US Men's Olympic Soccer

[Napoleon]

Some guy named Jeff Carlisle wrote a column for ESPN's Soccernet. Here's what I found most interesting:

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[Squall]

i'd like to think he'd stay on the bench as an extra coach and give the kids some guidance in the locker room.

I do not feel he needs to play in the olympics, i love what he did for this country in the sport, but his time is done, time to let the new generation play

 

[Knoxville-Horn]

No, the inclusion of McHead does not screw the Olympic team; having Nowak as coach does.

Altidore and McBride makes an almost perfect combo up top for the U.S. With Adu as an attacking mid, this team could be very, very potent offensively. I never thought I'd see the day where an American team's strength lies in offense with our weakness at D.

 

[Napoleon]

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[Knoxville-Horn]

Didn't realize Rogers rode the bench. Good Lord Novak is an idiot. Thank God he doesn't have a marginally talented son (Bradley reference).

I still have hope in this team. Though, watching them in person (Nashville qualifiers) doesn't give me much of a good feeling. I guess we'll see.

 

[Napoleon]

In the first post I asked the question:In reply to:

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[Knoxville-Horn]

Can't fault him for lack of service. This is the kind of stuff that pisses me off about US Soccer. Things like "lack of service" should have been addressed long before the Olympics. A professional coach should know the shortcomings of a team before "wasting" an overage selection on a guy that needs service to be effective.

 

[Napoleon]

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[Knoxville-Horn]

Oh, I know what you are saying. I wasn't trying to imply that you - personally - were faulting him.

It's just really frustrating to watch Novak's tactics. Maybe he's a firebrand and will light a fire. Or, maybe he's Muschamp without a clue. Either way, this team is doomed. I'll be more than happy to eat my crow if I'm wrong; however, I'm not too optimistic.

 

[Napoleon]

After reviewing the posts that I made after coming home tired & a bit drunk last night, I was on a SPORTS RAMPAGE!!

I progressively got angrier and angrier at things I don't like in the Sports World.

1) Apologizing to China

2) Miscalculations with Team USA Soccer
3) Calling athletes of questionable character "class guys"...

I was in a mood last night. It happens. I just want us to do well. We have skilz. I just want the world to see it as well.

 

[Napoleon]

He wasn't the only reason that we didn't advance.

1) Don't jump.
2) Don't elbow.
3) Don't get stupid yellow cards.
4) Sub your fast/dangerous players sooner.

But...

Having Brian McBride on US Men's Olympic Team HELPED **** US!!

I can't break down lineups and necessarily tell the difference between a 4-4-2 and a 4-1-3-2, but I knew that Brian McBride was a HORRIBLE fit for this team. I hate being right, because if I knew he would hurt the team, someone up top should have known it long before me.

I am so mad about this failure!!

 

[Knoxville-Horn]

You were right. I didn't realize that McHead would get - literally - no service.

Robbie Rogers sucked complete ***. I had been hearing how great he was for months.

What I don't understand is the player/substitution patterns. Rogers was obviously off. By deduction, so was McBride. Yet, both played the full 90 for all three games.

Charlie Davies did more in 10 minutes than either of the aforementioned did in 3 games. I mean, if you're not planning on using the guy, then maybe we should have found another defender somewhere in America as we went into the tourney with exactly 4. And, of those 4, Edu was not a true center back and Orozco was not a true left back.

Stupid decisions by a stupid coach.