defense looks awful but the offense looks very encouraging

6/5/2015 4:09:16 PM

!!!!!!

[Edited on June 5, 2015 at 4:23 PM. Reason : oh we back]

6/5/2015 4:20:58 PM

LOL! That is one of those games that both teams deserved to lose. I've never seen two teams hit the pole in a single game that much and the defense wasn't that great for either. I guess that makes 4-3 a fair result though.

6/5/2015 4:25:59 PM

YESSSS! What a game. Almost screamed at work.

I think its a great result for the states, doesn't matter how we achieved it. The Dutch are still a very good team and they put out a great side too. Maybe they were a bit jaded but it doesn't really matter. This will give a very young US team some much needed confidence boost. Klinsmann will make sure of that too. Love it.

[Edited on June 5, 2015 at 4:28 PM. Reason : d]

6/5/2015 4:27:10 PM

That was an exciting 2nd half. Our back-line was weak the entire 2nd half. Bad marking, weak challenges...just poor overall. But the rest of the team was solid. We had a few weak possessions in their box, but overall I thought we made some great offensive touches and obviously finished well.

Really really like what [it looks like to me] Jurgen is doing with the overall team speed. When Yedlin, Williams, and Wood got in...they were just blowing by people. I don't know if we'll every catch up to the elite in skills...but we can always pump out some fast motherfuckers...and speed kills. Those three guys were involved in all three of those goals.

And of course...Bradley was Bradley. He's the best passer I've ever seen in a USA uniform. He has his share of duds (so unfortunate to have a ton in the WC), but he also puts out a lot of beautiful balls.

6/5/2015 4:55:07 PM

That second half passing was like playing FIFA on easy. Every ball was perfectly played into space. Beautiful.

6/5/2015 5:07:17 PM

^^ don't forget Morris. Drew the corner that led to the 3rd goal based on his speed/strength and he had the assist for the winner

6/5/2015 7:15:07 PM

when the US scored the 4th goal, I was so jubliant that I threw my arms up in celebration....

right into the ceiling fan blades on high.

somehow nothing on the fan or in my hand broke. that god for leftover oxy from my wife's c-section. that was some pain for a while there

6/5/2015 11:24:43 PM

U-20 World Cup

June 10th USA vs Columbia 3:30 am et Fox Sports

They got destroyed by Ukraine 3-0 the other night.

6/6/2015 12:08:18 PM

My prediction for the U.S. against Germany... PAIN.

6/8/2015 9:44:59 PM

^ Just like the World Cup group stage match that Germany barely won 1-0? Yes Germany deserved that win and were a better team but this US team is young and will be full of confidence after the Netherlands win. Lets also not forget that most of the German players are in holiday mode.

6/9/2015 8:50:47 AM

Podolski is likely starting. We have a chance if they run that kind of shit out there..

6/9/2015 8:56:59 AM

man I love me some wazza in the US thread

6/9/2015 9:05:29 AM

Our depth at the back 4 is bad. We give up tons of goals anytime the first combo isnt playimg in the back.

It doesnt matter who germany puts out they will score 3+

6/9/2015 11:16:23 AM

I agree our defense is weak but lets take a look at it in context:

John Brooks - 22
Timmy Chandler - 25
DeAndre Yedlin - 21
Ventura Alverado - 22

Orozco and Evans are the only two over the age of 25. This backline is shaky simply because its very young. Perhaps our two best defenders right now are Omar Gonzalez and Matt Besler. Both 26 and 28 respectively. Gonzalez is going to play a vital part for the USMNT at this Gold Cup and heading into 2018. Who pairs with him is up for grabs with Brooks and Besler. Brooks has impressed me every time I have seen him for the USMNT. From all accounts I also hear he had a very good year for Hertha Berlin. If Brooks can secure a move to a better team he can be a huge player for us alongside Gonzalez. Yedlin is the one to watch for and all we can hope is that some of these young players take their chances.

I strongly believe that this transition period for the USMNT is going to prove vital. We have a strong crop of young players who can really develop into solid team players under Klinsmann. What do we lack? The x factor. Who steps up and takes the reign? Fabian Johnson is poised to take on that role. Zusi and Bradley will be in the mix as senior leaders.

Most importantly we have this group of highly talented youngsters:
- Jordan Morris
- Gedion Zelalem
- Shane O'Neill (if he commits to the USMNT)
- Junior Flores
- Joshua Perez

If just two of these can make a breakthrough they can be very good players to have in 2018. I am quietly optimistic. The US has talent in football and I think with the right career moves and some handwork we can see a very good team in 2018. More importantly a well balanced team.

