World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

[RaceBoarder]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Has anyone considered going to Brazil next summer for the World Cup?

I got a couple friends going with the American Outlaws trip... Had the chance to go, but the $5000 was tough to commit, even though I had 2 years to pay it off... Kinda kicking myself now, but probably the right choice... Just a bit outside of my price range

 

[Jimjamesak]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Has anyone considered going to Brazil next summer for the World Cup?

Honestly, at this point, its gonna be tough to be able to get plane tickets, match tickets, hotels etc. Match tickets especially, at this point your best hope is for the US to qualify and get tickets through the USSF.

 

[Priceless]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Honestly, at this point, its gonna be tough to be able to get plane tickets, match tickets, hotels etc. Match tickets especially, at this point your best hope is for the US to qualify and get tickets through the USSF.

I found travel agencies with a "Follow the US" option. Ludus Tours offers 7 nights in Brazil with 4 in Rio and 3 wherever the US is playing. A match ticket to a game in Rio and another to a US game. This costs $10K. Another travel agency is offering a travel package for all 32 nights in Brazil with 4 domestic flights etc for $15K. This option does not include game tickets however. I'm going to do more digging. Between here and twitter, we might be able to get a small group together.

ETA: Or you can order through FIFA. Deluxe accommodations for the month, tickets to 19 games (including finals and semifinals) and travel between destinations for the bargain-basement price of only $1.2M. Who else is in?

 

[FreshFish]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Favorably impressed with US patience and composure last night. As we get better, we'll see more slogfests like that one: pack everyone behind the ball in the middle of the field.

I was pleased with our response, to keep attacking. When teams play against Spain the way Honduras played against us last night, the Spaniards will just keep passing the ball around back and forth. The US instead tried to find ways to attack. Even though the long aerial balls weren't working, they were coming close. That variety had to keep the Hondurans just a little bit off their game plan.



On a separate matter, I wonder if Landon Donovan even wants to come back. The way the USMNT is playing now, Donovan would be a strong addition to the bench, which raises the question, would he accept that role if that is where he is needed the most?

Donovan probably would score more than Zusi, but overall right now, Zusi's crosses are top-notch. He had several excellent deliveries off corners as well.

 

[Patman]

The difference between the CONCACAF Hex and a UEFA is the quality of teams from top to bottom is flat out better in the Hex. Yes Spain and France may be better than the US and Mexico but Jamaica, Honduras, and Panama are better than Georgia, Belarus, and Finland. Every now and then you'll get a group that's just stacked like Group C but it's usually easy to look at a UEFA group and figure out who's going to qualify. Plus Home Field Advantage has some real meaning in CONCACAF, even the US and Mexico have struggled in Jamaica, Costa Rica, Honduras etc. Even some of the top UEFA teams would struggle in places like those.

CONMEBOL is the toughest by far, * up one game at home and you could be toast. You can look and say "Ok Brazil, Argentina, and... umm... I dunno".

I know this is behind... But I was looking at Paraguay... 1 pt out of first (Brazil) last go, last place this time.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

it looks like if Mexico loses their two remaining road games and ties their two remaining home games, they likely wind up fifth in the group.

I'm sure the US really wants to beat Mexico in Ohio again.

Even if Mexico wins its two home games, if it also loses its two road games, and if Honduras wins its remaining home games, we could easily see USA, Costa Rica, and Honduras in the top three and Mexico having to win the play-in series against New Zealand to qualify.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Favorably impressed with US patience and composure last night. As we get better, we'll see more slogfests like that one: pack everyone behind the ball in the middle of the field.

I was pleased with our response, to keep attacking. When teams play against Spain the way Honduras played against us last night, the Spaniards will just keep passing the ball around back and forth. The US instead tried to find ways to attack. Even though the long aerial balls weren't working, they were coming close. That variety had to keep the Hondurans just a little bit off their game plan.



On a separate matter, I wonder if Landon Donovan even wants to come back. The way the USMNT is playing now, Donovan would be a strong addition to the bench, which raises the question, would he accept that role if that is where he is needed the most?

Donovan probably would score more than Zusi, but overall right now, Zusi's crosses are top-notch. He had several excellent deliveries off corners as well.

