USA v. England

[LaPlaceFootballer7]

hey coach, where do you coach. what school or club team tell me. and i do agree on that the 3rd world countries are better because you know why they play happy and play for the game itself. and you really need to watch how you talk to people coach. you might know alot about football and it is called football maybe your too american. cause it is football. so in that respect "genius" you dont know enough. but some of your points were good but i would just like to know where you coach.

[upper90]

wow laplace..do you know how idiotic you sound? we can call it football or we can call it soccer..WHO CARES? coach ray coaches at st amant high school..his team got into the playoffs..so just chill out...

[LaPlaceFootballer7]

yeah i did kind out get out of hand, sorry coach i ray i take the bad comments back. and your right futbolplaya i doesnt really matter what you call it its the same no matter what. sorry coach. oh by the way how do you think the us team will do against the england squad in may. what will be the keys to victory.

[coachray40]

No further offense taken -we can all live together as one ;D

As for US/England--US needs to play with the confidence the showed Wednesday against Guatemala, but they will have to slow the pace. England would love to play a fast paced game, and the US will need to keep the tempo more favorable to them. Expect the US defenders to play with more depth, maybe not abandoning the flat 4, but deepening the two centerbacks to counter the English longball.

Biggest problem as I see it is to counter Steven Gerrard/Frank Lampard in midfield (if they play). Reyna cant run with either of them, and I wouldnt be surprised if Donovan was moved inside to play with those two. we still have wait and see if the Brits bring Owen and Beckham, though I dont look for Owen to matter much if the US starts Gibbs and Onyewu in the middle of defense--Owen will get bounced around by those guys, and he doesnt do well when forced to play against larger defenders with comparable speed. If Rooney makes the trip, then we should expect to see him rip it up a bit. As for the US striking, the English defense has its moments where they are merely pedestrian. If the US can work combination play early through Eddie Johnson and Ching/Beasley/Donovan, then the English defense might get caught. Goalkeeping is definitely in favor of the US--Keller is playing well right now, and neither James nor Robinson is better than average. James is always known for the blunder, so dont be surprised at the US kicking in an errant rebound.

I was horrified at the US/Mexico match, but glad for the better lineup and play against Guatemala. Good to see Berhalter and Reyna replaced, Ching added and playing like a forward, and Bocanegra playing more wide--hes more comfortable there. I'm a fan of Cory Gibbs--I think he is a more athletic Eddie Pope, and he pairs well with Onyewu. Eddie Lewis has had two excellent games in row, and I look for him to have abig game(especially since he would like to play in the premiership).

All in all, if the US plays with their heads and not their 'nads, and if England leaves a few key players at home, the US could have a chance. Central midfield is big key, and if England puts at least 2 of the Gerrard/Lampard/Beckham trio in the central part of midfield, it could be along day. I'll stick with England 3-1 for now, until we see what kind of squad the English bring across the pond.

[usasoccerboy]

Ok, CoachRay, I have many contentions to talk with about you after reading your post Mexico comments. But, after reading the replies of some and your comments of the Guatemala game, I am going to let some of them pass.

The USA loss the Mexico match because of a poor lineup choice by Arena in playing Berhalter and Arena. His lineup consisted of many of the foreign players who were unable to train in New Mexico and Colorado. Also, the tactic of holding back and waiting for their moments was a poor decision. The USA found out that they don't need to give Mexico time on the ball. The defensive pressure by the USA was weak and basically fell apart for the last 15 minutes of the first half. But that is it. It is not like they are done with. No one goes into Azteca and wins very often, so it is not so much a disappointment for team USA to lose that game. I disagree that you call that game a crucial game. At two games, now 3 games into the competition, the USA is comfortably in a position to qualify. The USA looked slow Sunday and then looked explosive on Wednesday. So, they lost one game out of 17 or 18. Big deal! It is not the end of the world.

As for Arena, there has never been another coach in american history, foreign or american born, who has accomplished as much as he does. Does that mean he is perfect? No. He will adapt and make the necessary changes. Sometimes, I see his decision to change things comes a bit late, but once a lineup has been submitted and the players are on the field, there is not much that can be done with three substitutions. Me, I would have taken out Reyna in the 30th minute for Ralston.

I feel that your view that the americans need to go to europe is a bit false. Johnson has 8 goals after 8 games and is now the second highest WC scorer in USA history, all before his 21st birthday. The USA players are getting better and better and this is all within our current system, not a european system. I respect guys like Donovan who say they are happier playing in the USA than in europe. There has always been players like this in the past. The same applies world wide. Many players from Brazil or Argentina choose to stay over there and bypass the european pro leagues and they burn it up during World Cup. It is not always true that europe = better oppurtunities.

