CaliMag

Quite. Get thee to Lewando's thread!

I don't see any obvious captain in any of those line-ups. I hope Pardew is grooming his first choice for thsi job. Colo?

It's nuts, isn't it? Every single goal looks like a match fix. In general, womens' sense of spatial surroundings are much inferior to men, and they generally would have a harder time knowing where they are in relation to the goal when coming off the line or trying to narrow the angle for strikers. It's hard for us men to comprehend such a thing, but it's also why, again in general, women tend to have bigger problems parking cars than men. Not knowing 100% where you are in relation to the goal at all times will of course not help the confidence of keepers to do necessary 'brave actions' where they need to challenge for the ball, eg. aerially. This is not a sexist comment as much as a factual comment and I hoped I outlined that by saying 'in general', many times. Of course there are women out there who defy the rule as do men with the various other things women are 'proven better' at. But it goes some way to explaining why goalkeeping is so off-the-pace compared to the outfield players. I was waiting for the punchline when HawK tells us that women are constantly told that a 4" penis is in fact 12" and that it has a cumulative affect on their spacial reasoning skills.

Black, white and red is the key! Yeah Hitler thought so too...

Simple and very smart. That in black and white would've been lush. Damn right. That kit is like a faaacking fairy tale, innit.

Please to check the pronunciation thread. I think that is a fantastic effort elbee.

Dempsey also showed a lot of loyalty to Fulham after the 09-10 season when he had a few offers to leave for more money.

I can't deny that... as I said in my post above, the US has a lack of good defenders and finishers.

Adu and Dos Santos are similar in that both looked like world beaters at this tournament, but have been failures in every way at club level. Was that the US' strongest team? The lack of anything upfront will hold them back if so. You only need to look at Uruguay to see how imperative top class strikers are in international tournament format. The US has always had a problem developing proper strikers. The only player in recent memory that comes close would be Brian McBride. The typical American striker is usually an attacking midfielder or winger playing out of position and isolated. It is a nation of midfielders and 'keepers... apparently.

Carlos Bocanegra is the US equivilent of Stephen Carr... How is he still playing let alone captain? Not good enough for Fulham, defo not good anough for a national team with aspirations like the US - I'd rather have De Merritt back in the side than Bocanegra and Jay's ancient. Mike - Bornstein WAS terrible, good call. The old guard must go.... and the US somehow have to uncover three or four really good young players to be able to beat Mexico. I can't see it personally.

Expected result. Still lame. Similar feeling to 99 but I am over it already, unlike 99.

I love the french themed stuff everyone has been using. One criticism though: Optimistic Nut's Avatar. Shouldn't the Lion on top of the castle tower be holding a white flag? Joke of the day: Why did the French plant trees along the Champs-Élysées ? Answer: so the Germans can march in the shade.

Its also something that is said quite a lot on football pitches in Mexico (and Southern California). Its akin to saying "slow the pace down" or "settle the ball."

Chris Hughton: great at raising team morale. Well Pardew is going to have to become as good if not better than Chris next year at this skill. None of "this group of lads" will be in the first team. We are shedding the large weekly earners and older players at a fast pace and continue to get more money in than we spend in the transfer market. This is Alan Pardew's team and he will have no excuses at the start of the year. Like many on here I think team morale and team spirit is a difficult thing to create let alone maintain. I can't see Alan having much success in this with the changes that are coming through. He underestimated what it meant to be our manager (had no idea what the NE Football culture was like especially Newcastle) and I am afraid he will not understand or be able field a team that can play at SJP. Not to mention the fact that everytime Pardew talks about transfer he talks about bring only a couple of players in... that kind of talk really bothers me. Why would he say this? Does he really believe our squad is big enough and good enough to make it through next season? Hopefully he's just being coy, but he is making major changes to the team (whether it is his fault of Ashley/Lambias) he should own up to this that this is a major overhaul. Saying it isn't is disingenuous and annoying. The team relied heavily upon Shearer for years to provide inspiration and leadership on and off the pitch. By many reports, it took a combination of Nolan, Barton, Smith and Harper to be able to bring that level of leadership back and now they are all most likely gone (probably with Harper benched rather than sold). I am not hopeful for next season.

I am sure Chopra has quite a few regrets, but his personal life is probably tops of that list. It would not mattered if he stayed here he would still be a wreck.

Next you're going to start accusing the US of taking your hockey franchises...

I really hope Canada improves their footie... everyone loves Canada. That said, they gonna get hurt tonight.

The Final is in Pasedena (just north of LA) at the Rose Bowl. It will have the same atmosphere as a home game for Mexico when they get to the final. I would imagine 80-90% Mexico supporters will be there. Now that we (NUFC) are back in the Premier League I can't imagine there will be many (if any) players on show during the Gold Cup that we would want.

Without a doubt they are crap supporters. Flashback to last year: one team was playing (for nowt) against Doncaster the other in a make or break Champions League Quarterfinal 2nd leg against a team managed by a respected and loved former manager... which game had higher attendance? Exactly.

I took no joy in their loss last night. I would much rather they make fifth then Liverpool. If they did sack Redknapp (which would be silly) they could always go for CH.

You jinxed us again Parky...

meh... was hoping Mourinho would beat ManU at Wembley, I suppose I will have to settle for Barca to do it.

Toothless.

Classy.... anyone else hear the Spanish heckler telling Jose his mother is a whore?

Foook... you're right so R Taylor with Barton in the middle probably. We'll need Tiote to have one of his Everton-level of games to get anything from this.