Man 2 steps forward 1 step back.  For every great win on the road in friendlies, there is the come back to earth – the other team dominates the ball, we play defense (much worse than we EVER have in the HISTORY of US Soccer) game in tourney play.  If there is one thing Klinsmann (here forth the GERMAN) has proved its that he has NO IDEA how to nurture or coach a defense.  His selections of Timmy Chandler on the right (possibly the worse right back in the history of US soccer) and now Alverado in the middle over Gonzalez just blows the mind.  Listen I think Alvarado is a fine young prospect – and I think he’s going to be a starter on the US Backline someday.  Key word here is SOMEDAY – not TODAY.  In games that matter – Alverado should be watching from the friggin bench (I know he is now Cap Tied to the US now but they could have done that by subbing him on at halftime or playing in the next game).   Now I do think Brooks is coming along but at just 22 he needs a more experienced back line mate to tell him where to go and what to do.  The center back pairing (right now) of two 22 year olds is frightening.  I just don’t understand the GERMAN sometimes – hell Gonzales is from Dallas, Texas – he had ton’s of family there – and unless he was hurt – I do not understand not starting him in this game with either Brooks preferably or Alvarado.  Its just mindboggling how bad we were on defense last night. Thank god GK Brad Guzan was up to the test, as he had to make save after save early just to keep the US in the game.  And about that – what happened to controlling tempo and possession against teams in CONCACAF.  Someone forgot to send the note to Honduras – as they simply manhandled our midfield and controlled the pace in the first 50 minutes of this game.  Now give Pico and this Honduras team credit – they are the 3^rd or 4^th best team in this region – and I will guess they go thru as the 2^nd place team in our group.  This Coach Pico is the same guy who was the darling of the World Cup last summer as the Costa Rican’s stormed thru to the knockout stages playing some inspired football.  His handprint was all over this team as they played with the same tenacious packed in defense quickly transitioning into attack.  Seriously they outplayed us for 70 minutes of this game and truly they were the team that looked like they would score in the run of play – not the US.  The US again relied on the old steady set play pieces to bail them out.  It used to be play good defense (which we don’t do anymore), counterattack with speed and overall hustle, and win on set pieces.  Well 1 out of 3 ain’t bad right?  Obviously it’s the first game of group play with 2 more easy opponents to iron out the offensive wrinkles against.  But if Altidore is just going to stand there and do nothing all game he might as well just stand on the bench.  His hold up play was ok – but he didn’t ONCE chase down a ball or apply any pressure on the Honduras defenders. Same for Dempsey –perhaps the greatest poacher the game and certainly the US game we have ever known.   His goals are ugly but he scores – but he doesn’t apply pressure, he doesn’t and has never hustled and run balls down.  He’s a creative genius who has a real knack for scoring, but he works best if he’s paired with a forward who actually makes runs and sprints towards the goal.  I missed Bedoya last night on the wing (he’s only the player playing at the highest level in Europe currently along with Guzan and was yet to be seen).  Listen Yedlin has GREAT speed but his offensive skills are atrocious – there’s a reason he’s a right back and not a midfielder at his club.   Hopefully Bedoya has recovered from his knee injury because having him at wing would definitely make a difference.  The good news is the US has 2 practice games coming up to try some new things and combinations – but this US teams needs to win this Gold Cup, and start playing beautiful futbol and playing like they did Monday night will not accomplish that.

The Indy 11 return home on Saturday night at the Mike to take on Carolina – on a five game non-losing streak, the 11 will look to take points from a team just 1 pt ahead of them in the table at 4^th place.   So with the influx of Bradley, Giovincho and Altidore to Toronto, Kaka to Orlando,  Gerrard coming to LA, and now Chelsea legend Frank Lampard and soon Andrea Pirlo to NYCFC I have to admit I am watching more MLS this summer.  Both the darby’s last weekend Seattle vs Portland and NYCFC vs NY Red Bulls were great games to watch with fantastic EPL like crowds – now huge game Sunday 3 pm on ESPN as NYCFC faces Toronto in Lampard’s debut at  home.

Carmel High Boys – Youth Soccer Camp –  2^nd to 6^th Graders only

Run by CHS Boys team players – Fri, Aug 7 (9:30 am till 12 noon) – CHS Practice Turf Fields behind CHS football stadium. 2^nd to 6^th Graders only – Cost $35 to CHS Soccer –- First 100 players to sign up. CHS_Camp_1508 Email Lorie Kramer if you have 4 or more players from 1 team coming kramer1965@sbcglobal.net.

