Deuce

I'll repost this here, since it'll just get lost in the NWOAT thread. http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/81004/Sacramento_Pro_Soccer_reaches_out_to_fans_and_brings_an_English_Premier_League_team_this_summer A "mid-tier" PL team will face a Mexican League team in a friendly in Sacramento this July.

Fucking De Jong AND fucking Evans. Cunts. Stu looked so good in that 2010/11 season. The national team would look so much better with that level of play in midfield.

Stu Holden loaned to Sheffield Wednesday for the next month. Should be able to get more minutes.

Seems like they're a well-run organization with a lot of support in central Florida. Be interested to hear what cuba and Kanji have to say.

Jermaine Jones might be considering a summer move to MLS. Orlando City are aiming to be named the next MLS franchise by the end of 2013. Sacramento is launching a USL Pro team next year.

Ban this sick filth.

Speaking of Russians...interesting take on Don Fabio's revolution with the national team: http://espnfc.com/blog/_/name/tacticsandanalysis/id/1096?cc=5901

Devastating rebuttal.

Huge Gateshead fan myself.

Yeah he did, but Spain weren't at all reliant upon him. Complementary player the past few seasons.

Italy went to the final with their top scorer on 2 goals. So? It's rare for even top goalscorers to net more than a few in international tournaments. So Balotelli's 3 is actually rather impressive (and it was tied for first at Euro 2012.) Point is, most international sides need a proven striker in order to succeed. The few here are exceptions. Spain rely on possession to win, Italy rely on defense (though less so in recent years).

Nice looking kit. Again, simple and clean. Of course being the Allsvenskan, it'll be covered shoulder to waist in sponsor logos.

Is that a Stone Cold "What?!" or an actual question?

He's shifted out wide during the course of a few games for us, IIRC. I imagine Menez is probably a better option at LM, but I can't stand the guy. I don't think that's really a positional change, more a case of him having licence to roam as the number 10. France have far more agile, technical players suited to that role. Like, our very own, Hatem. So much potential. Just wish he could find a way to stay healthy (more for our sake than France's.)

He's shifted out wide during the course of a few games for us, IIRC. I imagine Menez is probably a better option at LM, but I can't stand the guy.

That he is, I see him as a box-to-box guy. Physical player. Between he, Cabaye, and Diarra, you have three different central midfield styles. I think they'd complement each other well.

Since I'm on a mock roster kick right now, I'll try my hand at France's: At full strength... Lloris Varane Rami Debuchy Evra Cabaye Pogba Diarra Sissoko Ribery Giroud Obviously I have an affinity for Debs over their other RBs, but that position really is a toss-up between him, a healthy Sagna, and Jallet. I still rate Rami over Koscielny at CB. And Varane is an impressive player. They really have so many competent midfielders. Diarra proved against us in the Europa that he's still a force to be reckoned with in central midfield. And I think he offers more than Matuidi. Wouldn't be surprised if Capoue or Gonalons work their way into the line-up either. As I think Mole mentioned earlier in the thread, putting two holding midfielders like Pogba and Diarra on the field allows Cabaye to sit deep and control the tempo ala Pirlo. As we've seen, Sissoko can play a decent RM. I do like Valbuena, but Sissoko is stronger and tracks back better. Wouldn't kill them to give him a few chances at RM. And I despise Menez, though he'd probably be a good shout. Probably a bit homerish for me to include all 3 of Cabaye, Debuchy, and Sissoko, but I think it could work for France.

My U.S. team going forward: Altidore Dempsey Beasley Zusi Bradley Jones F. Johnson Chandler Besler Gonzalez Guzan I like Cameron more as a CB than a RB, but I like Gonzalez and Besler's rhythm together. They were in-sync 100%. And Chandler is better at getting forward from RB than Cameron. But I think the latter is stronger defensively (thanks for instilling that, Stoke), so I'd probably use him at RB over Chandler when playing away games. Jack of all trades player, Cameron, deserves to make the roster every time. His versatility having played all the backline positions will be of huge benefit to him going forward. Still not sold on Eddie Johnson at LM. He runs hot and cold. Based on his effort and performance over the past two qualifiers, I'd like to see Beasley given another shot in his natural position. And the x-factor for this position is Shea. Still raw, but potentially the most dynamic player the U.S. could play there. I'd also like to see Chris Pontius given the opportunity to prove himself at the international level. Been arguably the best LW in MLS over the past couple seasons (with respect to Brad Davis, though I believe he's played himself out of the national team picture.) Zusi has locked-down the RM position as far as I'm concerned. Only an in-form and healthy Donovan could unseat him at this point. Jermaine Jones just plays so much better as part of a 2-man central midfield than he does under a 3-man midfield. He and Bradley complement each other well. Guzan is my #1 keeper ahead of Howard. It's time to phase out Howard, as Keller and Friedel were phased-out before him. Guy still has plenty of years of quality GKing left in him, but Guzan is the future. And the future is now. The above formation is definitely offense-heavy, as Beasley, Fabian Johnson, and Chandler all like to get up the field. I'd probably modify a few things, as Klinsmann did, for away games in tough environments (bring-in Eddie Johnson for Beasley, Cameron for Chandler or Besler, maybe Gomez for Altidore.)

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Sport/Pix/pictures/2009/11/4/1257335491028/Mike-Ashley-001.jpg

Yet had it been Tiote they'd still be picking up pieces of McManaman. I shudder to think of Sammy receiving a blow even half that strength. Skinniest little stick legs I've ever seen on a footballer.

It's less important for a team like Spain. Their success is not predicated on a single striker putting goals in the back of the net. They'll control the ball 75% of the game, break down a defense, and sneak one past late-on. Don't get me wrong, they're all the more potent with an in-form Torres or David Villa. But it won't break the side to play without them. France don't have that luxury though. They, and most international sides, need a dependable striker.

:lol: AMURRRRICAAA!

So racist.