General Soccer Thread

[JackofDiamonds]

What's up with Charlie Davies?

DC United. Tied for 3rd in the league in goals. Leading the league in goals per minute.

He sucks. He wasn't that good before the bad car accident. I believe he's in MLS now, DC United?
I like my Forwards to either score goals, or be super creative and set up goals. He does neither.
The US has enough of these Possession, Holding, or Target forwards. They need scorers, badly.
That's why Aguedelo is getting hype. If he turns into anything it will be a scorer.

This is absolutely, flat-out wrong.

First off, Charlie Davies isn't a target forward. When he was up top in the Confed's Cup and World Cup qualifying, Jozy or Conor Casey played the target role. Charlie used his speed and craftiness at testing the offside line to get behind the back line and receive diagonal through balls from Landon and Bradley. When he was healthy, he was our most consistent forward period. Game in and game out he brought it unlike any pure striker in our entire player pool. His work rate, first touch, his strength, his skill on the counter attack, his direct style/dribbling in the box and his speed completely opened up our attack. If you even watched the Confederation's cup in '09 and still believe what you just posted, you're off your rocker.

Game 1 vs Italy - We start a 4-5-1 with Jozy as the lone striker. Jozy's inability to stretch the defense and not having a forward who can receive the ball running off the target striker allows the Italians to dominate possession in the midfield and flay us on the counter attack. offense gets destroyed in the midfield, Jozy gets no service and Landon and Deuce spend too much time dropping back to defend. We lose an embarassing rout to Giuseppi Rossi's brace and the rest of the Italian flop squad 3-1.

Game 2 vs Brazil - Bob does not learn his lesson. We play an inexplicable 4-2-3-1 with Jozy again the lone and Clint as the withdrawn forward. Donovan and Beasley on the wings with Kljestan and Bradley in the center. We again get worked in the midfield, Dempsey spends too much time dropping back and Jozy makes pointless runs with no service because he sucks at receiving the ball on transition. We lose 3-0.

Game 3 - Bob figures it out when he nothing left to lose. Adopts the same 4-2-2-2 formation we used up through the World Cup. Dempsey wide right, Landon wide left receiving balls on the half turn from the back line or Bradley in the middle and Charlie withdrawn to the left and Jozy high on the right. Our transition game dominates, Landon and Charlie work like a [expletive] dream on the counter attack with Charlie running the left corner receiving Landon's pinpoint pass, holding it and finding Landon on the give and go. Charlie's speed opens up the field enormously to give Landon room to operate which he so desperately needs. We dominate, Charlie shows his patented strength and determination in the box and opens the scoring, we advance on a miracle 3-0 win and an equally miraculous 3-0 Italian defeat.

Game 4 - The infamous Spain game. Bob sticks to the same tactics, Charlie's speed and combination with Feilhaber and Landon keep the midfield spread, Charlie's activity keeps the back line occupied so Jozy can receive balls and turn defenders one-on-one (his greatest strength) so Spain can't play it's customary possession triangle based game and we win 2-0 on two counter attack fast break goals.

Game 5 - Same deal, Landon and Charlie combine on a beautiful counter attack goal, Landon to Charlie, Charlie to Landon, goal.


Charlie Davies then of course used the very same speed, skill and chemistry with Landon on the counter attack to give us our first EVER lead at Estadio Azteca against Mexico, drops the stanky leg in the corner and of course we go on to lose 2-1.

Fact is, Charlie when he was healthy was the single most important igniting factor to make Bob's tactics work, give our best player Landon the best environment in which to play his best game (receiving on the half turn, running at the defender and springing pinpoint passes then running at goal) and was instrumental in making two of the biggest victories in US Soccer history (Egypt, Spain) as well as making two of our most disappointing losses competitive (Brazil in the final and at Mexico).

Thank you, I thought I was crazy for a second Robbotis' comment. I'll be proudly wearing my Davies jersey on Sunday... any good reason he isn't on this CONCACAF team?

