Yanks in Europe: Mo Wins the Old Firm

It was a pretty disappointing day for Yanks in Europe, with just one bright spot amidst a sea of unused substitutes and "meh" performances.
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Brad Guzan did not get the start in the Carling Cup final (which Villa lost by a score of 2-1), but another USMNT player did get some minutes in a huge game on the British Isles this morning.  Maurice Edu came on as a substitute in the 26th minute of the Old Firm derby match after an injury to teammate Lee McCulloch.  Throughout the game, Edu was solid in the midfield, making a number of quality tackles and showing good poise on the ball.  He distributed well and got involved in the attack, scoring a volley in the first half that was eventually called back for a hand ball in the build up.  Edu turned in a strong game on both ends of the field, and his efforts were rewarded when a loose ball off a corner kick came to his feet inside the six, allowing him to bang home the game-winner in the 90th minute.  The goal gave Rangers a 1-0 victory and puts them 10 points ahead of Celtic with a game in hand.  See below for video of the goal:




The performance could earn Edu a start in Wednesday's USMNT friendly, but for now he's probably just enjoying being the toast of Ibrox.
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The only other game that featured USMNT players on the day was Everton's match against Tottenham.  Tim Howard got the start, while Landon Donovan started on the bench.  While initially one might worry that Donovan's unimpressive showing in Lisbon earned him a spot on the bench, this was most likely just David Moyes giving him a break before his international duty.  After all, Landon has started every one of Everton's games since early January.

The Toffees lost the match 2-1, with Howard registering six saves on the day.  He couldn't do much about the first Tottenham goal, but the second goal will have some fans wondering if Timmy was a little too far off of his line.  Luka Modric hit a side-footed shot from the edge of the box that hit the underside of the bar and went in, with Howard only able to turn and watch as it went over his head.  Maybe Howard should have been a little farther back, but it still doesn't guarantee that he would have stopped what was a very well struck shot.  Judging by his look after the goal, though, I think it was one that he'd like to have back.

The other half of the American Everton contingent came on as a 63rd minute substitute.  Unfortunately, Donovan's performance will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.  With his side trailing by one, a shot from the other side of the box went across the face of goal right to Donovan's foot at the back post.  From a yard out in front of an empty net, however, the LA Galaxy captain put it right into the side netting, with the announcers calling it one of the misses of the season.  The rest of his appearance wasn't much better, as he looked out of sync on his touches and passes in the midfield. 

Hopefully, a little time away from Everton during the international break will give him a chance to forget about what has been a pretty rough week.  At some point, every player hits a rough patch, so let's hope Landon can bounce back quickly and end things on the right note with his last two matches before heading back to the States.
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Injured/Did Not Play:
DaMarcus Beasley (unused substitute)
Freddy Adu (unused substitute)
Eddie Johnson (unused substitute)
Brad Guzan (unused substitute)
Clint Dempsey (knee injury)
Oguchi Onyewu (knee injury)
Steve Cherundolo (shoulder injury)
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Yanks in Europe: Hahnemann, Holden, and More

What sweatpants are to Bob Bradley's wardrobe, "Yanks in Europe" posts are to Saturdays (or something like that).  Enjoy:

Stuart Holden and Marcus Hahnemann squared off as Bolton played host to Wolves in a critical fixture in the relegation battle.  Both started and went the full 90 minutes in a match that finished 1-0 in favor of Bolton.  Holden had a strong game in his EPL debut, providing quality offensive and defensive work in the center of the midfield.  For a more detailed look at Holden's play, take a look at this post from earlier in the day.

Hahnemann, meanwhile, turned in a Man of the Match caliber performance in the losing effort.  He kept his team in the match with six saves, a couple of which were on 1-on-1 opportunities inside the box.  On both instances, the USMNT keeper was very quick off of his line, allowing him to cut down the shooter's angle and make the save.  Clearly, Hahnemann wasn't worrying too much about his gaff in Wolves' last league game, when an aggressive sprint off his line left him in no man's land, allowing Chelsea to bag an easy goal.

He also had a good command of his box, with sure-handed catches on numerous crosses whipped into the area.  The lone Bolton goal came off of a quick one-time shot from inside the six after a pass from the end line, and Hahnemann really could do nothing about it.  All in all, it was the type of strong performance that has a significant segment of the American fan base wondering if he has moved ahead of Brad Guzan in the national team pecking order.  I won't go so far as to say that is the case, but regardless, sorting out the order of three quality keepers is a pretty good problem to have.

Elsewhere in England, Jay DeMerit got the start at CB for Watford in their match against Championship leaders Newcastle United.  He played all 90 minutes in what would end up being a 2-1 loss.  Unfortunately, DeMerit was involved in both goals allowed.  The first came off of a Newcastle free kick from the wing; a flicked header found DeMerit's man near the top of the box, who then headed to the back post, where a teammate finished it off.  DeMerit wasn't exactly marking his man tightly, but to blame him for this goal would be a little harsh.  Several of DeMerit's teammates were culpable in the build up, so all the blame shouldn't fall on the Watford captain.  The second goal, however, will probably rest solely on Jay's shoulders.  DeMerit lost his man in a crowd on a corner kick, with the Newcastle striker heading home the cross at the near post.

Not exactly the type of performance USMNT fans were looking for just four days before the Netherlands friendly, but let's try not to panic.  Everyone has an off day once in awhile, and DeMerit got punished for his.
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In Germany, Michael Bradley once again started and played the full game for Borussia Monchengladbach in their 1-1 draw with SC Freiburg.  Bradley nearly scored a second half equalizer, but his deflected shot from just inside the box was cleared off the line by a Freiburg defender.  Overall, he had a typically solid game; not too much flash, but a fair amount of substance in the midfield.  Basically, what we've come to expect from the younger Bradley. 
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Despite his poor showing last weekend, Carlos Bocanegra got the start at LB for Rennes in their match against title contenders Montpellier.  Bocanegra had a decent game (much better than last week's, though that's not saying too much), playing 90 minutes in a 3-1 loss.  He was not to blame on any of the goals, so hopefully he's back in the starting lineup after the international break.

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Injured/Did Not Play:

Ricardo Clark (unused substitute)
Frank Simek (unused substitute)
Charlie Davies (multiple injuries)

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Stu Down, 1 to Go

There's been plenty of concern over the last couple of weeks regarding the respective situations of recent USMNT transfers and former Houston Dynamo teammates Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark.  With both hampered by injury and failing to regularly make the match day squad since their arrival, doubts about the wisdom of these two transfer window moves began to swirl around the American fan base.  For a team already struggling with injuries to several key players, the last thing that's needed is to have two other prominent contributors riding the pine.

Fortunately, we can all take a pretty big sigh of relief at this point.  In the past week, Stuart Holden has earned both his Bolton debut and his EPL debut, starting and playing 90 minutes in a midweek FA Cup loss and today's pivotal league win over Marcus Hahnemann and Wolves.  While one week is a far cry from three months of consistent playing time (i.e. now until mid-May), it is a very positive sign that, at worst, Stu will get the opportunity from manager Owen Coyle to prove himself and earn playing time.

The structure of Holden's deal (essentially a six month deal ending in June) had some worried that he was being brought in merely as temporary cover in case of injury down the stretch.  There was also some concern that Coyle would hardly be willing to experiment with a young newcomer in his side in the midst of a crowded relegation battle.  At this point, however, it looks as if those fears have been allayed, as Coyle has clearly shown an intent to utilize his new signings in an effort to find the best lineup down the stretch.

As fans, all we can really for is that our players get the opportunity to showcase their ability.  Once given that chance, it's up to them to earn their place and perform.  If they don't, well, we really don't have much to gripe about.  But when a player is brought in yet consistently (and inexplicably) left out of game after game (see: Adu at Belenenses), that's when we start to get a little antsy.  Luckily, Stu has been given that chance, and, even more fortunate for the USMNT and its fans, he's really grabbed the bull by the horns.

For those who missed it, Bolton played Tottenham on Wednesday in a very one-sided FA Cup fixture.  Owen Coyle's side, without a few key players in the lineup, was completely outmatched, and their execution in the final third was inept, to say the least.  But throughout the 4-0 drubbing, there was one bright spot for the visitors: a young midfielder playing with energy and skill; none other than Stuart Holden.  Had his teammates delivered any bit of quality finishing, Holden could have very well had a couple of assists in his debut.  Regardless, it was a strong performance that continued on for the full 90 minutes despite the lopsided score line, and it had most believing that he had at least earned himself a substitute appearance this weekend.

Fast forward to this morning, and it was #25 lining up in the center of the midfield for Bolton in a crucial six-pointer against Wolves.  Once again, Coyle was giving Stu his chance, and after that, it was up to him to prove his mettle.  And once more, it was the Aberdeen native showing poise and comfort on the big stage, looking like a player that has been in the EPL for an entire season, rather than barely a month.  He made aggressive runs in the attacking third, searching for the ball and attracting attention from both sides.  He was able to put himself in good positions to get a shot off on several occasions, and although none of his efforts really tested Marcus Hahnemann, they were bright flashes of offense from a struggling Bolton attack that had scored just 1 goal in its previous 7 games.

