Everything Soccer

[notredomer23]

Clearly he isn't a lock at all since he was cut.

I lurk on a board of fairly knowledgable soccer fans (bigsoccer for those interested) and most there had him as a lock.

Here is the thread for reference.

I woulda brought Donovan strictly for leadership

 

[Cackalacky]

I lurk on a board of fairly knowledgable soccer fans (bigsoccer for those interested) and most there had him as a lock.

Here is the thread for reference.

I woulda brought Donovan strictly for leadership

Me too. His experience alone is worthy of a spot. I guess some divides are too far to cross

 

[RuntheBall]

Not surprised much. Landon was not going to start, his fitness has been lacking, and IMO never gel - ed with the guys who are starting. I think Zusi is a much better option and we have some other intriguing ones (Green, sliding Aron back etc. ). What I was surprised by is the inclusion of Mix and Beckerman. Seems like we have a ton of CDM types. Both are deserving players though. Not really a surprise with Wondo. Brooks was a bit surprising as well. Didn't think he would make it, though with our back line...

 

[ACamp1900]

In bigger news Lennon is done at Celtic...

Heartbreaking... I really thought he'd stay for years...

Henrik Larsson is considered a front runner... and would be interesting, didn't even know he was coaching... What the hell happened to Bobo Balde?? He obviously didn't go into coaching/managing... should have though, guy was a great field general with Lennon in the old days... would have be amazing to see Lennon pass the torch to Bobo.

Major bummer overall though.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Bummed about Landon. I would have taken him for his WC poise/balls. A if we get knocked out in the first round, you can bet people will be pointing directly to his exclusion as a big reason why.

And man, I was way off on Timmy Chandler. He refused to play for the US and hasn't been a part of the team in over a year, plus he was hurt for a long stretch and barely started playing again (albeit pretty well). Klinsmann sure does love his German-Americans...

 

[CTIDANDREW]

Was at the golf course all day, had no idea the roster was even announced until a friend sent me a Donovan omission text.

The thing I dislike most about the move, is that it seems Fabian Johnson starting at the LM position is what Jurgen is thinking. This means that Beasley will more than likely start at LB, which scares the hell out of me.

Also, this is a tweet that Jurgen's son sent out

@jonklinsmann HHAHAHAHAHAHAH DONAVAN HAHAHAHAA I DIDNT EVEN NOTICE UNTIL PHONE NOTIFIED ME HAHA

It was soon deleted, and I believe his account was deleted as well. It seems obvious to me that Jurgen and LD do not get along, and I believe that was a major factor in this decision which upsets me. All good things must come to and end though. Thanks for memories LD, you will be missed!

 

[Cackalacky]

Injured Lars Bender ruled out of Germany World Cup squad - ESPN FC

Lars Bender off of the German team due to injury.

This time around, no-one has yet dared to write about the doomsday scenario: a group stage exit. But less than a month ahead of the first game against Portugal, the injury situation is objectively much worse than before previous tournaments. It's not just one or two key players who are affected, either; the fault line runs right through Joachim Loew's proposed first XI.

Keeper Manuel Neuer injured his shoulder and won't join up with the rest of players at their South Tyrol base before the end of the weekend at the earliest. Skipper Philipp Lahm, who was initially supposed to travel to Italy on Wednesday despite an ankle complaint, changed his mind and was allowed to stay at home a little longer. He might come on Friday, but it's not certain.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is there but is trying to shake off tendinitis in one knee and can't play at the moment. His midfield colleague Sami Khedira is with Real Madrid and has to prove his fitness in the Champions League final against Atletico in Lisbon, of all games. And what about striker Miroslav Klose? What shape is the soon-to-be 36-year-old in after missing large chunks of the season at Lazio? Nobody knows.

Injuries, team diaspora threaten Germany early by Raphael Honigstein - ESPN FC

I wonder how all of this shakes out. Seems like lots of little things could be going on in Germany's camp. Of course they have tons of reserve talent and I don't think Klose will play too much anyway.

