Sideline Views

Obviously I'm not the first with this idea, bu...

2012-04-24T09:24:11.905-07:00

Obviously I'm not the first with this idea, but why aren't journalists just asked to submit their top players of the game for the games(s) they actually cover? And you just have to put your trust in the other journalists that cover their games(s). Might be more accurate that way.

I agree with most of what Neville said, but I do l...

2012-04-19T18:26:13.884-07:00

I agree with most of what Neville said, but I do like retro-active punishment if video shows there was no contact. Actual contact is a whole other thing. As I understand the rules just because there is contact doesn't mean there is a foul. What Neville is saying is if there is any contact then there is a foul. Thats simply wrong, however its up to the Ref to make that call during the game.

Any idea what is going on with Mendiola's US c...

2012-04-18T12:23:53.016-07:00

Any idea what is going on with Mendiola's US citizenship?

Yeah, I think he is frustrated that he is just a s...

2012-04-17T00:01:34.659-07:00

Yeah, I think he is frustrated that he is just a shadow of himself of where he was in his prime...or maybe it's a bonus in his contract...

I really don't get Marquez. Have his skills ...

2012-04-16T19:58:34.472-07:00

I really don't get Marquez. Have his skills deteriorated to the point where he thinks he has to be a hack to keep his job?

The perfect Primer, for the game Saturday! Thanks ...

2012-04-13T08:51:16.952-07:00

The perfect Primer, for the game Saturday! Thanks Luis!

I personally would like to see Saunders, Franklin,...

2012-04-12T12:23:40.373-07:00

I personally would like to see Saunders, Franklin, DeLaGarza, Lopes, Dunivant, Donovan, Beckham, Juninho, Magee, Buddle, Keane. If Beckham or Magee can't go, then put Sarvas in there. And if both can't go, then put Sarvas in the middle and Nakazawa out wide. Or we could even go with a 4-3-3 with Juninho, Sarvas and Beckham in the middle and Donovan, Buddle, Keane up top. Seems like everyone else is trying the 4-3-3, why not LA?

What do you think are some solutions?

2012-04-12T12:17:43.078-07:00

What do you think are some solutions?

I am of the opinion that Dunivant should be slotte...

2012-04-11T09:28:51.917-07:00

I am of the opinion that Dunivant should be slotted in the middle of the defense and DeLaGarza out wide on the left. More speed on the wing, more height in the middle. Yes, you lose the crossing that Dunivant provides, but DeLaGarza is a decent passer himself and though I don't see him crossing in with his left, I do see him providing decent service by cutting it back to his right, ala Beckham on the left.

Sad to see Cardozo go though. I guess Leonardo isn't as healthy as was originally thought.

It looked to me like LA could hardly care during t...

2012-04-08T06:49:58.135-07:00

It looked to me like LA could hardly care during the game. I guess Bruce and the boys had their dream season and now they are on cruise control. No relegation, no league table champ, you're gonna have teams taking snoozes, just like all american pro sports. yawn

Big Tex says: Once again, my optimistic predictio...

2012-04-04T20:38:37.178-07:00

Big Tex says:

Once again, my optimistic prediction gets trashed. No more for me. I take a "Wait and see" approach in this tournament from now on...

So LB, What should Arena do? What are is options? ...

2012-04-04T20:09:00.686-07:00

So LB, What should Arena do? What are is options? Should he take the blame for not being deep enough?

Big Tex says: I was completely wrong on my CCL pr...

2012-04-04T14:11:08.905-07:00

Big Tex says:

I was completely wrong on my CCL predictions last round, but I think I'll try again. Nothing about this game and TFC's lineup suggests that they can defeat Santos. However, all it takes is a fluke injury, a dumb or mistimed tackle for a sending off, or even an early goal from Toronto and this game could make history for MLS. This game has the feel of the USA vs Japan Women's WC Final to it. I think Toronto pulls off a miracle draw at 2 - 2 and advances on away goals...

like

2012-03-28T16:25:51.086-07:00

I agree. Considering the player personnel availabl...