Holden's contributions did not end there, though, as he served in a number of quality corners and free kicks throughout the match.  He nearly set up a goal when a hard in-swinger found the head of a teammate inside the six, and one of his services nearly snuck into the far corner after going through the box untouched.  Perhaps the best part of his game today, though, was the timely and tireless work he turned in at the defensive end.  There were numerous instances where Stu made intelligent defensive plays to help stifle the Wolves attack.  Whether it was reading a pass, quickly doubling an attacker and stripping him, or closing down quickly to prevent a shot, Holden made his presence felt in his own half, doing his part in what ended up being a clean sheet victory.  It was a complete, box-to-box performance, which has rightfully earned praise from several publications and his manager, who said:

"I thought Stuart was great again. He has a lot about him, a real hunger and a desire...I am delighted how he has gone about it. He was a bundle of energy and his set-play delivery was terrific. It is an added bonus for us." 

Of course, there is still plenty of room for improvement.  But the bottom line is that Stuart Holden did exactly what he needed to do: when given his opportunity, he made the most of it.  I expect Holden to get the nod next time around, and I fully expect him to earn consistent minutes over a good stretch of games (as a sub or a starter).  Relegation battles can often sap the life out of a team, as they constantly go home with disappointing results and teeter on the brink of the drop.  So when a player like Stu comes along and injects life into the heart of the midfield, you have to figure that Owen Coyle has taken notice and will continue to ride that energy in the coming weeks.

As for the second half of that Dynamo duo, Ricardo Clark has still yet to make his Bundesliga debut for Frankfurt.  But fear not, because the Georgia native was on the bench today and has earned some praise from his coach for his work in training.  Let's hope that Rico gets his own opportunity soon.  And, like his former midfield partner back in Houston, let's hope he takes advantage of it and stakes a serious claim to some more minutes down the stretch.

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Yanks in Europe: Weekend Preview

Here's a look at the last round of club games before Wednesday's USMNT friendly against the Netherlands:

Saturday:

After turning in a good performance in Bolton's midweek FA Cup loss to Tottenham, Stuart Holden could very well earn his first EPL appearance against Wolves (10 AM ET).  While I don't think he's in line for a start, I definitely think he did more than enough on Wednesday to merit a substitute appearance.  This game is a huge six-pointer, with the two sides separated by just one point at the edges of the relegation zone.  Hopefully Holden gets the call to help a Bolton attack that has been borderline unwatchable over the past couple of weeks, with just one goal in their last seven matches. 

Trying to keep Holden and company at bay will be Marcus Hahnemann, whose play with Wolves has made him the clear cut favorite for the third goalkeeper spot on the US World Cup roster.   He's coming off a game to forget, with zero saves and one blunder in a 2-0 loss to Chelsea.  Wolves' climb out of the relegation zone has been largely fueled by Hahnemannn's solid play over the last couple of months, so they'll need the former Reading starter to regain his form if they want to avoid dropping back into the bottom three this weekend.
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Elsewhere in England, Jay DeMerit and Watford play host to Championship leaders Newcastle United.  DeMerit will likely get the start next Wednesday against the Netherlands, so a match against the league's second best offense will be as good of a preparation as USMNT fans could hope for.  The Hornets are just six points clear of the relegation zone, dropping two points late in their last match thanks to a DeMerit handball in the box in stoppage time.  He will be looking to redeem himself Saturday at Vicarage Road, 10 AM ET. 

I usually include Kenny Cooper in these Yanks in Europe posts, but at this point, I think it's safe to say that he's not in Bob Bradley's plan for South Africa.  Until he starts lighting it up for Plymouth, I'll just pass on filling you in on his uneventful substitute appearances.
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In Germany, Michael Bradley and Borrusia Monchengladbach will host SC Freiburg (9:30 AM ET).  BMG, coming off of a disappointing draw with Hoffenheim, is actually closer to a spot in Europe than they are to the bottom three, a nice change from last year's nerve-wracking relegation battle.  They'll be looking to extend their mini unbeaten run to three games with a positive result against Freiburg, who haven't won a league match since November.

You've probably heard that Freiburg has a young right back by the name of Daniel Williams, who has quickly become the USMNT flavor of the week thanks to a couple of good games.  Maybe I'm just overly cynical, but I'd rather wait and see if Williams, who could also represent Germany, can sustain a high level of performance for a whole season before floating his name into the national team conversation.  Nevertheless, I'm sure plenty of fans will be tuning in to see this defensive prospect.  At least it will probably mean more people will see Michael Bradley, whose solid play in Germany has been flying under the radar.

Also worth keeping an eye on is Frankfurt's match at Stuttgart (9:30 AM ET).  Ricardo Clark could very well be on the bench for this one, thanks to his own progress and injuries to some of his teammates.  USMNT fans may be getting a little nervous about his lack of playing time to this point, but his manager has stated that he has been impressed with Clark in training, so we might not be too far away from Rico's Bundesliga debut. 
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Last on Saturday, Carlos Bocanegra and Stade Rennes will face off against title contenders Montpellier (3 PM ET).  Bocanegra had an awful game last weekend, getting subbed off at half time after struggling at left back in the opening 45.  After a stretch of games on the bench in the middle of the season, he worked himself back into the lineup in recent weeks, but the USMNT captain could end up back on the bench for this one after last Sunday's disappointing showing. 


Sunday:

Aston Villa will look to win their first domestic trophy since 1996 when they face off against Manchester United at Wembley in the Carling Cup final (10 AM ET).  Martin O'Neill had been exclusively using Brad Guzan in cup ties, but he opted for league starter Brad Freidel in Villa's FA Cup match against Crystal Palace a couple weeks ago.  Guzan did get the start in the replay, which Villa won, but there still are some questions as to whether he will get the nod in Sunday's final.  The former Chivas USA star has been one of the main reasons that Villa are in the final, pitching three clean sheets in five Carling Cup matches, including some penalty kick heroics against Sunderland.  However, his last match was his worst performance of the year, as he gave up four goals in Villa's 6-4 semifinal victory over Blackburn.  Though most USMNT fans will surely be hoping that Guzan gets the start and gains some very valuable experience on a huge stage, it wouldn't exactly be the worst alternative to watch a former USMNT star get the start either. 
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Immediately preceding the Carling Cup final is Everton's match against Tottenham at White Hart Lane (8 AM ET).  Landon Donovan is coming off of one of his most disappointing performances with the Toffees (not too hard to say that given he's mostly been great to this point), as he really didn't get involved in the flow of the match in yesterday's Europa League loss to Sporting Lisbon.  Both he and Tim Howard will likely get the start once again, as David Moyes' men look to knock off the Champions League hopefuls.  This is a rare day where a Landon Donovan match might be overshadowed by one featuring another USMNT player, but luckily the difference in start times means American fans won't have to choose between the this game and the Carling Cup final.
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North of England, DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu will be looking to get the start in the season's third Old Firm match.  Rangers will host Celtic at 7:30 AM ET, looking to extend their lead atop the SPL table to 10 points.  Beasley started in the last league match, while Edu went the full 90 in Rangers' last Scottish Cup match, so both very well could be in the starting XI for this one.  With both players also getting the call for Wednesday's friendly against the Netherlands, this game is definitely one worth getting up early for if your an American fan.
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And finally, Freddy Adu, Eddie Johnson, and Aris will host Larissa in a Greek League match (9:45 AM ET).  Both have been earning consistent minutes since making the move to Greece, and they are still very much in the picture for South Africa.  We'll see if they can continue their respective revivals with strong showings on Sunday.
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Well, that's it.  As you can see, it's a pretty busy weekend featuring some great games involving USMNT players. Enjoy, folks.

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The Changes in USMNT World Cup Preparation: '02-'10

Every team goes about preparing for the World Cup in a different way.  Mexico just kicked off their 12 match build up to South Africa with a friendly against Bolivia last night, while the Netherlands, the USMNT's opponent next Wednesday, will play just 4 matches before their Group E opener against Denmark.  This time around, the USMNT falls in between those two, with 5 matches scheduled in 2010 before their match against England on June 12.

While that number may not be too remarkable considering similar preparations from other teams, it is pretty noteworthy when comparing it to what has been done in previous two cycles.  In 2006, Bruce Arena had his team play twice as many matches in the months preceding the '06 World Cup, with 10 matches over 5 months.  Just look back to 2002 for an even bigger contrast, when the Yanks played an astounding 14 times before heading over to Korea.  When you look at it that way, this year suddenly seems pretty atypical.

Of course, this year only features one FIFA match day before the end of the European club season, with previous years likely having a couple more.  But this downward trend is really just more of a reflection of the change in the USMNT's roster composition over the past decade.  In 2002 and 2006, 11 of the 23 World Cup players were MLS-based, with a good deal of those players being starters or key subs for the national team.  This meant that those non-FIFA match day friendlies could actually be a lot more reflective of the World Cup team than, say, the USMNT's pair of friendlies thus far in 2010 that have featured mostly young guys with little international experience.  As a result, significant team building could be done during those extra games.

