The [Horribly Unpopular] Soccer Thread

[Reno_eNVy]

WOO!!! 2-0

Altidore cross to Clint Dempsey to put it away in the back post. Gorgeous.

 

[MattyIceGfunk]

Usa usa!!!

 

[Reno_eNVy]

What a match. USMNT looking fantastic. I hope sooo much it's Yanks vs El Tri in the final!

 

[Pappers_]

I agree with Chris Sullivan, the Panama game is going to be tougher for the USMNT than Canada was - did you see the highlights from the Jamaica game? 5 goals!

 

[dwarven_stout]

What a match. USMNT looking fantastic. I hope sooo much it's Yanks vs El Tri in the final!

I'm gonna say that I hope someone puts away Mexico before we make it to the finals. Chicha is not a guy I want to see going up against our rickety D-line.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

I'm gonna say that I hope someone puts away Mexico before we make it to the finals. Chicha is not a guy I want to see going up against our rickety D-line.

You know I was actually quite happy with the performance of the backs. It's weird not seeing The Gooch in there but they really stepped up. Tim Ream looks more comfortable.

OH, and how about that midfield? Pass after pass after pass after pass after pass.......... you get my point. Possession was key and it looked like Canada was saying, "Can we please have our ball back, Mister?" That and I feel like Jozy and Juan are starting to feel more comfortable together and can do more with feeds from our (IMHO) excellent midfield.


EDIT: Also forgot, MOTHER F***ING CHERUNDALO! Dude was all over the place. He must have made 7 or 8 crosses into the box after a long run up the line. And lemme tell you abut his off-balls runs: overlapping, give and goes, setting up triangles.... he looked great.

 

[dwarven_stout]

I'm gonna say that I hope someone puts away Mexico before we make it to the finals. Chicha is not a guy I want to see going up against our rickety D-line.

I'm just gonna go ahead and sadly quote myself here.

 

[Pappers_]

^^^ then I'll quote myself, too I'm with you, after not being able to create credible scoring threats against Panama for most of the game, I would be concerned about facing Mexico, because they will score on the USA, I'm afraid.

I agree with Chris Sullivan, the Panama game is going to be tougher for the USMNT than Canada was - did you see the highlights from the Jamaica game? 5 goals!

 

[Pappers_]

Also, my son worked the two games at Soldier Field in Chicago yesterday (Cuba v. El Salvador, Mexico v. Costa Rica). He helped with media relations and spent most of the games on the sidelines, making sure the still photographers stayed in their area and had what they needed. He had a great time.

 

[Foosinho]

 

[Reno_eNVy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsnQxdPhskI

HASSLI! So much win!

Seriously, the Cascadia Cup has been pretty interesting. That's definitely up for Goal of the Year.


In Gold Cup related business, tomorrow the Yanks play Guadalupe... they have to win to move on to the quarter-finals. I'm confident our squad can handle Les Gwada Boys, there's so much talent in every position (especially now that Altidore and Agudelo have been clicking and working well together.)

Also, I'd still love for Sam's Army or The American Outlaws to designate a minute (maybe 87' or 88') to sing "America the Beautiful." If it's sung at the slow pace it's meant to be sung at it would sound reeeeaaally nice in a stadium, especially at the crescendo where it gets super loud at "A-MEEE-RI-CA, A-MEEE-RI-CA."





Epic-tastic


EDIT: I can't really tell how drunk I'm appearing to be, because, well... I'm drunk

If you live in Nevada, Northern California (especially the Sierras) or Southern Idaho and have access to any Ruby Mountain Brewing Company beers, you must get some Angel Creek Amber Ale. One of my favorite beers ever and in my opinion the spot-on example of an American Amber Ale. It's right up there with Great Basin Brewery's Ichthyosaurus IPA (lovingly known as Icky IPA... "It's Not Yucky, It's Icky!") It's amazing. Suck it, everybody who doesn't live in Northern Nevada

 

[DregAddict]

The team better bring it tomorrow against Guadalupe and get back on track. I want nothing less than a 3-0 victory. And that probably won't be satisfying.

@Reno:

You're making that Ruby Mountain Beer sound pretty good. Unfortunately we don't get them down here in LV. Maybe there is a reason to travel up north after all....

 

[dwarven_stout]

If you live in Nevada, Northern California (especially the Sierras) or Southern Idaho and have access to any Ruby Mountain Brewing Company beers, you must get some Angel Creek Amber Ale.

I'll ask around about it... I'm pretty sure I haven't seen it in the Boise market, and our local beer guy is pretty good at getting what he can.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

@Reno:

You're making that Ruby Mountain Beer sound pretty good. Unfortunately we don't get them down here in LV. Maybe there is a reason to travel up north after all....

Aw that's a bummer. I can get it at the Raley's 5 minutes from my house, as well as on draft at SWMBO's restaurant.

To both you, Dreg, and dwarven_stout:
If you know of stores that regularly get out of market and small-town beers ask them to start getting Angel Creek. It's out of an area near Elko called Clover Valley, Nevada, 89845 (reading off the label of the beer I'm drinking right now )

Otherwise, get your arses up to Reno and hit up Wild River Grille and ask for a pint of Angel Creek. That place is definitely the best restaurant in the downtown area, plus it's got a gorgeous view as it's right on the Truckee River.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

YAY!!! Yanks play tomorrow against Jamaica. I just hope Donovan and Dempsey will be back from their siblings' weddings in time.


On a side note, I found an awesome derp-face from El Tri. So here's a fun new game: Capture the Soccer Image!

Zombie Chicharito: "Braaaaaains!....... Also, nice shot."

