Yesterday, US coach Bob Bradley announced his final 23-man roster for the World Cup. (Check the bottom of the post for the full list, pulled from SI.com) A few things stand out immediately:
NO BRIAN CHING: Many times, the selection of a World Cup final roster brings at least one OMG moment. Ching's omission is definitely Bradley's contribution to the dropping of jaws around the soccer world. The fact that Ching was dropped and three inexperienced forwards (Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez, Robbey Findlay) were taken in his place was quite a stunner.
YOUTH WAS SERVED: The selection of Torres and Holden was not surprising, but encouraging to see the brightest stars on the US horizon included as part of the roster. But the three inexperienced forwards really speaks volumes about what Bradley thinks he's going to need in South Africa.
EXPERIENCE AT THE BACK: It wasn't all kids, of course. Veterans like Oneyewu and Bocanegra at the back were selected. Given the defensive foibles the US has struggled with, particularly with their most recent outing against the Czech Republic, that experience will be important. So would a talented left back, but that's another story.
So, was Bradley's omission of Ching in favor of Findlay/Buddle/Gomez a sign of desperation? Is Bradley's confidence with the current crew (including injuries, particularly to Charlie Davies) so shot that he's rolling the dice with untested rookies?
Maybe in part. It's clear that Bradley wants to keep Donovan and Dempsey in midfield (as Grant Wahl pointed out, the fact that he left midfielder Alejandro Bedoya at home lends more credence to the argument). If he's going to do that, he's going to need a strike partner for Jozy Altidore, and apparently he's going to put the new kids up there to do so.
That's assuming, of course, he doesn't just play with a lone striker and a five-man midfield. Unlikely in the extreme, but not impossible.
Although Buddle was disappointing against the Czechs, he did play with a lot of energy. Gomez looked dangerous at times, and Findlay brings the kind of blazing speed to the field that will terrify an opposition. So there's a lot of potential.
But maybe the most exciting thing is that Bradley's taking a big risk, swinging for the fences with his selections. I'm thrilled. Playing it safe might be OK if you're an established power in world soccer. If you're the United States, and fighting for a place at the grownups' table, you need to think big and be willing to take a shot. At the very least, Bradley is taking his shot with this roster selection.
US 23-MAN WORLD CUP FINAL ROSTER
Goalkeepers: Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, England), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton, England), Tim Howard (Everton, England)
Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes, France), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover, Germany), Jay DeMerit (Watford, England), Clarence Goodson (IK Start, Norway), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan, Italy), Jonathan Spector (West Ham, England)
Midfielders: DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Michael Bradley (Borussia Moenchengladbach, Germany), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany), Clint Dempsey (Fulham, England), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus, Denmark), Stuart Holden (Bolton, England), Jose Torres (Pachuca, Mexico)
Forwards: Jozy Altidore (Hull, England), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles), Robbie Findley (Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Pachuca, Mexico)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Pseudo-Live Blog: USA 2-4 Czech Republic
THE LINEUP (4-4-2)
Guzan
Bornstein
Oneyewu
Goodson
Cherundolo
Beasley
Edu
Torres
Holden
Johnson
Buddle
Aaaaaand, we’re off, with the Yanks moving right-to-left on your liveblog!
1m – Bornstein puts the first ball into the box, easily claimed by Cech. Hey, I’ve heard of at least one guy on the Czech team!
3m – Czech player down, and the ref having a chat with the US defender. Didn’t seem a lot in it. Will the game be called tight?
5m – Czechs try to head the ball back to Cech (I promise not to beat that pun to death) and Buddle shows some explosiveness to at least make the keeper sweat. Looks like a guy trying to make an argument for a plane ticket.
9m – First closeup of Bob Bradley looking concerned. Of course, that could also be a shot of him deciding what to have at the Holiday Inn Express’ free breakfast bar, too.
11m – Neither team have really put anything that would resemble actual pressure on the opposing keeper. A lot of trading places in the middle part of the field, but nothing consistent or coherent.
13m – Geh. Another misplayed US pass dissolving possession before they cross midfield, followed by a feeble Czech foray leading to a US goal kick. And another shot of Brad Guzan. Does Bradley like bald keepers, is it a style thing, or is the job so stressful that it’s just a work hazard?