US MEN

What Did the US Learn vs Honduras – SI Brian Straus

Guzan, Dempsey Bail out US – Ratings ESPNFC Jason Davis

Dempsey carries US to close win over Honduras ESPN FC

3 Things we Learned during the Honduras Game – Pro Soccer Talk

US – We Weren’t At our Best  ESPN FC

US Gets by Honduras with Clint Dempsey Goals – Brian Straus SI

US Ratings – Pro Soccer Talk

Klinsmann knows team and defense have work to do – Pro Soccer Talk

US Defense needs a makeover – SBNation

Klinsmann got Capt change Right

Gold Cup GK profiles

Gold Cup Proliles Defenders

Gold Cup Preview

Indy 11 and MLS

Indy 11 Tie Cosmos 1-1 at NY

11 Defender Erick Norales Makes Team of the Week Again

Local Product –Dylan Mayers Shines for Boys in Blue

Kravitz Weak Attempt at Covering Soccer and the Indy 11

All things 11 Night at the Mike Sat Night – $11 for ticket and Corn Dog, Bring school supplies for Indy Backpack Attack

Former Chelsea Legend Frank Lampard Ready for NYCFC Debut this Sunday

NYCFC’s Pirlo will not be loaned out to Man City

Pirlo will start for NYCFC on July 26^th at Yankee Stadium

Mexico’s Dos Santos expresses interest in LA Galaxy

Atlanta MLS Franchise to be called Atlanta United FC

US WOMEN 3-Time World Cup Champions

More Americans watched the Women’s World Cup final than the NBA Finals or the Stanley Cup

Andres Cantor’s Call of Carli’s 50 yard bomb is fitting  http://www.si.com/planet-futbol/2015/07/05/carli-lloyd-goal-telemundo-call-andres-cantor-video

Indy’s Own – Ben Davis and Carmel United Star Lauren Cheney Holiday Retires from US Team after Cup Win –  Indy star

US Women cast aside the Demons with World Cup win SB Nation

Thank You Abby, Christie and Shannon

Mission Accomplished Abby Wins Her World Cup Pro Soccer Talk

Some Celebrations USA

Women’s World Cup Breaks TV Ratings Record

WORLD SOCCER

Juve makes changes to replace Pirlo and Tevez

Chelsea and Tottenham battle to call Wembley Temporary Home

COPA AMERICA

Chile defeats Argentina in PKs for Copa America Title

Argentina Title Drought Continues in Chile James Young SI  

Chile win Marcotti ESPNFC

Copa America Awards

Argentina’s Mascherano calls 2^nd straight Title Game Defeat Torture

Messi Reveals Pain

Argentina frets over Messi’s Future

Verdict on EPL Players in Copa and How they Played – Sky Sports

So the US is scheduled to Host Copa America 2016 in June but the recent FIFA Scandal may scrap those plans – stay tuned

Games of the Week

 Fri, July 10

8:30 pm                USA vs Haiti                                         Fox Sports 1  

Sat, July 11

7:30 pm                Indy 11 vs Carolina Railhawks        TV 8  @ The Mike

Sun, July 12

5 pm                      NY City FC vs Toronto FC  ESPN2      Frank Lampards first game

Mon, July 13

9:30 pm                Panama vs USA                                  Fox Sports 1       Sporting Park, KC

GAMES THIS Month

Thursday, July 9 –

7 pm                      T&T vs Guatemala               Fox Sports 2  Chicago Soldier Field

9:30 pm                Mexico vs Cuba                    Fox Sports 2  Chicago Soldier Field

Fri, July 10

6 pm                      Honduras vs Panama      Fox Sports 2

8:30 pm                USA vs Haiti                       Fox Sports 1  Fox Borough, Mass

Sat, July 11

6:30 pm                Jamaica vs Canada           Fox Sports 2  Houston, Tx

7:30 pm                Indy 11 vs Carolina Railhawks   TV 8  @ The Mike

9 pm                      Costa Rica vs El Salvador Fox Sports 2

11:30 pm               La Galaxy vs America        Fox Sports 1 – International Champions Cup

Sun, July 12

5 pm                      NY City FC vs Toronto FC  ESPN2

6:30 pm                T+T vs Cuba                        Fox Sports 2

7 pm                      Colorado Rapids vs Real Salt Lake  Fox Sports 1

9 pm                      Mexico vs Guatemala         Fox Sports 2

Mon, July 13

7 pm                      Haiti vs Honduras             Fox Sports 1       Sporting Park, KC

9:30 pm                Panama vs USA                Fox Sports 1       Sporting Park, KC

