World game world cup - Page 3

lookout123 · 06-11-2010, 07:26 PM

Nice. Rooney is an amazing player. If you stripped his personality out he'd be the perfect forward. Of course that is true of Cashley as well, I guess.

wolf · 06-11-2010, 09:16 PM

I don't know nuthin' about the football, but I did watch the last bit of today's South Africa/Mexico game. Very exciting, although I would have liked to see a win for South Africa rather than the tie they ended up with.

Looks like slow hockey ...

I'll probably catch a couple more games since they'll be on before I go to work, and Lifetime moved Wife Swap to 4pm.

lumberjim · 06-11-2010, 10:25 PM

I watched France Vs Uraguay today. they BOTH suck 0-0

England vs Us tomorrow at 1.30

lookout123 · 06-11-2010, 11:35 PM

France has some amazing players - among the best in the world. Unfortunately they have a clinically stupid coach. His name is a punchline for football jokes. He left some far superior players sitting at home and picked some very questionable players to come to SA.

Games with Spain and Netherlands would be your best bet for entertainment if you are not already a football junkie. They both play fast paced passing games that focus on strong multi pronged attacks.

I expect the US v England to be a major snoozefest. The US is not blessed with great technicians although they are improving with each generation. England has some highly skilled players with massive egos that often get in the way. Expect the US to try to soak up attack after attack and try to hit on the counter. That worked well against a complacent Spain but Rooney is a bulldog and the US central defense is damaged right now. The game could honestly be a draw or go either way, but don't expect excitement.

Griff · 06-12-2010, 09:14 AM

Go Us! Do we have the team speed to counter effectively?

Thanks for the note on Spain/Netherlands will effort their games.

Undertoad · 06-12-2010, 09:41 AM

Looks like slow hockey ... yes a friend of mine familiar with hockey, but not with football, said

"Three shots on goal the entire half??"

I had to answer, yes, rare but yes.

lookout123 · 06-12-2010, 11:26 AM

It was a dire dire horrible game. Please don't let that crapfest (which most international football games are) turn you off the game.

In regards to the US speed, the answer is easily yes. and no. the US is known for being less skilled but amazingly athletic but they've suffered some major injuries this year. Charlie Davies was finally coming into his own and was a genuine speed demon and knew what to do with the final ball. He was instrumental in the upset against Spain. Unfortunately he chose to break curfew, go drinking, and then ride in a car with other drunks. One of them is dead and Charlie suffered massive injuries that will prevent him from ever being the player he could have been.

that leaves us with a forward line that is big and strong but not the fastest. Altidore is powerful but he's still young and learning his trade. He's got great potential but unfortunately he is not known for his work ethic up top so he doesn't scare defenders the way he could. Buddle is not as strong but works a bit harder. The problem is they are fairly similar in play so the question is whether they can compliment eachother up top. We'll find out in the next couple weeks.

Most of our speed and potential for surprises will be in midfield. Landon Donovan is finally starting to live up to his hype. He is fast and works as our primary playmaker. He played for Everton this year and actually impressed me with his play. He is without a doubt the best player the US has produced. That being said, he is only slightly above average in comparison to other players of his mold outside the US.

Clint Dempsey plays as a mid at Fulham and I rate him highly. good work ethic, good ideas and knows how to use his team and find the net. Can play on the wings or as a withdrawn striker. Again, he is fantastic by american standards but only slightly over average on the world stage.

Holden is a young and talented so he could give us some pleasant surprises... or he could be kicked around like a puppy due to his not quite fully developed physique.

Mike Bradley is a wildcard. He can be mr efficiency in anchoring the midfield as he does for his club team... or he can come unglued and become a redcard magnet as he has done so often for the US team. he's still young but has the tools to be our anchor for years to come. The question is who partners him in midfield.