16m – I can see why Oneyewu is referred to as the “big man.”
17m – GOAL! USA 1-0 CZE. Holden puts a free kick into the box, Cech makes an absolute mess of it, and Edu leanes his way through a mass of confused Czech defender to get the opener. Much more a goal against Cech than a goal for the Yanks, but no points for style.
19m – The Czechs quickly get the ball down the near side and win a free kick after a tough foul. Edu heads the resultant cross into orbit and the US clear, avoiding the need to use the “most dangerous time is after a goal” cliché.
21m – Another Czech corner, headed skyward and away to relative safety. The US seems to have settled back and allowed the Czechs to take the game to them after the goal. The attack sputters out after a Czech attacker makes a leap into
23m – Buddle is still off the field, apparently with a split lip after a collision with Cech during the goal. That would probably explain the US defensiveness. Buddle is back on the field with a new, blood-free jersey.
26m – The US dodge a huge bullet as the Czech attack comes down the near side, threads a pass to the Czech striker in the middle of the 18-yard box, who then promptly curls the ball wide of the far post. Very little the US defense had to do with that goal not being scored.
28m – An attempted give-and-go from Holden goes awry, and the Czechs get the ball back.
29m – Beasley sweetly gets control of a high bouncer, blows by his defender, and gets promptly brought down for a free kick. So much for the game being called tight – there’s been at least three fouls that could have brought a card, but the ref has showed nothing.
30m – Bornstein gets de-pantsed by the Czech attacker on the near side (seeing a pattern), and Guzan makes a great dive to palm the ball out for a corner. Buddle eventually completes the clearance. The first half hour has made a pretty good case for Buddle to make the final 23.
32m – Another shot of Oneyewu and, more importantly, Oneyewu’s incredible beard. It’s not a Baron Davis with the Warriors beard, but it’s pretty close.
34m – And there’s the first card, to Rajnoch for the Czechs. He’s been stuck in to a lot of the people rolling around on the ground, so it’s not surprising that he sees yellow. Torres puts in a free kick from about 30 yards out that’s pretty simply cleared.
36m – The Czechs definitely seem to think the place to attack the US is on the flanks with a cross into the box. I don’t recall much of anything coming up the middle at all.
37m – Another Czech cross, another strong Goodson header to clear.
40m – The US are finally on the attach, with Holden hitting a corner that gets gobbled up by Cech.
41m – Buddle tries to get the ball to Johnson on the break a hair late, and gets bailed out by a foul.
43m – And we have a victory for the fairer sex, as both “Dancing With The Stars” and “Glee” start at 8:00 p.m., blocking any further viewing of the game except in the back room. And, of course, during the transition from rooms, the Czechs score with Oneyewu getting outjumped for a header that beats Guzan. Apparently the blame for that one has to go to either me, Oneyewu, or Bruno Tonioli. USA 1-1 CZE.
HALFTIME! A 1-1 draw seems just about right at this point.
Aaaaaand, we’re back. The US moving from left-to-right on your pseudo-live blog. Herculez Gomez and Brian Ching on for Buddle and Johnson, and Sasha Klejstan on for Torres.
50m – For being a friendly, this game is awfully physical. That’s good news, I think. Getting a little bit of a bloody nose can’t do anything but help in World Cup preparation.
53m – The US gets their second corner of the night, which had some promise but ultimately came for naught.
55m – The game has increased in physicality and speed. Both of these developments seem to favor the US. The Czechs look like they’re only a danger on a break or a counterattack.
56m – I should know better. As soon as I talk about how the Czechs don’t look a danger, they spread the US defense out and head one into the back of the net. The goal was called back (and rightfully so) for offside, but the US was certainly in danger.
58m – GOAL! USA 1-2 CZE. The Czechs punch a cross into the net, and there’s no offside flag to help the Yanks this time. Pearce got himself skinned for a pretty easy score. Yikes.
61m – Rogers launches a rocket from outside the box that sends Cech to a full stretch for a save. Nice to see. It would have been nicer had it not been the first US shot since their goal.
64m – Nice run of play leads to a blocked shot, and then a nice ground shot from Gomez saved well by Cech. It was all started by Ching holding the ball up in the near wing. Ching definitely looks a class above most of the US forward players.
