Chisoxfn

QUOTE (HickoryHuskers @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 09:34 AM) For the US to really start getting better WC results, the #1 goal has to be getting and maintaining a Top 7 ranking which gets you seeded in a World Cup. 7 of the 8 seeds advanced, with 5 reaching the quarterfinals and 3 reaching the semifinals. Aside from the obvious of developing better players, there are some ways that scheduling can help achieve this goal: 1) Convince CONCACAF to switch the Gold Cup from every 2 years to every 4 years. Between two Gold Cups plus WC qualifying in a four year cycle, that's way too damn many games against s***ty CONCACAF teams. Replace one of the Gold Cups with an 8 team invitational tournament involving the US, Mexico, plus two teams each from UEFA, CONMEBOL and CAF. Ideally you get teams ranked in the 15-25 range--low enough that they are beatable but high enough that it improves your schedule strength. 2) Get as many friendlies as possible (and even make a few of them full international matches) against top 25 nations. Personally I think you have missed the boat. This has more to do with getting our players out and playing in the premiere leagues and that is something Jurgen continues to push, although not all of our players have taken full advantage of it. I think we will see more of our young talent playing overseas in the top leagues. I realize there is a place for the MLS as well and the quality of the league is getting better, but it is still not the place that our top players should be playing. With Donovan in the shadow, I think more players will look to Jozy / Clint / Tim Howard, who have spent good chunks of their careers overseas.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 09:34 AM) Eh, I am not ok with just trying. They need to make a free agent splash and they continually whiff. I am in the minority but I think a 23 year old Lance Stephenson at the 2, to go with Dougie McBuckets and the top euro player (along with bringing back DJ) would still be pretty good and would be a team that could win it all. Favored to make finals, depends on what happens with Lebron, but that is a very very good team.

QUOTE (Buehrle>Wood @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 09:29 AM) Bulls FO is one of the few front offices in sports where trying is good enough. I think no matter what we will be a preseason top 2 team in the east. I realize this is the east but lets not pretend we are some bottom dweller here. Add Lance and Mirotic (while getting creative) and call it a day. To go with Dougie McBuckets, that is a significantly better and deeper team then years past with significantly better offense.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 09:28 AM) No, I am love's number 1 supporter. At worst you have 2 25 year old superstars to build around. edit: Behind Felix. I thought you laughed at the notion of including someone like Noah. I would move Gibson, Mirotic, and our picks for Love. No problem about it. I think you need stars to win and would offer that. However, I don't know if that is enough.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 09:25 AM) We offered Taj and Snell for love. I'll leave that to you to decide if that is a good offer. Weren't you the one saying we shouldn't gut our team for Love and no team would do that?

Its happening people, get ready. Melo will be a Bull!!! My sources told me so. PS: My sources are my gut...which has an "in-kind" bar that I found at work and some oatmeal currently digesting in it.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 09:23 AM) Who else is available? I'm pretty sure they went for Love (or would still go for Love) but probably don't have the assets for him. Everyone else is a tier below, so of course it'll be disappointing. It's really not their fault they managed the franchise around a broken star player. That broken star is practicing and looking good though. I think he'll be just fine going forward.

QUOTE (Rowand44 @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 09:21 AM) Well it was celebrated because they got out of their group...the group of death. No one want the US to stop getting better but they've continued to get better and better on the international stage and overall this World Cup should be seen as a success. But we shouldn't watch or care until our team can win it all. This is a multi step multi generational process to move ourselves into being an elite contender on the world stage. The success of this cup should continue to improve our chances and what Jurgen is doing in my mind will help move US soccer forward. I really expect our team to turn into an attacking, ball control team. That was the style they were turning into until Jozy went down and in 4 years we should actually have a few different potential young offensive options in Julian Green, Jozy, etc.

All I know is the East would be pretty darn fun to watch with a strong Pacers, a strong Cavs, and strong Bulls. Come on Melo / LBJ...lets do this and lets renew the Bulls / Cavs rivalry!!!

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 09:11 AM) But not GM-ing. Great scouting. What will everyone say when Melo ends up a Bull by EOD tomorrow.

