http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/new...announcer-espnClutchBritish announcer Ian Darke, who called games for the network during the World Cup, is joining ESPN as its lead soccer voice in the United States.
Darke's assignments will include Premier League matches, U.S. national team games, the 2011 Women's World Cup, the 2013 Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup.
Probably my favourite commentator.
Anyone see what the Fire supporters pulled off over the weekend?
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epQdreYwO5s&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - Section 8 Chicago - Mario Bros. Tifo Display - 9.25.2010[/ame]
Alright, so Germany Jones is fabulous, but riddle me this:
Why does Bradley insist on carting out a back four of Bocanegra, Onyewu, Cherundolo and Spector? We can groom midfielders all we want, but that line can't possibly stick around, can it?
I'm fine with Gooch (when healthy) & Spector. Are you unhappy with those four or that particular grouping?
Looking forward to see what Lichaj can do.
Gooch when healthy, sure, if he's healthy and doesn't have brain lapses, but as far as I'm concerned he needs to earn his spot now. If he weren't the only scary big black guy, maybe I wouldn't be so down on him, but I expect more out of him.
I'm not down on Spector like I am the others.
Boca and Cherundolo have lost more than a step and I don't see how we can be planning for the future when the future means we're going to have two guys in their mid-30s anchoring a back line that's weak as it is right now.
What worried me most about keeping Bradley would be that he would stick with his guys instead of seeing what else is out there. At this point, I'm not impressed. Yeah, that he's going to cap tie Jones is great but he's already 29 himself.
Same goes for Dempsey and Donovan. I love them to death, but as far as I'm concerned it's crazy to hand them spots and not push forward younger guys, ESPECIALLY since we're talking about friendlies here (yeah, I know Donovan's not on tonight's squad or the Poland squad).
And yeah, obviously we need the Gold Cup and a Confederations Cup run, that goes without saying, but the way I see it is that the current squad regulars don't need the time with the national team that younger players, the future of the squad, are going to need.
Let's go USA
Shades of '94 right there
Gooch...c'mon maang
Two draws in a row, one scoreless against fucking Colombia.
Don't worry, we got this shit.
This team and the way it's run does not excite me about anything. Obviously it's really early, but when was the last time USSF did anything exciting?
We're almost as bad as the English when it comes to being predictable, but at least we meet expectations instead of falling horrible short.
OYYYYYYYYYYYY WAYNE ROONEY!
YOU'RE A WANKER!
YOU'RE A WANKER!
And he looks like Shrek
http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/new...ts-energy-2022
U.S.A. has dropped out of the running to host the '18 World Cup, which isn't much of a surprise. As fantastic as an English World Cup would be, a Russian victory for '18 all but guarantees we'll host '22, so let's go the motherland.
Really not interested in an Aussie World Cup so fuck that.
Missed the game vs. South Africa, did anyone (Judas) see how the kids looked?
Saw some brief highlights, defense looked a bit shaky.
I saw most of it. C-Good did not have a good game, Lihaj looked error-prone but also that the raw speed and nerve to cover up those errors before anyone noticed. Midfield looked outmuscled and Findley looks done as an international.
Guzan also had a good day in goal so it was exactly the kind of USA friendly Rosk could really enjoy.
On a slightly related note, Giuseppe Rossi is still a cunt.
Did not see the whole thing but from what I saw and highlights things did not look too bad. They have some growing to do but I think the future is not going to be bleak past the vets we have now.
Guzan needs more playing time I think though to stay sharp as the back up behind Howard.
Any of you lovely Americans getting up to watch the LA Galaxy vs Newcastle United game tomorrow night?
http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/new...s-car-accident
Charlie Davies is returning to Sochaux this weekend. Thank fuck because we need some more bodies up front since we've only score like 5 goals from that position this year.
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/news;...-donovan122110
Landon Donovan looks certain to finish his career in Major League Soccer after announcing he will not go back to English Premier League side Everton on loan in the new year.
I saw that, too.
I can understand him wanting the rest, though. He has gone nonstop for a dog's age.
And that would be fine for any normal player, buy he's not. He is the embodiment of this game in this country right now.
Given what he represents, and where he can put himself in the history books not just as an American player but finally the one who breaks through as a star (arguable, since Dempsey just got his goal against Juventus voted at the best sporting moment over there in some poll or another), I don't know.
I wouldn't blink at the opportunity, exhaustion aside. You only have so much time in this game, ESPECIALLY in these circumstances.
It makes me sad.
I know it's not entirely in his hands; MLS and the Galaxy have shot up his transfer fee beyond his value. But I really, really wish that he'd seize the opportunity.
That said, he has no qualms about saying making it in Europe isn't a big deal for him. He is what he is.
