2014 starts now.
Very excited to see the boys play my homeland. Also, looking forward to if Boyd can compete yet on this level.
(Edit: On NBC Sports)
so much for that
USMNT v. Scotland Open Thread
May 26th, 2012 at 8:09 PM
#1
USMNT v. Scotland Open Thread
May 26th, 2012 at 8:20 PM | 
Alba gu brath!
Alba gu brath!
May 26th, 2012 at 8:25 PM |
Oh snap!
Oh snap!
That was quick!
mgoblog: it's a perfectly cromulent website
May 26th, 2012 at 8:26 PM |
GOALLLL
GOALLLL
Donovan, great to see us get one early
Just Win Baby
May 26th, 2012 at 8:29 PM |
Channel?
Channel?
Channel?
CoE Class of 2007
May 26th, 2012 at 8:32 PM |
nbcsports
nbcsports
old versus/outdoor network
Just Win Baby
May 26th, 2012 at 8:33 PM |
Goalllll
Goalllll
Bradley. What a strike.
2-0 US early. Boys are playing great.
Just Win Baby
May 26th, 2012 at 8:34 PM |
Seven Nation Army:
Seven Nation Army:
It's everywhere.
May 27th, 2012 at 10:29 AM |
In fairness, soccer is where
In fairness, soccer is where
In fairness, soccer is where it started in the sports world.
May 26th, 2012 at 8:35 PM |
That was a glorious strike.
That was a glorious strike.
That was a glorious strike.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
May 26th, 2012 at 8:37 PM |
Damnit. We were asleep on
Damnit. We were asleep on
Damnit. We were asleep on that one.
Greetings from Bolivia.
"It's special how the real true people hang together. And if you don't support the program you're not a true Michigan guy. It's that simple." - Gary Moeller
May 26th, 2012 at 8:37 PM |
Wow
Wow
May 26th, 2012 at 8:37 PM |
Ugg Own Goal
Ugg Own Goal
2-1 USA
Just Win Baby
May 26th, 2012 at 8:41 PM |
So...
So...
Does Robert the Bruce still coach Scotland?
May 26th, 2012 at 8:44 PM |
No
No
A dead guy would offer a dramatic improvement over the current stewardship, though.
The SFA need to hire King Kenny ASAP.
It is spelled HOKEAMANIA. Our coach is an ass-kicking American citizen, not one of the Beatles, for Christ's sake!
May 26th, 2012 at 8:41 PM |
What channel is "NBC
What channel is "NBC
What channel is "NBC Sports"? Is that one of the channels in the 100s? I don't think I get that many. I recently took to soccer a little bit after watching some of my grandson's games and I'd like to see some high-level competition. It's great that the US is beating Scotland, I'm guessing they're pretty good based on geography (being so close to England).
-Herm
Stop the uniform changes! Contact Dave Brandon 734-764-9416.
May 26th, 2012 at 8:46 PM |
it is old versus
it is old versus
It is on most cable packages. It had alot of nhl playoff games as well
Just Win Baby
May 26th, 2012 at 8:53 PM |
Oh thank you I found it.
Oh thank you I found it.
Oh thank you I found it. Wow, the field looks a lot bigger than what I expected, is it bigger than the fields the high school teams play on? The United States looks good, I always like when we have a chance to beat those European socialists at their own game.
-Herm
Stop the uniform changes! Contact Dave Brandon 734-764-9416.
May 26th, 2012 at 9:39 PM |
Just FYI, just because a team
Just FYI, just because a team
Just FYI, just because a team is in Europe does not mean it is good. Scotland is by no means a European power. They didn't even qualify for the Euro 2012
May 26th, 2012 at 9:55 PM |
Or the Euro 2008
Or the Euro 2008
or 2004, 2000, 1988, 1984, 1980, 1976...you get the picture.
To be fair, qualifying for the Euro is not easy. You either have to win a group that will almost certainly include a major power (Spain, Germany, Italy, Netherlands etc.) or you have to finish second and win a playoff. Every nation that qualified this year is larger than Scotland.
Qualification for any major tournament out of Europe is a lot harder than the US's CONCACAF route.
May 27th, 2012 at 10:41 AM |
Euro qualification is going
Euro qualification is going
Euro qualification is going to start getting easier from here on out, though - starting with the next tournament, there will be 24 teams competiting instead of 16. I guess they'll start taking the top three teams from each group.
May 26th, 2012 at 9:03 PM |
Nice
Nice
Better pressure over the last 10 minutes.
May 26th, 2012 at 9:09 PM |
so far so good
so far so good
The defense is having some issues, but they're moving the ball better and looking more explosive than I ever remember them. They seem to be buying into Klinsmann's program.
May 26th, 2012 at 9:09 PM |
Short of a flukey own goal
Short of a flukey own goal
Very nice half from this squad.
mgoblog: it's a perfectly cromulent website
May 26th, 2012 at 9:13 PM |
Missed the opening...
