I ended up in 2nd place in my easy div 5 series. leader autopromoted (heck I finished above the autopromote line in 2nd place), but imho a better team demoted, and 2 good teams promoted up to replace two crap teams. My series will be a lot better next season, but I still should be top 3 easy, and with some smart offseason moves, I should promote.

You can see tables of the full promotion list at either akickku.com or usa.hatstats.info Me, I'm like in the top 20 of second ranked teams in div 5 in the USA. I'm above the autopromote line, but I'm 2 pts behind our series leader due to splitting with him, and a 5-5 draw where the match engine screwed me! i have 2 cake walks left, so if he stumbles, I should get auto-promotion, and then a year of HELL in div 4. Likely, he'll cruise, auto-promote, and I'll have a new team I have to beat to get to div 4.

As another comparison, the Zidane Headbutt then is also comparable to Pablo Mastroeni's tackle int aht same USA-Italy match. Amazing...

Of course not Eddie, 20 goals a piece is more like it! (someone has to counter-act the prozac crowd around here!)

well he did have the strogest header in the tournament...

I would be tempted to try and find a spot for Miguel and Deco from Portugal. Miguel really causes havoc when he runs at people, so much pace! and Deco has really controled that midfield for Portugal, I think he's been their best player imho.

I have to laugh at everyone says its not a penalty. I hate Italy getting through, and sure the player made a meal of the tackle, but that was a penalty. Made no attempt at the ball, obstructed the attacker from getting to the ball, denying a shooting chance from like 6 yards out. How much more clear cut do you want???? Neill slid in the box for no reason and practially laid down in front of the guy between him and the goal. Anytime you leave your feet like that in the box with no real intent to get the ball, you run the risk of that penalty call. IMHO, it was a stupid challenge, and the penalty is justified. Sure, there was no malice or intent in the "tackle" which is usually required of a penalty. (not that you can really call Neill's effort a "tackle" of course, I personally think he was just trying to get a little sun tanning in thinking it was full time already). But with the decisions being made by the refs in this world cup, why oh why would you ever put yourself in that position?

Doubtful simply due to the reluctance for Mexican players to be overseas. And to elaborate, I don't think its really a skill or a system issue as drakefyre proposed. After all there are plenty of Prem and CL sides in Europe who would love to shore up their defence wth a few "brick walls". I do think its more of a cultural reluctance, since many of the players that do go overseas wait until their later years after they've become household names and accomplished much of what can be done domestically. Young talent doesn't get pried from Mexico as it does from most other parts of the world.

well done aussies, try to keep all 11 on the pitch for the match v Italy, as the USA can attest, it helps to not play with only 9!

linky http://www.eurosport.com/football/worldcup...mtc131154.shtml the eurosport commentary clearly calls it his thrid card, and mentions that poll forgot to wave the red for card #2. 3 cards, minutes 62, 90 and 90+3

I only sw the 2nd half, since I was supposed to be working. If you are talking about anything in the second half, then that's crap. heck I think half of Ghana's team was carried off injured at one point or another in the second half to waste time, break up play and get the team some rest. I actually remember yelling at the TV when they said 5 mins of stoppage time, it could have been more like 8 to 10, imho. but to be fair, the US didn't deserve to advance, I have to agree. We need to create some true ttacking and midfield talent to compete at the WC, although I think our keeping defence has the talent to be strong for some time.

But what about that big lad the 'roos brough on, Kennedy. A poor man's Crouch it appears. Worth a look?

Moore the first from the spot, and Kewell got the 2nd, and Emerton just got a time wating yellow, and will miss the round of 16 game.... our favorite, Mr. G. Poll was the ref, and apparently missed 2 pen that would have let the aussies run away with this one...

no oh dear for the USA scoring and then the ref gifting ghana the lead in return on a pen... very teed off...

Ugh on the USA line-up, I'm guessing Lewis will help Reyna in the middle, very attacking side. I think we are trying to match the Ghana speed players, but I'm not sure I like it. For Ghana, here's what Eurosport is showing... ------------- Kingston ------------ Painstill - Mensah - Shilla - Mohammed ------------Essien---------- Boateng - Appiah - Drammani ----- Amoah ----- Pimpong ----- As for my thoughts, I think that the USA gets a result, but its not enough to see them through to the knockout stage. But they go home with pride and a well played match.

Well, I'll have to watch again, because that's not the foul I have in my head for Pope's first yellow... must have it confused.... my bad.

okay, so I called the score, but I missed the Italian goal scorer. McBride was right there fr the OG, so I'll give myself that one! I missed the 3 reds, how silly of me! IMHO, Derossi's red was fin, Pablo's was a certain yellow, and after seeing the replays, I can see the points of those who agree that it was a red, but I disagree. whether that's being a homer or a fan, I dunno, but I was so shocked when the red came out that I threw a magazine at my in-laws TV (much to the hatred of my father-in-law). As for the decision to make the tackle, it was stupid for Pablo to make that challenge. As for Pope, I think that was the weaker of the two reds, I can see the second Pope foul being a yellow, but not sure ont he first. I'm not sure I could find it in my heart to even send off a Scum player for those two tackles, especially given the WC stage. Thena gain, I'm not a WC ref. I would have loved to see that game stay 11 v 11 since I think the USA were the more attacking and dominant side. The Italian goal was against the run of play, imho, and completely due to Pope playing a 1 man offside trap, the worst defensive play in the game. I'm happy with the point since its what we needed, but I'm very disappointed in what we had to endure to get it. That last 20 mins of that game was just not a WC game, watching it (and re-watching it last night on tape) was just too surreal, it was like watching bad highschool soccer. As for Arena, ugh, I used to think highly of him, and I'm really doubting his ability now, no way should Beasley ever see a USA shirt ever again. When you ahve 9 men on the pitch, and you are a second half sub, there is no excuse for you standing around, NOT backtracking on Defence and NOT trying to use every ounce of pace you have to get around what had to be exhausted Italian defenders! Inexcusable.

