Anybody watch the Hard Knocks-esque "Inside: March to Brazil" on ESPN last night? I caught the second half and thought it was pretty good. Donovan sounded like a bitch though and I'm really not a fan of Julian Green's dad. Here's the rest of the schedule.

May 13, Tuesday, 7-8 p.m.: Series premiere
May 21, Wednesday, 7-7:30 p.m.: Episode 2
May 29, Thursday, 7:30-8 p.m.: Episode 3
June 3, Tuesday, 7:30-8 p.m.: Episode 4
June 10, Tuesday, 8:30-9:30 p.m.: Episode 5
June 11, Wednesday, 9:30-10 p.m.: LIVE series finale – Epilogue

Link about the series: http://www.espnfc.com/blog/_/name/relegationzone/id/1880?cc=5901

5/14/2014 8:39:58 AM

i know the internet is always an option but does anyone have experience watching something like the world cup in europe with the time difference?

How will they be watching it? I'm assuming they will all watch on time delay but it seems like they would be too hardcore for that. How did Spain tune in to the confederations cup?

5/14/2014 4:52:00 PM

It's like three hours difference from the eastern part of Brazil to Western Europe. It's like watching a Lakers game. The latest game is 6 Eastern every day so latest in London is 11. I feel they can handle staying up until 12 or 1 over there to watch live..

[Edited on May 14, 2014 at 5:52 PM. Reason : X]

5/14/2014 5:50:55 PM

and usa/germany should be perfect for an extended lunch

5/14/2014 7:16:52 PM

I watched that too aimorris.

Donovan always sounds like a bitch. He said the right things when he was talking about playing time and having to rest etc, but JK sounded a lot sterner talking about not being guaranteed anything despite what he may have done for US Soccer in the past.

What about Green's dad didn't you like? I didn't pick up on anything weird with him. Sounds like he loves his son is playing for us.

[Edited on May 14, 2014 at 10:02 PM. Reason : something came on right after that too with pele and messi. I haven't watched it yet.]

5/14/2014 10:01:36 PM

Oh my opinion isn't based on that show alone. I've just seen him and heard from him way more than Julian himself. I could have done without the reaction shots the entire Mexico game from him too.

5/14/2014 10:04:53 PM

That part was a little wtf

Green did strike me a bit of a recluse. He wasn't really interacting with his teammates at all that they showed in the cut-ups. Maybe he was a bit intimidated by the situation since that was his first time training with the senior squad.

5/14/2014 10:08:45 PM

anyone know anywhere else to find that first ep?

5/14/2014 10:09:15 PM

I've been looking everywhere since I missed the first 30 min but no dice. Saw on twitter they're showing it again tomorrow at 9 on ESPN2 and at 2 on Saturday on ABC


^^ I'm sure he was nervous and it was pretty intimidating for him.

[Edited on May 14, 2014 at 10:20 PM. Reason : .]

5/14/2014 10:16:37 PM

I forgot to watch yesterday but I have it set to record tomorrow.

5/14/2014 10:33:03 PM

found the first ep on the football downloads reddit if anybody else is still interested

5/17/2014 9:32:54 AM

I keep looking for 1994 US away jerseys, but can't seem to find any for under $200. I need it to go with my red wig and beard before I take off to Brazil. Any t-shirt screen printing recommendations?

5/20/2014 5:58:56 PM

Is "away" wavy stripes or denim stars?

I have a bootleg version of the latter that I'd loan you; it's a Garcis and it's cheap/hot polyester, but it looks the part.

5/20/2014 6:23:55 PM

Denim stars. I'm interested in this offer, but I live in California. PM sent.

5/20/2014 6:28:20 PM

I would never sell my two 94 jerseys for anything but honestly they're really hot and itchy. Wouldn't be a good call in Brazil IMHO.


Try this http://store.bumpypitch.com/1994stars.html

5/20/2014 6:56:57 PM

WOW. No Lando in Brazil...

5/22/2014 5:48:19 PM

Kinda shocking to see Davis to me given the he seemed to favor youth (and 2018) over experience but whatever...

