Comments on: Confederations Cup … 2-nil was a bad omen http://soccer.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/10298/confederations-cup/ Just another Press Democrat Blogs weblog Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:43:33 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: npoet.ru http://soccer.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/10298/confederations-cup/comment-page-1/#comment-114 npoet.ru Sun, 09 Aug 2009 11:26:58 +0000 http://soccer.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=10298#comment-114 I'm tempted to say "what a load of crap!" just for the sake of irony, but I'll refrain I’m tempted to say “what a load of crap!” just for the sake of irony, but I’ll refrain

]]> By: soccerfan http://soccer.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/10298/confederations-cup/comment-page-1/#comment-6 soccerfan Wed, 01 Jul 2009 00:15:44 +0000 http://soccer.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=10298#comment-6 Well the outcome was not a surprise. It was fun to watch the first half and for awhile have the fantasy that we are really a world class team...but alas the second half revealed the truth...all you had to do was watch the last few minutes when the US needed to pressure and control the ball...Brazil toyed with them and kept possession... The US showed a lot of heart and worked extremely hard the first half, but Brazil's individual skills and creativity took over. Until we develop kids who can go on to play in Europe against top notch competition or lure top notch talent to the states, the US team will keep hitting this wall. Well the outcome was not a surprise. It was fun to watch the first half and for awhile have the fantasy that we are really a world class team…but alas the second half revealed the truth…all you had to do was watch the last few minutes when the US needed to pressure and control the ball…Brazil toyed with them and kept possession…

The US showed a lot of heart and worked extremely hard the first half, but Brazil’s individual skills and creativity took over. Until we develop kids who can go on to play in Europe against top notch competition or lure top notch talent to the states, the US team will keep hitting this wall.

]]> By: Chris Townsend http://soccer.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/10298/confederations-cup/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Chris Townsend Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:46:49 +0000 http://soccer.blogs.pressdemocrat.com/?p=10298#comment-5 When the U.S. Team closed out the first half with a 2-0 lead I was bag of mixed emotions. I thought, "Is this really happening!?" Then my nerves hit when I realized there was 45 minutes left to play and the U.S. would have to hold off the god's of futbol. Then the second half started and an all to familiar feeling took over as Brazil systematically demolished the U.S. side in an embarrasing come from behind defeat. I am very disappointed that we lost our chance to make history but there were definetly some glaring reasons why. One, I cannot count the number of times I saw a U.S. player with the ball while nearly all of his teamates were static instead of moving to provide passing options. The U.S. will never be a world class team unless they can create multiple passing options. Teams like Brazil create a swirling, dizzying array of options that allow them to confuse their opponents and create opportunities. Coach Bradley should take note and force the team into playing at this level. Second, the midfield was nearly non-existant on offense. The only transition used by the U.S. was a hopeful long ball sent by the defense that, 9 times out of 10, was lost to Brazil. The U.S. cannot hope to consistently compete with the top teams by constantly playing defense. That being said, I was proud to see our team in a FIFA final and I can't wait to see their showing in the world cup next year. Also, I would like to comment on the article in Sunday's press democrat about the "Soccer Nazis". I would like to congratulate the author on masterfully creating an army of straw men whom he all to easily defeated with witty arguments about French fries and broccoli. We "soccer Nazis" are not asking the media to stop covering football but to simply recognize the history made by the U.S. team in this confederations cup. Oh.... And ban those annoying horns! When the U.S. Team closed out the first half with a 2-0 lead I was bag of mixed emotions. I thought, “Is this really happening!?” Then my nerves hit when I realized there was 45 minutes left to play and the U.S. would have to hold off the god’s of futbol. Then the second half started and an all to familiar feeling took over as Brazil systematically demolished the U.S. side in an embarrasing come from behind defeat. I am very disappointed that we lost our chance to make history but there were definetly some glaring reasons why. One, I cannot count the number of times I saw a U.S. player with the ball while nearly all of his teamates were static instead of moving to provide passing options. The U.S. will never be a world class team unless they can create multiple passing options. Teams like Brazil create a swirling, dizzying array of options that allow them to confuse their opponents and create opportunities. Coach Bradley should take note and force the team into playing at this level. Second, the midfield was nearly non-existant on offense. The only transition used by the U.S. was a hopeful long ball sent by the defense that, 9 times out of 10, was lost to Brazil. The U.S. cannot hope to consistently compete with the top teams by constantly playing defense.

That being said, I was proud to see our team in a FIFA final and I can’t wait to see their showing in the world cup next year.

Also, I would like to comment on the article in Sunday’s press democrat about the “Soccer Nazis”. I would like to congratulate the author on masterfully creating an army of straw men whom he all to easily defeated with witty arguments about French fries and broccoli. We “soccer Nazis” are not asking the media to stop covering football but to simply recognize the history made by the U.S. team in this confederations cup.

Oh…. And ban those annoying horns!

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