tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post115092549378878666..comments2023-10-21T02:17:05.715-05:00Comments on USA Soccer Spot: The Stakes could not be HigherKartikhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00637710449573222655noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150983653217335062006-06-22T08:40:00.000-05:002006-06-22T08:40:00.000-05:00O'Brien must only have 45 minutes in him so expect...O'Brien must only have 45 minutes in him so expect to see him replace Lewis at halftime.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150983166295425192006-06-22T08:32:00.000-05:002006-06-22T08:32:00.000-05:00It's a crying shame about O'Brien. As everyone has...It's a crying shame about O'Brien. As everyone has mentioned he is about as skilled a player as the USA has ever produced. However he will be best remembered for his constant nagging injuries and his inability to recover from these injuries. Guys like Tab Ramos and Eric Wynalda got hurt often also, but always seemed to recover in time for the biggest matches. Ditto for Reyna. O'Brien on the other hand was a wasted spot on the 23 man World Cup roster it appears.Kartikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00637710449573222655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150983073467212822006-06-22T08:31:00.000-05:002006-06-22T08:31:00.000-05:00The lineup has been released by FIFA:O'Brien is no...The lineup has been released by FIFA:<BR/><BR/>O'Brien is not starting and must not be fit. He will be replaced by Eddie Lewis. Pope is being replaced by Conrad, and Beasley replaces Convey on the left side.Kartikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00637710449573222655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150952412741583682006-06-22T00:00:00.000-05:002006-06-22T00:00:00.000-05:00Mr. Eko,You know what's in the hatch! Know push t...Mr. Eko,<BR/><BR/>You know what's in the hatch! Know push the BUTTON!!!!!!!!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150951247580363632006-06-21T23:40:00.000-05:002006-06-21T23:40:00.000-05:00ESPN showing video of Seattle Mariners warming up ...ESPN showing video of Seattle Mariners warming up playing soccer in the outfield.<BR/><BR/>Many foreign born MLB players are watching matches before their own games.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150951046854137222006-06-21T23:37:00.000-05:002006-06-21T23:37:00.000-05:00Let's hope USA doesn't need a late goal..............Let's hope USA doesn't need a late goal..............Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150950440512934802006-06-21T23:27:00.000-05:002006-06-21T23:27:00.000-05:00I will be watching USA very closely as they attemp...I will be watching USA very closely as they attempt to continue their climb onto the world stage.<BR/><BR/>I am in current talks with Don Garber of your MLS about purchasing an expansion franchise Bayern Miami which will be coached by Juergen Klinsman. I am also offering Oliver Kahn's services with BM to your growing league.<BR/><BR/>Enjoy the game!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150949864932917012006-06-21T23:17:00.000-05:002006-06-21T23:17:00.000-05:00Good Hernandez. I hope you are right about the USA...Good Hernandez. I hope you are right about the USA tomorrow, and wrong about Mexico getting killed by Argentina over the weekend! :)<BR/><BR/>Maybe CONCACAF gets the miracle......Mexico upsets Argentina and USA upsets Brazil......whoa I am getting WAY WAY ahead of myself. LEt's take care of business first against Ghana!Kartikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00637710449573222655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150949718567247532006-06-21T23:15:00.000-05:002006-06-21T23:15:00.000-05:00oh, sorry did not understand you. if o'brien is 10...oh, sorry did not understand you. <BR/><BR/>if o'brien is 10% fit he must play. you cannot leave your best player on the bench with your world cup on the line. unless arena is simply concerned about confederations cups and gold cups, not that usa wins those very often either. i say o'brien plays and makes the difference and usa advances to the knock out stages.Hernandezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07356470693231768268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150949517789454432006-06-21T23:11:00.000-05:002006-06-21T23:11:00.000-05:00der kaiser (aka Franz Beckenbaur).....are you goin...der kaiser (aka Franz Beckenbaur).....are you going to see the USA game or the Italy game in person?!Kartikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00637710449573222655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150949417449538162006-06-21T23:10:00.000-05:002006-06-21T23:10:00.000-05:00Hernandez,Calm down, and read my post more careful...Hernandez,<BR/><BR/>Calm down, and read my post more carefully. First off I would <B> NEVER </B> advocate playing Ben Olsen over John O'Brien.