 

[DregAddict]

So it's been a crazy week for the USMNT. Donovan off the bench for 2 straight games, a Freddy Adu apprearance(aside from some indecisiveness I think he played well and added a good spark off the bench), and some better defensive performances. I'm really revved up for the final on Saturday. Mexico hasn't looked as strong in the knockout rounds as they did in the group stage. I would still have to admit that Mexico should be considered favorites in the final. Overall they possess much more dynamic players and will most likely have the edge on possession and generate a few more chances than the US. But, if the US can remain organized on D and aggressive on O I think this will be a very good game that they are more than capable of winning.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Yeah it's going to be nuts on Saturday.

But speaking of nuts, how 'bout that Adu pass?! I didn't think he still had it in him!

 

[dwarven_stout]

Yeah it's going to be nuts on Saturday.

But speaking of nuts, how 'bout that Adu pass?! I didn't think he still had it in him!

But the real question is: was Landy shooting or passing?

And speaking of Adu and passes- someone needs to tell Bradley jr. that it's ok to actually take a shot once in a while.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

But the real question is: was Landy shooting or passing?

And speaking of Adu and passes- someone needs to tell Bradley jr. that it's ok to actually take a shot once in a while.

To the Bradley comment, it may not look great immediately but that puts the "Hey, I'm a serious team player!" in Bob's head.

As for Landy Cakes, I'm pretty dang sure that was a pass. It was moving at a 90-92* angle from LD and he struck it with the inside of his boot. I'd say pass

 

[dwarven_stout]

To the Bradley comment, it may not look great immediately but that puts the "Hey, I'm a serious team player!" in Bob's head.

As for Landy Cakes, I'm pretty dang sure that was a pass. It was moving at a 90-92* angle from LD and he struck it with the inside of his boot. I'd say pass

Agreed on it being a pass, but my buddy was likewise convinced it was a wide shot that Deuce happened to have his classic positioning to pick up.

The serious team player takes that shot that Bradley didn't take, though. In the WC I faulted him a couple times from shooting darned near the touchline rather than dropping it off for LD and Dempsey running in, but this was the opposite- Adu dropped that ball in and he had the goalie as out of position as he could have, but drops it off instead. I dunno. I think the guy is ok, but I can hardly wait till we have Holden back to run some of that attack.

 

[CNote2]

The serious team player takes that shot that Bradley didn't take, though. In the WC I faulted him a couple times from shooting darned near the touchline rather than dropping it off for LD and Dempsey running in, but this was the opposite- Adu dropped that ball in and he had the goalie as out of position as he could have, but drops it off instead. I dunno. I think the guy is ok, but I can hardly wait till we have Holden back to run some of that attack.

Agreed... he's got to take that shot. He's got the ability to put enough pace on the shot that, as long as the shot is on net, it's either going in or, with the keeper being out of position, is at best giving up a rebound shot from right in front of the net.

Saturday's game will be good. It'll be interesting to see how we come out at the beginning of the game. If the US is aggressive and connect on their passes, they should be able to create some good scoring opportunities (Honduras showed on Wednesday that a couple of good passes can break down the Mexican D... they just couldn't convert...).

 

[McGarnigle]

Anybody watching LA vs. San Jose? Three keepers in one half for the Galaxy. Alas, a dull game.

 

[dwarven_stout]

Hey, Bradley took that shot!

 

[dwarven_stout]

Holy sh!t. This is not at all what I was expecting.

Edit: ok, ok... this is more what I was expecting.

Edit 2: That game was over as soon as Bornstein came on for Cherundolo.

 

[Foosinho]

I only got to see the last 20 minutes (work), but that goal by Dos Santos in the 76th... WOW.

God, I hate those bastards. Maybe even more than I hate the University of M*ch*g*n. The red hot passion of a 1000 suns.

 

[kaiser423]

God, I hate those bastards. Maybe even more than I hate the University of M*ch*g*n. The red hot passion of a 1000 suns.

+1.

So much frustration in the second half.

Don't worry, the US looked much better in the first half. That last 20 was horrid.

 

[DregAddict]

So disappointing....almost like a deja vu of the collapse against brazil in the confederations cup final. And I couldn't agree more that bornstein coming on was the nail in the coffin for the US. Where was Spector? How can a guy that can't get any time for Tigres play over a guy that is a borderline starter for West Ham? And how funny do you think the Mexicans thought it was when a substitute that can't touch the field in their domestic league came on for us? Each goal either came directly from him getting beat, or developed from his side because he couldn't force the ball the proper direction and diffuse the attack. Where you at now Reno? Still gonna back your boy?

Aside from that, Mexico did look good and deserves a lot of credit. That Dos Santos goal was nasty stuff.

Honestly the only positive I take from the game for the US is that Freddy Adu played well and showed some of the stuff that was originally expected of him. How he can't find a decent club to get time with is beyond me, but I hope he does well in the next couple years and regains some of his previous swagger.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

This was a very frustrating match.... well, no. The first 30 minutes was elating!

I was disappointed but I didn't cry like I did after the Ghana World Cup match. Yes, I'll admit it.... I wept for my nation.

 

[Ace_Club]

Very frustrating match. Bornstein sucked and Adu played very well, showing a lot of skill on the ball.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Yeah, I was pretty bummed when Bob took Cherundalo out seeing has he has been spectacular this tournament.... looked like he was limping after a set piece. But then I was stoked that Bradley was sending out the Jew-Love with Bornstein.

.... but then he has to go a look terrible *sigh.*

And yes, mother-effin Adu! I nearly **** a brick when he got the call-up since he dropped off the radar a loooong time ago. But after he subbed in against Panama he's be great! It's also very weird to talk about him like this... it's almost like I was talking about a 35 year old who got the call-up for the first time in a decade. But I guess that's what happens when you burst into the MLS Scene at the ripe age of 14.