World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

[Craig P.]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

If it were me, I would have offered Bradley 2 more years, take it or leave it. If he leaves it, I go interim. Just me though.

What happens when you don't have any interest from anyone you think is better than Bradley?

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

Well, currently - the top teams get a bye into the second round, a home and home series. (2). Those that advance move on to 4 team groups, home and home (6), and then the Hex (10).

So, that's 24 teams -> 12 -> 6, meaning you'd need at least one more set of games to get to 16, rather than 24...

I think there's 53 teams to begin with. So say they take 45-52 (probably with a 52 v. 53 playoff beforehand), and have them play two legged ties. That gets us down to 48. Then have 17-48 play two legged ties. That gets us down to 32 teams. Have 1-32 play two legged ties, that gets us down to our final 16 teams.

So, under that scenario, the U.S. would actually be playing two fewer qualifiers.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

So no qualifying games against Mexico? Well, given the U.S.' good record against Mexico lately, maybe they are ducking us. Too bad, as those were great matches and gave the sport some exposure it won't get when the U.S. squares off against folks like Guyana.

 

[Craig P.]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

Bradley's bigger problem is that his tactical decisions don't seem to shift given personnel. He kept trying to go to the formula that worked for the Confederations Cup, except that he didn't have the horses to do it without Davies.

He built the team around Donovan and Dempsey as wide attackers, which was pretty clearly the right move—that's each player's best position at the national team level. Beyond that, I think his "formula" was trying to find what else would work around them. He certainly experimented with other formations.

I think there's a lot of value in deciding at some point that his best team will feature those two players and to settle into a consistent way of playing even when they're not available; it makes it easier to see who fits as potential subs and does a better job of getting everyone else ready to play. The only real drawback is you lose some flexibility to attack different opponents different ways, but if your team's best play doesn't support that, so be it.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

And if I were Bradley and the offer was for 2 years (regardless of the money), I'd walk.

If the USSF wants flexibility, then you negotiate that in the buyout provisions - but the contract has to be for 4 years.

That's a risk I'd be willing to take. It's not like Bradley is being bombarded with offers at the moment. Fulham rebuffed him, Villa aren't interested.

As for finding someone better, I'm sure US Soccer could find someone just as good, who brings a different perspective, which is my main concern really.

 

[Craig P.]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

So no qualifying games against Mexico? Well, given the U.S.' good record against Mexico lately, maybe they are ducking us. Too bad, as those were great matches and gave the sport some exposure it won't get when the U.S. squares off against folks like Guyana.

I don't think Mexico's got anything to do with this. It begins and ends with the crook in T&T.

 

[blockski]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

I think there's 53 teams to begin with. So say they take 45-52 (probably with a 52 v. 53 playoff beforehand), and have them play two legged ties. That gets us down to 48. Then have 17-48 play two legged ties. That gets us down to 32 teams. Have 1-32 play two legged ties, that gets us down to our final 16 teams.

So, under that scenario, the U.S. would actually be playing two fewer qualifiers.

There are 40 Federations in CONCACAF, of which 35 fielded teams for the last round of WCQ.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CONCACAF)

The top 13 advanced to the 2nd round with byes, the remaining 22 playing off for 11 spots - that makes the 24 teams that moved on.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

I think there's a lot of value in deciding at some point that his best team will feature those two players and to settle into a consistent way of playing even when they're not available; it makes it easier to see who fits as potential subs and does a better job of getting everyone else ready to play. The only real drawback is you lose some flexibility to attack different opponents different ways, but if your team's best play doesn't support that, so be it.

How do you explain the World Cup then? It was shown to him over and over again that 4-5-1 with no Findley was his best formation, and he continued to start off with Findley and 4-4-2.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

There are 40 Federations in CONCACAF, of which 35 fielded teams for the last round of WCQ.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(CONCACAF)

The top 13 advanced to the 2nd round with byes, the remaining 22 playing off for 11 spots - that makes the 24 teams that moved on.

Boy, I screwed that one up. Was thinking of Europe. Man, my fault.

If there's only 35 teams, then it's even easier. One playoff round, then the two groups of 8. 16 games vs. 18 last time around.


Of course, there's no indication CONCACAF does it that way. Having an extra set of group stages would seem to be a bigger cash cow, and thus is probably what they'll do.

 

[Craig P.]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

How do you explain the World Cup then? It was shown to him over and over again that 4-5-1 with no Findley was his best formation, and he continued to start off with Findley and 4-4-2.

Over and over again, like in the warmup friendlies?


(Wherein we looked a lot better in a 4-4-2 with Findley than a 4-5-1 without...)


I'd be really cautious making sweeping statements about relative formation performance within the World Cup, too, since there's no way to control for the vast differences in game situation (and, consequently, our opponents' approach to play).

 

[GreatLakerMohawk]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

Do they charge extra for all those letters?