With it looking like there will be only 3-5 MLS players at the World Cup this time around, that handful of additional friendlies just doesn't really serve much of a purpose in terms of preparing for South Africa.  There isn't going to be any relevant team chemistry gained with 4/5 of the team absent, and there aren't too many serious roster questions left to be answered.  So, instead of working hard, Bob Bradley's working smart, opting for quality over quantity.

So while 5 matches isn't much compared to years past, I'm confident that the Yanks will be sufficiently prepared come June.  Three tough friendlies await Landon Donovan and company, and each will surely provide a challenge.  That's enough for me. 

But if we crash out in the group stage once again, I wouldn't be surprised if this slimmer schedule gets brought up as a reason for the poor results.

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USA-Netherlands Roster Released, Pearce and Bedoya Get the Call

Bob Bradley has released his roster for the March 3rd friendly against the Netherlands.  It is as follows:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Marcus Hahnemann (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Tim Howard (Everton)

DEFENDERS (7): Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Carlos Bocanegra (Rennes), Jay DeMerit (Watford), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Heath Pearce (FC Dallas), Frank Simek (Sheffield Wednesday), Jonathan Spector (West Ham United)

MIDFIELDERS (7): DaMarcus Beasley (Rangers), Alejandro Bedoya (Orebro), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Landon Donovan (Everton), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Stuart Holden (Bolton Wanderers), José Torres (Pachuca)

FORWARDS (3): Jozy Altidore (Hull City), Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake), Eddie Johnson (Aris Thessaloniki)


Not too many surprises here, considering all the injuries that Bob Bradley has to deal with.   It's good to see Frank Simek, DaMarcus Beasley, and Maurice Edu back to full health and in national team camp once again.

Those dying to see Robbie Findley with the full squad will likely get that chance this time around, though I think it will be a Johnson-Altidore pairing to start.

Robbie Rogers' performance last night obviously wasn't overly impressive, considering his omission from the roster.  Despite a strong game last night, Brian Ching did not get the call, though neither did his main competition at target striker, Conor Casey.  As far as that goes, however, I think that's a situation where Bradley has a lot better grasp on both Ching and Casey's abilities at this point, so he doesn't need to see them against the Netherlands to help his final decision.

The one name I was surprised to see was Alejandro Bedoya.  I was thinking that Freddy Adu would get a call after his solid play in Greece, but Bradley must have really been impressed with what Bedoya brought to the table in January, bringing in the Orebro midfielder instead.  Like most USMNT fans, all I have seen of Bedoya consists of his 30 minutes from last month's friendly against Honduras, but I'll trust Bob's judgement on this one.  After all, analyzing player performance is his job; I'm just some guy with a computer.

With the injuries to Benny Feilhaber and Ricardo Clark, we could see someone who typically plays on the wing (like Stuart Holden or Landon Donovan) slide into the center of the midfield.  Holden played centrally in his debut for Bolton and looked very good in doing so.  With that being said, I expect Torres or Edu to get the start alongside Michael Bradley.

As I eluded to in my USMNT-El Salvador post-match thoughts post from a couple hours ago, Heath Pearce gave his stock a big boost with his performance in Tampa last night, parlaying it into an invite to Amsterdam.  At this point, I'd say that if Bob Bradley takes 8 defenders to South Africa, 7 of those slots would be taken up by Jonathan Bornstein, Jonathan Spector, Jay DeMerit, Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Steve Cherundolo, and Clarence Goodson.  That last spot is up in the air, with Pearce, Edgar Castillo, and Frank Simek in the mix.  So, although he was completely off the radar for the last half of 2009, Pearce could very well earn himself a spot in the World Cup roster with another strong showing next week and a solid start to the MLS season.

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I'll try to get a good preview of the Dutch team up some time over the course of the next week, so stay tuned for that if you're looking for some more info on the USMNT's next opponent.

The match will kick off next Wednesday at 2:30 on ESPN2.

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USMNT-El Salvador: Post-Match Thoughts

Revisiting this post from earlier in the week, let's take a look back at how those key players fared and what direction their World Cup stock is headed in after last night's match in Tampa.

The big winner on the night was Brian Ching, who turned in a very good performance coming off the bench in the second half.  His main competitor, Conor Casey, had some bright moments of his own in the first half, with two quality passes to set up a pair of scoring chances (one of which to Sacha Kljestan should have been assist).  He also contributed on the defensive end with a clearing header inside the box.  There were, however a couple of attacks that stalled at his feet, making the Rapids striker's overall performance fairly average.

Ching, meanwhile, was a key cog in the US attack throughout the second half.  He made intelligent runs inside the 18, getting on the end of several crosses and flashing a few headers across goal.  He also made several good passes, including one ball over the top late in the second half and his assist to Sacha Kljestan on the game-winner.  He took his goal well, snapping the header on frame with a lot of pace.  While Ching probably would have liked it to be further in the corner, the speed on the shot left the El Salvador goalkeeper with little hope of steering it aside.  All in all, I think Ching has nudged himself to the front of this two horse race, and I think he may earn some minutes in Amsterdam (assuming he gets the call).

Elsewhere at striker, Robbie Findley was looking to live up to the hype that's been surrounding him in this post-Charlie Davies' car crash world.  Last night, he had several bright moments, but also showed signs of inexperience or, better yet, anxiousness.  He showed good instincts early in the second half when he took a pass from Sacha Kljestan 30 yards out, got his head up right away, and fired a low shot on goal.  The build up seemed fairly harmless, so it was nice to see such a quick burst into the attack from the RSL striker.  He also had a couple of other opportunities inside the 18 that he helped create with the occasional run, though he never could quite get that final touch to set himself up for a shot.

As far as the point about being anxious goes, there were a few instances where Findley might have been better served taking one extra touch, but instead he opted to play an early pass.  Also, on at least two occasions, he was a little over-eager with his runs, getting behind the back line far too early and forcing a teammate with the ball to go elsewhere so as to avoid an obvious offsides call.  All in all, Findley showed some good things, but looked like a player that still needs a good deal of polishing at the international level.  I didn't really expect anything else from someone earning just their third cap.

Despite leaving the game due to an apparent injury, Findley can take solace in the fact that his replacement Jeff Cunningham did not make a huge impact on the match.  You didn't hear the announcers call his name too much, with the only notable instance I can recall being a cross that found Brian Ching, who nearly scored with a near post shot.  Other than that, Cunningham was fairly anonymous.  He may luck out, though, because of Findley's injury.  If it's serious enough that the RSL forward is unable to play in next Wednesday's friendly, it could mean that Bob Bradley will bring Cunningham over to Amsterdam.  In the grand scheme of things, though, I'd say both of these stocks didn't move too much last night.

Robbie Rogers had a somewhat odd game to categorize.  He was very active and involved throughout the night, but his final bit of decision making and execution was lacking.  He seemed to lose a step late in the game, presumably from fatigue.  Overall, it looked like a game from someone who knows that they need to impress, as he seemed to forcing things at times.  I think Rogers' stock took a bit of a hit last night, and it'll be interesting to see if he can beat out the likes of DaMarcus Beasley and Freddy Adu for a spot in the squad for the Netherlands friendly.

Clarence Goodson had a solid game at the back, with several aggressive, well-timed challenges.  The fact that Chad Marshall did not even feature in the game (with Bradley opting to use Jonathan Bornstein in the center instead of his customary LB spot) appears to be a pretty damning indication that Marshall is on the outside looking in at this point.  With Goodson turning in another solid performance, I think the IK Start defender has the inside track to the fourth World Cup center back roster spot.

As far as the newcomers, it was good to see Dynamo midfielder/defender Geoff Cameron earn his first cap.  He wasn't too involved in the minutes he played, though he came close to making it a very memorable debut when he fired a shot just a foot or so over the bar late in the half.  He should be someone in the picture for 2014, so keep an eye on him in the upcoming MLS season (assuming that it, you know, happens).

Beyond those players that I talked about in the match preview, there were some others who stood out.  Of course, there will be questions about Sacha Kljestan after his dramatic game-winner, but I still think he's pretty far down the pecking order in the midfield.   He had a good first half, but tapered off as the game wore on, only reemerging with his gift of a goal (on which the El Salvador goalkeeper inexplicably gave up on...very bizarre). He also really should have had three goals, but didn't finish his opportunities well.

Another player worth mentioning is Heath Pearce.  The FC Dallas defender dropped off the map last summer after disappointing performances with club (then Hansa Rostock) and country.  Now, I'm not saying that last night's performance against El Salvador makes up for all that, but Pearce did look like a completely different player.  He added a lot in on the left hand side, getting forward very well throughout.  He had the assist on Brian Ching's goal and nearly had another in the first half after a fantastic sequence of stepovers and cuts outside the box.  Playing at what is arguably the USMNT's weakest position, Pearce kept himself on the fringes of the World Cup picture with his solid performance, though I'm sure Bob Bradley realizes that a February friendly against an undermanned CONCACAF side is hardly a good measure of international ability.  Even though there are few natural LBs at Bradley's disposal, I almost certain that he would favor putting Bocanegra, Spector, or Bornstein at that spot rather than resorting to Pearce, so it's still a bit of an uphill climb.  Nevertheless, a positive sign from a guy who is still just 25.

