USA vs Venezuela open thread
First international match for the United States of 2012. the match can be seen on ESPN3 or on firstrowsports.eu
No soccer hating allowed. If you are not a fan, simply don't post.
USA Lineup:
-------------------Hamid--------------------
--DeLa Garza-Pearce-Parkhurst-Cameron-
----Zusi------Jones-------Larentowicz----
- Feilhaber--------------------------Shea-
----------------Bunbery------------------------
EDIT: Lineup fixed. sorry i had my rights and lefts mixed up.
January 21st, 2012 at 9:21 PM ^
Who are the real athletes? Footy players or rugby? Debate!!! /s
January 21st, 2012 at 9:26 PM ^
Well the best footy player this generation has seen is 5' 6'' and has a growth hormone problem.
Also Clint Dempsey just had the game of his life.
January 21st, 2012 at 9:22 PM ^
January 21st, 2012 at 9:28 PM ^
Hamid is the 'keeper.
So 4-5-1 or 4-3-2-1
January 21st, 2012 at 9:43 PM ^
i thought it would play like a 4-3-2-1, but it certainly looks like a 4-3-3 right now
January 21st, 2012 at 10:04 PM ^
January 21st, 2012 at 9:24 PM ^
We're not allowed to hate the English? Or Sepp Blatter? Or Real Madrid?
I'm on the wrong thread.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:20 PM ^
Real Madrid is great on FIFA, but what a flock of douches. That Barca game was out of control...
January 22nd, 2012 at 1:02 AM ^
You're always allowed to hate Real Madrid. They're the Ohio of the other football.
January 21st, 2012 at 9:31 PM ^
Not trying to sound like a debbie downer, because I love US soccer and fútbol in general, but is this game going to be an indicator of anything other than potential depth? Isn't the majority of the roster busy with league play? I follow US soccer but not necessarily the individual players. The only name I really recognize of the starts is Feilhaber.
Sorry that got a little long-winded. So, this match is mainly about depth right?
January 21st, 2012 at 9:35 PM ^
Basically, yes. But guys like Bunbury, Shea, and Agudelo are guys who will contribute for the US, and seem to be stars in the making.
January 21st, 2012 at 9:36 PM ^
Long-winded: Yes
Depth: Yes
Indicator of future: Maybe
January 21st, 2012 at 9:38 PM ^
some things Im looking at:
Forward play: the US has a ton of options up top, but no one wants to seperate themselves. Bunbery and Shea need to step up and score.
Midfield: Our creativity in the midfeild has been lacking. Feilhaber could be a player that Klinsman uses, but he'd have to show he can do it for 90 minutes.
Defense: Our defense has been atrocious for the past 4 years. finding a few good fullbacks would free up bocanegra to play CB when WC qualifying starts.
January 21st, 2012 at 9:54 PM ^
Couldn't have summed it up better. US soccer has been very vanilla in terms of style. Jozy has his moments, but doesn't have that "finishing move." His speed is his greatest asset, but he struggles to create shots. Agudelo may have it, he's very talented but he's still pretty young and raw.
As for midfield, I felt our WC run was basically "COME ON, LANDON!"
And our D has been scary. Perhaps its the lineup changes, but they never seem to play cohesively.
I'm really curious to see how Shea does. He came on well at the end of the 2011 season.
January 21st, 2012 at 9:57 PM ^
Who are these guys? Haven't heard of any of them.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:08 PM ^
January 21st, 2012 at 10:12 PM ^
Some idiot
January 21st, 2012 at 10:27 PM ^
I do believe the term you were searching for is douchenozzle.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:14 PM ^
January 21st, 2012 at 10:17 PM ^
whatever. they can take our mgopoints... but they can never take our freedom to discuss soccer!!