66m – GOAL! USA 2-2 CZE. Gomez heads home a corner, redirected from Goodson. That goal was as much about Goodson keeping the ball in play as it was about Gomez putting it home. The team and the crown look a lot more relieved now that the score is equaled.
67m – And that’s the end of the night for Oneyewu, and for Oneyewu’s beard. Bedoya on in replacement.
70m – Rogers blazes into the box, gets denied by a dangerous but effective challenge, and Holden puts a recovered opportunity from just outside the box just wide of the near post. The Yanks look like a completely different team after the equalizer.
72m – I like the idea of the sash on the new unis, but unless getting a closeup of the player all you can see is the swoosh, the crest, and the player’s number orbiting around a big empty space in the middle of the shirt. Kinda looks like the US had a shirt sponsor that went bankrupt.
73m – Another US corner this one a high offering from Holden claimed by Cech with little trouble.
76m – Gomez leads a two-on-two break, but looked like he ran out of ideas. He decides to take a shot from outside the box rather than feed a streaking Ching on his side. Goes for a US corner that screams harmlessly through.
78m – GOAL! USA 2-3 CZE. Not one, but two failed clearances, including a whiff on a sliding tackle from Pearce, leads to a well-finished Czech goal from 10 yards out. Ye Gods, the US have had some serious hiccups defensively. Pearce’s whiff on the slide was the first domino that started the whole process.
80m – Ching called for a foul for, I think, waving unpleasantly at the Czech defender near the US far flag. For a game as physical as this has been, that’s a pretty ticky-tack foul.
81m – The Czechs get three bites at the US apple, but this time the defense holds firm and prevents Guzan from needing to do anything. But the US looks tight yet again. Not having the regulars on the field to give the team confidence is really showing.
83m – I know I’m not the only person who thinks Holden looks like Draco Malfoy from the “Harry Potter” movies.
87m – Holden fouled in the US half, letting the Yanks set up a free kick and perhaps a set piece to equalize. Or not, as the attempt goes right to the feet of three Czech defenders just inside the box.
89m – The US have a chance to put an attack together, but look tentative and ultimately never get the ball into the box.
90m – Holden tries to draw another foul, but the call goes against him this time. Three minutes of stoppage time.
91m – We see a long shot of Donovan, Dempsey, Howard, and the rest of the starters coming down pitchside. Apparently that’s way more interesting than what’s happening on the pitch.
92m – GOAL! USA 2-4 CZE. Edu gets too far upfield, misplays a ball in the air, and lets the Czech striker go by him and beat Guzan on a one-on-one attack. That was not at all attractive.
Aaaaaaaand, that’s the final whistle. The US gets doubled up by the Czech Republic demonstrating flashes of brilliance interspersed with some embarrassingly bad defending. Sure, it’s the B team, but it’s more than a little disturbing that the US really did not handle adversity well, and fell apart defensively in the second half.
So who helped themselves? I think Stuart Holden was man of the match, and may have played himself into a starting role if either Donovan or Dempsey gets started up front with Altidore. Ching also showed in the second half that he’s a class above the guys who got a runout.
But how about the new guys? Buddle started with some energy and was flying around the park early, but Gomez certainly did more with his half (including the goal) than Buddle did. Bradley has to get down to 23 tomorrow, and my guess is that Gomez earned himself a plane ticket to South Africa with tonight’s performance.
Is Oneyewu back? Hard to say. He played 65 minutes, was physical, and looked like he was imposing his will on the game. He also looked pretty flat-footed and beaten on the first Czech goal. But, boy, did the US defense sputter after he left.
The US defense on the wings looked pretty atrocious, too. Bornstein, Cherundolo, and Pierce looked pretty helpless through most of the game. If there’s anything that is the biggest red flag, that’s it.
So, it’s the end of the first friendly leading up to the World Cup. It appears worldwide that the primary purpose of these friendlies is to give fans an opportunity to talk about how terrible their team is and how they’re never going to win a game in South Africa. The English fans were saying the same about their team after a 3-1 victory over Mexico.
We definitely learned that the US B team is nowhere near the class of the starters. I don’t think that’s a real revelation, but it’s a little painful to watch knowing how close the World Cup is to starting.