Missed the opening...
...and don't know if there was any comment on the Scots coming out in a 4-3-3. Experimentation? Or are they doing it because a good chunk of their usual midfield didn't make the trip and they think this is the way to get their best 11 on the field?
May 26th, 2012 at 9:28 PM |
Levein is a nutjob
Levein is a nutjob
They ran out a 4-6-0 in Prague in a game that cost them a spot in the playoffs for Euro 2012. Kenny Miller has been the lone striker in virtually every game for years despite his age and lack of club success outside the SPL, while Levein has done his best to alienate Steven Fletcher (double digit goals for an awful Wolves side in the EPL each of the last two years) and the recently injured James McFadden (15 career goals for Scotland).
Tonight he seems to think Barry Bannan (who only weighs 150 pounds when he has a pint in his hand behind the wheel) is a central midfielder, Maloney is a wide player, and Scott Brown should be running up the pitch to support the striker. No rhyme or reason to any of it.
This is a depleted Scotland side due to injury and Levein's grudges. Darren Fletcher (Man. U.), Charlie Adam (Liverpool), and Alan Hutton (Villa) are probably the top-three regulars and all our out, and like I mentioned the striker situation has been totally botched. Still, Levein is just throwing God knows what at the wall and hoping it sticks. How he kept the job after his faiures in the last qualifying campaign is fucking baffling.
It is spelled HOKEAMANIA. Our coach is an ass-kicking American citizen, not one of the Beatles, for Christ's sake!
May 26th, 2012 at 9:56 PM |
While obviously biased, I
While obviously biased, I
While obviously biased, I think it's a shame that Steven Fletcher isn't on the team. Fletcher isn't completely without blame, but Levein just needs to understand that you have to have your best players on the pitch if you're going to succeed in international play. Just select him and patch things up later.
For a' that, an' a' that,
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The man's the gowd for a' that.
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The man's the gowd for a' that.
May 26th, 2012 at 10:08 PM |
Maddening
Maddening
Fletcher is scoring goals at an incredible rate considering how bad that Wolves team has been at times. He didn't want to get called up only to sit on the bench behind guys who don't score at the same rate in the Championship. Can't blame him.
Hopefully this is bad enough to get Levein booted before the qualifiers begin. He cost us a playoff spot in 2012 and we'll have no chance if he's back for the 2014 campaign. Fucking disgraceful for a country that produces half the managers in the EPL. Dalglish, Moyes, or re-hiring Smith or McLeish (and actually paying them a competitive wage so they can't be lured away by shitty clubs like Birmingham and bankrupt Rangers) would all be far superior choices. Unfortunately the SFA couldn't give a flying fuck about fielding a competitive side.
It is spelled HOKEAMANIA. Our coach is an ass-kicking American citizen, not one of the Beatles, for Christ's sake!
May 26th, 2012 at 10:18 PM |
All I hope for out of a friendly
All I hope for out of a friendly
is that something is learned. This isn't really a comment on the Fletcher situation, more on your comment that the SFA "doesn't care about fielding a competitive team": I don't think it's always best to send your best 11 or play your usual formation in a friendly--the whole point is to try stuff you can't afford to try in a serious match. You don't see people in Germany complaining tonight because they fielded an experimental side and lost to Switzerland today--what mattered was exploring their depth and making sure the regular side is rested and ready in two weeks.
May 26th, 2012 at 10:27 PM |
SFA
SFA
My complaints there are more longstanding and have to do with their attitude on pay. Walter Smith was having a great campaign but left to manage Rangers, because a now bankrupt club in a failing domestic league could pay significantly more than the national side. Alex McLeish, after just missing out on qualification from a group with France (beat them twice in the campaign), Italy, and Ukraine (they had just reached the WC quarterfinals) left the Scotland job because he was getting paid way more money at Birmingham. Fucking Birmingham! Moyes hasn't gotten a penny from his board for years to spend on players but leaving for Scotland (a job he's publicly said would be a dream at some point in his career) would be completely out of the question because of finances. Kenny Dalglish has never been offered the Scotland job. Yet Avril/Harry Potter has one not-shitty season at Dundee United, pisses away a fantastic shot at qualification with his dogshit tactics (a draw in Prague or a win against the Czechs at Hampden would have seen them through to the playoffs but Levein botched both games with tactical disasters), alienates our two best attacking players (one of whom is a Scotland legend) and he still gets another shot, barring a big backlash from this abortion.
As for experimentation, if your idea is to run out Kenny Miller as a lone striker for the billionth time in a row while you try to find out if Barry Bannan can be a holding midfielder, you might as well be lighting your pubes on fire with a Bunson burner.
It is spelled HOKEAMANIA. Our coach is an ass-kicking American citizen, not one of the Beatles, for Christ's sake!
May 26th, 2012 at 11:05 PM |
Yes, that's a problem...
