***Official World Cup Talk Thread***

[Cnasty]

Is our defense really that bad or are they just lazy and have lapses??

The guys seem to just float on by every time once they pass a certain part of the field.

Is it our formation that has these holes or just lapses on D?

[trendon]

Ill never understand how #15 just doesnt take him the fuck out when he is outside the box and Howard hug that post and make him take a horrible angle???

I guess Ill never udnerstad soccer and all that.

That's easy; the guy with the ball was dictating the play.

[Cnasty]

Right but he is running right at him instead of back peddling giving him a better angle for a shot?

Like I said, Ive never played a minute of soccer in my life so who knows.

Ghana is whoopin dat ass right now.

[shel311]

Of all the games I've watched, I don't know that any team turns the ball over so carelessly around midfield like WE do.

[shel311]

Seriously, just freaking terrible.

[Cnasty]

See, like right there.

Risk the penalty outside the box rather than letting the guy by you with an angle at a shot.

Sure its risky but Id take a foul there and I think the US guy knew that and did go for the foul when he was beat.

Playing like shit early again.

[shel311]

It seems like they have 3 more guys at midfield then we do, lol.

[shel311]

Passing is the difference so far.

Every pass of there's is perfect, and our passing has been atrocious.

[LetsGoPeay]

This game is proving early on what I've always said is the biggest obstacle for US soccer to overcome, the fact that our best athletes don't play soccer. Ghana is clearly the stronger more athletic squad and its showing. It wasn't as evident against Slovenia, England, and Algeria but it's extremely clear here. Our best players aren't great athletes (Donovan, Dempsey) and our best athletes (Altidore, Finley) aren't skilled enough yet.

[Easportsbama]

Of all the games I've watched, I don't know that any team turns the ball over so carelessly around midfield like WE do.

They are a lot faster and cleaner than we are.

[shel311]

Way to start Clark over Edu.

That proved costly.

[Cnasty]

This game is proving early on what I've always said is the biggest obstacle for US soccer to over come, the fact that our best athletes don't play soccer. Ghana is clearly the stronger more athletic squad and its showing. It wasn't as evident against Slovenia, England, and Algeria but its extremely clear here. Our best players aren't great athletes (Donovan, Dempsey) and our best athletes (Altidore, Finley) aren't skilled enough yet.

Very very true.

I was thinking the same thing as their skill and athleticism looks way above ours let alone physical stature.

[shel311]

FML!!!

[LetsGoPeay]

Altidore is shit right now. He needs to get the ball to the better distributors and start posting up as more of a target forward so he can use his size and strength to his advantage.

[Cnasty]

Yea, I was going to post that as well.

Altidore just seems to be roaming around and not interested and being aggressive.

They need to move him or sub his ass out.

Its do or die!

[shel311]

Altidore is shit right now. He needs to get the ball to the better distributors and start posting up as more of a target forward so he can use his size and strength to his advantage.

He's just jogging around on EVERY ball.

[trendon]

They need to conjure up the spirit of Herb Brooks. Losing to Finland in 1980 in the gold-medal game, he walked into the locker room and said. "If you lose this game you will take this to your grave." He started to walk out, stopped and yelled, "Your fucking grave!" Then left.

They won.

[brwnbear]

Right but he is running right at him instead of back peddling giving him a better angle for a shot?

Like I said, Ive never played a minute of soccer in my life so who knows.

Ghana is whoopin dat ass right now.

The right thing for the defender to do is to force him to the sideline/endline to shorten the angle for a shot. Think of it kinda like a safety trying to make a 1v1 tackle in the open field. You want to use the sideline as an extra tackler. You dont want to go in for the big hit because if you miss, its a TD.

Same principle in soccer when you are the last defender, give them the line and take away the cutback where the forward has the hole goal to shoot at. It requires you to funnel the player by giving up that space (he probably gave him too much since he had help on the inside). The goal was Howards (keep) fault for giving up the front post. A keeper should never get beat on the front post. Horsecrap play by Howard.

[Cnasty]

COME ON!!!!!

[Cnasty]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIR!!!!!!!