World Cup 2014 discussion thread.

dena wrote:

Glen Miller wrote:

I reckon he's bang on.  No neutral will ever forget their set-piece inspired smash-and-grab against Ghana, the way they drew with a Portuguese team playing without a left back, the time they almost didn't lose to Germany, and the way that they were dominated by a team of pretenders.


This is the new United States, and we should be scared.

I'm not gonna go on about it but...

https://twitter.com/MarcusSpeller/status/484103289815179264

https://twitter.com/Roymeredith/status/484102532701380610

https://twitter.com/BenSmithBBC/status/484102644546674688

It's not like we havent earned some respect the past few World Cups, not like we havent played in some exciting games  

Yeah lots of people are fans of what we are doing. If only we had the ability to match our spirit. That's not really on Jurgie, but he definitely got things wrong yesterday. And some of his personnel decisions are still questionable. Mainly, not bringing along a replacement for Altidore. Killed us again yesterday.

Yeah in retrospect there are some weird decisions...

Cameron for Beckerman seemed weird, because Beckerman sat between the CBs and denied space in the middle. Belgian ran through us right in the gut, especially if he wanted athleticism in midfield we could've changed Jones or Bradley roles.

Lack of Altidore replacement is the big thing.

Micheal Bradley as a weird box to box + attacking midfielder combo is not the way to go.

But then again, he was kind of handicapped... we have no wingers. Zusi and Ale can run for days but their final balls really disappointed me, despite Zusi's two assists. I'm interested to see what kind of wide midfielders we develop for 2018... the kid Zelanem(sp?) from Arsenal has a lot of hype, Green is committed to us and is a bright prospect, Gyau? who knows .. we'll see...

dena wrote:the kid Zelanem(sp?) from Arsenal has a lot of hype

If he ever turns out to be something great he'll probably play for Germany.

Cameron for Beckerman made sense in terms of size. But Cameron was also a bit too similar to Jones in moving around the field (although not quite as high up as Jones), which meant the back four was exposed. Beckerman wouldn't have done that, but he would have also had trouble sizing up with Fellaini and Kompany and company. 

Still think leaving Donovan behind was a mistake, and I really think that putting Green on when he did (ie, not at the beginning of extra time, when it was clear we desperately needed a sub) was an admission of defeat (even if it didn't turn out like that). But it was rather special that he scored with his first ever touch in a World Cup game.

Things might have turned out differently if Altidore was able to play, but they might have also turned out differently if Klinsmann had done the right thing and brought along a replacement for Altidore.

When I saw Green warming up I definitely thought that was it. Funny how things worked out eh?

Took only one touch to equal Wayne Rooney's WC scoring tally.

Scuba Steve wrote:

Glen Miller wrote:

I reckon he's bang on.  No neutral will ever forget their set-piece inspired smash-and-grab against Ghana, the way they drew with a Portuguese team playing without a left back, the time they almost didn't lose to Germany, and the way that they were dominated by a team of pretenders.


This is the new United States, and we should be scared.

Surely then that's on Jurgie and his $2.5m contract? We went out the same exact way in 2010 with Bradley in charge and everyone was bummed out.

Perhaps, yes.  We saw more spirit and desire from this American team, but I think it's a bit premature to say that the world is taking notice.  It's not as if they wowed anyone with their attacking flair or even their defensive brilliance, I thought the defending was amateurish at points.

Am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous that people are calling Howard world class now? He had a great game, but I don't remember any of the saves being particularly difficult. No one is calling M'bolhi world class.

SBSP wrote:Am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous that people are calling Howard world class now? He had a great game, but I don't remember any of the saves being particularly difficult. No one is calling M'bolhi world class.

I thought they were all pretty normal saves except for maybe one or two of the kick-saves.  I guess he showed good consistency in the match, but he's hardly set the world alight at club level in recent seasons.

Glen Miller wrote:

Scuba Steve wrote:

Surely then that's on Jurgie and his $2.5m contract? We went out the same exact way in 2010 with Bradley in charge and everyone was bummed out.

Perhaps, yes.  We saw more spirit and desire from this American team, but I think it's a bit premature to say that the world is taking notice.  It's not as if they wowed anyone with their attacking flair or even their defensive brilliance, I thought the defending was amateurish at points.

The "world taking notice" is coming from the horses' mouths, not ours.

SBSP wrote:Am I the only one who thinks it's ridiculous that people are calling Howard world class now? He had a great game, but I don't remember any of the saves being particularly difficult. No one is calling M'bolhi world class.

Whatever world class is, I think Howard is it when it comes to goalkeepers.

I will also say this, not directed at anyone in particular. But I feel like no one (including me) knows how to actually rate goalkeepers, aside from goalkeepers.. when they make good saves it's right at them and easy when positioning and awareness need to be considered, when they make bad plays everyone remembers, and they are usually blown out of proportion relative to other mistakes players make (probably because it always ends in a goal) it's a really tough position.

