The Lions' Pride

Being a Liverpool fan is tough. We beat a top 5 team in the Spurs, but are now losing to a lesser team.

So we need at least three points from our next round of qualifiers, which includes a game against Mexico, and we throw a roster out there with no Howard, Donovan, or Boca.

To say I'm less than optimistic would be an understatement. We HAVE to pull one of these qualifiers out for three points, and there's no chance that happens against Mexico with our b-team on the field.

Apparently JK didn't select Boca for the roster because he hasn't been playing much for his club team in Spain. To me, this is stupid. Boca is a leader, and our only defenseman with any sort of experience on the back line. He's used to tough situations, he's been there before. Why not bring him in, and sit him on the bench in case of injury to Cameron or Gonzo? At the very least he could provide a level-head in the locker room and give advice to a back like that has been awful without him in it.

Just got done reading that article. If the locker room dynamic is as bad as that article makes it seem, there is no way they make the World Cup

Yeah, Jozy's having a great year and will move to either Italy or back to England this summer, we just need to translate that to the USMNT.

As for tomorrow, we'll be fine. We should have the firepower in the midfield and up front to keep the pressure off our outside backs, and to get a few goals. Also, one of their starting forwards went down with a knee injury in training, so that should help out a little. Friedel's had a career year at Aston Villa with a worse backline than what we'll put out there, so I don't think we'll see a big drop-off from what Timmy would do.

Bottom line, if we can't beat Costa Rica at home, we probably don't deserve to qualify.

Ya, I meant, Guzan, my bad. Too many US keepers named Brad lol.

I understand where you're coming from with his club history, but you have to look from the club's perspective as well. They're in a relegation battle at the moment, and you want to shed salary if you're going down a division. After spending two years in Holland, he really has nothing left to prove, especially for a struggling squad. Jozy's value right now is through the roof, so this is when you sell. If he moves over the summer, he'll have a chance to fight for minutes instead of rotting on the bench. I'm not saying he'd move to a top club, but more of a mid-level club (Fiorentina has been scouting him for a while). I see where you're coming from with your views, but they really can't afford to keep him, especially if they are relegated. I'd rather see him in Serie A than the BPL though.

been corrected, nevermind.

Boca isn't that good anymore. I'd rather move forward with Cameron & Gonzalez. They need to play together to become better. And although it would be nice to have Boca in the locker room, I can also see where Jurgen is coming from. With Howard & Cherundolo out with injuries, Boca not being chosen, and Donovan possibly retiring...it's time to see who the new leaders are.

I still remain optimistic, but tomorrow is a very important day for the USMNT's future.

Agreed. A lot of older, sub par players are mad... But I don't care

The biggest mistake jozy ever made was going on loan to Hull. He wasted a year playing on a crap, unimaginative club in a tough league. In retrospect he should have gone to a lesser league on the continent where he could have developed on a player.

What channel is the match on tonight? I'm having problems finding it listed.....

Well that'd be fine if Cameron-Gonzo were somewhat competent, but they're not. A game that we HAVE to win is not the time to test some subpar players in a trial-by-fire type basis.

To me it's the same in terms of leadership. The Hex isn't the time to screw with team chemistry, especially when we got off to such a poor start to begin with. I'd rather us qualify this year with the remnants of the old teams still playing, and figure out team chemistry after the Cup in friendlies and things like that.

EDIT: And if JK is going to take out all the captains and older leadership, at least give some consistency to the younger guys so they can get some familiarity with each other. 24 different lineups in 24 matches as the head man is not something that helps foster growth or develop leadership. Guys have no idea what will come the morning of the game.

It's as if he does this purposefully to make them uncomfortable. That's part of being a professional I suppose, but these are all younger, inexperienced professional players. To reasonably expect any performance other than inadequate is unrealistic for this kind of turnover and inconsistency from upstairs. JK can be fired, so why not put the best product out on the field, limp into the WC, then figure this out when the stakes aren't as high?

ESPN at 10.

I'll be at a formal, so I'll be checking here for updates as long as I can before losing the ability to read.