5/22/2014 5:51:10 PM

holy fucking shit

5/22/2014 6:17:47 PM

cojones

5/22/2014 6:19:09 PM

Wow. I mean I can't believe we're not at least taking him to be a substitute. Jurgen never had good things to say about Donovan and I can definitely see how their two personalities would clash.

But still...

5/22/2014 6:32:09 PM

I'm really surprised but I guess we're just reading the name and not thinking about the player Donovan's been the last 2 years.

He can't really go 60-70 minutes at this level anymore. And he's lost the pace to be effective as an impact sub. Where does he play in this lineup? We did just fine without him in WCQ too.

5/22/2014 6:38:05 PM

jergen making an example out of him to show the young guys you have to work hard all the time and earn everything. its a culture building move for sure. all of that sounds good but now you pretty much have to win if you're jergen. you can't leave Donavon off and lose without everybody saying what-if. at least bring him as the last guy.

[Edited on May 22, 2014 at 6:44 PM. Reason : k]

5/22/2014 6:43:44 PM

I don't think anybody is under any allusions about Donovan's form. He can't go a full 90 anymore. But still, leaving him off the roster gives critics something to point to if this team doesn't advance out of the group stage, now.

5/22/2014 6:45:20 PM

so you wanted Klinsmann to play it safe and use a spot on somebody he doesn't think can help the team this summer so critics wouldn't go after him? I'm glad he doesn't give a damn about that.

again, I'm not saying I would have done it but then again, I'm not watching at camp. We have no idea of his fitness (he looked fat against Mexico) or his effort.

5/22/2014 6:53:29 PM

Who is "the guy" now? Bradley?

5/22/2014 6:57:27 PM

Not saying that at all. Just speaking pragmatically. Coaches pull this move all the time, though. They snub their decorated vets for youth, and if they perform, they're brilliant moves. And if they don't, people point to that move as evidence of the coaches incompetence.

We've all seen the images of 30 something year old strikers watching their teams be eliminated from the sidelines in their warm-ups.

[Edited on May 22, 2014 at 7:05 PM. Reason : ]

5/22/2014 6:57:42 PM

Yeah but this "snub" happened a long time ago. And it was because Landy quit on his teammates as WCQ was starting.

5/22/2014 7:07:07 PM

I'm not arguing that. I'd guess that THAT reason had more to do with it than his form

5/22/2014 7:08:20 PM

I mean I'm not really arguing with you. I would have brought him, especially over somebody like Davis. I think Brooks is a waste of a pick too.

I'm just saying that it's not really that massive of a snub considering how clear it's been what Klinsmann thinks of Donovan and his worth to the USMNT in 2013-2014.

5/22/2014 7:15:58 PM

Its still a bit disrespectful with some of the guys chosen over the greatest player in national history. There is so much pressure on the team to win now.

5/22/2014 7:18:57 PM

Of course there's pressure to win. It's the fucking World Cup.

5/22/2014 7:19:41 PM

Quote :

"s still a bit disrespectful"

Dang, how much of a penalty do we get for our roster not being respectful enough?

This is sports, you make the team based on your ability to help the team win, not as a lifetime achievement award.

5/22/2014 7:42:53 PM

5/22/2014 7:58:47 PM

Quote :

"And it was because Landy quit on his teammates as WCQ was starting."

Nail meet head. This was a long time coming. He had a good Gold Cup last summer, but JK knew he didn't have his head in it when he bailed on the whole WCQ process.

I honestly think big Omar is about to blow up this summer. He's been steadily improving the last 3 summers and he's ready to step up on the world stage imo.

Also, I hope JK gives Wondo a look at some point to give our team a lift, possibly as an impact sub. All that guy does is score goals.

RIP Landycakes

I'll never forget that put back against Algeria. One of, if not the best, moment of my soccer fandom.

5/22/2014 8:08:34 PM

Quote :

"  All that guy does is score goals."

Against MLS teams and Caribbean islands. I'm not sold on Wondo, to be quite honest. He has a goal scorers instinct, but it remains to be seen what he can do against world class defenders.

5/22/2014 8:14:52 PM

Wondo won't see any time likely anyway. Would rather have given Boyd the trip for experience. I'd bet he ends up in the Bundesliga before soon for a lower level side..