But I think what concerns me the most is how poorly the US responded to adversity in this game. Sure, it’s the back end of the roster and there’s nerves involved with guys knowing it’s their last chance to make the team. But I would think the one thing that would be constant throughout the team is a mentality. If that’s the case, then this World Cup campaign could end badly for the red, white, and blue.
We’ll know the final 23 tomorrow. On Saturday, against Turkey, we should see a lot more of the starters and get a much better idea of the team that will actually take the field against England on June 12. Tonight’s game probably gave Bradley the information he needed to make his final cuts. But it doesn’t make me any less nervous about the games when they start to count.
THE RATINGS
THE LINEUP (4-4-2)
Guzan - 6
Bornstein - 5
Oneyewu - 7
Goodson - 7
Cherundolo - 5
Beasley - 7
Edu - 6
Torres - 7
Holden - 8
Johnson - 6
Buddle – 6
SUBSTITUTES
Ching – 7
Gomez – 7
Pearce – 4
Kjlestan – 6
Rogers – 6
Bedoya – 6
Guzan
Bornstein
Oneyewu
Goodson
Cherundolo
Beasley
Edu
Torres
Holden
Johnson
Buddle
Aaaaaand, we’re off, with the Yanks moving right-to-left on your liveblog!
1m – Bornstein puts the first ball into the box, easily claimed by Cech. Hey, I’ve heard of at least one guy on the Czech team!
3m – Czech player down, and the ref having a chat with the US defender. Didn’t seem a lot in it. Will the game be called tight?
5m – Czechs try to head the ball back to Cech (I promise not to beat that pun to death) and Buddle shows some explosiveness to at least make the keeper sweat. Looks like a guy trying to make an argument for a plane ticket.
9m – First closeup of Bob Bradley looking concerned. Of course, that could also be a shot of him deciding what to have at the Holiday Inn Express’ free breakfast bar, too.
11m – Neither team have really put anything that would resemble actual pressure on the opposing keeper. A lot of trading places in the middle part of the field, but nothing consistent or coherent.
13m – Geh. Another misplayed US pass dissolving possession before they cross midfield, followed by a feeble Czech foray leading to a US goal kick. And another shot of Brad Guzan. Does Bradley like bald keepers, is it a style thing, or is the job so stressful that it’s just a work hazard?
16m – I can see why Oneyewu is referred to as the “big man.”
17m – GOAL! USA 1-0 CZE. Holden puts a free kick into the box, Cech makes an absolute mess of it, and Edu leanes his way through a mass of confused Czech defender to get the opener. Much more a goal against Cech than a goal for the Yanks, but no points for style.
19m – The Czechs quickly get the ball down the near side and win a free kick after a tough foul. Edu heads the resultant cross into orbit and the US clear, avoiding the need to use the “most dangerous time is after a goal” cliché.
21m – Another Czech corner, headed skyward and away to relative safety. The US seems to have settled back and allowed the Czechs to take the game to them after the goal. The attack sputters out after a Czech attacker makes a leap into
23m – Buddle is still off the field, apparently with a split lip after a collision with Cech during the goal. That would probably explain the US defensiveness. Buddle is back on the field with a new, blood-free jersey.
26m – The US dodge a huge bullet as the Czech attack comes down the near side, threads a pass to the Czech striker in the middle of the 18-yard box, who then promptly curls the ball wide of the far post. Very little the US defense had to do with that goal not being scored.
28m – An attempted give-and-go from Holden goes awry, and the Czechs get the ball back.
29m – Beasley sweetly gets control of a high bouncer, blows by his defender, and gets promptly brought down for a free kick. So much for the game being called tight – there’s been at least three fouls that could have brought a card, but the ref has showed nothing.
30m – Bornstein gets de-pantsed by the Czech attacker on the near side (seeing a pattern), and Guzan makes a great dive to palm the ball out for a corner. Buddle eventually completes the clearance. The first half hour has made a pretty good case for Buddle to make the final 23.
32m – Another shot of Oneyewu and, more importantly, Oneyewu’s incredible beard. It’s not a Baron Davis with the Warriors beard, but it’s pretty close.
34m – And there’s the first card, to Rajnoch for the Czechs. He’s been stuck in to a lot of the people rolling around on the ground, so it’s not surprising that he sees yellow. Torres puts in a free kick from about 30 yards out that’s pretty simply cleared.
