For the Americas bunch - opinion on Onyewu move

Tombwfc · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 5:54 pm

americantrotter wrote:

I enjoy your view of American football. I think you'll be proven wrong this summer. Just like in 02 when the US was supposed to be out in the 1st round.

All i said was that, Mexico excluded, they don't have the hardest of qualifying campaigns. Which is a very fair comment.

And yes, USA are 5th or whatever, by virtue of the easy qualifying campaigns.

americantrotter · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:00 pm

Yes, the US is over-ranked. Yes, the US have a fairly easy qualifying group. However they are a good team, and I would want about half their players for BWFC. I am not angry with any of you, quite the opposite. I am eager for my American brethren to shock the world. (Though I am still rooting for an English Chamionship)

picaro · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:06 pm

the only thing that i find annoying about the 'Merican fans of "soccer" is that these bandwagoners see the team has a decent run and automatically think that they can just win it.....it's a great mentality for a team to have, but the fans have to be a little more realistic. Football is a crazy sport where the underdogs can pull it off, but to believe that the US merits the 5th spot ranking is ridiculous...yes i understand true US fans of football (not "soccer") don't fall into this group but i find it annoying. oh! Landon Donovan is NOT the savior of US "soccer" .....sorry had to get that off my chest.

americantrotter · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 6:58 pm

Landon can definitely be annoying. That said, he has talent, and his belief that the US have nothing to fear is a good one for a squad to have. The more fans the US gets, the more often you will see/hear unrealistic expectations. I just try and focus on the players and how proud I will be if they play to their potential.

Outside of Mexico derbies, the US is one of the cleanest teams in the world, and it is a joy to watch from that perspective as well.

plodder · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:02 pm

Batman wrote:

They don't put teams as 5th in the world for a laugh.

Don't know Spurs finishing 5th was pretty funny.

boltonboris · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:15 pm

picaro wrote:

the only thing that i find annoying about the 'Merican fans of "soccer" is that these bandwagoners see the team has a decent run and automatically think that they can just win it.....it's a great mentality for a team to have, but the fans have to be a little more realistic. Football is a crazy sport where the underdogs can pull it off, but to believe that the US merits the 5th spot ranking is ridiculous...yes i understand true US fans of football (not "soccer") don't fall into this group but i find it annoying. oh! Landon Donovan is NOT the savior of US "soccer" .....sorry had to get that off my chest.

Dont want to sound argumentative but Arent the mexicans in a ridiculous ranking spot also? and to be fair I do think the US are better than Mexico

communistworkethic · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:46 pm

Batman wrote:

They don't put teams as 5th in the world for a laugh.

No but who did they beat to get there? France? Germany? Spain? Denmark? Portugal? Italy? Argentina?

They drew in qualifying away to Guatemala and Panama and lost 3-0 to Costa Rica, this is hardly stiff competition. The rankings are just showing up the flaws in their mathetical basis.

picaro · **Posted:** Mon Jun 05, 2006 7:53 pm

boltonboris wrote:

picaro wrote:

the only thing that i find annoying about the 'Merican fans of "soccer" is that these bandwagoners see the team has a decent run and automatically think that they can just win it.....it's a great mentality for a team to have, but the fans have to be a little more realistic. Football is a crazy sport where the underdogs can pull it off, but to believe that the US merits the 5th spot ranking is ridiculous...yes i understand true US fans of football (not "soccer") don't fall into this group but i find it annoying. oh! Landon Donovan is NOT the savior of US "soccer" .....sorry had to get that off my chest.

Dont want to sound argumentative but Arent the mexicans in a ridiculous ranking spot also? and to be fair I do think the US are better than Mexico

couldn't agree more....4th is a bit wishful thinking! possibly 6th or 7th position would be a little more realistic...behind Arg, France, Brazil, Eng, Spain....but that's why the rankings only matter to those who know nothing about the sport

H. Pedersen · **Posted:** Tue Jun 06, 2006 1:53 am

americantrotter wrote:

Outside of Mexico derbies, the US is one of the cleanest teams in the world, and it is a joy to watch from that perspective as well.