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Ultimately, though, all of my opinions mean nothing (though I like to think otherwise), and only those of Mr. Bradley carry any weight, so we'll see how things shake out come this afternoon when he releases his roster for the March 3rd friendly.

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USSD Man of the Match: Brian Ching

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Everton v. Sporting USMNT Play-by-Play

Need some help getting through your Thursday?  Well follow along here as I (and whoever else comes along with comments) give a play-by-play of the Everton-Sporting Lisbon Europa League match focused on Landon Donovan and Tim Howard.

Enjoy:

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How an MLS Work Stoppage Would Affect the USMNT for the 2010 World Cup

I took a day off yesterday, but I'm back feeling refreshed and ready to give you of the USMNT news and analysis that you've come to know and (hopefully) love (I'll settle for tolerate).

At this point, I'm sure you've heard about the MLS labor issues and the potential work stoppage that could effect the start of the 2010 season. If you're not familiar, I suggest you head over to our friends at Match Fit USA; Jason Davis knows more about the CBA dispute than any one man not directly involved in the process should.

At this point, you should be familiar with the style around these parts: take a relevant soccer issue and show how it connects to or impacts the USMNT.  So, while I usually leave MLS chatter for those much more knowledgeable  on the subject (and that are, frankly, much better writers than I am), I will delve into a little domestic league discussion today.  In terms of terminology such as "lockout" or "strike", I apologize in advance if I'm using them incorrectly in relation to what current developments indicate.  Just read them to mean "an extended period without MLS games".

Over recent weeks, I have read a number of pieces referencing the fact that the number of MLS players on the US World Cup roster has dwindled in comparison to previous cycles.  At this point, I could see at most only 5 US-based players getting the call to South Africa, with the actual number probably being only 3 or 4.  While the MLS crowd may dislike this trend of a diminishing role for the country's top league, it's actually a bit of an asset this time around.  After all, could you imagine the implications if say 11 or 12 guys most likely headed to the World Cup were involved in this situation?  Online message boards would cause an internet meltdown, the stress and worry from USMNT fans would be so great.  Instead, this time around, there are only a couple of guys to worry about, meaning Bob Bradley and Yanks fans everywhere can be a little less preoccupied with the situation.  (Of course, there are long lasting implications from a big step backwards for MLS that could have an impact on the USMNT down the road, but for now I'm taking the more immediate outlook.)

Of those aforementioned 5 MLS players I could see heading to South Africa, only 2 are regular starters: Landon Donovan and Jonathan Bornstein.  Of course, as Landon goes so goes the USMNT, so it'd be understandable if Yanks fans were nervous about the prospect of their best player not playing for the two months leading up to South Africa because of a strike or lockout.  But, from what I've gleaned from far too many blogs and news articles read is that in the event of a work stoppage, Landon would be able to extend his loan with Everton.  So, in that sense, there's an insurance policy that should keep the USMNT's driving force on the playing field (wherever that may be) regardless of what happens with these ongoing labor negotiations.  Whether Landon should come back to MLS or should try to stay at Everton regardless is a whole 'nother can of worms, but for now, the point is that he'll still be able to get a game (assuming what I said above is correct) and continue his fantastic run of form in the months leading up to the World Cup.

The other regular, Bornstein, presents an issue, as Bob Bradley has frequently utilized him as a starter at LB.  Despite the generally perceived lack of depth at that position, Bradley would not be without options for a replacement if needed.  Carlos Bocanegra was on the left side in the USMNT's biggest win of 2009 (Spain), in addition to playing there for Stade Rennes.  Jonathan Spector, meanwhile, has been seeing a lot of time at LB for West Ham over the past couple of months, adding a little more flexibility to lineup selection.  So, if for whatever reason Bornstein is unable to get any meaningful club matches leading up to South Africa, Bradley will still have some other experienced fill-ins available if he isn't comfortable starting the Chivas USA defender.

After that duo, I really see only one more MLS lock for the World Cup roster, that being one of the two target forwards currently in the mix: Conor Casey and Brian Ching.  Bradley started a target striker in two big World Cup qualifiers (at Mexico and at Honduras), and he brought on Casey late in several Confederations Cup matches.  Unlike with Bornstein, this a spot where there isn't exactly a Euro-based player that can fulfill the role that these two play; someone like Jozy Altidore or Eddie Johnson doesn't play the same type of game that Ching or Casey bring to the table.  For me, this would present the only real problem for Bob Bradley, as he'd likely have a player with a fairly prominent role in his game plan that could be coming off up to two months without a club game.  Even in that case, however, there is national team camp and the send off series to help either of the MLS big men regain some form and sharpness prior to South Africa.

I could see two more spots going to Chad Marshall and one of Robbie Findley or Jeff Cunningham, but these hardly present any type of serious issue.  At this point, Marshall is behind Clarence Goodson in the race for that fourth center back spot, so a replacement (and a seemingly better player) is available at a position that Bob Bradley most likely won't even need to utilize (though you can never be too sure).  As far as Findley and Cunningham go, neither of them have shown enough to merit a spot in the squad at this point, and an adequate Euro replacement exists in the form of Eddie Johnson.  Though many EJ deriders will be hesitant to admit it, the former Fulham reserve is doing some good work in Greece and quietly doing what he needs to do to make a case for a World Cup ticket.  Thus, an out of form Findley or Cunningham is not a huge issue at this point.  Of course, this could be a much different story if Charlie Davies is unable to play (though at this point I'm optimistic he will) or if either of those two strikers can really impress against El Salvador and the Netherlands.  If that's the case, then a couple of months without a club game would be cause for concern.  For now, though, not too big of a deal.

The last MLS guy in the mix (in my opinion, of course, which ultimately means nothing but is reflective of the current state of things, I think) is Robbie Rogers, but his role with the national time is not too prominent.  It's far from certain that he'll even make the World Cup squad, either, with the late charges from Freddy Adu and DaMarcus Beasley adding competition for an outside midfield spot.  Once again, it's a case of there being multiple Europe-based players being available, making a potential lack of meaningful minutes for Rogers much less of a concern than if he were far and away the best player at his position in the pool.

So, as far as individual preparations and form go, any kind of MLS work stoppage would not present too many pressing issues for the USMNT.  Even in the event of a worst-case scenario (from the USMNT perspective) of a strike or lockout that lasts up until the end of May when players are released for international duty, there are a number of other options available, and a couple of the players in question have small roles with the team any way.  It might make Bob Bradley's selection process a little easier, but there is the matter of what could have been that we'd never really know about.  Who knows, maybe we'd be being denied a torrid start to the MLS season from Robbie Findley or nearly two months of very confident play from Jonathan Bornstein.  But, again, we'd never really know, so it'd hardly be as apparent come time for roster selection.

I'm not so sure a work stoppage would preclude a player like Rogers or Bornstein from training with a European club in the meantime, so that's another means by which the blow could be softened a bit for the USMNT.  Regardless, an extended stoppage (again, I want to emphasize that all the scenarios I've enumerated are involving one that lasts until late May at least) would have an impact, though at this point I don't think it'd be anything massive worth losing sleep over.  

The possibility of such a stoppage, however, just makes games like tonight's friendly against El Salvador that much important in the grand scheme of roster selection, so be sure to tune in to ESPN Classic at 7 PM ET.

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Stop the Hand-Wringing for a Moment of Appreciation

Well, we're 111 days away from the USMNT's much-hyped World Cup opener against England, and the hand-wringing has gone into full swing.

There are multiple fronts in fans' collective battle against nerves, with issues on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean having USMNT implications.  For starters, there's the looming possibility of an MLS work stoppage, which could mean no competitive games for the likes of Robbie Rogers, Robbie Findley, Brian Ching, and Conor Casey in the months leading up to the World Cup.  There's also the worries about recent Euro arrivals Ricardo Clark and Stuart Holden, who have yet to make an appearance for the respective clubs in the weeks that they've been on the Old Continent.  And then there's the big concern about the numerous injuries that USMNT regulars have suffered, and how they will impact both team and individual World Cup preparations.  When you put all of that together, there's definitely plenty to cause a little uneasiness as FIFA's quadrennial showcase draws near.

But let's stop for a second and consider for a second why exactly we are worried (and I definitely include myself in that group): it's a World Cup year and we want our team to be as prepared as possible and at full strength by the time June rolls around.  Simple enough.  But at this point, there's a bigger underlying belief that fuels our concerns, and it's one that I feel most people are hesitant to acknowledge for fear of getting labeled a hopelessly delusional optimist: we worry because we think that, if healthy and prepared, the USMNT actually has a chance to win the World Cup.

Is it a big chance?  Not at all.  But the fact that it exists at all is pretty incredible in and of itself.  Of course, stringing together seven quality performances is a tall, tall task, and I don't want to make it seem like I believe anything else.  But the bottom line is, that slim possibility exists, and that highlights a pretty substantial change in our expectations as fans.  Back in 1990, we were just glad to be there.  In 1994, we were glad we made it out of the group stage.  But it was an incredible run in 2002 and the increasing presence of USMNT players in Europe that has raised the bar at which we've set our standard for a good World Cup.  Last summer's Confederations Cup was just another substantial stride in this upward trend, and we head into this summer's World Cup feeling like we're putting forward our most talented team to date. 

