Five Predictions [World Cup preview edition] (GRADED)
![Five Predictions [World Cup preview edition] (GRADED)](http://project-2010.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/5_predictions_th.jpg)
The 31 days have passed. 31 of the 32 teams have been eliminated. All 64 games have been played. It’s time to take a look back at how we did on our predictions… 1. Quality of Play – The time is almost here! Traditional powers, like Brazil and Spain, are full of phenomenally talented players. Dark horses, [...]
5 Predictions [6.26.10, vs. Ghana] (GRADED)
Sorry it’s taken me so long to get this out. The loss was hard to stomach, and I didn’t feel like reliving the experience. Gotta bite the bullet at some point, though, so why not now… 1. After the extensive coverage and excitement generated by Wednesday’s dramatic finish, this match will set the records for [...]
5 Predictions [6.25.10, vs. Ghana]
1. After the extensive coverage and excitement generated by Wednesday’s dramatic finish, this match will set the records for both internet and television viewings of a USMNT game in the United States. I’ll guess 1.5 million followers online and 12.3 million on television. 2. Has anyone else noticed stone-faced Bradley doing his best Maradona impression [...]
5 Predictions [6.23.10, vs. Algeria] (GRADED)
1. We’ll see two changes in the lineup from the Slovenia game–Edu for Torres and Buddle for Findley. Buddle will find the back of the net, and will look his normal self–unspectacular, but solid. Edu’s presence in the midfield will help with distribution and force most of Algeria’s attack to the flanks (though, to be [...]
5 Predictions [6.23.10, vs. Algeria]
1. We’ll see two changes in the lineup from the Slovenia game–Edu for Torres and Buddle for Findley. Buddle will find the back of the net, and will look his normal self–unspectacular, but solid. Edu’s presence in the midfield will help with distribution and force most of Algeria’s attack to the flanks (though, to be [...]
5 Predictions [6.18.10, vs. Slovenia] (GRADED)
1. There will be only one change in the line-up from the England match–Jose Torres for Ricardo Clark. OK–maybe this is just wishful thinking, but I’m hoping Bradley elects to field the player who can contribute a bit more offensively. Torres will have a strong game and remind everyone that he is a good defensive [...]
5 Predictions [6.18.10, vs. Slovenia]
1. There will be only one change in the line-up from the England match–Jose Torres for Ricardo Clark. OK–maybe this is just wishful thinking, but I’m hoping Bradley elects to field the player who can contribute a bit more offensively. Torres will have a strong game and remind everyone that he is a good defensive [...]
5 Predictions [6.12.10, vs. England] (GRADED)
1. As promised in my last 5 Predictions: “As has been the case for every game in recent memory, set pieces will be one of Alexi Lalas’ pre-game keys to success for the US.” I started to regret this prediction almost as soon as I made it–Lalas hadn’t been doing keys to success during he World [...]
5 Predictions [USA vs. England, 6.12.10]
1. As promised in my last 5 Predictions: “As has been the case for every game in recent memory, set pieces will be one of Alexi Lalas’ pre-game keys to success for the US.” 2. Bob Bradley has a tough decision who to pair with Jozy Altidore up top. Do you go with the guy who [...]
5 Predictions [World Cup preview edition]
![5 Predictions [World Cup preview edition]](http://project-2010.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/volcano_ash_map__590601artw-150x150.jpg)
31 days. 32 teams. 64 games. It’s a little overwhelming, isn’t it? Not when you have Project 2010′s World Cup preview by your side. Enjoy… 1. Quality of Play – The time is almost here! Traditional powers, like Brazil and Spain, are full of phenomenally talented players. Dark horses, like Serbia and the Ivory Coast, look [...]
5 Predictions [6.5.10, vs. Australia] (GRADED)
1. As has been the case for every game in recent memory, set pieces will be one of Alexi Lalas’ pre-game keys to success for the US. Swing and a miss on this one–Lalas didn’t even give pre-game keys to success. This was a shocker. While I’m going to have to give myself a bad grade [...]
5 Predictions [6.5.10, vs. Australia]
1. As has been the case for every game in recent memory, set pieces will be one of Alexi Lalas’ pre-game keys to success for the US. 2. Despite not being on the field, Jozy Altidore will be mentioned more than any other American player. Dempsey and Findley will pair up front, Donovan will play on [...]
5 Predictions [5.29.10, vs. Turkey] (GRADED)
1. While Findley’s inclusion in the roster made me worry that Bradley might not like the Altidore-Dempsey forward pairing, this is the one we will see today, giving us some real hope of seeing it in the World Cup. Well, that was the pairing we saw, so I get credit for that, at the very [...]
5 Predictions [5.29.10, vs. Turkey]
1. While Findley’s inclusion in the roster made me worry that Bradley might not like the Altidore-Dempsey forward pairing, this is the one we will see today, giving us some real hope of seeing it in the World Cup. 2. Bradley will use this game to test the versatility of his players. I will guess [...]
5 Predictions [3.25.10, vs. Czech Republic] (GRADED)
1. Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez, and Eddie Johnson will all be given opportunities to book their tickets to South Africa. Buddle and Johnson will have good moments, and Gomez will look a little lost. That said, none will come close to breaking up the Altidore-Dempsey tandem that should be a lock to start against England. [...]
5 Predictions [5.25.10, vs. Czech Republic]
1. Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez, and Eddie Johnson will all be given opportunities to book their tickets to South Africa. Buddle and Johnson will have good moments, and Gomez will look a little lost. That said, none will come close to breaking up the Altidore-Dempsey tandem that should be a lock to start against England. [...]
5 Predictions [3.3.10, at Netherlands] (GRADED)
1. Heath Pearce’s performance against El Salvador won’t be enough to surpass Jonathan Bornstein. Bornstein will get the start, and despite looking lost out there for 65 minutes before getting replaced, he will still be widely regarded as our first-choice left back. I pretty much nailed this one. Bornstein did get the start and looked [...]
5 Predictions [3.3.10, at Netherlands]
![5 Predictions [3.3.10, at Netherlands]](http://project-2010.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/HEADER2010_FIVE-120x150.jpg)
1. Heath Pearce’s performance against El Salvador won’t be enough to surpass Jonathan Bornstein. Bornstein will get the start, and despite looking lost out there for 65 minutes before getting replaced, he will still be widely regarded as our first-choice left back. 2. Robbie Findley will finally get a chance to impress with something resembling [...]
5 Predictions [2.24.10, vs. El Salvador] (GRADED)
1. This match will make it onto ESPN Classic. Unfortunately, tonight’s live broadcast will be both its first and last appearance on the Classic channel, as it will never make it into their must-see replay rotation. Despite the exciting finish, it was a pretty ugly game and overall underwhelming. There were a few good performances, [...]
5 Predictions [2.24.10, vs. El Salvador]
1. This match will make it onto ESPN Classic. Unfortunately, tonight’s live broadcast will be both its first and last appearance on the Classic channel, as it will never make it into their must-see replay rotation. 2. Jonathan Bornstein will get beaten numerous times by his man, but praised overall for his speed and crossing [...]
5 Predictions [11.23.10, vs. Honduras] (GRADED)
1. Bornstein’s goal against Costa Rica will be mentioned a total of seven times. The highlights will be shown in both the pre-game and half time specials. The focus seemed to be more on the Costa Rica result than Bornstein’s goal. And the highlight wasn’t overplayed like I thought it might have been. Although I’d argue [...]
5 Predictions [11.23.10, vs. Honduras]
![5 Predictions [11.23.10, vs. Honduras]](http://project-2010.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/kyle-150x150.jpg)
1. Bornstein’s goal against Costa Rica will be mentioned a total of seven times. The highlights will be shown in both the pre-game and half time specials. 2. Conor Casey will score a goal, making it even more likely that he’ll make our World Cup roster. Ugh. 3. The central defense will look pretty strong [...]
5 Predictions [USA vs. Honduras] Graded
1. We will play two defensive midfielders. (A+) Too easy. 1. Benny Feilhaber will enter the game around the 65th minute. I’m going to guess it’s for Jozy Altidore this time. (C-: Jozy Altidore did not start because of illness, so this one didn’t even have the chance to happen. But Benny Feilhaber did enter [...]
5 Predictions [USA vs. Honduras]
1. We will play two defensive midfielders. Too easy. 1. Benny Feilhaber will enter the game around the 65th minute. I’m going to guess it’s for Jozy Altidore this time. 2. No matter the outcome, American soccer journalists will insist that getting a result was never going to be easy because of the extreme difficulty [...]
