US SOCCER

[93henfan]

there's been cases where a pretty predestrian team in hockey goes deep in the playoffs just because you can't score on the goalie

He knows that. He's a Devils fan.

[bandl]

There ya go.

You are all so blinded by your opinions that you all fell for the bait.
The key word was "company". What defines a good "company". Profits.

Get it?

For someone who was forced to move to St. Louie, you're giving yourself way too much credit

EDITED because my fingers like to type the same word twice in a row for some reason

EDITED again for explanation given above

[CAA Flagship]

You are all so blinded by your opinions that you all fell for the bait.
The key word was "company". What defines a good "company". Profits.

Get it?

So Walmart and Enron are good companies.

You pick: Walmart or KMart.

[bandl]

So Walmart and Enron are good companies.

You pick: Walmart or KMart.

Pizza Hut?

[CAA Flagship]

You are all so blinded by your opinions that you all fell for the bait.
The key word was "company". What defines a good "company". Profits.

Get it?

For someone who was forced to move to St. Louie, you're giving yourself way too much credit

EDITED because my fingers like to type the same word twice in a row for some reason

EDITED again for explanation given above

Let me know when you are done so I can respond.

[CAA Flagship]

You pick: Walmart or KMart.

Pizza Hut?

Are they profitable?

[bandl]

For someone who was forced to move to St. Louie, you're giving yourself way too much credit

EDITED because my fingers like to type the same word twice in a row for some reason

EDITED again for explanation given above

Let me know when you are done so I can respond.

....................../´¯/)
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............./´¯/'...'/´¯¯`·¸
........../'/.../..../......./¨¯\
........('(...´...´.... ¯~/'...')
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..........''...\.......... _.·´
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[bandl]

Pizza Hut?

Are they profitable?

Don't care. They have a good ham and pineapple pizza though

[tribe_pride]

Of course, that is what I figured. But the US coach was interviewed after the game and was asked about Howard. He was saying that Howard is great and that a good goalie was so important in soccer.

Howard did have one great save. Other than that, it seemed pretty pedestrian. I don't think the Kraut goalie put down his cigarette once.

Well, the difference in a soccer goalie versus a hockey goalie is that the soccer goalie is the QB for the defense - he's calling out stuff and organizing where the defense goes. That's where the importance lies - he sets up everything. A keeper is pretty important in soccer, but it doesn't approach the level that it is in hockey. And I'm fine with that - there's been cases where a pretty predestrian team in hockey goes deep in the playoffs just because you can't score on the goalie.

And Howard's good because you rarely see a gaffe on his part. Ask Spain about the importance of a goalie in soccer as they fly home after the group stage because their keeper stunk.

To add on to what you said (because you were 100% correct), in this he did more than the 1 very good save with respect to what he did with his hands. The low crosses that he stopped and held on to were huge. It's tough keep control of that cross when it is so wet out there. Any bobble and there is a rebound opportunity. He also can't react until the ball is kicked because you don't know where the ball is going so it's a last second dive. Both were great plays.

I remember 2 big saves he made. One that went between a defender's legs that he saw at the last minute and the other just before the goal (unfortunately but it was a great play there).

[GannonFan]

Well, the difference in a soccer goalie versus a hockey goalie is that the soccer goalie is the QB for the defense - he's calling out stuff and organizing where the defense goes. That's where the importance lies - he sets up everything. A keeper is pretty important in soccer, but it doesn't approach the level that it is in hockey. And I'm fine with that - there's been cases where a pretty predestrian team in hockey goes deep in the playoffs just because you can't score on the goalie.

And Howard's good because you rarely see a gaffe on his part. Ask Spain about the importance of a goalie in soccer as they fly home after the group stage because their keeper stunk.

Or did the Spain defense stink?
As a Devils fan, and Brodeur fan, I have seen great defenses that made Marty look good. The Devils won many games where the opponent had less than 20 shots. Marty was good, but that defense made him look better with the neutral zone trap.

No, it was actually the keeper that was terrible for the Spanish. Had a couple of just awful gaffes, was in the wrong position. No amount of defense in front of him was going to save him.

And it has to be some kind of violation to be a fan of the neutral zone trap in hockey and then not like soccer because teams don't score enough. Cognitive dissonance, no?

[CitadelGrad]

There ya go.

You are all so blinded by your opinions that you all fell for the bait.
The key word was "company". What defines a good "company". Profits.

Get it?

A-B's profits were stagnant and had been for a long time. That's one factor that made them so easy to be acquired.

[kalm]

Pizza Hut?

Are they profitable?

The mafia and drug dealers are profitable.

[tribe_pride]

Well, the difference in a soccer goalie versus a hockey goalie is that the soccer goalie is the QB for the defense - he's calling out stuff and organizing where the defense goes. That's where the importance lies - he sets up everything. A keeper is pretty important in soccer, but it doesn't approach the level that it is in hockey. And I'm fine with that - there's been cases where a pretty predestrian team in hockey goes deep in the playoffs just because you can't score on the goalie.

