**Official Soccer Thread**

[DreadNaught]

Martin RogersVerified account
‏@mrogersUSAT
Sepp Blatter last week: "Why would I step down? That would be admitting I did something wrong."

[The Outsider]

He's spooked. The NYT exposed his right hand man yesterday.

[DreadNaught]

He's spooked. The NYT exposed his right hand man yesterday.

Yup, the walls are starting to close in around him. Time to cash out and retire...

[Phantom Phenom]

The Swiss attorney general said today that Sepp Blatter is not under investigation by Swiss authorities

[DreadNaught]

The Swiss attorney general said today that Sepp Blatter is not under investigation by Swiss authorities

Maybe not, but the FBI and DoJ is investigating.

[NavyBuc]

So do you think this puts Qatar's World Cup in jeopardy or are they still a lock to keep it? I seriously hope they move it. Dumbest decision ever to have it held in that country.

[DreadNaught]

So do you think this puts Qatar's World Cup in jeopardy or are they still a lock to keep it? I seriously hope they move it. Dumbest decision ever to have it held in that country.

Yes, I think the Qatar WC is in serious jeopardy, definitely not a lock to keep it. I don't think the USA should get it either, since it would be a bad look being that it was our legal system that brought down Blatter and his executives.

I think the WC in Russia 3 years from now is safe however. Mainly b/c there isn't enough time to prepare a new site, and Putin might start a war the WC is taken from him...

[Phantom Phenom]

I missed the best comeback ever. Never again. FIGHT USA!

[The Outsider]

I missed the best comeback ever. Never again. FIGHT USA!

Seriously. That was some great ****.

[NavyBuc]

So do you think this puts Qatar's World Cup in jeopardy or are they still a lock to keep it? I seriously hope they move it. Dumbest decision ever to have it held in that country.

Yes, I think the Qatar WC is in serious jeopardy, definitely not a lock to keep it. I don't think the USA should get it either, since it would be a bad look being that it was our legal system that brought down Blatter and his executives.

I think the WC in Russia 3 years from now is safe however. Mainly b/c there isn't enough time to prepare a new site, and Putin might start a war the WC is taken from him...

Ideally I'd like to see it in the UK, but they won't give Europe back-to-back World Cups. I've heard either USA/Mexico splitting it or them keeping it in Asia and giving it to Korea/Japan because they have the infrastructure in place. As long as it's not Qatar, I'll be happy. There's no way that country should have a WC.

[NYBF]

Unless they take away 2018 too (which they're again saying is possible). USA could easily be ready for 2018 I would think, and then UK for 2022. I do think Putin would lose his **** over that, though.

[Phantom Phenom]

Team USA stunned world No. 1 Germany, winning for the first time on German soil. Bobby Wood's goal in the 88th minute proved to be the winner in Wednesday's international friendly.

[The Outsider]

USA Soccer is best soccer.

[sanka]

Mourinho is gone....Thank GOd

[Swashy]

Feel bad for JM but Chelsea was playing like total garbage and I can't say it wasn't warranted. A little soon but 4-3-9 and in danger of going all the way to the bottom 3 will justify anything. A good manager will turn them around.

At least for now, thank God for Jurgen Klopp

[The Outsider]

Anyone watch the USA v Iceland friendly? We need some work defensively, I'm hoping Miazga improves quick now that he's with Chelsea, but we looked fantastic going forward. Bradley looks so much better when he's paired with another creative midfielder like Nagbe or Ngyuen. I'm excited for the summer along with 2018.

[Zarniwoop]

Anyone watch the USA v Iceland friendly? We need some work defensively, I'm hoping Miazga improves quick now that he's with Chelsea, but we looked fantastic going forward. Bradley looks so much better when he's paired with another creative midfielder like Nagbe or Ngyuen. I'm excited for the summer along with 2018.

I watched most of it. It's a tough game to take anything away from as both sides played many guys who wouldn't normally start or play.

It was nice to see some creativity -- especially from Nguyen...he hadn't impressed me much with the national team in his most recent sub roles. He did a great job finding space. It was nice to see some of the young guys play too.

I agree that Bradley plays best when he isn't the sole guy responsible for creating chances. Altidore played better...but he often does that against inferior competition.


Moving ahead Copa will be a great experience this year and be a much better benchmark for the younger guys.

One thing I've done a 180 on in the past couple months is Clint Dempsey (I know he didn't play yesterday). I thought he still had a major role to play in this team. But I'm not so sure anymore. His "laziness" really stands out when you watch the young guys play and all the runs they make. I think he still has a place on the team -- namely an off the bench role as a poaching threat. I'm just not sure I want to see him go 90 anymore.

[The Outsider]

Anyone watch the USA v Iceland friendly? We need some work defensively, I'm hoping Miazga improves quick now that he's with Chelsea, but we looked fantastic going forward. Bradley looks so much better when he's paired with another creative midfielder like Nagbe or Ngyuen. I'm excited for the summer along with 2018.

