tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post776366808521071388..comments2023-10-25T08:28:57.428-04:00Comments on Unprofessional Foul: What went wrong and why it hurtsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-79700864578155410982009-06-04T15:42:46.153-04:002009-06-04T15:42:46.153-04:00I give Bradley credit for going with an aggressive...I give Bradley credit for going with an aggressive, if risky formation. But I have to question the team selection. Does Beasley really look that much better than Bornstein in training? And Wynne over Spector? And why are we keeping Mastro around? Is he really coming to South Africa? Lastly, where is Kenny Cooper? Or even Jaqua for that matter.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05517994188913152818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-39379558218304106492009-06-04T15:08:41.378-04:002009-06-04T15:08:41.378-04:00Agreed on the personnel points, but Bradley seems ...Agreed on the personnel points, but Bradley seems to have no knowledge of his players' strengths. He consistently plays players out of position, makes poor subs, and has the tactical sense of a casual fan.<br /><br />The real black mark on the players is the complete and utter lack of an on-field leader. Landycakes is a shite captain, but I can imagine to whom we could hand the armband. This team folds under pressure, committing stupid fouls, and acting like petulant twats after the match. Bradley can only do so much in this regard, and the players on this team have shown zero capacity for pulling themselves together on the pitch when faced with adversity.<br /><br />WC 2010 may be a bigger debacle than WC 2006.philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11873082204015241250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-80967098845863208472009-06-04T14:20:16.015-04:002009-06-04T14:20:16.015-04:00I'm not sure what Beasley's doing anywhere...I'm not sure what Beasley's doing anywhere near the field. As much as I hate to say it as it would take away from my Columbus Crew, I agree with NYK about Robbie Rogers. I see him playing the same role (only better) that Beasley played in 2002--speedy, creative, unafraid, young, and hungry. Also, as Ian said, I think we're wrong to assume that there will be any pressure on Bradley the Elder or Gulati. Barring a complete fuck up like in 1998, the Gringo gaffer job seems pretty secure and impervious to outside pressure.Goathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17380632310675126766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-75038400491468534232009-06-04T13:59:49.726-04:002009-06-04T13:59:49.726-04:00Yes. Once he got the reprieve, he was very nice o...Yes. Once he got the reprieve, he was very nice on the ball. I look forward to him doing more with the ball, and less acting out when frustrated.Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009896468343968678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-16593909056330284192009-06-04T13:53:46.584-04:002009-06-04T13:53:46.584-04:00@u75 I'd never seen that video before - so you...@u75 I'd never seen that video before - so you have a point. Nevertheless, it looked like your basic reckless swinging of the elbow to me but nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to a poor, mistimed jump/elbow. Straight red and a 3 match ban if it was in the EPL. No big deal. Part of the game. You live and learn.<br /><br />Last night he didn't look like a dirty player to me at all. I think it was a clear dive on the CR defender's part. <br /><br />I am only judging him by his performance last night, as I don't follow the Swedish top flight, but he looked determined and had a decent first touch. Once again, more than I can say for the more heralded Altidore.BurgerBrotherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504245702664049876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-60632845964017998252009-06-04T13:46:37.116-04:002009-06-04T13:46:37.116-04:00No. Charlie Davies is dirty. Sadly, this doesn&#...No. <a href="http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_by_ives/2009/05/davies-hit-with-fivematch-ban-after-elbowing-opponent.html" rel="nofollow">Charlie Davies is dirty</a>. Sadly, this doesn't make him stand out too much on the current US roster.Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02009896468343968678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-28690783085853309292009-06-04T13:46:02.126-04:002009-06-04T13:46:02.126-04:00Yes, our players are only as good as they are, but...Yes, our players are only as good as they are, but they aren't 3-0 bad at Costa Rica (not really counting the PK). <br /><br />Better tactics could have gotten out of there with a draw. For as bad as it was, we actually had long stretches of possession, they were just completely ineffectual. Bradley's job is to maximize the talent. Didn't do that last night.Precious Royhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13254500384702034482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-44515481085586274322009-06-04T13:38:50.838-04:002009-06-04T13:38:50.838-04:00The product on the field is so bad that I can'...<i>The product on the field is so bad that I can't argue with Subotic, Ibišević, and Rossi choosing to play for other countries. </i><br /><br />Ouch! Agreed, and Ouch!30fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03211743187633788851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-55910261437744655722009-06-04T13:30:24.354-04:002009-06-04T13:30:24.354-04:00We all need to rethink the idea of American soccer...We all need to rethink the idea of American soccer after last nights performance. I wasn't expecting victory, but did think we could draw, but our play was so awful that a draw was too much of an ask for the squad. Bradley needs to go; his tactical decisions are terrible (Kljestan on) and his strategy is worse. "Don't tread on me" is fine and all and raises our patriotic gumption, but at this point we don't have the play on the field to say it; we were literally tread upon last night. Furthermore, how can we get upset at erstwhile Americans choosing to play for other national teams? The product on the field is so bad that I can't argue with Subotic, Ibišević, and Rossi choosing to play for other countries.EbullientFatalisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16502420022767098791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-85663466928814491682009-06-04T13:24:38.084-04:002009-06-04T13:24:38.084-04:00I think describing Davies as dirty is a bit much. ...I think describing Davies as dirty is a bit much. In the event you refer to - the Costa Rican had a delayed Drogba-esque reaction of about 5 seconds after the accidental/intentional/who cares nut kick by Davies. Davies shielded the ball well there and didn't deserve to be called for the foul on that play.<br /><br />I thought (though his stint was super short and the game was already lost) that he gave it his all and he impressed me way more than Altidore - who lost the ball more than he retained it - rarely hustled, seemed rusty, and seemed like he "Deserved" something all game - when in reality, he deserves nothing.<br /><br />Davies could be a legitimate bench option going forward and I hope he improves and makes the WC team.BurgerBrotherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02504245702664049876noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4234337357347181796.post-10611354036228413282009-06-04T13:22:39.572-04:002009-06-04T13:22:39.572-04:00I was just as mad at Bradley the Elder as some of ...I was just as mad at Bradley the Elder as some of you guys last night. But then i started to think about it.<br /><br />Teams cannot change all their players - so they blame/fire the manager. I don't think Bradley is a genius, and I don't get why he can't make his Rooney-tunes copy-cat card-machine of son stop acting like his last name is Barton. The conclusion is that the PLAYERS we have are good enough to qualify for the World Cup (in part thanks to the very generous number of slots that CONCACAF gets) but we don't have enough talent to go much farther.<br /><br />The USMNT doesn't (at this juncture) have the players to be much better. The turf in Saprissa was not the 'problem.' A fancy new Euro manager (Klinsy) won't make Beasley a top notch defender or summon a better defending option from the ether. <br /><br />Though someone should ask Hodgson what he says to Deuce before games and repeat it when he 'plays' for the USMNT.30fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03211743187633788851noreply@blogger.com