ALL NIGHT LONG! Thanks Krisvad, we have a very reasonable path. I foresee more questionable calls coming USA's way, but I also expect USA to NOT lost their composure and simply play to win despite them! This World Cup, which I have been very wrapped up in, has had a HUGE effect here. Things are changing somehow...I love it!
Things'll be back to normal once the normal sports start again. But right now there's nothing. Only baseball on now isn't it?
Baseball sucks. No, I don't mean soccer will vault hockey, basketball, baseball and football to be the most loved sport of the USA, but read this to understand more about what an American soccer fan is/feels/does/sees now. Soccer fans "coming out of the closet".
Who do USA play in the quarters if they win against ghana? Do they play uruguay v korea winners? If so, then i can see the USA making it to the semis.
I hear that Landon Donovan is feeling very nervous today. Apparently he always gets like this right before a long flight...
if Jd scores today I may buy a wfc season ticket - betfair - to score took 46/1.... memories of the big match at Cardiff lil wfc ( usa) v mighty weeds ( ghana) JD score first and 3 - 0 what odds?
Sure I've seen that number 15 defend like that somewhere else. No idea why DeMerit didn't just try to block the shot/run rather than back-track till it was too late.
The problem wasn't DeMerit...it was Bob Bradley. We lost this game the moment the starting lineup was announced to include Red-cardo Clark and Robbie Findley. He fixed his errors by the start of the second half, but the damage was done. I am not a fan of BB.
Unlucky Fitz, it could have gone either way after you equalized. I think Ghana will make the Semis, as would the USA if you'd won. See you in Brazil.
It's going to be interesting to see the backlash here. People have popped a look at soccer for the first time in their lives after reflexively hating it without ever seeing it, and people all over the country have been getting excited. Now that a country as unknown as Ghana (mind you, all countries that aren't former allied or axis powers or Mexico and Canada are unknown to Americans) has beaten us, the pendulum shall swing back the other way now. If fortune favors we football fans, it will steel us to succeed in the future, and if not, we will have set the game in the USA back another 5 years. (I'd take five years back if it erased the 2006 World Cup.)
Uruguay look really good...we'll see. Yes, I will be going to Brazil, amigos. Hopefully USA and England will not be in the same group again!
I guess its a bit like with us and Wimbledon over here.. Tennis usually doesn't take up much interest but if a Brit is doing well in the major tournament then people pick up on it before going back to normal when the 2 weeks ends (I suspect your fellow Americans take a bit more interest generally in the game?) When does the MLS start up because that will be a true test of weather people really have taken up a liking for "Soccer"? Thought you weren't bad after the break and the manager did well to make those changes (wish Mackay was as bold at times!) but as stated a couple of errors cost you really. Do think Uruguay will have too much for Ghana TBH... Suspect one of your Latin/South American neighbours will be returning with the World cup. At least you did better than the Italians of which there a lot in the US!
Tennis is probably a good analog for soccer here. Those 'bold changes' in the 2nd half were the common sense starters. These same starters gave up a 4th minute goal to England through the middle... Every USA fan groaned in anger when we saw the lineup Bob Bradley picked, especially Clark and Findley. MLS started in April and we are 12 or 13 games deep already. Follow here. I will update there on the status of the game in the USA post 2010 World Cup... I still think the winner of the Brazil/Netherlands game gets the trophy...
I agree for the most part, though I think Jonny B scores a bit high, should be no more than 5. Player Ratings for USA players vs Ghana
Fitz, it is a shame that USA went out against Ghana - not for footballing reasons since I thought that Ghana deserved to progress but because it was probably the first match that the wider American public embraced. All the reports I read before the game in the American press (which I occasionally read for NFL news) seemed to indicate that following the realisation that the USA had done well and qualified from their group more people were getting ready to tune in and support their country. I hope that the defeat against Ghana doesn't destabilise the momentum that Football (Soccer ) has gained over the last few years (and weeks). On the whole I don't think the USA have had a bad World Cup by any means even if you do find Bradley's decisions a little baffling.
:forehead::forehead::forehead: The man is a money grabbing mercenary. Even your own uneducated reporter makes it perfectly clear; Jay DeMerit (4.5) - The center back was again sloppy early. With Clark rallying in support, he should have stepped up to the shooter on the opener. In extras, he went back to poor, failing to offer Bocanegra proper support on the Gyan winner. Whilst it is quite clear the reporter is lacking in knowledge of the game even he can see little old captain america wasn't to clever. I suggest you broaden you reading selection, look at a report were the reporter understands the game and in fact the terminology. From the Independent (a UK Broadsheets website) Jay DeMerit: Beaten by Boateng for the opening goal, unable to cope with the pace of Gyan and Asamoah all night long. 4 Didn't capt america say he may give up the game after the World Cup? I personally don't think he will, I believe he will end up in the mickey mouse league or whatever its called over the pond, however several things are for sure; 1. He isn't the player he once was 2. The eye injury has affected his game 3. He is yet to realise both of the above 4. After watching his appalling contribution and bad attitude xmas to May at WFC I doubt any manager will be in a rush to sign him up, say bar Stevenage (at least he won't have to move out of Caaaamdon town
Last time Bobby Downes posted (yet more) anti Jay DeMerit and anti American football posts I warned him via PM that there was to be no more, else a permanent ban would occur. The warning was crystal clear, and also pointed out that as someone who had been given a 2nd chance on the forums that he was pushing his luck. The above was the last of the ongoing and predictable rants. Bobby Downes is banned permanently.
I thought Ghana deserved the win and I'm glad there is still an African nation left in. The USA did well to get as far as they did and may turn out unlucky to have won the group - we will find out this afternoon. DeMerit was his usual self, some well timed interventions and some expensive mistakes.
Wow, tough break for Bobby. Too bad... At any rate, I don't really disagree with the criticism of DeMerit's play, though that's not really the problem. If Ricardo Clark isn't there, the problem is never presented to DeMerit to screw up. It was virtually exactly the same breakdown as in the England game with the same players, and oh so predictable to everyone except it seems bumbling Bobsy. Bob Bradley needs to go!
I just watched Bob Bradley and Donovan on Jon Stewart - you know football has come some way in the US during the WC.