<BR/><BR/>Obviously they are not even close to being comprable players, but with Pablo suspended and O'Brien not fully fit, Olsen is the only option left Arena evidently feels. <BR/><BR/>That is of course if the story is accurate. I think we will see O'Brien for what ever it's worth. Arena may just be throwing Ghana for a loop, since their scouting has surely identfied O'Brien as a potential game changer. <BR/><BR/>Oh and Hernandez, LaVolpe did get you to the second round. Wait till Mexico is eliminated before talking about shooting him and all the other things you have said about him......Mexico could shock the world this weekend. Until they are out, cheer for your team, not against them as you seem to be doing!Kartikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00637710449573222655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150949365073814882006-06-21T23:09:00.000-05:002006-06-21T23:09:00.000-05:00In a few hours we find out what's in the hatch.In a few hours we find out what's in the hatch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150949138031693712006-06-21T23:05:00.001-05:002006-06-21T23:05:00.001-05:00The fact that O'Brien is not fully fit is not news...The fact that O'Brien is not fully fit is not news!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150949128176801422006-06-21T23:05:00.000-05:002006-06-21T23:05:00.000-05:00kartik are you mad? ben olsen?????arena needs to b...kartik are you mad? ben olsen?????<BR/><BR/>arena needs to be shot along with lavolpe if he starts olsen over o'brien. a 30% fit o'brien is better than a 100% olsen. <BR/><BR/>why would you want olsen to play????? are you crazy?????Hernandezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07356470693231768268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150948927896905502006-06-21T23:02:00.000-05:002006-06-21T23:02:00.000-05:00Mexico fans, calm down. You guys as Sams Army said...Mexico fans, calm down. You guys as Sams Army said are notoriouslty hard on your team. No you guys have played less than inspiring football the last two games, but guess what, regardless of the weakness of the group you have advanced and now have a shot to do CONCACAF proud and shock the world at the same time!Kartikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00637710449573222655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150948858497049842006-06-21T23:00:00.001-05:002006-06-21T23:00:00.001-05:00potential bad news guys......O'brien may not be fu...potential bad news guys......O'brien may not be fully fit according to soccertimes.com.....if he's not fully fit look for Ben Olsen to get the nod.<BR/><BR/>ouch.....no wonder we are dangerously close to being eliminated from this world cup. <BR/><BR/>I'm not sure I 100% agree with everyone above who says O'Brien is the best player we have, but he certainly is among the best and not having his skill, european experience, world cup experience and pedigree on the pitch is certainly not helping our cause.Kartikhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00637710449573222655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150948844458555182006-06-21T23:00:00.000-05:002006-06-21T23:00:00.000-05:00As i said before, this is what they were saving O'...As i said before, this is what they were saving O'Brien for. If he's fit or not this is the "all or nothing" game for him and USA.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150948442247692742006-06-21T22:54:00.000-05:002006-06-21T22:54:00.000-05:0010:10:00 and counting.........10:10:00 and counting.........Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150943409509141182006-06-21T21:30:00.000-05:002006-06-21T21:30:00.000-05:00This is what they've been saving O'Brien for. The ...This is what they've been saving O'Brien for. The question is can he go the full 90. With two suspensions, the bench is already thin.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150942795962339112006-06-21T21:19:00.000-05:002006-06-21T21:19:00.000-05:00Hernandez,That is good advice for Arena. Baros and...Hernandez,<BR/><BR/>That is good advice for Arena. Baros and Koller have been named to the Czech starting roster for tomorrow even though they are less fit than O'Brien. Arena should see what our opposition the Czechs are doing and do the same with O'Brien.