*** 2010 FIFA World Cup ***

rick1zoo2

the other thing that is happening is that players like Bekham and eventually Tierry Henry are realizing that there is a huge market in the US for the game and are choosing to play here. I believe that will help bring more attention to the sport in the US.

I think Americans are used to the other sports we have (football, baseball, etc.) and used to seeing the best players in the best leagues in those sports and may consider the MLS as inferior - almost like minor league baseball. Given the choice on TV I will watch a big European game (Barca, MU, etc.) over a MLS game, just because I know the level of play is so much higher.

I think the difference is the systems each country has in place to develop the sport and the players. We have plenty of athletic talent in the US, just not the best systems and leagues. And a lot of competition from other sports.

Cliffy6745

rick1zoo2 wrote:

the other thing that is happening is that players like Bekham and eventually Tierry Henry are realizing that there is a huge market in the US for the game and are choosing to play here. I believe that will help bring more attention to the sport in the US.

I think Americans are used to the other sports we have (football, baseball, etc.) and used to seeing the best players in the best leagues in those sports and may consider the MLS as inferior - almost like minor league baseball. Given the choice on TV I will watch a big European game (Barca, MU, etc.) over a MLS game, just because I know the level of play is so much higher.

I think the difference is the systems each country has in place to develop the sport and the players. We have plenty of athletic talent in the US, just not the best systems and leagues. And a lot of competition from other sports.

All great points. Beckham brougth a lot of attention to the MLS even though he was goign down hill fast. Henry has lost a lot of pace but will be huge for New York.

Agree, I rarely watch the MLS, wish i did but it is just not that great soccer.

This is an awesome point. The academies each team has over there are incredible. I know a couple people that went over and played in the Middlesborugh academy and they said it was an amazing experience.

gabers

A few observations about the US team...

1. Findley over Ching?? WTF?! :x Bad call coach. Ching was one of the few bright spots in last night's friendly, and is probably our second best target forward (after Altidore). No, he's not particularly fast or deft with his feet but he positions well and feeds others very well in the goal area.

2. I agree with the rest of the roster though. Gomez and Buddle deserve a shot. Very happy to see Holden in there. Loved him as a player for the Dynamo and rooting for him wherever he plays in the future. He's one of those guys, like Gooden, that has no problems mixing it up and taking a beating for the team.

3. Yes, the US team is not at the same talent level as a many of the European teams in the WC, but what they lack in talent they make up for in fitness and team play. Any given day the US could beat the best teams in the world. They've proven that in the last three World Cups and the Confederations Cup last summer. The problem is they also lose to mediocre teams they should beat much too often.

Cliffy6745

gabers wrote:

A few observations about the US team...

1. Findley over Ching?? WTF?! :x Bad call coach. Ching was one of the few bright spots in last night's friendly, and is probably our second best target forward (after Altidore). No, he's not particularly fast or deft with his feet but he positions well and feeds others very well in the goal area.

2. I agree with the rest of the roster though. Gomez and Buddle deserve a shot. Very happy to see Holden in there. Loved him as a player for the Dynamo and rooting for him wherever he plays in the future. He's one of those guys, like Gooden, that has no problems mixing it up and taking a beating for the team.

3. Yes, the US team is not at the same talent level as a many of the European teams in the WC, but what they lack in talent they make up for in fitness and team play. Any given day the US could beat the best teams in the world. They've proven that in the last three World Cups and the Confederations Cup last summer. The problem is they also lose to mediocre teams they should beat much too often.

Agreed on most of this except Ching. I have no problem seeing him miss it. I am no fan of Findley but I don't think Ching is very good. Would have been awesome if Johnson lived up to the hype, jesus.

dunkman

gabers wrote:

3. Yes, the US team is not at the same talent level as a many of the European teams in the WC, but what they lack in talent they make up for in fitness and team play. Any given day the US could beat the best teams in the world. They've proven that in the last three World Cups and the Confederations Cup last summer. The problem is they also lose to mediocre teams they should beat much too often.

I'll have to disagree with your points. You're suggesting that the US team is fitter and more of a team than the other teams? thats unquantifiable... you have no benchmark for that statement I'm afraid. It'd be like me saying the Ivory Coast players are fitter than the US team and when asked why I thought that my answer would be "well they look fitter?" ... considering a large number of your players play in Europe and therefore train in Europe wouldn't they have the same fitness levels as that of their European counterparts?

As for your statement... "Any given day the US could beat the best teams in the world.".... you could apply that to any national team that is there... fuck you could apply it to Scotland... we beat France a few years ago when they were World Champions... Bolivia beat Brasil during qualification for this tournament... any national football team at this world cup can, on any given day, get a result against the odds.

nuffingman

dunkman wrote:

nuffingman wrote:

Any predictions?

I go with Spain to win.

