Gold Cup Thread

[O's are Legends]

I should have purchased tickets for the Gold Cup when the opportunity presented itself last week. Couple of real exciting games at RFK today; go USA!

[atom_25]

Much better yesterday from USAMNT. If Altidore's injury is not serious, I wonder who will start next game as you can make a part for Agudelo and Altidore both. Lichaj was impressive and if he can learn to cross a ball with his left foot could be a real long term solution at leftback. I would like to see USA use the 4-4-1-1 more often going forward, with Dempsey withdrawn off of one of Altidore/ Agudelo.

[atom_25]

So is tonight's game televised?

[DuffMan]

So is tonight's game televised?

I just checked my DirectTV Guide lineup for tonight and I don't see it listed anyway. Pretty pathetic if this game isn't televised at all. Shoot ESPN has 8 channels and they can't put this game on one of them!?!

[Bosibus]

So is tonight's game televised?

I thought it was on FSC, no?

EDIT: Doing some googling, it appears it is on FSC and most likely FSC-HD.

[Remember The Alomar]

It was on Telemundo.

Nice to see Adu have some success. Have a feeling it as lighting in a bottle though.

Getting more and more tired of Bob Bradley now. Wasn't a big fan to begin with either.

[Scrat1]

I'm liking Lichaj at left back. He's not wowing anyone (except maybe with his ridiculously long throw ins), but considering we've been subjected to Bornstein for so long in the past, I'm glad to have him around.

Not sure what to make of all this Donavan business. But I'm suspecting we'll see him start the next game. Bedoya and Kljestan weren't as sharp this game, though they weren't bad either.

As both a Fulham fan and a USMNT fan, Dempsey's bizarre ability to always be in the right place has yet to cease to amaze me. These sorts of sports narratives often get blown out of proportion, but with Dempsey, it's absolutely true. (In the Guadaloupe game, however, being in the right place didn't matter, since he couldn't finish worth a crap.)

0-0 in the Mexico/Honduras game, heading into extra time. I'm afraid of Mexico, but at the same time, it wouldn't be a real Gold Cup final without them. Bring 'em on.

[Remember The Alomar]

I'm liking Lichaj at left back. He's not wowing anyone (except maybe with his ridiculously long throw ins), but considering we've been subjected to Bornstein for so long in the past, I'm glad to have him around.

Not sure what to make of all this Donavan business. But I'm suspecting we'll see him start the next game. Bedoya and Kljestan weren't as sharp this game, though they weren't bad either.

As both a Fulham fan and a USNMT fan, Dempsey's bizarre ability to always be in the right place has yet to cease to amaze me. These sorts of sports narratives often get blown out of proportion, but with Dempsey, it's absolutely true. (In the Guadaloupe game, however, being in the right place didn't matter, since he couldn't finish worth a crap.)

0-0 in the Mexico/Honduras game, heading into extra time. I'm afraid of Mexico, but at the same time, it wouldn't be a real Gold Cup final without them. Bring 'em on.

I'm a USMNT supporter, but being a Liverpool fan fan I can't say that I watch a lot of Fullham. However, from what I've seen of Dempsey in both the USMNT and Fullham he seems to have some issues with finishing. I feel like I've seen him launch it straight at the keeper quiet a bit--last summers WC was a prime example. As a Fullham supporter, you would know; am I off base here? Not quite the same, but I do remember him bricking a PK during the Chelsea-Fullham match a couple of months ago. I believe it was David Luiz's debut.

Perhaps it's just in my head, but it seems to be an issue for him at times. I still have nightmares about the first 90 minutes of the Algeria match last summer...

Edit: You're so right about Bornstein. My god...

[atom_25]

I am not a huge Bradley fan either, but I think he did a decent enough job with the US's player pool last cycle with a couple of glaring player selections- ahem Findley and Ricardo Clark. In general I think it is bad business to stay with the same coach for 2 world cup cycles though, things just always seem to end badly there.

I like Dempsey alot. Imo the ability to pop up in good places and finish is a trait of play that is something that is very underrated, there are so many players that suck at it and then when someone is crafty like that, they are often under appreciated. Reminds me alot of (gasp for Liverpool fans) Cahill and Kevin Nolan formerly with NUFC. His finishing might not be the greatest in the world, but then again for a forward thinking midfielder I think its really good.

