Injury Updates: Benny's Back

Some updates on the injured players currently in my final 23:

Benny Feilhaber

After a couple of weeks on the sidelines following an ankle injury, Feilhaber made his first appearance of the spring for AGF Aarhus in their 4-0 victory over Esbjerg.  He came on as a substitute in the 69th minute and added some instant offense, earning a corner with some clever touches that would lead to Aarhus' second goal.   Following the game, Feilhaber spoke with a reporter on his appearance, as well as the health of his ankle; you can watch the interview here.  One less injured player, one less cause for concern for USMNT fans and coaches alike.

Stuart Holden

It was reported earlier today that Holden is now walking without crutches, a little less than two weeks after getting his cast off.  The timetable for his recovery was initially believed to be about 6 weeks, so Holden appears to be on schedule to return to full health in time for a couple of late season EPL appearances ahead of South Africa. 

Oguchi Onyewu

Gooch was in LA last weekend, taking in the Galaxy opener with some Beckham guy at the Home Depot Center.   He was also spending some time with the USMNT medical staff, with plans of returning to Milan later in the week.  Via his newly created Twitter account @OguchiOnyewu5 (gotta love it when more USMNT players get on Twitter; now we need Timmy, Boca, Bradley, etc. to join the party), Gooch said: 

Thank you for all the concern/support for my injury. I will be returning to regular training in the very near future! God is good!!

Read into that what you will, but it seems like a very good bet at this point to say that Gooch will be healthy for South Africa.  Now, the concern shifts to whether he can crack the AC Milan lineup in the final month and a half of the season to earn some competitive minutes ahead of international duty.  The Milan back line has been hit with some injuries of late, but it will still be an uphill climb to get the nod from Leonardo, who didn't seem to be too high on Onyewu prior to his injury in the fall.  

Michael Bradley

Bradley missed out on this past weekend's game for Borussia Monchengladbach thanks to card accumulation, but it wouldn't have mattered much given the broken nose he suffered in training last week.  He should be back to full health soon, but he may have to wait until next weekend to return to the lineup.  That's because in Bradley's absence, center midfielders Thorben Marx and Marcel Meeuwis played well in BMG's 1-0 victory over sixth place Hamburg.  Prior to his injury, Bradley had a few less than stellar appearances, so I wouldn't be surprised if manager Michael Frontzeck sticks with what worked for the time being while Bradley finishes healing up.  It could potentially lead to him making his return in a midfield battle against USMNT teammate Ricardo Clark and Frankfurt on April 9 (that is, if Rico ever gets off the bench).  All in all, though, there shouldn't be too much concern with regards to Bradley's health.

Charlie Davies 

I'd be remiss if I didn't dedicate some time to the main subject of USMNT injury worries over the past five and a half months.  Chuck continues to make a stunningly smooth and rapid recovery, completing rehab a little over a week ago and beginning individual workouts with the Sochaux training staff.  Davies expects to take part in full training after three weeks of the individual stuff, which would mean he'd be back at it with his teammates in about two weeks' time.  It's utterly incomprehensible that we're at this point so soon after a life-threatening accident, but the way he's progressing and the confidence he has expressed in regaining his technical abilities has me firmly believing that he'll make at least one appearance for Sochaux before the end of the Ligue 1 season.  With Les Lionceaux firmly planted mid-table and safe from relegation barring a cataclysmic collapse, there should be a couple of meaningless games at the end of the season that would provide the perfect opportunity to give Davies some minutes and reward him (and, indirectly, the training staff) for all the hard work over the last couple of months.

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Rooney Injury: Grasping at Straws

If you didn't hear (and I don't know how you couldn't have, considering even ESPN gave this a good deal of attention on SportsCenter), Wayne Rooney suffered an ankle injury yesterday in Manchester United's 2-1 Champions League quarterfinal loss to Bayern Munich.  Video of the injury is below (don't worry, nothing graphic at all):



The initial prognosis is that Rooney will be sidelined for two to four weeks, meaning that his World Cup hopes aren't in any real danger. While I don't want to wish ill upon opposing players, I certainly don't complain when it benefits the Yanks, so the news of this incident had me hoping that it would keep the Manchester United striker out of Fabio Capello's lineup for at least the first group stage match. Though some scans and what not are still being done, the initial prognosis should be close enough in that the Three Lions don't have to worry about replacing Rooney, so there goes those hopes of a Rooney-less England in our group stage opener.

As if that wasn't enough, the timing of the injury might end up helping Rooney recover from some nagging injuries that have been the result of a congested schedule and loads of minutes. In the same fashion that Clint Dempsey may benefit in June from the couple of months he had away from his usually considerable duties with Fulham due to his knee injury in January, Rooney may be fresher in South Africa as a result of missing out on a handful of games in a short period of time.  This Match Fit USA post on the topic acknowledges a good point, though, that with the EPL title (and, potentially, a Champions League campaign) hanging in the balance, Rooney's return might be closer to the two week end of that time frame.  I wouldn't be surprised if he made the return to the Red Devils' lineup without being 100% in order to help his side in the stretch run, which could end up nullifying any benefit of the time off, possibly even compounded the issue by keeping him from returning to full fitness before season's end.  On that note, USMNT fans might want to pull for Sir Alex Ferguson's team to move on to the Champions League semifinals and keep the EPL title race tight, so as to entice a less than full-strength Rooney to return (though you'll die a little inside by rooting for Manchester United).  Then again, it's not as if that is a guarantee that he won't be at the same form; as I said before, he's already been dealing with a number of injuries, yet he continues to dominate.

If there's any good from this, it's that it slows the Rooney express down for at least a couple of weeks.  It might not have too much of an impact, but I'm glad that Rooney won't be coming into the World Cup after months straight of being in what is arguably the best form of his career.  But, once again, if USMNT fans have learned anything over the past year, it's that a hot player stays hot despite some time away from the game.  After all, Landon Donovan had a month-plus break before heading to Everton, where his fine run of form picked up right where it left off.  Another plus might be that all of the crazy speculation and hand-wringing from the English media that will surely ensue will add just a little more pressure and scrutiny on the English squad, which must already be mentally drained from all of the negative attention they've received of late.  At this point, though, I guess I'm just grasping at straws, hoping that the dangerous striker and revered puppet won't carry the same polished play into June.

I'm not crazy enough to want Rooney in the lineup out of some desire to beat Capello and company at their best.  I don't care if they're not at full strength, a win is a win, and we're not exactly coming in with a team full of players who have been healthy and on form for months.  The English could field a pub team (not to be confused with the LA Galaxy), and I'd celebrate all the same.  And if we win, English fans and US soccer bashers will find a dozen or so excuses whether Rooney plays or not, so it ultimately doesn't really matter in that regard either.

The bottom line is, the USMNT hasn't exactly had the stoutest defense throughout qualification (though there were some promising signs against the Dutch), and it's pretty obvious that England is much less dangerous without Rooney in the lineup.  So I, along with every other USMNT fan, will continue to monitor Rooney's recovery, secretly (or maybe not so secretly) hoping that his recovery is more Jermaine Jones than Charlie Davies.   

If that does end up being the case, it will only reinforce my belief that the football gods are favoring our Red, White, and Blue this time around.

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MLS is Awesome, So Watch on Thursday

For those of you that missed the latest American Soccer Show, you missed the 10 seconds phaser-fueled internet sensation that is "MLS is awesome (pew pew boom)".  Jason Davis' robotronic voice and weapons arsenal really could not have said it better; our domestic league is nothing short of awesome.  Sure, it has it's flaws, but there is no other league in the world that gets me this excited.  It's pro soccer in America, folks.  And as if that wasn't good enough, it's a fun league with quality of play that is improving year in and year out.  Factor in the passionate fan bases and new stadiums that add an American twist to the whole "supporter" concept, and you have a league that is the perfect supplement to USMNT games for a footy-crazy Yank like myself.  The CBA has been signed, the strike has been averted, the games have been exciting, and I've got Union tickets coming in the mail; everything's coming up Milhouse.

I don't usually discuss MLS too much around these parts I prefer to keep a focus on the USMNT and international game in an effort to have quality, focused content, and there are already plenty of quality writers musing on all things MLS-related (some of which are linked in the sidebar, if you're curious).  But with the season underway and the eye of the World Cup storm currently surrounding us with silence, I figured I'd spend some time looking ahead to what should be an awesome night for American soccer fans everywhere.

This Thursday, you can get back from work, grab some food, kick up your feet, and watch four straight hours of MLS goodness brought to you by the folks at ESPN2.  Defending champs RSL will travel to Houston for the Dynamo's home opener (9 PM ET), while the Galaxy and Chivas USA will square off in the first SuperClasico of the season immediately afterward (11 PM ET).  To all of you who may be worrying that I'm getting away from the style and focus that you've come to know and (hopefully) love, let me calm your nerves: that underlying USMNT theme is still here.  That's because both of these games will feature national team players from the past, present, and future that will make it worth watching for even the neutral observer.

