tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post3888947175806973236..comments2023-10-25T08:28:57.428-04:00Comments on Unprofessional Foul: Confederations Cup Final Liveblog: United States v. BrazilUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-23607097750393617792009-06-28T18:54:46.808-04:002009-06-28T18:54:46.808-04:00Can't believe I missed this one because of a d...Can't believe I missed this one because of a drive to colorado. missed the heartbreak I guess.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01892779004760450204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-49330342600752102802009-06-28T18:07:05.108-04:002009-06-28T18:07:05.108-04:00PR: good point about casual fans. My usual bar wa...PR: good point about casual fans. My usual bar was packed with about 100 people, and while many were footy fans, it looked like they had dragged a lot of non-fans with them. A much more diverse crowd than what I usually see there. And this game was about as perfect a matchup as you could get. Even casual fans know "Pele" and "Brazil", and for us to put them on the ropes, and for the match to then be generally an exciting one to watch is a pretty good combination...<br /><br />Per someone above, I'll be interested in what the Nielsens end up being for the game...jjf3https://www.blogger.com/profile/04463971119340446760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-63744293893201424022009-06-28T18:00:35.939-04:002009-06-28T18:00:35.939-04:00I'm still fucking pissed, so this may not read...I'm still fucking pissed, so this may not read well tomorrow, but:<br /><br />Bradley needs to go. Period. I give him credit for sticking with 4-4-2 and using Feilharber in place of Jr. But the team he selected, beyond the starting 11, is a joke, and left him with no freaking options (that he was willing to take) today. He was too slow to realize his team was gassed, and didn't make substitutions until it was already a done deal. And then, the most damning decisions of all:<br /><br />1) sasha<br />2) bornstein<br />3) casey<br /><br />Find me any decent int'l-level (ie, not brolly-man) manager who would either a) leave himself with a squad where those are possible options, or b) then make the mistake of putting them in the game just because they're available.<br /><br /><br />With Ching out, Altidore was our only "target" forward, while Kenny Cooper was busy playing in Frisco, and Adu wasn't even "available", yet he plays as much as Jozy does. And don't get me started on a Gold Cup squad that doesn't include the bench players from this squad (Torres, anyone??)... <br /><br />I know I should look at the big picture and say yeah we beat Spain and scared Brazil, but bad management put us in the hole to begin with in this tournament, and mistakes in man-management came back to beat us in a final that set up perfectly for us in the first 30 minutes. Yes, our first touch is generally weak, and we're not comfortable with the ball in traffic, but tactics can potentially overcome those weaknesses, especially with a 2-0 lead at the half...<br /><br />UGH. Its amazing to me that finishing second to Brazil and ahead of Spain can somehow be a confirmation of our worst weaknesses, rather than something to glory in...<br />or I'm just a pessimist/realist...jjf3https://www.blogger.com/profile/04463971119340446760noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-87009183075421970402009-06-28T17:50:21.650-04:002009-06-28T17:50:21.650-04:00So now that I'm less irritated, this is actual...So now that I'm less irritated, this is actually a close to ideal result.<br /><br />First, we didn't get pasted and it wasn't a boring match. So for the casual and not-even-casual soccer fans that were drawn to watch they probably came away with a more favorable opinion of the game. <br /><br />Second, even though the loss (and the way we lost) stings, it should drive some of the players. The really good ones will want to do what they have to in order to take the next step. Additionally, some of the US players who are trying to get on the USMNT radar should push that much harder to be a part of the team now that it's clear what they are capable when they play up to their best. <br /><br />We need a few more stars and a lot more squad depth. But... eh, we made a final and beat Brazil in a final for a half. <br /><br />Baby steps.Precious Royhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13254500384702034482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-8739192574742170422009-06-28T16:53:14.457-04:002009-06-28T16:53:14.457-04:00Great performances from DeMerit, Spector, Gooch, H...Great performances from DeMerit, Spector, Gooch, Howard, Landycakes, and Davies in the tourney.<br /><br />Enough poor tactics and inexplicably bad substitutions from Bradley to make me wish him gone.<br /><br />I still don't know what to think of this team. The bench is not deep, but Bradley doesn't use it well. This team counters well, but is also extremely vulnerable themselves to the counter, especially when Michael Bradley is in the midfield. The central defense has annoying tendency to collapse for periods of a match. They don't mark well on set-pieces. They are a very fit team, and have some pace, but are not sharp finishers...it's a strange team, and this tournament did nothing to allay concerns that they are going to have real troubles in WC 2010. Some brilliant individual performances, but they still suffer from the same problems as they before the tournament.philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11873082204015241250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-4195548709518239022009-06-28T16:51:40.206-04:002009-06-28T16:51:40.206-04:00Probably Tuesday Johnny, there's usually a day...Probably Tuesday Johnny, there's usually a day or two turnaround on those.BackBergtthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01916269531937171514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-88118434882904108192009-06-28T16:51:04.793-04:002009-06-28T16:51:04.793-04:00Does anyone know how the Nielsen ratings system wo...Does anyone know how the Nielsen ratings system works? When do we find out how many people were watching this? A big rating would be nice to see.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10359635896427519636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-45732361240942721752009-06-28T16:41:05.753-04:002009-06-28T16:41:05.753-04:00I think the best thing out of this is that Dempsey...I think the best thing out of this is that Dempsey is starting to translate from Fulham to the MNT. There is no reason he shouldn't be our best outfield player, clear cut.BackBergtthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01916269531937171514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-31147019524593269192009-06-28T16:40:08.609-04:002009-06-28T16:40:08.609-04:00Good for Howard winning the trophy.
