[ALUmnus]

The Gold Cup is coming up soon, and the US has looked pretty good in the last few friendlies.

Anyone see this goal by Mix yesterday against Germany? Fantastic finish to a perfect cross from Bradley.

http://thebiglead.com/2015/06/10/video- ... t-germany/

[Humble_Opinion]

The Gold Cup is coming up soon, and the US has looked pretty good in the last few friendlies.

Anyone see this goal by Mix yesterday against Germany? Fantastic finish to a perfect cross from Bradley.

http://thebiglead.com/2015/06/10/video- ... t-germany/

Both goals scored by the U.S. were high in quality. The strike by Wood was perfect from 20+ yds out.

[SuperJon]

The US team is so frustrating at this point. You see things like the goals against Germany or the last 15 minutes in the game before and realize how good we can be. Then you see the other 70 minutes of the game and realize how inconsistent we are. The good news is we've got some great potential with our young players. They just need to grow up and get more consistent.

[olldflame]

The US team is so frustrating at this point. You see things like the goals against Germany or the last 15 minutes in the game before and realize how good we can be. Then you see the other 70 minutes of the game and realize how inconsistent we are. The good news is we've got some great potential with our young players. They just need to grow up and get more consistent.

OK, Let´s get this straight. We just beat Holland and Germany and you are frustrated?

[SuperJon]

I'm not frustrated at the results by any means. I'd be stupid if I were. I'm talking about watching the team and looking at the overall production. We're 27th in the world. You see the results over Holland and Germany and realize we could be Top 15 or even Top 10 if we played consistently in every game.

[Humble_Opinion]

I'm not frustrated at the results by any means. I'd be stupid if I were. I'm talking about watching the team and looking at the overall production. We're 27th in the world. You see the results over Holland and Germany and realize we could be Top 15 or even Top 10 if we played consistently in every game.

I think inconsistency is the name of the game when you are changing your starting line-ups on a constant basis from game-to-game... From what I understand, it was the subs that helped us find our spark. Beckerman, who should be a starter in the Defensive MF position, was particularly effective in the second half and allowed Bradley to be more offensively minded. The point is, the USMNT is progressing in terms of its talent pool and the game tactics they employ. The future is possibly very bright...

[SuperJon]

It's definitely a good frustration. It's a frustration based on what we could be as opposed to a frustration based on how bad we are.

As for Beckerman and Bradley - I hate that Jurgen doesn't see that Beckerman as the back of the diamond and Bradley at the top of the diamond is our best lineup.

[Humble_Opinion]

As for Beckerman and Bradley - I hate that Jurgen doesn't see that Beckerman as the back of the diamond and Bradley at the top of the diamond is our best lineup.

Agreed. I can't remember exactly what the line-up was like in the WC. I thought I remember Beckerman being in there, but if not... he clearly should be. He's by far one of the best defenders in the middle and he makes some good outlet passes to spring Bradley and the other attacking MF's.

[rjhenz]

I think some of you are reading way to much into the results since the World Cup, and that 27th ranking. The ranking during and right after the World Cup was around 13. That's pretty good. Since then the coaching staff has been playing a ton of young kids in these friendlies. They are going to to be inconsistent. The goal has been to expand the player pool, and I think they've done that. I think we've seen the results of that expanded player pool with these last two wins on foreign soil against top 10 teams. We'll want to start making our judgements when the Gold Cup starts. That will be the A squad.

Sidenote: I would not be surprised to see the US jump back into the top 20 when the new FIFA ranking comes out around July 5th. Those two wins are going to give them a huge number of ranking points. Also since the Gold cup is major tournament, the ranking points are basically doubled. So if the US shows well, which I think they will, that ranking is going to be close to that 13 spot by the end of the Gold cup.

[R i]

Julian Green's last goal in any game was vs Belgium in the World Cup. He has been an unused sub in his last 3 USA appearances.

He is only 20, but I would like to see him build on some of the momentum created for himself at the world cup.

[SuperJon]

It makes not taking Landon Donovan look even shadier.

[Purple Haize]

Landon Donovan was a locker room cancer

[Purple Haize]

You keep saying that...

......because it is true

That's not a knock at all on what he did to elevate soccer in the US at all. The guy was extremely instrumental. And like a lot of people in that position it is sometimes difficult to transition (insert Caitlin Jenner joke) to a different role

[BJWilliams]

How do you know he was a locker room cancer? Were you in the locker room with the USMNT? Do you personally know someone who was?

