Shit man, just take some young basketball players and train them to be GKs.
Now you know our secret; many good U.S. GKs played some kind of competitive basketball.

But yea, Brian McBride is a fucking legend.
He was wanted by Fulham quite a few years before he went over but he had just met his wife to be.
Then he was loaned out for a few years; didn't arrive at Fulham till he was 32 lols...

white_box921

United Kingdom967 Posts

November 23 2009 04:01 GMT

#1062

beckham showing speed!! LoL, I can tell everyone that one of my flatmate nearly died from shortage of breath after his attempt to beat someone to the byline.
And they still can't make proper connection to a beckham cross....
I correct myself, these people can't finish with their foot either, a few times now

Spike

United States1392 Posts

November 23 2009 04:15 GMT

#1063

Yea, MLS teams lack good strikers, a true #10, and wide players.

Just like the USMNT

ATeddyBear

Canada2843 Posts

November 23 2009 04:23 GMT

#1064

They lack good defenders as well, oh and good midfielders, and goalkeepers..

Spike

United States1392 Posts

November 23 2009 04:25 GMT

#1065

Yea but they're slightly less shitty.
Being talked down by a Canadian

If this goes to PKs, RSL may actually win cause Rimando's not bad for being so short and Saunders' an unknown.

Holy shit... 1st time I've ever seen Donovan miss a PK.

TheMusiC

United States1054 Posts

November 23 2009 04:41 GMT

#1066

LOL landon donovan :[

gchan

United States654 Posts

November 23 2009 04:44 GMT

#1067

That was a heart wrenching final. I can't believe Saunders stopped that one on the 5th...too bad Donovan failed.

Spike

United States1392 Posts

November 23 2009 04:44 GMT

#1068

RSL wins.
Never thought I'd see Donovan pull a Beckham PK.

white_box921

United Kingdom967 Posts

November 23 2009 04:47 GMT

#1069

really, regular penalty takers have extra pressure on them since everyone expect them to be automatic. Also their tapes get studied a lot more so any signs or pattern will be detected (if they study at all). I think it is equally common to see a normal taker / striker to miss than just randomly select a confident guy out of the team.

zulu_nation8

China26351 Posts

November 23 2009 04:47 GMT

#1070

Ryan Nelsen is also one of the best MLS to premiership exports

Klogon

MURICA15980 Posts

November 23 2009 04:47 GMT

#1071

I hate Salt Lake. Real Salt Lake is the stupidest name ever.

kidd

United States2848 Posts

November 23 2009 04:52 GMT

#1072

On November 23 2009 13:47 Klogon wrote:
I hate Salt Lake. Real Salt Lake is the stupidest name ever.

especially since it is pronounced the spanish way like Real Madrid is... so stupid

Spike

United States1392 Posts

November 23 2009 04:53 GMT

#1073

Hmm before my time but nice catch Zulu, there's also Michael Bradley and Altidore is fighting for a starting spot for Hull.

Re white_box: If you followed the USMNT, you'd be shocked too.
But I guess even Mr. Reliable misses if the takes goes up.

C'mon guys, US sports leagues have a storied history of shitty team names.
Merely keeping tradition alive.

TheMusiC

United States1054 Posts

November 23 2009 04:54 GMT

#1074

david beckham looks like he's about to choke a bitch

also, don't forget onyewu, he's out with a knee injury right now but an american CD picked up to play for AC milan is pretty impressive.

Spike

United States1392 Posts

November 23 2009 04:57 GMT

#1075

Gooch never played in MLS; went directly to Europe after college iirc.

zulu_nation8

China26351 Posts

November 23 2009 05:02 GMT

#1076

Vedad Ibišević one of the best strikers in the Bundesliga now, played college soccer in the US and went to the NCAA tournament but got recruited to Europe right after without going to the MSL, smart guy.

Spike

United States1392 Posts

November 23 2009 05:04 GMT

#1077

Don't forget Giuseppe Rossi, was recruited by ManU and now plays for Villareal.
Very talented, up and coming Italian striker no?

Bastard gave us a dagger at Confed cup

zerglingsfolife

United States1694 Posts

November 23 2009 05:09 GMT

#1078

Another problem with MLS is sometimes they will just deny transfers like Kenny Cooper. He wanted to leave a season earlier, but had to wait because MLS denied the transfer. (Clint Mathis was also denied to huge deal to Bayern Munich 7 years ago). Maurice Edu is currently with Glasgow Rangers and should be getting some PT soon(just recovered from an injury).

As someone already mentioned, Bradley is playing in the Bundesliga, Dempsey, Johnson, Guzan, Friedel, Howard, and Altidore play in the EPL. They are all decent successes except for Johnson. Freddy Adu is struggling to find playing time at Belenses.

Those are the Americans who come to mind when transitioning from the MLS to Europe etc.

EDIT: Also, some leagues have a limit to how many non euro players can come play on their team. This hurts the movement of US players abroad, when those spots are often reserved for Brazilians

Spike

United States1392 Posts

November 23 2009 05:17 GMT

#1079

Kenny Cooper is very meh. A big guy who thinks he's C.Ronaldo lol...
He needs to learn to be a target man or he won't get any further then he is now.

Adu was way way overhyped by the media.
It's because the US has never developed anyone (still haven't, he learned to play in Ghana) close to his technical ability nor his vision.
Problem is he believed in the hype and has poor work ethic.
Doesn't help that he stopped growing long ago and I also doubt his age

Like everywhere else, quite a few US players have had their career ended with injuries
Mathis, Convey, O'Brien, and Beasley come to mind.

zerglingsfolife

United States1694 Posts

November 23 2009 05:18 GMT

#1080

On November 23 2009 14:17 Spike wrote:
Kenny Cooper is very meh. A big guy who thinks he's C.Ronaldo lol...
He needs to learn to be a target man or he won't get any further then he is now.

Adu was way way overhyped by the media.
It's because the US has never developed anyone (still haven't, he learned to play in Ghana) close to his technical ability nor his vision.
Problem is he believed in the hype and has poor work ethic.
Doesn't help that he stopped growing long ago and I also doubt his age

Like everywhere else, quite a few US players have had their career ended with injuries
Mathis, Convey, O'Brien, and Beasley come to mind.

Do you read BigSoccer?