Anyone watching the US tonight? Up 1-0 over Costa Rica at the half. Some really nice passing on the attack, but a bit sloppy on D, although we certainly have our B team with basically all MLS players. Gorgeous pass from Luna to White and White with a nice finish for the goal, plus a superb save by Stephen to save a goal.
OT: We may win the World Cup in 2026
- Thread starter brad1218
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Damn, Steffen with an even more amazing save - making a case for some more playing time.
Definitely the most athletic and capable keeper in the roster. MH struggles held him back. Glad he’s back.
Wasn’t one of Tim Howard’s best attributes his overall athleticism? I remember reading how he would have been a major level talent in whatever he chose.
Yep, Howard was very athletic, moreso than Steffen IMO, although Steffen is a bit more athletic than Turner, but Turner probably has the better reflexes IMO and that's really important as a keeper. Neither one is great with his feet. With a mentally healthy Steffen back, I think it's going to be a good competition between them for being our starter.
I remember Howard playing in high school in North Brunswick. He actually did not play goalkeeper for them. He played as a field player. They’re starting goalie ended up playing at Rutgers.
I got to train with him because we had the same goalkeeper coach back in the day and I remember watching in awe as he was able to get his hips almost parallel to the crossbar.
Tim was a plus athlete.
I covered him in high school basketball when his team beat Jason Williams' St. Joe's in the county championship team. That same Jason Williams that was a first-team All-American in high school, and the best player in college (Wooden & Naismith). I covered Tim later as a soccer pro, and yes, he was still quite proud of his basketball exploits. He had a vertical.
He was an incredible athlete, as you obviously know first hand, but getting his hips parallel to an 8' crossbar basically would've meant he had about a 5 foot vertical. The best Olympic high jumpers can barely do that (WR is 8 feet). Do you think he actually had more than a 4' vertical? Even Jordan didn't.
Probably not able to jump that high, but to my young eyes (at the time) his ability to cover the goal was otherworldly.
Remember, you are referring to the preliminary match. I'm sure it is filling up nicely for the feature attraction.
GREGG MUST GO!
GREGG MUST GO!
GREGG MUST GO!
(Excuse me for a moment.
Oh, they DID?
Oh, he DID?)
Never mind...
Hercules Gomez really went after Poch tonight - I don’t know if it was that nuance of the translation, but I’m sure him saying we want to destroy Panama at the same time he was talking about removing politics from sport certainly gave good bulletin board material.
Team looked very disjointed and definitely not on the same page.
Team looked very disjointed and definitely not on the same page.
They're playing in Hartford in June, was tempted to make the trip as it's on a Saturday.
After the past few years and last night, very doubtful I'll go up
After the past few years and last night, very doubtful I'll go up
I went to HS with him, although he was older than me. That year when they made a run against Jay Williams' St Joe's team we had a pep rally for the team in the gym highlighted by a dunk content between Tim and a few other teammates. That team also included C Viv's son, a guy that played at Monmouth (played Duke as a 16 seed in the tournament one year) and another guy who played football at CW Post. They had some athletes.
Back then, I remember Tim walking around our team room in those sneakers with the platform under the ball of the foot... intended to improve one's vertical. So that checks out.
Going even further back to little league, he had no problem hitting HR's as a 12 year old.
Dude is a freak athlete all around.
Just checking in. Are we still on track to win the next World Cup? 
Didn’t watch the 2nd half game - bball/lax. There was an interview on SiriusFC about the difference between this group of players and the older and higher achieving teams and the focus was on leadership - noting the core of domestic players who were team captains.
This group are largely role players (with a few exceptions) and guys who get irregular minutes (if at all - Turner) on their club teams. It shows. These guys have passion but something major is missing in their attitude and performance together.
It’s not like Poch forgot how to coach. Neither did GB - though his style was not conducive to the way we wanted to play. It’s time to focus on the players and we need to seriously reevaluate the who is playing for the USMNT.
This group are largely role players (with a few exceptions) and guys who get irregular minutes (if at all - Turner) on their club teams. It shows. These guys have passion but something major is missing in their attitude and performance together.
It’s not like Poch forgot how to coach. Neither did GB - though his style was not conducive to the way we wanted to play. It’s time to focus on the players and we need to seriously reevaluate the who is playing for the USMNT.
“The name on the front is a helluva lot more important than the one on the back!” - Herb Brooks
John McEnroe considered playing in the Davis Cup the same as any Grand Slam appearance.
guess this team was like our basketball team this year...Just checking in. Are we still on track to win the next World Cup?
IDK. Landon of all people should know that sometimes you show up for national team duty and your team just plain lays an egg. It has certainly happened to teams he has captained. Doesn't mean you don't give a ****.
Why does no one take anyone on 1v1? Scared? Not good enough? Told not to? The goal against Canada was because Weah took on two guys and passed to Luna and the goal happened. Basketball players have swagger and take on guys all game long. Give me some players with flair and take risks. Drive at the defense. I hate this lame and average version of pass it around safe all game.
Question for you soccer nuts, is this our "A" team? Because I've been watching and they're not very good. Only 2-1 but Turkey is so much better and seems to be dominating. Second question is Turkey really good and one of the favorites for the World Cup or do we just really suck?
USMNT depth chart: Ranking top 15 at each position
Where does the USMNT roster stand entering the Gold Cup? Here are the top 15 players at each position.
www.espn.com
No, friendly with many of our younger players. A few regulars mixed in.
B or C team. Goalkeeper's first game, for example.
Turkey appears to have its A or A- team out there. Players from Benfica, Real Madrid, Juventus in starting line up.
Turkey hasn't started World Cup qualification. Turkey is #27 in the world rankings.