11/05/24
June 10, 2010
SportsFilter: The Thursday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
Zonal Marking is a great site, but is mistaken about Beasley being a starter. His role will be a sub if anything.
posted by trox at 01:55 PM on June 10, 2010
posted by tommybiden at 02:04 PM on June 10, 2010
Zonal Marking is a great site, but is mistaken about Beasley being a starter. His role will be a sub if anything.
Shin Guardian agrees, at least for the England game.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 02:15 PM on June 10, 2010
Not batting practice: Team has hitting rehearsal step up to the plate
posted by tommybiden at 02:21 PM on June 10, 2010
That Zonal Marking article underscores my impression that I haven't the foggiest freakin' idea what I'm looking at when when I watch soccer. Maybe that's what it feels like when people unfamiliar with American football watch it for the first time--you suspect there's all kinds of nuanced stuff going on, but damned if you can track it.
That said, I like watching soccer more and more. I love the atmosphere, love the rolling clock, the obviously enormous effort, the way small increments matter--I'm really looking forward to it all coming together someday.
posted by Uncle Toby at 02:56 PM on June 10, 2010
I would not be surprised to see Dempsey and Landon as the wide-ish players with Buddle or Findlay paired with Jozy up top. Also not sure Clark will start ahead of Torres.
Can't wait for Saturday!!!
posted by billsaysthis at 03:21 PM on June 10, 2010
I suspect we'll see Dempsey behind Altidore in the first half - not to parrot the articles, but I agree that Bob will be concentrating on defence and getting to half time at the very least level, at which point he'll completely reshape the team to try to catch England out of the traps in the second half.
If he grabs a goal with this early defensive mindset he'll be positvely giddy.
The problem with a Buddle-Altidore pairing is that defending strong bustling forwards isn't exactly new ground for Terry and King/Upson. The obvious weakness right now is in front of England's defence, as Carrick is more of a deep playmaker, (using the term loosely), than a defensive midfielder and is out of form.
Having seen him against Australia, I'd be more tempted to play Buddle as the Schwerpunkt with Donovan in the hole behind him, Dempsey to the right and then whoever's fit enough to track Lennon back at 100mph on the left.
Donovan and Dempsey can rotate often to see who gets the most joy in each role and Donovan's movement will be a problem - if the one-paced Terry ends up stepping out of defence to pick up Donovan in the hole and then Landon sprints out to the right sideline, does Terry leave him and allow Donovan-Dempsey to have a 2-v-1 on Cole, or go with him, leaving a hole in the middle?
Once England have spent 45-60 minutes answering these questions, Bradley can quickly reshape by throwing on Torres and Findlay.
The US will undoubtedly by "up" for this, while England will be playing a rare combination in the middle of defense and are missing the guy who ties it together in deep midfield. I'm really leaning toward the US to take this one.
Can't wait for Saturday!!!
No kidding - get on with it!
posted by Mr Bismarck at 03:59 PM on June 10, 2010
That Zonal Marking article underscores my impression that I haven't the foggiest freakin' idea what I'm looking at when when I watch soccer.
ZonalMarking is hardcore, though, even for people who've grown up playing and watching the game. In that context, it doesn't help that casual American viewers, for the most part, haven't had access to the lower slopes of the tactical learning curve, because of the pressure to fill pre-match, half-time and post-match with as many commercials as possible. That's a problem, because unlike the big US sports, there's not much space during game time to break down plays, and there's also been a lack of studio talent to assemble and present the kind of packages that you'll see on most foreign broadcasters.
Maybe that's what it feels like when people unfamiliar with American football watch it for the first time--you suspect there's all kinds of nuanced stuff going on, but damned if you can track it.
Oh yes. And still today.
As for Saturday, I really don't know what to expect, though I think we'll have a good indication from the moment the game kicks off as to how Capello wants his players to approach the match. I do know that it's going to be a cracker to watch, especially among Americans.
posted by etagloh at 04:47 PM on June 10, 2010
there's also been a lack of studio talent to assemble and present the kind of packages that you'll see on most foreign broadcasters
I call this the Shep Messing Factor.
posted by owlhouse at 05:10 PM on June 10, 2010
posted by tselson at 07:32 PM on June 10, 2010
TV schedule for WC2010 (Down Under)
posted by tselson at 07:40 PM on June 10, 2010
The Celtics rolling in the fourth quarter being lead by Glen Davis and Nate Robinson. Wait, what?
They went to commercial with a slow motion scene of Glen Davis screaming with Nate Rob literally jumping on his back. Funniest looking thing I've seen all day.
posted by tron7 at 11:35 PM on June 10, 2010
What beer represents your favorite Yank?
via the shinguardian, thx Mr. Bismarck!
posted by tselson at 11:47 PM on June 10, 2010
They went to commercial with a slow motion scene of Glen Davis screaming
The lines of spit flying from his mouth were like something out of a movie or comic book. I love that crazy son of a bitch. He must lead the league in points scored that result in the player crawling on all fours to get back on D.
posted by yerfatma at 08:16 AM on June 11, 2010
Tim Howard as Portsmouth Brewery "Kate the Great" Imperial Ale
Let's hope not. Kate only shows up a few times a year and never lasts 90 minutes on tap around here. And that's with the brewery 10 minutes away.
posted by yerfatma at 08:19 AM on June 11, 2010
That wouldn't be because of his Tourette's would it?
/going to hell.
posted by owlhouse at 08:01 PM on June 11, 2010
A tactical examination of the US game against Turkey and Zonal Marking's impression of the USA team.
Then back to shinguardian for ideas on how England will line up.