36m – The Czechs definitely seem to think the place to attack the US is on the flanks with a cross into the box. I don’t recall much of anything coming up the middle at all.
37m – Another Czech cross, another strong Goodson header to clear.
40m – The US are finally on the attach, with Holden hitting a corner that gets gobbled up by Cech.
41m – Buddle tries to get the ball to Johnson on the break a hair late, and gets bailed out by a foul.
43m – And we have a victory for the fairer sex, as both “Dancing With The Stars” and “Glee” start at 8:00 p.m., blocking any further viewing of the game except in the back room. And, of course, during the transition from rooms, the Czechs score with Oneyewu getting outjumped for a header that beats Guzan. Apparently the blame for that one has to go to either me, Oneyewu, or Bruno Tonioli. USA 1-1 CZE.
HALFTIME! A 1-1 draw seems just about right at this point.
Aaaaaand, we’re back. The US moving from left-to-right on your pseudo-live blog. Herculez Gomez and Brian Ching on for Buddle and Johnson, and Sasha Klejstan on for Torres.
50m – For being a friendly, this game is awfully physical. That’s good news, I think. Getting a little bit of a bloody nose can’t do anything but help in World Cup preparation.
53m – The US gets their second corner of the night, which had some promise but ultimately came for naught.
55m – The game has increased in physicality and speed. Both of these developments seem to favor the US. The Czechs look like they’re only a danger on a break or a counterattack.
56m – I should know better. As soon as I talk about how the Czechs don’t look a danger, they spread the US defense out and head one into the back of the net. The goal was called back (and rightfully so) for offside, but the US was certainly in danger.
58m – GOAL! USA 1-2 CZE. The Czechs punch a cross into the net, and there’s no offside flag to help the Yanks this time. Pearce got himself skinned for a pretty easy score. Yikes.
61m – Rogers launches a rocket from outside the box that sends Cech to a full stretch for a save. Nice to see. It would have been nicer had it not been the first US shot since their goal.
64m – Nice run of play leads to a blocked shot, and then a nice ground shot from Gomez saved well by Cech. It was all started by Ching holding the ball up in the near wing. Ching definitely looks a class above most of the US forward players.
66m – GOAL! USA 2-2 CZE. Gomez heads home a corner, redirected from Goodson. That goal was as much about Goodson keeping the ball in play as it was about Gomez putting it home. The team and the crown look a lot more relieved now that the score is equaled.
67m – And that’s the end of the night for Oneyewu, and for Oneyewu’s beard. Bedoya on in replacement.
70m – Rogers blazes into the box, gets denied by a dangerous but effective challenge, and Holden puts a recovered opportunity from just outside the box just wide of the near post. The Yanks look like a completely different team after the equalizer.
72m – I like the idea of the sash on the new unis, but unless getting a closeup of the player all you can see is the swoosh, the crest, and the player’s number orbiting around a big empty space in the middle of the shirt. Kinda looks like the US had a shirt sponsor that went bankrupt.
73m – Another US corner this one a high offering from Holden claimed by Cech with little trouble.
76m – Gomez leads a two-on-two break, but looked like he ran out of ideas. He decides to take a shot from outside the box rather than feed a streaking Ching on his side. Goes for a US corner that screams harmlessly through.
78m – GOAL! USA 2-3 CZE. Not one, but two failed clearances, including a whiff on a sliding tackle from Pearce, leads to a well-finished Czech goal from 10 yards out. Ye Gods, the US have had some serious hiccups defensively. Pearce’s whiff on the slide was the first domino that started the whole process.
80m – Ching called for a foul for, I think, waving unpleasantly at the Czech defender near the US far flag. For a game as physical as this has been, that’s a pretty ticky-tack foul.
81m – The Czechs get three bites at the US apple, but this time the defense holds firm and prevents Guzan from needing to do anything. But the US looks tight yet again. Not having the regulars on the field to give the team confidence is really showing.
83m – I know I’m not the only person who thinks Holden looks like Draco Malfoy from the “Harry Potter” movies.
87m – Holden fouled in the US half, letting the Yanks set up a free kick and perhaps a set piece to equalize. Or not, as the attempt goes right to the feet of three Czech defenders just inside the box.
89m – The US have a chance to put an attack together, but look tentative and ultimately never get the ball into the box.
