(07-20-2017 04:49 PM)Tigerfan21 Wrote:  That game last night was hard to watch with all the flopping El Salvador did throughout the whole thing.

FIFA needs a rule... if we have to stop play for you, you get to sit on the sideline for a minimum of 2 minutes of play. You get a 5 minute time out of they stop play on something that was not a foul.

It's more that many officials, especially CONCACAF based ones, absolutely will not issue a yellow card for diving, and rarely do for time wasting.

For some reason, officials out of this region just do not want to pull the card out of their pocket unless they have to. The result is what we saw Wednesday. An El Salvador team that intentionally decided to play dirty to try and get us to snap back and draw a red card. They were emboldened by a ref that wouldn't do anything either.

Also, a reporter had the gall to ask Juan Carlos Osorio in his last presser if he thought CONCACAF intentionally drew the Gold Cup up to make sure the US and Mexico couldn't play till the Finals...Lol.

Biting too? Those Salvadorians sure are a kinky bunch.

(07-18-2017 11:10 AM)DefCONNOne Wrote:  

(07-18-2017 10:57 AM)NTTHOR Wrote:  

(07-18-2017 10:28 AM)DefCONNOne Wrote:  

(07-18-2017 10:27 AM)VA49er Wrote:  If true, that's a crap load of money for Neymar.

What's going on? If what's true?

neymar to psg for 222 million transfer fee

Oh...that is a crapload of money!!

Barcelona to let Neymar decide because, apparently, Barcelona has no say in the matter if another team pays the exit fee and the player also agrees to go. Spain is weird that way with the exit clauses. IMO, PSG is saying a big "FU" to Barca due to the whole Veratti situation. I hope Neymar stays but in no way would fault him for leaving for that type of money.

(07-21-2017 10:03 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  Biting too? Those Salvadorians sure are a kinky bunch.

My eyesight must be poor. Who here, besides you, mentioned biting in any of their posts?

(07-21-2017 11:06 AM)DefCONNOne Wrote:  

(07-21-2017 10:03 AM)HuskyU Wrote:  Biting too? Those Salvadorians sure are a kinky bunch.

My eyesight must be poor. Who here, besides you, mentioned biting in any of their posts?

No one. I saw it in the news this morning and felt the need to include it with the titty twisters and ball cupping. Triple threat.

The Siggurdsson saga continues to drive on with Everton yet to come back with another offer. Swans return from the US on Monday, and once he returns to training with the first team, the clock starts ticking if Everton is going to offer. Getting reasonably close to the start of the season, and the story goes the Swans will become less likely to sell once August hits, since they must have time to find and get a replacement ready for the start of the season.

Meanwhile, we told Chelsea if they want Llorente, it will cost 30 million. Which is a completely ridiculous price designed to keep suitors away.

This team is back to winning ugly again. It's like we've turned the clock back in how the team plays.

(07-22-2017 11:10 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  This team is back to winning ugly again. It's like we've turned the clock back in how the team plays.

In a sense though, that's prototypical American Soccer. We just don't have the athletes to play the slick passing game that's easy on the eye. We have to win ugly.

Tough audience here. The USA is 8-0-5 since Arena took over, but it seems like most of you have very few positives to say. The USA will never be a Brazil, Argentina, Italy, or Germany on the world stage. Never. Football, basketball, and baseball have a vice grip on athletes here. Granted, our nation is third in the world in population, but culturally, I don't think we'll ever see the fervor for the sport here that is evident elsewhere.

So in the bigger picture, aren't wins and losses what really matters? Whether or not we play with style and flair is trivial as long as we put the ball in the back of the net. Mexico are well known for their style and flair, but have never even reached a World Cup semifinal in their entire history. And as chiefsfan said, winning ugly is prototypical American soccer anyway. Lighten up a bit and let's see how long we can maybe keep this unbeaten streak going.

I think we'll face Mexico in the Final, and it should be real interesting to see how we fare since we drew them 1-1 in Mexico City recently. FIFA World Rankings are to be taken with a grain of salt, but Mexico is currently #16 and we're #35. Costa Rica is #26 btw. It wasn't the prettiest game yesterday, especially in the first half, but we had more possession (57% vs. 43%) and outshot them, so it was a solid outcome. We started this tournament in shaky fashion with our 1-1 draw against Panama, but have since won 3-0, 2-0, and 2-0, and I'm looking forward to the next game.