I watched most of it. It's a tough game to take anything away from as both sides played many guys who wouldn't normally start or play.

It was nice to see some creativity -- especially from Nguyen...he hadn't impressed me much with the national team in his most recent sub roles. He did a great job finding space. It was nice to see some of the young guys play too.

I agree that Bradley plays best when he isn't the sole guy responsible for creating chances. Altidore played better...but he often does that against inferior competition.


Moving ahead Copa will be a great experience this year and be a much better benchmark for the younger guys.

One thing I've done a 180 on in the past couple months is Clint Dempsey (I know he didn't play yesterday). I thought he still had a major role to play in this team. But I'm not so sure anymore. His "laziness" really stands out when you watch the young guys play and all the runs they make. I think he still has a place on the team -- namely an off the bench role as a poaching threat. I'm just not sure I want to see him go 90 anymore.

I kind of agree about Dempsey. I think we still need a more viable goal scoring option before we start phase him out, but he can still be effective in a Klose type role as he just seems to score goals.

[Zarniwoop]

I watched most of it. It's a tough game to take anything away from as both sides played many guys who wouldn't normally start or play.

It was nice to see some creativity -- especially from Nguyen...he hadn't impressed me much with the national team in his most recent sub roles. He did a great job finding space. It was nice to see some of the young guys play too.

I agree that Bradley plays best when he isn't the sole guy responsible for creating chances. Altidore played better...but he often does that against inferior competition.


Moving ahead Copa will be a great experience this year and be a much better benchmark for the younger guys.

One thing I've done a 180 on in the past couple months is Clint Dempsey (I know he didn't play yesterday). I thought he still had a major role to play in this team. But I'm not so sure anymore. His "laziness" really stands out when you watch the young guys play and all the runs they make. I think he still has a place on the team -- namely an off the bench role as a poaching threat. I'm just not sure I want to see him go 90 anymore.

I kind of agree about Dempsey. I think we still need a more viable goal scoring option before we start phase him out, but he can still be effective in a Klose type role as he just seems to score goals.

the only way i'm ok with dempsey playing lots of minutes is up front as the primary striker. i hate him in the #10 role. i think his laziness kills us there. the selfishness on the ball that makes him a good scorer, doesn't work well in that withdrawn role either.

[The Outsider]

I kind of agree about Dempsey. I think we still need a more viable goal scoring option before we start phase him out, but he can still be effective in a Klose type role as he just seems to score goals.

the only way i'm ok with dempsey playing lots of minutes is up front as the primary striker. i hate him in the #10 role. i think his laziness kills us there. the selfishness on the ball that makes him a good scorer, doesn't work well in that withdrawn role either.

Hence the reference to Klose. I'd love to have Dempsey in 2018 on the bench to send out to bang a few in, or in order to rest whoever our primary striker is.

[Zarniwoop]

the only way i'm ok with dempsey playing lots of minutes is up front as the primary striker. i hate him in the #10 role. i think his laziness kills us there. the selfishness on the ball that makes him a good scorer, doesn't work well in that withdrawn role either.

Hence the reference to Klose. I'd love to have Dempsey in 2018 on the bench to send out to bang a few in, or in order to rest whoever our primary striker is.

i see, i definitely agree.

[Phantom Phenom]

WTF is going on with USA soccer?

they're horrible

[The Outsider]

Anyone hit up the Rowdies games? Season opener was tonight, we drew Indy 0-0.

I got season tickets this year and it's been great thus far.

[Zarniwoop]

Leicester just became the biggest underdog in sports history.

At the beginning of the season they were 5,000 to 1 to win the title. And with Tottenham's draw today they did just that (with 3 rounds remaining).

Incredible

[The Outsider]

Leicester just became the biggest underdog in sports history.

At the beginning of the season they were 5,000 to 1 to win the title. And with Tottenham's draw today they did just that (with 3 rounds remaining).

Incredible

As a Gunner, watching the Spurs implode was almost as good as winning the league. Almost.

And hats off to Leicester. They were clearly the best team all year long and that trio of Vardy, Mahrez, and Okazaki was nuts. Not to mention Kante and the rest. Un-fucking-believable.

[Zarniwoop]

well that sucked

[The Outsider]

Well, Costa Rica tonight. What I'm hoping to see is a little bit of a younger lineup, and for the love of Christ please have Tim Howard in goal, even on the decline he's still better than Brad "Big Baby" Guzan. My ideal XI would look like this:

Howard
Yedlin, Cameron, Brooks, Chandler
Bradley, Kitchen
Nagbe
Zardes, Wood, Johnson

[Ken Carson]

USA wins Group A. Brazil out in the group stage.

[NYBF]

Brazil out in the group stage.

Some mighty fine officiating made this happen.

[Zarniwoop]

Brazil out in the group stage.

Some mighty fine officiating made this happen.

Almost as bad as the Frings handball that prevented us from getting to the semifinals of WC'02