Onyewu destroyed his knee in October and should still be trying to rehab it not stepping in to be our central defensive anchor. He was never fast, always defensively naive, and imo not that freaking great. He grew up playing for the right youth clubs and went to the right tournaments as a kid so he will always be a first choice national team player. Even if in our warm up games he couldn't sprint, jump, or tackle. He'll either come out and play a blinder (which he's never done before) or he'll blow out his knee trying to actually contain some world class forwards and his tournament will be over.

Jay Demerit is captain for Watford, a struggling second tier american team. He didn't go to a "big" club growing up and after college he literally couldn't get any of the american teams to give him a look so he went to england and started playing for a pub team. Within 2 years he worked his way up to a starter for watford and scored the goal that gave them a year in the premier league (top division) He's our best defender in my opinion but he'll always be an outsider because the US national team system is run by utter buffoon political hacks.

Bocanegra is an adequate left back but a horrendous center back. red card magnet due to poor positioning but he is the captain due to tenure and he came up through the US youth system.

right back is a crap shoot. We really have no consistent performers there so we'll just have to wait and see.

Tim Howard is our keeper. I like Tim. After being from unknown to hero and then to zero at manchester united he has found a solid home at Everton. He is an excellent keeper. Not as big and dominant as his predecessor he is very smart and efficient. I would honestly like to see him move to Arsenal but that will not happen. Please don't get nervous if he seems a bit...off. He has tourrette's.

Our subs bench has talent and potential but we are big time underdogs. The US has only really had a professional soccer league for 15 years vs the hundred + the rest of the world has so we are a bit behind. I will be ecstatic if we make it to the quarterfinals this year. I believe 2022 will be the first world cup the US will have a genuine shot of going the distance. That will be our first generation of kids who were raised by genuine soccer parents and coached by prefessional coaches from birth on.

Griff · 06-12-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lookout123

Jay Demerit is captain for Watford, a struggling second tier american team. He didn't go to a "big" club growing up and after college he literally couldn't get any of the american teams to give him a look so he went to england and started playing for a pub team. Within 2 years he worked his way up to a starter for watford and scored the goal that gave them a year in the premier league (top division) He's our best defender in my opinion but he'll always be an outsider because the US national team system is run by utter buffoon political hacks.

This is why Lil' Pete fences, team sports get too political (and she's a natural individualist). We know we have better players available but judging talent is an art not a science.

lookout123 · 06-12-2010, 11:54 AM

On the flip side, England has some amazing talents and one of the world's best coaches. BUT they've got ginormous egos and a history of underperforming.

goalie = who knows who will get the start? Calamity James? He's vastly experienced but known for committing howlers. Robert Green - a genuine professional but often uninspiring? Joe Hart? Definitely the best of the three but young with no biggame experience.

Defense: right back... Glen Johnson - barely average defensively but has blistering pace and is powerful going forward.

Center Back: Ledley King - Brilliant but his knees are so bad he doesn't even practive with his team during the weak and known for not being able to play more than once each week. John Terry - He's of the old mold. A hard man. He'll throw his body on the line and the announcers looove his real english grit. he's also a dirty player and a lousy excuse for a human being but it could talk an hour to type out all of his offenses.

Upson had a horrible season but he is an option. Carragher is well past his best or even close to something resembling his best but has been called out of retirement due to injuries.

Left Back: ashley cole. Quite possibly the best left back inthe world even if he is a douchebag. Learned his trade at Arsenal before cashing in at Chelsea in the most unethical and underhanded of moves.

Mids: Lampard is one sure bet. He's great. I hate his club team but this guy is a great attacking mid. Steven Gerrard is also an attacking mid but his nickname is "stevie me" so you might notice he's a bit selfish on the field. Historically Lampard and Gerrard cannot work together in central midfield so Gerrard has been forced out to the left. Injury may require they both start in the center with Gerrard playing in a holding role so we'll see how that works.

James Milner is excellent and flexible so he could pop up anywhere.

If you think you see an incredibly fast penguin run across the field, that's aaron lennon. Lennon is amazingly fast and has improved the rest of his game so could be dangerous.

