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Message
How good is the US Nat'l Team?
Posted on 6/20/13 at 10:37 am
Posted on 6/20/13 at 10:37 am
I haven't watched a game for qualifying TBH. I'm a huge World Cup and International soccer fan so I'm ready a for us to make a run in '14.
How do we look? We gonna be good? Bad? Average?
Should I temper expectations once again?
TIA
How do we look? We gonna be good? Bad? Average?
Should I temper expectations once again?
TIA
Posted on 6/20/13 at 10:39 am to bbeck
quote:
I'm a huge World Cup and International soccer fan
quote:
I haven't watched a game for qualifying
Posted on 6/20/13 at 10:42 am to bbeck
quote:
I'm a huge World Cup and International soccer fan so I'm ready a for us to make a run in '14.
clearly.
to answer your quesion, we're 'decent.' Realistically, probably somewhere around 20th in the world. I do think we're capable of beating the best of the best, if we get a little bit of luck.
Getting out of the group stage is a realistic goal. Winning the tournament is not.
This post was edited on 6/20/13 at 10:44 am
Posted on 6/20/13 at 10:42 am to lesismeaurx
contradicting I know but work has been killer for a while now. I catch the highlights but that's about it.
Posted on 6/20/13 at 10:46 am to Tennessee Jed
quote:
to answer your quesion, we're 'decent.' Realistically, probably somewhere around 20th in the world. I do think we're capable of beating the best of the best, if we get a little bit of luck.
Getting out of the group stage is a realistic goal. Winning the tournament is not.
I'd say reaching the quarterfinals is possible.
I think we have good room for improvement before the world cup.
Posted on 6/20/13 at 10:46 am to bbeck
My expectations for Brasil are the same that I had for South Africa: Make it out of the group and then wreak havoc in the knockout stage.
I think we are a legitimate top 20 team, IF we play our best 11. That isn't necessarily a given considering Jurgen though.
I think we are a legitimate top 20 team, IF we play our best 11. That isn't necessarily a given considering Jurgen though.
Posted on 6/20/13 at 10:47 am to Tennessee Jed
quote:
Getting out of the group stage is a realistic goal.
That's without even knowing the groups. I think it would be realistic for us to advance, even from the group of death. Plus we are still a whole year out.
ETA: with the right draw in the round of 16 I could see us finally getting over that hump again.
This post was edited on 6/20/13 at 10:49 am
Posted on 6/20/13 at 10:48 am to Tennessee Jed
quote:
Getting out of the group stage is a realistic goal. Winning the tournament is not.
I probably sent the wrong signal in the OP, but there's not an ounce of fiber in me that thinks we'll even sniff at winning the tourney.
What I meant by "make a run " is simply getting out of pool play and winning at least a game. If we made it to the Quarters I'd be stoked.
I just want improvement, really. Just wondering if this team would be capable of such expectations.
Posted on 6/20/13 at 10:49 am to bbeck
The possibility is there, and IMO the talent is there. We just need the right amount of luck.
Posted on 6/20/13 at 10:51 am to bbeck
quote:
If we made it to the Quarters I'd be stoked.
I think this is about our ceiling. But the right draw, a little luck, and no mistakes... who knows. This team is showing a lot of potential for Brazil and beyond. I know it's early, but I'd like to see JK on for another cycle.
Posted on 6/20/13 at 11:06 am to bbeck
It was shaky for a while but (knocking on wood) something might have clicked in the last 4 games. We are playing some good attacking soccer and setting up our goal scorers in great places. As others have said getting out of the group is an attainable goal. After that quarters would be fantastic depending on the draw of course.
2 biggest question marks right now are at RB and LB. We have shoehorned some guys there recently who have played with great effort but inconsistent results. Against top competition it could be exploited.
Well that and will Landon be back in the mix after the Gold Cup.
2 biggest question marks right now are at RB and LB. We have shoehorned some guys there recently who have played with great effort but inconsistent results. Against top competition it could be exploited.
Well that and will Landon be back in the mix after the Gold Cup.
Posted on 6/20/13 at 11:10 am to bbeck
quote:
What I meant by "make a run " is simply getting out of pool play and winning at least a game. If we made it to the Quarters I'd be stoked.
I just want improvement, really. Just wondering if this team would be capable of such expectations.
Well, we were an Asmoah Gyan extra time goal from doing this in 2010 (I believe we win in a PK shootout), and most (all?) of the key players are back, so it doesn't seem far fetched.
Posted on 6/20/13 at 11:48 am to Sheep
quote:
Well, we were an Asmoah Gyan extra time goal from doing this in 2010 (I believe we win in a PK shootout), and most (all?) of the key players are back, so it doesn't seem far fetched.
If we get a decent draw quarters are possible but my feeling is that the field in group stages and knockouts is going to be much stronger in 2014.
2014 was notable for France and Italy stinking it up but I expect both of those to sides be in the knockouts in 2014 as well as an overall stronger cast of teams from Europe in general when you throw in, say, Belgium, instead of Slovenia etc.
In South America, there will probably be a bit more upper tier quality as well with Columbia added.
I'm not saying that we couldn't get out of group and win a match but I could also easily see a much tougher group and/or knockout draw where we'd be much clearer underdogs than in 2010.
Posted on 6/20/13 at 11:51 am to wm72
quote:
Columbia
You're better than that, wm
Posted on 6/20/13 at 12:23 pm to bbeck
Dude. The games are 90 minutes long. If you're a fan then watch more than the highlights
Posted on 6/20/13 at 12:30 pm to bbeck
I agree with the the thinking that we should get out of group play.
I also believe we have developed more depth then in years past. This may not mean a ton, but it does give us options in the case of injury or lost confidence.
My .02
I also believe we have developed more depth then in years past. This may not mean a ton, but it does give us options in the case of injury or lost confidence.
My .02
Posted on 6/20/13 at 1:13 pm to bbeck
I have high hopes for this team. I feel like this is the deepest our pool has ever been. Next summer, we'll have quality back ups for basically every position.
Posted on 6/20/13 at 1:30 pm to pvilleguru
I think anything less than making it out of the group stage would be a disappointment, barring us having 2 really strong teams in our group. I'd say we are in the 15-20 range, which should put us right in that cutoff to make the knockout phase. We can match up well with some teams, and get knocked around by others.
As said though, this team is starting to gel a little more
As said though, this team is starting to gel a little more
Posted on 6/20/13 at 1:35 pm to bbeck
I think this team will be better than the 2010 group unless there are injuries to Demosey, Bradley, Besler, or Howard.
2006 was a solid team as well, but they drew the group of death. 2010 was a joke of a group. Fwiw, I think 2002 was our best team and not just because of the quarterfinal run. Besides Agoos and maybe Mathis, everyone was in peak form.
One of the Main reason I am so optimistic is because we are no longer dependent on Bocanegra as a starter alongside Goodsen.
2006 was a solid team as well, but they drew the group of death. 2010 was a joke of a group. Fwiw, I think 2002 was our best team and not just because of the quarterfinal run. Besides Agoos and maybe Mathis, everyone was in peak form.
One of the Main reason I am so optimistic is because we are no longer dependent on Bocanegra as a starter alongside Goodsen.
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