90m – Holden tries to draw another foul, but the call goes against him this time. Three minutes of stoppage time.
91m – We see a long shot of Donovan, Dempsey, Howard, and the rest of the starters coming down pitchside. Apparently that’s way more interesting than what’s happening on the pitch.
92m – GOAL! USA 2-4 CZE. Edu gets too far upfield, misplays a ball in the air, and lets the Czech striker go by him and beat Guzan on a one-on-one attack. That was not at all attractive.
Aaaaaaaand, that’s the final whistle. The US gets doubled up by the Czech Republic demonstrating flashes of brilliance interspersed with some embarrassingly bad defending. Sure, it’s the B team, but it’s more than a little disturbing that the US really did not handle adversity well, and fell apart defensively in the second half.
So who helped themselves? I think Stuart Holden was man of the match, and may have played himself into a starting role if either Donovan or Dempsey gets started up front with Altidore. Ching also showed in the second half that he’s a class above the guys who got a runout.
But how about the new guys? Buddle started with some energy and was flying around the park early, but Gomez certainly did more with his half (including the goal) than Buddle did. Bradley has to get down to 23 tomorrow, and my guess is that Gomez earned himself a plane ticket to South Africa with tonight’s performance.
Is Oneyewu back? Hard to say. He played 65 minutes, was physical, and looked like he was imposing his will on the game. He also looked pretty flat-footed and beaten on the first Czech goal. But, boy, did the US defense sputter after he left.
The US defense on the wings looked pretty atrocious, too. Bornstein, Cherundolo, and Pierce looked pretty helpless through most of the game. If there’s anything that is the biggest red flag, that’s it.
So, it’s the end of the first friendly leading up to the World Cup. It appears worldwide that the primary purpose of these friendlies is to give fans an opportunity to talk about how terrible their team is and how they’re never going to win a game in South Africa. The English fans were saying the same about their team after a 3-1 victory over Mexico.
We definitely learned that the US B team is nowhere near the class of the starters. I don’t think that’s a real revelation, but it’s a little painful to watch knowing how close the World Cup is to starting.
But I think what concerns me the most is how poorly the US responded to adversity in this game. Sure, it’s the back end of the roster and there’s nerves involved with guys knowing it’s their last chance to make the team. But I would think the one thing that would be constant throughout the team is a mentality. If that’s the case, then this World Cup campaign could end badly for the red, white, and blue.
We’ll know the final 23 tomorrow. On Saturday, against Turkey, we should see a lot more of the starters and get a much better idea of the team that will actually take the field against England on June 12. Tonight’s game probably gave Bradley the information he needed to make his final cuts. But it doesn’t make me any less nervous about the games when they start to count.
THE RATINGS
THE LINEUP (4-4-2)
Guzan - 6
Bornstein - 5
Oneyewu - 7
Goodson - 7
Cherundolo - 5
Beasley - 7
Edu - 6
Torres - 7
Holden - 8
Johnson - 6
Buddle – 6
SUBSTITUTES
Ching – 7
Gomez – 7
Pearce – 4
Kjlestan – 6
Rogers – 6
Bedoya – 6
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Preview: USA-Czech Republic
Pre-World Cup friendlies tend to be more interesting for the stories leading up to the game as opposed to the actual game itself. The leadup to the US-Czech match is no exception. Bob Bradley named a 30-man roster full of question marks, and it appears that the Czech match will be the primary laboratory to be used to answer those questions.
So, what should you be looking for on Tuesday night? Here's a few questions that hopefully will be answered.
WHO WILL JOZY'S PARTNER BE? This is probably the biggest question surrounding the whole US team. Bradley's two best options to pair with striker Jozy Altidore are Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. But both players have proved to be far more effective on the left and right wing respectively.
My guess is that the Czech match will be Bradley's opportunity to give Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomes, and Robbie Findlay a chance to earn a spot. Maybe it's too much to think that they'll all get a look, but I will be very surprised if Buddle or Gomes doesn't start up front, with Findlay getting a look at some point in the match. Bradley wouldn't have called them up if he didn't want at least a look.
HOW'S GOOCH FEELING? A huge part of the US defense is wrapped up in the recovery of Oguchi Oneyewu. All the signs point to Gooch being match fit and ready to go, but I'm sure Bradley will want to see how he fares in a competitive environment. It may not be against the Czech Republic, but a "while the bullets are flying" fitness test will be on the cards.