Yes, that's a problem...
but it's a pretty common problem, isn't it? Look at Ireland and Trapattoni: he had to accept a 30% cut in pay to stay on and even to fund that they had to find a benefactor to pay half the salary because the federation couldn't handle it themselves. And he was supposedly offered four times his current salary to coach in the Ukrainian league (and not at Donetsk or Dynamo--that would make sense). He's not there for the money (although of course he's probably getting at least double what any Scottish coach has been paid--I do see your point).
I don't think it's at all unusual for coaches to take lesser pay to coach the national team--it's been that way in Italy for as long as I can remember. It's an honor to be selected, and you're only going to be there for 2-4 years anyway and then you can go back to club football and make some real money again. You don't see a lot of national team coaches on the highest-paid coaches list. Hitzfeld and Loew are the only ones I can think of that are even clearing $2 million. And Hiddink, whenever he happens to have a gig.
May 26th, 2012 at 10:18 PM |
And it's a shame that he gets
And it's a shame that he gets
And it's a shame that he gets lost in the shuffle when discussing strikers in the EPL. If he had a better midfield, who knows how many goals he would score. He's been successful in 4-4-2 and 4-5-1 formations too, so you can feel free to tinker with the lineup.
For a' that, an' a' that,
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The man's the gowd for a' that.
Our toils obscure an' a' that,
The rank is but the guinea's stamp,
The man's the gowd for a' that.
May 26th, 2012 at 10:28 PM |
True
True
The stats are incredible on his goal production per chance/shot. It will be interesting to see how big a club he moves to this offseason and how well he can produce if he gets playing time. He's also still only 25.
It is spelled HOKEAMANIA. Our coach is an ass-kicking American citizen, not one of the Beatles, for Christ's sake!
May 26th, 2012 at 9:38 PM |
Like what I'm seeing from the
Like what I'm seeing from the
Like what I'm seeing from the US. Just need a little bit more in the final 3rd. Boyd is giving tons of effort, but he looks a little out of his element right now. Very raw. Some really good flashes but a lot of bad moments, too.
May 26th, 2012 at 9:38 PM |
Fantastic!
Fantastic!
That old man sure can strike!
mgoblog: it's a perfectly cromulent website
May 26th, 2012 at 9:38 PM |
Uniforms are
Uniforms are
Looking great. Love the new look. Three to one go yanks!
May 26th, 2012 at 9:38 PM |
I FOUND
I FOUND
I FOUND WALDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
May 26th, 2012 at 9:39 PM |
And just as I post that,
And just as I post that,
And just as I post that, Donovan and Jones with a great move in the final 3rd. Easy goal.
May 26th, 2012 at 9:39 PM |
DONOVAN
DONOVAN
with his second, we are just flat passing scotland to death
3-1 US
Just Win Baby
May 26th, 2012 at 9:43 PM |
HAT TRICK
HAT TRICK
WOOOOOOOOOO
May 26th, 2012 at 9:43 PM |
hat trick
hat trick
Dononvan
Never Leave Us
4-1 US
Just Win Baby
May 26th, 2012 at 9:43 PM |
Goal! Landing Dovonan! This
Goal! Landing Dovonan! This
Goal! Landing Dovonan! This is great!
-Herm
Stop the uniform changes! Contact Dave Brandon 734-764-9416.
May 26th, 2012 at 9:43 PM |
Goalllllllllllllllllllllll
Goalllllllllllllllllllllll
Donovan hat trick!
May 26th, 2012 at 9:48 PM |
I turned on a football match...
I turned on a football match...
and a hockey game broke out!
mgoblog: it's a perfectly cromulent website
May 26th, 2012 at 9:49 PM |
GOAL
GOAL
Jones, 5-1 US, I am not sure I have ever seen this team better
Just Win Baby
May 26th, 2012 at 9:49 PM |
5-1
5-1
Edward the Longshanks would be proud.
May 26th, 2012 at 9:54 PM |
The only problem with the
The only problem with the
The only problem with the Scotland National Team is that it's full of Scots.
May 26th, 2012 at 9:49 PM |
If you want some entertainment
If you want some entertainment
It is spelled HOKEAMANIA. Our coach is an ass-kicking American citizen, not one of the Beatles, for Christ's sake!
May 26th, 2012 at 10:03 PM |
In case you don't know how to
In case you don't know how to
In case you don't know how to pronounce it.
COYS and lets go Detroit FC!
May 26th, 2012 at 10:09 PM |
I'm sorry, that just
I'm sorry, that just
I'm sorry, that just sounds.....fruity.
"There will be blood on the field and it won't be mine." -KK
May 27th, 2012 at 12:42 AM |
Fruity
Fruity
Scooten-fruity?
Practice makes perfect. Unless you're the Buckeyes. Then you have to cheat.
Levein is a muppet.
It is spelled HOKEAMANIA. Our coach is an ass-kicking American citizen, not one of the Beatles, for Christ's sake!