(07-23-2017 10:09 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  Tough audience here. The USA is 8-0-5 since Arena took over, but it seems like most of you have very few positives to say. The USA will never be a Brazil, Argentina, Italy, or Germany on the world stage. Never. Football, basketball, and baseball have a vice grip on athletes here. Granted, our nation is third in the world in population, but culturally, I don't think we'll ever see the fervor for the sport here that is evident elsewhere.

So in the bigger picture, aren't wins and losses what really matters? Whether or not we play with style and flair is trivial as long as we put the ball in the back of the net. Mexico are well known for their style and flair, but have never even reached a World Cup semifinal in their entire history. And as chiefsfan said, winning ugly is prototypical American soccer anyway. Lighten up a bit and let's see how long we can maybe keep this unbeaten streak going.

I think we'll face Mexico in the Final, and it should be real interesting to see how we fare since we drew them 1-1 in Mexico City recently. FIFA World Rankings are to be taken with a grain of salt, but Mexico is currently #16 and we're #35. Costa Rica is #26 btw. It wasn't the prettiest game yesterday, especially in the first half, but we had more possession (57% vs. 43%) and outshot them, so it was a solid outcome. We started this tournament in shaky fashion with our 1-1 draw against Panama, but have since won 3-0, 2-0, and 2-0, and I'm looking forward to the next game.

About that...

Jamaica scores a late Free Kick Goal in typical Jamaican style to stun Mexico 1-0 and advance to the Gold Cup Final against the US in Santa Clara Wednesday. 2nd straight Final for Jamaica. 3rd straight Gold Cup overall in which a team outside of Mexico or the US made the final.

On to your other point. This is Mexico's B side. This is not the 16th best team in the World, not even close. Had we faced them, we'd have been favored to win.

Jamaica has one helluva keeper...

(07-23-2017 10:02 PM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(07-23-2017 10:09 AM)Volkmar Wrote:  Tough audience here. The USA is 8-0-5 since Arena took over, but it seems like most of you have very few positives to say. The USA will never be a Brazil, Argentina, Italy, or Germany on the world stage. Never. Football, basketball, and baseball have a vice grip on athletes here. Granted, our nation is third in the world in population, but culturally, I don't think we'll ever see the fervor for the sport here that is evident elsewhere.

So in the bigger picture, aren't wins and losses what really matters? Whether or not we play with style and flair is trivial as long as we put the ball in the back of the net. Mexico are well known for their style and flair, but have never even reached a World Cup semifinal in their entire history. And as chiefsfan said, winning ugly is prototypical American soccer anyway. Lighten up a bit and let's see how long we can maybe keep this unbeaten streak going.

I think we'll face Mexico in the Final, and it should be real interesting to see how we fare since we drew them 1-1 in Mexico City recently. FIFA World Rankings are to be taken with a grain of salt, but Mexico is currently #16 and we're #35. Costa Rica is #26 btw. It wasn't the prettiest game yesterday, especially in the first half, but we had more possession (57% vs. 43%) and outshot them, so it was a solid outcome. We started this tournament in shaky fashion with our 1-1 draw against Panama, but have since won 3-0, 2-0, and 2-0, and I'm looking forward to the next game.

About that...

Jamaica scores a late Free Kick Goal in typical Jamaican style to stun Mexico 1-0 and advance to the Gold Cup Final against the US in Santa Clara Wednesday. 2nd straight Final for Jamaica. 3rd straight Gold Cup overall in which a team outside of Mexico or the US made the final.

On to your other point. This is Mexico's B side. This is not the 16th best team in the World, not even close. Had we faced them, we'd have been favored to win.

Please find a way to watch the Mexico broadcast of that goal...it's phenomenal

(07-22-2017 11:10 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  This team is back to winning ugly again. It's like we've turned the clock back in how the team plays.

What do you expect when you throw an MLS side out there? We don't have any of our regular European based players this tournament. Yes, Deuce is good, but he is also aging.

Do I want to win the Gold Cup? YES! Is this the A squad, no.

(07-24-2017 09:44 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(07-22-2017 11:10 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  This team is back to winning ugly again. It's like we've turned the clock back in how the team plays.

