Post by Norion on Jun 16, 2010 21:59:08 GMT
So, the first week of thw World Cup has come and gone. I've made a point to see as many games as I can, and I figured I'd throw some thoughts around because I've got nothing better to do. If you see something that strikes you as true (of if you'd like to argue it), feel free to leave a comment. Also, these thoughts are in no particular order... just the order I think them.
1. Lack of goals- Through the first 14 matches, this has been the LOWEST scoring World Cup ever. Now, I think that we can attribute this to a bit more than a really shitty ball (although, I must agree, it is quite bad.) If you've noticed a lot of the line-ups, a lot of teams are sticking to a single-striker formation. I know Spain stuck with just David Villa up-top and South Africa also only played one striker, just as two examples. And, if you've noticed, between them they've scored one goal in three games. Uruguay, I believe, plays a two-striker formation; they have scored four goals in two games. Brazil essentially plays with 2 strikers, and they scored two. Germany plays two very-attacking wingers and a striker. They scored four.
Teams are also a little bit wary their first game on a stage like this, and I'm expecting teams to start opening up their game once they get to their second match.
2. That piece of shit ball- I'm not jumping on the band-wagon, and I can't say that I've actually played with it. But when you look at players who can put their shots on target during the season, and then look at how many shots are going over the net or going really wide I think we all can agree something isn't right. And where are the typically deadly free-kicks? I've only seen one good free-kick, and that was from Gourcuff against Uruguay. Players are either firing them super low (inevitably into the wall), or they're going over. Why? Elevation players aren't used to, which messes with the flight of the ball of you're not used to it, and a ball that already sucks.... :/
3. Jose Torres- Not many of you know him, but he's a midfielder for the U.S. he plays for Mexico (I think his club is Pachuca), and throughout all of the warm-up games leading to the World Cup he was the only player that really stood out. We all know Donovan and Dempsey are good. We know Howard is a phenom. But Jose Torres challenged every ball that came near him (and won a good deal as well), made intelligent passes, and even had a really decent free-kick. Why isn't he starting? He's like our version of Xavi, and if he doesn't play we probably won't make it very far.
4. Diego Forlan- He's really impressed me so far. He's very clever off of the ball, and he knows exactly where to be. He's really brought his La Liga form to the World Cup, which can only mean good things for Uruguay.
5. Netherlands- A typically attack-minded team seemed sort of uninspired. I don't like that.
5. Argentina- The most unpredictable team in the World Cup didn't do too bad against Nigeria. The score would have been 5-0 if the Nigerian goalkeeper wasn't a pile of brilliance and class. Their game against South Korea is going to be a good one, and I'm billing Messi to get a hat-trick against Greece. I did some research, and between Tevez (23), Higuan (27), and Messi (34), the front-line for Argentina scored 84 goals. And Diego Milito scored another 20-something. Once they loosen up, they're going to start producing goals like a, like a......... like I produce "that's what she said" jokes.
6. Spain?- Where were you today? Your formation confused me. Here's what I would like to see Spain play.
Casillas (GK)
Gerard Pique (DF)
Carlos Puyol (DF)
Sergio Ramos (DF)
Xavi (CDM)
Iniesta (CM)
Fabregas (CM)
Jesus Navas (RM)
David Silva (LM)
Fernando Torres (ST)
David Villa (ST)
None of the Defenders need to come forward when you've got 7 players who can all put the ball in the back of the net. They play possession, and when they don't have the ball they play high pressure. Keeping all 3 defenders back basically nullifies the chance of getting caught on a counter-attack, especially when your defense has quality like that. I think this would work quite well. Either way, Spain, step your game up. Don't make me lose faith on you.
Over-Achievers through Week 1:
1: North Korea- They held Brazil scoreless through the 1st half. The 1st ranked team didn't score against the 102nd ranked team for 50-some minutes. Need I say more?
2: Uruguay- Honestly, I've been really impressed with them so far. Diego Forlan is one of the best strikers in the game today, and he's doing wonders.
3: Germany- Hollllyyyyy shitttttt. They mean business. The first team to score more than 2 goals, and the team before them was South Korea against a Greece team that made me lol. Australia did play quite bad, but they're not a terrible team. I'm expecting big things from them this tournament.
