Comments on: A bit more collected look at our soul-crushing loss http://www.wearethepostmen.com/2006/06/22/a-bit-more-collected-look-at-our-soul-crushing-loss/ Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:01:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Chris http://www.wearethepostmen.com/2006/06/22/a-bit-more-collected-look-at-our-soul-crushing-loss/#comment-408 Chris Sat, 24 Jun 2006 02:31:43 +0000 http://www.wearethepostmen.com/2006/06/22/a-bit-more-collected-look-at-our-soul-crushing-loss/#comment-408 Not harsh enough on Donovan. He didn't make plays when it mattered......the blown half-volley in the first half, the horrible cross in the second half which all but crushed the team's hope. If Henry, Zidane, Neved, or any other "world class" player is standing over that ball the goalie is thinking it could be a shot on goal or a dangerous cross......for Donovan the goalies aren't concerned at all. I'm not giving Arena a pass......leaving Convey on the bench for so long (or when he did bring him in, it was for the most active player on the field), putting in a D-mid for Renya when it was obvious we needed more action in the offensive third, taking out Cherundolo when we are trailing instead of Bocanegra when Cherundolo is a better server of the ball, not putting Taylor Twellman (spelling?), who always seems like he is leading the MLS in scoring, on the team, using the final prep games to decide who the last player on the squad would be instead of building team chemistry, leaving McBride alone up top to create on his own instead of letting him be a finisher like he was at Fulham. I swear Arena saw Arsene Wegner and Arsenal play a one foward system all the way to the Champions League final and thought, oh my, I could see this working for our team. But back to Donovan......he didn't show up on the biggest stage of his life and the fact that he's going to be the next American wearing the armband makes me sick. (Not that I'm bitter or anything) Not harsh enough on Donovan. He didn’t make plays when it mattered……the blown half-volley in the first half, the horrible cross in the second half which all but crushed the team’s hope. If Henry, Zidane, Neved, or any other “world class” player is standing over that ball the goalie is thinking it could be a shot on goal or a dangerous cross……for Donovan the goalies aren’t concerned at all. I’m not giving Arena a pass……leaving Convey on the bench for so long (or when he did bring him in, it was for the most active player on the field), putting in a D-mid for Renya when it was obvious we needed more action in the offensive third, taking out Cherundolo when we are trailing instead of Bocanegra when Cherundolo is a better server of the ball, not putting Taylor Twellman (spelling?), who always seems like he is leading the MLS in scoring, on the team, using the final prep games to decide who the last player on the squad would be instead of building team chemistry, leaving McBride alone up top to create on his own instead of letting him be a finisher like he was at Fulham. I swear Arena saw Arsene Wegner and Arsenal play a one foward system all the way to the Champions League final and thought, oh my, I could see this working for our team. But back to Donovan……he didn’t show up on the biggest stage of his life and the fact that he’s going to be the next American wearing the armband makes me sick. (Not that I’m bitter or anything)

]]> By: The Postmen » Blog Archive » Weekend Fun: So, what else is there to do? http://www.wearethepostmen.com/2006/06/22/a-bit-more-collected-look-at-our-soul-crushing-loss/#comment-402 The Postmen » Blog Archive » Weekend Fun: So, what else is there to do? Fri, 23 Jun 2006 18:50:07 +0000 http://www.wearethepostmen.com/2006/06/22/a-bit-more-collected-look-at-our-soul-crushing-loss/#comment-402 [...] But, in the short term, the NBA’s lingering absence will no doubt be most effectively filled by the World Cup, which, despite a boring afternoon of action today, continues to entertain and surprise and destroy the spirits of men. Group of 16 action starts tomorrow afternoon with Germany v. Sweden at 11 and Argentina v. Mexico at 3. Sunday, the team I’m likely to root on now, England, will face Ecuador in the early match, and those pesky Polskis will take on their neighbors, the Netherlands. [...] […] But, in the short term, the NBA’s lingering absence will no doubt be most effectively filled by the World Cup, which, despite a boring afternoon of action today, continues to entertain and surprise and destroy the spirits of men. Group of 16 action starts tomorrow afternoon with Germany v. Sweden at 11 and Argentina v. Mexico at 3. Sunday, the team I’m likely to root on now, England, will face Ecuador in the early match, and those pesky Polskis will take on their neighbors, the Netherlands. […]

]]> By: Sam http://www.wearethepostmen.com/2006/06/22/a-bit-more-collected-look-at-our-soul-crushing-loss/#comment-395 Sam Fri, 23 Jun 2006 00:58:50 +0000 http://www.wearethepostmen.com/2006/06/22/a-bit-more-collected-look-at-our-soul-crushing-loss/#comment-395 I don't dispute much of what you say here, bud. But the game against The Checkmark Republishers of Some Former U.S.S.R Country has been devistating to the American soccer psyche. I ask why? A three-nil loss by a way-overranked speedy, short team to what could be the Miami Heat of the World Cup doesn't seem like a good reason to me to cry foul about a decent team in a tough spot. I don't defend the Ghana game too much, and I think we could have beaten Italy. But I mean, whatever. We're like BronBron the first time around. We'll be back, now that we're serious, with a better finish in a similarly tough group before I turn 40. Sorry about that tirade, but this is like the scandal that grew out of media, not out of the game itself. I don’t dispute much of what you say here, bud. But the game against The Checkmark Republishers of Some Former U.S.S.R Country has been devistating to the American soccer psyche. I ask why? A three-nil loss by a way-overranked speedy, short team to what could be the Miami Heat of the World Cup doesn’t seem like a good reason to me to cry foul about a decent team in a tough spot. I don’t defend the Ghana game too much, and I think we could have beaten Italy. But I mean, whatever. We’re like BronBron the first time around. We’ll be back, now that we’re serious, with a better finish in a similarly tough group before I turn 40.

Sorry about that tirade, but this is like the scandal that grew out of media, not out of the game itself.

]]>