Joe cole is an outstanding player with something to prove as he needs a new contract after being released by his club team after struggling with injury. Capello doesn't seem to know what to do with him though.

Michael Carrick is broken. Once thought to be great... by someone. Not me.

Gareth Barry is supposed to be the holding midfielder but he has been injured and noone seems sure if he'll play or not.

Sean Wright-Phillips is another wild card. an amazingly fast midget he is capable of creating something out of nothing, just not that often.

Forward: Wayne Rooney. He is simply amazing even if a bit of an asshole. One of the very best on the planet.

Jermaine Defoe is an excellent finisher with a record of scoring great goals but he's another amazing midget. Capello doesn't seem to know what to do with him.

Emile Heskey. ???? He's a bit of a joke. He doesn't score much and doesn't show that much skill. People always complain about him being selected over superior options. They fail to realize that while he doesn't score much rooney and defoe play their best games when partnered with him. He is a hulk that scares defenses and creates space for the other forward.

lookout123 · 06-12-2010, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Griff

This is why Lil' Pete fences, team sports get too political (and she's a natural individualist). We know we have better players available but judging talent is an art not a science.

This isn't even an art v science issue. the US football association is an utterly inept political organization.

Example: Jurgen Klinsmann, recognized as being an outstanding international coach capable of creating well structured, tactically astute teams was ready to be hired as our national team coach. It fell apart at the last minute because as all top tier coaches would he demanded the freedom to select the players he thought were the best fit even if they didn't come from the pool of the most recognizable or marketable players. The association refused to give him free reign so off he went and in came bob bradley. bullshit.

Right now one of the top central defensive prospects in Europe is a man called Subotic. I'd literally sacrifice goats and throw virgins into a volcano to get the guy to sign for Arsenal. He grew up playing for the US national team at the youth level but fell out of favor and wasn't selected for a major tournament. He now plays for Serbia. The US missed out on him.

There are other players that have made the same choice.

lookout123 · 06-12-2010, 01:29 PM

WOOHOO! HERE WE GO!

Undertoad · 06-12-2010, 01:45 PM

Who is the sport's best diver?

Griff · 06-12-2010, 01:58 PM

It isn't Cherundelo.

Griff · 06-12-2010, 02:13 PM

Calamity is gonna need a bullet proof vest.

lookout123 · 06-12-2010, 02:26 PM

that was calamity james's replacement - Robert Green. wow. Just wow.

Best diver? I don't know about best, but prolific would have to be Steven Gerrard and Ronaldo. Although to be fair, Landon Donovan dove to get that foul a little while ago, I think. If it was a dive it was a great one or it could have been a legitimate foul.

I still think the game will end England 4 - 1 USA. We just don't have any forwards that are pressuring england with pace.

06-11-2010, 07:26 PM	#31
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	Nice. Rooney is an amazing player. If you stripped his personality out he'd be the perfect forward. Of course that is true of Cashley as well, I guess. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

06-11-2010, 09:16 PM	#32
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	I don't know nuthin' about the football, but I did watch the last bit of today's South Africa/Mexico game. Very exciting, although I would have liked to see a win for South Africa rather than the tie they ended up with. Looks like slow hockey ... I'll probably catch a couple more games since they'll be on before I go to work, and Lifetime moved Wife Swap to 4pm. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

06-11-2010, 10:25 PM	#33
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	I watched France Vs Uraguay today. they BOTH suck 0-0 England vs Us tomorrow at 1.30 __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan Last edited by lumberjim; 06-11-2010 at 10:42 PM.

