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Wow, 11am and we finally get some T&Rs for soccer.

Anyone hear the reasoning for starting Ekpo over Rogers last night?

nope...but I am more than pleased to see RSL advance. What is the skinny on Mr. Agbossoumonde? I have not been keeping up on the youth teams like I should. By the bye, it seems that T&R have a 'kung-fu' theme for their pics the last few days, what with Campos demonstrating a sweet karate chop, and now Gabriel delivering a flawless body kick..."its a little bit frightening", me thinks...

(side note: is this young gentleman's name Gabriel or Gale...the heading says Gabriel, the image is labeled as Gale??? Damn you T&R for bringing such confusion so early!!)

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 11:00 AM ET  11.06 by D-Wreck

Wow, 11am and we finally get some T&Rs for soccer. Anyone hear the reasoning for starting Ekpo over Rogers last night?

Love it that RSL beat them - they've been my darkhorse for a couple of months now. Of course, how could have I expected that the manager of The Crew would become Rafa Benitez with a bizarre rotation policy? Maybe there were injuries, but it didn't look like it.

Managers matter, which is why I suspect we're going to see a NE/RSL conference final.

D-Wreck... Ekpo or Rodgers... it wouldn't matter. Columbus played sloppy after GBS's 2nd goal and it came back to bite them on the rear end. It's not a good idea to backslide your way into the playoffs after a good mid-season. No energy... No hunger... no Crispness... all adds up to No 2nd round of the playoffs.

As for young Gabriel... I desperately hope this doesn't turn out to be just another promising US youngster wasting their development by going to a European team to ride the bench. All too often we see our bright young talents stagnate in Europe. A lack of playing time has been shown over and over again to more crippling to their future than going to a lesser league but actually playing. It hurts them and it hurts the USMNT. Time will tell.

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QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 11:22 AM ET  11.06 by Laotzu

nope...but I am more than pleased to see RSL advance. What is the skinny on Mr. Agbossoumonde? I have not been keeping up on the youth teams like I should. By the bye, it seems that T&R have a 'kung-fu' theme for their pics the last few days, what with Campos demonstrating a sweet karate chop, and now Gabriel delivering a flawless body kick..."its a little bit frightening", me thinks... (side note: is this young gentleman's name Gabriel or Gale...the heading says Gabriel, the image is labeled as Gale??? Damn you T&R for bringing such confusion so early!!)

it should be Gale....

Gale is a tall and RAW CB... he's got some good qualities which earned some interest abroad... while he's still developing, his passing is quite good and he'll grow into a good CB option over time... keep your eye on this kid, he could do quite well

QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 11:25 AM ET  11.06 by BuckeyeProf

As for young Gabriel... I desperately hope this doesn't turn out to be just another promising US youngster wasting their development by going to a European team to ride the bench. All too often we see our bright young talents stagnate in Europe. A lack of playing time has been shown over and over again to more crippling to their future than going to a lesser league but actually playing. It hurts them and it hurts the USMNT. Time will tell.

S365 did well to describe this...

it is a loan with an option to purchase... Gale will go over on the 17th when he turns 18 and will play for their youth side with open options of playing for the Senior side if proves worthy... he is not contending for a USMN position for 2010, and quite possibly might not be top option by 2014... i do not mind if he goes abroad and learns, even if it takes him a handful of years to crack the lineup

let me also say this just cracked BigSoccer yesterday, so T&R is on the ball with getting recent news out.. usually they wait 2 days after the event took place before posting

I really don't care about soccer but if that guys misses that ball the other dude is getting a cleat in the nutZ

The other young man next to him in the picture, Richard Sukuta-Pasu, looks to have a promising future as well.

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 12:06 PM ET  11.06 by KWAZ-MANIAC

I really don't care about soccer but if that guys misses that ball the other dude is getting a cleat in the nutZ

Sir, thank you for informing us that you do not care about soccer, but it seems you do have a keen interest in nutz and kicks.

We once had a poster here whose nutz had an IQ. If that interests you, I can forward his name to you.

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 11:22 AM ET  11.06 by Laotzu

nope...but I am more than pleased to see RSL advance. What is the skinny on Mr. Agbossoumonde? I have not been keeping up on the youth teams like I should. By the bye, it seems that T&R have a 'kung-fu' theme for their pics the last few days, what with Campos demonstrating a sweet karate chop, and now Gabriel delivering a flawless body kick..."its a little bit frightening", me thinks... (side note: is this young gentleman's name Gabriel or Gale...the heading says Gabriel, the image is labeled as Gale??? Damn you T&R for bringing such confusion so early!!)

If I were a betting man i would not put a dime on Getty Images having his name right... In fact, I'm, surprised we don't have a picture of Eddie Johnson up there.

always good to see more top-flight american talent go overseas. no, i'm not being sarcastic. the more americans we get out in the world football arena, the better opportunities that will present for us, and keep our guys for future possible NAT duty to stay on a higher level.

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 11:00 AM ET  11.06 by D-Wreck

Anyone hear the reasoning for starting Ekpo over Rogers last night?

I was just as surprised as anybody seeing him come off the bench. Ekpo is alright but Columbus isn't that good to have Rogers on the bench.

Good luck to Gabriel, I don't know much about him but I hear he's good...

QUOTE(#13):

Originally posted 12:25 PM ET  11.06 by Phins Fan

always good to see more top-flight american talent go overseas. no, i'm not being sarcastic. the more americans we get out in the world football arena, the better opportunities that will present for us, and keep our guys for future possible NAT duty to stay on a higher level.

Well, generally its a good thing, but for Freddy Adu the verdict is still out. Some players lose all their confidence when they get benched overseas (see Bobby Convey) to the point where they aren't even good enough for the MLS. Some get wrapped up in the money and fame (I quote Eric Wynalda here on Demarcus Beasley) and lose their focus and drive. Some aren't mature enough yet (Donovan). I think it all depends on the player.

And I ask again, what SPECIFCALLY are our youth academies and youth Teams doing to prepare our kids (beyond kicking a ball) for the REALITIES of Euro soccer and making it on a Euro club team?

The answer I have rec'd from all contacts in the USSF, IMG and youth teams is: NOTHING MUCH.

Off topic: I was watching CNN and they were showing highlights from a BYU/New Mexico girls soccer game and damn those **** get nasty!!! Anyone else see it?

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 12:46 PM ET  11.06 by SoccerUnderground

Off topic: I was watching CNN and they were showing highlights from a BYU/New Mexico girls soccer game and damn those **** get nasty!!! Anyone else see it?

I think that NM defender's name should be changed to Marcella Materazzi ... she sure plays like him.

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 12:46 PM ET  11.06 by SoccerUnderground

Off topic: I was watching CNN and they were showing highlights from a BYU/New Mexico girls soccer game and damn those **** get nasty!!! Anyone else see it?

Here's a link and yes it was nasty!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNmPybFK2_o

PS: just wondering if they were rolling around in a mud fight scene like out of "Stripes" we'd be talking about it? LOL