WILL BRADLEY BLUFF? How much of what Bradley's lineup against the Czech Republic and the other two friendlies will be getting ready for South Africa, and how much will be feint and game-playig to put Fabio Capello and the other Group C managers on edge? Of course, there will be some game-playing, but the US has enough questions where Bradley can't afford to be too cute.
So, what should you be looking for on Tuesday night? Here's a few questions that hopefully will be answered.
WHO WILL JOZY'S PARTNER BE? This is probably the biggest question surrounding the whole US team. Bradley's two best options to pair with striker Jozy Altidore are Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey. But both players have proved to be far more effective on the left and right wing respectively.
My guess is that the Czech match will be Bradley's opportunity to give Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomes, and Robbie Findlay a chance to earn a spot. Maybe it's too much to think that they'll all get a look, but I will be very surprised if Buddle or Gomes doesn't start up front, with Findlay getting a look at some point in the match. Bradley wouldn't have called them up if he didn't want at least a look.
HOW'S GOOCH FEELING? A huge part of the US defense is wrapped up in the recovery of Oguchi Oneyewu. All the signs point to Gooch being match fit and ready to go, but I'm sure Bradley will want to see how he fares in a competitive environment. It may not be against the Czech Republic, but a "while the bullets are flying" fitness test will be on the cards.
WILL BRADLEY BLUFF? How much of what Bradley's lineup against the Czech Republic and the other two friendlies will be getting ready for South Africa, and how much will be feint and game-playig to put Fabio Capello and the other Group C managers on edge? Of course, there will be some game-playing, but the US has enough questions where Bradley can't afford to be too cute.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Preliminary thoughts on the provisional roster
I'll get into more detail later, but wanted to get at least a quick hit on the 30-man roster announced today.
THE BIGGEST NEWS - No Charlie Davies. You can only read Bradley's omission of Davies to mean that he's nowhere near ready to come back. While I don't think there was anyone out there counting on Davies' return, make no mistake that the US will be much the poorer for his absence.
THE OTHER BIG OMISSIONS - No Freddy Adu - Pretty sad to see a kid who was supposed to revolutionize soccer in the US now can't even crack a 30-man roster. No Connor Casey - Casey got a pretty good look in qualification, and apparently didn't measure up in Bradley's eyes. No Brian McBride - OK, he was probably a longshot, but I thought an interesting possibility.
YOUTH IS SERVED - Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez, and Robbie Findlay, welcome to your opportunity. As unfortunate as Davies' injury is, now these three budding stars are going to get their chance to shine. I've discussed my Buddle crush previously, but I'm thrilled to see Findlay on the roster as well. Speed kills, and it never hurts to have a little extra speed on the roster.
From mlssoccer.com, here's the full roster:
Goalkeepers (3): Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolves)
Defenders (9): Carlos Bocanegra (Stade Rennais), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Jonathan Spector (West Ham), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)
Midfielders (12): Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
Forwards (6): Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla), Eddie Johnson (Aris)
THE BIGGEST NEWS - No Charlie Davies. You can only read Bradley's omission of Davies to mean that he's nowhere near ready to come back. While I don't think there was anyone out there counting on Davies' return, make no mistake that the US will be much the poorer for his absence.
THE OTHER BIG OMISSIONS - No Freddy Adu - Pretty sad to see a kid who was supposed to revolutionize soccer in the US now can't even crack a 30-man roster. No Connor Casey - Casey got a pretty good look in qualification, and apparently didn't measure up in Bradley's eyes. No Brian McBride - OK, he was probably a longshot, but I thought an interesting possibility.
YOUTH IS SERVED - Edson Buddle, Herculez Gomez, and Robbie Findlay, welcome to your opportunity. As unfortunate as Davies' injury is, now these three budding stars are going to get their chance to shine. I've discussed my Buddle crush previously, but I'm thrilled to see Findlay on the roster as well. Speed kills, and it never hurts to have a little extra speed on the roster.