 

[Cackalacky]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Not much of a surprise at this point but Klinsmann confirms that Cameron will play CB & move impacted decision to cut Goodson. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23USMNT&src=hash">#USMNT</a></p>— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffreyCarlisle/statuses/469880026444627968">May 23, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Klinsmann: "We are very excited about Wondo." <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23usmnt&src=hash">#usmnt</a></p>— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffreyCarlisle/statuses/469876227109830657">May 23, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Also Fabian Johnson. He played RB at Hoffenhiem. RT <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeMaskivish">@JoeMaskivish</a>: a bit of a surprise, so Chandler & Yedlin are battling it out for RB?</p>— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) <a href="https://twitter.com/JeffreyCarlisle/statuses/469919121115987969">May 23, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sounds like Cameron will push Gonzales out at CB. I am very interested to see who plays LM and LB. I have to think Beasley is the clear cut LB now.

 

[Huntr]

Luiz to Bayern for Mandzukic and £15m just about a done deal.

Oh yeah, sure, dumbass. Great call.


ETA: These WC posters freakin rock.

 

[RuntheBall]

Sounds like Cameron will push Gonzales out at CB. I am very interested to see who plays LM and LB. I have to think Beasley is the clear cut LB now.

That's what I am afraid of. Evans may also have a shot there though.

I like Cameron starting. I liked him a bit more in the CDM role, as would like giving him the ability to trek forward a bit more. But Gonzalez has been pretty horrid, so this is good news for me.

Also not sure what the tweet about Fabian is saying; I thought he said he was playing for a backline spot last week some time- that is what I thought anyway (maybe the tweet confirms... I'm just bad at Twitter).

For me:

----------------------Altidore-----------
-----------Dempsey----------------------
-?JustNotSure?-----Bradley-------Zusi---
---------J. Jones------------------------------
-Chandler--Besler--Cameron--F. Johnson-
Howard


If Gonzalez gets in form I think he will start (big IF), with Cameron coming off the bench for some added creativity going forward if we are done in the 65th minute.

I could see a ton of guys starting at my just not sure, which is why I didn't speculate. I could see Julian Green, Bedoya, or Aron Johannson there. I like Aron and Green as late subs, so I guess I would start in Bedoya. Aron bring great intensity from the bench, I'm think he loses a bit of it in the starting XI (Brek Shea-esque).

Also Beasley could easily be in the back line, though I pray he is not.

 

[ACamp1900]

Omar is our best defenseman period... I know he has struggled at times... But that's the truth.

 

[notredomer23]

Omar is our best defenseman period... I know he has struggled at times... But that's the truth.

Strongly disagree. Besler might not have the same exact tool set as Gonzalez, but Besler does way more with what he has and is always in the right spot. Fabian Johnson is also one of our best players right now, not just defensemen. For the 2018 World Cup cycle I think he will be our best player, period.

 

[ACamp1900]

Strongly disagree. Besler might not have the same exact tool set as Gonzalez, but Besler does way more with what he has and is always in the right spot. Fabian Johnson is also one of our best players right now, not just defensemen. For the 2018 World Cup cycle I think he will be our best player, period.

Strongly.... Sure kid.

 

[notredomer23]

Strongly.... Sure kid.

Gonzalez is never in the right position. Skill set. Maybe. Mentally he does not have it.

 

[NDinMich]

That's what I am afraid of. Evans may also have a shot there though.

I like Cameron starting. I liked him a bit more in the CDM role, as would like giving him the ability to trek forward a bit more. But Gonzalez has been pretty horrid, so this is good news for me.

Also not sure what the tweet about Fabian is saying; I thought he said he was playing for a backline spot last week some time- that is what I thought anyway (maybe the tweet confirms... I'm just bad at Twitter).

For me:

----------------------Altidore-----------
-----------Dempsey----------------------
-?JustNotSure?-----Bradley-------Zusi---
---------J. Jones------------------------------
-Chandler--Besler--Cameron--F. Johnson-
Howard


If Gonzalez gets in form I think he will start (big IF), with Cameron coming off the bench for some added creativity going forward if we are done in the 65th minute.

I could see a ton of guys starting at my just not sure, which is why I didn't speculate. I could see Julian Green, Bedoya, or Aron Johannson there. I like Aron and Green as late subs, so I guess I would start in Bedoya. Aron bring great intensity from the bench, I'm think he loses a bit of it in the starting XI (Brek Shea-esque).

Also Beasley could easily be in the back line, though I pray he is not.

Secretary of the Interior, President and left mid?

 

[NDinL.A.]

Strongly disagree. Besler might not have the same exact tool set as Gonzalez, but Besler does way more with what he has and is always in the right spot. Fabian Johnson is also one of our best players right now, not just defensemen. For the 2018 World Cup cycle I think he will be our best player, period.