If you didn't get a chance to watch Real Salt Lake last weekend, you missed out on a very comprehensive victory (and a possible Goal of the Year candidate from Javier Morales) from a team that seems to be set up nicely to make a run at a repeat.  Houston, meanwhile, pulled off a road draw in front of a raucous crowd of 43 at Pizza Hut Park (low blow, I know*), but they still have a lot of questions to answer.  As far as guys in the USMNT picture, both teams will field players worth keeping an eye on for American fans.  Jason Kreis' side features Robbie Findley and Kyle Beckerman, while Geoff Cameron and Brian Ching will likely get the start for the boys in orange.  

(*Kudos to the hardcore FC Dallas fans that do show up week in and week out.  If only we could find thousands more of you to fill the rest of the stadium.)

While I don't have any of the first three in my final 23 at the moment, they should still be in the picture in the next cycle (talking mostly about Findley and Cameron, here) and have a decent shot of being in the preliminary 30 man World Cup roster come May.  We saw this winter that Findley needs a good deal of polishing before he can really be an effective at the international level (and, let's be honest, to think otherwise was mostly just the product of wishful thinking and hand-wringing over the Charlie Davies predicament).  He's made some very nice strides over the past couple of seasons in MLS, and he could find himself in the 2011 Gold Cup picture with another strong step forward this year.  Cameron, meanwhile, continues to be a key cog in the Houston lineup thanks to his incredible versatility.  He had a nice moment in his handful of USMNT minutes this winter, but he was always more of a 2014 prospect rather than a potential 2010 latecomer.  He continues to develop nicely and has a bright future, though some question whether his versatility is preventing him from refining his abilities at a specific position.

Beckerman, meanwhile, may not be the most exciting player on the field, but he adds a steadying presence to the RSL midfield and would be an emergency defensive midfield option for Bob Bradley should the injury bug strike at an inopportune time.  All in all, three solid MLS players that will likely be key pieces for their respective teams and emergency options for the USMNT in the coming months.  As far as Ching goes (and I'd be remiss if I didn't say more about the big Hawaiian), I think he has a nice upper hand in the race for the target forward position in the US World Cup roster.  His game is not the prettiest, but it's effective and will likely play a part in Bob Bradley's group stage game plan, as well as Houston's 2010 league campaign. 

As if the talented teams, the large, orange-clad crowd at Robertson Stadium that I assume will turn out for the home opener, and the aforementioned quartet weren't enough, there's also the possibility (however small it may be) that U-17 star Luis Gil makes his MLS debut.  I'm not saying I expect the midfielder to get the call at any point, but I sure didn't expect Jack McInerney to get any minutes against Seattle last Thursday either.  McInerney looked good and far from out of place in his first game (with Seattle holding a comfortable 2-0 lead, mind you), surprising me with his intelligent movement and energy in an intimidating atmosphere.  So maybe, just maybe, Gil can get that same chance and duplicate his former teammate's solid start to his professional career.

Once you take in that game, you can just sit pat and wait for the Galaxy and Chivas to take the field in what should be another good game.  Of course, all eyes will be on Landon Donovan, and for good reason, as more than a few people are worried that the change of scenery might be a speed bump in the LD super-run of form that has captivated us all for about eight months now.  His free kick assist last weekend was a good start, and we saw the same piercing, attacking runs that have terrorized defenses across the globe in that previously mentioned period (albeit with a lack of the end product in the final third).  Each game that Landon plays in is worth watching, as we continue to monitor his form and health ahead of South Africa; as he goes, so does the USMNT.  But don't forget: Landon is just damn fun to watch with a ball at his feet.

Opposing him will be Jonathan "Pariah" Bornstein, who still looks like a good bet to be in South Africa despite the rough day at the office in Amsterdam.  I have to say that I kind of feel bad for Bornstein sometimes; it seems like he gets more than a few bad breaks.  Not saying he doesn't make bad mistakes, because he does, but there's some other stuff that happens to him that is just bad luck but is held against him nonetheless (the deflected second goal against the Dutch being one such case).  Anyways, while I no longer expect Bornstein to be starting in South Africa, I do believe he will be on the plane. Tune in to see if he can shut down Landon and co., or, if you're firmly in the anti-Bornstein camp, to see if he commits another comical error.

To wrap up some other guys of interest briefly, Omar Gonzalez is a promising prospect for future cycles, while Eddie Lewis, Clint Mathis, Gregg Berhalter, and Bruce Arena will send you on a trip down USMNT memory lane.  All in all, Galaxy-Chivas games are usually pretty entertaining regardless of the teams' respective form, so it should be the perfect second half to a Thursday night soccer spectacular.  

All USMNT what not aside, just watch because MLS is awesome (pew pew boom).  There's no other way to say it, and it's nothing but the truth.  MLS is freakin' awesome, and that alone should get you to flip on the Deuce come Thursday night.

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Mid-Day Musings: How About a FIFA Super Cup?

We've seen and read plenty about various World Cup bids over the past year or so, with FIFA abandoning its rotation policy with the upcoming host selections.  While I'm sure there were some other intricacies involved in the plan, I think it's safe to say that a main desire of that policy in the first place was to spread the wealth, so to speak, giving all regions an opportunity to stage the quadrennial showcase.  Though it's ultimately going by the wayside, the rotation policy did lead to the first World Cup ever being staged in Africa.  Ultimately, though, even with the rotation policy in place, the number of countries capable of hosting any type of major international tournament (whether continental or global) is just a small portion of the 208 FIFA member associations.  So FIFA's desire to spread the tournament hosting wealth across the globe is still severely limited by issues such as country size and a lack of suitable stadiums.  

Across the globe, we see a number of one-off games between two champions, dubbed as community shields, super cups, or recopas, but all essentially serving the same purpose of allowing two top teams from separate competitions to square off.  All of the aforementioned competitions that I alluded to take place at the club level, but there isn't really an equivalent at the international level.  My question is: why not?  What about a one match FIFA Super Cup between the Confederations Cup champion and the World Cup winner?  Now, bear with me for a moment because I'm sure I'm already losing some of you.  This is more of a passing fancy than a thorough proposal, and instead of trying to give an all-encompassing outline, I'll acknolwedge some issues and make a few suggestions as to how to handle them.  The bottom line is, I spend far too much time thinking about all things international soccer, but now that I have a platform to share some of those thoughts, I might as well share them and see what you knowledgeable folks think. 

To being, let me just say that the game wouldn't serve as a means by which to determine the "world champ"; that's the World Cup winner, and I don't think anyone would argue that, just like no one will argue that Zenit St. Petersburg were the club champions of Europe in 2008.  Instead, it would be a way for FIFA to put on another footballing spectacle, engage in some philanthropy and spread it's presence across the globe, while also potentially stimulating a local economy (and, of course, lining their own pockets). 

While most countries can't handle the financial burden of building a handful of new stadiums as well as new hotels and infrastructure to accommodate the throngs of visitors that attend a major international tournament, plenty could successfully host a single match.  Qatar successfully hosted the high profile Brazil-England friendly back in November, needing just one serviceable stadium to do so.  Countries even smaller or less capable of hosting a major tournament would suddenly be more than adequate candidates for hosting the proposed FIFA Super Cup.  Heck, you could even implement the rotation policy with this game to ensure that it accomplishes the goal of expanding FIFA's reach.  I don't think places like Hong Kong, New Zealand, Jamaica, Denmark, or Morocco will be hosting major tournaments any time soon, but they could certainly host one high profile match with what they already have in place.  This match would give smaller nations the chance to host a FIFA competition without the potential for white elephant stadiums that can be the result of the extensive construction that accompanies a World Cup or continental tournament.  Almost all teams across the globe already have a national stadium in place, most of which are decently modern, so nations wouldn't need to undergo massive facelifts to effectively play host.

Of course, there are loads of issues to be examined with this idea, and as I said, I intend this to be nothing more than a conversation starter, as opposed to a bona fide proposal.  How do you get two teams to care about this competition enough to actually to participate?  When do you play it?  What do you do with the profits?  What's the point?  How can you ensure that bidding doesn't price out the smaller nations targeted from the beginning?  All very valid questions for which I will attempt to provide suggestions.

As far as when this game would be played, I think the fall following the World Cup would be feasible.  In the second half of 2010, Euro 2012 and Africa Cup of Nations qualification will begin, but CONMEBOL, AFC, and almost all CONCACAF teams (the final stage Caribbean Football Championship will be going on in November) will not have any competitive matches on the docket.  Of course, considering a European team would almost certainly be involved in this match, that Euro qualifying seems to be a bit of an obstacle.  But there are 12 match days set aside for 10 qualifying matches, meaning that there would be some flexibility to free up a fall match day for the proposed Super Cup, if necessary.  As far as CAF teams go, with just six qualifying matches for the Africa Cup of Nations, there would also be some open dates available should an African team find themselves in a position to play in the match.  So, in terms of availability, the fall following a World Cup would seem to work.