Most of the team sites or other sites offering jerseys, as long as the guy is on the roster the rate is all the same. I didn't pay anything extra for my Vennegoor Of Hesselink Hull City jersey and that's 20 letters.

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

Over and over again, like in the warmup friendlies?


(Wherein we looked a lot better in a 4-4-2 with Findley than a 4-5-1 without...)


I'd be really cautious making sweeping statements about relative formation performance within the World Cup, too, since there's no way to control for the vast differences in game situation (and, consequently, our opponents' approach to play).

They did?


Okay, here's a less sweeping statement. Against Slovenia, dominated in the first half, Findley useless up front. 2nd half, Feilhaber comes on, the US looks a lot better.

Against Ghana, their 3 men in the center of the field outnumber our two, a classic problem with a 4-4-2, US look poor. 2nd half, Feilhaber comes on, the US does a lot better.

Then there's the Clark v. Edu decision.

 

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

This will change obviously, but here's the top 16 teams from last time around:

Group 1

Mexico
Costa Rica
Panama
Jamaica
Haiti
Canada
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Suriname

Group 2

U.S.A.
Honduras
Trinidad and Tobago
Cuba
Guatemala
Guyana
Barbados
Bermuda

Speaking from the fan's perspective, a trip to Bermuda for a few days to take in a qualifier doesn't sound like the worst thing in the world. (Especially given that you can fly round trip from NYC to Bermuda for like $300 if you pick your dates right.)

That's a risk I'd be willing to take. It's not like Bradley is being bombarded with offers at the moment. Fulham rebuffed him, Villa aren't interested.

I don't think "Bradley To Fulham" was ever anything more than idle speculation based on the fact that Fulham needed a manager, Bradley was rumored to be available, and Fulham have American players.

Most of the team sites or other sites offering jerseys, as long as the guy is on the roster the rate is all the same. I didn't pay anything extra for my Vennegoor Of Hesselink Hull City jersey and that's 20 letters.

Yeah, but I can't imagine Hull have people beating down the door to buy their ugly-*** jerseys. They probably would've had JVoH deliver it to you by hand if you'd asked.

 

[AMC]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

They did?


Okay, here's a less sweeping statement. Against Slovenia, dominated in the first half, Findley useless up front. 2nd half, Feilhaber comes on, the US looks a lot better.

Against Ghana, their 3 men in the center of the field outnumber our two, a classic problem with a 4-4-2, US look poor. 2nd half, Feilhaber comes on, the US does a lot better.

Then there's the Clark v. Edu decision.

Who is going to play up top in a 4-5-1 that will result in goals? If the US had a hold up striker, that would be a great option. But they didn't. Bradley had to roll the dice in the 4-4-2, unless he wanted to go crazy with a Chilean style formation.

Further, those who are itching for Klinsmann, when has he ever shown anything tactically? Joachim Low was always his tactics guy. Klinsmann was the face of the federation, around to get a youth movement going and rework the infrastructure.

 

[GreatLakerMohawk]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

Yeah, but I can't imagine Hull have people beating down the door to buy their ugly-*** jerseys. They probably would've had JVoH deliver it to you by hand if you'd asked.

Looking like a school bus is all the rage. And yes, considering they were selling the jerseys for £10 that made it all the better.

 

[AMC]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

Exciting day for Spurs with Pletikosa coming in as cover for Gomes, Babel, and Rafael Van der Vaart joining as well.

 

[Bob Gray]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

Exciting day for Spurs with Pletikosa coming in as cover for Gomes, Babel, and Rafael Van der Vaart joining as well.

Did Babel and Van der Vaart make it to Spurs? Last I heard, the Babel deal fell through, and it was unclear the status of Van der Vaart. I'm not sure Babel is much of a pickup, given his performances at Liverpool, but Van der Vaart could be a nice addition.

 

[AMC]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

Did Babel and Van der Vaart make it to Spurs? Last I heard, the Babel deal fell through, and it was unclear the status of Van der Vaart. I'm not sure Babel is much of a pickup, given his performances at Liverpool, but Van der Vaart could be a nice addition.

Babel did fall through.

Van der Vaart seems confident that everything got sent in in time, but apparently Real had trouble with their fax machine and the EPL needs to investigate. 8M would be an absolute steal for him, 1/3 of the money of Milner...

 

[Patman]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

Boy, I screwed that one up. Was thinking of Europe. Man, my fault.

If there's only 35 teams, then it's even easier. One playoff round, then the two groups of 8. 16 games vs. 18 last time around.


Of course, there's no indication CONCACAF does it that way. Having an extra set of group stages would seem to be a bigger cash cow, and thus is probably what they'll do.

its like a world full of Andorras....

 

[JF_Gophers]

Re: World Soccer XVIII: A New Season

So Blackburn is selling bricks that will be put into their stadium with 2 or 4 lines of text (1 row for name, 1-3 for other text). Much like many other tradition walls.

I thought about it, but no idea what I would put besides my name. Plus the lowest cost is $61.41 USD.