Beasley has been really solid at left back for a while. Johnson on other side is ok, besler will get subbed pretty soon I think.
Beasly is solid at left back against lesser competition but both Germany and Portugal have world class wingers. I worry about him getting run on by these teams. Then again, I'm not sure there are many players in the world who can keep with the likes of Ronaldo, Reus, Nani, Gotze etc. I am eager to see how we do against Turkey. If Arda Turan plays that would be a good litmus test.
More like a C at best, azerbaijin is horrible. They need to play MUCH better in the next match. If wondo directs the first header better that was a goal, second one was pretty good save.
FYI, in Qualifying, Azerbijan Tied Israel, Luxemberg, and Russia, beat Northern Ireland, and only lost to Portugal 2-0... I don't think they are as bad as you are thinking. The big thing with how they play and there past results, they play with 11 men behind the ball the whole game. They play a trap, throw everyone to defend in the box and not allow space or easy plays. It was a bad game in the respect that the US will not play an opponent like this again or in the World Cup. Kind of a dumb warm up game in that sense, but a better team than most give credit to.
I thought the exact same thing. They live on the opposite sides lol but Fabian Johnson didn't look too bad on the right.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_%E2%80%93_UEFA_Group_F
Color me surprised. Exciting news for the MLS. I would think there would be a few top notch European clubs who would show interest in him. I'm not a huge fan of the MLS but I do go to the occasional Red Bulls game. However going to a Timbers game is on my bucket list. The atmosphere at those games looks awesome.
MLS has developed a few younger players who then got signed to european clubs, but they by and large move leagues and are a flop. (looking at you Brek Shea). MLS needs to get overall better talent in the league to challenge younger players better so that when they do get that chance to play in a real league they dont flop. My hope with MLS is that in the next 5-10 years there is a flood of young talent (we are just now 20 years from 94 WC when the supposed surge in soccer started, combined with the concussion heavy NFL, mommas not letting boys play football, should be quite a few young americans that will come on the scene) that comes into the league and they get developed to the point that when they do get the chance to play in europe they succeed and become great players. Once that starts to happen the USMT might finally become a top tier team in the world, or should anyways. What other country has the breadth of athletic talent that the us does? Just need more good athletes choosing the sport and I think that starts to change in the next few years.
You make lots of good points but I disagree about the MLS (to a greater extent the US Soccer Federation) not being at fault. First, the current youth soccer system places way to much emphasis on winning over player development. Second, a significant portion of youth soccer players play the sport for the opportunity to earn a college scholarship. They have no professional ambitions. Third, the pay to play system is still prominent and it is probably the main reason why soccer hasn't thrived in urban areas. Finally, if elite US athletes aren't choosing the sport then the MLS should look else where to find talented youngsters and develop them.
The key is the Northwest... watch a Sounders/Timbers game, pretty good. But I agree. I know that rookies who don't go through Adidas make something insane like 20K, and most have to get second jobs. If I am good at multiple sports there is no way I go Soccer.
Hey Seattle somewhat did that with Dempsey, I mean he is still in his prime and could have stayed in the EPL but came back. I don't however feel that the MLS has the money to attract a Ronaldo/Messi in their prime
Dempsey is on the backend of his career. Aside from Bradley, I can't think of one big name European-based player they've attracted while they were in their prime. Ronaldo or Messi on a free transfer would cost a team $28 million/year AFTER they pay the taxes. That's his current take home. No way does an MLS team have the stomach for that kind of money. Seattle doesn't spend that much in a year in total.
FYI, I have looked across the league at tickets, every team only charges around $10-$50 for tickets. i know that for $20 you can go to a Sounders game easily. so that tells you it is actually affordable to go to games.
I don't think the MLS could ever get the very elite players in Europe but they can certainly be selective go after players who have fallen out of favor in Europe, the likes of Pato or Riquelme a few years ago. Ultimately, it all boils down to player development. If we can scout, find young talent and develop them the league will have no choice but to grow.
Dempsey is not as much on the backend as the other "stars" they have gotten in the past. Those stars came here because they could not get as much money playing in Europe. This wasn't about money for Dempsey as many felt he could have stayed in Europe and was very much wanted. In fact a lot of people think it was a mistake because of his opportunities in Europe. It wasn't like he was failing there either, he was very much productive, it was just the team he was currently on wanted to do some different tactics.
Thats the main issue.
Actually the minimum Rookie salary is 36,000... almost as bad as a retail or fast food job...
Wouldnt go quite there with that, but certainly no worse than you can do at an entry level job straight from college (company I started with at 22 was right at 30k a year in 06).
That's not an ass move at all. In fact, I love talking about the MLS. I work with soccer fans who hate the league so my goal is to get them into it lol. Not specifically talking young Americans but youth in general when I made my comment.
Sucks he didnt end career at CFC with epl title, but guy holds the record for goals, won cl, europa, couple FA, couple epl titles, and pretty sure a league cup, plus a community shield.
This I like to hear. I feel a move like this, although we've been over this recently so I apologize for sounding like a broken record, will help our league draw interest from around the world or in this case, England mainly. I like it a lot and can't wait to see how they fill that roster out.
Of course! Brad Davis starting in midfield. Guess he earned it with those set pieces against Azerbaijan.