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150942211488833812006-06-21T21:10:00.000-05:002006-06-21T21:10:00.000-05:00" thankfully our chain smoking, morale killing coa..." thankfully our chain smoking, morale killing coach will be relieved of his duties if we get beat badly. "<BR/><BR/>Don't forget, "dragon-tie wearing".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150940391352240802006-06-21T20:39:00.000-05:002006-06-21T20:39:00.000-05:00usa 06that is good advice. i will try to enjoy des...usa 06<BR/><BR/>that is good advice. i will try to enjoy despite our poor form. blanco could have helped. but i am sure we will get run off the field by the superior argentine side but thankfully our chain smoking, morale killing coach will be relieved of his duties if we get beat badly. <BR/><BR/>i agree with everyone above about o'brien. maybe he is now fit and arena gives him the green light tomorrow to go forward to stimulate a usa attack that leads to a victory and advancement to the knock out stage. o'brien is the usa's key player. he is the best they have and even if he is only partially fit they need to take a chance and play him versus ghana.Hernandezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07356470693231768268noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150939662553967342006-06-21T20:27:00.000-05:002006-06-21T20:27:00.000-05:00I 100% agree about O'Brien. His ability to make da...I 100% agree about O'Brien. His ability to make dangerous runs as well as his closing down of space and his short quick passing makes him in my mind our best overall player. <BR/><BR/>His lack of fitness has killed us for 3 years and while you can say we should have developed a replacement by now, we don't have players like him who come up through the academies in europe and were sought by all the big euro clubs. Even Claudio Reyna and Kasey Keller have basically spent their careers playing with mid table teams in europe, while O'Brien was the one american everyone wanted before the chronic injuries forced him to reluctantly relocate to MLS.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150939519496385192006-06-21T20:25:00.000-05:002006-06-21T20:25:00.000-05:00Hernandez and Federico,I can understand your disap...Hernandez and Federico,<BR/><BR/>I can understand your disappointment in Mexico's overall play thus far in the tournament. No disrespect intended, but what did you expect? The teams from CONCACAF just aren't in the top tier of teams that consistently challenge to WIN the World Cup. USA and Mexico have to be careful not to base their expectations on the positive results of meaningless friendlies.<BR/><BR/>I respect Mexico for usually fielding a competitive team if there's a trophy involved. Copa America, Gold Cup, Confederations Cup - they take these more seriously than some teams. World Cup is the ultimate - that's why only seven teams have won it.<BR/><BR/>Argentina is a strong favorite to go far in this tournament, but so what? Anything can happen. Enjoy the next few days while your team is in the tournament. These are the days to rejoice in your team getting this far - not bemoan how they got there. There will be plenty of time for the what-ifs before World Cup 2010.<BR/><BR/>As a fan of USA, I envy your position. I hope my team can shrug off their bad form and put something together...one time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28859744.post-1150939493864326842006-06-21T20:24:00.000-05:002006-06-21T20:24:00.000-05:00Yes, feeling the butterflies alright! I am as well...Yes, feeling the butterflies alright! I am as well.<BR/><BR/>As far as the Mexicans are concerned their fans are infamous for turning against their own team. I was in Ciudad De Mejico in 1997 to watch our boys play los tres colores in a France 98 qualifier. After almost getting killed on the way I settled into my seat and took verbal abuse the enitre first half. Jeff Agoos was sent off on a stupid foul and we were a man down. Then we began to control possession and as the game wound down the same fans who wanted to kill me an hour earlier were chanting Ole Estados Unidos and giving me high fives. <BR/><BR/>They are a demanding perfectionist bunch. I personally think Mexico will be fine and feel they were saving their best for Argentina. And for one hope they win because I am tired of hearing about how dominant Argentina is and how bad CONCACAF is. I have no love for Mexico, but against Argentina, well then I begin to discover some love for our rivals to the south.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com