[jbock13]

I know the USA starts qualification next week, but we can also talk about other teams, including thoughts on tonight's friendly with Brazil.

[Purple Haize]

So I'm sitting in Cask and Flagons across from Fenway and they have 1/3 of the TVs on the Sox a third on the Celtics and a third on the Friendly (did you notice the name dropping?)
I'm still an Argentinian homer and they do have the best player in the world. Now that Maradona and his oversized ego and belly aren't there to hold him back he will have a brilliant run. Having said that you have to think Spain and Brazil are favored again. I see Germany being disappointing and with. Ow direction. I LOVE KlingsmNn even if my phone won't let me spell his name and think he will be e em more magical with the US then he was with Deutchland. Other then that I don't pay much attention to it

[jbock13]

Well Brazil is up 2-0 already.

[Purple Haize]

.....and they switched to hockey. Lol

[jbock13]

.....and they switched to hockey. Lol

It's just awful lol. I'll be switching to hockey at halftime.

2-1 now.

[Purple Haize]

Hey! We scored!

[rueful]

Haize what are you doing in Boston?

[Purple Haize]

Haize what are you doing in Boston?

Bidness. Ha. We are over at the Joslin Clinic for meetings. Will be hitting the ball game tomorrow. Havent got tix yet but I'm sure I'll 'find' some

[ALUmnus]

I'd say it was the same-old, same-old US team, but their attacking was so much better this time. Seems to be the same three things that the US always falters on: unskilled ball control, inexcusible defensive marking, and poor anticipation. The fourth is usually finishing, but again, that looked much improved. Pato and Neymar's goals were fair, but the corner header and Marcelo's was just really bad defending. I think we could have used a bit more size on Brazil (Brek Shea), but it was a good test.

Michael Bradley has become our most consistent midfielder. And is Stu Holden ever going to play for us again? He (was) such a difference-maker.

[Rooster Cogburn]

Attacking was much better, finishing? Not so much!

[ALUmnus]

You gotta give a ton of credit to Brazil's keeper. We had shots ON GOAL, that is where the improvement is.

[NG33]

And is Stu Holden ever going to play for us again? He (was) such a difference-maker.

He's had 2 different knee procedures within the past year so he'll still be out for a few more months

[Sly Fox]

Yeah, Stu has been in one form of rehab or another for quite awhile now. He's just 26, so his knees should recover. But injuries have been an issue for him since he went to high school in Katy where our Niño brothers played as well before coming to LU.

[flamesfilmguy]

I dvr'd the USA game. as i was playing soccer that night. I just couldn't bear to watch anymore after we missed a couple of opportunities at the equalizer.

Another issue I want to bring up. I watched the South Korea and spain game earlier in the day, and a 2 similar calls were made in that game as was made on Onyewu for the PK. At what point does a handball become the ball actually just hitting the player in the body. The handball called on Onyewu was one (as a former ref) i would have never have made. He's at the edge of the box and CLEARLY not trying to make stop the ball with an illegal part of his body(AKA the arm or hand) The same thing happened to south korea after half time and it Changed the complexion of both games. it seems to me that FIFA has made this a stricter rule lately than in years past. It is technically the right call. but I feel that in both cases it was a call that didnt need to be made. just my opinion i'd love to hear your thoughts.

[ALUmnus]

I agree. But because it's more of a judgement call, if the hand is away from the body at all, the ref is safer to call it than to not. Onyewu's hand was moving away from the body, so at real-speed, it could be seen as going to the ball (which it wasn't). Another factor to take into consideration is who is getting these calls. Brazil and Spain are going to get the benefit of the doubt against the US and S Korea.

[jbock13]

Just a reminder the US is playing now vs. Canada on NBC Sports Network if you want to watch.

[jbock13]

USA and Canada draw 0-0.

1'st half was dominated by chances for the USA. 2'nd half was dominated by chances for Canada. USA got a foul called late, and Bradley headed the ball towards the goal, only to be stopped by the hand of Hirschfield while diving backwards.

Not sure what to make of the result, but it's sort of concerning when you can't at least beat Canada.

[Jbrown]

Well for some reason we came out running a 4-4-2, when we played a 4-3-3 against Scotland. Hopefully we'll switch back to the 4-3-3 which seems to give us a much better attacking option.

[Purple Haize]

Well for some reason we came out running a 4-4-2, when we played a 4-3-3 against Scotland. Hopefully we'll switch back to the 4-3-3 which seems to give us a much better attacking option.

Personally I'm more a fan of the 'W M' alignment the the 'M W' alignment. But that's just me

[jbock13]

Bocanegra with the goal at the 8'th minute. Dempsey with a PK goal in the 44'th minute. USA leads Antigua and Barbuda 2-0.

I'm watching the Mexico v. Guyana game during half time here and wow, Mexico's second goal could be the best passing I've ever seen. We've got a long way to go. Mexican soccer looks great in the future, and even now.

[NotAJerry]

Bocanegra with the goal at the 8'th minute. Dempsey with a PK goal in the 44'th minute. USA leads Antigua and Barbuda 2-0.

I'm watching the Mexico v. Guyana game during half time here and wow, Mexico's second goal could be the best passing I've ever seen. We've got a long way to go. Mexican soccer looks great in the future, and even now.

I really hope Klinsmann is allowed a solid 6-8 years, at least, to completely revamp our whole development system.

[NotAJerry]

Hercules! Hercules! Hercules!

[jbock13]

I understand it takes time. But we've got awhile to go. Our passing is terrible, and players are not attacking the goal like they should. No way the Antigua game should have been close, even though it's a nice story they made it that far.

[Purple Haize]

I understand it takes time. But we've got awhile to go. Our passing is terrible, and players are not attacking the goal like they should. No way the Antigua game should have been close, even though it's a nice story they made it that far.

It's a very different style and philosophy then theses players have been brought up on. But the good thing about not being very...well good..Los that you can be taught things. The US players IMO will adapt very well and DO very well by the time the WC comes around.

[NotAJerry]

I'm more intrigued about the U-19 and younger guys than the current roster. Klinsmann favors a much more creative, attacking approach and that's something that much of youth and developmental soccer in the US has discouraged over the years. If Klinsmann can get us to the point of having several regional academies, instead of just the one, that will help in addition to the growing quality coming out of a few of the MLS academies. Once we stop trying to re-invent the wheel on developing players, we'll be just fine.

2014 may be a good one, but 2018 and 2022 are the ones where the philosophical change will likely be most apparent.