The [Horribly Unpopular] Soccer Thread

[HoppyDaze]

Just watched the Timbers blow a two goal second half lead for about the tenth time the last two seasons. I really don't understand why they give up so many late goals. They had three shots bounce off the post in the first four minutes of play. Turns out those were big. Different goal keep I noticed, not sure why. He gave up one bad goal.

See I watcher soccer

 

[Punity]

Just watched the Timbers blow a two goal second half lead for about the tenth time the last two seasons. I really don't understand why they give up so many late goals. They had three shots bounce off the post in the first four minutes of play. Turns out those were big. Different goal keep I noticed, not sure why. He gave up one bad goal.

See I watcher soccer

Youth Soccer> Timbers

 

[HoppyDaze]

Youth Soccer> Timbers

Where's that put the Sounders then?

 

[Punity]

Where's that put the Sounders then?

Hmmmmm better.........yes better

 

[Punity]

Its nice to see the Sounders finally playing as a team. I knew the early year would be rough with the new additions and some injuries but seems like they are pulling it together.

 

[aygov]

Hahahaha Mexico!

 

[sfrisby]

Lets get it on!

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Jozy jozy jozy!!!!

 

[sfrisby]

Yes!!!!

 

[Reno_eNVy]

The Yanks look excellent thus far. American Outlaws sound great... but clearly mostly Emerald City Supporters. I especially love the "ref, die of cancer" chant after the Geoff Cameron yellow card.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Jozy gets MOTM for me. Dempsey though not a scoring threat today has had some really nice chances he's created or taken. On a better day he'd have a goal.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Gonzalez has to be better. I know it's probably jitters and he has potential, but he's not holding the line well at all and it seems like most goals that have come against us lately have been on him.

 

[Grannyknot]

I wonder if Gonzalez would be better if paired with an experienced international like Bocanegra?
I really like Geoff Cameron at defensive mid, & hope we never have to play him on the back line again.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Cameron was surprisingly good. I expected more distribution mistakes from him but he wound up making few. And he provided a very good energy. Gonna make selection interesting as he proved to be almost on the level of Jones and Bradley. He could push them.

ANd we really can't put Bocanegra back there. He can start in the 3rd division of Spanish soccer, he's not in form or probably even fit. Hopefully he gets there but having him there just for leadership will lead to many mistakes. Plus Besler's been arguably our best CB in qualifying. Gonzalez just needs to work with the lines more. He's done well, he just needs to get better, the almost goal yesterday is what cannot happen, he cannot be yards deeper than the other defender.

 

[BrewKnurd]

Cameron was surprisingly good. I expected more distribution mistakes from him but he wound up making few. And he provided a very good energy. Gonna make selection interesting as he proved to be almost on the level of Jones and Bradley. He could push them.

For me, saying he's almost on the level of Bradley is a real stretch. Bradley is an absolute boss off the midfield.

The thing I quite like about Cameron/Bradley as a pairing vs Jones/Bradley is that I feel Cameron allows Bradley to be his most dangerous. With Jones, Bradley had to do more defending. Cameron allows Bradley more freedom.

 

[Grannyknot]

For me, saying he's almost on the level of Bradley is a real stretch. Bradley is an absolute boss off the midfield.

The thing I quite like about Cameron/Bradley as a pairing vs Jones/Bradley is that I feel Cameron allows Bradley to be his most dangerous. With Jones, Bradley had to do more defending. Cameron allows Bradley more freedom.

I agree. With Cameron, Bradley can be a box to box mid.

Sorry Hoppy Hippo, but I am going to have to disagree. I think at least one of the center backs needs to be experienced. Too often, one of the 2 of them has kept a player onsides while the rest of the line moves up. I've also seen them look at each other in confusion as if to say, who's man was that. I am bias, because I'm a big fan of Bocanegra, but I don't think playing in the 2nd division in Spain affects his ability to get fit again and regain form. We'll see how he does in the Gold Cup, if he plays.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

For me, saying he's almost on the level of Bradley is a real stretch. Bradley is an absolute boss off the midfield.

The thing I quite like about Cameron/Bradley as a pairing vs Jones/Bradley is that I feel Cameron allows Bradley to be his most dangerous. With Jones, Bradley had to do more defending. Cameron allows Bradley more freedom.

Well he's not quite there. As I said, he certainly played on a high level.