I'm no expert either, but since my wife's had a few broken bones, I know a bit.... Broken bones "can" heal stronger, depending on the location and type of break. Not being a Brit, I didn't follow the saga every moment of every day for the last few weeks, so I'm not sure all all those details. But it takes time, and they have to be set perfectly. If it did heal perfectly and long enough, you might be right, and he may be just fine. Also experts may have looked at it, but X-rays and MRIs are 'faulty' at times, in that shadows may or may not appear that may or may not mean something, however, given that Rooney's probably not working ont he same level of health care that you or I have, I'm guessing they have many many such images to read, and can then rule out any "mystery shadows" as problem areas or weak points. My gut feeling, if the docs have cleared him with no undue presure from the player or the team, then he's fine, and there'll be no flare ups, other than perhaps a lack of match fitness. But there's always that chance of doom (the other shoe about to drop) that us Rovers fans are all to knowledgable about.

Same Story about Rooney, different link

there were a few dodgy offsides calls that went against Sheva in the first half as well that killed a few quality chances I'm still trying to find a cliche I can add to this post... but I'm stumped!

Despite the agony of the result from Monday, there are still games to be played and the potential to snatch victory from the jaws of disappointment. In order to salvage a chance at the knock-out stages, the USA must get points from Saturdays match against Italy, kickoff at 8 PM local time (3 PM here in the states). History paints a bleak picture for Sam's Army in this match. In their previous 2 meetings in world cup action, Italy prevailed, 1-0 in 1990, and 7-1 in 1934. Interestingly, both World Cups were played in Italy. Their most recent meeting was a 1-0 Italy victory in a February 2002 friendly in preparation for the last world cup. The USA is also winless in all 7 of their World Cup final matches played on European soil, scoring only 4 and conceding 20. Landon Donovan is also on a major goalless streak in international competition, having not celebrated a strike in his last 15 international matches or so. In the warm-ups for this WC, both squads played Germany. If those results have any bearing on this match, the USA is in trouble, as the Americans fell 4-1, but the Italians prevailed 4-1. In summary, the USA will need to break from all history and their recent form in order to prevail. In terms of the squad, USA coach Bruce Arena's comments seem to indicate that changes in the attack should be expected after voicing his displeasure with the wing play in particular. Although, Arena plays his cards close to the vest, so it is difficult to tell what he might have in store for the Azzurri. For Italy, I'm guessing that there will be few changes to the squad that appeared to dominate the side from Ghana after settling in. Unless the USA squad comes out with a lot more fire and passion than they exhibited on Monday, a draw is the best I can expect for Sam's Army, likely 1-1, with goals from Toni and Brian McBride. That goal from McBride would make him the first CONCACAF player to have scored in 3 World Cups. American is trying to line up an interview addition to this preview, so stay tuned!

DMB always fails to impress, he was a promising talent when he went to PSV, but he seems to have LOST something instead of progressing. The boredom is typical gooch, unless he gets his huge frame onto a set piece service in the opponent's box. Then he shows emotion. imho... this should be the setup for the italy game (apparently I don't hate Convey's effort as much as others). I also think we looked okay at the back with only 3 and Pablo as a Def. MF, and if we can control the middle with Gattuso still out injured, I think we can be solid enough, and I think this "attack" has promise. Keller 'Dolo - Pope - Gooch Pablo Reyna - JOB - Donovan - Convey McBride - EJ

I agree, the USA's success is based on Energy, tenacity and good team play. They showed NONE of those attributes today. If they play like this in their next 2 matches, I agree we'll go home pointless. And that sickens me. And I'd just like to say, DMB should not be on the pitch v. Italy. He's out of form, he looks lost, he doesn't link up with anyone. Having him out there means completely abandoning any attack on that side.

Maybe its just nationailsm talking, but I really think the USA has a chance to take the 2nd spot in our group, only to get soundly thrashed by evental winners Brasil. I fell we match up well against an older, slower Czech team, and I'm glad that's the first match, since I don't want to face the Czechs once/if they get on a bit of a roll, with their skill, they are a dangerous team I like the fact that Italy's "hard man" in the midfield, Gattuso, will be out for those first two matches. I really think Itlay's injuries will severly limit their "flowing" style, and in this group, not playing at your best can real hurt. And I don't think we should have much trouble with Ghana, they are a good side, but they are midfield laden, with little danger at the front and little stability in the back. By the way, the keepers in this group will make this a very low scoring group, imho, look for no team to score more than 2 in any match, and no more than 5 in the 3 matches combined.

I can see that, Cheshire. And the only way to stop it is to be consisent with ref. punishments. Either they get grilled for EVERY mistake (whether it helps or hurts a big club), or they prevent the refs from getting grilled as such by clubs in general, and instead have some form of "independant" review board that would be responsible for review performance and making recommendations in terms of refs for matches and in terms of their capabilites to do high level matches or even their wages. Not a huge expert on the ref situation, so maybe this already exists. That being said, I'm not sure how "indepedant" and view you can reasonably expect from the FA. Also that comment on Jeff Winters strikes me as odd. To me it implies to some extent that a club like ManU can influnce who refs their matches. And THAT sounds a lot like some of the allegations raining down in Italy...