As for the soccer vs. football debate. It has to be the most boring topic on a soccer chat room. Been done a million times. Just remember, it was the English who invented the term soccer, and many other countries do not call it football either, including Brazil and Italy. It is not like they do much in the world game, right?

[LaPlaceFootballer7]

no truly coach i hope you accept my apology yeah england have a good squad but the us does too. hey do you follow any of the leagues overseas, such as the epl and La Liga in spain. those are the ones i follow seeing as i am a real madrid fan i think the galacticos can catch barca at the top of the league. what do you think. get back to me on that one if you can. thanks coach and once again sorry.

[coachray40]

Usasoccerboy, I believe you make some very good comments--and I suppose I have to appreciate you letting some of mine pass ;D

I will debate some of the issues with you though. First, while I agree with the Berhalter/Reyna points, (and made the same observations earlier in the thread), I dont agree with you about the US/Mexico match not being crucial. Case in point--gaining points on the road is essential, always. The US has not played well on foreign soil and still has to go Panama and Costa Rica--our last sojourn to Costa Rica didnt end so well (a 2-0 loss), and Panama got a draw with Mexico last Wednesday at home. Both of these away games will be tough, and are potential non point bearing matches. These matches now become more important and might be necessities to win when they are played, especially if the US slips up at home(like the did to Honduras in 2001 at RFK). Take a point from your biggest competition early, and the easier matches become less risky. US plays Guatemala and Costa Rica on the road in two out of their last three matches, with the home match with Mexico right before these. Also keep in mind that the US was the third team of three to qualify in 2002(going 1-2-2 in road qualifying). Always crucial on the road in WC qualifying--especially Mexico. At some point the US has to start approaching that game as winnable and stop accepting a negative result--the US Soccer Federation and the American Soccer media have consistently tried to put a positive or excusing spin on our poor play abroad. As an American fan and knowledgeable soccer fan I now want to expect more.

As for the europe thing--that was Grobbenk. I think the players need to go where they have best chance of playing. As for the Brazilians-Dida, Kaka, Ronaldo, Ronhaldino, Roberto Carlos, Cafu, all play in Europe. While some of the supporting talent is home bound, the best players in the world are in Spain, Italy or England. Personally, I think if the move for Eddie Johnson had come from and English, Italian or Spanish team rather than Benfica (Portugal), the move would have been made--you dont see Benfica on Fox Sports World much now do you? Not the the best place to have your newest US soccer marketing tool at is it?

As for Arena, he is the best the US has to offer, but I find his tactics and style of play for his team sometimes are very boring and noncreative. I dont always understand the personnel decisions he makes, as he uses some non national team caliber talent too often. Berhalter has never impressed me, Reyna has piggybacked his playing for Arena at UVA into a very average international career, and I'm still not sold on Cherundolo(though seems to be gaining confidence). I like Eddie Johnson, and I think he has a bright future, but I want to see him more productive against the best teams on the road before I start genuflecting to him. He was great against Panama at RFK (3 of his 8 goals), but was largely nonexistent against Mexico at the Azteca (granted a good portion of the reason for that was probably Arenas crap tactics and lineup). I remember once when Landon Donovan was going to score a bazillion goals and be the next great thing, and I'm still waiting. Go to espnsoccernet and read Jen Changs column bashing Donovan--I thought I was the only one who felt that way about the "golden boy" (golden boy my arse--I'll take Beasley over Donovan any day).

As for soccer/football thing.......oh never mind that horse became glue a long time ago ;D

Laplacefootballer--I follow the premier league, though Chelsea has made it pretty boring. Arsenal and Newcastle (my sides of preference) have under achieved, and Fergie is a putz. Was rooting for Everton to hang in and make Europe, but they seem to want to sell off the players that give them that chance. Dont follow La Liga much, mostly because I cant understand how Real Madrid (or Barca for that matter) could ever lose a game with the personnel they have. Interesting how there are a bunch of Spanish players in England right now and a bunch of English in Spain--and none of them are happy!

[usasoccerboy]

Berhalter plays because we are lacking in the central defender department. Agoos and Llamosa are all too old, Pope is hurt, and Gibbs and Gooch are too young in the experience department. He went with Berhalter instead of the others due to his experience. It backfired. He should have played Gibbs, but maybe he knew that Wednesday he needed Gibbs so he started Berhalter. Berhalter has had his good games and his bad. He does need to be replaced.

The USA plays on the road the way it does because playing on the road is never easy for anyone. Yet, they were still getting points on the road before Mexico.

Saprissa (Costa Rica) will be tough, but now that they have changed the field to field turf, that place may not be as daunting. Saprissa has never been easy. I can think of 3 or 4 games in the past WC qualifying years that were very difficult for the USA.