were getting good posession, id like to see us show some more tenacity in the final 3rd
January 21st, 2012 at 10:19 PM ^
January 21st, 2012 at 10:17 PM ^
Futbol? Futbol. I'm in a good mood.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:21 PM ^
I really enjoy soccer during the World Cup. I have a hard time getting into the sport otherwise, even though I used to play it in middle school. What's the best way to follow the sport? I don't have ESPN3.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:25 PM ^
January 21st, 2012 at 10:23 PM ^
firstrowsports.eu usually has all the games you would want to watch. espn2 shows premier league games saturday and sunday mornings.
fsn has the champions league games. those are the best ones to watch if you're looking for high stakes fast paced soccer.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:30 PM ^
aww. Brek Shea made a very nice lateral run and was JUST short of connecting on a nice through ball. coulda been 1-0 easily.
I know Klinsman has not been succesful in terms of victories as the US coach but it is blatanly obvious that he is an upgrade over Bob Bradley. Our youth/reserves are posessing the ball surprisingly well, 1-touch and 2-touch passing, spreading the defense out, getting into good scoring positions.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:29 PM ^
I'm upvoting everyone who gets flamebaited for no apparent reason. People have been so petty with the voting system lately.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:49 PM ^
Lately? Easily 95% of the things voted "Flamebait" or "Trolling" since the inception of the moderation system have not been flamebaiting or trolling by any objective standard. Its an asinine system that's been abused horrendously. Look at any thread where people discuss 3&O and see what got labelled "trolling".
January 21st, 2012 at 10:34 PM ^
oh dear god. Ricardo Clark and Wondolowski in. cover your eyes kids.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:37 PM ^
I'll set the O/U at 2 misses at close range for Wondo...good lord he was awful at the CONCACAF...
January 21st, 2012 at 10:42 PM ^
USA needs to tap the B button very quickly on those goal shots and not hold it too long. /FIFA
January 21st, 2012 at 10:43 PM ^
As a venezuelan citizen.... Go USA! Chavez, may your cancer consume every bone in your body.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:45 PM ^
The voting system is stupid. Nevertheless, everyone has a +1 from me.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:47 PM ^
We've been Nerfed, declawed, defanged, you name it. It's like replacing my prized dueling sword with a pool noodle. I feel emasculated.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:54 PM ^
If they're comin after you, you know you're doing something right. Emasculation becomes pride and victory. I'm almost drunk. And pool noodles never kept me afloat.
January 21st, 2012 at 11:03 PM ^
Removing my negging tool makes it harder to do that. I must rely on the power of the pen to reveal truth in the minds of my readers. And I'm drinking Kentucky bourbon from a leather-bound flask.
January 21st, 2012 at 11:18 PM ^
I have no leather flask. But last time I dipped into some stiff Kentucky drink, it was a red eye, and I dreamt I saw St. Augustine alive as you or me. No truth ever came of it though.
January 22nd, 2012 at 11:27 AM ^
I'm not sure why I find this exchange so entertaining, but I feel compelled to upvote ... all of it? nice work, gents.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:47 PM ^
ESPN, y u no put this game on one of your 13 channels?
January 21st, 2012 at 10:48 PM ^
Missed a good opportunity on that last corner. No one home to clean up...
January 21st, 2012 at 10:54 PM ^
This is the best I've ever seen Jones play for the USMNT.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:57 PM ^
Good analysis Barlis.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:55 PM ^
yikes. our forwards just cannot shoot.
January 21st, 2012 at 10:59 PM ^
This Venezuelan keeper is ridiculous. I've counted at least 2 shots/headers that should have/would have gone had it not been for the keeper
January 21st, 2012 at 11:03 PM ^
Great drama last 8 minutes...
January 21st, 2012 at 11:09 PM ^
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!
January 21st, 2012 at 11:08 PM ^
And the win...wow!
January 21st, 2012 at 11:09 PM ^
wow. what a fucking ending!
Ricardo Clark of all people. the man who was responsible for us losing to Ghana (yes I will put all the blame on him)
January 21st, 2012 at 11:09 PM ^
GOOOOOOOOAAAALLLLLLL in the 97th(!!!!) minute Ricardo Clark from a corner! WOW