Under-Achievers through Week 1:
1: Spain- ...
2: France- they've got so much talent (more on-paper talent than Uruguay), but they couldn't do jack shit with it. Very dissapointing.
3: Brazil- Two goals against the lowest ranked team. That's it? To be fair, North Korea did come out of nowhere.
4: Argentina- 84 goals in league play between their strikers, and 1 goal from a defender in their game.
My pick for the Top Goal-scorer through week 1:
Diego Forlan. Yes, I know he played two games. I KNOW. But he's the first player to get 2 goals in 1 game. He can get another 2 against Mexico, and at least 1 in the round-of-16. Klose got it last year with 5, and the way things are looking, goals are going to be scarce this year.
My Week 1 World Cup Champion Pick- Based on the performance throguh the first WEEK of play (not the first game), I've got to give it to........
GERMANY.
They've had so many injuries hit their squad, including the loss of their captain, Michael Ballack, but you know what? They don't really care. They've got the championship in their minds, and through this first week they've earned my pick.
Week 1 All-Star Lineup:
GK- Vincent Enyeama, Nigeria- He stopped all 8 of Messi's shots. He was brilliant this week.
DF- Maicon, Brazil- Probably one of the sexiest goals I've seen in a long time.
DF- Gabriel Heinze, Argentina- Brilliant header that one Argentina the game.
DF- Phillipp Lahm, Germany- He's taken the role of skipper seriously, and he played really well.
MD- Park Ji-sung, South Korea- He's the heart and soul of that team, and when he plays well, they will.
MD- Steven Gerrard, England- Again, a new captian who played very well. Scored England's only goal.
MD- Ji-Yun Nam, North Korea- He played really well against a team like Brazil, and got a goal to show for it.
MD- Mesut Ozil, Germany- Where did this kid come from? He's going to be a staple in the German side.
FW- Lukas Podolski, Germany- He hit that shot 84 M.P.H. 'nuff said.
FW- Messi, Argentina- Yeah, he didn't score a goal. But everything Argentina did went through him. He had 8 shots, more than some teams so far.
FW- Diego Forlan, Uruguay- He's played like a champ, and he's been wonderful.
Week 1 MVP- Diego Forlan.
Feel free to comment and/or discuss week 1 with me. Hope you've enjoyed
1. Lack of goals- Through the first 14 matches, this has been the LOWEST scoring World Cup ever. Now, I think that we can attribute this to a bit more than a really shitty ball (although, I must agree, it is quite bad.) If you've noticed a lot of the line-ups, a lot of teams are sticking to a single-striker formation. I know Spain stuck with just David Villa up-top and South Africa also only played one striker, just as two examples. And, if you've noticed, between them they've scored one goal in three games. Uruguay, I believe, plays a two-striker formation; they have scored four goals in two games. Brazil essentially plays with 2 strikers, and they scored two. Germany plays two very-attacking wingers and a striker. They scored four.
Teams are also a little bit wary their first game on a stage like this, and I'm expecting teams to start opening up their game once they get to their second match.
2. That piece of shit ball- I'm not jumping on the band-wagon, and I can't say that I've actually played with it. But when you look at players who can put their shots on target during the season, and then look at how many shots are going over the net or going really wide I think we all can agree something isn't right. And where are the typically deadly free-kicks? I've only seen one good free-kick, and that was from Gourcuff against Uruguay. Players are either firing them super low (inevitably into the wall), or they're going over. Why? Elevation players aren't used to, which messes with the flight of the ball of you're not used to it, and a ball that already sucks.... :/
3. Jose Torres- Not many of you know him, but he's a midfielder for the U.S. he plays for Mexico (I think his club is Pachuca), and throughout all of the warm-up games leading to the World Cup he was the only player that really stood out. We all know Donovan and Dempsey are good. We know Howard is a phenom. But Jose Torres challenged every ball that came near him (and won a good deal as well), made intelligent passes, and even had a really decent free-kick. Why isn't he starting? He's like our version of Xavi, and if he doesn't play we probably won't make it very far.
4. Diego Forlan- He's really impressed me so far. He's very clever off of the ball, and he knows exactly where to be. He's really brought his La Liga form to the World Cup, which can only mean good things for Uruguay.