[thrill]

When they opened camp a few weeks ago before the Spain game, he was out with a hamstring.

[MrSaigon]

That was a beautiful strike, but I'm not that crazy about Altidore. From what I've seen with my learning but limited eye, he just seems to try to bulldoze people over.

[robbotis]

What's up with Charlie Davies?

DC United. Tied for 3rd in the league in goals. Leading the league in goals per minute.

He sucks. He wasn't that good before the bad car accident. I believe he's in MLS now, DC United?
I like my Forwards to either score goals, or be super creative and set up goals. He does neither.
The US has enough of these Possession, Holding, or Target forwards. They need scorers, badly.
That's why Aguedelo is getting hype. If he turns into anything it will be a scorer.

This is absolutely, flat-out wrong.

First off, Charlie Davies isn't a target forward. When he was up top in the Confed's Cup and World Cup qualifying, Jozy or Conor Casey played the target role. Charlie used his speed and craftiness at testing the offside line to get behind the back line and receive diagonal through balls from Landon and Bradley. When he was healthy, he was our most consistent forward period. Game in and game out he brought it unlike any pure striker in our entire player pool. His work rate, first touch, his strength, his skill on the counter attack, his direct style/dribbling in the box and his speed completely opened up our attack. If you even watched the Confederation's cup in '09 and still believe what you just posted, you're off your rocker.

Game 1 vs Italy - We start a 4-5-1 with Jozy as the lone striker. Jozy's inability to stretch the defense and not having a forward who can receive the ball running off the target striker allows the Italians to dominate possession in the midfield and flay us on the counter attack. offense gets destroyed in the midfield, Jozy gets no service and Landon and Deuce spend too much time dropping back to defend. We lose an embarassing rout to Giuseppi Rossi's brace and the rest of the Italian flop squad 3-1.

Game 2 vs Brazil - Bob does not learn his lesson. We play an inexplicable 4-2-3-1 with Jozy again the lone and Clint as the withdrawn forward. Donovan and Beasley on the wings with Kljestan and Bradley in the center. We again get worked in the midfield, Dempsey spends too much time dropping back and Jozy makes pointless runs with no service because he sucks at receiving the ball on transition. We lose 3-0.

Game 3 - Bob figures it out when he nothing left to lose. Adopts the same 4-2-2-2 formation we used up through the World Cup. Dempsey wide right, Landon wide left receiving balls on the half turn from the back line or Bradley in the middle and Charlie withdrawn to the left and Jozy high on the right. Our transition game dominates, Landon and Charlie work like a [expletive] dream on the counter attack with Charlie running the left corner receiving Landon's pinpoint pass, holding it and finding Landon on the give and go. Charlie's speed opens up the field enormously to give Landon room to operate which he so desperately needs. We dominate, Charlie shows his patented strength and determination in the box and opens the scoring, we advance on a miracle 3-0 win and an equally miraculous 3-0 Italian defeat.

Game 4 - The infamous Spain game. Bob sticks to the same tactics, Charlie's speed and combination with Feilhaber and Landon keep the midfield spread, Charlie's activity keeps the back line occupied so Jozy can receive balls and turn defenders one-on-one (his greatest strength) so Spain can't play it's customary possession triangle based game and we win 2-0 on two counter attack fast break goals.

Game 5 - Same deal, Landon and Charlie combine on a beautiful counter attack goal, Landon to Charlie, Charlie to Landon, goal.


Charlie Davies then of course used the very same speed, skill and chemistry with Landon on the counter attack to give us our first EVER lead at Estadio Azteca against Mexico, drops the stanky leg in the corner and of course we go on to lose 2-1.

Fact is, Charlie when he was healthy was the single most important igniting factor to make Bob's tactics work, give our best player Landon the best environment in which to play his best game (receiving on the half turn, running at the defender and springing pinpoint passes then running at goal) and was instrumental in making two of the biggest victories in US Soccer history (Egypt, Spain) as well as making two of our most disappointing losses competitive (Brazil in the final and at Mexico).