From mlssoccer.com, here's the full roster:
Goalkeepers (3): Tim Howard (Everton), Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolves)
Defenders (9): Carlos Bocanegra (Stade Rennais), Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Jonathan Spector (West Ham), Oguchi Onyewu (AC Milan), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew)
Midfielders (12): Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers), Benny Feilhaber (AGF Aarhus), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), José Francisco Torres (Pachuca), Alejandro Bedoya (Örebro), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)
Forwards (6): Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Edson Buddle (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Herculez Gomez (Puebla), Eddie Johnson (Aris)
Monday, May 10, 2010
Seriously?
Look, it's hard being an American soccer fan. Many Americans make fun of you for liking an "unamerican sport" (which I believe is defined as something the US is not dominant in), and many non-Americans make fun of you because, well, it's fun for people outside of the US to make fun of the US.
I get all that, and take it all in stride. Yes, Mr. Glendenning, even you and your USA! USA! USA! soccerball nonsense. But the Captains of Swoosh, Nike, don't make things any easier with their marketing. The Dude? Seriously? Some vaguely neanderthal-looking guy with a beauty pageant sash and giant teeth? Yes, I get it's an attempt to make clever use of part of the team badge. It's not clever, trust me. If you apply Paul Lukas' UniWatch "stupid or not" test, it fails miserably.
The whole "Don't Tread On Me" stuff was a brilliant idea until it got co-opted by the nutjobs in the Tea Parties waving around their yellow flags. So I get they need something new.
But The Dude? Seriously, Nike. You're not helping us. Knock it off. FAIL.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Three for thirty
By May 11, Bob Bradley must announce his 30-man prelimnary roster for the World Cup in South Africa. Here are a few things to watch for when the roster is announced.
- EDSON WATCH: This will be the first mention of LA Galaxy forward Edson Buddle in this 'blog, but only because it's the first substantive post (I have a bit of a sports crush on Edson). Buddle has been the leading goal-scorer in MLS, and with injuries to Charlie Davies and Brian Ching, Bradley is going to need attacking options to pair with Jozy Altidore while allowing Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey to stay in midfield. Will Bradley put Buddle on the 30-man roster and give himself that option?
- AGE AND TREACHERY: OK, in fairness, Brian McBride isn't a treacherous guy. But he is 38, and Alexi Lalas wrote a piece on MLSSoccer.com advocating McBride's inclusion on the World Cup roster. He certainly has the international experience to help. Will that experience be enough for Bradley to include him on the 30-man roster?
- ZOMBIES! At one time, Freddy Adu and DaMarcus Beasley were thought to be the future of American soccer on the international stage. Now, both have been left out of the roster for major competitions. Will Bradley include either Adu or Beasley on the 30-man roster and breathe life into their once-dead international careers?
- EDSON WATCH: This will be the first mention of LA Galaxy forward Edson Buddle in this 'blog, but only because it's the first substantive post (I have a bit of a sports crush on Edson). Buddle has been the leading goal-scorer in MLS, and with injuries to Charlie Davies and Brian Ching, Bradley is going to need attacking options to pair with Jozy Altidore while allowing Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey to stay in midfield. Will Bradley put Buddle on the 30-man roster and give himself that option?
- AGE AND TREACHERY: OK, in fairness, Brian McBride isn't a treacherous guy. But he is 38, and Alexi Lalas wrote a piece on MLSSoccer.com advocating McBride's inclusion on the World Cup roster. He certainly has the international experience to help. Will that experience be enough for Bradley to include him on the 30-man roster?
- ZOMBIES! At one time, Freddy Adu and DaMarcus Beasley were thought to be the future of American soccer on the international stage. Now, both have been left out of the roster for major competitions. Will Bradley include either Adu or Beasley on the 30-man roster and breathe life into their once-dead international careers?
Friday, May 7, 2010
To South Africa and beyond!
Welcome to the inaugural posting of the Yank-Talking Guy 'blog! Over the next two months, I will be guiding you through the American quest for football glory in South Africa. Along the way, I hope to entertain, amuse, and from time to time inform you about Team USA and the status of football in America. I may even bore you from time to time with some discussion about how bad I am at FIFA on my XBox360, so be warned.
All comments are welcome. I hope this can be a conversation about the Beautiful Game and its' upcoming celebration in South Africa. Let the games begin!
All comments are welcome. I hope this can be a conversation about the Beautiful Game and its' upcoming celebration in South Africa. Let the games begin!
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