Tweet
HL I haven't heard your thoughts on the US-El Salvador friendly two nights ago. What did you think? Who improved their chances? Who is S.O.L?
I thought the game continues to show that the US 2nd 11 is considerably weaker than their first 11. The drop off is a bit unsettling. As well the young MLS based players are simply not ready for international play at this point. Eddie Gaven was the only exception.
Brian Ching was the class of the bunch. When he came on in the 2nd half he was head and shoulders above all others. His ability to play with his back to goal, combine with teammates and take advantage of his goalscoring opportunities says it all. He is not my favorite player due to his lack of any pace whatsoever but you cannot deny that his ability to solve pressure and be a presence on the field are characteristics that no other striker in the US pool can boast of. I always try to write off Ching but when healthy he is still a top 4 striker for team USA. I think he'll make the roster for the WC.
Now to the other striker who is really under the microscope. Robbie Findley...sorry but I have never been impressed with him. I always read how team USA is looking for a fast player to be a poor man's Charlie Davies but the truth is they have no player like that in the pool right now. I understand the desire to compare Findley to Davies but the truth is the only thing that he has in common with him is speed. After that the two could not be anymore different. The thing that I think fans forget is that Davies also has skill to go with that speed. He can also combine with teammates and is extremely busy on both sides of the ball. Robbie Findley brings none of that to the game. He just is not good enough. Interesting that Bradley decided to call him up for the friendly with Holland next week. Probably hoping that he can fit in with the first team or at minimum open up enough space for Donovan to run into. We shall see but I am not convinced.
Conor Casey rubbish.
Robbie Rogers even more rubbish. Seriously can we please stop calling this guy to the national team? I don't know how many times I have to watch the chicken with his head cut off waste chance after chance for the US. The guy should never wear a national team jersey ever again unless in one of those exhibition gold cups where no confed spot is up for grabs. I swear I find myself sounding like Karl everytime I watch him play. Makes me want to take my "soccer" ball and kick it through the tv screen while yelling "TEAM!"
I thought Pearce played one of his better national team games. While I know Castillo is sort of the one everyone wants to watch I don't see where he fits in as long as Pearce continues to play his normal solid self. Bornstein has pictures of Bob Bradley so he'll start no matter what.
Clarence Goodson I thought was excellent. He has really come on strong in his few chances with the national team. Making the jump to europe was a great decision for him. He would have died on the vine had he stayed at FC Dallas. Glad to see him get another call up.
Your boy Eddie Gaven played his tail off when he came on in the 2nd half. I am a bit dissapointed that Bradley did not give him another call up for the holland friendly. I understand why he did not call Ching as he already knows what he can do but why not give Gaven another look after what he did on wed? I mean he was dangerous every minute he was on the field.
Kyle Beckerman can forget going to SA. He brings nothing special to the group.
Sacha Klejstan (sp?)...this another one I want to see left home. His new nickname is "black hole" because whenever the ball goes to him you know it is lost forever. This is another player who has pictures of Bob Bradley.
Interesting to see that Eddie Johnson was called up for the Netherlands game. I would have thought that after Rogers and Findley were god awful that Freddy might have gotten the call as well but I just don't he's BB's type of player. Or maybe when you have Feilhaber and Torres who are playing regularly for their clubs Adu is surplus. Would like to see him make the end of the US roster for SA but he needs to put together a good spring with Aris for that to happen.
Allright last point in my rambling.....How does BB leave Brad Friedel off the WC roster? Seriously you don't have to start him but why not take him? I know he retired as he wanted to extend his club career but he would not turn down a call up to SA. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has been simply awesome the last few years including this one for club. If I am Bradley I call him up and let him decide whether to turn it down. - T.K.
I thought the game continues to show that the US 2nd 11 is considerably weaker than their first 11. The drop off is a bit unsettling. As well the young MLS based players are simply not ready for international play at this point. Eddie Gaven was the only exception.
Brian Ching was the class of the bunch. When he came on in the 2nd half he was head and shoulders above all others. His ability to play with his back to goal, combine with teammates and take advantage of his goalscoring opportunities says it all. He is not my favorite player due to his lack of any pace whatsoever but you cannot deny that his ability to solve pressure and be a presence on the field are characteristics that no other striker in the US pool can boast of. I always try to write off Ching but when healthy he is still a top 4 striker for team USA. I think he'll make the roster for the WC.
Now to the other striker who is really under the microscope. Robbie Findley...sorry but I have never been impressed with him. I always read how team USA is looking for a fast player to be a poor man's Charlie Davies but the truth is they have no player like that in the pool right now. I understand the desire to compare Findley to Davies but the truth is the only thing that he has in common with him is speed. After that the two could not be anymore different. The thing that I think fans forget is that Davies also has skill to go with that speed. He can also combine with teammates and is extremely busy on both sides of the ball. Robbie Findley brings none of that to the game. He just is not good enough. Interesting that Bradley decided to call him up for the friendly with Holland next week. Probably hoping that he can fit in with the first team or at minimum open up enough space for Donovan to run into. We shall see but I am not convinced.
Conor Casey rubbish.
Robbie Rogers even more rubbish. Seriously can we please stop calling this guy to the national team? I don't know how many times I have to watch the chicken with his head cut off waste chance after chance for the US. The guy should never wear a national team jersey ever again unless in one of those exhibition gold cups where no confed spot is up for grabs. I swear I find myself sounding like Karl everytime I watch him play. Makes me want to take my "soccer" ball and kick it through the tv screen while yelling "TEAM!"
I thought Pearce played one of his better national team games. While I know Castillo is sort of the one everyone wants to watch I don't see where he fits in as long as Pearce continues to play his normal solid self. Bornstein has pictures of Bob Bradley so he'll start no matter what.
Clarence Goodson I thought was excellent. He has really come on strong in his few chances with the national team. Making the jump to europe was a great decision for him. He would have died on the vine had he stayed at FC Dallas. Glad to see him get another call up.
Your boy Eddie Gaven played his tail off when he came on in the 2nd half. I am a bit dissapointed that Bradley did not give him another call up for the holland friendly. I understand why he did not call Ching as he already knows what he can do but why not give Gaven another look after what he did on wed? I mean he was dangerous every minute he was on the field.
Kyle Beckerman can forget going to SA. He brings nothing special to the group.
Sacha Klejstan (sp?)...this another one I want to see left home. His new nickname is "black hole" because whenever the ball goes to him you know it is lost forever. This is another player who has pictures of Bob Bradley.
Interesting to see that Eddie Johnson was called up for the Netherlands game. I would have thought that after Rogers and Findley were god awful that Freddy might have gotten the call as well but I just don't he's BB's type of player. Or maybe when you have Feilhaber and Torres who are playing regularly for their clubs Adu is surplus. Would like to see him make the end of the US roster for SA but he needs to put together a good spring with Aris for that to happen.
Allright last point in my rambling.....How does BB leave Brad Friedel off the WC roster? Seriously you don't have to start him but why not take him? I know he retired as he wanted to extend his club career but he would not turn down a call up to SA. He is one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has been simply awesome the last few years including this one for club. If I am Bradley I call him up and let him decide whether to turn it down. - T.K.
Comment