And Howard's good because you rarely see a gaffe on his part. Ask Spain about the importance of a goalie in soccer as they fly home after the group stage because their keeper stunk.

Or did the Spain defense stink?
As a Devils fan, and Brodeur fan, I have seen great defenses that made Marty look good. The Devils won many games where the opponent had less than 20 shots. Marty was good, but that defense made him look better with the neutral zone trap.

The team didn't play well but from the first game, Cassilas made a number of errors that led directly to goals. When a field player makes a mistake, it can be made up for. When a goalie does, it leads to a goal more often than not and can be tough to get back. It can also deflate your team.

[CAA Flagship]

Well, the difference in a soccer goalie versus a hockey goalie is that the soccer goalie is the QB for the defense - he's calling out stuff and organizing where the defense goes. That's where the importance lies - he sets up everything. A keeper is pretty important in soccer, but it doesn't approach the level that it is in hockey. And I'm fine with that - there's been cases where a pretty predestrian team in hockey goes deep in the playoffs just because you can't score on the goalie.

And Howard's good because you rarely see a gaffe on his part. Ask Spain about the importance of a goalie in soccer as they fly home after the group stage because their keeper stunk.

To add on to what you said (because you were 100% correct), in this he did more than the 1 very good save with respect to what he did with his hands. The low crosses that he stopped and held on to were huge. It's tough keep control of that cross when it is so wet out there. Any bobble and there is a rebound opportunity. He also can't react until the ball is kicked because you don't know where the ball is going so it's a last second dive. Both were great plays.

I remember 2 big saves he made. One that went between a defender's legs that he saw at the last minute and the other just before the goal (unfortunately but it was a great play there).

OK, I'll buy the 2 good saves. But talking about the crosses, the one in the first half that I remember, he got it only because the runner was a split second late. I know that timing is everything but was he out of position on that? Shouldn't he have come towards the near post or was there just not enough time for it?

[∞∞∞]

Win vs. Ghana. Tie vs. Portugal. Lose vs. Germany.

Pretty much what everyone thought we needed to advance. Great job Team USA!

ps. Two World Cups in a row where the US makes the knockout stage and Italy doesn't.

[bandl]

I wonder if anyone anywhere put down money on England, Spain, Italy and Portugal not making it through....

[CAA Flagship]

You are all so blinded by your opinions that you all fell for the bait.
The key word was "company". What defines a good "company". Profits.

Get it?

A-B's profits were stagnant and had been for a long time. That's one factor that made them so easy to be acquired.

The sales growth slowed, and market share growth was stagnant, but profits were still decent with plenty of room to trim expenses if necessary (which is what Inbev has done to pay down their $60B debt to buy the company). A-B's failure was remaining too small by being too cautious in M&A's.

[CAA Flagship]

Win vs. Ghana. Tie vs. Portugal. Lose vs. Germany.

Pretty much what everyone thought we needed to advance. Great job Team USA!

ps. Two World Cups in a row where the US makes the knockout stage and Italy doesn't.

What do you have against pizza?

[CAA Flagship]

I wonder if anyone anywhere put down money on England, Spain, Italy and Portugal not making it through....

Only the ECB and IMF.

(Finance joke )

[andy7171]

Nobody was bleeding when I looked in.

[CAA Flagship]

Are they profitable?

The mafia and drug dealers are profitable.

Well run organizations.

[bandl]

Nobody was bleeding when I looked in.

You spying on JSO and his 'property'?

[93henfan]

A-B's profits were stagnant and had been for a long time. That's one factor that made them so easy to be acquired.

The sales growth slowed, and market share growth was stagnant, but profits were still decent with plenty of room to trim expenses if necessary (which is what Inbev has done to pay down their $60B debt to buy the company). A-B's failure was remaining too small by being too cautious in M&A's.

Now he's talking mergers and acquisitions.

[tribe_pride]

To add on to what you said (because you were 100% correct), in this he did more than the 1 very good save with respect to what he did with his hands. The low crosses that he stopped and held on to were huge. It's tough keep control of that cross when it is so wet out there. Any bobble and there is a rebound opportunity. He also can't react until the ball is kicked because you don't know where the ball is going so it's a last second dive. Both were great plays.

I remember 2 big saves he made. One that went between a defender's legs that he saw at the last minute and the other just before the goal (unfortunately but it was a great play there).

OK, I'll buy the 2 good saves. But talking about the crosses, the one in the first half that I remember, he got it only because the runner was a split second late. I know that timing is everything but was he out of position on that? Shouldn't he have come towards the near post or was there just not enough time for it?

Just rewatched that play that you are talking about. Howard positioned himself well enough to when he realized that the guy did not have a chance to hit it (not as close as you think), he was able to dive and hold on to it. Once again it was a combination of the reaching it and holding on. A number of goalies in dry weather have bobbled or attempted to push the ball away on those plays which opens up rebound opportunities. He had no chance to catch the save before the goal which is why his punch was a good play especially getting it deep away. Just unfortunate that Muller was there who is a great finisher.

[tribe_pride]

Nobody was bleeding when I looked in.

Jones definitely was bleeding and there were concussion concerns as well.