Posted by Creaven on June 30, 2009 under United States, USMNT, World | 
Note: First, sorry I’m way late. Second, I’m not doing a report card because I’ve read other people ratings and I feel like it has poisoned by objectiveness.
Re-watching the Confederations Cup final is a painful exercise for U.S. fans.
First, you watch the first half. Dempsey’s flick and the Davies-Donovan give-and-go-and-goal puts a smile on your face. You realize at the end of the first half, U.S. soccer had just completed the greatest 225 minutes in its history. In that span, the U.S. out-scored its opposition 7-0, it beat the No. 1 team in the world and was up 2-0 against the best team in South America; it might be decades before U.S. soccer has a better stretch.
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Tags: Brazil, Carlos Bocanegra, Charlie Davies, Clint Dempsey, Confederations Cup, ESPN, Felipe Melo, Kaka, Landon Donovan, Robinho, Tim Howard, United States
Posted by Creaven on June 18, 2009 under United States, USMNT, 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 United States, USMNT |
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
Posted by Creaven on June 2, 2009 under England, Premier League |
Manchester City is so much fun. They are reaching a level where they can do anything and it wouldn’t be surprising.
Since the Abu Dubai United Group bought City they have stole Robinho from Chelsea’s grasp, offered £100 million for Kaka when the rest of the econimic world was imploding, swiped away Newcastle’s best player when the Magpies desperately needed him and infuriated Villa fans by buying Gareth Barry. I didn’t even mention Nigel de Jong, Wayne Bridge and Craig Bellamy.
There’s little doubt more players are coming but — last time I checked — only 11 players can play at once, so some players will have to go. But who?
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Tags: Abu Dubai United Group, Carlos Tevez, Ched Evansm Jo, Chelsea, Craig Bellamy, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Mills, Darius Vassell, Diego Forlan, Dietmar Hamman, Elano, Felipe Caicedo, Gareth Barry, Gelson Fernandes, Glauber, Javier Garriedo, Joe Hart, Kaka, Kasper Schmeichel, Kelvin Etuhu, Manchester City, Mark Hughes, MArtin Petrov, Micha Richards, Nedum Onuoha, Nigel de Jong, Pablo Zableta, Richard Dunne, Robinho, Shaleum Logan, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Shay Given, Stephen IReland, Tal Ben Haim, Valeri Boronov, Vincent Kompnay, Vincent Weiss, Wayne Bridgem Michael Ball