Reflections
by tedski
In retrospect, we should have seen it coming. Bob Bradley’s line-ups made me wonder if he was still “trying out” players for later. Defensive lapses allowed early goals by opponents that, even in the case of England, impressed no one. Should we really be surprised?
There is a positive though.
I liked how engaged the public got in the World Cup, which in turn generated the anti-soccer backlash it always does. The backlash was more shrill than usual, but also more marginalized. This is a big deal: the whining from the anti-soccer folks was drowned out.
Here’s something else to chew on: the name Joe Gaetjens got more mainstream ink than it’s gotten in the last sixty years. Heck, there were even stories about the American Soccer League. There is a recognition that the game is here and has been here, a far cry from the tired “soccer is the next big thing” story that we have seen for the last thirty years.
Will people, and by that I don’t mean people like the crazed Philly Union fan I spent time with on Sunday, start following soccer on a weekly basis? Not for a while, but at least that’s something.
World Cup Thoughts…
by tedski
Yes, my much delayed post. I’ll use the excuse that I wanted to give y’all time to read what Jimmy had to say.
You all buy that, don’t you?
I’ve been enjoying the excuses from English fans over the last couple of days. The biggest is the subtle spin that were it not for Robert Green’s bobble, England would have dispatched the Yanks with no problem. As Mo Udall would have said, “Goomwah.”
Aggregatin’
by tedski
Some of the best reactions to the news that Guisseppi Rossi has been cut from the Italian World Cup Squad:
Hoover_Dam’s Twitter:
So who’s throwing a big ol’ slab of schadenfreude on the braai this evening in honor of Rossi?
Hey, ESPN, you mind featuring Wayne Rooney on your next magazine cover?
And, of course, Dan Loney:
Simon Elliott’s going to the World Cup. Giuseppe Rossi isn’t. I’m glad I lived to see that happen. There is no way this day can go bad. And I’ve just been shot in the stomach and left by the side of the road to die. AND, I’m going to finish this post before calling for help. I might even spell-check, too, for a change. Because when it comes to laughing at Giuseppe Rossi? I want everything to be perfect.
Live Bloggin’
by tedski
FT: USA 2-TUR 1
89′: Torres nearly scores on a free kick. Why isn’t this man starting?
75′: DEUCE! Unassisted. USA 2-TUR 1
74′: Bornstein in, mixed reaction from crowd here.
73′: Stepped into the bathroom and missed a chance from Donovan.
(Read on …)
Your Guide to the US Men’s National Team
by Hoover Dam
This post’s a special case; it’s copypasta an adaptation of an intro to the 2010 US World Cup squad written for a forum I frequent. That’s why some of the material’s going to be familiar if you read this site often, and why I’m too lazy to scale down the images to fit this site’s template. There’s also some swearing and tasteful nudity. So if you feel like reading an image-heavy guide to the USMNT and don’t mind the site body not matching the site header, then let’s crank the tunes and get to work. (Read on …)
WC Roster…Feel Free to Argue About it For the Next Month…
by tedski
For those of you hoping for a touching story about Charlie Davies, forget it, he isn’t on the roster. Neither is Freddy Adu.
The very deserving Herculez Gomez and Edson Buddle are, however:
Bradley Does the Freddy?
by tedski
The release of the squad list for South Africa is imminent, and a name that is rumored for inclusion is…
Freddy Adu
Watch this space.
Running jokes are the best, aren’t they?
by Hoover Dam
FOLLOWING IS A DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE US MEN’S OLYMPIC SOCCER MATCH VS. NIGERIA
A Brief Review of the MNT Squad for the England Game
by Hoover Dam
http://www.ussoccer.com/articles/viewArticle.jsp_6422546.html
Goalkeepers: Yaay, all right!
Defenders: Whoooo U-S-A!
Midfielders: Red white and blue forever, baby!
Forwards: o god don’t ask
Poland Line-Up
by Hoover Dam
A bunch of guys who let the US score three times, all on set pieces, and maybe like twice made Timmy put down his crossword puzzle.
Next Page »