5/22/2014 8:38:46 PM

My starting XI prediction before the roster announcement was:

Dempsey, Jozy
Bedoya, Jones, Bradley, Zusi
Johnson, Besler, Cameron, Chandler
Howard

and I'll stick with that now.

With no injuries, I don't see any reason Wondo wouldn't be a 3rd sub if we're chasing a game and need a goal. Or even if we want some fresh legs with a lead. Johannsson is the obvious first sub. I think Beckerman will get minutes too.

[Edited on May 22, 2014 at 8:56 PM. Reason : .]

5/22/2014 8:55:01 PM

Reading bigsoccer right now is like reading Packpride after a close loss to UNC..

5/22/2014 8:57:05 PM

Any chance lando got left off because JK gave green a guarantee of making the World Cup ?

[Edited on May 22, 2014 at 9:14 PM. Reason : Not wasted]

5/22/2014 9:01:23 PM

Not sure why Green made it over Donovan. Doesn't Green hardly play for his club team and has played less than one half for the U.S.?

5/22/2014 9:13:12 PM

Jk needs more Germans to pull off his WWF style switcheroo at halftime of the Germany game. "YOU THOUGHT I WOULD BETRAY MY COUNTRY???"

5/22/2014 9:30:55 PM

^^ We get a lot of fringe fans every 4 years in these threads so I'll humor you.

It's really a move for the 2018 WC.

Green will eventually develop into a key player for our side over the next two World Cups and they aim to get him some experience to draw on for the next qualifying cycle and Final. The more he can practice with the team everyday, and learn from the older players, the quicker we can develop him into a seasoned international.

He most likely doesn't see any game time in Brazil.

5/22/2014 9:37:48 PM

I'm of the opinion that not everyone benefits a lot from just going there and seeing 0 playing time. I think that is really player dependent though.

Either way I'm looking forward to seeing Green play in the future. Not 100% sure yet that Donovan playing in 2014 is > Green getting quality bench time in 2014. Hopefully our forwards play balls out and score plenty and leave us with no question.

5/22/2014 9:46:25 PM

Green wasn't competing with Donovan for a spot.

The Donovan omission is puzzling to me only because Brad Davis is in there. They play the same position and Davis has never been at the same level as LD. At the beginning of camp, Klinsmann said he saw Donovan as a forward. If that's the case, he was never going to beat out Jozy, AJ, Dempsey, or even Wondo for one of those positions.


I personally think Green has a legit chance to see some minutes in the WC but who knows.

[Edited on May 22, 2014 at 9:52 PM. Reason : .]

5/22/2014 9:51:53 PM

Quote :

"Green wasn't competing with Donovan for a spot."

Agreed, I was just stating that if you're going to compare them, I don't know that Green bench time vs Donovan playing time is a good comparison. I think Green could actually see a bit of playing time too. I think the sub position at forward is fairly wide open if we start 2 forwards so we'll see.

Either way, I still think Donovan should have been there as a mid, but I know Klinsmann was vocal in stating he was evaluating Donovan as a forward.

5/22/2014 9:58:33 PM

With or without LD this team is not supposed to advance past the group.

Dempsey, Bradley, and Jozy are going to give it everything to prove its their team now, which it really has been for awhile. Could be the spark we need to make some noise.

Heil Klinsmann!

5/22/2014 10:09:41 PM

Quote :

"Yeah but this "snub" happened a long time ago. And it was because Landy quit on his teammates as WCQ was starting."

5/23/2014 12:16:34 AM

just noticed portugal is ranked 3 in the world. i knew they were good but thought they were just ronaldo 1 other really good guy and pepe. I also thought netherlands was a powerhouse and had no idea they were behind us. Interesting.

5/23/2014 2:04:45 AM

^But the FIFA rankings are a joke. I'm not saying it to talk ugly to you, but most people know not to pay attention to them. At one point the US was #4 in the world before Germany 2006 and then they played Germany and got destroyed to show how good they really were.

[Edited on May 23, 2014 at 2:25 AM. Reason : .]

5/23/2014 2:24:34 AM

LandyGut

5/23/2014 8:14:35 AM