5. Netherlands- A typically attack-minded team seemed sort of uninspired. I don't like that.
5. Argentina- The most unpredictable team in the World Cup didn't do too bad against Nigeria. The score would have been 5-0 if the Nigerian goalkeeper wasn't a pile of brilliance and class. Their game against South Korea is going to be a good one, and I'm billing Messi to get a hat-trick against Greece. I did some research, and between Tevez (23), Higuan (27), and Messi (34), the front-line for Argentina scored 84 goals. And Diego Milito scored another 20-something. Once they loosen up, they're going to start producing goals like a, like a......... like I produce "that's what she said" jokes.
6. Spain?- Where were you today? Your formation confused me. Here's what I would like to see Spain play.
Casillas (GK)
Gerard Pique (DF)
Carlos Puyol (DF)
Sergio Ramos (DF)
Xavi (CDM)
Iniesta (CM)
Fabregas (CM)
Jesus Navas (RM)
David Silva (LM)
Fernando Torres (ST)
David Villa (ST)
None of the Defenders need to come forward when you've got 7 players who can all put the ball in the back of the net. They play possession, and when they don't have the ball they play high pressure. Keeping all 3 defenders back basically nullifies the chance of getting caught on a counter-attack, especially when your defense has quality like that. I think this would work quite well. Either way, Spain, step your game up. Don't make me lose faith on you.
Over-Achievers through Week 1:
1: North Korea- They held Brazil scoreless through the 1st half. The 1st ranked team didn't score against the 102nd ranked team for 50-some minutes. Need I say more?
2: Uruguay- Honestly, I've been really impressed with them so far. Diego Forlan is one of the best strikers in the game today, and he's doing wonders.
3: Germany- Hollllyyyyy shitttttt. They mean business. The first team to score more than 2 goals, and the team before them was South Korea against a Greece team that made me lol. Australia did play quite bad, but they're not a terrible team. I'm expecting big things from them this tournament.
Under-Achievers through Week 1:
1: Spain- ...
2: France- they've got so much talent (more on-paper talent than Uruguay), but they couldn't do jack shit with it. Very dissapointing.
3: Brazil- Two goals against the lowest ranked team. That's it? To be fair, North Korea did come out of nowhere.
4: Argentina- 84 goals in league play between their strikers, and 1 goal from a defender in their game.
My pick for the Top Goal-scorer through week 1:
Diego Forlan. Yes, I know he played two games. I KNOW. But he's the first player to get 2 goals in 1 game. He can get another 2 against Mexico, and at least 1 in the round-of-16. Klose got it last year with 5, and the way things are looking, goals are going to be scarce this year.
My Week 1 World Cup Champion Pick- Based on the performance throguh the first WEEK of play (not the first game), I've got to give it to........
GERMANY.
They've had so many injuries hit their squad, including the loss of their captain, Michael Ballack, but you know what? They don't really care. They've got the championship in their minds, and through this first week they've earned my pick.
Week 1 All-Star Lineup:
GK- Vincent Enyeama, Nigeria- He stopped all 8 of Messi's shots. He was brilliant this week.
DF- Maicon, Brazil- Probably one of the sexiest goals I've seen in a long time.
DF- Gabriel Heinze, Argentina- Brilliant header that one Argentina the game.
DF- Phillipp Lahm, Germany- He's taken the role of skipper seriously, and he played really well.
MD- Park Ji-sung, South Korea- He's the heart and soul of that team, and when he plays well, they will.
MD- Steven Gerrard, England- Again, a new captian who played very well. Scored England's only goal.
MD- Ji-Yun Nam, North Korea- He played really well against a team like Brazil, and got a goal to show for it.
MD- Mesut Ozil, Germany- Where did this kid come from? He's going to be a staple in the German side.
FW- Lukas Podolski, Germany- He hit that shot 84 M.P.H. 'nuff said.
FW- Messi, Argentina- Yeah, he didn't score a goal. But everything Argentina did went through him. He had 8 shots, more than some teams so far.
FW- Diego Forlan, Uruguay- He's played like a champ, and he's been wonderful.
Week 1 MVP- Diego Forlan.
Feel free to comment and/or discuss week 1 with me. Hope you've enjoyed
