USA vs. Scotland soccer

[JaxByDefault]

It was absolutely nerve-wrecking to watch, but I'm thrilled with the Chelsea win yesterday. Not sure 1-0 is going to be enough heading to Camp Nou, but a better position than giving up away goals. Wish I were at the Bridge--or even just anywhere in the Blue end of SW6 after the match, save Fulham Broadway station. I'd have to hide from my fellow Fulham members, most of whom were probably decked in Barca gear, to be sure, but anything north of Parsons Green should have been safe.

I feel as though I say something nice about Spurs in return, but with the league table so tight right now, I'd be more honest in just admitting that I spend a lot of my spare time hoping for Tottenham and Newcastle losses.

Seeing Barca play at Camp Nou last November was spectacular, but we had a deal: I'd spring for tickets, don a supporter scarf, and cheer for Barca for one night (against Zaragoza), but in return they had to lose if they faced Chelsea in CL. Good to see them keeping to their side of my delusional bargain.

IN USMNT news: it looks like Stu Holden is back training with Bolton, but with no word on a return this season. That means he likely won't be match fit for the game in JAX either, which is a shame.

Finally, having a somewhat active thread of soccer fans here makes me spill tears of joy onto my keyboard.

[Adam W]

It was absolutely nerve-wrecking to watch, but I'm thrilled with the Chelsea win yesterday. Not sure 1-0 is going to be enough heading to Camp Nou, but a better position than giving up away goals. Wish I were at the Bridge--or even just anywhere in the Blue end of SW6 after the match, save Fulham Broadway station. I'd have to hide from my fellow Fulham members, most of whom were probably decked in Barca gear, to be sure, but anything north of Parsons Green should have been safe.

I feel as though I say something nice about Spurs in return, but with the league table so tight right now, I'd be more honest in just admitting that I spend a lot of my spare time hoping for Tottenham and Newcastle losses.

Seeing Barca play at Camp Nou last November was spectacular, but we had a deal: I'd spring for tickets, don a supporter scarf, and cheer for Barca for one night (against Zaragoza), but in return they had to lose if they faced Chelsea in CL. Good to see them keeping to their side of my delusional bargain.

IN USMNT news: it looks like Stu Holden is back training with Bolton, but with no word on a return this season. That means he likely won't be match fit for the game in JAX either, which is a shame.

Finally, having a somewhat active thread of soccer fans here makes me spill tears of joy onto my keyboard.

I take it they're selling a decent amount of tickets to the USA - Scotland match so far, huh? I really wish I was going to be in Jax for that. It could be a lot of fun. I think the USA should be able to win it pretty easily, but with friendlies, you never really know, I suppose. Still, it's great to see US Soccer thought of Jax when scheduling matches. And if it sells well, who knows?

I was hoping the USA would get the nod for the 2022 world cup. Any idea if they're going to bid for another one? I think by 2022, soccer will be way more popular than it is now. And it's probably doing the best it's ever done.

I'm with you on hoping Newcastle loses. It would be pretty great to see them in Europe next year, but I hope it's going to be in the Europa League. I obviously want Spurs to qualify for the CL, though more so they run  less risk of losing a few key players (and maybe stand a chance at picking up a few decent new ones too). The stress of watching the matches lately has been terrible. They don't have any tough matches left yet I could still see them not winning any of them.

[5PointsGuy]

I have to believe that the USMNT will have most of their starters out there against Scotland due to the fact that they start World Cup qualifying two weeks later. I could be wrong though.

[Adam W]

I have to believe that the USMNT will have most of their starters out there against Scotland due to the fact that they start World Cup qualifying two weeks later. I could be wrong though.

Any chance their best player (aka Clint Dempsey) will play?

[5PointsGuy]

Good questions, I'm looking at Fulham's schedule and it looks like their games end in mid May.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/fixtures/_/id/370/fulham?cc=5901

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League#Competition_format

It also looks like the season for Premier league ends in May. Good timing.

[Adam W]

Good questions, I'm looking at Fulham's schedule and it looks like their games end in mid May.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/fixtures/_/id/370/fulham?cc=5901

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League#Competition_format

It also looks like the season for Premier league ends in May. Good timing.

Yes, Fulham's last match is against the might Tottenham Hotspur on May 13th. It might be cutting it a bit close, but he could possibly make it.

I hope they televise the match on ESPN or FOX.

[fsquid]

The game is on NBC Sports Network (old Versus)  NBC now shares the rights to the games with ESPN, Fox is out of the USMNT business for now.

Unless a player is involved with the English playoffs (Championship, League One, League Two) they should be there.

[JaxByDefault]

Good questions, I'm looking at Fulham's schedule and it looks like their games end in mid May.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team/fixtures/_/id/370/fulham?cc=5901

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_League#Competition_format

It also looks like the season for Premier league ends in May. Good timing.

Yes, Fulham's last match is against the might Tottenham Hotspur on May 13th. It might be cutting it a bit close, but he could possibly make it.

Dempsey will be available; the question is whether we are going to put our first team on the field for a friendly in JAX when there is a higher profile friendly against Brazil and a qualifier in the subsequent two weeks. We haven't had too many games with our best from the Premiership (Dempsey, Holden, Howard, etc.) so the friendlies may be a good time for team development with all of USMNT's best available players on the field.

I hoof a well-worn path of thousands of miles a year to the Cottage to watch Mr. Dempsey play; the least he could do is return the favor and show up here.    

[Adam W]

What's the point of all the friendlies? Are they warming up for 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup qualifiers (or have those already taken place)?

[Tacachale]

^It's the CONCACAF qualifiers for the World Cup; Round 3 starts in June.

[Adam W]

Really? Wow, that's early!

[fsquid]

Not really early, Europs starts qualifying in Sept., South America has already started, Africa starts in June, etc.

[Adam W]

Yeah, I know, but UEFA quals start after Euro 2012. I guess there's not a huge difference between June and September, but it just seems really soon. Especially as the CONCACAF Gold Cup will take place after the World Cup qualifiers start.

To be honest, I don't really follow the USA (as they don't televise the matches over here). I was a bit surprised to see the USA didn't manage to qualify for the Olympics.

[5PointsGuy]

yeeeessh, Please don't bring up the Olympics disaster. I was looking forward to figuring out who the next generation of USA players would be.

[control]

Yeah, I know, but UEFA quals start after Euro 2012. I guess there's not a huge difference between June and September, but it just seems really soon. Especially as the CONCACAF Gold Cup will take place after the World Cup qualifiers start.

To be honest, I don't really follow the USA (as they don't televise the matches over here). I was a bit surprised to see the USA didn't manage to qualify for the Olympics.

Isn't Gold Cup just in odd years?  We lost to Mexico in 2011?  Next GC should be in 2013?  2012 summer is CONCACAF WC qualifying, 2014 is WC?