The bit you highlighted doesn't hold true with me, a few posts later I said that Slovenia could probably top the group.

Koren plays for the enemy, he's a ****, I hope he falls on his face repeatedly.


Well, there's a few things you can take into account. One of our only bright points in the McClaren era and one of the best players in qualifying - Gareth Barry - was missing, that's why you got a bit of space behind the midfield. Robert Green made a huge mistake and jokes aside, that happens, what, once every few years? Rooney also never turned up and Milner went off early due to sickness.

If our GK doesn't make a howler, Barry plays and Rooney plays well - 3 things that aren't exactly an awful lot to ask for - we'll be fine. We dominated a game without them, we'll sure as hell do it with them.

But sure, you have to give the US credit. You made us look very average at times, I won't deny that. Dempsey and Donovan had their moments and you have some incredible pace in your team that caused us problems. I also thought that you were very well drilled with set plays, I can't remember causing you any trouble with them an you had 1 or 2 chances from attacking set plays. Very good coaching that.

Alot of US fans seem to like Altidore? I watched him at New York a few times and he was good. But he was horrible for Hull last season and I've not seen him do anything of note for a few years. He isn't all that good a player it seems.

Oh, one other thing. What do you Americans think of the commentary? Was Tyler biased at all or did he call an even game? We had ITV commentary in the pub, unfortunately.

Um. I watched it in Portuguese on ESPN Deportes. So not sure of the commentary.

-Tyler seemed fine to me, though I was so in the moment I was barely listening to them.

-Gooch had an excellent second half, the first half was questionable. I think you need two solid halfs to be MOTM, but there is no denying his incredible second half.

-Milan needs a goal keeper, and Tim Howard freaking rocks. Hmmm.....

-Kurt, you can say well this went wrong and we didnt have this guy and blah blah blah, but I mean, thats an easy way out. We could say the same thing. If Davies had played...if Altidore's shot went in...if one of the headers fell...I mean, its all give and take.

-USA did not play well tonight, but we played a mature game, which is something we've been missing in the past. I'm looking for us to improve in the next two games, because Slovenia and Algeria are NOT jokes. They will give both us and England a hell of a go.

- Grats to Kurt and any other English people on here on a game well played. I enjoyed watching it, and I think England was the better team today in most respects as possession was 57 to 43 in their favor.

(P.S. its funny that both goals were scored on what are considered our team's main weaknesses. US - poor defense, England poor goalkeeping.)

Did Howard actually play that good? I don't remember any particular save from him.

Nigeria's goalie was incredible today, maybe we should keep an eye on him.

wow! that looks sooo delicious!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/droolsmiley.gif)

This post has been edited by Bluesummers: Jun 13 2010, 03:59 AM

Was Tim Howard good? Do bears piss in the forest? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

This post has been edited by Dracoris: Jun 13 2010, 04:12 AM

(IMG:http://photogallery4vip.com/images/humor/bear_toilet.jpg)

Hahahaha.....clever (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

Well in the first half after the goal was conceded (I actually put it down to DeMeritt's positioning than Gooch...he was the one who lost his marker...Gooch was supposed to be on Rooney) and a couple of times afterwards you can hear Howard screaming at his defenders to 'Get out!' and stop the attacks. I think that's why he advanced so much.

Gooch totally nullified Rooney and Lamps too a couple of times I think. No nonsense stuff true but still remarkable. De Meritt after that goal and the Howard ticking off was left to sweep up behind Gooch. The threat he provided on setpieces was considerable as well.


As for mid-field. The truth is possession came to England's favour only because of the last 15 minutes when they laid seige. Otherwise, the ease with which the ball was finding it's way to Donovan/Altidore/Findley was embarassing. If one of Altidore/Findlay was replaced by a U.S replica of Rooney, the 3 Lions were looking at a thumping. Both those players had atrocious movement.

My MotM by position:
GK: Howard
DF: Gooch (Terry was the best for England, but then he was unspectacular)
MF: Dempsey (Gerrard and Lamps both disappeared. Not to mention their defensive gaffes which provided so many openings to the US)
DM: Bradley (got stuck in, slowed things down when momentum threatened. Nice work alround)
ATT: Rooney. (US fwds sucked balls. Rooney did everything except score. He needs to put his gloves back on)

actually won't disagree with anything in the post.

Altidore actually scored more goals than anyone else during qualifying. I was actually hoping he'd do well with Hull...but I agree, he did awful while over there. the reason americans like him though, is because he's one of the first promising strikers we have coming out of the US at the moment. he's still young though (20), so i'm hoping he gets more chances to prove himself over in europe.

i didn't notice any bias one way or the other with Tyler. honestly, i think he's too much of a professional for that. it was nice hearing his voice rather than some of the other announcers ESPN has used in the past.

also...i think one of the reasons US fans are excited after the 1-1 draw with England is because our opener in 2006 was a 3-0 lost to the Czech Republic.

This Adu fella. He's definitely out then?

I would say he never truly got 'in', at least not on the NT. Life is full of surprises so, who knows maybe he'll show up again one day but I'd say hes done.

currently no spot for him. the one thing the US is not lacking is midfielders. he'll probably be in the squad for 2014. he's also only 21.

one of those....photos caught at the right moment.

(IMG:http://i.imgur.com/G8FTm.jpg)

Lol. Good one!