There are few interesting thoughts on this...not having Donovan has created opportunity for other players and for the most part they are thriving. Sometimes you always felt like players were just trying to get the ball to Donovan and let him make something happen. For the most part that just doesn't work, but wouldn't it be helpful to have Donovan and Bradley in the middle with Zusi and someone on the outside? I don't see how we can say that Donovan isn't more than a sub for this team? CONCACAF qualifying isn't easy but look what happen to Belgium and Germany's B squad, we need more if we're going to do something at the world cup.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

There are few interesting thoughts on this...not having Donovan has created opportunity for other players and for the most part they are thriving. Sometimes you always felt like players were just trying to get the ball to Donovan and let him make something happen. For the most part that just doesn't work, but wouldn't it be helpful to have Donovan and Bradley in the middle with Zusi and someone on the outside? I don't see how we can say that Donovan isn't more than a sub for this team? CONCACAF qualifying isn't easy but look what happen to Belgium and Germany's B squad, we need more if we're going to do something at the world cup.

It's hard for me to envision Donovan as a central midfielder, he doesn't seem to have the patience and discipline that role would require (I'd also prefer Cameron to J Jones in central midfiled for the same reason). I agree that it would be nice to have him swooping in from one of the wings. As you note, that raises the question, would we then play a 4-4-2? Jurgen (Coach K?) seems to like the lone striker, at least in this round. I can see how effective it's been when Jozy outmuscles the other team's central defender to hold up the long forward ball until two of his teammates catch up to the run of play.

Assume the midfield in a 4-4-2 is ??-Cameron/Jones - Bradley - Zusi, if you insert Donovan either you have to move Dempsey to forward, or you keep Dempsey as a wide midfielder and move Donovan to forward alongside Jozy.

It's starting to look like a game of "who will blink first?" Will Coach K reach out to Donovan, or will Donovan call Coach K?

Klinsman's "tough love" approach seems to have worked pretty well with both Dempsey and with Altidore: since he called each of them out publicly, they have both elevated their game to new levels. So far at least it comes across like Donovan sulking rather than responding, though I could be way off on that comment since the media has been pretty quiet on that front.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

It's hard for me to envision Donovan as a central midfielder, he doesn't seem to have the patience and discipline that role would require (I'd also prefer Cameron to J Jones in central midfiled for the same reason). I agree that it would be nice to have him swooping in from one of the wings. As you note, that raises the question, would we then play a 4-4-2? Jurgen (Coach K?) seems to like the lone striker, at least in this round. I can see how effective it's been when Jozy outmuscles the other team's central defender to hold up the long forward ball until two of his teammates catch up to the run of play.

Assume the midfield in a 4-4-2 is ??-Cameron/Jones - Bradley - Zusi, if you insert Donovan either you have to move Dempsey to forward, or you keep Dempsey as a wide midfielder and move Donovan to forward alongside Jozy.

It's starting to look like a game of "who will blink first?" Will Coach K reach out to Donovan, or will Donovan call Coach K?

Klinsman's "tough love" approach seems to have worked pretty well with both Dempsey and with Altidore: since he called each of them out publicly, they have both elevated their game to new levels. So far at least it comes across like Donovan sulking rather than responding, though I could be way off on that comment since the media has been pretty quiet on that front.

I don't think its a who blinks first at all. I think Donovan and Klinsmann are talking. I wouldn't be surprised to see Donovan involved in the September or October qualifiers or even the Gold Cup...he did make the 35 man preliminary roster.
EDIT: I also think that Klinsmann was playing more of a 4-4-1-1 with Dempsey as a support striker or withdrawn forward.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

I don't think its a who blinks first at all. I think Donovan and Klinsmann are talking. I wouldn't be surprised to see Donovan involved in the September or October qualifiers or even the Gold Cup...he did make the 35 man preliminary roster.
EDIT: I also think that Klinsmann was playing more of a 4-4-1-1 with Dempsey as a support striker or withdrawn forward.

I hope you are right. If Donovan comes on board with the "team first, how can I help?" attitude that would be good.


Meanwhile, I've played around with my little calculator and the most likely outcomes seem to be USA and Costa Rica in first and second, with Mexico barely edging out Honduras for third. However, that assumes two Mexico victories at home (vs Honduras and Panama). A tie in the former flips Honduras to third and Mexico to fourth.

I'd love to see Panama qualify ahead of Mexico, but a real lot would have to break right for them to see that happen.

 

[Shirtless Guy]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

I hope you are right. If Donovan comes on board with the "team first, how can I help?" attitude that would be good.


Meanwhile, I've played around with my little calculator and the most likely outcomes seem to be USA and Costa Rica in first and second, with Mexico barely edging out Honduras for third. However, that assumes two Mexico victories at home (vs Honduras and Panama). A tie in the former flips Honduras to third and Mexico to fourth.