But why would the teams even want to play in this match?  After all, the Confederations Cup hasn't always been able to bring in it's desired field (Germany declined to participate in 2003, for example).  Well, money always helps, and the fact that this would just be one match rather than a multi-week commitment might make it much more palatable to the FAs involved.  Ultimately, the money behind the whole situation would be the driving force.  The profits accrued from ticket sales, merchandise sales, and television rights could be divided up in such a way to benefit all parties involved, as well as some that are not.  The winner of the match could be allotted a certain percentage, with the loser getting a smaller amount.  If we lived in a perfect footballing world without FIFA corruption, I would suggest that the remaining funds go toward philanthropic endeavors: supporting the Homeless World Cup, FIFA development grants for the minnows of the world, or donations to programs like Steve Nash's Football for Good being just a few football-focused possibilities.  FIFA would gain some positive publicity and good will rather than dollars and cents.  Unfortunately, though, it'd probably be necessary to give the folks a Zurich a cut of the bottom line, but I'd still hold out hope of that being limited (crazy, I know).

The appeal of a tough friendly might also entice two top teams to participate in the match.  Let's consider the matchups that would have been in place were this idea implemented back in 1998:

'98: Brazil-France (World Cup final rematch)
'02: Brazil-France
'06: Italy-Brazil
'10: Brazil-???

(Newsflash: Brazil is pretty good.)  All of those games would almost certainly sell out any stadium across the globe, as well as providing a star-studded match up that would appeal to television viewers.  From the team perspective, however, it would provide teams either in the midst of continental qualification or preparing for their continental tournament with a tough test against a quality opponent.  It probably isn't as much of an attractive factor as the aforementioned money, but hey, it can't hurt.

As far as host selection, FIFA could make a concerted effort to cater its choice towards the smaller nations (in terms of economy, population, or footballing stature) that would otherwise not be likely to host a major international competition.  The match could provide a short term economic boost to a local economy thanks to visitors, entrepreneurial ventures, and some other stimulating measures that might accompany it.  It might not be much, but say that of the 50,000 fans in attendance at one of these games, 5,000 are foreign visitors.  That's most likely 5,000 tourists that otherwise wouldn't have made the jaunt, injecting some additional money into the local economy.  Without serious stadium construction needed, costs would be significantly reduced and could be focused primarily on security or some hospitality and infrastructure improvements that would be useful beyond  the life of the competition.  

The question still remains: what's the point?  At this point, I don't have much else to say to that other than: why not?  FIFA has two major international competitions which are fairly different from one another, so why not line up the respective champs for just one more match at the end of a cycle?  As a fan, I'd love it, and as a player, I'd love another opportunity to hoist a trophy.  Of course, the meaningfulness of the competition would grow with time, initially beginning a comparatively lower level.  But with international pride on the line, I would expect fans to inject some instant life into the proceedings. 

I'm sure there are plenty of holes in what I've said, and I wouldn't be surprised if my suggestions are a little off-base or misguided.  If you have any ideas you want to throw into the conversation, feel free; I'd like to see what everyone's opinion would be, and I don't by any means consider my opinions listed above to be of the expert variety.  I'm just a guy who loves his international soccer and wants to stir up some chatter in this pre-World Cup lull.

Fire away, folks.

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Evening Links: Starting XI

I've been working on a couple of posts that I hope to have up tomorrow, but for now here's 11 links to some of the biggest US soccer news stories (outside of game recaps, which can be found here) of the past couple of days:

US U-20 Men drop opening match of Dallas Cup to Mexico 1-0: Potomac Soccer Wire

Altidore's future lies in England: Jen Chang, SI.com

Landon Donovan starts on right foot: Los Angeles Times

Charlie Davies targets return in three weeks: Goal.com

Wolves' Marcus Hahnemann shows Fabio Capello power of the New World: The Guardian

The American Soccer Show- 19: Match Fit USA

Atlanta's 'Rambo' happy to be in Germany: Atlanta Journal Constitution

Puebla's Gomez: It was a very special day for me: Goal.com

USWNT defeats Mexico 3-0: 90 Minutes Soccer Magazine

MLS continues to feed US national team: ESPN Soccernet

Stu signs endorsement contract with Nike and the LIVESTRONG brand: stuholden.com


Enjoy your evening, folks, and as always, feel free to share any opinions about the site or suggestions via email or the comments section below.

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Yanks in Europe: Weekend Recap

As you know by now, I wasn't in a position to post much this weekend, so I couldn't put up my usual Yanks in Europe posts on Saturday and Sunday.  Instead, I'm just going to make up for lost time now and hit you with one mega edition of Yanks in Europe, encompassing all of the games that took place over the past three days that featured USMNT players.
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The highlight of the weekend was a performance from Jozy Altidore in Hull City's 2-0 victory over Fulham that earned him Man of the Match plaudits in several English publications.  Altidore caused a lot of problems for the Fulham back line, drawing several fouls in the final third, including this one which led to Jimmy Bullard's opening PK goal:




Altidore showed good strength to muscle off his defender as well as a soft touch to receive and turn with the ball in close.  Altogether, Jozy drew three yellow cards on the day, constantly pestering the Cottagers' defense and creating dangerous opportunities with aggressive dribbling and good passing.  It was a very strong 79 minutes for Altidore that should only earn him another start in the immediate future.  The win pushes the Tigers to the brink of safety, trailing West Ham only on goal differential with a game in hand.

In the same game, Clint Dempsey went the distance for Fulham, turning in a fairly quiet game at striker.  With Fulham's focus clearly geared towards the Europa League at this point, the Cottagers just didn't have much bite to their attack, so Dempsey didn't get much in the way of quality service or support throughout.  He had a couple of nice moments early on, but overall it was a rather unremarkable game for Deuce.

In France, Carlos Bocanegra turned in a solid 90 minute performance for Stade Rennes in their 3-1 victory over Le Mans.  Boca took a pretty bad knock early in the second half and appeared to be in some serious pain, but he continued on for the full match, eventually picking up an assist on the final Rennes goal with a perfectly weighted ball over the top to a teammate just inside the box:




In Germany, Steve Cherundolo got on the score sheet for the first time this season by bending in a nice free kick (see below) from the edge of the box.  The goal, however, mattered little in what was a very lopsided 4-1 defeat at the hands of FC Koln.  Cherundolo wasn't at fault for any of the goals allowed (three of which were scored within the opening 28 minutes), but his side now sits in 17th place in the Bundesliga standings.  With their next four games against the top three in the current table (Schalke, Bayern Munich, and Bayer Leverkusen) and sixth place Hamburg, the free fall will likely continue for weeks to come, as Hannover look doomed to relegation this season.



Marcus Hahnemann and Tim Howard squared off, as Wolves and Everton met at Molineux Stadium.  Both managed to keep a clean sheet, with Hahnemann being credited with 10 saves in the match.  The former Reading keeper got a little help from his defense as well, with center back Jody Craddock clearing a Tim Cahill attempt off the line in the final minutes of the match.  Howard, meanwhile, did not have too much to do on the day, earning a fairly comfortable shutout at a pretty good time, considering he was still dealing with the thigh injury he suffered last time out.  All in all, a good showing by the American keepers.

Jonathan Spector, meanwhile, was on the wrong end of a 1-0 decision, as West Ham lost to Stoke City.  He played 90 minutes at LB and was solid defensively, and he nearly set up the equalizer with a nice cross to the head of Carlton Cole, but the ensuing header went just over the net.  The Hammers are now even on points with 18th place Hull City, but they've played a game more than the Tigers, so they are in a pretty precarious spot as the EPL season draws to a close.  

In Scotland, Maurice Edu came off the bench in the  for Rangers in their 4-1 thrashing of Hearts, contributing some defensive work in the midfield to secure the three points.  DaMarcus Beasley, meanwhile, did not get off the bench for this one, as Rangers looked to preserve their lead in the second half.

Jay DeMerit went 90 minutes for Watford in their 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough.  The point is just the fourth that the Hornets have earned from their last eight matches, but it keeps them four points clear of the final relegation spot with a game in hand over Crystal Palace.  Because of some financial issues, there is speculation that Watford won't be able to keep DeMerit at the end of this campaign regardless of if they get sent down, so worrying about all of this might prove to be a moot point in the end.

In Greece, both Freddy Adu and Eddie Johnson got the start for Aris in their 1-0 win over Levadiakos.  It was a tale of two halves for Adu, who went the full 90.  In the first half, he squandered numerous opportunities with some very poor crosses, while in the second half he put in some improved defensive effort, got involved in the final third, and drew a few fouls (including the one off which Aris scored their goal).  Johnson, meanwhile, played 63 minutes, with some nice moments of hold up and dribbling mixed in with uninspired moments of poor execution.  

Last, US U-20 player Mikkel Diskerud scored a goal for Norwegian side Stabaek in their 2-2 draw with Alesund.  You can see the goal here (Diskerud's is the second goal in the video); a cool finish with the outside of his right inside the box to knot up the score.  Not bad at all for a 19 year old.


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Another week, another game without Ricardo Clark, who is still looking to make his debut with Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt.  Elsewhere in Germany, Michael Bradley was out of action this week due to suspension, though he likely wouldn't have featured anyway thanks to a broken nose suffered in training last week.  Have no fear, though; Bradley is expected to be available for the next round of games.