6/9/2015 2:32:44 PM

Quote :

"our"

slow down

6/9/2015 2:41:49 PM

^ I am an American citizen in case you didn't realize. Trolling even in a thread where we are supposed to be on the same side, that is just pathetic.

6/9/2015 2:45:03 PM

Good breakdown wazza, I appreciate your optimism. My only real disagreement is I think Zusi is barely a bench player at this level and won't feature at all by the time 2018 comes around. You also forgot a few other young potential stars that have actually seen minutes for the men's team like World Cup goal scorer Julian Green, Rubio Rubin, Emerson Hyndman, Miguel Ibarra, and Luis Gil.

I personally think the transition period will be a tough one in WCQ for this group and that's why I think USSF committed to JK thru 2018. He's going to give these young players plenty of real meaningful minutes but we are going to get burned for it a couple times away in CONCACAF. I still think we easily qualify but I wouldn't expect 1st or even 2nd place. Mexico has to be due an awesome cycle, right?

It's an exciting time because I don't think we've ever had this many young players (<25) with the potential to be legit first division in Europe type players. Will they all break through? No. But the potential is definitely there.

6/9/2015 2:58:59 PM

No I agree. I left Green off simply because I believe Green needs to go to another team and not stay at Bayern. He wasn't selected for the Gold Cup either. The point is def. there though that if we include some of the players on the list Green should be on it too.

I still believe Zusi and Bradley will have a role to play in 2018. What we really need are players like Fabian Johnson, Gonzales, and Besler. Between 25-30 who can carry this team through tough patches. I agree that this will be a frustrating period maybe but I think we can use it as an opportunity to develop a team that works well. Still have 3 years and I think winning the Gold Cup this summer will lay down a marker for Mexico.

Let's see how we do. I believe this team has the potential to go into 2018 in much better shape than we did in 2014. If we win the Gold Cup we will also get a shot at the confederations cup. Participating and winning against teams in the confed cup would be amazing.

Klinsmann has done a great job challenging these kids. The friendly against the Dutch I believe is a huge marker for this young team, regardless of how sloppy that match was or how the result was achieved. The players in the Dutch team still finished 3rd at the World Cup and still represent some of the best players in top European Leagues. It takes character to come back and win from 3-1 down away from home, even if the team weren't as motivated. Shows these kids have a point to prove.

6/9/2015 3:08:32 PM

Let me know when you two are finished sucking each other's dicks. Wazza has a villainous reputation to maintain.

6/9/2015 3:12:38 PM

6/9/2015 3:19:32 PM

I am going to the gold cup in baltimore. Anyone else?

6/9/2015 9:01:50 PM

US U-20 beat Columbia 1-0 in a gutty match. The game looked more like a wrestling match than soccer. In the end, our GK saved a 81' PK, and down to 10 men at that point, we held off a heavy Columbian attack.

Our 1 goal was a little lucky, since a deflection went right to the feet of our 1 striker about 7-8 yards from the goal, but he still buried that shit into the top netting.

Next up is Quarterfinals vs. Serbia on Sunday at 12:30am. Serbia beat Hungary 2-1 after an 118' own goal by Hungary - ouch.

6/10/2015 9:58:18 AM

Think Zelalem is ready for a loan to a Championship side. Hyndman got 9 appearances at Fulham and Zel is a level above him..

6/10/2015 10:20:47 AM

based on what?

I've seen him play like maybe 20 minutes.

6/10/2015 10:44:27 AM

Well i have seen more of him and read about him obviously based on his club. He would get minutes in a lower league now. He was a regular in the U-21s but, quite frankly, Arsenals youth teams suck.

He's featured 25+ times the last two seasons and could use some higher level exposure.

(Though tbh I'm a novice when it comes to the development path of youth players in England).

6/10/2015 11:53:41 AM

Sounded more confrontational than I intended. I was just wondering if you've actually watched him play enough to know he was that much better than Hyndman.

I'm surprised it's only 9 appearances too, I thought he was a regular for some reason.

6/10/2015 12:31:09 PM

I would love to see Zelalem go to a team like Brighton.

6/10/2015 2:04:43 PM

Lineup for Germany is Guzan; Chandler, Ventura, Brooks, Johnson; Zardes, Williams, Bradley, Diskerud; Johannsson, Agudelo

Two strikers + Zardes? It'll probably be more 4-3-3 because none of the 3 will do any (meaningful) defending. Klinsmann does not give a fuuuuuck.

