Posted by Creaven on May 10, 2010 under USMNT, United States, World Cup | 
Let the Bob Bradley scrutiny begin!
In the next eight weeks or so, with an increasingly “intelligent” American soccer public, Bob Bradley will be under the microscope unlike any American soccer coach in history. Of course, it won’t compare to the pressure in England, Brazil, Germany, Argentina or most anywhere else for that matter. But thanks to a unbelievably favorable draw, Bradley is expected to get his team out of the group and if he doesn’t he won’t have a job come July.
The first of many dissected Bradley decisions comes tomorrow, when the preliminary 30-man roster is announced on ESPN News at 11 a.m. PST. The goal for Bradley when naming this roster should be a simple one: Don’t do anything stupid. That’s all I ask. If you name some player I’ve never heard of, fine, I’m cool with that. It’s your job to know something the rest of us don’t. But what’s not cool is if you do one of the following:
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Tags: Alejandro Bedoya, Benny Feilhaber, Bob Bradley, Brad Guzan, Brian Ching, Carlos Bocanegra, Chad Marshall, Charlie Davies, Clarence Goodson, Clint Dempsey, Conor Casey, DaMarcus Beasley, Eddie Johnson, Edson Buddle, Frankie Hejduk, Freddy Adu, Heath Pearce, Herculez Gomez, Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Bornstein, Jonathon Spector, Jose Torres, Jozy Altidore, Kyle Beckerman, Landon Donovan, Marcus Hahnemann, Maurice Edu, Michael Bradley, Oguchi Onyewu, Ricardo Clark, Sacha Kljestan, Steve Cherundolo, Stuart Holden, Tim Howard
Posted by Creaven on August 1, 2009 under USMNT, United States |
I really tried to care about the Gold Cup. After the group stages, I got pumped up; I told myself I was going to have the best Gold Cup commentary on the Internet. Then the United States played Panama in the quarterfinals and I fell asleep in about the 20th minute. Then the U.S. played Honduras is the semifinals and I fell asleep in about the 30th minute. Gold Cup matches were like taking NyQuil is visual form.
I did stay awake for the final and before I get into who I think Bob Bradley is going to take with him to Mexico, let me go on a little rant about El Tri’s 5-0 trouncing…
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Tags: Benny Feilhaber, Bob Bradley, Bobby Convey, Brad Freidel, Brad Guzan, Brian Ching, Carlos Bocanagra, Carlos Vela, Chad Marshall, Charlie Davies, Clint Dempsey, Conor Casey, DaMAarcus Beasley, Danny CAliff, Davy Arnaud, Eddie Johnson, Frankie Hejduk, Freddy Adu, Gerrardo Torrado, Giovani Dos Santos, Gold Cup, Guillermo Ochoa, Heath Pearce, Jay DeMerit, Jimmy Conrad, Johnathan Spector, Jonathan Bornstein, José Francisco Torres, Jozy Altidore, Kyle Beckerman, Landon Donovan, Marvell Wynne, Mexico, Michael Bradley, Oguchi Onyewu, Pablo Mastroeni, Ricardo Clark, Robbie Rodgers, Sacha Kljestan, Santino Quaranta, Steve Cherundolo, Stuart Holden, Tim Howard, Troy Perkins, United States, Zach Thornton
Posted by Creaven on June 24, 2009 under USMNT, United States, World |
Outside of the World Cup, the United States’ 2-0 victory over Spain Wednesday was its most impressive victory ever.
Torres, Villa, Xavi, Fabergas, Puyol, Pique, Casillas — these aren’t very good players, they’re the best in the world. Even with the loss, the reigning European Champions and No. 1 team on the planet are still the clear-cut favorites to win the World Cup next year and are one of the best national teams ever. For Americans who might not be soccer fans, Spain aren’t the equivlant of the 2009 Lakers, they’re closer to the 1996 Bulls.
For the U.S., who seemed on the verge of crisis four days ago, to beat Spain, who hadn’t lost in 35 matches (and had won 15 straight), is almost beyond comprehension. As fantastic a victory as it is, this doesn’t make the U.S. World Cup contenders (or even favorites to get out of the group stage), but who cares. On a field on the Southern tip of Africa the U.S. scored more goals than the best team in the world. Unbelievable.
To the grades……
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Tags: Alexi Lalas, Benny Feilhaber, Carlos Bocanegra, Charlie Davies, Clint Dempsey, Confederations Cup, Conor Casey, ESPN, Jay DeMerit, John Harkes, Jonathan Bornstien, Jonathan Spector, Jozy Altidore, JP Dellcamera, Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Oguchi Onyewu, Ricardo Clark, Spain, Tim Howard, United States
Posted by Creaven on June 18, 2009 under USMNT, United States, World |
Brazil beating the United States 3-0 isn’t what made Thursday’s performance disgraceful. Brazil is one of the best teams in the world and, in short, the U.S. isn’t. But not showing up, playing scared, stupid mistakes, puzzling tactics and a lack of passion made the U.S.’s loss one of its most embarrassing in modern history. The match felt over after a couple minutes and was over after 20 minutes. To the grades….
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Tags: Alexi Lalas, Benny Feilhaber, Bob Bradley, Brazil, Clint Dempsey, Conor Casey, DaMarcus Beasley, ESPN, Jay DeMerit, Jnathan Spector, John Harkes, Jonathan Bornstien, Jozy Altidore, Kaka, Landon Donovan, Lucio, Michael Bradley, Oguchi Onyewu, Reece Davis, Robinho, Sacha Kljestian, Tim Howard, United States
Posted by Creaven on June 7, 2009 under USMNT, United States |
Nuccio DiNuzzo, Chicago Tribune
The United States men’s soccer team is going to the World Cup. No, the States haven’t mathematically qualified, but it’s nearly impossible to envision a scenario in which the U.S. isn’t in South Africa. The 2-1 victory over visiting Honduras wasn’t very impressive and even a little lucky, but with their backs against the wall the U.S. responded with its most important victory in years. Though it was a victory for the players, it was another embarrassing performance by ESPN. To the grades…
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Tags: Alexi Lalas, Benny Feilhaber, Bob Bradley, Carlos Bocanegra, Carlos Costly, Clint Dempsey, Conor Casey, DaMarcus Beasley, El Salvador, ESPN, Frankie Hejduk, Honduras, Jay Demirt, John Harkes, Jonathan Bornstein, Jonathan Spector, Jozy Altidore, JP Dellacamera, Kaka, Landon Donavan, Oguchi Onyewu, Pablo Mastoreni, Ricardo Clark, Steve Cherundolo, Tim Howard, United States, World Cup
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