Only Six Guys are Producing...

Johnny Damon in the news again for things coming out of his mouth. But I have no problem with what he had to say this time around because he's exactly right.

Johnny Damon said Wednesday that "Only six guys are meeting their expectations." He said that those players are Cabrera, Valverde, Magglio, Phil Coke, Brennan Boesch, and Austin Jackson.

Damon then added, "Everyone else, the 20 of us, can and should be better," Damon said. "And I think every one of those guys would say the same thing."

Bravo Johnny! I give you props for having the stones that no one in this city, except for Valenti and myself it seems, to have the stones to call out the Tigers. Damon did acknowledge that despite the struggles they are in second, so they can win it, if they start producing. I agree with that, but I personally don't think it will get much better, unless something happens at the deadline.

But notice that Johnny had the awareness to leave himself off the list of guys producing. Shows that he isn't just being a tool and calling everyone out, he's also calling himself out.

But even a bigger name off the list that might rub fans the wrong way, is Justin Verlander. Before I say what I want to say, I love JV. He has amazing stuff. Having said that, he is not nearly as good as he should be. Tiger fans want to throw JV with Holladay, Lincecum, etc. But frankly, he isn't near their level. Just look at the numbers over the past few years and compare. You will all see that JV isn't even top 10 my friends. He has the stuff to be absolutely dominant, but he doesn't. I love him, but he could be so much better.

So thanks Johnny, for calling out this team, maybe Tiger fans will realize this team is filled with holes...

Michael Bradley: The Future of US Soccer

What do all the great teams have in common? A midfielder that can just dominate the game. Xavi, Kaka, Lampard, Ballack, Fabergas, take your pick, all are dominant midfielders. They are the glue of any team. But the US has never had that dominant center mid like those guys. But in 2014, they might, and his name is Michael Bradley.

This kid is just all upside. He's 22, he's tenacious, he's excellent at timing his runs forward, and he can finish. He also can make great recovery runs getting back on D. He can go box-to-box with the best of them. This kid will be the star of the 2014 World Cup team. He clearly has greatness in his future.

He plays over in the Bundesliga for Borussia Mönchengladbach and is playing very well. Odd, a US guy having success in Europe while he's young enough to be groomed. Hopefully he'll sign with a premier league squad in his near future to further improve his game, but Bundesliga is a good fit for Bradley. But at age 22, the fact he's over in Europe speaks volumes to this guys potential and talent.

Bradley is workhouse, his skill set is raw, and needs a little bit of grooming, but the talent is there. The area he needs to improve most is his smarts, sometimes he's over aggressive and gets silly fouls and stupid cards. But this WC saw no bookings for Bradley, so he's already making strides in this area.

Michael Bradley will be the star center mid that the US so desperately needs to compete with the likes of Germany, Brazil, Spain, and all those guys. Because a dominant, game controlling center mid goes a long way.

A look Back at the USA World Cup Run

Well, the run is done, no more World Cup for team USA until 2014, not counting qualifying which starts in 2012. But either way, the 2010 World Cup is over for team USA, and even though it was a success, a bitter taste is left in everyone's mouth.

First off, the US met expectations. They got out of group play like they were supposed to. They made it interesting, but they did it. Tying England was a huge victory for the US, and the comeback verse Slovenia will go down as one of the best comebacks in world cup history, (if a certain ref didn't blow it, it'd be even bigger.) And the thrilling win over Algeria will go down as one of the top games in US history. There is a lot of positive in this World Cup for team USA; Donavon and Clint shined, Bradley looks like a future star, and the US won it's group for the first time in 80 years.

And yet, US fans are left bitter and disappointed. Why? Because there was potential for an even greater World Cup. The US had the most favorable draw to the semis imaginable, and it lost in the first game to Ghana, ranked 32nd and missing star Michael Essien. Not only did they lose, but they conceded early goals. First 5 minutes of the match then the first 3 minutes of extra time. It was a heartbreaking and disappointing defeat for the Americans.

