The Yanks Are Coming - Latest Comments

Re: The USA Dual Nationality Squad

Leportugal39 — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:08:05 -0000

clint dempsey, irish last name, does have mexican and or latino features? I wonder

Re: The USA Dual Nationality Squad

Leportugal39 — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:06:40 -0000

CLINT DEMPSEY does have Mexican American features.

Re: US Men’s Olympic Failure a Regional Failure, and That’s Unacceptable

Jon — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:19:28 -0000

That's a nice thought, and one that can even be applied to a team like Spain. But those teams, while beaten up by a team or two within their regions, always qualified for international tournaments. Is this new level of American failure really a necessary hurdle on the path to success?

Re: US Men’s Olympic Failure a Regional Failure, and That’s Unacceptable

Russ Andolina — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 15:17:11 -0000

The complete tactical naivete was what bothered me the most last night. If you're going to say we're lacking in anything as a nation it's far and away going to be basic football smarts: how to kill a game, what to do with the ball in situation A, B, and C...etc.

Shea has a lovely first touch and all the pace and verve in the world. It means nothing when he launches a clueless pass into the middle of the field to spring the equalizing Salvadoran goal.

Football is a game you play with your brain. You don't know how right you were, Johann...

Re: US Men’s Olympic Failure a Regional Failure, and That’s Unacceptable

Christian Araos — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:03:26 -0000

I agree however I do believe failure breeds success. When we look at the current batch of Mexicans they were brought up during the decade of dos a cero and had to deal with the mental frustration that came with it. That has been there motivation. We can only hope that the frustrations that these players have endured drives to senior success.

Re: US Men’s Olympic Failure a Regional Failure, and That’s Unacceptable

Snipersghillie — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:27:21 -0000

Meant to say how many times we play the long ball out of the back under Klinsmann...

Re: US Men’s Olympic Failure a Regional Failure, and That’s Unacceptable

The Yanks Are Coming — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:11:42 -0000

Otherwise, great comments. And ones I think the author would almost certainly agree with-- particularly the noted "steady improvement" of MLS.

Re: US Men’s Olympic Failure a Regional Failure, and That’s Unacceptable

The Yanks Are Coming — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:09:00 -0000

Wouldn't say no one has-- but I think it is worth noting that this will be harder. You begin to take things for granted when you qualify with room to spare as the side did the last three cycles.

Re: US Men’s Olympic Failure a Regional Failure, and That’s Unacceptable

Kevin Villegas — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:48:41 -0000

Right on, Jon. It seems like we're taking steps backward when we should be going forward. I don't know what is to blame - probably not one thing is 100 percent at fault - but I do know that results matter, and last night's was a very bad one.

Re: US Men’s Olympic Failure a Regional Failure, and That’s Unacceptable

Russ Andolina — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 10:27:51 -0000

If you're referring to the looming 2014 qualification campaign I don't believe there is ANYONE who has followed this team for a length of time has ever considered qualification at any level an easy assumption.

Determining where you stand in the world if you aren't Brazil, Spain or Germany is a difficult thing in international football. Ever since the modern "expectations" era since the '02 quaterfinal run I think US fans as a group have driven ourselves crazy trying to pinpoint EXACTLY where we are in the world.

I think it's a futile task....we've been what we've been for a while. A decent top 25ish nation that is capable of world class play and horror inducing calamities in equal measure...it's not the sexy answer or a guarantee that it'll change for the better any time soon but I believe it to be accurate even given what happened last night in Nashville.

These existential crisis losses we've had these past couple years are just our collective self loathing turned against us. Is it worrying about what this group of U23s/U20s have missed out on? Absolutely....is it an indictment of EVERYTHING we're doing as a soccer playing nation? The growth of academy systems, the steady improvement of MLS, more Americans featuring more prominently on top European club teams? I don't think it is.

Re: US Men’s Olympic Failure a Regional Failure, and That’s Unacceptable

Snipersghillie — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:49:39 -0000

Absolutely gutted. The amount of long balls out of the back during our desperation was so old-school and reminded me of the Bob Bradley era. Klinsmann has brought an undeniable change, and one for the better, of how our back line moves the ball out of the back on the senior USMNT. You can count on one hand how many times we play the ball out of the back it seems. But, with these young guys, they resorted to that method pretty quickly in the 2nd half. Ironic that Shea's lack of a clearance is what helped doom us though.

Re: Freddy Adu: Ready to Lead? And Other Burning U-23 Questions Before Tonight’s Opener…

wilyboy — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:15:57 -0000

Howard is not going to be called in. I wouldn't be surprised if all three overrage players are plugged into defense beside Chandler, but perhaps Porter will want one midfielder.

As for Freddy, he's ready.

Re: Freddy Adu: Ready to Lead? And Other Burning U-23 Questions Before Tonight’s Opener…

The Yanks Are Coming — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 08:54:01 -0000

I think we need two overage defenders and a holding mid. All bets are off, however, is Dempsey wants to play-- the Olympics are five minutes from his house.

Reality is the MLS guys will have a tough time being released for this tournament. So Ream and Lichaj are legit possibilities-- but a Cameron type much less likely.