2012-03-27T23:35:37.253-07:00

I agree. Considering the player personnel available and head coach, the USA's failure to qualify for the Olympics is bad but not a catastrophe.

The US youth setup is the best its ever been, with more American-raised players playing overseas in more prestigious leagues than ever before. But this group was not entirely present for the Olympic qualifying tournament. Therefore, I have to disagree and say that US Soccer is doing a great job of youth development. But maybe something has to be said about the development of our coaches. US coaches don't necessarily come from a long lineage of soccer.

MLS still does not have the financial capacity to take on youth development head on. MLS will eventually play a huge role in youth development, but US Soccer/NASL/USL will always have a role as well.

From my perspective Porter was out coached in the ...

2012-03-27T17:53:52.254-07:00

From my perspective Porter was out coached in the last two games. Which was a big reason for not moving on.

On the offensive end I don't the US has much t...

2012-03-27T07:12:18.425-07:00

On the offensive end I don't the US has much to worry about. It's the defensive part of the game that has a lot of the fans worried. There wasn't one defender on that team that stood out or looked likely to make the jump to the senior men's national team. Hamid was also a huge disappointment.

The USA didn't exactly beat themselves in this...

2012-03-27T00:13:47.852-07:00

The USA didn't exactly beat themselves in this game either. So you have to give credit where credit is due. El Salvador had a good game-plan and stuck to it and got the result they needed. And so much for teams never just playing defense: El Salvador only needed a draw, while the US needed a win.

Teams should never just play defense. They get ove...

2012-03-26T21:51:47.799-07:00

Teams should never just play defense. They get over confident and always seem to lose when this happens. You can only allow so many shots before one of them is going to sneak through. Always play the attack especially with a one goal lead.

Well said LB. I also want to say something abou...

2012-03-26T21:16:12.759-07:00

Well said LB.

I also want to say something about Porter's coaching. Porter waited on his subs way to late in this game and when he did he subbed two of his best players for defense. Alas this had the opposite intended effect. Without Adu or Corona there was no one to hold or control the ball. The US tried to boot the ball but lost possession and worst of all these defenders were caught up field and out of shape. How do you make two defensive subs in the last minutes of a game and yet your goal keeper is left alone to have to punch out a hard shot in the dying seconds of a match? Both players and coaches were naive and its showed in the last two games. In the long run this could be a very good experience for these players. They know now they have a lot to learn about playing the game and playing the Concacaf way.

3-3 Johnson gives up a last gasp goal to ESL. He r...

2012-03-26T20:09:13.629-07:00

3-3 Johnson gives up a last gasp goal to ESL. He really should have had that no one you should allow that go in but if you watch him with Chicago you know he gives up soft goals like that one all the time. The US is out but I am glade to say they fought hard in the 2nd half and hopefully they learn some valuable lessons from all this.

Now thats more like. US up 3-2 for those not watch...

2012-03-26T19:38:03.162-07:00

Now thats more like. US up 3-2 for those not watching.

This is classic Concacaf time wasting.

2012-03-26T19:30:07.995-07:00

This is classic Concacaf time wasting.

Down 2-1 to El Salvador???? With the sloppy passin...

2012-03-26T19:13:06.099-07:00

Down 2-1 to El Salvador???? With the sloppy passing and poor defending that was shown in the 1st half I haven't to say the US would be a weaker team. We are down 2-1 to ELS not exactly a strong team. This team just doesn't have that something lets hope they find some good old US fighting spirit or all is lost. Look for a whole lot of diving and mysterious injuries to pop up from ESL in the 2nd.

The main issue i have now is that either Mexico or...

2012-03-26T14:45:00.763-07:00

The main issue i have now is that either Mexico or the US may not make it to the Olympics because they will face each other in the semis. Concacaf will now have a weaker team representing at the Olympics because of the US slip up.