World Cup

[jllanclos]

Football analogy.

Ghana out gained the US 545 to 202

Ghana was 1-6 in the redzone, missing multiple FGs after being unable to punch it in.

The US returned the opening kickoff for a TD, then had a late drive and were able to punch it in from the one yard line. Americans win 10-7.

Football analogy that's a lot more accurate: USA stuffed the run and short passing game, so Ghana was left to throw bombs that weren't even close to the blanketed receivers.

The few chances they did get into the red zone, our defense stiffened.

If you see it any other way, you don't know soccer, period.

There's more to it than "they had the ball more, so we suck."

[cajunhawk]

Football analogy that's a lot more accurate: USA stuffed the run and short passing game, so Ghana was left to throw bombs that weren't even close to the blanketed receivers.

The few chances they did get into the red zone, our defense stiffened.

If you see it any other way, you don't know soccer, period.

There's more to it than "they had the ball more, so we suck."

If we had a lesser goalie we would have lost by 2-3 goals. Tim Howard is our most experienced player and the guy has been a mainstay at Everton in the English Premiere League. He and maybe Dempsey could start on most International teams.

[jllanclos]

If we had a lesser goalie we would have lost by 2-3 goals. Tim Howard is our most experienced player and the guy has been a mainstay at Everton in the English Premiere League. He and maybe Dempsey could start on most International teams.

So?

If we had a lesser goalie, defenders that sucked more, and forwards that sucked more, we'd suck more.

Thanks for the analysis. I feel "informed" now.

Just think: if we didn't have any goalie at all, we'd REALLY suck! Therefore, we really suck.

[CajunRebel]

The last time we played Germany we won, chief. It's just that real American soccer fans think the game is only played 3 weeks out of every 4 years.

I know chief, don't mistake me for a once every four years fan. It was a friendly on home soil and it was Germany's B squad. A good win, but you're fooling yourself if you try to read into that result. This will be a much better Germany on Sunday.

But my point wasn't that Germany was going to beat us, it was that we can still lose to Germany and easily advance out the group thanks to Portugal giving up 4 yesterday.

[cajunhawk]

So?

If we had a lesser goalie, defenders that sucked more, and forwards that sucked more, we'd suck more.

Thanks for the analysis. I feel "informed" now.

Just think: if we didn't have any goalie at all, we'd REALLY suck! Therefore, we really suck.

You feel better? You feel like you accomplished something? If you posted less...this thread would suck less. Now that is analysis. Soccer snobs...you cannot win with them.

[CajunRebel]

I gave an example of World Class...it was a good move...but world class...that's homer talk.

It wasn't one good move. It was three perfect moves. A perfect first touch, a perfect move to beat a defender, and a perfect shot in the one area the keeper couldn't cover. If that's not world class I don't know what is.

[CajunRage]

It wasn't one good move. It was three perfect moves. A perfect first touch, a perfect move to beat a defender, and a perfect shot in the one area the keeper couldn't cover. If that's not world class I don't know what is.

Not getting in a ____ing match with you, but I've seen the same "play" perfected at a rec game, in high school soccer, etc. It was a very good play. World Class would be all over sportscenter, the news, the internet. The bigger story was that it was in the first 30 seconds. It was a nice play. Nothing more, nothing less.

[cajunhawk]

It wasn't one good move. It was three perfect moves. A perfect first touch, a perfect move to beat a defender, and a perfect shot in the one area the keeper couldn't cover. If that's not world class I don't know what is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZnUr8lcqjo

Another example of World Class...again...Dempsey's move was good...I'm not knocking what he did...just saying it's world class is pretty ignorant and kind of a slap in the face to actual World Class soccer players.

[cajunhawk]

I hope you are okay or just joking around.

Not joking around...wife and I had our second child. She is doing well and will be discharged today...son is stuck in the NICU for a few more days with a lung issue.

[ManAboutTown]

What is the biggest contract in MLS history? When is MLS on primetime on major networks? What MLS player do kids "want to grow up to be"?

NFL, NBA, MLB are all on 4-5-6 nights a week on major networks and you can pick out hundreds of players from those sports. That is why soccer falls flat when kids get serious about sports.

Exactly correct. Well stated sir.

[ManAboutTown]

The strategy was sound. My issue was that we continually lost control of the ball when we did have possession. I don't think we should have sent everyone on an offensive blitzkrieg, but when we did have control of the ball, we were sloppy with it. And because of that, we were in a vulnerable defensive position for way too much of the game.

It's ok though. It worked. We won. But we will have to be much better to not get blown out the rest of the way. IMO.

Yes!
We had a plan, we executed it, it worked. Some spots in the match were sloppy, which lead to unnecessary chances, making the game look sluggish and more one sided.

[marine dude]

Count me in the group who would consider dempsey's goal world class. The first touch to maintain possession while continuing his momentum towards the box, the re direct to avoid the last defender in the box, and the slot to the outside post with pace were all 1st class. You could make the argument since the defender was in a compromised position defending inside the box he was therefore forced to defend cautiously (notice the defender had to pull back his left leg after dempsey's re direct for fear of a trip and resulting PK), but dempsey's first touch perfectly compromised the defender.

Had messi made the same touch/slot, there would be no argument.