Photo by ISIphotos.com
It is that time again. Tim for SBI readers to submit their soccer (and occasional pop culture) questions which I will answer in installments over the course of the month.
There is plenty to discuss, from the U.S. men's national team's successful World Cup qualifying campaign, to the current European club season, to the new slate of Fall TV shows.
Submit your questions below (and try to limit yourself to one or two questions) and I will answer as many as I can in the coming days and weeks. You can look for the first batch of answers to post on Friday.
Send your questions my way.
Ives, great sight. check it everyday for the latest in soccer news. My question, what’s the scoop on Alejandro Bedoya? is he on the USMNT radar? I gather he’s an offensive minded midfielder, but beyond that, got me? I think I read he’s formerly of Boston College. was he a team-mate of Charlie Davies? thanks, Erik
With all the talk about who will fill in for Gooch while he is injured, one name I haven’t heard is Omar Gonzalez. Any chance he gets a call up to a camp in the near future?
Ives,
You have written a piece on Bob Bradley’s success with the USMNT and that he receives unfair criticism. I think you are by and large right, but personally I have been a Bradley critic due to one main issue – he has not developed a QB in the mold of Claudio Reyna who can hold the ball, dictate pace, and allow us to play a possession game when we need it. For two years I have been clamoring for Feilhaber and Torres (the only two who might fit this mold, though they arent there yet) to get playing time in this role. Its a very tough role, and perhaps one we dont truly have the right personnel for, but thats the reason for cultivating a successor asap. We dont hold possession well, and when we do its against Tier 2 teams. If we dont improve this aspect of out game then against the bog boys – Brazil, England, Germany, Argentina – we are solely reliant on the counterattack, we are not equipped to play a possession/build-up play game against that level of competition without some players who fit that mold. Your thoughts on this quandary?
Ives,
With all his ups and downs Altidore is a fix up top now with Davis injured. I just don’t see who his partner should be right now, doesn’t Jeff Cunningham deserve a look?
As always great site, Ives.
With Gooch and Charlie injured, what are their club’s options? I remember Charlton Athletic sticking by Cory Gibbs for what seemed and eternity but other times, contracts seem to get voided or folks are shipped out. I hear AC Milan want compensation for Gooch: Would that involve USSF paying Gooch’s salary for the duration of his time out of the game?
Ives,
The USA clearly had something going with Davies as a speedy forward. Does BB now mess that up and through Casey or Ching up front as the real replacement? Or does he slide Dempsey or Donovan up top? And if so, who replaces them on the side?
Ives,
I’ll keep it simple: What is the most frustrating part of your job?
Thanks
Ives, my question is: how sick are you of answering the exact same questions about Jermaine Jones and Edgar Castillo over and over and over again every month?
what’s happenin with richie williams in ny? does he get his shot or what?
What do you think the best coached game from Bradley Sr. Was during the hexagon qualifying round? For me it was the last game against Costa Rica.
I thought his subbing was next to perfect bringing players off who didnt have much of an impact on the game, and NOT subbing defensively. He brought in Torres Rogers and Coopers all of which are attacking presences on the field, and also made a gutsy move at times leaving only 2 in the back which helped us keep the pressure up and earn all the chances in the end.
I do want to know why cooper hasnt been brought in sooner due to his success in europe. I know he plays a similar target foward as jozy ching and casey, but aside from jozy i think he is the next best option.
in terms of formation i would like to see
Jozy
Dempsey
Donovan Torres Holden/Rogers
Bradley/Clark
Cherandolo Bocenegra Gooch Spector
or push Spector to left back as he is getting exp there in europe and the Cherandolo on the right…what do you think?
Hey Ives! love the site!
I have a few questions…When will the American Outlaws get credit for something they did??? lol
On a serious note, Who “benefits” from Charlie going down? will we see Eddie Johnson fight his way back? or even a super wild card like a Marcus Tracy!?
I have read some rumors of a MLS/USL/PDL and USL Team Owners Association having talks. Whats up with that? What would you like to see happen for youth development?
Hi Ives,
Great work on the site. I have two questions for you.
1. Who is to blame for the poor showing of TFC this season? GM/Coaching/Players?
2. Who do you think will come out of the EURO WC Playoff Spots?
Thanks,
Panos
Ives,
Great site, my question who do you feel is the number 1 team in the world right now, club or country?
Who is your Best XI in CONCACAF?
So AC Milan has no problem paying Gooch to sit the bench, but they do have a problem paying him while he is hurt? Will they even notice he’s gone? And can the USSF seek compensation for his lack of playing time?
Do you think that Bob Bradley will call up any players that play in Europe that havent gotten games with the team such as Zach Whitbread, Frank Simek, and Eric Lichaj between now and the World Cup?
Can you explain in any detail what the deal was with Costa Rica’s coach at the match in D.C.? Why the craziness?
Also, how about a primer on soccer jersey numbering? Despite decades of playing the sport, I’ve never understood what exactly the symbolic numbers are, what they’re supposed to mean, and why players’ numbers seem to change relatively often.
Hi Ives,
AC Milan is hoping for compensation from US Soccer for Onyewu’s injury (see http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Milan/15-10-2009/milan-perde-pezzi-501621988355.shtml ), which I find laughable for a million reasons, not least of them being that 1) he probably tore his knee because he was atrophying on the Milan Bench , and 2) teams that fill up with national teamers should accept the risk of injuries during national duty or not buy the players in the first place. Two questions about this:
1) Have you heard anything about this, and has US Soccer responded
2) Do you think clubs have any right to demand this? It always seems to come up with European teams…
Ives,
One of the best things about MLB is the farm system and watching a prospect mature and grow as a player. What are the names of some prospects that US fans can follow and get excited about?