What makes this loss even more upsetting is that this is the best the team will be for a while. Sure Davies was out and Gooch struggled, but in 4 years, things will be way different. Boca, Howard, and Cherundolo are now 30+, Donavon, Dempsey, and Onyewu will be 30+ in 4 years. This was the best US team in a long time, if not of all time. But they failed to meet their potential.

Overall, the 2010 World Cup was a success in the same way that passing a test is a success. Sure you passed, but you didn't get that A you were shooitin for and probably should have gotten. We'll see what happens in four years...

National Pride, or Lack Thereof.

I got a bone to pick with you people. It's a matter of national pride here. So the United States was in this thing called the World Cup, right? Pretty big deal. But since it's soccer, many of you folks flat out don't care. Granted none of you will actually read this, but I'm still calling you out. I can handle people not caring, I know, soccer is boring to those that don't love it or have played it. I'm not forcing you to watch it, nor am I asking you to. But what I am asking, is that you at least pretend like you have national pride. Whatever happened to being proud of being an American? What happened supporting your nation in athletic competition? It disgusts me some of the things I've read on Facebook and Twitter, and you people should show some national pride.

Okay, so you don't like soccer, fine. But when you people start ragging on the people that do, I got issues. Reading statuses (stati?) that say things like "Now that the US is out, you can all stop pretending to like soccer," "I'm tired of all these World Cup statuses, the US sucks get over it," and "Sweet US is out, we can all stop pretending to care." just piss me off. Okay I get it, you hate soccer, but what about America? If you don't like soccer, either leave the issue alone or say "Too bad the US is out..." something along those lines is acceptable. I've had many a people tell me "Oh who cares about US soccer" and to those I always respond, you should. This is global competition, not the MLS. This is our country's players, the least you could do is support their efforts. Some people don't care for the Olympics, but they don't celebrate when the US doesn't win the gold. Why celebrate our exit of the world cup, it makes me sick.

Maybe I'm overreacting, but it does dishearten me to see people happy that the US is out of the World Cup. I can understand you not giving a damn about soccer or US soccer, but calling out those who do when your country's team loses is below the belt. You can not watch it for all I care, but all I ask is that you root for them. You hope they go far, for national pride. I guess that's too much to ask these days...

Show some national pride people, I'm tired of so many people not supporting the country, whether it's the troops or our nation's teams, the least you can do is support them, they've earned that much at least.

USA's 2010 World Cup

For the United States, the 2010 Fifa World Cup has come to a disappointing close. Coming in, this is where most of us would have put the US, losing in the round of 16, except to Germany, not to Ghana. Getting to this point is a success, but the loss to Ghana is upsetting, especially considering we had the easiest road to the semifinals possible. The loss to the 32nd ranked team in the world is cut and dry a disappointment, no ifs ands or buts about it. But despite the loss, this WC has been a success for the good ol Stars and Stripes.

It was an exciting World Cup, my least favorite part about it is the fact that my team, the US, usually plays so few games, but they gave me and everyone their moneys worth with four of the most exciting games of soccer I have ever watched. It's time for the Bearded Fellow to give out his Quad-Annual (that's once every four years, not four times a year.) World Cup Awards: USA Edition.

Most Valuable Player: Landon Donavon.
The best player in US soccer history finally decided to earn that title in the stage that mattered most; the World Cup. He did it all for the US; good runs, good passes, and great finishes, Landon led this team to it's group win with his impressive top-shelfer to start things against Slovenia to his clean up goal in the 91st to give the US the 1-0 win it needed to advance. He's 27, so one more isn't out of the question, but he probably will not be at his top form.
Honorable Mention: Clint Dempsey