Question for MLS watchers, what kind of player is Agudelo? Pacey off the back shoulder type, target man/ #9 type, a little bit of everything?

I actually really like Donovan in the super sub role. I am worried about his game evolving as he loses his legs which is bound to happen over the next couple of years, which is really scary as he is our creator.

[Remember The Alomar]

I am not a huge Bradley fan either, but I think he did a decent enough job with the US's player pool last cycle with a couple of glaring player selections- ahem Findley and Ricardo Clark. In general I think it is bad business to stay with the same coach for 2 world cup cycles though, things just always seem to end badly there.

I like Dempsey alot. Imo the ability to pop up in good places and finish is a trait of play that is something that is very underrated, there are so many players that suck at it and then when someone is crafty like that, they are often under appreciated. Reminds me alot of (gasp for Liverpool fans) Cahill and Kevin Nolan formerly with NUFC. His finishing might not be the greatest in the world, but then again for a forward thinking midfielder I think its really good.

Question for MLS watchers, what kind of player is Agudelo? Pacey off the back shoulder type, target man/ #9 type, a little bit of everything?

I actually really like Donovan in the super sub role. I am worried about his game evolving as he loses his legs which is bound to happen over the next couple of years, which is really scary as he is our creator.

Something Little Manc Pea excels at also.

[waroriole]

I'm not a huge follower of soccer, but I do enjoy the international games. What are our chances against Mexico?

It seems we have a big problem with giving up early goals.

Is this team going to be any better than the 2010 WC team? Will they be better by 2014?

[Scrat1]

1I'm not a huge follower of soccer, but I do enjoy the international games. What are our chances against Mexico?

2It seems we have a big problem with giving up early goals.

3Is this team going to be any better than the 2010 WC team? Will they be better by 2014?

1. Our chances were about even before the tournament, with maybe even the US as the slight favorite. But with our mediocre group play and Mexico torching through their group stage, Mexico are definitely the favorites right now. Fortunately, Mexico has slowed down just a bit, while we've improved during the single elimination rounds. For the past two decades, the US and Mexico have been very evenly matched. This tournament is no different.

2. That's sort of our thing. Play like crap in the first half then rally in the second. Sometimes we're able to come back, other times we're not.

3. Like most teams, it depends on how well our old guys hold up and how well our young guys develop. It also depends, to some extent, whether Chandler decides to stick with the US. If Lichaj and Chandler can hold down the back corners, Bradley and Holden continue to develop, and Dempsey and Donavan haven't lost too much, our 2014 team could be better than our 2010 team. A lot also depends on Agudelo and which version of Altidore shows up.

[Remember The Alomar]

3. Like most teams, it depends on how well our old guys hold up and how well our young guys develop. It also depends, to some extent, whether Chandler decides to stick with the US. If Lichaj and Chandler can hold down the back corners, Bradley and Holden continue to develop, and Dempsey and Donavan haven't lost too much, our 2014 team could be better than our 2010 team. A lot also depends on Agudelo and which version of Altidore shows up.

It's safe to say that our hopes and prayer all hang on the shoulders of Ben Lederman

http://www.nationalsoccerwire.com/news/458/13788

[atom_25]

I thought Chandler was capped by the United States......meaning that he has elected to represent the United States and once 'capped' at international level you cannot switch allegiances. You can play in one country's youth national team and then switch at full international level (ie. Subotic who played for the US at U-17 and U-21 level and then decided to play for Serbia at the senior international level).

Get in Ben Lederman.

[Scrat1]

I thought Chandler was capped by the United States......meaning that he has elected to represent the United States and once 'capped' at international level you cannot switch allegiances. You can play in one country's youth national team and then switch at full international level (ie. Subotic who played for the US at U-17 and U-21 level and then decided to play for Serbia at the senior international level).

Get in Ben Lederman.

I'm almost positive he isn't cap-tied until he plays an official tournament with the US, something like Confederations, Gold Cup, or the World Cup.

http://goal.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/0...ises-concerns/

http://www.ussoccerdaily.com/2011/05...-thoughts.html

I'm not going to even pretend to understand the rules, but Chandler still isn't under US control.