Tues, July 14

6 pm                      Jamaica vs El Salvador      Fox Sports 1

8:30 pm                 Canada vs Costa Rica        Fox Sports 1

10:30 pm               San Jose vs America          Fox Sports 1   ICC

Wed, July 15

6 pm                     Cuba vs Guatemala             Fox Sports 2

8:30 pm                 Mexico vs T+T                      Fox Sports 2

Fri, July 17

11 pm                   America vs Man United       Fox Sports 1 ICC

Sat, July 18

5 am                       Roma vs Real Madrid         Fox Sports 1  ICC

12 noon                 Beach Soccer World Cup Fox Sports 2

2 pm                       Beach Soccer World Cup Fox Sports 2

5 pm                       Gold Cup Quarters 1           Fox Sports 2

8 pm                       Gold Cup Quarters 2           Fox Sports 2

8:30 pm                PSG vs Benifica                                 Fox Soccer ICC

Sun, July 19

1:30 pm                Beach Soccer WC Finals Fox Sports 2

3 pm                      Ottowa vs Indy 11            ESPN 3

4:30 pm                Gold Cup Quarters 3         Fox Sports 1 USA? 

5 pm                       Columbus vs Chicago        ESPN 2

7 pm                       Orlando vs NY Red Bulls    Fox Sports 1

7:30  pm                Gold Cup Quarters 4           Fox Sports 1

Tues, July 21

6 am                      Man City vs Roma –         Fox Sports 1  ICC

8:30 pm                PGS vs Fiorentina             Fox Sports 1  ICC

11 pm                    LA Galaxy vs Barcelona Fox Sports 1 ICC

11 pm                    Man United vs San Jose                Fox Sports 2 ICC

Wed, July 22

6 pm                      Gold Cup Semi USA?      Fox Sports 1

8 pm                      NY Red Bulls vs Chelsea Fox Soccer Plus

9 pm                      Gold Cup Semi                  Fox Sports 2

10 pm                    NWSL – Portland vs Seattle Fox Sports to Go

Fri, July 24

6 am                      Real Madrid vs Man City Fox sports 1 ICC

8 pm                      Fiorentina vs Benfica      Fox Sports 2 ICC

Sat, July 25

8 am                     Milan vs Inter                    Fox Sports 1  ICC

4 pm                      Barcelona vs Man U        Fox Sports ??

4 pm                      Gold Cup 3^rd Place Game Fox Sports 2

6 pm                      Chelsea vs PSG                 Fox Sports 2

7:30 pm                Indy 11 vs NY Cosmos (H) TV 8

Sun, July 26

2:30 pm                NY City FC vs Orlando     Fox Sports 1

5 pm                      DC United vs Philly          ESPN 2

7 pm                      NWSL Seattle vs Portland  You Tube

7:30 pm                Gold Cup Final                   Fox Sports 1

7:30 pm                NY Red Bulls vs Benfica Fox Sports 2

Mon, July 27

8 am                      Inter vs Real Madrid       Fox Sports 1  ?? Not sure time?

Tues, July 28

8 pm                      Barcelona vs Chelsea      Fox Sports 2 ICC

10 pm                    America vs Benfinca       Fox Sports 2 ICC

Wed, July 29

9 pm                      MLS Allstars vs Tottenham Fox Sports 1

9 pm                      Man U vs PSG                    In Chicago

Thurs, July 30

8 am                      Real Madrid vs Milan      Fox Sports 1 ICC

Sat, Aug 1

2:30 pm                Wolfsburg vs Bayern      Fox Soccer Plus  German Supercup

4pm                       NWSL Boston vs Seattle                You Tube

6 pm                      Indy 11 vs Atlanta            ESPN 3

8 pm                      NWSL Chicago vs KC        You Tube

Sun, Aug 2

10 am                    Chelsea vs Arsenal          Fox Sports 1       EPL Community Shield

5 pm                      SJ Earthquakes vs Portland ESPN 2

7 pm                      Chicago vs Dallas              Fox Sports 1 (CHS grad Matt Hedges)

Sat, Aug 8            EPL + Ligue 1 Return

Sat, Aug 15          German Bundesliga Returns

Gold Cup Schedule

Carmel High Boys – Youth Soccer Camp –  2^nd to 6^th Graders only

Run by CHS Boys team players – Fri, Aug 7 (9:30 am till 12 noon) – CHS Practice Turf Fields behind CHS football stadium. 2^nd to 6^th Graders only – Cost $35 to CHS –- First 100 players to sign up. CHS_Camp_1508

Post2Post Soccer Camp
Former Pittsburgh Head Coach Sue-Moy Chin and Coach Carla Baker run their annual field player camp for players of all abilities July 27-30 — 9 am to 3 pm $190 each @ Badger