Quinn31

Well, that's goodbye to paying down the debt then!

Don't think you're right here. Belgium was unimpressive against Russia, Algeria, and South Korea, which are all inferior opponents to the US. Nice try though.

Just my luck... Belgium were average all the way through the group, then they played like world beaters against the US, now they have looked very mediocre against Argentina again...

No way. Especially for a guy close to 30.

Rodwell- Would be a good squad player, but his injury record makes Gibson look like Iron Man. Cleverley- decent player, a bit overhyped, could be overpriced. Would be another good squad player.

Belgian fans being asked to leave a bar or two in a country of 300 million is a non-starter for me. Not a widespread problem or occurrence. Just a troll. Belgium impressed me for the first time in this tournament last night, and I think it will be a great game between them and Argentina. USA gave an inspired effort, but fell short. The US lacks that little bit of quality we need to be able to beat the big boys. We just need that quality and to combine it with our resilience, spirit, and ability to play as a team and we'll be a football power. The US needed 1, Better play from the wings. Our wingers just weren't good enough at creating any chances or going forward. 2. Quality in the midfield to maintain possession. Jones huffed and puffed, and Bradley is a quality player, but unfortunately he had a poor tournament. Had Bradley played better, we may've been slightly better off, but overall we won't be able to maintain enough possession against top quality opponents until we produce some real top quality midfielders. I still think Bradley is a good player, but I wonder if playing lesser competition in MLS left him unprepared for the opponents in this tournament, as he really is a good player. 3. Finally, Jozy Altidore's injury hurt us. He is the only man who can really play the #9 position, and losing him cost us two players, not one because we had to play Dempsey out of position effectively limiting what another one of our best players could do. It was clear that Wondolowski, Aron Johannson, and Dempsey can't play up top as a lone striker.

I think Traore was supposed to be the replacement, but we got very unlucky with Traore getting injured again.

I wouldn't rule out him coming back. If Barcelona are active in the transfer market for a forward, wouldn't shock me if he was told he wouldn't be a big part of their plans come August....

Roberto really must rate him, or there must be on minimal wages/able to be released at minimal cost to us... Hopefully he's another late bloomer. Think he should spend the first six months of the season on loan in the Championship or maybe League One.

Really poor. Hope Onazi is okay, but it doesn't look like it...

The real question is: "Why would anyone do Paul Ince a favor?"..

Agreed. I have to say that all three could make decent squad players, but wouldn't improve on quality.

Vinnie Jones.

Not really. We really weren't taken to town by Germany. 1-0, they dominated possession, but it never looked like it was going to be 3-0, 4-0, 5-0.

Let's be hones tthough, it's not like Germany destroyed us. Heck, had we been a tad better in possession and on the counter, we really could've snagged a draw there.

American here as well. Welcome, Frank.

So happy that the US is going through. Just relieved. Cheers to my fellow Yanks on here (Tonka, MarkJazz, ToffeeinLA, who else? JoeQuince?) and thanks to all my English pals on this board and on Twitter who seem to have a soft spot for the USA. Big deal to get out of that group.

This precisely. Bale and Shaw are completely different players.

Sign someone from the Greek defense, but not Samaras!

Hmmm... That might be a decent sign showing that he initially struggled to cope with the PL moving from the Dutch league, but found his way and can score goals? I think that's a better sign than showing inconsistency all season long (which I thought was the criticism of him) Agreed. Given that Roberto got to see Traore train some, I really don't think he'd bring him back if he didn't think Traore could contribute.

Agreed. I think he'd be somebody who'd be quite decent on the wings, and if available for a decent fee + wages would be a great squad player. Pienaar, Mirallas, McGeady, and Moses would be a solid group of wingers for the squad assuming Pienaar hasn't lost all his ability due to age. After that, maybe Matthew Kennedy could begin to play around the first team squad.

Keep in mind that Swansea fans criticize Bony for some of the same reasons we rip Lukaku. Inconsistency and playing brilliantly one match, but being completely anonymous in others.

Stoke and Newcastle relegated?

^ This. I don't think American youth soccer players are really given the best coaching/instruction/training, or truly challenged to become top players. Yeah, sure, we have a ton of young players playing every weekend, but many of them are forced/pushed/placed into playing just to have an "activity" or to stay busy, not because they are passionate about soccer or they come from a soccer crazy culture that encourages competition among young kids and train them to become proper footballers.

Jags is going nowhere. At least not for a season or two. This is among the silliest of the silly season threads.