I will pick Spain also. My heart says Argentina, but my sweet right foot says Spain... my head says Denmark but that's cos right now I'm thinking about a bacon roll being served by a hot blonde.

My heart goes for Brazil because I know what some of their fans will look like. :shock:
Argentina will probably do well considering they have a drug addled psychotic cheat as coach.

Hinn

Such a shame that Sweden didn't make it through this year. Sigh.

cajunkiwi

Chara wrote:

anyone supporting the poor north koreans ? will their supporters be allowed to travel and watch it ? will the citizens of north korea be allowed to watch it back home on their TV's ?

They won't have a single match shown on TV, but the front page of the July 12 issue of the People's Korea newspaper will be all about their glorious triumph over Brazil in the final

gabers

If there is any team that didn't make the WC this year that should have it's Ireland. It's a shame a bad call prevented them from making it. They beat Algeria, a World Cup team and African champs 3 - 0.

gabers

dunkman wrote:

gabers wrote:

3. Yes, the US team is not at the same talent level as a many of the European teams in the WC, but what they lack in talent they make up for in fitness and team play. Any given day the US could beat the best teams in the world. They've proven that in the last three World Cups and the Confederations Cup last summer. The problem is they also lose to mediocre teams they should beat much too often.

I'll have to disagree with your points. You're suggesting that the US team is fitter and more of a team than the other teams? thats unquantifiable... you have no benchmark for that statement I'm afraid. It'd be like me saying the Ivory Coast players are fitter than the US team and when asked why I thought that my answer would be "well they look fitter?" ... considering a large number of your players play in Europe and therefore train in Europe wouldn't they have the same fitness levels as that of their European counterparts?

As for your statement... "Any given day the US could beat the best teams in the world.".... you could apply that to any national team that is there... fuck you could apply it to Scotland... we beat France a few years ago when they were World Champions... Bolivia beat Brasil during qualification for this tournament... any national football team at this world cup can, on any given day, get a result against the odds.

The training program for the US Team is considered by many to be the best in the world. I know Jurgen Klinsmann believes so. He studied the program personally prior to the 2002 WC I believe and incorporated their training techniques into his own.

I think in theory you could argue any team that makes the WC is capable of beating any other, but the reality is so few have shown it more than a one off. I do think this year's WC has no clear favorites. I keep hearing England is a favorite but I'm not really sure why. I've heard Italy, Brazil, Argentina, and France, and all have shown to be beatable in the last year (France probably shouldn't even be there this year). Spain is my pick and we know they're beatable too...

Wobbie

it must be getting close.......ESPN is jamming commercials down our throats in a desperate attempt to make this seem relevant....


























....in the states.

nuffingman

So we thought (English people that is) that Capello was going to be the saviour of the England team. But looking at the squad I realise he's Steve McClaren in disguise. The decisions made are brain numbing.

Defenders:
Jamie Carragher Declares he's happy to play again and he's in. Not convinced
Rio Ferdinand Still as flatfooted as ever and not in the best form of his life. Spanish defenders make him look ridiculous.
Stephen Warnock Played 8 minutes of international football. You can't be serious

Midfielders:
Gareth Barry Is he going to be fit or is he going to peel the oranges for half time
Michael Carrick Has played most of the season in indifferent form

Forwards:
Peter Crouch Foreign refs don't like his style and penalise him every chance they get. Is this really the best we can do?
Jermain Defoe Not inparticularly good form
Emile Heskey Can't even get in his club side. Slow, ineffective and well past his prime.

And all these forwards have been chosen at the expense of Darren Bent who is one of the most prolific goal scorers in England playing for a lesser team.

I won't be surprised if England don't even make the knockout stages.

dunkman

I have to agree with that synopsis nuffingman... especially Heskey who has the footballing talent of a statue that has been put into a coma.

Dissidentman

dunkman wrote:

I have to agree with that synopsis nuffingman... especially Heskey who has the footballing talent of a statue that has been put into a coma.

Wow, that doesn't sound positive at all.

dunkman

Dissidentman wrote:

dunkman wrote:

I have to agree with that synopsis nuffingman... especially Heskey who has the footballing talent of a statue that has been put into a coma.

Wow, that doesn't sound positive at all.

well he is world champion at musical statues so things are looking up...

Drum Machine89

8 days!!!

FenwayFaithful

USA 2 - England 1

You all heard it!

dunkman

FenwayFaithful wrote:

USA 2 - England 1

You all heard it!

well i read it... my computer doesnt speak to me... but the other voices in my head do.. whats that Adolf? you want me to punch nuns in the fudd? ok!!

neilybabes86

espn is sending down all their workers with armed EX- FBI agents


everyone is strapped like the wild west

Drum Machine89

FenwayFaithful wrote:

USA 2 - England 1

You all heard it!

That sounds good to me dude!