What do you expect when you throw an MLS side out there? We don't have any of our regular European based players this tournament. Yes, Deuce is good, but he is also aging.

Do I want to win the Gold Cup? YES! Is this the A squad, no.

Exactly...I think once you add in Pulisic, Wood, Cameron, Johnson, etc. (in their natural positions!) this team will get much better very quickly. I will say this though, I think Arriola has shown a lot this tournament and would be happy to see him on rosters moving forward.

(07-24-2017 10:01 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 09:44 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(07-22-2017 11:10 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  This team is back to winning ugly again. It's like we've turned the clock back in how the team plays.

What do you expect when you throw an MLS side out there? We don't have any of our regular European based players this tournament. Yes, Deuce is good, but he is also aging.

Do I want to win the Gold Cup? YES! Is this the A squad, no.

Exactly...I think once you add in Pulisic, Wood, Cameron, Johnson, etc. (in their natural positions!) this team will get much better very quickly. I will say this though, I think Arriola has shown a lot this tournament and would be happy to see him on rosters moving forward.

Yup. This squad is missing its best player(Pulisic), their starting backline(Yedlin, Johnson, Brooks and Cameron), and arguably their best number 9 in Wood.

I like Arriola as well. He would be a great little spark plug coming off the bench with the full squad.

(07-24-2017 10:29 AM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 10:01 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 09:44 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(07-22-2017 11:10 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  This team is back to winning ugly again. It's like we've turned the clock back in how the team plays.

What do you expect when you throw an MLS side out there? We don't have any of our regular European based players this tournament. Yes, Deuce is good, but he is also aging.

Do I want to win the Gold Cup? YES! Is this the A squad, no.

Exactly...I think once you add in Pulisic, Wood, Cameron, Johnson, etc. (in their natural positions!) this team will get much better very quickly. I will say this though, I think Arriola has shown a lot this tournament and would be happy to see him on rosters moving forward.

Yup. This squad is missing its best player(Pulisic), their starting backline(Yedlin, Johnson, Brooks and Cameron), and arguably their best number 9 in Wood.

I like Arriola as well. He would be a great little spark plug coming off the bench with the full squad.

I think all this tournament really demonstrated for the US is that we still do not have a lot of depth behind our usual top group. There are a few players who showed well enough in this tournament to be considered for a potential Russian World Cup Squad, but we also saw a lot of players who showed they are not ready.

The concern is that this is Dempsey and Howard's last World Cup Cycle in All Likelihood, Bradley and Altidore are no Spring Chickens. We're going to have to find replacements for those guys sooner rather than later.

(07-24-2017 10:50 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 10:29 AM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 10:01 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 09:44 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(07-22-2017 11:10 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  This team is back to winning ugly again. It's like we've turned the clock back in how the team plays.

What do you expect when you throw an MLS side out there? We don't have any of our regular European based players this tournament. Yes, Deuce is good, but he is also aging.

Do I want to win the Gold Cup? YES! Is this the A squad, no.

Exactly...I think once you add in Pulisic, Wood, Cameron, Johnson, etc. (in their natural positions!) this team will get much better very quickly. I will say this though, I think Arriola has shown a lot this tournament and would be happy to see him on rosters moving forward.

Yup. This squad is missing its best player(Pulisic), their starting backline(Yedlin, Johnson, Brooks and Cameron), and arguably their best number 9 in Wood.

I like Arriola as well. He would be a great little spark plug coming off the bench with the full squad.

I think all this tournament really demonstrated for the US is that we still do not have a lot of depth behind our usual top group. There are a few players who showed well enough in this tournament to be considered for a potential Russian World Cup Squad, but we also saw a lot of players who showed they are not ready.

The concern is that this is Dempsey and Howard's last World Cup Cycle in All Likelihood, Bradley and Altidore are no Spring Chickens. We're going to have to find replacements for those guys sooner rather than later.

We aren't deep thats for sure.

(07-24-2017 10:50 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 10:29 AM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 10:01 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 09:44 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  

(07-22-2017 11:10 PM)oliveandblue Wrote:  This team is back to winning ugly again. It's like we've turned the clock back in how the team plays.

What do you expect when you throw an MLS side out there? We don't have any of our regular European based players this tournament. Yes, Deuce is good, but he is also aging.