Most Surprising: Maurice Edu.
This one is a tough one to hand out, but I gotta give it Edu for the way he played in his three appearances. He had a "goal" against Slovenia and played very solid in the midfield alongside Michael Bradley. He gets the surprise award because he was coming off of a serious knee injury, many questioned whether he was going to make the 23-man team. Made it he did, and he was the best of the three mids that played in that spot (Ricardo Clark and Jose Torres.) He was very good on the ball, making good decisions and good passes.
Honorable Mention: Michael Bradley

The "Where the hell were you???" Award: Jozy Altidore
With the exception of a few plays where he showed his strength on the ball, Jozy was completely non-existent. He made one good play, the header that led to Bradley's goal against Slovenia, and that was it from Jozy. The guy who led the US in scoring during qualifying, barely even sniffed the net during the World Cup. He was a complete no show. Luckily for US soccer fans, the kid is 20, he'll be around for a few more of these. He'll be back an improved and more experienced striker, one the US desperately needs.
Honorable Mention: The entire US defense except Bocanegra and Cherundolo

Least Valuable Player(s) Award: The Entire Defense except Bocanegra and Cherundolo.
I have to throw in the except here, because these two guys were solid. Carlos made one, albeit crucial, mistake against Ghana, but other than that he was a solid and consistent back. Cherundolo was most successful pushing forward and generating chances with his excellent crosses. But other than those two, the rest of the backs, including defensive mids Ricardo Clark and Jose Torres, were terrible. They were exposed early and often, slow on their close outs, and often slow to react on plays. The D cost them against Slovenia and Ghana, no question about it. In four years, it could be a completely new set of four, and I wouldn't be shocked.
Honorable Mention: Ricardo Clark

Most Promising Award: Michael Bradley.
This kid has star written all over him. He already plays in Europe, he's 22, and he is a force in the midfield for the US. Every team needs that center mid that can control the game, score goals, and recover and defend. Maybe that mid is Bradley. He showed promise of being a dominant mid in the 2010 World Cup. He excelled with his ability to go box-to-box. He made good recoveries on D and made great plays and runs on offense, including his run that led to the equalizer against Slovenia. Michael Bradley is a star in the making.
Honorable Mention: Maurice Edu

Brain McBride Award: Clint Dempsey.
This award goes out to the guy that showed the most grit and determination out on the pitch, also doesn't hurt if you start bleeding somewhere on your face, much like good ol McBride in 06. Dempsey got bowed not once, but twice in the face, and was on the pitch every minute of this World Cup. He played with heart and determination out there, he even got rewarded with a goal, thanks to Robert Green. But Clint played his usual brand of hard-nosed soccer, whether he was at mid or up on the attack. He even drew a penalty against Ghana after nutmegging John Mensah. Do work Clint, you earned this prestigious award.
Honorable Mention: Michael Bradley.

The Bearded Fellow Award: Oguchi Onyewu
This award goes out to the man with the best facial hair. When you have more hair on your face than your head, you're usually a lock to win this award. He could have made it look a little neater, but the beard was impressive. Keep growin it Gooch
Honorable Mention: Clint Dempsey.

The US will have a solid squad in 4 years, but for some reason I doubt it will be as good as this year's squad. There are a handful guys that are questions for the next World Cup in four years, and they are important guys, (Dempsey 28, Donoavon 27, Howard 31, Bocanegra 31, Cherundolo 31, Onyewu 28.) This team's exit is disappointing, but they made this country proud. Hopefully, positive comes out of this run for the game of soccer in this country... One can only hope.

Tim Howard: Underrated.

Where would the US be without it's keeper Tim Howard. Would Donavon have scored? Would England have only managed one? No. Tim Howard has been amazing for the US in their World Cup campaign and all other international match-ups. I want to write a brief post on my feelings about good ol' Timmy.

First off, I want to say that he is the most underrated keeper in the entire world. He doesn't get the credit he deserves, playing for Everton and the US, but Tim is one of the top 5 keepers in the world. Yes, I know many would quickly refute that, but he's got the skill, athleticism, and the leadership of a top keeper. He's not at the level of the big 3, Julio Caesar, Iker, and Buffon, but I'd throw him right after them. Petr Cech is still got him, but that won't be for much longer. Howard is right there at 4 or 5 in my book, but no one gives him the credit he deserves.