I love him, I just wish he had more of an insane drive.
If Dempsey were in his shoes, he'd crawl to Everton for the chance. He was the man who said he'd rather learn sitting on the bench in Europe than start in MLS. And he's the one who walks away from every match beaten and bruised.
But he didn't score against Algeria.
Donovan didn't score in two World Cups though. I'm not going to debate Donovan vs. Dempsey (because I'd lose) but I think you have to realize these guys are two different animals. While I'd love for Donovan to move over to England on a permanent basis, it's not right for him and I understand that.
I used to think it was lack of hunger and fear that was behind his stay in MLS but most of that was due to being a big Dempsey fan. Once upon a time I used to watch my local club NE Revolution and my favorite player was Clint 'Deuce' Dempsey. I saw his move to Fulham as a desire for bigger and better things. Not just on a personal level, but a desire to see the game grow domestically and to improve the reputation of Americans abroad. Donovan, probably the greatest player this country has ever produced, was content to play in Minor League Soccer being a big fish in a small pond. After his Everton loan, he won me over. I grew to realize that the passion was indeed there just that sometimes what's best isn't what's always possible. So yes, I'm okay with him stay in MLS but I wish he'd go over for good.
I don't think that post made sense, hopefully something decent came from my ramblings. Dempsey's still a beast though. For certain.
FAO Americans:
We have signed Robbie Findlay.
Any good?
Fast, and that's about it.
Yeah, he's a striker who isn't particularly blessed at scoring. Wasn't very good at the World Cup.
Brilliant.
Tyson is getting old
And is also one of our highest earners, bizzarely. So he will probably be let go when his contract runs out in the summer.
So it is good that we have now seemingly got a carbon copy replacement who can also run around really fast like a headless chicken and not score any goals.
His scoring record for Real Salt Lake isn't that bad. Plus the extra exposure he provides Forest in the USA.
I might consider taking a bus down to Maryland for this. Even in an exhibition setting, seeing Barcelona in person would be awesome. Copa America will have just ended a week before (I think) so no Mascerano or Alves but that's okay it's the absence of Messi that's a shame. Still absolutely worth it for Spaniards on the team.Barcelona will tour the United States as part of its preseason schedule next summer, with games planned against Manchester United, AC Milan and Mexican team America.The club said Thursday that it will also play in Munich, Germany and Split, Croatia.
The United match is scheduled for July 30 in Landover, Md., with the game against Milan on Aug. 3 in Miami. The tour will conclude in Arlington, Texas, on Aug. 6 with Barcelona taking on America.
If you're taking the bus down to Maryland, it should be to watch the likes of John O'Shea and Darren Fletcher.
In the wake of Anelka making his desires to come to America known, Zlatan Ibrahimovic has joined the list of footballers eying a move to MLS. In Ibra's case though, he's looking a few years down the road. As you'd assume there's not been any talks to make anything happen so it's all speculation at this point.
http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/1110/...-?synpar=yahoo
Oh yeah I wont write him off until I have seen him.Originally Posted by Alex
He is injured at the moment anyway.
BOOM
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjprunNnFl4"]YouTube - Charlie Davies (USA) Scores Against Mexico (1-0)[/ame]
He can sure as hell get runs on a defense and spread it wide and open up space for other players. Just don't expect too much of him actually putting it in the net.
Did you mean to post that video Judas?
JUDAS do you know anything about this striker who went #1 last night in the MLS Draft? ESPN was predicting he'd be a mainstay in the US team in a few years.
Findlay has got his work permit now, just waiting for a visa and hopefully we will have him for the Derby game next week.
We're supposed to be signing an American midfielder who plays in German called Jermaine Jones. Has only played twice for the US and seems a bit of a crackpot by all accounts.
Anyone got any news on Omar Cummings? Has he managed to get a work permit? And is he any good? His youtube compilation looked awesome...
He's a typical American player which means you're getting an engine but he does have a bit of skill. Check out how he debuted for USA (0:05-0:12)
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt_LWHIxPVI"]YouTube - USA vs Poland 2 - 2 . 10, October, 2010 . goals hightlights from the match[/ame]
BOOM
U.S. v Argentina friendly at the Meadowlands. Attempting to get in with the Sam's Army/American Outlaws contingent so my group isn't the only group of assholes sitting in a sea of fag-shaded blue screaming "AMERICAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA FUCK YEAHHHHHHHHHHHH"
LOOK AT JOZY GO
So the five American NASL teams are not allowed to be part of the US Open Cup this year. We never know the format until like May but it would seem there is not enough time to add them to the Cup this year.Sucks for those guys to not get a chance to play. Last year St. Louis which was division 2 made it to the third round where the MLS teams come in. They got to play the Galaxy in LA.
