The United States Forum
Everything about US Soccer including MLS, USL and the National Team. This forum also focuses on Yanks Abroad (YA) as well as college and amateur soccer and youth participation. If it smells like USA Soccer you'll find it here.
Latest United States, USMNT, MLS and USL Entries
Total Threads: 32 | Replies: 163
Galaxian Failure
Category: United States - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Created by: acmilan Create Date: October 24, 2008 Last Comment: October 24, 2008
Once and for all, as those with sanity have predicted for quite some time, the problems with the LA Galaxy are a lot deeper than the use of designated player slots. Neither Donovan nor Beckham could be blamed for taking the money, but they do own the failure just as much as Alexi Lalas and Ruud Gullit do.
Take a look back at the 2006 World Cup and the warning signs are already there - a marginalized Beckham even then, and how completely Donovan was blanketed by the better defensive units because of his impish size, if not temperament, forcing a retreat back into MLS. That the league's "flagship franchise" (::rolling eyes::) built its very foundation on such apparent failure, why is anyone surprised that the team failed?
The three most valuable players in MLS are Schelotto, DeRosario and Shalrie Joseph ... not because they have Donovan's speed or Beckham's talent for crosses and set pieces, but because their teams have a solid squad around them from which these two talents can control the pace of an average football game. For every Kaka or Messi, there has to be a Pirlo and Gattuso or a Xavi and Iniesta. A support unit that can grab a game by the shirt collar and control its pulse. Neither Donovan nor Beckham were ever gifted with this skill; rather, they have to be its beneficiary.
The supposed "braintrust" at LA never understood this - or, in the absence of a realistic business plan, were left unable from the outset - while the more successful clubs in MLS balance their cap space accordingly. So, what we were left to witness with the LA Galaxy was aging superstar who mailed it - yes, he did if you ever watched Beckham compete with his mates on the national team - and a tiny upstart of a player who had just ran home from Europe with his tail between his legs. Perhaps a harsh criticism, on my part, but sports are a results-based business and this business model failed.
comment | Total Replies: 1
Bradley Names World Cup Squad
Category: United States - National Team (USMNT)
Created by: dynamo Create Date: October 3, 2008 Last Comment: October 3, 2008
With their match against Cuba rapidly approaching, US Men’s National Team coach Bob Bradley recently announced his squad that will take on the Cubans at RFK Stadium on October 11th.
Goalkeepers (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa: 2/2 SO), Tim Howard (Everton FC: 6/5 SO), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF: 0/0)
Defenders (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes: 16/2), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland: 2/0), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96: 17/0), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC: 1/0), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew: 13/1), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege: 11/0), Michael Orozco (San Luis: 0/0), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock: 5/0)
Midfielders (7): Freddy Adu (AS Monaco: 1/0), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers: 19/4), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach: 5/2), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers: 3/0), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA: 3/0), Danny Szetela (Brescia Calcio: 0/0), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca: 0/0)
Forwards (5): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal C.F.: 0/0), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo: 9/4), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF: 0/0) Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC: 11/4), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy: 24/8)
*numbers indicate all-time World Cup Qualifying caps/goals
comment | Total Replies: 0
Thoughts About the USMNT
Category: United States - National Team (USMNT)
Created by: dynamo Create Date: September 10, 2008 Last Comment: September 10, 2008
If you have a chance take a look at Jamie Trekker's comments on FoxSoccer.com. He seriously takes a look at the problems with the National Team and raises serious doubts about whether the team has a chance in 2010 given it's current design:
... there are two big problems that this team has to overcome if it wants to beat anyone of note.
The first is the talent gap. As anyone who follows the exploits of U.S. players overseas knows, the Americans are crashing out in the major leagues. Sadly, as competition increases in the glamour leagues, the American players have been found widely lacking, and for every brief glimmer of promise - such as Bradley's tenure at Heerenveen last season - there are the regular stories of the Eddie Johnsons and Benny Feilhabers. This is a long-term problem, not solvable by 2010.
The second is the coaching gap. Right now, this team is stuck in the same, head-in-the-sand tactics that began with Steve Sampson and have continued right through the present day. The USA men are now playing a great deal like the American women - and it's no accident. The roster choices reflect a preference for big, athletic players who can overpower opponents via work rate and attrition.
It represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the game itself.
Couldn't say it better. The Americans have the athletic talent in spades, but do they have players?
comment | Total Replies: 1
Bradley Heading For Gladbach
Category: United States - Yanks Abroad
Created by: acmilan Create Date: September 2, 2008 Last Comment: September 2, 2008
Bradley has always had aspirations to play in a bigger league, and the interest of teams like Middlesbrough and Hamburger SV this summer made the 21-year-old decide the time was right to leave the Heerenveen.
Looks like he's landed in the right place where he can play some big minutes in an American friendly location. Former US international goalkeeper Kasey Keller was the number one for several years -- he captained the side in the 2006-07 season -- and had a huge part in the club's staving off relegation in 2005.
comment | Total Replies: 0
Edu on the Move?
Category: United States - Yanks Abroad
Created by: ultraroma Create Date: August 15, 2008 Last Comment: August 15, 2008
Never mind that Bruce Arena was hangin' at Home Depot Center with Galaxy execs, that the Los Angeles derby ended in a tie and that T&T defeated El Salvador, 3-1, in a fiesty friendly at RFK, thanks to Cornell Glen's two goals. Here's the big news: It appears that Toronto FC midfielder Maurice Edu, a USA Olympic starter and an emerging national team candidate, is close to joining Glasgow Rangers.
comment | Total Replies: 1
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