Tim is the leader of this squad, yes Boca has the fancy yellow armband, but Tim Howard is the voice of that team. He is always barking out orders to his teammates. He's an on-field coach. Boca's got the armband, but Howard is the captain.

I expect Tim Howard to leave our beloved USA to the Semis, and if he's back in 2014, (for those that don't know, he's 31) he will have that captain armband he deserves.

It's fitting that the most-valuable player and the leader of this underrated US team, is as well, grossly underrated.

Drama on the Pitch

It took 91 minutes, but the United States eventually got that 1-0 lead and win it needed to advance and win the group. We all know the run up, Dempsey robbed on a bad call, the US dominating the chances but not scoring, then a Tim Howard throw, which I'm sure would impress Payton Manning, found the feet of Donavon; Donavon to Jozy, Jozy to Dempsey, Dempsey denied, and Landon follows up with the rebound goal. I'm not trying to downplay the goal, trust me I was going nuts, quietly nuts, but nuts nonetheless. But we all know how it happened and what it did, but do we know what it meant? Do we truly know how big it was?

One person that doesn't is a man by the name of Pat Caputo. Normally, I would never bring up another journalist in this blog, but I have a bit of a bone to pick with Mr. Caputo. Caputo said, nay ranted, about how little this game meant, only because we played Algeria. He was angry that people, although I have yet to hear one soul make this one besides him, were comparing it to the US Olympic hockey win against Canada at Canada this year. Let me break this down Breaded Style...

Hockey is great yes, but this win is bigger. Under every normal circumstance I'd say the US hockey was bigger, but these weren't normal circumstances. Question, if the hockey team lost that game, would they have been out? No. Would the soccer team? Yes. Did the hockey score in the last seconds to win that? No. Soccer? Yes. Ya get my point here? The timing and what was at stake makes this win bigger. Okay sure, it was Algeria, but to win under pressure when everything is on the line, that is always impressive in my book.

Also, let's factor in that everyone in that stadium was rooting against the US, with a select few of course. Everyone else wanted the African nation to win that match. So the hostility was there. Also add in the two major blown calls that almost kept the US from advancing, and then you got yourself one hell of an accomplishment.

Sorry Pat, but this win means so much, and that was just the tip of the iceberg. The US wins the group for the first time since 1930. Last time I checked, that's a really long time. The sport was almost dead in the 70's and 80's, it was saved by a goalie that never saw the pitch in a WC game(read the article, link at the end). And now, the popularity is rising, and thanks to this game, people believe that the US can actually compete. I don't care if you hate soccer, if you don't see the significance in this win, then you are an ignorant buffoon (directed at all, not just Pat.)

This win, and this WC run could spark a huge growth in interest for the game of soccer. As weird as it sounds, the Fifa franchise has really helped laying the ground work for building interest. The MLS is getting better, and more US players are competing at international levels. Factor in all of this, and you can see that popularity for soccer is rising. There are those who still deny it, but soccer is pretty damn popular here in the states now. Had the US lost, all those on the fringe fans, would just say, "Oh the US sucks, who cares?" But now, they're sayin "Hey... we could make a decent run here, these guys are pretty good." I don't care if it was just Algeria, this win has monumental significance for the sport stateside.

Official prediction: Because the US won the group, we now have a favorable bracket to play with. No Germany, no Argentina, instead we get Ghana and the winner of Uruguay and South Korea. Reaching the semis is very doable, and I believe the Yanks will do it. No, not a type, the US will reach the semis. Beyond that, doubtful, but reaching the semis is one hell of an achievement for such a "lousy squad."

Thanks to Mike for posting this, and check out this piece, long but very good.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5308513/ce/us/david-vanole-esophagus-saved-us-soccer?cc=5901&ver=us