In just 20 short years, we've gone from little more than a relative minnow to a team that can compete against the world's best on any given day.  Today, we love to demand the absolute best from our national team, from the players in a January friendly to the guys all the way at the top.  But at some point, take a step back from those demands to really consider the ascension this team has made in the past decade.  Because it's pretty remarkable. 

Back in 1998, Project 2010 was considered pretty ambitious.  It still is to this day.  But were Carlos Queiroz and company really that far off?  It's 2010, and I honestly believe that our team (assuming they can put everything together) has a chance to hoist the trophy in South Africa (however very small it may be).  Maybe I'm just completely off base, but I think that progress is something all USMNT fans should take time to consider and appreciate.

After you've done that, feel free to resume the hand-wringing.

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A Few Reasons to Watch the USA-El Salvador Friendly

Still looking for a reason to watch Wednesday's USMNT friendly against El Salvador?  Well, for starters, it's a USMNT game, and we don't get to see those everday.  But if you're still unsure about whether or not you want to invest two hours of your time to watch a group of young MLS players (and Clarence Goodson) take on another CONCACAF team, here's a few things to watch for to make the game a little more interesting:

1) Brian Ching and Conor Casey

Like it or not, Bob Bradley is probably going to bring one of these two to South Africa, and Wednesday's tilt will give him the opportunity to see both players in the same game.  While the first couple of weeks in the MLS season will be an important factor in this decision, a strong performance against El Salvador will not soon be forgotten.  Further, whoever (or is it whomever?) gets the upper hand on Wednesday will probably get a call up for the March 3 friendly against the Netherlands, which would provide them with another opportunity to impress.  So, keep an eye on the two MLS big men as they battle it out for the inside track to a coveted spot on the plane to South Africa.

2) Robbie Findley and Jeff Cunningham

Though it's far from certain that a World Cup spot will go to either of these two, there is likely a spot in the Netherlands camp to be had.  While many seem to be on the Findley side of the fence, he hasn't really had a chance to this point to show his stuff (thank you, 17th minute Jimmy Conrad red card).  To be fair, though, Cunningham hardly has the edge in this battle.  Yes, he scored a goal against Denmark, but his play has been very one dimensional in his appearances, as he continues to try to blow past international players as if they were nothing more than some of the MLS defenders that he is able to victimize.  He brings energy, but he hasn't used it efficiently with the Yanks to this point.

As it stands, it's pretty much up in the air at this point.  Let's just hope Bradley does not play this duo together, but instead pair each with one of the aforementioned target options, so as to allow them to play off their strike partner.  Though there was an early red card, I think it's safe to say that putting Findley and Cunningham together certainly didn't work too well against Honduras.    

3) Geoff Cameron and Chris Pontius

Both of these players are guys to keep an eye on for the 2014 cycle, but for now it's worth tuning in to see if either of these talented MLS youngsters can earn their first cap with the USMNT.  Cameron is coming off of his second solid season in Houston, while Pontius is fresh off a year with DC United in which he was an MLS Rookie of the Year candidate.  They'll be hoping that Bob Bradley gives them their first taste of international play on Wednesday, and I for one would like to see what they'd bring to the table.

4) Clarence Goodson and Chad Marshall

After Oguchi Onyewu, Carlos Bocanegra, and Jay DeMerit, the fourth center back spot gets a little hazy, with Clarence Goodson and Chad Marshall being two of the leading candidates for that place.  Thanks to Oguchi Onyewu's absence, there should be at least one spot for the friendly in Amsterdam up for grabs, so let's see if either can distinguish themselves in Tampa.  At this point, Goodson has the edge after his solid performance in Carson and Chad Marshall's less-than-stellar showing against Los Catrachos.  Just another thing to keep an eye out for against El Salvador.

5) Robbie Rogers

With Freddy Adu working his way back into the national team picture with some promising play in Greece and DaMarcus Beasley returning to full health, Robbie Rogers suddenly has a lot more competition at outside mid with the USMNT.  Maybe it's a case of someone playing to the level of their competition, but Rogers has not looked overly impressive against CONCACAF teams that aren't fielding their strongest lineup ('09 Gold Cup and last month's friendly).  Rogers will need to stand out and make a good case for inclusion if he wants an invite to Amsterdam next month.  So, watch on Wednesday to see if the Columbus Crew midfielder can do just that.

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OK, I know a good portion of you are still thinking "Meh, I'll just read a recap; US Soccer Daily will probably have a fantastically detailed analysis anyway" (don't say I'm not modest, those are your thoughts after all).  And, as much as someone as obsessively invested in the USMNT as me might not want to admit it, I don't blame you for not wanting to spend your Wednesday night watching this game.  Nevertheless, I hope I've convinced at least some of you that there are some subplots in this match that make it worth a look.

Whatever the case may be, I think we can all agree that we're hoping this match turns out a little better than the last one.

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Yanks in Europe: Light Sunday

A lighter Sunday schedule means a shorter Yanks in Europe post.  And a day without much to talk about means an even shorter post, at that.
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Freddy Adu and Eddie Johnson started for Aris in their road match against AEK Athens.  Things started well for EJ, who did well to get down to the end line and serve in a ball right to the head of his teammate in the first minute.  With any bit of adequate finishing, EJ would have secured his first assist as an Aris player, but the ensuing shot was right at the goalkeeper, with the rebound blasted well wide.

Overall, EJ had a solid game.  He had some bad first touches in the first half, but he had a high work rate throughout and did well holding up the ball.  He also made a few good runs, with one good opportunity getting called back for offside, and he drew a yellow card on an AEK defender.  In the second half, with Aris trailing 1-0, EJ continued to draw several fouls in the attacking half.  His confidence on the ball seemed to grow as the game progressed, and he continued to work very hard up top.  While he was not able to find a goal, Johnson had some promising plays and was a solid contributor for Aris.  We'll see if Aris manager Hector Cuper rewards his effort with another start next time around.

Adu, meanwhile, did not have a very memorable game (cue the anti-Adu crew).  He was subbed off at half time after a fairly ineffective opening 45.  It's worth noting that Aris primarily attacked down the right wing throughout the half, rarely switching the field quickly so as to catch the AEK defense off balance.  But, when Adu did get the ball, he did not make much of an impact; his crosses and set pieces were uncharacteristically poor, and he looked a little tenative at times.  Adu did not have a terrible game, though, thanks to the work he turned in on the other end of the field.

One of the main knocks against Adu over the past couple of years has been his inadequate defensive play, with many believing he'd be an on-field liability as a result.  But in his time with Aris, he has been tracking very well, and today was no different.  Adu even had a couple of key clearances, including one at the edge of the six yard box.  Like many of his teammates, Adu looked to be a little tired coming off of the midweek Greek Cup fixture, so it's somewhat understandable that his game was a little off.  If anything, it's encouraging that Adu seemed to be conserving the majority of energy for the defensive third, rather than vice versa.  Further, his replacement did little of note in the second half, hardly staking any serious claim to the left side of Aris' midfield.  Nevertheless, let's hope Adu turns in a more complete performance next time around to keep his spot in the starting XI.
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Elsewhere, Carlos Bocanegra started at LB for Stade Rennes in their 2-1 loss to Lille.  He was subbed out at half time after a poor half.  I heard claims from Rennes fans that it was due to an injury (and ESPN Soccernet said the sub was due to said injury), but to this point I have not found anything substantial to back those statements.  With only 10 days to go until the USMNT-Netherlands friendly, let's hope that those claims are unfounded, or Bob Bradley may be forced into starting Clarence Goodson or Frank Simek with Jay DeMerit against a very talented Dutch team.
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Injured/DNP:
Stuart Holden (not in the match day squad)
Brad Guzan (unused substitute)
Clint Dempsey (knee injury)
Oguchi Onyewu (knee injury)
Charlie Davies (numerous injuries)

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Yanks in Europe: Donovan, Howard take down Man United

It's Saturday, and by now you should know that that means an edition of Yanks in Europe, recapping how USMNT players fare with the club teams across the pond.
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In the marquee match of the day, Landon Donovan and Tim Howard got the start for Everton against Manchester United.  Just 10 days after a victory over league leaders Chelsea, the Toffees claimed another scalp, taking down Sir Alex Ferguson's side by a score of 3-1.  Donovan played on the left side of the midfield, a change from the right midfield spot that David Moyes has started him at throughout his loan.  Landon was a handful for the Red Devils all game, adding width to the attack and stretching the field with his speed.  In the opening 45, Donovan had a few good passes in the final third, as Everton stayed level at 1-1 with the reigning champs.  He had a golden opportunity to bag his second EPL goal when a ball bounced off a United defender right to his feet at the edge of the six.  Unfortunately, Donovan had essentially no time to react and ended up flubbing the attempt.  It was far from a gimme, so no one should be too hard on him for the miss.