1) With the first MLS break during the ’10 World Cup, and Garber’s statements regarding the need for more roofed stadiums to cope with a change to a winter MLS Schedule, can we expect some major changes in the MLS to better adapt and mimic the trends and habits of leagues around the world?
2) As a Seattle Sounders FC supporter, our club loves to tout our attendance figures (about 30k per league game). Toronto FC boasts the second highest attendance figures in the league (about 20k). Given that the clubs with the greatest home game attendance have been the two most recent expansion teams, can we expect something similar from Philadelphia Union? Vancouver/Portland?
hey ives
love following the site….just read milan is seeking compensation for gooch’s injury….very interesting that galliani is upset about it considering gooch hardly plays (i wonder if he gets upset when italian players get hurt playing for the azzuri?)…my questions…do you think all his ranting is a smoke screen to release gooch from his contract? i understand some teams want to be compensated for player injuries, but does it actually happen where a country federation reimburses a club team when a player gets hurt?
Hey ives how do you see the teams from concacaf(costa rica included if they qualify)performing at the world cup. Do you see one or all three/four teams getting out of the first round?
Hey ives how do you see the teams from concacaf(costa rica included if they qualify)performing at the world cup. Do you see one or all three/four teams getting out of the first round?
Hey ives how do you see the teams from concacaf(costa rica included if they qualify)performing at the world cup. Do you see one or all three/four teams getting out of the first round?
ives,
how long will it be before we have a young promising talent in the midfield like we have in jozy?….. i’d die to have some 17 year old come up and tear up mls and make it to europe.
when’s the new site coming out?
…I keep getting warnings for viruses and malware when I come to the site
i am a HUGE USA fan and also a history all history especially soccer so heres my question compare players now and past players who are the top usa players all together or you could do positions. does tab ramos or earnie stewart compare to donovan or beasley at their primes? always been curious i have trouble rating old usa players
Ives what’s your view on young American players going to Europe?…It seems like the young guns are making the switch way to soon now a days, and really are damaging their career…Wouldn’t you rather see them play in MLS then sit on the bench in Europe?
Why don’t more American players go down to Mexico?
With Davies out, is there enough time for a better forward option to emerge other than Casey or Cooper? I already know the answer but am asking anyways. What about moving Demps up top with Altidore for good?
With Davies out do you think we will see Bradley take another look at speedsters like Johnson, Adu, or even Robbie Russel?
You’re Sunil Gulati and it’s up to you to schedule friendlies next year in the run up to the World Cup. Excluding the 3 friendlies played right before leaving for South Africa, who do you play, and where? My vote would be a strong European team (Germany in K Town), African team (Ivory Coast in London), and South American team (Chile in Miami).
I heard O’Brien is on trial at Juve. Can you confirm this. I think he should look past a Serie A squad and go for Barca or Real. What do you think Ives?
Hey Ives,
Love the site. So the really important question is what has happened with Special 1 TV? I know Setanta went bankrupt, but does it have any future life? Thanks.
How important is having a European passport to having a young US prospect sign with a European team? It seems like most of the prospect-level signings (e.g., Szetela, Arnoux) have been for Americans with access to a EU passport. If visa restrictions were lifted, would a LOT more American prospects find their way onto European squads?
Are there any U.S. players that you know of that openly dismiss MLS as an option even as their career winds down?
Ives, what are the chances castillo and jones make our world up team? Also, in your opinion, whose the best outside back in the world?
why is the website soccerbyives.net and not .com
Hey Ives,
I’d like to hear your EPL Best XI…BUT each player has to be valued UNDER 11m pounds. And yes, I have been playing too much Football manager. How would your team stack up against the MLS All Stars?
Ives,
I am often surprised when US soccer fans deride Michael Bradley. For me, his work rate and tenacity place him among the best players on the US team. Do you think that the criticism of Bradley suggests that US fans lack sophistication? In other words, they do not understand why players of his type are desirable?
I also find it interesting that in every game he plays for the USMNT, the announcers are contractually obligated to mention that he is the coach’s son.
In light of the US-Denmark friendly, what are some of the other World Cup-bound teams that would most benefit the US to play against in the months ahead? (Putting some of the big-name, top teams that we’ve already played during this cycle aside… i.e. Spain, Brazil, Argentina, England, etc)
Ives–
any word on a new US kit? Do we change kits before WC 2010?
I second that Cory Gibbs question. He is so talented, might make a push for a backup D role in South Africa
Any chance of a Cory Gibbs callup?
Hi Ives,
There are already some 150 posts on here and I have not read through all of them. So this question might of already has been asked.
With Gooch out, can we have spector in the middle with boca and have Bornstien and Dolo at the ends.
This may be a stupid question, but I know DC United is looking for a new home, which they definitely deserve, why don’t they just blow up RFK and build a new stadium there? If United move out there won’t be any tenants anyway so might as well use the space constructively. It’s near the Metro, everyone knows how to get there, I don’t see why they just don’t build there. Am I missing something?
Ives,
The site rocks,thanks for bringing together US Soccer fans. I know that soon the players and the MLS will have talks on a new contract and that we, the fans, won’t be there. If we could send you to represent us, what would you push for, a second DP slot, reserve matches, more youth development, more foreign players, a higher salary cap, something else? What would be your priority to make the MLS better for the fans, keeping in mind the practical constraints of not spending them into a NASL oblivion.
Thanks
1. Why does US Soccer seemingly refuse to call in players that aren’t developed within the US youth system? Our current defender problem begs the question: what do Frank Simek and Zach Whitebread have to do to get a call up?
2. Also, why wont they call up our other latino players? Torres is of such obvious quality, I’m shocked that anyone thinks we have a better midfielder. Let’s not forget these guys were all born here!
Yo Ives,
What do you think was the biggest surprise in this year’s world cup qualifying?( For all the confederations)