I'm admittedly not knowledgeable about soccer and never watch it except for the World Cup. I first got into it 8 years ago when it was in Korea or whatever and I started watching matches at like 4am every night during the summer.

Anyway, USA is in Pool C with England, Algeria, and Slovenia. I'd expect that England will make it out without any problems but will the USA be able to top Algeria and Slovenia?

And if you're going to post in this thread and just rip soccer, don't. I'm not a huge soccer fan but want to get some insight and information. Thanks.

Based on what I know of soccer USA will make it out. But I am like you, I only really watch USA national team in the World Cup and the Olympics and I did watch some of the MLS Cup.

The US team is getting better. the English team is beatable. The US should move on. They have some strong young talent

(12-08-2009 04:22 PM)klake87 Wrote:  The US team is getting better. the English team is beatable. The US should move on. They have some strong young talent

I dont think England really is beatable.

It's really when looking further ahead at the other pools seeing who we would face if we would advance. All I know is I would love to see a US vs Ghana rematch. We need to put them back in their place and get revenge from the last world cup.

USA! USA! USA!

North Korea made one of the draws, and is supposed to have a pretty decent team. Maybe they'll have to play the USA in a game. I'd watch that game for sure, it could have huge political overtures, especially should the North Koreans win.

England is overrated. The USA team has some youngsters that are stepping up but one of them was in a serious car accident. USAs team speed will give most teams fits.

(12-08-2009 07:51 PM)klake87 Wrote:  England is overrated. The USA team has some youngsters that are stepping up but one of them was in a serious car accident. USAs team speed will give most teams fits.

I don't think so in this case. England has experience, depth, and talent that the US cannot come close to matching. That doesn't mean in one match they can't get a result (a draw would be terrific), but England is, far and away, the best team in the group. England made the US look pedestrian at Wembley a year and a half ago and had no trouble in a 2-0 win. They've played immensely better under Capello; Eriksson and McClaren were bums.

If I had to pick one of the other two teams in the group, I'd be much more concerned with Slovenia. They conceded only 4 goals in their qualifying group and a lot of those Eastern European nations are better than people think. They're well organized and make it really tough to beat them. Novakovic is a terrific striker and has an outstanding goalscoring record, both internationally and at the club level in Germany.

Algeria is the weakest in the group and I think they'd do well to grab a draw against somebody. They're probably not as good as Egypt (who they eliminated in their qualifying group) and we saw what the US did to Egypt at the Confed Cup.

The truth is, though, that the US doesn't have enough talent yet to take anything for granted; the England match is going to be tough and they can't afford to play poorly against Slovenia or they're going to get beat.

All of that said, it's about as good a draw as anybody could have asked for, and the knockout stage opponent (likely Germany assuming a 2nd-place group finish for the US) isn't overwhelming.

England only lost 1 game in qualifying and that was with their B squad. Slovenia beat a more talented Russian side in the playoff to get in.

It's going to be awfully tough to compete with Davies out and most likely Gooch, as well. We can score a bit, still, but the back four is still pretty fluid. There are an awful lot of questions about this team only six months out from the first match. I think we can finish 2nd in the group, but a draw against England would make that a lot easier.

(12-11-2009 10:46 AM)cawoo22 Wrote:  It's going to be awfully tough to compete with Davies out and most likely Gooch, as well. We can score a bit, still, but the back four is still pretty fluid. There are an awful lot of questions about this team only six months out from the first match. I think we can finish 2nd in the group, but a draw against England would make that a lot easier.

Davies was just stepping it up before the car accident. Tim Howard is one of the best goalies (see his header goal). Defense is the key

(12-11-2009 11:24 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(12-11-2009 10:46 AM)cawoo22 Wrote:  It's going to be awfully tough to compete with Davies out and most likely Gooch, as well. We can score a bit, still, but the back four is still pretty fluid. There are an awful lot of questions about this team only six months out from the first match. I think we can finish 2nd in the group, but a draw against England would make that a lot easier.

Davies was just stepping it up before the car accident. Tim Howard is one of the best goalies (see his header goal). Defense is the key

Really, Howard is the only guy that other sides would poach from us if they had the chance. I suppose Donovan is in that class, but no one over there believes in him since he's flamed out the two times he played in Europe. He's in talks to join Howard at Everton. Hopefully, he plays well and gets the respect he deserves.

(12-14-2009 09:46 AM)cawoo22 Wrote:  

(12-11-2009 11:24 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(12-11-2009 10:46 AM)cawoo22 Wrote:  It's going to be awfully tough to compete with Davies out and most likely Gooch, as well. We can score a bit, still, but the back four is still pretty fluid. There are an awful lot of questions about this team only six months out from the first match. I think we can finish 2nd in the group, but a draw against England would make that a lot easier.