If you read it in an article, those can still be slanted based on the inherent bias of the reporter, so it would make more sense if you had some firsthand knowledge of the dynamic in the locker room.

[SuperJon]

If you read it in an article, those can still be slanted based on the inherent bias of the reporter, so it would make more sense if you had some firsthand knowledge of the dynamic in the locker room.

You say this but you take every word that Lang writes as gospel. You're a walking contradiction sometimes, Beej.

[Purple Haize]

How do you know he was a locker room cancer? Were you in the locker room with the USMNT? Do you personally know someone who was?

If you read it in an article, those can still be slanted based on the inherent bias of the reporter, so it would make more sense if you had some firsthand knowledge of the dynamic in the locker room.

So by your definition you can never truly know something unless you experience it yourself. But even the , you are only gaining that experience from your own perspective, which is very limited regardless of who you are or where you have been.

Plus, what John said

[BJWilliams]

Its Jon...and i will give him the point on the news writer thing...in any case, my point is, how do you, PH, know that Donovan is/was a locker room cancer?

[thepostman]

I love you beej

[Purple Haize]

Its Jon...and i will give him the point on the news writer thing...in any case, my point is, how do you, PH, know that Donovan is/was a locker room cancer?

Based upon your stated criteria, how can one know anything
Although, now you retracted the statement about believing reporters so, I'm not even sure where to go with it.
Perhaps you can show proof where his absence was a bad thing in the locker room?

[R i]

It makes not taking Landon Donovan look even shadier.

I dont think it was ever Julian or Landon. There were other players taken instead of Landon. In retrospect, we should have taken Donovan. He proved in MLS play that he wasnt washed up. We could have used his leadership (On field leadership, Im with PH on Landon as a team mate).

At the time it seemed like Jergen was telling the country, we will try our best in this world cup, but hold tight for 2018, and Im okay with that if he delivers.

[Humble_Opinion]

Its Jon...and i will give him the point on the news writer thing...in any case, my point is, how do you, PH, know that Donovan is/was a locker room cancer?

Based upon your stated criteria, how can one know anything
Although, now you retracted the statement about believing reporters so, I'm not even sure where to go with it.
Perhaps you can show proof where his absence was a bad thing in the locker room?

No offense PH, but that's fallacious. The burden of proof lies with you. All BJ was doing was questioning how you know your claim is true.

[Purple Haize]

Its Jon...and i will give him the point on the news writer thing...in any case, my point is, how do you, PH, know that Donovan is/was a locker room cancer?

Based upon your stated criteria, how can one know anything
Although, now you retracted the statement about believing reporters so, I'm not even sure where to go with it.
Perhaps you can show proof where his absence was a bad thing in the locker room?

No offense PH, but that's fallacious. The burden of proof lies with you. All BJ was doing was questioning how you know your claim is true.

But by his standard it's an impossible point to prove, in this or any other issue. Therefore, I was asking for his position using sources he finds credible. By seeing what he uses to evaluate the truth or reality of a situation, than I can have a better idea of how to approach an answer to his question. He already intimated that outside of a Lang Twitter feed, no journalistic story can be believed. His only standard is knowing someone personally. If that is the case it is impossible to prove the point that Donovan was or was not a positive influence in the locker room.
And no offense even remotely taken. Taken on its own you are 100% correct.

[BJWilliams]

my point is you make the claim that Donovan is/was a locker room cancer. what i want to know is who/what your source is. Have you been in the locker room with the US National Team? Do you know a member of the team personally (player or staff)?

[thepostman]

Are those real questions Beej? I get where you are coming from but come on man that is weak.

[Purple Haize]

my point is you make the claim that Donovan is/was a locker room cancer. what i want to know is who/what your source is. Have you been in the locker room with the US National Team? Do you know a member of the team personally (player or staff)?

My source is the player and the coach. JK wanted to take the team in a different direction. LD didn't buy into that. He was vocal about it. If your most senior and respected player on your squad isnt buying in, and is vocal about it, than you have a locker room issue. You can't have players openly defying the coach in the locker room. If JK did something that a player didnt like and they went to LD, what do you think ends up happening? You took a coaching class. You tell me