rabbisson

How did the ball movement look on the goal?

Lichaj really impressed me throughout the Gold Cup. He's a top-tier athlete, he's great at moving the ball, and I think his positioning his underrated. He could start for us on a consistent basis, and might let us spend our money elsewhere.

Worst case, even though he's not great, Warnock isn't exactly a terrible insurance policy. Lichaj is just scratching the surface of his potential: he has massive upside, even at 22.

The funny thing is that Lichaj is getting underrated as an attacker. He was a breath of fresh air in the Gold Cup. He consistently got penetration more than any other US back (even Cherundolo) and he did a really good job on Chicharito last match.

Lerner has been a shitty owner for the Browns and now it looks like it's rubbed off on Villa. I'm not terribly upset by the appointment, but the entire process was handled horrendously. In Cleveland he got Mike Holmgren, a great football mind, to take over operations. I think he needs the same here, to take a step back and just deal with the money.

That was random.

Also, Newcastle had the advantage mentally in this game...this is their first home tilt since their return to the Premiership. These kinds of things inspire good karma.

We haven't been playing as badly as the score would indicate, but clearly not our best day.

Ireland and Petrov have switched roles it seems, Ireland has been the stronger defender while Petrov has been the mover of the ball.

We should bring NRC in for Carew and push Ashley up to striker and move Ireland as the attacking mid.

Sidwell?

Wow.

Was that in from Sidders' cross? NEVER LEAVE US, LADS ( )

Albrighton's, I think.

Albrighton has made a couple of mistakes thus far, but he looks like a born playmaker. He needs PT in relevant games.

Great assist.

Having been to South Africa and had them all around me at the matches I went to, they really aren't that bad.

Certainly a lot better than some annoying c-unit moaning about every misplaced pass and writing off every chance, only to go "Oh" and look a bit disappointed when we score.

Yeah, the annoyance is a bit overhyped IMO.

Agree! I also follow the NBA (the Lakers of Los Angeles as my home team) and this type of nonsense of talking about some other teams player is called TAMPERING!!! And is strictly not allowed. Huge fines are doled out on any club representative as well as individual players who talk about securing another team's player if that player is still under contract somewhere else. It's all very disrepectful and harmful to the team who is being pirated.

Didn't stop Lebron James .

Dempsey would be a good sign at a reasonable price, but we shouldn't overpay for him. He's a bit one dimensional, and I'm not sure of the role he'd play on this team. I don't think he's particularly creative either.

If we sign an American, I think a real shot in the dark (and this probably won't happen, so don't jump down my throat) is Benny Feilhaber who is currently at AGF Aarhus. He's a brilliant passer, extremely creative in the center midfield, only 25 years old, and I think has a decent amount of potential still left. He looked really good in the World Cup as well; his presence changed the Slovenia, Algeria and Ghana matches.

I'm hoping it's Klinsmann, but I think that if Gulati wants to create some sort of perpetual soccer presence in the United States, he needs to make bigger changes than a new coach. A stronger organizing system that involves local coaches, a national little league tournament akin to the LLWS for youth clubs and improved recruiting of talent throughout the country all are obvious additions, for me anyway.

The future is brighter than it has ever been though, and I am excited to see what happens.

I'm not the mod in this area of the site

Ah well, you're still awesome.

If a player wants to go, and someone is waving 30m pounds at you, you sell the player...and hopefully you use that money wisely to buy two top class players resulting in a new improvement for your team.

Agreed.

Losing Milner would be a tough blow, but as long as our scouting department does their job, he is eminently replaceable.

It is still disrespectful though, IMO, to ask for such a request. And I come from a culture in America where that is the norm. As the wise Notorious B.I.G. once said, "Mo' money mo' problems."

I'm a proud Patriots supporter here, looks like I'm in good company with the moderator taking my side as well . I actually know quite a few British American football fans, so it's nice to know that we have some support on the other side of the pond!