Confederations Cup

[TexanWolv]

Thoughts? Predictions? Expectations for the 'Nats?

I don't even know what kind of talent the other teams are bringing...I should go look that up now.

Thank goodness we beat Honduras because it would have been impossible to enjoy this tournament...and impossible for the players to focus on it had we lost or even tied. My expectation for the team is that they play hard, don't sit back on defense and don't only offer up some offensive presence on the occasional counter. Beyond that I think it's silly to use record as an indication of success (especially if other teams bring a mixed bag of talent).

Out of curiosity...Any of you fellow soccer buffs live in Houston? Although I typically like to watch games alone, I'm considering heading out to one of the pubs on Monday for the Italy game. I used to go to Mother Egans in Austin and I really wish I still could.

 

[Napoleon]

First thought:
Prediction? PAAAAAAAIIIINNNN!!!!!!!!!

Second thought:

It depends on who is healthy, who goes, and who BB plays.

I think that we need some Freddy and/or Benny not to get laughed off the continent. If Michael Bradley has a partner in crime who knows what he's doing (Feilhaber, Torres) or who can cover ground (Clark), then I think things could be salvageable. If we start (or play) Mastroeni, we are going to get embarrassed. He has aged 3 to 4 years in the last 6 months.

If Demarcus Beasley plays, you can count on 5 instances of covering your eyes for every one that you are happy with. That's not a good ratio for a forward and it is catastrophic for a player depended on for his defense.

We have to hope for a healthy Spector or Hejduk. And also hope that Bornstein stays healthy and remembers how to play defense. He's great going forward (or at least that's what you always read), but a defenders #1 responsibility is to defend.

It would be great if Dempsey decided to play like he does for Fulham instead of how he normally plays for the Nats.

I don't want to see Conor Casey anywhere near an airport, much less in the Southern Hemisphere.

Ching will be there as will Altidore. The unfortunate thing is that Jozy & Landon excel at the same position. (Withdrawn Striker) But if Robbie Rodgers isn't going to go to South Africa (and judging by the slow start to the year in the MLS and his exclusion from national team play so far, there's no reason to expect him to go), then having Landon on the left wing has turned into a fairly decent option.

For The Bench:

-Several players listed above in the midfield
-We can only hope DeMerit goes over Califf.
-Who is the 3rd striker? Do we take one? Or do we just take 7-8 midfielders and assume that Landon or Dempsey can move up top?

The lack of use of [insert striker's name here] as another option up top is a major weakpoint in US team preparation. Whether we look at Kenny Cooper, Charlie Davies (who has been getting a little look), of Findley (not even listed among the 2009 Player Pool on US Soccer)... we need something. Of course a Jersey born Italiano kid would be a nice addition, but we were out of that race about 8 years ago. And until Mac Kandji gets his citizenship, we'll just have to make do with what we've got.

I think we look like amateurs agaist Italy & Brazil and I would hope for a tie against Egypt. Fortunately we have a pretty good goalkeeper.

 

[FWHORN]

4-0 loss to Brazil; 1-0 loss to Italy; 1-1 draw with Egypt.

I really dont have much faith in Bradley and this team. They will qualify for the WC because of a generally weak Concacaf but I have seen nothing to indicate that barring a huge upset they can do anything in the Confed Cup and even more disappointingly barring a similar huge upset or a tremendously lucky draw have a chance to sniff round two of the WC next year

 

[TexanWolv]

Napoleon...I don't think Ching was named to the roster due to his injury, thus Casey getting the nod.

 

[Ignatius]

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[Napoleon]

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[GemStateJim]

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