Don't get too alarmed by the number of names on the following list; it's usually spread out over a couple of days, but this time it's just all lumped together.  Either way, I'd still like to see fewer names on here, and it's just a matter of time before we can finally stop talking about all of the same injuries.

Injured/Did Not Play

Michael Bradley (nose/suspension)
Oguchi Onyewu (knee)
Stuart Holden (leg)
Charlie Davies (multiple injuries)
Brad Guzan (unused substitute)
Ricardo Clark (unused substitute)
Benny Feilhaber (ankle)
Frank Simek (unused substitute)
DaMarcus Beasley (unused substitute)

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College Days

In my brief stint in Spartanburg, South Carolina this weekend, I spent a little bit of time in and around the campus of Clemson University. While to most it's just one of dozens of football-mad southern schools, to USMNT fans it's the place that served as a critical stepping stone in the careers of two important pieces to the World Cup puzzle.

Back in 2000, the Tigers brought in a towering center back out of Washington, DC who looked more like a linebacker than a soccer player; none other than Oguchi Onyewu. After two strong seasons of collegiate play, during which he improved his physique as well as his technical ability, Gooch was drawing European interest. At just 20 years of age, Onyewu impressed enough to earn a contract in one of the top 5 leagues in Europe, as FC Metz of Ligue 1 brought him across the pond. From there, we've seen Onyewu become a star in Belgium before transfering to one of the most storied teams in the world last summer, all while becoming a integral part of the United States' back line for several years now.

Two years after Onyewu traded in the orange and purple for the red of FC Metz, a young Texan made the trip to South Carolina to play for Trevor Adair at Riggs Field (which looks like a great place to play in or take in a game, in my opinion). The young midfielder combined creativity with the tireless work rate typical of players from his birthplace of Scotland; of course, I'm talking about Stuart Holden. Holden's play with the strong ACC program caught the attention of more than a few scouts, with Sunderland signing him in the Spring following his sophomore season.

Unlike Onyewu, Holden's stint in Europe never really got off the ground, after a fractured eye socket that he suffered after being attacked outside a Newcastle bar sidelined him for an extended period and prevented him from getting integrated into the squad that Mick McCarthy (current manager of another American, Marcus Hahnemann, at Wolves) would take back up to the Premier League. The English media, in all their wisdom, have misconstrued this part of Holden's career as a "failed" tour in England, but that's quite harsh in reality given the circumstances outside of his control that cut short his spell before it ever really began. Despite this setback, Holden went on to become a quality contributor (and eventual star) for the Houston Dynamo, earning both a transfer to Bolton and consistent minutes with the USMNT over the course of the past year.

These are just two examples of players currently in the national team setup who spent some time in college before making the jump to the pro ranks. Of the 23 that I currently have heading to South Africa (which I would link to if I wasn't writing this on a phone), 16 spent some time playing collegiately. Despite this ratio, the college game is frequently criticized, with many vociferous fans and pundits decreeing it as an insufficient, incomplete means of player development. To that segment of the fanbase, the academy setup is the only to go, giving players the opportunity to immerse themselves in a year-round soccer center.

But why is it that the college game is so frequently criticized nowadays? Of course, year round play would be optimal, but with the NCAA season and PDL play, top collegians can get a solid six months of competitive soccer each year. Aside from that, they get some time in the classroom, which helps develop cognitive ability to an extent (and since soccer players don't exactly get the star treatment that football or basketball players receive at some schools, players need to put in some academic effort).

Maybe, as a self-described academic, my priorities are skewed, but in addition to a team filled with gifted athletes, I'd also like a team with intelligent players. Even the best of teams can be matched with a perfect gameplan, which ultimately comes down to a player's ability to absorb and implement the information he's given in a scouting report. I might be completely off base, but maybe some of those hours studying for midterms help guys like Stu and Gooch prepare for a qualifier, as they do their homework on the next opponent. Soccer is a game that is played as much between the ears as it is between the lines, so maybe a few years in college isn't the worst thing for a young American player.

Like it or not, the college game most likely will maintain a place in the US soccer picture for years to come, even with the rise of MLS academies. Our culture places such an emphasis on higher education, in one form or another, that the college game will maintain a certain allure because of the built-in "backup plan" that comes with it. While it's role may dwindle, I can't see it fading away completely, and I expect national teams in cycles to come to feature a fair share of former student-athletes.

Further, with American players drawing more attention than ever before, European scouts are scouring the college ranks looking for the next big thing. Whether it's Marcus Tracy leaving Wake Forest for Aalborg or Alejandro Bedoya heading to Orebro after some time at Boston College (and Farleigh Dickinson), talented young Americans playing in college are being noticed (and that's not even mentioning players that latch on in MLS). The college game is far from a dead end, as numerous Yanks have proven in years past and continue to prove today. It might not be as glamorous, but it can still be a very effective rung in the climb up the ladder to the professional ranks.

It's too much of a generalization to say that an academy system or professional contract is always preferable to the college route, or vice versa. It really varies on a case by case basis. While some can make the academy/professional transition seamlessly in their teens, others stagnate due to homesickness, difficult cultural adjustments, or a lack of competitive minutes. College provides an atmosphere that, despite what are often perceived as shortcomings with quality of play and coaching, might be more conducive to developing one's physical abilities, as well confidence and other intangibles. It also gives some unheralded prospects (like Cobi Jones or Jay DeMerit) a chance to hone their abilities and keep careers alive that may have otherwise ended much, much earlier.

Does the college game have some flaws? Sure, but the European system isn't exactly infallible either. Too often the glitz of something European in nature creates the sense that it's somehow "right", and that our Americanization of the process is somehow "wrong". But the bottom line is, the college game has played a significant role in developing nearly 70% of a team that is arguably the most talented one that the US has ever fielded.

Sounds to me like it's something that shouldn't just be cast aside for straying from the norm, but instead should be recognized as another important aspect of our uniquely American soccer infrastructure.

Once again, this post was done without the benefits of spell check, so forgive any typos. If the thoughts are a little scattered, don't think it's the fault of a few flights; it's just my usual level of rambling.

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Traveling Thoughts: Crew Stadium

USSD is on the road today, blogging to you from scenic Cleveland airport on the way to the deep South for a couple of days that will finally cap off what has been a hectic couple of weeks. Because I'm so dedicated to you loyal readers (and because I have a couple of hours to burn in between flights), here's a post to help get you through your Friday.

I haven't traveled too much to this point in my life, only venturing west of central Pennsylvania on one occasion (to Minneapolis, if your curious). Essentially all of my travel has been up and down the east coast, from Florida to Massachusetts and everywhere in between. So today, I find myself in Ohio for the first time in my life, the closest I've ever been to what I consider the Mecca of US soccer.

As a die-hard, obsessive USMNT fan, it pains me to say that I have yet to take in a game from the black and yellow bleachers of Crew Stadium (though it's not nearly as painful as watching this overweight 50-something sitting across from me awkwardly trying to hit on a girl who looks like she still might be in college). I almost feel embarrassed to say so, as if I have not yet been initiated into the brotherhood of fanatics that invest so much energy and emotion into the national team.

In my defense, it's not as if there's a ton of opportunities to make the trek, with usually just one or two matches a cycle at The House that Lamar Built. And no disrespect to the Spice Boyz of Grenada and other teams of that ilk, but I don't think many people will disagree with me when I say that if you're going to make the pilgrimage, USA-Mexico is the match you want to see.

For three straight cycles now, one of North America's fiercest footballing rivlaries (I won't say it's the fiercest; unlike with a couple of Central American nations, a war hasn't erupted between the US and Mexico as a result of a game between the two) has played out in the first stadium built specifically for an MLS team (Lockhart wasn't originally built for the Fusion, for those of you preparing to call me out in the comments section). It's become one of the few (the only?) traditions in US soccer, to take on El Tri in the friendly confines of Crew Stadium, and each match has been oh so memorable. Whether we're talking about the Cold War back in '01, the sea of red and Gooch staredown of '05 (which, to this day, still keeps Jared Borghetti awake at night), or the Marquez red and Bradley brace of '09, each match has been a fantastic result for the Yanks that has helped them reach the World Cup. We've all heard the chants: Dos a cero. Three words that express just how far we've come in a decade or so in terms of the regional battle for supremacy. That new-found swagger, that confidence against a bitter rival, was born in Crew Stadium. It doesn't have the frills of the Home Depot Center or Wembley, nor does it have the tradition of Azteca; it's just a bare bones collection of metal that reminds many of high school football, not high level international soccer. But it's uniquely American, and it fits our team perfectly: not flashy, but effective. So while Red Bull Arena will likely be the toast of US soccer stadiums for years to come, the trailblazing black and gold arena in central Ohio will continue to keep a special place in the hearts of USMNT fans

I was tantilizingly close to being at last February's qualifier, but unfortunate developments kept me grounded in Philly. The setback was a tough pill to swallow, but by no means did I feel the victory was a bittersweet moment. Like all other Americans, I soaked up another glorious dos a cero, not thinking once about how I could have been one of those red-clad crazies in a state of euphoria in central Ohio (as bizarre as it sounds, I also feel as if me being at the game might have meant that something different would have happened, as if one fan somehow could have a massive impact on the result. Wierd, I know). It didn't create any feelings of disappointment, it just further cemented my determination to be there once 2013 rolls around. Of course, the match could be held elsewhere, but if I were a betting man, I'd put my money on the USSF heading back to stadium that has been the scene of such critical and memorable results over the past decade.