I wouldn't consider him "World class" because there are plenty of better goalkeepers than him.

Scuba Steve wrote:

Glen Miller wrote:
Perhaps, yes.  We saw more spirit and desire from this American team, but I think it's a bit premature to say that the world is taking notice.  It's not as if they wowed anyone with their attacking flair or even their defensive brilliance, I thought the defending was amateurish at points.

The "world taking notice" is coming from the horses' mouths, not ours.

Yeah if anything I've seen US fans and US media way more critical of this team than anyone else. I thought we played probably 1 or 2 halves of good football. And a day after reading and hearing the US reaction it seems the same, but I've also heard the world's reaction and it's really surprising, people seem to like how we played... not really from a technical standpoint but from the determination and ability to fight with top teams, it actually has me re-evaluating how I view these guys but I always knew we had heart... speaking of which, I'm about to re-watch the game now that my "bar googles" and PTSD has resided.

Keyser Söze wrote:I wouldn't consider him "World class" because there are plenty of better goalkeepers than him.

I can understand that, didn't watch a lot of club football this year due to personal stuff so all I know is that Iker has fell off and Coutouis might be the best in the world right now, but for a long time when I think of the top 10 GKs in the world I think Tim Howard is in that conversation. And I'm not even sure how I define World Class, but I think it's sort of a "I know it when I see it" thing, and I think the list changes every year.

dena wrote:

Keyser Söze wrote:I wouldn't consider him "World class" because there are plenty of better goalkeepers than him.

I can understand that, didn't watch a lot of club football this year due to personal stuff so all I know is that Iker has fell off and Coutouis might be the best in the world right now, but for a long time when I think of the top 10 GKs in the world I think Tim Howard is in that conversation. And I'm not even sure how I define World Class, but I think it's sort of a "I know it when I see it" thing, and I think the list changes every year.

Off the top of my head and in no order, I think these are all comfortably better:

Courtois
De Gea
Cech
Buffon
Sirigu
Neur
Lloris
Handanovic
Valdes
Szczesny

Would you dispute any of these?

That looks looks about right, but from memory I think Howard and a guy like Handanovic and Sirgu are about even, it's a "you take one I'll have the other" situation to me.

yo why wasnt anyone going after the dude who ran on the field during the 16th minute 

No idea, and apparently, he had a handicapped ticket as well.

Longer I rewatch this the more I think dropping beckerman was a mistake.

I don't know how you are doing it. I never rewatched Ghana, can't imagine I'm going to watch Belgium. But yeah, De Bruyne had all day just outside the 18 because Cameron was roaming around to much. Had Beckerman been there, he would have been occupying that space. 

And I'm not sure the size advantage that Cameron had was that pivotal.

dena wrote:yo why wasnt anyone going after the dude who ran on the field during the 16th minute 

More importantly, it's beyond irritating that they have disallowed the cameras from covering them.  I know we're not supposed to glorify them, but I'd rather watch a lunatic having a bit of fun than 22 players awkwardly shuffling to the sideline.

For all the replays they show during live play, it would be nice if FIFA filled that time with replays instead.

Scuba Steve wrote:I don't know how you are doing it. I never rewatched Ghana, can't imagine I'm going to watch Belgium. But yeah, De Bruyne had all day just outside the 18 because Cameron was roaming around to much. Had Beckerman been there, he would have been occupying that space. 

And I'm not sure the size advantage that Cameron had was that pivotal.

Saw the game at a bar, so I really couldn't "see" anything, I was just "watching", the other two I saw with friends and was able to analyze and watch at the same time.

Yeah I watched at home because I couldn't stand the nerves to go out and being in public haha.

ESPN's tactical cam needs the minute/goal graphic and maybe commentary.

I can't watch Mexico games in public, I have to watch at home with the friends and family who love me enough to put up with me turning into giant asshole for the next 90+ minutes. 

I usually watch the matches alone.  

I watched Ghana and Belgium by myself. I'm the same way -- too many emotions. I invited some friends out who I had never watched a game with before (and not sure how much soccer they've ever seen before) for Portugal, and it worked fine. 

I think my ultimate preference would be to go to a bar where I didn't know anyone else. That way I can share in the pain and ecstasy of the game with like minded people, but then they wouldn't care how I acted because they'd probably never see me again.

I usually watch games alone, but it's the World Cup and I wanted to be apart of those cool shots ESPN shows of bars when we score

I saw a video of fan reactions at Laughing Man when I was there against Portugal, but they were all upstairs  

Yeah, I know what you mean, I watched the Mexico-Croatia game with my cousins and his friends and I had a guy who I didn't know all that well jump into my arms after the second goal. Kinda awkward game after that.

There's something about football that just brings out all my emotions.

Just this morning I was still like;