The second half was more of the same, with Donovan keeping the Manchester United defense honest with streaking runs down the wing.  He was unsuccessful with a few 1-on-1 dribbling attempts, but he did have the secondary assist on Everton's second goal.  Landon played a ball down the wing to Steven Pienaar, who then hit a low cross that Dan Gosling finished off.  All in all, another strong 90 minute performance for Donovan, whose loan stint is quickly approaching its end.

Tim Howard had a rather uneventful game against his former club, making just one simple save on a long range effort from Ji-Sung Park.  He could not do anything about United's lone goal, which Dimitar Berbatov smashed into the underside of the crossbar from seven yards out.  Other than those two instances, Howard was not tested, as he was only called upon to make a few catches inside the box.

Jonathan Spector got the start at LB for West Ham, and Jozy Altidore started on the bench for Hull City, as the two sides squared off in a critical match in the battle to avoid relegation.  Spector had another solid game for the Hammers, effectively shutting down Craig Fagan for the first 53 minutes of the match (at which point Fagan was sent off for a second yellow).  The USMNT defender also got forward on a few occasions, at one point making a slaloming run through the center of the field that nearly got him free for a shot at the top of the box.  Overall, a good game for Spector, who went 90 minutes in a match that was made a lot easier by an early lead and a man advantage.

Jozy came on in the 65th minute with his team down two goals and one man; needless to say, the game was a pretty tough one to come into.  He did his best to make an impact, though, providing some scrappy play and creating a couple of opportunities.  Altidore's best chance came in the 73rd minute, when he shielded off a defender and got off a shot inside the area that was deflected off target.  With a relative lack of service and West Ham controlling possession, there wasn't much else Jozy could do, though he did well to strip a defender in stoppage time and get a shot off from 25 yards out (which sailed wide).

In the end, it was a decent performance for the former New York Red Bull, all things considered.  It's also worth noting that Hull striker Amr Zaki wasn't overly impressive in his start, at times playing too slow on the ball.  While it may worry some that Jozy didn't get the start, it might be best that he does get the occasional break; the last thing the USMNT needs is a worn down starting forward come June.  I have to question the wisdom of Phil Brown giving Jozy a rest in such a crucial game, though, which the Tigers dropped by a 3-0 score.    

It was a day to forget for Marcus Hahnemann against Chelsea, as Wolves dropped a 2-0 decision.  Hahnemann made 0 saves in the match; though he couldn't do anything about the first goal, he did very poorly on the second.  Petr Cech hit a long punt down field that caught the Wolves back line by surprise.  Didier Drogba latched on to it and was bearing down on the 18 with a defender trailing him when Marcus Hahnemann started coming well off of his line.  He wasn't quick enough (and was a little overzealous in coming out that far in the first place) and soon found himself in no man's land, with Drogba very easily rounding him to score.

Jay DeMerit once again got the start for Watford in their match at Scunthorpe United.  The Hornets looked to be on the brink of a dramatic road win after taking a 2-1 lead through a John Eustace goal in the 90th minute, but a Jay DeMerit hand ball in the box gave the hosts a penalty that they converted in stoppage time.  DeMerit picked up a yellow for dissent following the play, and the match ended 2-2.

Kenny Cooper was brought on as a substitute in the 76th minute of Plymouth's match against Leicester City.  Cooper managed to get one shot on goal, but he was unable to help his time find the go-ahead goal in a match that would finish with a score of 1-1.  As it stands now, Plymouth is five points away from safety with just eight matches to play.

Frank Simek started and went 90 minutes for Sheffield Wednesday in their 1-0 loss to Ipswich Town.  With some back line injuries, Simek might get a call into the March 3rd camp, so keep him in the back of your mind.
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Injured/Did Not Play:
Steve Cherundolo (shoulder injury)
Ricardo Clark (calf injury)
DaMarcus Beasley (match postponed)
Maurice Edu (match postponed)

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My 23(ish) for USA-Netherlands

It's Friday, and I'm in the mood to post.  But no topic really jumps out at me right now other than things that have already been beaten into the ground, like what will happen with Landon Donovan at the end of his loan.  I'll discuss that at some point if you really want me to, but for now I'll look elsewhere.  On that note, though, feel free to send any topic suggestions you may have to US.Soccer.Daily@gmail.com.  I'm always looking for your input and will try to discuss the things that you want to hear about.

Anyway, moving on to this post's focus: the March 3rd friendly against the Netherlands.  Aside from the World Championship that is on the line, this is also an important tune up for South Africa that will help Bob Bradley solidify his final roster before May.  The Oranje have already released a provisional 25-man roster for the match, so it's not too soon to start looking at which Yanks will be making the trip to Amsterdam next month.

Several injuries will mean that Bob Bradley will have to fill some holes in his group of 23 (I assume 23, though he only called 22 in for the Slovakia friendly).  Being as this game is before the MLS season starts and on a FIFA match day, Bob Bradley shouldn't have any limitations in his selections.  Here's who I think should get the call:

Goalkeepers:
Tim Howard
Brad Guzan
Marcus Hahnemann

Little explanation needed here, the top three goalkeepers in the pool have separated themselves from the rest.  At this point, the only question that may remain is whether Brad Guzan is still the #2 by the time South Africa rolls around.

Defenders:
Carlos Bocanegra
Jay DeMerit
Jonathan Spector
Clarence Goodson
Jonathan Bornstein
Chad Marshall
Edgar Castillo
Geoff Cameron

This was a tougher group to assemble because of the injuries to Oguchi Onyewu and Steve Cherundolo.  I initially had Marvell Wynne in this group because of the lack of a second RB, but then I remembered it was Marvell Wynne I was talking about, so I gave Geoff Cameron the nod instead.  Cameron is a very versatile player who is someone to keep an eye on for the 2014 cycle, so a little experience with the full team will do him some good.  Edgar Castillo also gets a spot, and he's a guy that Bob Bradley really needs to see more of at the international level before making a decision on whether or not to include him for South Africa.   

Midfielders:
Landon Donovan
Michael Bradley
Ricardo Clark
Maurice Edu
Stuart Holden
Jose Francisco Torres
Freddy Adu
DaMarcus Beasley/Robbie Rogers


Because Benny Feilhaber and Clint Dempsey are injured, the Rangers contingent comes back into the national team picture.  Maurice Edu recently made his return to the lineup, looking solid (though a little rusty) in a 90 minute appearance, so I expect Bob Bradley to call him in to add some depth in the middle.  Freddy Adu gets a spot in the list by virtue of his strong run of form of late, which will surely come as a surprise to those that had written him off months ago.  The last spot will depend upon what Robbie Rogers does against El Salvador; if he impresses, he'll get another call up for March 3.  If not, Run DMB gets a chance to complete his circuitous re-ascension to the USMNT.  I could also see Bradley calling in both and taking one less defender, particularly if both have a good next week.  The more I think about, the more I think that that last option is actually the best one (with Cameron, Marshall, or Castillo being the odd man out of the Defenders group). 


Forwards:
Jozy Altidore
Eddie Johnson
Robbie Findley/Jeff Cunningham
Brian Ching/Conor Casey

The last two spots in this list will be dependent on the February 24th match against El Salvador.  Whoever performs better between Robbie Findley and Jeff Cunningham will get one spot, while the other will go to whichever target option distinguishes themselves.  Eddie Johnson has been getting consistent minutes for Aris in Greece, and he's been solid in his appearances.  With forward options fairly slim, there can't be too many groans from the anti-EJ camp; he's still on the radar, and Bob Bradley should take another look to see if he's an effective option for South Africa. 

 

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So there's my list.  As you can see, the February 24th friendly against El Salvador will play a big role in shaping it.  Hopefully, Bob Bradley announces his roster soon after next Wednesday's match, if for no other reason than to give me something else to talk about around these parts.

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2010 World Cup: Sepp and Co. Need an Economics Lesson

Though I am a die hard USMNT fan and all-around obsessive follower of the international game, I have not yet had the opportunity to see the World Cup in person.  Needless to say, I've been eying up South Africa ever since Germany '06 came to a close.  But thanks to some inept measures from FIFA, this World Cup has priced out many fans, including yours truly. 

The Telegraph is reporting what we all suspected; overseas World Cup tickets sales have been disappointing.  There are so many things here that FIFA didn't seem coming that have contributed to the issue, and it's pretty baffling that they had so little foresight.  Then again, it's understandable for a Sepp Blatter-led administration that has been criticized for just looking for the quick buck.

Let's take a look at the circumstances surrounding this tournament.  Ticket sales began in the midst of one the deepest global recessions since the Great Depression, and they have continued with the world still far from its former level of output.  Couple that with the fairly common security concerns surrounding a nation where violent crime is a problem, and anyone who has taken a basic economics course to tell you that you should expect a decrease in demand.

For a moment, let's all take a little return to the classroom for a little Econ 101.  How should a market adjust to reach equilibrium if demand is much less than supply at a given price level?  By lowering the price; if this isn't done, there's an excess supply of tickets that will go unsold (see: FIFA's current dilemma).  This is such a simple, simple model that carries a pretty common sense recommendation: if sales are below expectations, adjust the pricing.  It just boggles me that FIFA has only really taken notice of this and made an effort to correct it until now.  Really, these people have to be somewhat educated to get in these high ranking positions, right?  Right?