But Matt, you may be thinking, why not just go see an MLS game? There's at least 15 of those a year, plenty of chances to see the stadium that you hold in such high regard. Very true, wise reader, and I just might do that at some point if I get too antsy in the wait for the 2014 Hex. But I don't think it'd be quite the same. It's almost as if Crew Stadium has a split personality; the crowd at your average Crew game just doesn't compare to the tense, electric atmosphere that comes with a USA-Mexico tilt. That's no knock against Crew fans and the folks in the Nordecke, who for the record, do a fantastic job of adding energy to the stadium on a week-to-week basis; I just think it's fair to say that USA-Mexico is on a whole 'nother level.

But, then again, what do I know? All of my opinions are derived solely from television observations and anecdotes. I hate that. I hate that I'm on the outside looking in at that devoted band of brothers (and sisters) who have traveled hundreds or thousands of miles and braved the elements to support the Yanks at the granddaddy of MLS stadia.

In completing this post, I have flown a couple of hundred miles and have had to stop writing for long stretches at a time, so forgive me if the thoughts are a little scattered or if there a few typos. There is one thing I know, though: I will be at Crew Stadium next time around, and every US soccer fan that can should join me in making that pilgrimage at some point or another.

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USSD Archives: How the USMNT is Guaranteed to Win the World Cup

I wanted to get a new post today, but I don't want to just throw something terrible up for the sake of doing it, so instead I'll dip back into the vault for a post that was very popular back in this site's earlier days.  USSD has gained a lot of new readers over the last couple of months, so I'm sure it'll be new to many of you.  For the record, my hectic schedule will get a lot less crazy after this week, and posting will pick up as a result, I promise.  Until then, enjoy:
 

The field of 32 is set for next summer's World Cup, but we at US Soccer Daily are going to tell you who the champion will be seven months in advance. Here's our World Cup Logic:

1) No European team has won a World Cup played outside of Europe.

Eliminated: Spain, France, Italy, Germany, England, Slovakia, Netherlands, Greece, Slovenia, Portugal, Switzerland, Denmark, Serbia
Teams remaining: 19


2) No team has won the World Cup with a foreign head coach.

Eliminated: South Africa, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Chile, Paraguay, Australia, Honduras
Teams remaining: 11


3) No team has won the Confederations Cup and World Cup in consecutive years.

Eliminated: Brazil
Teams remaining: 10


4) No country has won the World Cup when they are more than 25 miles away from the nearest other qualified nation.

Eliminated: Japan, New Zealand, Algeria
Teams remaining: 7


5) No team has hosted the U-17 World Cup and then gone on to win the next World Cup.

Eliminated: South Korea (U-17 hosts in '07), Nigeria (U-17 hosts in '09)
Teams remaining: 5


6) No team has won the World Cup after finishing lower than third in their qualification group.

Eliminated: Argentina, Uruguay
Teams remaining: 3


7) No team has won the World Cup in their first appearance after going more than 20 years between appearances.

Eliminated: North Korea (44 years since their last appearance)
Teams remaining: 2


8) No team has won the World Cup exactly 24 years after hosting it.

Eliminated: Mexico
Teams remaining: 1



And who is that one remaining team? None other than the United States. So there you have it, folks; start planning your celebrations now. Sepp, tell your boys to start engraving the trophy, it's already decided.

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Yanks in Europe: Cup Runs End

Some midweek Yanks in Europe to tide you over until the weekend:

Clint Dempsey and Fulham looked to continue their FA Cup run less than a week after extending their Europa League campaign with a memorable win over Juventus.  This time around, however, the outcome was a lot different, as Tottenham ended their hopes of a date at Wembley.  Dempsey came on in the 69th minute, but by then a couple of mistakes had already put Fulham in a 3-1 whole.  They were unable to climb their way back, with Tottenham winning by that same score.  With safety in the league essentially secured, Deuce and company can now shift their primary focus to Wolfsburg in the Europa League quarterfinals.  USMNT fans uninterested in the fortunes of the Cottagers can at least be happy that Deuce is getting a good chunk of minutes each game and looks to be on his way back to top form and fitness.

In Scotland, DaMarcus Beasley and Maurice Edu had to deal with similar cup disappoint, as Rangers crashed out of the Scottish Cup with a 1-0 loss to Dundee United.  Beasley and Edu went the full 90 in the loss, which spoils the chances of a domestic treble for the Glasgow club.  Both players looked comfortable on the ball, with Beasley serving in a couple of dangerous balls in the final third, but on the whole the Rangers attack just wasn't clicking well, allowing Dundee United to pull off the upset.  Once again, though, American fans will be pleased that both of these guys (who now look likely to be headed to South Africa) logged a lot of minutes on the day.

A bright spot on the day was Tim Howard, who kept a clean sheet in a road victory over Manchester City today.  The Toffees pulled off a 2-0 win against the Champions League hopefuls, with Howard picking up four saves along the way.  Worth mentioning is that Howard landed pretty hard on his hip at one point, looking like he was going to need a substitution before eventually just playing on.  He finished the match, but looked to be laboring a little.  At this point I haven't heard anything, so hopefully it's nothing more than a bruise.

Last, but not least, Jay DeMerit went the full 90 in Watford's 2-1 road loss to Sheffield Wednesday.  American fans can breath easy now knowing that the back injury that kept DeMerit out of weekend play wasn't too serious.  DeMerit, however, will be worrying about his team's position in the table; the Hornets have plummeted in the standings, sitting just three points clear of the drop zone now.
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Injured/Did Not Play

Frank Simek (unused substitute)
Brad Guzan (unused substitute)
Oguchi Onyewu (knee injury)
Charlie Davies (multiple injuries)

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June Madness

It's that time of year where even the most casual of basketball fans find themselves engrossed with the annual excitement that is March Madness.  As I've been watching Northern Iowa and Cornell dance their way to the Sweet 16 and teams like Villanova and Georgetown crash out, I've thought about what it'd be like if soccer's biggest tournament was structured the same way.  32 teams, single elimination, like the NCAA tournament and so many domestic cup competitions across the globe.  Naturally, as someone always looking for a topic to post on, I decided to take this idea and forward and formulate my own bracket for this summer's World Cup.  Never before did I realize just how difficult it is to be on the seeding committee.

So here's the bracket I came up with, with my predictions going through as well (which I'll get to in a minute, though I'm sure you won't be able to resist peeking at, then double-taking to make sure read that last one correctly): (click to enlarge)

Naturally, as is always the case with the NCAA tournament, there were some seeding controversies.  The big "conferences" (UEFA and CONMEBOL) got a lot of respect in the seedings due to their strength of schedule and high position in the rankings, while the lesser known "mid-major conferences" (the rest) were pushed towards the bottom end, with only a few Butler/Gonzaga-esque standouts earning seeds in the top half of their region (USA, Australia).  Some teams were happy, others not so much, but in the end, the seeding committee had the final say.

To blend these two tournaments even better, I would propose that Dick Vitale and Ray Hudson share the booth for all 31 matches.  I don't know if any useful information would actually be conveyed throughout, but it sure as hell would be entertaining listening to that duo try to one-up each other before one of them eventually bursts (my money is on Hudson).

With that, my predictions for my predicted bracket (because I can):

First Round Predictions and Analysis:

As is the case with March Madness, there are a handful of upsets in the first round.  #6 Japan knock off #3 Ivory Coast, while South Korea and Portugal advance as #5s over a pair of #4s that have faded towards the end of the season (qualification; France and Slovakia).  Slovenia also pulls off a mild upset, knocking off the Swiss en route to the second round.  Everything else is chalk, with the USA moving on past it's difficult opening round match after pulling out a heart-stopping victory over a far from impressive (but still very talented) Argentina side. 

Sweet 16 Predictions and Analysis:

UEFA takes over, claiming five of the Elite 8 spots up for grabs.  Top seeds Brazil, Spain, and the Netherlands all move on, but England becomes the second victim in South Korea's Cinderella run (because every proper March Madness replica needs one).  The USA advances past a tough Denmark side because I'm picking with only some of my head and all of my heart (which is why my NCAA bracket this year is absolutely atrocious), while dark horse contenders Serbia set themselves up with a marquee showdown with the Confederations Cup champs.

Elite 8 Predictions and Analysis:

Spain gets a shot at vengeance against the USA, but...the USA wins again! (This is the type of homerism that annihilates my bracket annually.)  Germany, Brazil, and Italy round out the Final 4, making it a #1, two #2s, and a #3.  The USA and Germany square off in a rematch of their controversial quarterfinal clash back in 2002, while the last two World Cup champs collide on the other side of the bracket.  Spain and the Netherlands once again go home from the Big Dance empty handed.