Well after I posted that like two days later the format was released. Oh well. Still sucks for those teams
Anyway MLS is adding teams to playoffs. *groan* No need in more teams making the playoffs.
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/articl...structure-2011
No Tevez or Aguero in the squad
http://www.boston.com/sports/soccer/...Atwit%3Asoccerfuck yeahDefending World Cup champion Spain has been recruited to meet the United States in early June, before the Gold Cup starts. And Manchester United is slated to begin its summer tour with a match against the Revolution July 14.
Charlie Davies scoring twice on his return has got to be encouraging for you boys. Did anyone see how he played?
Amazing he is back playing considering how bad his crash was
I didn't see the game but I saw the clips of the goals. Looks like he is doing well though and I am excited that he is on my DC United squad.
So does anyone have thoughts about Ochocinco trying out for KC Sporting?
Love it. It's MLS so it's like they're making a mockery of anything sacred. Even if he's shire he'll attract attention to the game.
...
Only saw highlights of bionic Charlie but it's certainly encouraging. With Holden out for the gold cup it'll definitely help having someone up top who can fucking score.
Does anyone like the new red jersey they'll be wearing Saturday?
They look okay. Don't care one way the other about them honestly.
I'm genuinely shocked it's taken 40 minutes for Argentina to score, they've been carving us up.
Brilliant pass from Messi through Bocanegra's legs. Every time I watch him he's good for moments of pure class.
AMERICA FUCK YEAH
A resillient performance. Juan Agudelo, my goodness. He has a much deeper voice than I would expect from an eighteen year old. We have a midfield that will give out more bruises than a poorly inspected carnival tilt-a-whirl. I've quite liked Eric Lihaj every time I've seen him.
Juan Agudelo is a shining beacon of freedom.
Just got my ticket for June 4th against Spain. Beyond pumped for it.
If any of you Americans are interested, after signing in January and then getting injured, Robbie Findlay made his debut for us yesterday. Only had 15 mins but did look lively and whilst he was on the pitch we scored a late winner
Eddie Johnson's contract at Fulham is up in the summer. He never even scored a goal for Fulham. Someone told me he could have cost upwards of $6mil, is that true? If so then that is a massive flop.
Do you guys reckon he'll go back to MLS?
I guess he's really got no choice, but really he wasn't very popular in MLS when he left. In 2006 Kansas City suspended him indefinitely.He hasn't scored for country in almost three years. He was close to washed up when Fulham bought him, now he's washed up and dry cleaned.
I didn't realise that. I just assumed he was flavour of the month over there at the time. We used to have a weekly show over here about MLS. It didn't last long but the presenter Tim Lovejoy chose Kansas as the team every should support so we got a lot of coverage about them and Johnson.
Johnson is on loan in the championship at the moment and still not scoring goals. I think he might be able to get a contract in that division or lower if he has a good agent. But if he can score goals in MLS and play regularly that would surely boost his national team chances.
How does Collins John do for Chicago? He was a striker who seemed to have a good future over here but then kind of disappeared.
Last edited by Alex; April 25th, 2011 at 4:20 AM.
He's over in some Asian country right now.
I think he went to join Tony Adams and Deon Burton in Azerbaijan.
Johnson was good at one point. Seems like though after the turf toe injury he just sucked from then on out.
Onyewu's FC Twente side won the Dutch Cup today over Ajax. The two sides meet next week to decide the Eredivisie league title. Twente only need a draw to complete the double & back to back league titles.
Go on Gooch.
Do any of you American lads support New York Red Bulls or know anyone that does?
Trying to get tickets for the United game this summer and they're on sale for season ticket holders already and was wondering if you knew anyone who could get me some before they go on general sale...
Judas is a Red Bulls guy.
I have it on good authority that Robbie Findlay has been fit but not played until the play offs so he can be a "secret weapon".
So any of you yanks might be interested in our game on thursday. He will probably come on a sub.
Who told you that Dog?
The player won't have been very happy about that and he won't be fit. Are you going to the game?
My mate who sits in the Director's box with all the players who arnt playing and the ex players and stuff. Could be bollocks. Does make a bit of sense though.
I've got to be honest, this is the first time I've ever heard Findley referred to as a secret weapon.
The secret being that he is shit? But I'm guessing that's not really a secret.
He'll run around aimlessly and directionless like Brendan in Home Movies.
SECRET REVEALED.
No goals.
Turns out that that was genuinely the plan but then he got injured in training. Sorry lads!
Hopefully be fit for the 2nd leg on Monday.
Come on Dog, that was never the plan. He's just been injured.
I was only going on what I was told!
Hopefully he will be fit tonight to at least be a sub.