As for it being crucial, I don't buy it. It is not crucial when you have to finish in the top 3 of 6 to qualify, and if you finish 4th, you have to play a home and away aggregate with the fourth place Asian team, and you can still qualify.

And the USA was the second team to qualify for the 2002 WC out of Concacaf, but they finished 3rd. Costa Rica wrapped it up first, and then the USA wrapped it up in game 9. I remember that game as we beat Jamaica and Honduras had lost and we were in. Mexico, had to play a playoff in game 10 with Honduras for the final spot and beat the piss out of them. The USA had tried an experimental team at T&T and tied them making them fall to third place to Mexico's second, but it didn't matter. The USA had qualified after game 9 and used game 10 as a prepatory match.

And it is not just one player I am talking about staying home to play. Look at Argentinian Tevez deciding to stay in South America to play in Brazil instead of going to Europe where he was highly courted, and the Mexican federation uses home grown talent for their national team because they do not go to europe to play often.

It is great if you can play in europe and get the playing time. But it is not a necessity as many people proclaim.

I suspect that after this european season is over, we are going to see more americans moving back to MLS including McBride and Keller and maybe even Reyna, as they are all older. This will continue to improve MLS. MLS is steadily growing and after a few more expansion teams, a few newer stadiums, and more cash paid to the players, the league will continue to improve. It is always interesting of note of how well the MLS teams do against foreign competition already.

As for Donovan, he has always been a hot and cold player.

[LaPlaceFootballer7]

man how about fc dallas they played good even though they played the lowly fire. i think the pair uptop for them, ruiz and johnson, will carry them through the playoffs and a win in the finals. i know its early but they have a really good team in dallas oh yeah and how do you get one of those icons for the forum you know the one under your name. can some one please tell me.

[usasoccerboy]

O brien is very good for Dallas too.

[PutMeInCoach2]

LaPlaceFootballer7 said:

oh yeah and how do you get one of those icons for the forum you know the one under your name. can some one please tell me.

Step
1. Log-in
2. Go to profile
3. select peronalized picture, or if you have your own, the link underneath that section

[LaPlaceFootballer7]

seeing if my icon works on the forum

[LaPlaceFootballer7]

darn i cant get it to work

[Crip4Lyf]

Did you check the I have my own pic box?

[LaPlaceFootballer7]

yea i did but i wont work i put the address of the pic in and it still doesnt work.

[PutMeInCoach2]

LaPlaceFootballer7 said:

yea i did but i wont work i put the address of the pic in and it still doesnt work.

check your pm

[coachray40]

Well surprise, surprise--Good ole England is bringing over a second rate team to play against the USA. No Gerrard (no surprise here with Champions league final just the other day), Lampard, Rooney, Scholes. Owen and Beckham are listed on the roster, but wont play. Look David James is the starter--wonderful for the US. Prediction: James will blunder at least once to give US a prime scoring chance.

Looks like JOB might see some field time for the first time since Japan/Korea. Certainly hoping for that--hes a wonderful player.

I earlier predicted a England 3, US 1 final. England team is very weak, but US is without Ching, Beasley, Lewis, Mastroeni and Onyewu. I will revise my prediction to a 2-2 draw. Keller will keep US in the game, James will do his best to lose it for England. US defense will be shaky--especially when Alan Smith gets on the field(he is one of the most underrated players in the world imho), and will concede at least 1 goal due to an error. Looking forward to seeing Bobby Convey play tomorrow--as he wants desperately to play in the Premiership, I expect he will go off if and whe he gets the call.

Neither team is going to do much but try young more inexperienced players out.Should be a sloppy, boring game, but I will watch it anyway ;D

[applesandpears]

It pains me but, there is a big difference in the quality of play. U.S. soccer is still in its infancy, comparatively. A win for either team will be great!! I do have to say that if the U.S. wins, I will be pleasantly surprised. It will be an indication that we are making even more progress on the international scene. As a faithful watcher of Barclay, I have much respect for England's level and quality of play.

[manudown]

england 2, usa 1

[usasoccerboy]

Bruce Arena learned that giving too much respect to England cost him this game. The USA dominated possession in this game and had the better run of play, but sloppy defensive breakdows gave the English the oppurtunities to get out of there with a win. The people on footy365 knew that the USA were the superior team in terms of field play that day and they were impressed at our defensive tenacity. Not until the second half did the USA step up its attack and it paid off with a goal. Arena noticed this and for the next two WC qualifiers, took this attitude in dispatching Costa Rica and a at home Panama 3-0. Arena now sees that his team does not have to play everybody with a defensive first attitude. The USA are comfortably ahead in the qualifying process and that was the purpose of this experimental team with England. The England game was not much of a matchup in terms of who was better as both clubs experimented with new lineups and backup role players.