Final 4 Predictions and Analysis:

How can you pick against Landon Donovan versus the Germans?  The chip on his shoulder would just be too huge.  Landon carries his team on his back, guiding them to victory and boosting his NBA Draft transfer window stock.  Upset city, as Cinderella keeps on dancing.  And Brazil tops an aging Italy side that has heavy legs late in the tournament.  Confederations Cup rematch in the final.

Championship Prediction:

USA wins a thriller and caps off the improbable run to the title.  What, did you think I was going to pick them all the way up to the finals and then change my mind?  You just pay attention to your bracket!


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You might say those predictions are moronic, stupid, idiotic, hopelessly wishful.

But hey, that's why they call it madness.

Let's just hope these predictions are a lot closer to reality than my NCAA ones were, or else Bob and co. will be heading home very early...

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Grateful for the Calm Before the Storm

Yes, with the World Cup drawing closer and nary a FIFA match day left, the pickins are slim for bloggers focusing on the USMNT.  Apart from the scandals that have afflicted a certain team (looking at you, Capello), the same concerns seem to apply to almost every team: playing time, form, and health ahead of South Africa.  Things are no different for the USMNT, with the recent MLS CBA eliminating a new storyline before it ever even became a reality. 

At some point, there are only so many roster analyses and predictions that can be done.  By now, we have a pretty good idea of who will be in the final 23 and a very good idea of who will be in the preliminary 30 man roster.  With many believing that Bob Bradley will declare his final 23 well before the final FIFA deadline, there isn't much left to do at this point other than track the form of the anticipated selections and hope for good health.  Only serious injuries will really bring up some serious talking points for bloggers like myself, but as a fan first, I will sacrifice days of easy topics in favor of a "boring", injury-free spring. 

We'll see plenty of the same stuff over the next couple of months: Landon's MLS form, Gooch's return to AC Milan, and Charlie Davies' return to full health, in addition to the weekly reviews of form and playing time.  Most of it will be driven into the ground, with post after post across the web each and every week.  While it will consume us all for the next couple of months, it's hard to deny that we're hyper-analyzing everything to this point.  It's just the nature of the beast; in a World Cup year, we all get a little (okay, very) crazy.  Sometimes it creates some unnecessarily fierce debate, sometimes it robs us of a peaceful afternoon, and sometimes it has us wearing out the refresh button looking for updates.  It might seem pointless to an outsider, but it's just us showing how much we care in the final crescendo to a four-year fortissimo. 

But hey, a couple months of comparative monotony (which is exactly what this is in comparison to the up and down year of qualification and international tournaments that we just went through) isn't all that bad when you look at the uncertainty that a few teams are dealing with.  Of course, England's locker room woes are well documented, but it's their former boss that's now making a splash.  That's because today, Sven Goran Eriksson reportedly agreed to fill the coaching vacancy of Cote d'Ivoire, giving him less then three months to become acclimated with the talents and tendencies of an entire player pool. 

For those unfamiliar with the situation, the Ivorian FA happened to fire a successful coach after one poor result (sounds kind of like those countless cries to can Bradley, doesn't it?).  Now, thanks to that seemingly trigger-happy decision, the Elephants are suddenly much more of a question mark than the dark horse contender that more than a few pundits pegged them to be less than a year ago.  Say what you will about Sunil Gulati, the USSF, and Bob Bradley, but I for one am so happy that those in charge have far cooler heads that those in Cote d'Ivoire, not too mention many in the USMNT fan base.  The allure of Guus and Jurgen had more than a few still calling for change at the start of the new year, and exponentially more doing so back in '09.  While a change at either of those points still wouldn't have been nearly as disruptive as what the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire are currently dealing with, I can't help but think that such a change ultimately would have been more trouble than it would have been worth.  Bob Bradley has been successful to this point, albeit not very pretty, and a change would have been fueled more by wishful thinking than actual necessity.  Sunil and co. didn't mess with success, and now we find ourselves in a pretty stable situation heading into the stretch run.  It is certainly far better than what Cote d'Ivoire is going through. 

So, I'll gladly take the monotony of Bob Bradley, continuity, and a fairly established final 23 over the chaos and questions that other teams have to face.  While it doesn't do me any favors as a writer, making me work a little harder to come up with topics each day around these parts, it helps me rest easy as a fan, which is what I am first and foremost.  We often lambaste the USSF for things both within and beyond their control, but sometimes it's worth noting a bright spot here and there.  They may not have secured a marquee head coach way back in 2006, but they found one that has gotten the job done effectively, and they didn't step in to mess with that along the way.  I've heard plenty "experts" say we're far behind in our development as a "proper footballing nation", but when I look at countries who fire successful coaches because of a blip on the radar and put their fortunes in the coaching equivalent of Russian roulette, it just seems like some of those more "established" nations are the ones who could learn a thing or two from the new kid on the block. 

Maybe I'm just a fool who doesn't understand the complexities of the situation, how a breath of fresh air can invigorate a team just months before they hit the big stage.  Maybe I'm just a little too wary of late change, or maybe I too steadfastly hold to the old "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" adage.  All of that could very well be true.  But there's one thing that I know for sure: I'm not losing sleep about the USMNT's situation in these final months before the World Cup.  The big pieces are in place, and everything seems to be going as well as we could hope for.  It's not flashy, it's not exciting, but it's pretty comforting. 

I'm sure fans in Cote d'Ivoire wish they could say the same. 

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MLS Players That USMNT Fans Should Keep An Eye On In 2010

Well, we had to sweat it out, but the MLS season will go ahead without any delay thanks to the new CBA that was signed this past weekend.  Up until this point, I was hesitant to dedicate much time to any MLS previews, but now that everything is back on track, I'm ready to give you some thoughts on the season that lies ahead.

Whether they are prospects for future cycles, 2010 World Cup hopefuls, or USMNT regulars, there are plenty of MLS players that USMNT fans should keep an eye on throughout the 2010 season.  Here are a few worth keeping track of:

The Rookies

Several prominent US youth players have made the jump to the professional ranks this offseason, most notably Luis Gil, Jack McInerney, and Ike Opara.  Gil was the last of the three to sign with MLS, opting to stay Stateside rather than move to Europe and securing a move to Real Salt Lake after initially being allocated to Kansas City.  The way RSL's midfield stacks up, I can't see Gil getting too many minutes in league play, with mop up minutes in a blow out being one possible exception.  Gil will likely earn most of his minutes (if, that is, he does get any) in Open Cup or CONCACAF Champions League play, but once again, that will most likely be in a late game substitute role.  While some may question the wisdom of signing a pro deal and missing out on valuable game experience at this critical juncture in development, I won't say that Gil's decision to turn pro was a bad one.  After all, player development varies on a case-by-case basis, and training in a pro environment closer to home may be better for Gil in the long run than a stint overseas.  Only time will tell. 

McInerney, meanwhile, steps into a pretty good situation in Philadelphia under the tutelage of Piotr Nowak, who happened to be at the helm when another youth star made the jump to the pro ranks with good success (Freddy Adu).  He's had a solid preseason with the Union and seems to be in a better position to earn some minutes than his U-17 teammate.  As it stands, McInerney is fourth in the forward depth chart, so an injury or two would put him closer to the playing field.  Like Gil, US Open Cup play will likely be where McInerney earns most of his minutes to start out, but I could see him earning substitute minutes in league play somewhat regularly in the second half of the season.

Opara joins a San Jose Earthquakes team that allowed the most goals in all of MLS last season.  Last season, it was another rookie center back successfully stepping into a shambolic defense and eventually winning rookie of the year, Omar Gonzalez, so Opara's youth and the comparative defensive struggles of his team in seasons past doesn't necessarily preclude a great transition into the pro game.  Along with his U-20 center back partner Gale Agbossoumonde, Opara is considered to be a top center back prospect for the future, so USMNT fans should keep an on the Bay Area as the Wake Forest product kicks off his career.

The Second and Third Year Starlets


After his aforementioned Rookie of the Year campaign, Omar Gonzalez will be looking to turn in a strong sophomore season with the LA Galaxy.  Like Opara and Agbossoumonde, his name is being thrown around as a future center back prospect with the national team, and his promising start to his professional career earned him some time at USMNT camp this past offseason. While his time with national team may not come until a couple of years down the road thanks to a solidified group of regulars at that position, USMNT fans should definitely keep track of his progress over this season.

DC United forward Chris Pontius is another player coming off of a strong rookie year looking to continue his success in 2010.  Like Gonzalez, his solid play last season earned him a call into USMNT camp this past winter, and another quality season will likely push him further up in the national team forward pool, which Yanks fans are quickly realizing is not very deep at this point in time.

