Shearer9

This is worse than losing 3-0.

Not Casey...

Freddy Adu. Your time to shine.

Fucking Fabiano. Should have no room.

Should have been a pen there.

Why is that not a booking? Elbow to the back of the head?

What's this change? Looks like we now have Davies and Dempsey up top with Clark and Kleijstan in the middle and Donovan and Bornstein on the wings?

Shit.

Our center halves look out of sorts all of a sudden Whatarun Davies!

If it happened on the other side, I'd be foaming at the mouth. We wouldn't have missed.

Video evidence was inconclusive. They're giving us a ton of room to shoot, backing off every time.

Ooooh, closer than I thought.

Not even close.

Oh and Jay DeMerit, responsible for another goal.

Just got in from work in time to see that goal, missed the first half, were they all over us? COMON USA!!

Who is suspended for the final?

Been reading some of the press coverage of Setanta's collapse, nobody seems to be mentioning their shite customer service and terrible pricing plans. It's all to do with a 'failed market' or a 'one trick pony.' I'm sure those were factors, but every time I heard someone talk about the way they were treated it was negative.

They have been saying that for ages. I actually think the unpopularity of the sport in America is greatly exaggerated. Yes, it is 5th or 6th choice for most Americans. So what? It's a big country. The sport has a solid fan base of mostly educated, white collar middle class types, first and second generation immigrants and young kids who have been playing in youth leagues. That will grow steadily over time. Television coverage of international soccer is already better in America than most European countries. Turnout is healthy at professional games across the country, especially in urban areas like LA or Chicago. Last week I went to a game in the South - about a thousand people turned up, the teams were made up of ex American college players, a few journeymen pros from Africa and even a few English players (one guy who used to play for the Man City reserves). The quality was surprisingly good (and they had a $1 beer night!). The atmosphere is a bit family friendly and tame, they have their furry mascots, statistics and stupid team names (Raving Rhino, Lightning Hawks etc.) but that is just Americans being Americans. My point is that it is getting to the point that the "building the profile" argument gets to be a cliche. There is a very substantial market, they have the money and the facilities, they have the players and talent. It isn't as if people won't pay attention. Smaller nations have done much more with much less. So the expectations should really be a lot higher. They don't need to overtake the NBA or the NFL before they start taking it seriously. In fact, I think the popularity argument has become an excuse for an underperforming national side. When they fail to show up in a major tournament, they can fall back on the "oh well, it isn't very popular, when we grow the sport etc..." More could be done in stimulating interest amongst working class, inner city youths (i.e., people who don't have first names like Landon & Taylor) but when you look at what the likes of Croatia are able to achieve without a top class domestic league then you wonder what the hell they are complaining about. I can't stand him. No Lalas you ginger clown, it wasn't all hard work and "hustle". It was more down to the fact that they have a team of reasonably talented players at the moment that can compete to an international standard. Something that the US national side didn't have during your glory days of getting humiliated by Iran at France '98. Interesting point, I think USSoccer and American professionals should drop the whole underdog attitude they've been using for a while now. Don't tread on me, etc. We have consistently been a top 15 footballing nation for a few years now, we need to start acting like it, raising expectations and stop the underdog bullshit. It works well when you go up against Spain, but when its the only thing that can motivate you you end up getting crushed 3-0 by Costa Rica or getting dumped out of the world cup.

This may just annoy me, but I was watching the game on ESPN and Tommy Smyth had to go on and on about how it was an amazing refereeing display to play the advantage. Surely it's just a part of the referee's job and can't be that difficult to see a foul, take note of the number, and allow the play to go on, later booking the offender. Yet every time, commentators act like it's the most amazing thing they've ever seen. Just one of my pet peeves.

Oh yeah, great job with the officiating there Fifa, its totally fair that one team gets 75% of all red cards given in an international tournament... :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: We just lost our best player for Sunday.

I have never thought that any US players (barring 'keepers) were good enough for Newcastle... but now that we are in the Championship... probably any of the first XI (excluding Carlos Bocanegra) could do a job for us even the often scoffed at DeMerit. Wow, taking DeMerit over Bocanegra, that is insanity. What a win, hate Lalas but I guess he'll just have to be happy working 20 days a year because he sucked at his other job and got FIRED. Cunt. What a win, wow. Where has all this insane luck been all these years? And why did we have to use it up on the Confederations Cup?

Can't be arsed clicking the link? Anyway: Metro Gateshead 13.4 miles Unit 1.86 - 1.87, Metro Shopping Centre, Gateshead , Tyne and Wear, North East, NE11 9XX Where's my nearest B&N Dave?

Wow, was at work all day, never ever expected this, can't believe we've gone through, especially after Italy beat us. Surely head to head should come before goals scored. Oh well, couldn't have happened to a bigger bunch of cunts.

If they just wore skates it would be much better.

Goal difference swing of 7, Christ. The most likely scenario at this point is probably a 1-0 for us and a 6-0 win for Brazil.