Fabian Johnson might not even start...there's no way he's one of our best players right now. Bradley is in a different stratosphere than him (I remember you said you weren't very high on him...not sure why), and then you have Howard who is a world-class goalie. Dempsey is back on form. Johansen (sp), Zuzi, Cameron, Besler...there are a lot of players I would ate over Fabian right now, and I'm a fan of his. But there are better players, and right now, he could be a man without a starting position.

 

[notredomer23]

Fabian Johnson might not even start...there's no way he's one of our best players right now. Bradley is in a different stratosphere than him (I remember you said you weren't very high on him...not sure why), and then you have Howard who is a world-class goalie. Dempsey is back on form. Johansen (sp), Zuzi, Cameron, Besler...there are a lot of players I would ate over Fabian right now, and I'm a fan of his. But there are better players, and right now, he could be a man without a starting position.

I would be shocked if Fabian did not start. For one, Jurgen loves him. Second, Whether he plays left or right back, or one of the midfield positions, he gives precision passing in addition to great width at whatever position he plays. And he is only going to get better.

If I was ever not high on Bradley, it was not in the past couple years. To me, he is what makes this team go. In the Bosnia and Herzegovina game where Jozy had the hattrick, it was his passing in the midfield that opened the game up. I am sorta pissed he transferred to Toronto, but understand the desire to come back to the continent.

I stand by putting Fabian Johnson in our top group of players along with Howard, Guzan, Dempsey, Bradley, and Cameron. I believe after that, there is a drop off. Maybe I am just a homer because I have been a huge Fabian Johnson fan since day one, but he starts for one of the better teams in the Bundesliga and is going to start for an even better Bundesliga team next year.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Yeah, I think Johnson will start at LB or RB, depending on what they do with Cameron.

 

[gkIrish]

SERGIO RAMOS

 

[Emcee77]

Unbelievable game. Real was the better team. Great win for them. Wish guys like Sergio Ramos and Ronaldo weren't so douchy. After Ronaldo's PK, Wynalda was like, "he couldn't wait to get that shirt off". Aptly put.

 

[PLACforever]

I just heard that most of the SEC doesn't have men's soccer teams? Wtf

 

[NDinL.A.]

I just heard that most of the SEC doesn't have men's soccer teams? Wtf

They had teams, but SEC fans kept on getting confused because some of the announcers would use the word 'futbol' from time to time, and it was just too much thinking for them. So, they decided to make it easier for the fans and disband most programs.

True story bro.

 

[notredomer23]

Landon killed it last night, setting the MLS goal record...

Just because he was cut doesn't mean Jurgen can't add him and drop someone else because of "injury". Azerbaijan game tomorrow night, and I could totally see Jurgen doing something like that to light a fire under Donovan.

Yeah maybe that's an unlikely conspiracy theory, but it would be a kick ass story if it happened.

 

[notredomer23]

USA vs Azerbaijan tonight...

Jurgen Coming out with a 4-4-2

-----Dempsey-------Altidore--------
Bedoya-------Bradley--------Zusi
------------Jones-------------
Beasley---Cameron---Besler----Fabian Johnson

Not really surprised at all besides Zusi starting.

 

[Cackalacky]

Beasley huh? I was at least hoping to see Chandler and Johnson in the back. Maybe he will be a sub

 

[notredomer23]

Beasley huh? I was at least hoping to see Chandler and Johnson in the back. Maybe he will be a sub

Yeah I had a brain fart I meant Beasley not Zusi. I was expecting Fabian at LB and Chandler at RB. Or anyone at RB pretty much other than FJ.

 

[Cackalacky]

Dempsey is a scratch. Wondo playing well.

 

[ACamp1900]

If you think we have an F'd up country here... read this:

Neil Lennon's persecution shames Scotland | Kevin McKenna | Comment is free | The Observer

then read the comment section... I love my Scottish Heritage but I thank God my family went through their trials to get here… Could you imagine if assaults and bombings were a part of Kobe’s or Jeter’s reality?? Just because they looked different or go to a different church? Makes you glad Donald Sterling is the worst we have it.

 

[Cackalacky]

Bayern Munich playing the MLS all-stars this year. They will field a full strength team. LOL. Great for MLS

 

[notredomer23]

Going to the game against Turkey! Can't wait!