I'd love to see Panama qualify ahead of Mexico, but a real lot would have to break right for them to see that happen.

In all honesty, as much as I hate Mexico, I just want 4 CONCACAF teams in the World Cup and I want at least 2+ to make it to the round of 16. The best chance for that is for Mexico to be in the tournament. I think anyone in the hexagonal except maybe Jamaica could take out New Zealand in a home & home so it really doesn't matter who finishes 4th, I just want CONCACAF to put its best foot forward and show its worthy of the 3.5 spots and consistently earn the half spot and show they can compete in the World Cup. No more finishing last in groups like Honduras 2010, Costa Rica/T&T/USA 2006, USA 1998...god USA sucks in European World Cups

All-Time Results:
Europe: 0-9-1 in 10 games with the loan tie coming in 2006 vs Italy in that crazy 3 red card match...
Everywhere else: 7-4-8 in 19 games

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

By that measure, the updated "standings" would be:

+1 United States
-1 Costa Rica
-4 Honduras
-4 Mexico
-5 Panama
-10 Jamaica

Updated for last night's games:
+1 United States (13 points)
-1 Costa Rica (11 points)
-4 Mexico (8 points)
-5 Honduras (7 points)
-6 Panama (6 points)
-10 Jamaica (2 points)

Of course, everyone has played 3 home games and 3 away games, so this really doesn't tell us anything that the standings don't tell us already.

 

[FreshFish]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

While it's way too soon to tell, there is a "vibe" about the USMNT right now with Klinsman that reminds me of the Chicago Bulls in the late 1980s / early 1990s.

With Doug Collins as coach, the Bulls consistently made the playoffs, only to be eliminated in the 1st or 2nd round. At first, people were skeptical when Phil Jackson was hired (why replace a guy that brings us to the playoffs each year?), especially when some of Jackson's coaching methods seemed a bit, um, unorthodox. Yet, Jackson was able to get the stars to buy into the "team first" approach that led to the two three-peats.

Under Bradley, the US had some great moments, and perhaps also was stuck at a certain level of "above-average mediocrity" if that makes any sense, analogous to Collins and the Bulls. The start to Klinsman's tenure was similarly unorthodox, and it's too soon to tell if his methods will get the USA past the round of 16, past the round of 8, in Brazil 2014 (especially now with Scolari back in charge at Brazil). I'd sure love to see that though.

Look for a nice tough series of friendlies in 2014; it sounds like many teams want to spend some time in the USA for time-zone acclimatization ahead of traveling to Brazil (which is pretty much one hour earlier than the eastern US time zone).

He's getting the players to believe in their gut that merely getting out of their pool into the knockout stage just isn't good enough. He's starting to get them hungering for more. That's a huge change.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

I like the 4 x 4 x1 x1. I question if Donavan can be productive even as a sub. If he can function at 100% and can not be selfish, then great. My worry is more the back line, against the top clubs especially.

 

[Priceless]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

From Twitter: A journalist from Brazil told American journalist "USA better get ready to hold World Cup. No way can we host 64 games. We can't even cope with Confed Cup's 12!"

That would be cool. I see the high-speed rail from Rio to Sao Paulo that was supposed to be done in time for the World Cup has finally finished the bidding process, and likely won't even be done for the 2016 Olympics.

 

[jmh]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

It would be cool, but a journalist suggesting it is far from it actually happening.

 

[MountieBoyOz]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

It would be cool, but a journalist suggesting it is far from it actually happening.

I think you're right on that front. FIFA would rather not hand it to us unless its a last resort. If we did get it, would be a make good for screwing us for 2022?

 

[FreshFish]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

I think you're right on that front. FIFA would rather not hand it to us unless its a last resort. If we did get it, would be a make good for screwing us for 2022?

It would be beyond ironic and quite droll indeed if FIFA contacted Mitt Romney and asked him to turn around the situation! he did an extraordinary job in Salt Lake City in the late 1990s getting them ready for the Winter Olympics. The SLC preparations, if you can believe it, were in an even worse state then than the Brazil preparations are now.

 

[Priceless]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

It would be cool, but a journalist suggesting it is far from it actually happening.

Oh I know, but it's nice to dream about which WC games would be played in Gillette, NYC and Philly.

 

[MountieBoyOz]

Re: World Soccer XXIII - "Pay" Up Pompey?

Oh I know, but it's nice to dream about which WC games would be played in Gillette, NYC and Philly.

Honestly I think England deserves it too after the royal bleep job that FIFA and Platini pulled on them about 2018. The Russian mob bought that World Cup.