Comments on: US vs Italy: Last Call for the Lost Generation?

By: Bayou

Bayou — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:02:37 +0000

Aren’t we pinning just a bit too much on this Jones kid? From what I’ve read and heard, the verdict is out on whether or not he can live up to the hype. And now he’s being heralded in the NY Times as the savior or American football? A guy who has never lived here and only decided to come here because he wasn’t going to make the German national team?

By: Warren

Warren — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:25:05 +0000

Clint grew up in Nacogdoches, or as Texans call it, “Naconowhere.”

By: Kartik Krishnaiyer

Kartik Krishnaiyer — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:05:22 +0000

Fan, Dempsey is not part of thise premise because he did not come up through the USSF system and instead honed his game on the mean streets of Nagodscious TX (sp?)

The point is so much was promised of this group and what we’ve seen is no leadership, no ability to adapt to tough circumstances on the road and ultimately no wins against top teams other than the perennial victory over mexico. But of course Mexico has beaten Brazil 6 times in the last 10 years so claiming we’ve surpassed them on the global football pecking order is too a naive statement.

In 1999 we played to win at home versus Argentina and JMM scored that great late goal. Nine years later we played for a draw and even had fans and a commentator criticize Freddy Adu for putting a shot on goal late. HEAVEN FORBID, we try and win a game on home soil.

We need to beat Italy or Brazil in this tournament and quite frankly we should be able to beat one of them if we’ve really progressed and this is the greatest generation or players we’ve produced. Based on US Soccer’s pronouncements of this group and the hype we should be able to beat an again Italy on a narrow pitch at altitude. Again if we win, then we’d have accomplished our goal of raising the level of US Soccer.

My point is by the time 2010 rolls around inspite of our easy qualifying from CONCACAF (much like 2004-05 qualifying) we’ll be relying largely on Franke Hejduk for leadership and grit and younger players like Benny, Freddy, Torres and Altidore for the quality and flair. So where does that leave the generation that promised so much?

By: Fan

Fan — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:58:53 +0000

“The Lost Generation?” They’re in their mid-20s for Christ’s sake. Besides, Clint is only a year younger than Landon so I don’t know how that makes him a generation behind. And how can their “last call” be some friendly tournament when they are in the middle of qualifying for a world cup? But keep on making these premises up and some day one of them will be true.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:55:54 +0000

ANyone know of any good viewing spots in the downtown miami area?

By: The Gaffer

The Gaffer — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:49:46 +0000

Kartik, that’s the Bruce of 1980 Soccerball fame we chatted to during last night’s Miami FC game, fyi.

Cheers,
The Gaffer

By: Kartik Krishnaiyer

Kartik Krishnaiyer — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:14:01 +0000

Thanks Bruce. The issue with the Italy game as a noted is that Reyna, McBride, etc still provided the leadership that day. No question thought that was Donovan’s best game at a high level. He shocked the World in 2002 but he couldn’t control the ball and play with the 90 minute confidence he did that day. Let’s hope for a repeat today from Landon!

By: Roger Dunch

Roger Dunch — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 02:25:25 +0000

So the big question is if they will be properly motivated knowing they are failures. Of course not because we keep building them up for beating Mexico when they cannot beat anyone else of note.

By: Angry USA Fan

Angry USA Fan — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:41:59 +0000

Good piece but this isn’t the last call because bradley keeps picking the same guys over and over again. They will be given every opportunity until they can no longer stand or a new system and attitude comes into the USSF.

By: Cali Comet

Cali Comet — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:41:08 +0000

good piece, but i’m not the guy who said we could win tomorrow- you did. sense you’re already pulling back a bit.