QUOTE (bmags @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 09:05 AM) The bulls drafting would be better if they swung assets like Jimmy/Taj for better players instead of falling in love with them and telling a star player to sign for $15 million. Which is not what they did. They outlined multiple options to Melo, some which involved moving Taj / others, but Bulls can do things and get max. I think this all comes down to what Lebron does. If Lebron goes long term, it should bode very well for Bulls. If he signs a contract with a 1 year out, Melo is staying in NY and the Knicks and Melo will try to sign Lebron in a year. If it is long term and Love ends up in Cleveland, all of a sudden there aren't many stars out there for Melo to play with, and it means he ends up coming to Chicago. Bosh ends up in Houston.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 09:06 AM) Ok, then I dont want to see you jacked up about Illinois football improving incrementally. LOL

QUOTE (Chi Town Sox @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 08:55 AM) I found out my third interview will be with a person that would have the same title as me which is great because I can ask questions regarding the position. My question is, how in depth can we go? Is it OK to ask about a salary range, bonus, etc. or is that too much? I probably wouldn't ask that sort of information with a person who would have a similar title as you (regarding Salary / Bonus). I would focus more on the questions regarding culture, position, upward mobility, etc. Salary stuff should be for people levels above you (as well as HR).

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 08:52 AM) It's a legit question. Not at drafting.

QUOTE (IlliniKrush @ Jul 9, 2014 -> 07:56 AM) ...in a loss. Which was somehow celebrated. They won 1 of 4 games, and got absolutely dominated in their last game. If not for goaltending, that would have been a 7 spot as well. The whole "they tried hard!" mentality needs to go before US soccer can be a thing. I don't quite understand the difficulty of the stage they met it out of. All 4 teams could have easily played and advanced out of group play and succeeded in the knock-out round. They also overcame a significant injury to their top goal scorer. We saw what happened when Brazil lost their top player (and no, I'm not comparing Neymar and Altidore, however, both players are their respective teams top goal scorers). That said, the Germany game was in horrific field conditions and it really didn't matter to Germany. We probably get routed by Germany if it was a knock-out round game (well by routed I mean lose by 2-3 goals...not 6 goals).

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 06:40 PM) I love it when you use logic. Netherlands has played some of the best football in the tournament, however, they have failed miserably to execute. I expect a close game but I think the Netherlands finally convert some of their opportunities and win. I've long thought this was going to be the better of the semi final games. Germany is just a machine and Brazil had played so Meh the entire tourney.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 04:04 PM) Van Persie is out though, right? Robben's been their been best attacking player this tourney, certainly more consistent, the iconic RVP header to tie the score against the Spanish notwithstanding. This one could go either way. You kind of have a feeling that first goal wins it. I didn't realize the play on the goalie knocked him out. RVP whiffed on a couple goals in the CR game but would be a big loss.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 03:11 PM) With Rios' track record, he'd been atrocious in 2009 with the White Sox and even worse on a season-long basis in 2011. Sure, 2010 and 2012 were very good/fairly consistent (2010 he faded after a very hot first half if I remember correctly) and 2013 he was decent...but there was still a lot more money remaining on that deal, too much for teams like the Pirates, etc., to absorb. Then you had some questions about his attititude behind the original dumping of the contract by the Blue Jays and then 2009 with Dye and 2011 was still fresh in memories of many, along with Dunn. It's hard to get past the stink of that season, for both of those particular players For all the talk about WAR, he still only has 3 homers, which is a bit alarming considering his track record. He'd be worth a lot more if he was in that 8-12 range. Look at his total extra base hits. His stats are pretty darn good this year.

QUOTE (MexSoxFan#1 @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 02:42 PM) The Brazilians quit after they were down 2-0, absolutely no resistence on defense. Clearly, Germany is better than Brazil but not at a 7-0 superiority. Hopefully the Germans shoot their wad today and Argentina takes it. Probably shouldn't be looking past the Flying Orangemen!!!

QUOTE (zenryan @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 02:35 PM) I find it hysterical. Me too. I freaking hate Brazil. This is fantastic. Arrogant ass team.

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 01:44 PM) Plus when's the last time that Brazil lost a meaningful home match? 1975.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 01:40 PM) That doesn't even begin to explain it. It's a World Cup Semi-Final at HOME! If score holds, Biggest route in semi final history I have to presume, right?

Insane. Neymar is good but not that good. I thought Brazil was lucky to get to where they did but this is just embarassing.

Stephen A said on ESPN 1000 that you can rule the Bulls out completely. Hope he is wrong. If that is the case, we probably should see some other domino's start to fall, specifically the signing of Mirotic. However, everything SAS was saying was predicated on the fact that he doesn't think Phil will do a S&T for Melo. I agree that Melo will not sign outright w/Bulls and only option is S&T. Its just a matter of whether he can be convinced and I really think Pau is the solution as it allows Mirotic to be a chip (in addition to draft picks, expirings, and Snell). Basically put, both Stephan A / Broussard have not actually heard any reports of Chicago being out. Everything they are saying about Chicago being out is really tied to their own speculation regarding Phils' reluctancy to do S&T (and Bulls not having the chips).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 8, 2014 -> 01:03 PM) Next year? Whoops. Either way, it is time for the Beckham era to move on. Best of luck to him but he was a huge bust for us, mainly due to the initial impact he had.