...
I've never been a fan of Robben, but he's simply been on fire for the last year. That was a very nice goal.