I like the em...Good for Howard winning the trophy.<br /><br />I like the emotion from Dempsey.EbullientFatalisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502420022767098791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-2546003286308827042009-06-28T16:39:05.169-04:002009-06-28T16:39:05.169-04:00"Well, at least we know Brazil won't win ..."Well, at least we know Brazil won't win the WC."<br /><br />Yet they're still favorites. Bookies want to lose a lot of money next year putting Germany and Spain as dogs to Brazil.BackBergtthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01916269531937171514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-59754318544705609262009-06-28T16:30:12.732-04:002009-06-28T16:30:12.732-04:00Parting thought:
If where we are as a nation is d...Parting thought:<br /><br />If where we are as a nation is disappointment in losing 3-2 to Brazil in a Cup final, then I'm pretty pleased with where we are as of June 2009.Kyle B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08789056887333531061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-10072762284066100712009-06-28T16:26:21.466-04:002009-06-28T16:26:21.466-04:00Good on our boys. Showed guts and heart and even g...Good on our boys. Showed guts and heart and even glimpses of skill. We build on this, take this experience into the rest of qualifying. We don't have the depth off the bench.EbullientFatalisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502420022767098791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-17057308210402758302009-06-28T16:25:41.010-04:002009-06-28T16:25:41.010-04:00buzzkill.
really wish some goalscorer would have...buzzkill.<br /><br /><br />really wish some goalscorer would have done a Michael Jackson tribute for their celebration.The Fan's Attichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10704334019031698607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-14333932775281677502009-06-28T16:24:44.354-04:002009-06-28T16:24:44.354-04:00buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....japehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03173884417111106768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-90158249130553773852009-06-28T16:24:33.121-04:002009-06-28T16:24:33.121-04:00Who's up for torching Bob Bradley?Who's up for torching Bob Bradley?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01158041583133082650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-49906761235885791372009-06-28T16:23:56.803-04:002009-06-28T16:23:56.803-04:00(slow clap)(slow clap)EbullientFatalisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502420022767098791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-76046279245457671412009-06-28T16:23:41.253-04:002009-06-28T16:23:41.253-04:00Thanks, Spectator, for the live blog. This hurts,...Thanks, Spectator, for the live blog. This hurts, but will be fondly remembered.Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009896468343968678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-53048793639933204682009-06-28T16:23:11.652-04:002009-06-28T16:23:11.652-04:00Welp.Welp.EbullientFatalisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502420022767098791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-71845504372886432752009-06-28T16:23:05.841-04:002009-06-28T16:23:05.841-04:00Well, at least we know Brazil won't win the WC...Well, at least we know Brazil won't win the WC.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01158041583133082650noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-68427552118727608832009-06-28T16:21:54.854-04:002009-06-28T16:21:54.854-04:00so...brazil's defense isn't very good is i...so...brazil's defense isn't very good is it? if the US can get a lot of good counters, imagine what a skilled team can do.<br /><br />that said...really impressed with davies this tournament. donovan did himself a favor too. spector and demerit did great as well.The Fan's Attichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10704334019031698607noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-19265865703944739932009-06-28T16:21:41.466-04:002009-06-28T16:21:41.466-04:00If you're not going to play Adu, bringing him ...If you're not going to play Adu, bringing him was coaching malpractice. We needed something once that third goal came in that Conor Casey isn't going to bring. This is indefensible.<br /><br />And damnit, we can't say Brazil doesn't deserve it.Kyle B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/08789056887333531061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-73505517106134847652009-06-28T16:20:56.356-04:002009-06-28T16:20:56.356-04:00Red card in 3...2...1...Red card in 3...2...1...Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009896468343968678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-12116707451429511902009-06-28T16:20:52.033-04:002009-06-28T16:20:52.033-04:00Y'know what? No one's treading on the U.S...Y'know what? No one's treading on the U.S. for at least a month. Good for the lads. I toot my horn for them.Tuffyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08281755177720326304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-16347483258230302912009-06-28T16:20:02.989-04:002009-06-28T16:20:02.989-04:003? Seems light.3? Seems light.Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009896468343968678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-60738475435741494592009-06-28T16:18:58.206-04:002009-06-28T16:18:58.206-04:00inevitable maybe, but it still hurts.inevitable maybe, but it still hurts.ALRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04966697868143773502noreply@blogger.com