The yanks will like this one too. When he came on against Leicster we were all chanting "USA, USA, USA".
Fuck I want to be doing that tonight.
I hope he scores an own goal and ends up punching his own face off. That's genuinely what I hope
I genuinely believe you because you are bitter that our club is better than yours.
That Beckham freekick was just tooooooo saaaaawwwweeeeeeeet.
US roster for the Gold Cup & friendly against Spain was announced today. No real surprises.
http://www.ussoccer.com/Teams/US-Men...-Gold-Cup.aspx
On a related note, my tickets for the Spain match arrived today. Very excited.
No Burnbury or Chandler. Bit surprising there.
I was really hoping to see Davies make it despite still not completey fit.
Adu was a bit of a surprise. He gets like no playing time does he? Yet he manages to make it on to the roster for this tournament every time.
I heard he was playing regularly, albeit for a lower level Turkish club.
I left before Alexi Lalas got to the bar tonight
That sucks. Have fun at the game today. I am going to be a friends house hanging out to celebrate the end of school and start of summer so I won't be able to watch the game live. On the bright side I should be pretty buzzed or too drunk to care at the time.
View from my seat:
I had a great time today. Yes, USA was methodically dismantled but it was a friendly just days before the start of the Gold Cup so the lineup wasn't exactly first rate for us and I expected that. Spain are just on another level, I couldn't help but appreciate their performance even though I was in the American Outlaws section.
A few things:
- I would guess that 70% of the crowd today was supporting Spain but since both sides' supporters wore red it was tough to judge from afar.
- Nike gave out these sweet shirts to AO members: http://www.beautifulgear.com/2011/06...utlaw-t-shirt/
- I know that international sports bring out xenophobia but I've never been able to understand boo'ing another country's national anthem. Just blatant disrespect.
- Even though I was at football and American Outlaws is heavily influenced by the English, I couldn't escape the generic American four syllable, five clap chants.
- Some dickhead behind me was singing "Busquets goes down like a Barcelona whore" for the duration of the match. Would not shut up.
- I can't say I've seen much of Santi Cazorla before, but he looked the real deal today.
- David Silva is incredible to watch.
This part doesn't matter:
Did Findlay play?
Wasn't in the squad.
That picture doesn't work for me SCS.
I watched the highlights of this game last night with my Spanish housemate. Crikey the US defence is awful, they were all over the place. No positional awareness and they looked overawed.
It's easy to see why West Brom spent so much money on Borja Valero, his pass for Spain's 4th was lovely. To think that he was played out of position to compliment Jonathan Greening. I think they missed out big style there.
That's weird it's not working for me now either. I had the perfect view for the Torres goal at least
...
Yeah the US was pretty bad all around. I hope it was a case of looking ahead cause Mexico looked great last night.
Well Spain is just that good. We didn't start all of regulars and what not but still Spain is just that good. I think Spain's coach even said we are better than we looked against them though.
As long as we focus and don't screw around the lineups much during the Gold Cup we should be fine there.
I forgot this:
When we were leaving post-match some asshole lit a flare near us and I think some guy was hit with it because I saw him arguing with security holding a USA shirt with a noticeable burn on it. And the smoke sucked.
What the fuck. I just now caught what happened at the game on Saturday. I was not really near tv and what not for the most part this weekend.
How in the world do we lose to fucking Panama? Panama? For fuck sakes.
Mean while Mexico is fucking cruising even after losing 5 players due to positive tests. This is just wrong. We should be cruising as well on our way to the final to play Mexico.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv82TESa5WM&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube - ‪Seattle Sounders vs Vancouver Whitecaps 2-2 CRAZY GOAL Eric Hassli‬‏[/ame]
Kinda good.
Fuck me, Kasey Keller! I thought he'd retired years ago, look at that pathetic dive.
Let me shock you for a second: horrible back line and uninspiring play from the forwards.
Yeah I read up on how horrible the back line was and that they didn't seem to wake up out front until it was too late. Pretty typically of our team anymore.
It's just a shame that people familiar with the team could've guessed that was the problem without seeing the game.
This is going to sound retarded and I fully apologise for using the same uninspiring cretinous stereotypes that people always use but...
Why has no-one in American Soccer taken a leaf out of American Football and many others playbook, literally I mean. Why haven't we seen the rise of a set-piece based team with brilliant routines literally utilizing a playbook. I know Beckham wanted a quarter back role for england but I don't even mean that in open play I mean someone who is a brilliant dead ball specialist and some well worked routines?
I just think with the sporting mentality in america, having QB roles etc and kids knowing this concept of a playbook it's something that could pay dividends.
Yeah it's anti-football etc but fuck that
Well it's not like people don't have set piece routines now. There is always going to be a limit to their effectiveness.
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