Sometimes the connection spazzes out like that. I've played with some guys from the US before with some tolleration (i.e. not shitty 3 bars) and been quite good. Shame it had to be so temperamental when we tried earlier.
cool im up for it anytime after school, i know a place where we can play downtown, its 3$ for the whole day (from 12pm till 9pm) but it's on xbox and some controllers are crappy unless my friend brings his ps3. Not much serious players down there though except for like me and 2 others.