Thank you, I thought I was crazy for a second Robbotis' comment. I'll be proudly wearing my Davies jersey on Sunday... any good reason he isn't on this CONCACAF team?

Sure, he's fast, so is Findley. Strikers should score. 4 goals in 18 games, isn't going to cut it. He had one year when he consistently hit the back of the net, and that was playing in Sweden. I'm not convinced he's better than Wondolwski, who is just not good.

[thrill]

Weekend soccer roundup?
Weekend soccer roundup.

USA 2, Jamaica 0

http://youtu.be/RGGVRfXgKCo

We advance to the Semis to get some revenge on Panama.

Obviously, we're a far more talented and experienced team than Jamaica, but there were some really nice signs of life in this game.

First, Eric Lichaj has aquitted himself very well out of position at left back. He still isn't super fluid cutting in on his good foot and definitely needs some work on his left-footed crosses, but he has been disciplined, fast and strong on the left hand side. Having someone with his athleticism be able to cover blazing fast wingers like Dane Richards is a huge help to filling that hole. Bocanegra's communication/organization has been needed at CB.

Agudelo. Agudelo was fantastic yesterday coming in for Jozy. He may not have the experience that will come with time and help make his decisions quicker and his runs smarter, but he was tireless yesterday. Constantly making runs, constantly showing to the ball and really giving the Jamaican back 4 fits.

Bob. Nice 4-5-1, Bob. About time we made a legit attempt to make it work. Giving Dempsey the freedom to roam was the key.

Steve Cherundolo was his typically brilliant self and his cover in the back and ability to get wide in the attack made Sacha Kljestan look like he belonged for once.

GRR INTENSE HUG


Great article on Dempsey from Deadspin: http://deadspin.com/5813561/

In addition to showing Jamaica who's boss, our u-17's showed the Czech's with some style in the u-17 World Cup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XgvcPv- ... ded#at=110
Some serious skill on all three of those goals.

Also, MLS has been freaking awesome this year. Were you at this game, Sai?

If you've got 20 minutes, check out the condensed game from NY at Portland: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFeleDVomWA
The skill, the crowd, Robbie Earle doing analysis...there are teams in the league who do it so right. This game had everything. Finally some real drama on American soil.
We even have a GM taking the league to task for it's horrendous officiating: http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/201 ... land-match

Good article on Bedoya and the spark he's brought to the US team: http://www.mlssoccer.com/goldcup/news/a ... reakout-us
He puts in a lot of effort and sometimes leaves the final product begging, but he does bring some (i hate this word) swagger and pure hunger to the field. Something that's been lacking outside of Deuce, Bradley, Cherundolo and Howard. It's weird and an indictment again on Bob, that Robbie Rogers and Freddy Adu were both picked over him and yet he's the one getting major minutes.

[robbotis]

Yes, they dominated.
I agree thrill Lichaj looked good, minus his finishing. But hey, this is team USA, nobody finishes.

Agudelo was exciting as usual. He just makes things happen. No fear. I like it.

Dempsey was good as usual.

This is the team I expected to see the first 3 games. Better late than never.

[MrSaigon]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHebuF8t ... r_embedded][/youtube]

[robbotis]

I really hope the US wins tonight. US vs. Mexico, or even Costa Rica, will be a nice final to watch Saturday.
As long as the US team of Sunday shows up!

[thrill]

I'm not worried. Any word on Jozy's hammy yet? I haven't seen anything.

LD starting on the bench in the Jamaica game was interesting. I've long suspected Dempsey and Donovan had their own Lampard-Gerrard issue in the midfield. The offense has to flow through one of them and whoever it goes through, the other suffers. If that's the case, I prefer it going through Clint. Seemed to work v Jamaica.

[Freed Roger]

Fortunately for the US soccer team, they play in the NFC West, (or the normal NL Central) of qualifier regions.

Am I wrong?