Closing thoughts after Wednesday’s amazing night in South Africa
by Steve Davis on Jun 23, 2010 5:50 PM EDT
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– That was a rare "I was there" moment in U.S. Soccer, or an "I remember where I was when …" moment. Michael Bradley’s goal last week was probably another. Before that? I’d say John O’Brien’s stunner in the early moments against
– The margin between big success and horrible failure is ridiculously thin. If anything happens along the route to Landon Donovan’s goal, everything looks so much different right now. This team stinks. It’s a poorly constructed side that went winless at World Cup 2010. Not a single win against a relative tame group! Bob Bradley loses his job, for sure. And everybody looks at these players, individually, in terms of what they couldn’t accomplish.
As it is, this is the team that went undefeated in the first round! Landon Donovan is a beloved hero and … hey … wait a minute! This really is like that damn Nike commercial! Just like it. Write the future, indeed.
– Do you realize this is the first World Cup match since 2002 that the
– As I said on Facebook immediately after the game: People who don’t like soccer enjoy making fun of the passionate goal celebrations. They don’t understand how folks can get so bed-wetting excited about one little goal. Well, today, I think a lot more people understand.
– No one needs to get ahead of themselves here, but the path to the semis is wide, wide open. That doesn’t mean the
– Finally, I think "Landycakes" – a really silly nickname branded on Donovan by people who don’t know any better – is officially dead. Donovan bashers have now seen the man go grande in the English Premier League and score twice at the World Cup amid some bright play all the way around. If that’s not enough for the Donovan downers, well, I don’t know what will be.
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haha!
nice editorial.
I especially liked this part
As it is, this is the team that went undefeated in the first round! Landon Donovan is a beloved hero
Keep up the good work on the articles.
Everybody knows we won 2-0
but the snubbed goal was worth that ending.
Longest Atlanta Falcons winning-seasons streak: 2008 - current
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More like 4-0
Everyone knows that Jozy was fouled telekinetically by Belhadj…
by Ruben Tisch on Jun 23, 2010 11:01 PM EDT up reply actions
About Jozy.
He needs to nail those point blank shots. I have seen several times where he just sends the ball over the crossbar when it should be in the back of the net.
Floyd Little: HOF Class of 2010.
2010 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2010 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant
I do however give him tons of credit for the way he played today.
Floyd Little: HOF Class of 2010.
2010 NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2010 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant
The referring has been absolutely criminally bad
We should have seven points. Luckily, due to England’s struggles, the result has been the same. We can now clear the slate and start the next campaign against Ghana. It was a good idea to pull Oguchi out. But I’m not sold on Bob Bradley’s strategic decisions. The coaching staff has to take the majority of the responsibility for the slow, distracted starts.
But, don’t you have to give them a bit of credit for motivating a brilliant second half against Slovenia and the never quit game against Algeria? I’m not entirely sold on his tactical decisions either, but if you blame him for the slow starts, you have to credit him for the comebacks and resiliency as well.
"It was almost like if Harry didn't call it, it wasn't real." - Jayson Stark
SB Nation
by Chris Haines on Jun 23, 2010 9:01 PM EDT up reply actions
They seem to have a problem playing well when they know that a draw would be okay
They are not at their best when they play conservatively — I think that’s been the pattern since qualification, too. Some if it, I think, is just talent-level — the US really can’t put 2 good center-backs and a good left back and a good right back on the field at the same time. On the other hand, with Dempsey, Donovan, and Altidore, they have some talent up front. You can add Bradley to that, too, when he goes forward. The attack would be even stronger with Davies, as well. A defensive game plays more to the US’s weaknesses than to its strengths.
On the other hand, the struggles early might reflect conditioning, too. If they really are more capable of playing hard for 90+ minutes than most of their opponents, then it would make sense for them to get better as the game goes along.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Oh, enough about the refereeing
If the referee in the Slovenia game had been on the ball, the US would have played 85 minutes a man down and we’d be headed home. You win some, you lose some.
What a f'n moment!
So proud of our guys. I’ve been waiting for this tournament since the end of last year’s Confederations Cup and all I wanted was at least one match past the group stage and Landon and the boys have given it to us. So great.
Well let’s let the talk begin. Will there be a winter transfer push for Landon next year? I’ve got to think yes, he seems like the type to be more inclined to go back to Everton where he was comfortable then to try his luck with one of the truly big . Then again, I could see him wanting a real break after the MLS season and taking this one off. Thoughts?
by I need more Esteban on Jun 23, 2010 9:40 PM EDT reply actions
I'd imagine MLS will try very hard to keep Landon
They need to jump on this opportunity to market the hell out of him. As much as the Everton fans loved him, I think he’s worth more to MLS and the Galaxy than he is to the Toffees.
"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s
Disagree
If Everton (or the way Landon’s playing, maybe even a larger club) offer $12 mill+, MLS has to take it. With only a couple profitable teams, they just can’t pass up that much money.
Sad, but an exotic (and past-his-prime) foreign import like Henry or Ronaldinho will have a bigger impact on attendance than any American could, anyway.
I'm laughing a bit
about NY’s Henry deal after the French disaster. Hopefully he’s not a flop though. Would be a shame for them to front a lot of cash to have zero impact on their attendance.
by chrisperry1983 on Jun 24, 2010 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions
As a Crew fan, I wouldn’t shed any tears.
"Facebook is bad news. It and Jason Donald both crush dreams." - JRontherim
by woodsmeister on Jun 24, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
also would not shed any tears as a Union fan
"I will never have my best season," Brian Dawkins
"There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." Bruce Lee
"This fucking game is over!" Chuck Bednarik
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" Mike Tyson
by Talon Talent on Jun 24, 2010 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Lets Go Boys!!!!!!!!
Get a little revenge for 06 in this next game. We definately need to convert those wide open chances that we blew today though. Our movement was very good, I like the defense giving the long shots (which are cake for Howard) and playing tighter to the 18, and damn’t Bradley if Buddle didn’t prove his worth today, when will he? Give the man a start. Lets go USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"I will never have my best season," Brian Dawkins
"There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." Bruce Lee
"This fucking game is over!" Chuck Bednarik
"Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" Mike Tyson
agreed.
let buddle play for the first 60, then bring in gomez, or findley to actually use his speed to take advantage of a tired defense.
capital letters suck.
:'''''''''''''''D
When I get older, I will be stronger.
They’ll call me freedom, just like a Waving Flag
On Donovan, and passionate goal celebrations.
I think Landon did away with any doubts at the Confederations Cup. Now I’ve come to expect this kind of performance from him and haven’t been disappointed. Everyone’s talking about his game winner against Algeria but it was his second-half performance against Slovenia that rescued this campaign. That was a brilliant goal, he sets up the second, and what should have been the winner was the result of a world class free kick.
On the subject of passionate goal celebrations, I think Andrew Leonard over at Salon.com hit the nail on the head:
Delayed gratification — so sweetly expressed by the U.S.-Algeria game, where both teams had numerous chances, but just couldn’t break through — makes the final explosion all the more orgasmic. Sure, in many games that release never comes. But that makes those moments of exultation all the more amazing.
Orgasmic. That describes it well.
(Leonard’s story is here )
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