Yes, FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke's announcement today that ticket categories would be downgraded in order to make them much more affordable to South African residents (so as to sell out every game) falls into the "better late than never" category.  But the fact that FIFA waited until this long to make any kind of move now dampens the effect that hosting this global spectacle can have on the South African economy.  Instead of those extra tickets going to foreigners who will spend their money on hotels, food, and memorabilia, they will stay in the hands of South Africans, removing that extra injection of outside income from the picture.  If this tournament was really about South Africa, FIFA would have made more of an effort to get tickets sold to fans around the world.

Instead, they pretty much did the exact opposite.  They gave Match, an agency conveniently led by Sepp Blatter's nephew (as Pitch Invasion astutely pointed out), exclusive rights to sell ticket and travel packages.  Essentially, they gave this agency a monopoly on hotel rooms in the various host cities.  And, back to Econ 101, what usually happens with a monopoly?  Higher than normal prices, which in turn leads to a drop in demand.  Couple that with the well-publicized price gouging that has been going on with flights to South Africa, and demands drops even further.  Seriously, NO ONE SAW THIS COMING?

As much as I'm sure FIFA likes to think that the draw of the World Cup can allow them to charge a pretty hefty premium, they're learning now that that simply is not the case.  Though footy fans across the globe spend nearly four years excitedly looking forward to the next tournament, there is a limit at which they just won't pay to see it in person.  Hopefully, Sepp Blatter and company aren't so inept that they repeat these mistakes in 2014 (a tournament for which Match also has exclusive rights. Doh.).  At this point, however, I wouldn't put it past them.

As if all this wasn't bad enough, there's the whole matter of FIFA holding down entrepreneurship with its rigid stance on merchandise and World Cup business ventures.  Another measure doing its part to hinder the growth of the local economy.

Though it can't stop this company from making a splash.  Heck, even though it's in poor taste, at least their taking some of the surrounding market circumstances and concerns into consideration.  That's a lot more than FIFA can say.

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Afternoon Links: Davies, Donovan, and Adu

Due to some other obligations, I won't be able to write anything until later this evening.  But, for now, here are a few things worth looking at:

An interview with Charlie Davies, who just rejoined FC Sochaux earlier this week

How Not to Question the USSF About Diversity- Pitch Invasion

Landon Donovan wins Everton Player of the Month- Goal.com

Landon Donovan, not David Beckham, is LA Galaxy's brightest star- Telegraph.co.uk

On Becoming Resigned to Donovan's Fate- Match Fit USA

Bonuses at stake for World Cup players- Soccer Insider

And last, a very...interesting picture of Freddy Adu from a Greek publication:

Aris Fever- Gazzetta.gr

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Enjoy the afternoon, folks.

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Adu You Believe in Miracles? Yes!

Ok, all awful Winter Olympics-inspire word play aside, Freddy Adu is quickly becoming a key player for Aris. He turned in another strong performance today in their 3-0 Greek Cup quarterfinal victory over Xanthi.  For the second straight match, he repaid manager Hector Cuper for his spot in the starting lineup by scoring a goal, making a run behind his defender to redirect a pass into the back of the net.



Apart from the goal (which was set up by a fantastic ball over the top, I must say), Adu had a "secondary" assist on Aris' third goal, pushing a ball through that eventually led to a 2 on 1 inside the box.  He came off in the 66th minute to a strong round of applause, capping off another quality showing that should only lead to another start this weekend.  With that, I feel the buzz around Freddy beginning to build in earnest.  The first goal was nice, but this second one is starting to convince some people that the once-touted "savior of American soccer" is finally hitting his stride in Europe and is poised for success with both club and country.

What has bothered me most about the whole Freddy Adu saga is that so many fans and writers have, over the course of the past year or so, dismissed him as a 2010 World Cup prospect, only revising their tune in the wake of recent developments.  Granted, it's not all fans or writers doing this, it just so happens that the ones that do do this are frequently pretty vociferous with their opinions.  But it's a tendency that bugs me because it happens fairly frequently with other players in our player pool as well.

A World Cup cycle lasts just four short years, during which there are a lot of peaks, valleys, and complete surprises.  The six months between January and June represent an eighth of the cycle, a pretty sizable chunk, so why not use that like you would any of the other six-month spans in the campaign?  Let's think for a second about some recent six month spans: Charlie Davies went from national team prospect to bona fide superstar last summer.  DaMarcus Beasley went from afterthought to flavor of the month back to fringe player this winter.  And Robbie Findley went from solid MLS forward flying under the radar to everyone's favorite replacement for Charlie Davies.  The bottom line is that until Bob Bradley absolutely needs to submit his final roster, all options should be examined.  We're not at the point where we have so many world class players that we can afford to be a little less thorough in our selection.  So, everyone from Eddie Johnson to Chad Marshall should be looked at until it's decision time.

Fortunately, these decisions are in the hands of people who haven't shown this tendency.  After all, Bob Bradley called Adu in for the Confederations Cup and called in Eddie Johnson for the November friendlies, despite their respective runs of little playing time.  He's also discussed DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu in recent months, showing that he's keeping an eye on guys coming off extended lay-offs as well, even though South Africa is just a couple of months away.

So for all the flak that Bob Bradley gets for his tactics, wardrobe, and what not, I think he deserves some praise for his diligence and thoroughness when it comes to looking at every player at his disposal.  Were Bob less flexible in his approach, we might not even be discussing the possibility of Freddy Adu getting called in for the Netherlands camp at all.

As much as this seems to be an issue solely pertaining to Bob Bradley, it does have relevance in the conversation amongst writers and fans across various media.  Too often, this tendency to leave someone for dead leads to fiercely partisan arguments that not only annoy many fans in the middle ground, but may also turn away some casual fans who have their opinion completely shot to hell in the process (which, unfortunately, is all too common).  Fans are writers are entitled to strong opinions, but that's all they are: opinions.  Treating them as fact creates nothing but schisms and countless dead-end arguments.  Even something as seemingly small as this can hamper the efforts to grow the profile of the national team in this country, and I'm sure that we can all agree that that is not a good thing.

So let's do our part and stay patient, keeping our minds open to all the possibilities over these last couple of months.  Including Freddy Adu.

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North Korea: Where Soccer, Politics, and the Unknown Collide

Without any notable games or story lines apart from the very tired John Terry-Wayne Bridge saga, there hasn't exactly been a lot to write about when it comes to the international game beyond the USMNT.  As a result, the last couple of weeks have featured almost exclusively USMNT content around these parts.  But in the spirit of what I want this site to be (that is, a source for news and analysis of the USMNT and the international game as a whole), I'll dedicate this next post to something other than Bob Bradley's squad.

Instead, I'm going to put the spotlight on a place that otherwise doesn't get too much attention when it comes to international football.  Maybe it's because their national team isn't exactly a world power.  Maybe it's because information on a lot of the players beyond name, date of birth, caps, and goals is essentially non-existent outside of their borders (and very well could even be non-existent there, in a land of information control and manipulation).  Maybe it's just because there is a negative connotation with all things relating to their equally delusional and frightening "Dear Leader".  Whatever the reason, the North Korea national team does not get much attention in the grand scheme of things.

That will probably change this June, when Kim Jong-Hun's side take to the fields of South Africa in their first World Cup since their only other appearance some 44 years ago.  But this focus will likely be nothing more than a fleeting glance at what will surely be a three-and-out for "Cholima" (the nickname of the North Korea national team; a mythical horse).  Were the USMNT to end up in the same group as North Korea, there would have been a much bigger microscope on the otherwise almost entirely anonymous participants, as a politically charged affair not unlike the one that took place at France '98 between the US and Iran surely would have ensued.  With this essentially an impossibility, barring the most miraculous Cinderella run in World Cup history (and for you American cynics out there, I'm not referring to Bob Bradley and company), North Korea will most likely fade back into obscurity within days of their exit from the tournament.  But what goes undetected is a pretty interesting and, at times, bizarre situation for a national team that toes the line of political interference and is not afraid of courting a little controversy.

In this age of globalization and technology, there are still a few untouched nooks of civilization that, for assorted reasons, are cut off from the rest of the world.  But rarely do entire nations fit such a description.  North Korea, with its isolationist tactics and frequently antagonistic practices, remains a large white spot on a world map otherwise teeming with highways, railroads, parks, and cities.  If you don't believe me, swing over to Google Maps sometime and see for yourself; nestled between the bustling boulevards of Seoul and Shenyang appears to be absolutely nothing.  Outside of maybe a few high ranking intelligence officers, we don't know exactly what exists between China and South Korea.  Even worse, the average North Korean probably has little idea of what the country's true situation is either.

This veiling and secrecy, unfortunately, will carry over to soccer, as Kim Jong-il has banned television coverage of the tournament in his country unless by some incredible stroke of luck his team emerges as champions of the 2010 World Cup.  Only highlight packages that are heavily edited to make North Korea appear to be the superior team will be aired, which could end up being only seconds long given the caliber of opponent they will be facing in each of their group stage matches.  As a result of this, the average North Korean will be lucky to get only a very skewed glimpse of the world's most glorious sporting spectacle.  Another tough break in what must already be, at the risk of sounding ethnocentric, a dreary existence.  You'd think Kim Jong-il would favor exposing his people to the high level of competition and talent that is on display at the World Cup, particularly since he is quite the accomplished sportsman in his own right. 