Davies was just stepping it up before the car accident. Tim Howard is one of the best goalies (see his header goal). Defense is the key

Really, Howard is the only guy that other sides would poach from us if they had the chance. I suppose Donovan is in that class, but no one over there believes in him since he's flamed out the two times he played in Europe. He's in talks to join Howard at Everton. Hopefully, he plays well and gets the respect he deserves.

I never said Howard was the only player to be poached. I just said he is one of the best goalies and that makes a huge difference. England's goalie is not that good per the various only analysis. Donovan is a very good player. I feel that the reason more American's don't go to Europe is that Europe wants the players early. My son has an opportunity to join a club in Croatia. He is 16 and would have to go to school there. This is a much different way of life than in the U.S. At 13/14, they bring players in and learn their system. Jonathan Spector comes to mind but very few U.S. players go overseas.

(12-14-2009 09:57 AM)klake87 Wrote:  I never said Howard was the only player to be poached. I just said he is one of the best goalies and that makes a huge difference. England's goalie is not that good per the various only analysis. Donovan is a very good player. I feel that the reason more American's don't go to Europe is that Europe wants the players early. My son has an opportunity to join a club in Croatia. He is 16 and would have to go to school there. This is a much different way of life than in the U.S. At 13/14, they bring players in and learn their system. Jonathan Spector comes to mind but very few U.S. players go overseas.

I think he was just pointing out that the only player the Euro teams would consider good enough for Euro play on the US team is Howard.

Good point regarding US players being recruited to play in Europe. I knew a kid who went overseas to play but he waited until he graduated high school. Pretty sure they were on him from the time he was 15 or so but he waited and still got an offer after HS.

(12-14-2009 10:08 AM)armour248 Wrote:  

(12-14-2009 09:57 AM)klake87 Wrote:  I never said Howard was the only player to be poached. I just said he is one of the best goalies and that makes a huge difference. England's goalie is not that good per the various only analysis. Donovan is a very good player. I feel that the reason more American's don't go to Europe is that Europe wants the players early. My son has an opportunity to join a club in Croatia. He is 16 and would have to go to school there. This is a much different way of life than in the U.S. At 13/14, they bring players in and learn their system. Jonathan Spector comes to mind but very few U.S. players go overseas.

I think he was just pointing out that the only player the Euro teams would consider good enough for Euro play on the US team is Howard.

Good point regarding US players being recruited to play in Europe. I knew a kid who went overseas to play but he waited until he graduated high school. Pretty sure they were on him from the time he was 15 or so but he waited and still got an offer after HS.

I had a long conversation with the Assistant Coach for the Kansas City Wizards. He played in Europe and came here at a young age and played professionally here. He has been head coach and president of an Indoor team for years plus a few years coaching in the MLS.

He said that when kids hit 14ish or so, if they want to play professionally, they need to think about going to Europe to develop. Soccer in the U.S. is not as intense. There is very little development when the kids play high school. The MLS is starting a development program. The benefit to them is they get the rights to the players without going thru the draft. If you are part of the Fire Academy, you can be signed directly to the Fire. It is still in the infant stages but is definitely in the right direction.

It is hard to send your child half way around the world on his/her own.

(12-14-2009 10:40 AM)klake87 Wrote:  

(12-14-2009 10:08 AM)armour248 Wrote:  

(12-14-2009 09:57 AM)klake87 Wrote:  I never said Howard was the only player to be poached. I just said he is one of the best goalies and that makes a huge difference. England's goalie is not that good per the various only analysis. Donovan is a very good player. I feel that the reason more American's don't go to Europe is that Europe wants the players early. My son has an opportunity to join a club in Croatia. He is 16 and would have to go to school there. This is a much different way of life than in the U.S. At 13/14, they bring players in and learn their system. Jonathan Spector comes to mind but very few U.S. players go overseas.

I think he was just pointing out that the only player the Euro teams would consider good enough for Euro play on the US team is Howard.

Good point regarding US players being recruited to play in Europe. I knew a kid who went overseas to play but he waited until he graduated high school. Pretty sure they were on him from the time he was 15 or so but he waited and still got an offer after HS.

I had a long conversation with the Assistant Coach for the Kansas City Wizards. He played in Europe and came here at a young age and played professionally here. He has been head coach and president of an Indoor team for years plus a few years coaching in the MLS.

He said that when kids hit 14ish or so, if they want to play professionally, they need to think about going to Europe to develop. Soccer in the U.S. is not as intense. There is very little development when the kids play high school. The MLS is starting a development program. The benefit to them is they get the rights to the players without going thru the draft. If you are part of the Fire Academy, you can be signed directly to the Fire. It is still in the infant stages but is definitely in the right direction.

It is hard to send your child half way around the world on his/her own.

Yeah, I don't think I'd be able to do that. Sending a son to play Canadian Junior in hockey is a culture shock, but it's still only a few hours away. Europe is like a whole other country Luckily for me, my daughter is the soccer player and the development for that is just fine in this country. I agree with you regarding the boys.

Also, what Armour said regarding Tim Howard.