06-11-2010, 11:35 PM	#34
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	France has some amazing players - among the best in the world. Unfortunately they have a clinically stupid coach. His name is a punchline for football jokes. He left some far superior players sitting at home and picked some very questionable players to come to SA. Games with Spain and Netherlands would be your best bet for entertainment if you are not already a football junkie. They both play fast paced passing games that focus on strong multi pronged attacks. I expect the US v England to be a major snoozefest. The US is not blessed with great technicians although they are improving with each generation. England has some highly skilled players with massive egos that often get in the way. Expect the US to try to soak up attack after attack and try to hit on the counter. That worked well against a complacent Spain but Rooney is a bulldog and the US central defense is damaged right now. The game could honestly be a draw or go either way, but don't expect excitement. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

06-12-2010, 09:14 AM	#35
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Go Us! Do we have the team speed to counter effectively? Thanks for the note on Spain/Netherlands will effort their games. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-12-2010, 09:41 AM	#36
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Looks like slow hockey ... yes a friend of mine familiar with hockey, but not with football, said "Three shots on goal the entire half??" I had to answer, yes, rare but yes.

06-12-2010, 11:26 AM	#37
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	It was a dire dire horrible game. Please don't let that crapfest (which most international football games are) turn you off the game. In regards to the US speed, the answer is easily yes. and no. the US is known for being less skilled but amazingly athletic but they've suffered some major injuries this year. Charlie Davies was finally coming into his own and was a genuine speed demon and knew what to do with the final ball. He was instrumental in the upset against Spain. Unfortunately he chose to break curfew, go drinking, and then ride in a car with other drunks. One of them is dead and Charlie suffered massive injuries that will prevent him from ever being the player he could have been. that leaves us with a forward line that is big and strong but not the fastest. Altidore is powerful but he's still young and learning his trade. He's got great potential but unfortunately he is not known for his work ethic up top so he doesn't scare defenders the way he could. Buddle is not as strong but works a bit harder. The problem is they are fairly similar in play so the question is whether they can compliment eachother up top. We'll find out in the next couple weeks. Most of our speed and potential for surprises will be in midfield. Landon Donovan is finally starting to live up to his hype. He is fast and works as our primary playmaker. He played for Everton this year and actually impressed me with his play. He is without a doubt the best player the US has produced. That being said, he is only slightly above average in comparison to other players of his mold outside the US. Clint Dempsey plays as a mid at Fulham and I rate him highly. good work ethic, good ideas and knows how to use his team and find the net. Can play on the wings or as a withdrawn striker. Again, he is fantastic by american standards but only slightly over average on the world stage. Holden is a young and talented so he could give us some pleasant surprises... or he could be kicked around like a puppy due to his not quite fully developed physique. Mike Bradley is a wildcard. He can be mr efficiency in anchoring the midfield as he does for his club team... or he can come unglued and become a redcard magnet as he has done so often for the US team. he's still young but has the tools to be our anchor for years to come. The question is who partners him in midfield. Onyewu destroyed his knee in October and should still be trying to rehab it not stepping in to be our central defensive anchor. He was never fast, always defensively naive, and imo not that freaking great. He grew up playing for the right youth clubs and went to the right tournaments as a kid so he will always be a first choice national team player. Even if in our warm up games he couldn't sprint, jump, or tackle. He'll either come out and play a blinder (which he's never done before) or he'll blow out his knee trying to actually contain some world class forwards and his tournament will be over. Jay Demerit is captain for Watford, a struggling second tier american team. He didn't go to a "big" club growing up and after college he literally couldn't get any of the american teams to give him a look so he went to england and started playing for a pub team. Within 2 years he worked his way up to a starter for watford and scored the goal that gave them a year in the premier league (top division) He's our best defender in my opinion but he'll always be an outsider because the US national team system is run by utter buffoon political hacks. Bocanegra is an adequate left back but a horrendous center back. red card magnet due to poor positioning but he is the captain due to tenure and he came up through the US youth system. right back is a crap shoot. We really have no consistent performers there so we'll just have to wait and see. Tim Howard is our keeper. I like Tim. After being from unknown to hero and then to zero at manchester united he has found a solid home at Everton. He is an excellent keeper. Not as big and dominant as his predecessor he is very smart and efficient. I would honestly like to see him move to Arsenal but that will not happen. Please don't get nervous if he seems a bit...off. He has tourrette's. Our subs bench has talent and potential but we are big time underdogs. The US has only really had a professional soccer league for 15 years vs the hundred + the rest of the world has so we are a bit behind. I will be ecstatic if we make it to the quarterfinals this year. I believe 2022 will be the first world cup the US will have a genuine shot of going the distance. That will be our first generation of kids who were raised by genuine soccer parents and coached by prefessional coaches from birth on. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