[Edited on June 10, 2015 at 2:10 PM. Reason : wish Yedlin was starting]

6/10/2015 2:09:13 PM

^ Klinsmann has come out and said he wants to take it to Germany. I love it, absolutely love it. These kids need to learn to attack against the best sides. Retain possession and play football. We will never have a chance in hell sitting back with 11 men against teams like this in an actual tournament. We need to counter and do it well.

Ron-Robert Zieler
Shkodran Mustafi
Jonas Hector
Sebastian Rudy
Antonio Rüdiger
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Mesut Özil
André Schürrle
Patrick Herrmann
Ilkay Gündogan
Mario Götze

Germany put out a very good attacking lineup. Outside of Mustafi that is a weak defense though. Should be an entertaining match. Zardez, Agudelo, and Johnson should run at their defense. Lots of pace today to take advantage on the counter.

[Edited on June 10, 2015 at 2:19 PM. Reason : ,]

6/10/2015 2:16:42 PM

too easy for the germans. Defense again, that one is actually on Johnson I would say. Didn't realize Hermann was so fast, anyone seen him play in the bundesliga this year?

[Edited on June 10, 2015 at 3:00 PM. Reason : s]

6/10/2015 2:58:42 PM

It's comical how many silver platter chances Ozil serves up that are missed. I expect it from stone footed players like Giroud and Welbeck but even with the Germans it happens..

^ I miss having GolTV... When is the Bundesliga up for TV renewal here?

[Edited on June 10, 2015 at 3:24 PM. Reason : X]

6/10/2015 3:23:44 PM

YES! USA! USA! USA! Coming back against Germany since 1916.

6/10/2015 3:27:42 PM

GOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAL!

6/10/2015 3:27:58 PM

gd it sucks not being able to watch this and just keeping up with a gamecast. was mix's goal good?

6/10/2015 3:28:40 PM

What a beautiful fucking ball by Bradley. Finally someone had a good touch in a scoring possibility. We've had some good possessions in their area...just shitty touches and decisions. Thank you Mix.

6/10/2015 3:29:23 PM

it was fantastic.

6/10/2015 3:29:42 PM

that was sick

6/10/2015 3:29:52 PM

Good goal, great pass from Bradley and Mix did well to control it. Good pressure from the US. I would say we are playing much better than we did against Netherlands.

6/10/2015 3:29:53 PM

Fucking beautiful right now!

6/10/2015 3:31:22 PM

I watched for about 10 seconds before we scored (just got the univision stream to work), what a great way to tune into the game

6/10/2015 3:33:10 PM

First half observations:

John Brooks is solid. I am impressed and he can really be a mainstay for us. Bradley is a very good player who would have most certainly got us to the quarters at the World Cup if he had shown up. His inconsistency is terrible though, this match highlighted it brilliantly. Some frustrating decision making by him but then that brilliant pass. Zardes is very very raw, not sure if that helps him since he is already 23. Agudelo has been absent. Danny Williams is a good squad player to have.

6/10/2015 3:36:27 PM

Zardes is too raw. That last shot by him was fucking horrible...highlighted by the fact that a quick touch to Johannsson would have led to an easy goal.

6/10/2015 3:46:18 PM

Playing really well right now. Need to find a goal for all this pressure.

6/10/2015 4:04:12 PM

Morris, so close! Should have started over Zardes today I think.

6/10/2015 4:16:56 PM

damnnnnn. should have scored that

Yedlin has been excellent

6/10/2015 4:25:31 PM

Fuckin Bradley...you gotta put that in the back of the net. Germany is going to punch one in here and steal this second half.

Yedlin is too fast/quick for anybody. We should just play it out wide to him all game and just let him put in work. Fast little fucker.

[Edited on June 10, 2015 at 4:28 PM. Reason : .]

6/10/2015 4:26:34 PM

should have been a goal for sure. I think we should consider making Yedlin an attacking winger over a RWB. He is always brilliant going forward but lacks just a bit positional sense on defense. Few times he has been caught out and not punished I think.

EDIT: Just realized Johnson is playing at RB with Yedlin as an attacking winger. So Johnson has lost his position a few times, not Yedlin. lol.

[Edited on June 10, 2015 at 4:29 PM. Reason : a]

[Edited on June 10, 2015 at 4:29 PM. Reason : a]

6/10/2015 4:27:06 PM

I have WOOD right now. What a fucking goal!

6/10/2015 4:30:02 PM

HOOOLLYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

6/10/2015 4:30:07 PM