Re: Freddy Adu: Ready to Lead? And Other Burning U-23 Questions Before Tonight’s Opener…

lukes — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:22:28 -0000

we need 3 overage defenders. cameron, ream, lichaj is what i would like to see

Re: TYAC’s USA-Italy Preview: Grand Test for USMNT in Genoa

Maxwell — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 23:40:47 -0000

My fine gentleman of TYAC, I am upset. I am upset because I felt the performance of this match and its result warranted a follow-up article. I thought it warranted an exposition of the details of the defense, offense, and the off the ball work which characterized the game, that in a comprehensive way evoked such a wonderful emotional response it is in my top 5 favorite matches in USMNT history. I thought this because we won, and played well.

Then it hit me: this is how America OUGHT to be.

Far being it from the philosophical realm of actual and necessary moral values which demand right response which has so dominated my understanding of the word "ought" during my academic life, this sort of ought is a spiritual ought.

The ought of a coal miner who works his ass off by day to support his family and works as a volunteer fire-fighter to support his community. The ought of changing the oil, and mowing the lawn, when all you want is a beer and some quiet. The ought of bearing the burden of that IDIOT at work because you know that if you're good and honest with him, though he in fact may turn out to be a hard worker with novel ideas, he deserves your professional respect regardless.

The kind of ought that America's National Team has always had, just doesn't always piece together. It's no surprise that once we slip a fine tuned field general like MB90 in things start to flow, because that's who we need: a bald little sense of reason, our moral imperative.

I just hope when we are inclined to sit on our laurels and wonder in awe of defeating a top 10 team, we decide we ought to be one ourselves.

Re: The USA Dual Nationality Squad

Big Pimp Playa Daddy Dawg — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:33:36 -0000

Where's Pablo Mastroeni?

Re: USA – Panama: Round Three – Your TYAC Preview

Georgeleonups02 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 04:09:16 -0000

I like your analisys.

Re: New Year’s Eve Happy Hour: Preston Zimmerman, and Puck’s 2012 Bold Predictions

UnitedDemon — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 20:30:11 -0000

Put in Geoff Cameron instead of Ream.

Re: Puck’s Gameday Happy Hour: Thoughts on the USWNT Goalfest, Clint Dempsey, Venezuela and More…

George Leon — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:29:25 -0000

Love your coments, keep on partying.!!!

Re: TYAC USMNT Olympic Qualifying Position Breakdown: Am I Being Too Forward ?

Todd — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:55:02 -0000

Thanks...just learned about this website today when I was listening to the SI podcast during lunch break. I have bookmarked it and you guys will become part of my daily surfing on anything US soccer. Cheers!!!

Re: TYAC USMNT Olympic Qualifying Position Breakdown: Am I Being Too Forward ?

The Yanks Are Coming — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:26:03 -0000

Fantastic comment. Thanks a bunch for those great thoughts..

Re: TYAC USMNT Olympic Qualifying Position Breakdown: Am I Being Too Forward ?

Todd — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:40:20 -0000

Maxwell...really, do you think a medal is more important than development. I am a huge USMNT fan and I want results too but there is a revolution going on here. The American game doesn't work, the collegiate system has to be scrapped. We have to get back in the boat and sail to Europe or South America. Klinsi has got it right! Change the system from the bottom up. Develop technical skills at a young age instead of playing 52 games a year. Prize creativity with athleticism. Get Academys up and running with decent coaches(this way we are not sending 22 year olds over seas...because that is too late). This is the way forward. The US isn't going to be competitive at the next World Cup. When we can either have a top rate development system ,or at the very least send 15 year olds overseas(like John O'Brien to Ajax) will we ever get better.

Above all we have got to realize we are not world leaders and have to avoid saying things like,

"This is the United States of f*cking America!" (Sorry, no way is Rossi's name getting into that phrase, not now not never).

because it makes us look stupid and arrogant. Maybe we could say that if we had actually done something on the big stage and not against the regional minnows. Especially since we are no longer the big fish in our little pond.

So put your jersey on for tomorrows B-team game and route for our team. I know me and my 1 1/2 year old son will do so but don't think a 10-0 US win or a 3-0 loss means anything .

Re: TYAC USMNT Olympic Qualifying Position Breakdown: Am I Being Too Forward ?

Maxwell — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:50:25 -0000

Thanks Puck, but we are only 20 days in. The best is yet to come.

I don't know if my tweet came through the other day, but what's your take on Wynalda's comments from the NSCAA conference? Specifically about his rebuttle to MLS Comm Director's "inferiority complex" thing. If y'all don't write something on the modern American soccer mentality, coupled with American spirit, I may have to.

Glad to be back. Keep it up. Love this stuff, best USMNT blog in the world. Yes, even better than anything Grant Wahl writes.

Re: TYAC USMNT Olympic Qualifying Position Breakdown: Am I Being Too Forward ?

PUCK — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:34:44 -0000

Dare I say leader in the clubhouse for comment of the year! Well done.

Re: TYAC USMNT Olympic Qualifying Position Breakdown: Am I Being Too Forward ?

The Yanks Are Coming — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:08:16 -0000

We're just glad you are back Maxwell. And we hope you are right about Josmer.