Part of what draws Jones is that he's dangerous in distribution. He's had many passes that have lead to goals. Maybe he and Bradley aren't a perfect pair, but they worked well together in their pairings so far. Cameron was playing up as well.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I agree. With Cameron, Bradley can be a box to box mid.

Sorry Hoppy Hippo, but I am going to have to disagree. I think at least one of the center backs needs to be experienced. Too often, one of the 2 of them has kept a player onsides while the rest of the line moves up. I've also seen them look at each other in confusion as if to say, who's man was that. I am bias, because I'm a big fan of Bocanegra, but I don't think playing in the 2nd division in Spain affects his ability to get fit again and regain form. We'll see how he does in the Gold Cup, if he plays.

Problem is that for most of the year Bocanegra wasn't playing in the second division, he was on the bench. I hope Boca is back, but I don't know if it's Gonzalez I'd keep in the lineup. Besler JMO has been the most impressive CB. He seems to have the qualities we need back there.

Also we need Cherundolo back. And Chandler. Our Fullbacks have done well but I dont' think they're making the CBs jobs any easier.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I've been running some simulations, and it seems like if we win our next game against Honduras, we'll be at a minimum 5 points clear of 4th. Which would mean we'd have 4 more games, and I believe the magic number for us to get a 3rd seed would be 6 more points. That scenario would have Mexico or Costa Rica in the 4th spot, and they have to play each other, so that means the most point potential for the 4th place teams is 10 more points.

So basically while there are plenty of other scenarios, seems like we have 3 out of 5 more games to win to clinch WC. Seems very doable. Have to beat Honduras though, as if we do we'll likely be 6 points up at that point with Honduras having to go to Azteca (meaning a virtual guarantee of getting no more than 1 point)

 

[hatedheretic]

as long as Jozy keeps it up, i'll take all my cursings of him away..

 

[Grannyknot]

I've been trying to get tickets to a USMNT game this summer or early fall.
Good grief they are expensive (if available at all). You would think it was a Zeppelin reunion concert.

 

[toast26]

Have any of you guys looked into joining a supporters group? I am a member of the American Outlaws, and if you are looking for tix, that's a good way to go. Heading to Columbus in Sept for US v Mexico.

Just stumbled across thus thread. Hope there's room for another soccer nerd here...

 

[Grannyknot]

Have any of you guys looked into joining a supporters group? I am a member of the American Outlaws, and if you are looking for tix, that's a good way to go. Heading to Columbus in Sept for US v Mexico.

Just stumbled across thus thread. Hope there's room for another soccer nerd here...

I'd love to join an AO chapter, but there isn't one in Knoxville, and the one time someone tried to form one, they couldn't meet the 25 member requirement or find a bar that would commit to showing every US game with sound.

Just curious, how did AO already get tickets for Columbus? I thought that Crew season ticket holders get first choice, and as far as I know, they haven't even opened up the ticket sales to them. From what I understand, these tickets are going to be very hard to come by for the average fan, barring an excessive amount of cash. This is actually the game I was looking into, since its relatively close to my city.

 

[user 107007]

Just stumbled across thus thread. Hope there's room for another soccer nerd here...

Always room for more :rockin:

 

[toast26]

I believe AO gets a block of tix set aside from US Soccer. They haven't been released yet, but I will post something here when I hear something. We didn't have any issue getting tix for the Sept 11 game v Jamaica last fall, and those were not thru AO. Granted, this is the Hex v Mexico, so maybe demand is higher.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Have any of you guys looked into joining a supporters group? I am a member of the American Outlaws, and if you are looking for tix, that's a good way to go. Heading to Columbus in Sept for US v Mexico.

Just stumbled across thus thread. Hope there's room for another soccer nerd here...

I used to be an AO member, but I stopped it for monitary reasons. Will probably join up next year.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

No AO chapter in Reno... just Vegas......... boo

EDIT: That's "boo" for no chapter in Reno, as well as "boo" for Vegas.

 

[danielofthedale]

Add one more soccer nerd to the thread!

Grannyknot, you might want to try joining our AO Chapter in Atlanta. I think we have several members from Alabama and Tennessee who use us since we are the closes chapter to get member benefits.

Can't wait for the Mexico game! Would love to meet up with some fellow soccer and homebrew enthusiasts up there!

 

[mrgstiffler]

Speaking of the USMNT... anyone going to the game at Jeld-Wen?

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Well I was planning on it but I've been sent to Elko, NV for work until roughly March =/

EDIT: My signature hasn't changed in three months. So much beer just sitting....