The player that I am most eager to see this season is Houston's Geoff Cameron.  Cameron has progressed very nicely over the course of his first two professional seasons, and his versatility makes him an enticing USMNT prospect.  With Stuart Holden and Ricardo Clark gone, Cameron will likely have a much bigger burden to bear, and it will be interesting to see if he can step up and be "the man" for the Dynamo.  He showed some promising signs in his first cap a month ago, and if he can continue his rapid development, I expect him to earn plenty more caps in the future. 

The Veterans

After a checkered stint with Hansa Rostock and a couple of months without a club, Heath Pearce reinvigorated his career by signing with FC Dallas and contributing over the final month and half of the 2009 season.  His revival earned him a cap in February, in which he was one of the bright spots on the field.  His strong wing play earned him another appearance against the Netherlands a week later, and he now looks to have to inside track on the final outside back spot on the World Cup roster.  A strong start to the MLS season should earn him a ticket to South Africa.  At just 25 years of age, Pearce still has plenty of years ahead of him, and LB continues to be a weak point in the roster, so USMNT fans should also keep an eye on him for future cycles as well as this one.  



Robbie Findley, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from a string of underwhelming performances with the USMNT this winter as he and RSL look to defend their 2009 MLS Cup title.  At just 24 years old, Findley still needs a good deal of polishing before he can shine at the international level, but he's been making some nice strides in his three MLS seasons to this point.  As stated before, the forward pool is fairly thin at this point, so Findley will remain on the USMNT radar if he can put in another quality club campaign.    
 
And, of course, what USMNT-centric MLS preview would be complete without mentioning Landon Donovan.  Whether you're happy about it or not, Donovan's time at Everton is done, and his final months leading up to the World Cup will be spent in Los Angeles rather than Liverpool.  American fans can at least take solace in the fact that he will have games to play in, thanks to the new CBA.  Donovan is in the midst of his most impressive year as a professional, and every single one of us will be keeping tabs on him over the course of the next couple of months, hoping that his fine form continues and that he stays healthy ahead of South Africa.

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Well that's it for now.  I'm sure I missed someone noteworthy along the way, so consider this more of a brief overview rather than an all-encompassing post.  Believe it or not, the MLS season opener is just a few days away, so let's make up for some lost time and get pumped for what promises to be another great year.

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Yanks in Europe: Silverware for Mo and DMB

Maurice Edu and DaMarcus Beasley became the first USMNT players to lift a trophy in 2010, as Rangers defeated St. Mirren by a score of 1-0 in the CIS Insurance Cup final (Scottish League Cup).  Edu came on as a halftime sub, while Beasley did not feature in the match. 

Edu was very lively throughout the second half, covering a lot of ground and winning a couple of set piece opportunities.  His task to control the center of the field was made all the more difficult by a 52nd minute red card to teammate Kevin Thomson and a 71st minute red to Danny Wilson.  With Rangers reduced to 9 men and the score still level at 0-0, Edu and company still pressed forward for the game-winner.  They eventually found it in the 84th via Kenny Miller, giving them the dramatic victory and another piece of silverware for their already crowded trophy case.

Edu looked very smooth and confident on the ball despite the relative chaos of the second half, and he was all the over the field, turning in a genuine box-to-box performance.  All in all, another positive step forward for Edu, who now looks to be in the lead for the USMNT's starting defensive midfielder role thanks to his rise and Ricardo Clark's stagnation. 

Elsewhere on the British Isles, Clint Dempsey came on in the 52nd of Fulham's match against Manchester City.  Coming on for Bobby Zamora, Dempsey played as a target striker for most of his time on the field.  Fulham managed to pull one back in the second half and nearly tied it up late, but a ball that was headed for a wide open Dempsey just eight yards out was knocked away with a hand that the referee didn't spot.  It denied the Cottagers a point and denied Dempsey another tally. 

USMNT fans should be pleased with the way Roy Hodgson is handling Dempsey's return from injury.  Rather than tossing him back into the fray as a starter, Hodgson has been using Deuce almost exclusively as a second half sub.  This seems to be paying dividends in the short term, as Dempsey is looking more and more confident on the ball, and it will hopefully help keep him healthy in the long run with South Africa now less than three months away.

There was one last player in action today, though I'm sure more than a few of you have already concluded that his World Cup dreams are over (and I really couldn't blame you, at this point).  Eddie Johnson started and went 90 minutes for Aris in their 1-1 draw today.  Aris were outplayed, but managed to secure a road draw thanks to a goal from, you guessed it, Eddie Johnson.  The goal, which can be seen here, was a nice bit of finishing from EJ (no, seriously), who hit a skipping pass first time just inside the near post to give his side the lead.  Later in the game, Eddie made some good runs to put himself in position for a couple of more scoring opportunities, but he was unable to make it a brace.  It was a good game for EJ, and regardless of where he stands with the USMNT, I'm glad the guy scored a goal today; the look of joy on his face and those of his teammates says a lot about how hard he's pressing and how much they want him to succeed.  Kind of reminds of his days at Cardiff City.
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Injured/Did Not Play

Jay DeMerit was not in the Watford match day squad, after suffering some sort of back injury.  They don't say how serious it is in that article, but I feel like if it was very serious, that would've said so.  For the sake of all our sanity, let's hope I'm right, or else we might spiral back into the injury panic that we've only just climbed out of.

Jay DeMerit (back injury)
Oguchi Onyewu (knee injury)
Benny Feilhaber (ankle injury)
Freddy Adu (unused substitute)
DaMarcus Beasley (unused substitute)

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Yanks in Europe: Still No Rico

What George H. Cohen is to MLS labor negotiations, Yanks in Europe posts are to Saturdays (or something like that).  Enjoy:

In their first game without Landon Donovan since the beginning of the new year, Everton took on Bolton today, with Tim Howard getting the start in goal, as usual.  Bolton were without Stuart Holden, who is now cast-free and walking just a couple of weeks after breaking his leg on USMNT duty.  The Toffees' attack looked like it was clearly missing Donovan's presence throughout the opening 45 or so, but they eventually found a pair of second half goals en route to a 2-0 win.  Howard was solid in the clean sheet victory, controlling his box and making three saves along the way.

 Marcus Hahnemann also got the start for Wolves in their match with Aston Villa this morning.  His team was just minutes away from a fantastic upset win, but John Carew leveled the score in the 82nd minute to secure a 2-2 draw.  Hahnemann couldn't do a thing about either goal, making just one save on the day.  Worth mentioning is the play of Ashley Young, who is one of the favorites to replace David Beckham in the English squad after his Achilles injury.  With Fabio Capello in attendance, Young turned in a great performance, putting in a lot of quality service from the wing and causing problems for the Wolves defense.

A bright spot on the day was Jonathan Spector, who had a very nice showing in West Ham's 2-0 loss to Arsenal.  He played 90 minutes at RB, doing an admirable job keeping a couple of talented Gunners in check.  He made a couple of crucial blocks in the final third, and also added some nice service and supporting runs in the attack.  All in all, a good day for Spector against a tough opponent.

Spector's main competition for the starting RB spot with the USMNT, Steve Cherundolo, also earned some minutes today, coming on as a halftime substitute in Hannover's 2-0 loss to Stuttgart.  Stuttgart added a second goal just nine minutes after Cherundolo had come on, but he was not involved in the play.  He picked up a yellow card in the 58th minute for a bad tackle, with his side dropping into the relegation zone with the result.  They are in a particularly precarious position at this point, with a tougher schedule than 17th place Freiburg down the stretch. 

Last, but not least, Carlos Bocanegra went 90 minutes at LB for Stade Rennes in their 4-1 win over Toulouse.  He was not involved in the lone goal allowed, playing another solid game for Les Rouges et Noirs. 

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Injured/Did Not Play

It seemed as if everything was set up perfectly for Ricardo Clark to make his Bundesliga debut, with three Frankfurt midfielders unavailable due to cards.  Unfortunately, he once again did not get off the substitutes' bench in Frankfurt's 2-1 victory over the league leaders. 

Also of note, Jozy Altidore was not in the match day squad for Hull City.  It's being reported that he suffered a minor injury late in the week, so USMNT fans shouldn't panic quite yet about Hull's managerial change negatively affecting Jozy's minutes.

Ricardo Clark (unused substitute)
Brad Guzan (unused substitute)
Stuart Holden (broken leg)
Jozy Altidore (minor injury)
Frank Simek (unused substitute)
Charlie Davies (multiple injuries)

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Chuck (Norris) Deezy

Charlie Davies once kicked a horse in the chin.  It's descendants are known today as giraffes.

Charlie Davies can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass.  At night.

Charlie Davies can slam a revolving door.


Yes, thanks to his miraculous recovery, Charlie Davies is now the subject of jokes that were once exclusively dedicated to Chuck Norris.  "Miraculous" doesn't even do it justice; this was unbelievable in every sense of the word.  I still can't honestly believe that he is where he is today after what happened just five short months ago.  From near death to training with Sochaux.  Un-freakin-believable.

At this point, are there any questions about whether he'll  be in South Africa?  I mean, of course getting into shape and form will be one last hurdle, but after all he's done, do you really think that is going to stop him? We're talking about the same guy who counted to infinity.  Twice.