Do I want to win the Gold Cup? YES! Is this the A squad, no.

Exactly...I think once you add in Pulisic, Wood, Cameron, Johnson, etc. (in their natural positions!) this team will get much better very quickly. I will say this though, I think Arriola has shown a lot this tournament and would be happy to see him on rosters moving forward.

Yup. This squad is missing its best player(Pulisic), their starting backline(Yedlin, Johnson, Brooks and Cameron), and arguably their best number 9 in Wood.

I like Arriola as well. He would be a great little spark plug coming off the bench with the full squad.

I think all this tournament really demonstrated for the US is that we still do not have a lot of depth behind our usual top group. There are a few players who showed well enough in this tournament to be considered for a potential Russian World Cup Squad, but we also saw a lot of players who showed they are not ready.

The concern is that this is Dempsey and Howard's last World Cup Cycle in All Likelihood, Bradley and Altidore are no Spring Chickens. We're going to have to find replacements for those guys sooner rather than later.

I think we already have direct replacements for all four of those guys in all likelihood. In his current place, I think Pulisic could come in and actually be better than Dempsey right now...Wood is Altidore with a bit better touch and an astronomically higher work rate, Howard/Guzan/Johnson/Gonzalez/Horvath are all interchangeable, and Acosta will be replacement level for Bradley by the next cycle. The issue comes in our wings and central defense IMO. Outside of Brooks, we've got no solid central defender options under the age of 29...Hedges is a writeoff to me, Zimmerman hasn't showed out enough, and CCV is still too green (and not getting loan opportunities from what I can see). We're hoping on Miazga making the jump, but he looked lost at times against friggin El Salvador.

(07-24-2017 11:01 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 10:50 AM)chiefsfan Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 10:29 AM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 10:01 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(07-24-2017 09:44 AM)GrayBeard Wrote:  What do you expect when you throw an MLS side out there? We don't have any of our regular European based players this tournament. Yes, Deuce is good, but he is also aging.

Do I want to win the Gold Cup? YES! Is this the A squad, no.

Exactly...I think once you add in Pulisic, Wood, Cameron, Johnson, etc. (in their natural positions!) this team will get much better very quickly. I will say this though, I think Arriola has shown a lot this tournament and would be happy to see him on rosters moving forward.

Yup. This squad is missing its best player(Pulisic), their starting backline(Yedlin, Johnson, Brooks and Cameron), and arguably their best number 9 in Wood.

I like Arriola as well. He would be a great little spark plug coming off the bench with the full squad.

I think all this tournament really demonstrated for the US is that we still do not have a lot of depth behind our usual top group. There are a few players who showed well enough in this tournament to be considered for a potential Russian World Cup Squad, but we also saw a lot of players who showed they are not ready.

The concern is that this is Dempsey and Howard's last World Cup Cycle in All Likelihood, Bradley and Altidore are no Spring Chickens. We're going to have to find replacements for those guys sooner rather than later.

I think we already have direct replacements for all four of those guys in all likelihood. In his current place, I think Pulisic could come in and actually be better than Dempsey right now...Wood is Altidore with a bit better touch and an astronomically higher work rate, Howard/Guzan/Johnson/Gonzalez/Horvath are all interchangeable, and Acosta will be replacement level for Bradley by the next cycle. The issue comes in our wings and central defense IMO. Outside of Brooks, we've got no solid central defender options under the age of 29...Hedges is a writeoff to me, Zimmerman hasn't showed out enough, and CCV is still too green (and not getting loan opportunities from what I can see). We're hoping on Miazga making the jump, but he looked lost at times against friggin El Salvador.

I wouldnt be shocked to see CCV go out on loan after his performance against PSG. He was just awful in what was really an audition to see if he could be the 4th CB this year. Cavani roasted him over and over and over.

(07-24-2017 12:30 PM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  I wouldnt be shocked to see CCV go out on loan after his performance against PSG. He was just awful in what was really an audition to see if he could be the 4th CB this year. Cavani roasted him over and over and over.

Yeah, and I honestly don't see him being up to INTL level soon anyways. Also, news broke today that '18 WC is likely to be Fabian Johnson's swan song with the USMNT, so add LB to the pile of things we need and have no future prospects in