Yes we are.

And it drives me up the wall.

We get the crap beat out of us by nearly every team we play. England fans, recall the friendly with Belarus and the way they constantly mugged you because they couldn't match you on talent. That's virtually every USA match, including Mexico. So while no other team in our region can touch us on talent, don't think we don't pay for our wins. I like Onyewu because he's a big physical guy, he backs people down, and that's what we need more of. I think it has something to do with the mentality of football in this country, too many people think it's this nice friendly sport for little kids and that sliding challenges etc. are an abomination. I pray that we get a Roy Keane some day who is going to Haaland somebody from the Banana Republics so they will know their days of abusing us are over.

communistworkethic · **Posted:** Tue Jun 06, 2006 8:02 am

H. Pedersen wrote:

So while no other team in our region can touch us on talent.

couldn't help but chortle when I read that, what with the strength in that region - panama, guatemala.....

H. Pedersen · **Posted:** Tue Jun 06, 2006 8:06 am

communistworkethic wrote:

H. Pedersen wrote:

So while no other team in our region can touch us on talent.

couldn't help but chortle when I read that, what with the strength in that region - panama, quatemala.....

I didn't say it was some huge acheivement.

mullayo · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:39 am

http://www.soccertimes.com/americans/2006/jun06.htm

He:s still there and a Sport Illustrated cover boy. Big young cheap and raw at 1.8million

H. Pedersen · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 6:11 am

Watch him back down Borgetti about 2:30 into this, legend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk1iJ3ET ... rch=onyewu

Nip in there Sam!

communistworkethic · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 8:43 am

H. Pedersen wrote:

Watch him back down Borgetti about 2:30 into this, legend!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk1iJ3ET ... rch=onyewu

Nip in there Sam!

You are kidding? Made to give the foul by a player of experience. Stare down? Faye would eat him alive.

Those clips show a cumbersome, foul prone first division player. 6'4 and beaten in the air by the Borg?

I like this one where Borg makes him look like a fool again - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBcG7FJW ... rch=onyewu

americantrotter · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:23 pm

Don't worry commie, we're not gonna get him. He'll go on to be a rock for someone else. What do you want for 2 million and young? John Terry? FFS

boltonboris · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:44 pm

Was it me, or did an emerican label that video "onyewu the best defender in the world"????

good one!

communistworkethic · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:48 pm

you're making him out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'm seeing a player, who at best, is not the finished article, at worst a bit of a clown.

I'd sooner get a 27 year old who's been released from an Italian team as cover than take a £2million risk on what I've seen here with this fella.

boltonboris · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:52 pm

communistworkethic wrote:

you're making him out to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. I'm seeing a player, who at best, is not the finished article, at worst a bit of a clown.

I'd sooner get a 27 year old who's been released from an Italian team as cover than take a £2million risk on what I've seen here with this fella.

agreed, he looked pretty poor, clumsy and raw, although he looks like he may become good as he has height pace and power, but you need so much more. an he reckons the average height of a footballer is 5"10? he should come to England and get a shock

picaro · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:53 pm

it's not his talent, but his size that offers a different view...i agree he is still very much green but who knows after a few years in the premiership i think he could become a force to reckon with. the only problem is that he is truly one-dimensional as a defender. he could never be called-upon to look for passing avenues for counterattacks like Marquez, Maldini and other defenders do with their precision passing. the "gooch" is only there to knock you on your arse, but even that is still a decent asset for many teams and at the price he is being sold at, not too bad either. but we'll see if time disproves are the accolade he receives.

Whookam · **Posted:** Wed Jun 07, 2006 7:29 pm

Gooch >>>> Meite.

We're seriously missing the boat on this one, he's a player of tremendous potential (and size).

For the Americas bunch - opinion on Onyewu move

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