ponsaelius

And I don't mean the Socialist Workers' Party.

SWP NO TO SWP

Kev

This!

Prandelli will have them fit and firing for Poland/Ukraine. Balotelli/Cassano strikeforce could yield some lols.

You were arguing that USA has more 'going for it' as a footballing country though, not whether Rossi made a bad decision regarding his own personal chances.

Well, not really, not when squad politics is an issue with the Italy team, that has kept most young players out of the team until very recently. He's still not good enough to start though. Maybe after his form this season, but this is the first tim he's came close. He'd have 50 caps by now if he'd gone with USA from the beginning. That's the difference in the talent depth's for both nations. Sure, through contrasting management success USA have outperformed Italy over the last 2-3 years but the cold hard truth is that the US are still a long way behind. Look at their squad from the WC, they perform great as a team but the players are very limited. DeMerit (released by Watford) and Onyewu (5th choice at Milan atm) is there CB partnership, and this a position the US count as a position of relative strength. I'm sorry, there's just no comparison.

The fact he'd be one of the very best American players (ever), yet he's 'not even a stable figure in the Italy squad' surely negates your point about the US overtaking Italy?

Disagree. Italy have been going backwards for a while. There isn't a single US player that would get into the Italy starting XI. Donovan, at a massive push.

I think the point Mattis is making is, despite recent form and US progress, it is still pretty much: Italy > USA

Merry Christmas you wankers.

Brilliant stuff.

http://www.sporcle.com/games/Freddie/200players 131/200 Difficult.

Well, he's been pretty shit.

Yep. Still, best of luck to him, can't be worse than Rafa. He's a traitor to all of a Milan persuasion, though.

Leonardo appointed Inter coach.

93 also.

There is absolutely no way playing Smith can be twisted into anything positive.

Guthrie vs Portsmouth Good goal but hardly a screamer. Only went in because of James having paper bag hands.

I was saying not long ago, we seemed to go on a real drought of scoring good goals. The turgid relegation season had very, very few moments of quality. I can't think of a single screamer we scored that season. Best goal was probably Duff vs Spurs, or maybe Martins vs Wigan. We've already loads of good ones this season though

Aye Carroll vs Liverpool aswell, how did I forget that one.

For me yes. We've had some good'uns though. Barton vs Villa and Raylor vs Accrington run it close.

Crespo was Parma and Lazio, when he was at his best. Didn't fail THAT badly at Chelsea actually, 20 goals in 50 appearences. Infact his first season was great.