06-12-2010, 11:54 AM	#39
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	On the flip side, England has some amazing talents and one of the world's best coaches. BUT they've got ginormous egos and a history of underperforming. goalie = who knows who will get the start? Calamity James? He's vastly experienced but known for committing howlers. Robert Green - a genuine professional but often uninspiring? Joe Hart? Definitely the best of the three but young with no biggame experience. Defense: right back... Glen Johnson - barely average defensively but has blistering pace and is powerful going forward. Center Back: Ledley King - Brilliant but his knees are so bad he doesn't even practive with his team during the weak and known for not being able to play more than once each week. John Terry - He's of the old mold. A hard man. He'll throw his body on the line and the announcers looove his real english grit. he's also a dirty player and a lousy excuse for a human being but it could talk an hour to type out all of his offenses. Upson had a horrible season but he is an option. Carragher is well past his best or even close to something resembling his best but has been called out of retirement due to injuries. Left Back: ashley cole. Quite possibly the best left back inthe world even if he is a douchebag. Learned his trade at Arsenal before cashing in at Chelsea in the most unethical and underhanded of moves. Mids: Lampard is one sure bet. He's great. I hate his club team but this guy is a great attacking mid. Steven Gerrard is also an attacking mid but his nickname is "stevie me" so you might notice he's a bit selfish on the field. Historically Lampard and Gerrard cannot work together in central midfield so Gerrard has been forced out to the left. Injury may require they both start in the center with Gerrard playing in a holding role so we'll see how that works. James Milner is excellent and flexible so he could pop up anywhere. If you think you see an incredibly fast penguin run across the field, that's aaron lennon. Lennon is amazingly fast and has improved the rest of his game so could be dangerous. Joe cole is an outstanding player with something to prove as he needs a new contract after being released by his club team after struggling with injury. Capello doesn't seem to know what to do with him though. Michael Carrick is broken. Once thought to be great... by someone. Not me. Gareth Barry is supposed to be the holding midfielder but he has been injured and noone seems sure if he'll play or not. Sean Wright-Phillips is another wild card. an amazingly fast midget he is capable of creating something out of nothing, just not that often. Forward: Wayne Rooney. He is simply amazing even if a bit of an asshole. One of the very best on the planet. Jermaine Defoe is an excellent finisher with a record of scoring great goals but he's another amazing midget. Capello doesn't seem to know what to do with him. Emile Heskey. ???? He's a bit of a joke. He doesn't score much and doesn't show that much skill. People always complain about him being selected over superior options. They fail to realize that while he doesn't score much rooney and defoe play their best games when partnered with him. He is a hulk that scares defenses and creates space for the other forward. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

06-12-2010, 01:29 PM	#41
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	WOOHOO! HERE WE GO! __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

06-12-2010, 01:45 PM	#42
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Who is the sport's best diver?

06-12-2010, 01:58 PM	#43
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	It isn't Cherundelo. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-12-2010, 02:13 PM	#44
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Calamity is gonna need a bullet proof vest. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

06-12-2010, 02:26 PM	#45
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	that was calamity james's replacement - Robert Green. wow. Just wow. Best diver? I don't know about best, but prolific would have to be Steven Gerrard and Ronaldo. Although to be fair, Landon Donovan dove to get that foul a little while ago, I think. If it was a dive it was a great one or it could have been a legitimate foul. I still think the game will end England 4 - 1 USA. We just don't have any forwards that are pressuring england with pace. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode