They have guys in the center who are smart. Who are good passers. Who tactically are smart.
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They have guys in the center who are smart. Who are good passers. Who tactically are smart.
Do you think there's a constant discussion about the need to be more attacking?
I get annoyed with everybody that goes into that line of thinking ... We have two-way players. Players that make it hard when the other team has the ball. Players that do a good job of finding some of our more attacking players and I find it hard to understand why that becomes such a topic all the time.
After the game there was a strong feeling within the team ... We know that our job is to win.
I was with [U.S. Soccer managing director of administration] Tom King for the next three days as we worked with FIFA accommodations and started, well not started, continued looking at potential training sites for the World Cup ... A lot of riding around a lot of looking at facilities.
I have it TiVo-ed and I've watched bits and pieces but I haven't sat and dissected the whole thing ... My main thought is that on the whole, Columbus was the most consistent team from start to finish and they deserved to be champions this year.
Early in a player's career, the opportunity to get first team action, to get on the field, to get experience, I certainly think it's important ... When you do change teams, there's a period where you have to establish yourself, and I don't think during that period you can always fully access the move.
That time of year for MLS players is obviously a challenge because they aren't playing games
We are very aware of what type of game it will be with more on the line ... The fact that we've been in that situation now before gives us a good sense of how to prepare ourselves.
Then again, the Sports Marketing geniuses running this league have never really thought the game itself had much to do with it. Rather, they think promotion, marketing, outreach and TV exposure are all they need.
Alexander Frei pushed the whole team and it was a wonderful comeback for him and the team.