Steve Sampson
Steve Sampson
Steve Sampsonis a soccer coach, currently of the men's soccer program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He is also the former head coach of both the United States men's national team and the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. By the media, he is nicknamed Uncle Sam...
finish good performance saw win
Overall, I was very disappointed with the end, but not disappointed with everything we saw tonight. I thought we put on a good enough performance to win if we just finish our chances.
close good measure scoring small
We've very close to being very good but that small measure comes in the way of scoring goals. It is inexcusable to lose the way we did.
balls both brilliant chances chris created credit dangerous danny dead difference energy exactly few forcing forth goals good great half looking played putting san strike teams wish
It was a great first half with two very good goals. I thought that the way we responded after they scored was exactly what I was looking for. I wish we could have created a few more chances before that. I have to give San Jose credit tonight, they put out a lot of energy and they were very dangerous on dead balls obviously. It was a great strike by Moreno and a brilliant header by Danny Califf. I have to give them credit tonight. It was a great match, I thought both teams had chances, we had a good one with Chris Albright's header off the post, that could have made the difference for us, but I thought defensively San Jose played exceptionally well, putting forth a lot of energy and forcing us to play quickly.
challenges friends-or-friendship good growth job last mutual poker respect seen soccer sunday understand understood
It's not as if we're friends that play poker every Sunday night, ... We're colleagues, and there's mutual respect there. Certainly, he understood the challenges of the '98 team; I understand the challenges that he's had and what a good job he's done with the team. The growth that soccer has seen over the last 10 years - he's been a big part of that. We don't have any problems.
best escaped fans field giving good happy importance longer man money playing product relates single win
It is not good enough any longer just to win championships. We want to put out a product on that field where every single day our fans feel like we're giving the very best possible. It has not escaped me, the importance of us playing well and how it relates to making money for this club. I'm not a happy man when we're not consistent.
against atmosphere competition decide difficult expect good job league letting ourselves players prepare teams together union wants win
I think we have to do a better job of letting our teams prepare for this event. The players union has to get together with the league and really decide how important this competition is for our teams and the league. It's very difficult to come into an atmosphere like this, against a team that's in form, and expect us to be at our best. Our league wants to win CONCACAF championships, and we're good enough. We have to give ourselves a better chance.
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I thought that Tyrone Marshall leaving the game was a big loss for us because I think he was holding the middle of the defense quite well for us. When he left we lost the middle of the defense.
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I thought that the first 20-25 minutes of the game we played quite well. We created a couple opportunities. If we put one of those away it's a different game. I think the emotion of the match, and all the pre-game ceremony before we stepped on the pitch, hopefully wasn't that much of a distraction but in the end I think we'll evaluate that it was.
along england further last time year
I think we're further along this time of year than we were last year at the same time. We also know that New England and Chicago, our first two matches, are going to be tough.
attention details last midway paying
I think we're concentrating more. I think we're paying attention to details a lot better than we did midway through last season.
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I think we're very close to being very good, but that small measure comes in the way of scoring goals, and we have to get better. Normally I don't meet with the team (after a game). I felt that tonight it warranted it. There needs to be a much greater since of urgency to get the win and I felt there wasn't enough urgency out there.
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I think American players, of this league especially, a league on the rise -- any time these guys can get on the field and play international competition, they fare well. I think our all stars are going to do very well. Unfortunately it is not the most ideal preparation, but once they get on the field and see the environment I think they will step up and play respectfully.
ahead beat difficult early further given great last league matches playing quickly team time work year
Playing matches like this is great preparation for us. We know very quickly the things we need to work on. We're much further ahead this year at this time than we were last year, but we had to be, given the early competition. I like most of what I see with my team and I think we're going to be very difficult to beat in league play.
management regardless win
Management has never told me that, but regardless of what management's expectations are, my expectations are to win the trophy,