And he isn't alone; it seems like every key USMNT player who's suffered an injury has made an absolutely seamless recovery: Gooch, Dempsey, DeMerit, Ricardo Clark, etc.  Now, Benny Feilhaber and Stuart Holden look to be on that same smooth path to full health, with Feilhaber resuming training this week and Holden getting his cast removed today.  Whatever higher power you believe in, thank them some time, because we have been dodging bullet after bullet over the past year.

To this point, I've been very cautious about expressing any kind of optimism in terms of Davies, out of the always looming fear of jinxing it.  But hell, I just can't help it.  His stunningly rapid recovery not only has me believing that he will play in South Africa; it even has me entertaining those hopelessly hopeful beliefs that this is indeed a team of destiny.  The fantastic draw.  England's injury and scandal chaos.  Landon's stellar loan.  All of the recoveries.  Screw coincidence, something else is going on here.

I could take the pessimistic approach and worry that all of this will just build us up for a huge let down in a few months, and most days I do have those fears.  I'll probably be back to my rational, reserved self tomorrow.  But for today, at least, I'm going with the glass-filled-to-the-top approach. Davies will be training with his club next week, and I have faith that he will be training with the USMNT in May.


Charlie Davies is the reason Waldo is hiding.

Charlie Davies can do a wheelie on a unicycle.

Charlie Davies can score a goal against England in a USMNT World Cup win.


That last one isn't a joke.

 

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Yanks in Europe: Great Goal From the Only Yank Left In Europe

Once again, apologies for the lack of posts over the past two days, I've been really busy with some other non-blogging things.  With that being said, here's a midweek Yanks in Europe post and video for your enjoyment:

I call these posts Yanks in Europe, but at this point in the season, it's been widdled down to just one Yank in Europe.  Don't worry, Michael Bradley and Tim Howard and all of the others are still plying their trade across the pond; what I'm referring to is the fact that Clint Dempsey is the lone American still active in either European club competition.  With AC Milan bowing out of the Champions League and Everton stumbling against Sporting, only Deuce was left standing, with Fulham and storied Italian side Juventus matching up in the Europa League Round of 16.  Going into today's match, Fulham were trailing 3-1 on aggregate, and a second minute Juve goal built what seemed like an insurmountable lead for the visitors.  By the early second half, however, Fulham had knotted up the aggregate score at 4-4.  Searching for the go-ahead goal, Roy Hodgson brought on Dempsey in the 71st minute, and what a move that turned out to be. 

Just 11 minutes after coming on, the former New England Revolution star sent Craven Cottage into a frenzy with a display of pure class.  From just outside the area, Dempsey turned and hit a perfectly weighted chip over GK Antonio Chimenti's head and into the side netting.  I've heard a few comments here and there from some people who thought this beauty was nothing more than a mishit cross, but I have no doubt that this was a shot all the way.  See for yourself:



The spectacular goal gave Fulham a 5-4 aggregate lead that they would not surrender, allowing them to progress on to the quarterfinals of the Europa League.  They will find out their next opponent tomorrow afternoon following UEFA's draw.

USMNT fans should be ecstatic with how quickly Dempsey has been able to return and contribute at the club level so soon after such an injury.  His health and this highlight are fantastic, but what has me most excited is the fact that Dempsey is playing with confidence at this juncture (which shouldn't be taken for granted given some players' slow progress in regaining form and confidence after a long layoff).  You don't try the audacious shot that he tried today unless you're playing with a little bit of a swagger.  With the national team, a confident Dempsey brings some sorely needed creativity and flair, as well as some bite and edge that can be contagious throughout the team (not to mention it helps keep him from fading out for long stretches of a game).  Let's hope that he carries that attitude throughout the rest of the club season and into South Africa. 

For now, though, we can just sit back and watch this highlight reel goal over and over again...

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USSD Archives: Conor F***ing Casey...

I've been unable to write anything over the past two days due to a busy schedule (which will hopefully change tonight), but here's a post out of the archives that harkens back to a very memorable and unexpected evening.  Enjoy the stroll down memory lane.

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Conor f***ing Casey.

I don't know how many times I muttered that to myself when I first saw the lineups for the USA-Honduras World Cup qualifier last October. Packed into a bar like sardines, fans around me tried to convince themselves that they misread the lineups, which would have been understandable given the less-than-stellar quality of the stream. But, alas, there he was at the opening whistle, his unmistakable bald head reflecting the floodlights as the match got underway.

Heading into the game in San Pedro Sula, I don't think any USMNT fan would have preferred Conor Casey getting the start over Jozy Altidore in this pivotal road qualifier. In his Confederations Cup appearances, Casey looked slow and clumsy, making little impact on any game he entered. So who would want that over Altidore, who has shown the ability to change a game with a fantastic finish? Questions like these raced around the bar, with more than a few taking the all too common "Bob Bradley is an idiot" route. Within a couple minutes, though, the game settled in, and the Casey conversation took a backseat.

For the time being.

It didn't take long for people to jump all over the burly Colorado Rapids striker, chastising him whenever a touch went astray or a pass was intercepted. As I watched, though, I found myself being somewhat surprised, dare I say pleasantly pleased, by a few things Casey was able to do. In management, it's referred to as the "salience effect"; when your expectations of someone are so set, that anything even remotely above (or below) those expectations are viewed as a massive upgrade (or downgrade). Was Casey's pass to spring Stuart Holden in the first half that led to Charlie Davies' point-blank header a world-class bit of skill and patience? No, but when you factor in the relatively low expectations, it was a moment of brilliance.



I would have been happy with Casey's performance just based on what he did in the opening 45. He held the ball up a few times, made a couple of good passes to free wing midfielders, and he didn't completely derail the US attack. The game was still tied 0-0, and a draw in Honduras wouldn't have been a bad result by any means. Despite his relatively solid showing, Casey was immediately the topic of conversation after Honduras' opening goal in the 47th minute. Fans around me called for Jozy Altidore to enter the game at once, feeling that the best chance for an equalizer was on the bench, not on the field.

And then it happened. Conor f***ing Casey. The last person that any USMNT fan expected to make a huge play stepped up and silenced Estadio Metropolitano, while simultaneously sending throngs of USMNT fans into a state of euphoric disbelief. People tried to explain what seemed like an impossibility, but could not muster much more than just "Conor f***ing Casey."

His first career international goal put the US in a position to earn a tough road result in a nerve-wracking conclusion to a tight final round of CONCACAF qualification. It was a goal you would expect of Conor Casey: brash, physical, and ugly. He could have exited the game in the 51st minute as a hero, exceeding the expectations of everyone outside of the USMNT camp and the Casey household. But he wasn't done defying expectations yet. Just 16 minutes later, Casey showed a side to his game that USMNT fans have not had much of a chance to see. A beautiful pass from Landon Donovan found his feet just behind the last defender, and the New Hampshire native once again left every USMNT fan dumbfounded and exuberant.

It was a finish fit for the world's biggest stage. The delicate first touch off of the Donovan pass, the subtle feint to get the Honduras keeper off balance, and the cool finish into the corner. It was something that fans would have expected out of Charlie Davies or Jozy Altidore. But instead it was Casey, the much-maligned target forward, vaulting himself into USMNT folklore with his unfathomably clutch performance.



Landon Donovan added a third goal just five minutes later, and the rest, as they say, is history. The USMNT stole a win from the unfriendly confines of Estadio Metropolitano, where Honduras had been unbeaten in 2010 CONCACAF qualifying to that point, and clinched a berth in their sixth consecutive World Cup. Casey was a near unanimous Man of the Match selection after choosing a fantastic time to have his best game in a USA jersey. The performance was cause for some optimism, a burgeoning little belief that Casey could be a solid forward at the international level. And for that one night, it was the reason why so many USMNT fans uttered just three words: "Conor f***ing Casey."

Just a couple days later, Casey reminded USMNT fans of his form prior to the Honduras match, missing a sitter nine minutes in that would have made the Charlie Davies tribute absolutely perfect. Fast forward a couple months and a a few lackluster showings, and Conor Casey has found himself once again to be the target of a great deal of criticism and castigation. The return to his previous status was not a great surprise to most, as it just validated their opinion that the October 10th brace was nothing more than a bizarre aberration.

With his performance in San Pedro Sula looking more and more like an anomaly as time goes on, it's hard to think of any bigger surprise from 2009 for the USMNT. The defeat of Spain and the incredible 3-0 victory over Egypt coupled with Brazil's 3-0 dismantling of Italy are certainly worthy of such a title, but for now, I'll let Conor Casey enjoy one more taste of glory (the copious amounts of glory that come with a USSD shout-out, at that). I think the US could beat a quality team like Spain in South Africa next summer, and I could see Bob Bradley's squad squeaking through to the knockout stages on an improbable couple of results, but I don't know if I can say in good faith that I think Conor Casey has another huge international game like that in him.

Just sitting here typing this, reminiscing about that thrilling victory, I can't help but smile and say it to myself a few more times: Conor f***ing Casey...

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