Of the 33 players currently in their national team player pool, only six ply their trade outside of the DPR Korea League.  Three play in Japan, and one plays in China, with only two players from the national team playing in Europe (one in Russia, the other in Switzerland).  While it appears odd at first glance, it's pretty understandable considering the tight controls over the movement of people across the North Korean borders.  What struck me as interesting about this team, however, was that a few of the players are, by birth, not Korean, but instead Japanese.  In a nation where so much emphasis (by the state, granted; though what the state does essentially amounts to what every other functioning body from the country does) is placed on self-sufficiency and where a fierce national pride is expressed in scores of public displays and speeches, it seems odd that the national team would rely on a few foreign born players.  Though these Zainichi Koreans (Koreans born in Japan) are technically Korean in terms of ethnicity, they could be viewed as nothing more than foreign mercenaries brought in to bolster an otherwise weak squad.  I guess I just didn't expect that type of tactic from a nation that so often shuts the rest of the world out and professes its self-reliance.

As it stands now, North Korea is the lowest ranked nation taking part in this summer's World Cup (85th in the latest FIFA rankings).  Despite their relatively weak team, they managed to draw rivals South Korea in three of four very tense affairs.  Two of these matches were lightning rods of controversy, as both North Korea home games were played in Shanghai, China because of the hosts' refusal to hang the South Korean flag or play the South Korean anthem.  this is just another example of when the line between politics and soccer becomes very blurry in North Korea.  In this age of harsh penalties for government interference in soccer matters (look no further than Togo's recent dilemma with the CAF for pulling out of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations), it's a wonder that North Korea has managed to avoid a ban from international competition that other nations have been dealt.  Maybe FIFA just realizes that any effort to prove government participation would be pretty futile in such an enigmatic nation where every bit of information is malleable.

There is the rare occasion, though, when North Korea can make a splash on the international scene outside of politically fueled controversy, however brief it may be.  Take for instance the rumors linking former England and Mexico boss Sven Goran Eriksson to the head coaching position in Pyongyang.  While this little juicy tidbit has yet to prove to be nothing more than speculation, it does make me wish that Eriksson would take the job, just so we could get all of the details when he decided to move on.  North Korea is a very mysterious place, and its national team is still a pretty big mystery to soccer fans across the globe.  A tell-all from someone like Eriksson might reveal to us a world of pressure, grossly misguided expectations, and severe repercussions.  Or, it might reveal to us that the national team is an Eden-like respite for the players involved; a meal-ticket in a country where so many go hungry.  Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like that sort of information will be released anytime soon, but I do long for the day when some light will be shed on at least this small part of South Korea's nebulous neighbors to the north.

When it comes to this summer's World Cup, I find myself oddly pulling for the North Koreans.  As much as I dislike the idea of anything inflating the ego of a tyrannical dictator even further, I can't help but think that there might be some good that could come out of a surprise result for Cholima.  Maybe it would just be a modest reward for the players upon their return, or maybe it would be nothing more than putting a smile on the face of a hard-working citizen toiling away for the state.

Ultimately, though, like everything else with North Korea, we'd never really know.

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Tuesday Tidbits: Yanks in Europe, Goodson, and Friendly Rumors

Some news, notes, and rumors on the day:

Donovan, Howard go 90 in Everton Win

Landon Donovan and Tim Howard started and played 90 minutes in Everton's 2-1 Europa League victory over Sporting Lisbon.  The first leg of the Round of 32 tie started off very well for the Toffees, who took a 2-0 lead inside of 50 minutes, but a late penalty and red card were significant blows that could prove to be decisive.

Donovan did not have an overly remarkable game.  He drew a couple of fouls (including one that led to a yellow card) and had a few nice passes in the final third.  He also served in a nice ball on a set piece in the second half that nearly led to a 3-0 Everton lead.  Donovan did, however, have his fair share of stray passes, uncharacteristically acting as the source of several turnovers.  In the end, though, it was not a bad game for the LA Galaxy captain, and his team did not need to him to carry the load on this day.  Other offensive weapons like Tim Cahill, Mikel Arteta, and Steven Pienaar did well in the attack, and Everton took advantage of their opportunities to open up a lead.

Were it not for the late consolation goal from Sporting, it would have been close to an ideal result for David Moyes and company.  But a take down inside the box in the 86th minute led to a PK, which Miguel Veloso converted after Tim Howard dove the wrong way.  It was the only blemish in an otherwise solid game for New Jersey native, who got a little help from his post to preserve the clean sheet in the first half.  The highlight of the day for Howard came in the 36th minute, when he made a fantastic reaction save to preserve the lead.
The two sides will meet up in Lisbon next week for the second leg, with a spot in the Round of 16 on the line.

Goodson to Join USMNT for El Salvador Friendly

The original group of players called into camp for the February 24th friendly against El Salvador in Tampa Bay was comprised solely of MLS players.  That will change when Norway-based Clarence Goodson joins the team after getting permission from his club team, IK Start, to do so.  Goodson has the inside track on the final center back spot for the World Cup roster after Jimmy Conrad's 17 minute fiasco and Chad Marshall's underwhelming performance against Honduras.

In limited time with the Yanks, Goodson has made his mark, scoring the lone US goal in last month's friendly and earning a spot on the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup All-Tournament team.  Another solid performance in Tampa coupled with a solid start to his club campaign might be all the former FC Dallas defender needs to book his ticket to South Africa.  Though the fourth CB spot isn't exactly the biggest talking point on a roster, it bears mentioning for an unpredictable one month tournament where depth is a huge asset.

World Cup Tune-up Friendly Rumors

Steven Goff of the Washington Post is reporting that the USSF is currently in negotiations with the University of Connecticut to use Rentschler Field, the site of a 2006 World Cup warm-up against Latvia.  The rumored opponent is the Czech Republic, who whipped the US 3-0 in the '06 group stage opener.  Philadelphia Eagles officials have also just announced that Lincoln Financial Field will play host to a send off match, with Euro 2008 semifinalists Turkey serving as the opponent.  As a Philadelphia native, I'm particularly happy about this, but not just for selfish reasons; I think Philadelphia is a strong market that the USSF has not yet utilized fully, and I think another strong showing from Philly fans (their first being the 2009 Gold Cup quarterfinal) could very well lead to a World Cup qualifier coming to the City of Brotherly Love sometime down the road. 

While some may be leery of an extremely arduous tune up schedule out of fear that a couple of losses will hurt the team's confidence heading into South Africa, I for one would welcome it.  Just look at the difference between the lead up 2002 and 2006, and how the USMNT fared in those respective tournaments.  In '02, they took on World Cup qualifiers Uruguay as well as the Netherlands, a perennial European power who missed out on the tournament, and CONCACAF foe Jamaica.  The Yanks suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of the Dutch, but it very well may have primed them for the tough competition that were to face in Korea/Japan.  In '06, meanwhile, the Yanks took on the likes of Latvia, Morocco, and Venezuela; not exactly world-beaters.  Fast forward a couple of weeks, and Bruce Arena and company were eliminated from the group stage with a record of 0-2-1.  Of course, a lot more goes into it than the lead up friendlies, but it worth noting considering the significantly different levels of success in the two tournaments.  It's for that reason that I'd rather our team be challenged in the weeks preceding the World Cup, so as to prepare them best for the rigors of facing a team like England. 

Feilhaber Ankle Injury

After further examining an ankle injury that Benny Feilhaber suffered in a Aarhus friendly, doctors have now found that the once believed sprain is actually in fact cartilage damage.  Feilhaber will rest for 10 days and then be re-evaluated, but this means that he is unlikely to be fully healthy by the time the USMNT's March 3 friendly against the Netherlands rolls around.  

  
While the injury does not seem to be a serious threat to Feilhaber's availability for the World Cup, it could cause a roster issue for Bob Bradley for the aforementioned friendly.  With Maurice Edu and Ricardo Clark both on the mend, there is an outside chance that neither is fit for 90 minutes, which would necessitate a substitution or lead to a different player getting the start altogether.  This could mean sliding Stuart Holden central or starting Jose Francisco Torres with Michael Bradley in the middle.  The big wildcard in all of this is how quickly Clark and Edu can get back on the field for their respective clubs.  If Rico is fit enough, he'll get the start; if not, well, I'm not sure.  In the end, though, I expect the former Dynamo star to be ready to go come March 3, making much of what I just said moot.

English Championship Updates

Watford's match against QPR has been postponed, so no Jay DeMerit today.  Elsewhere, Kenny Cooper came on as a substitute for Plymouth Argyle in the 61st minute of their match against Swansea City.  He was unable to get any shots off in his time on the field, though his team did level the score late to secure a 1-1 draw. 

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That's it for now, keep an eye out for another post coming later this evening (most likely geared towards the international game beyond the USMNT, since I haven't done one of those in a bit).

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