Hey, anyone want to offer any thoughts on this upcoming USMNT/Guatemala scenario Wednesday night? (8 p.m., ESPN Classic)
Sorry about saying scenario. Even though he sold out and went to Sirius radio I can't get the Mad Dog Russo nomenclature out of my mind. Saying things like, "a bad job by me" or "big spot" roll off the tongue like a James Hetfield bark.
Allow me offer another "Dog-ism" to describe the U.S./Guatemala match -- "Show some guts."
Okay, let me explain. This game means nothing, absolutely nothing for the U.S. Yet it does mean a lot to Guatemala, which needs to upset the USMNT outside Denver and pray Trinidad and Tobago loses to Cuba. Actually the only real drama in CONCACAF is in Group Two, where Mexico, Honduras and Jamaica are all still alive. Even that's not a ton of drama, since for El Tri to be eliminated they'd have to lose to Honduras and have Jamaica make up seven goals in goal differential.
Where I want to see some guts from Bob Bradley's team is not to let the Guatemalans get away with their dirty tactics. Yes, beating them would be the ultimate answer, but it would be nice for the U.S. to show it's not soft.
Let's face it, despite owning CONCACAF this decade, are the U.S. truly feared? Sure the U.S. has talent and resources in spades compared to the minnows of the region, but are they that afraid to play against the Stars and Stripes? Maybe this is just me, but the Yanks seem a little too nice. Maybe that's a reflection of the team, and to a lesser extent a certain player who's not in the lineup and is currently trying to latch on with Bayern Munich.
At least Pablo Mastreoni and Ricardo Clark in in the squad and for once I wouldn't mind seeing them play and accrue their usual red cards. Guatemala, after all, has stopped just short of throwing salt into the eyes of the U.S. players, akin to one of the most evil men the world has ever seen -- Mr. Fuji.
We don't need fights or two-foot tackles (well, Frankie Hedjuk is playing in the MLS final on the weekend) either. Let's just not let our guys get pushed around and goaded into anti-soccer.
Laying the smackdown on Guatemala on both the scoreboard and the post-game training table would mean something in an otherwise meaningless game for everyone except for Conor Casey's mom.
Other stuff
* Please Bob, please, turn Freddy Adu loose for the full 90 and let him do his thing.
* Well, we finally get Kenny Cooper...in a meaningless game. Not to plead again, but please let him start over Brian Ching, who's legs are about to fall off after the Dynamo's marathon summer.
* Welcome back Johnny Bornstein...you've been, well let's see...missed isn't the word I'm searching for. To a lesser extent, it's good to see Corey Gibbs is still alive.
* Weird roster breakdown and it has to be seen as a reward or early Christmas present for Bradley. Only Adu, Jozy Altidore and Sean Franklin are under 24 years old. Of the rest, Chicago's John Thorington is the guy I'd like to see play, but at 29 he doesn't have much of a future.
* Let's not forget, the U.S. did lose its last match, 2-1, to Trinidad.
* I can't even get worked up about tactics, aside from Adu, Altidore and Cooper how many players on this roster are going to be actual factors in the final stage of 2010 qualification? I can't even fault Bradley, really, why bring in guys for a meaningless game when the opponent might kill you with a flying elbow.
* Again, let's just get rid of Guatemala while we have the chance. The way it plays is an affront to the game. Maybe I'm being prejudiced as it does have a new coach in BenjamÃn Monterroso. Perhaps things will change, but I tend to doubt it as long as Carlos Ruiz is in the fold.
Sorry about saying scenario. Even though he sold out and went to Sirius radio I can't get the Mad Dog Russo nomenclature out of my mind. Saying things like, "a bad job by me" or "big spot" roll off the tongue like a James Hetfield bark.
Allow me offer another "Dog-ism" to describe the U.S./Guatemala match -- "Show some guts."
Okay, let me explain. This game means nothing, absolutely nothing for the U.S. Yet it does mean a lot to Guatemala, which needs to upset the USMNT outside Denver and pray Trinidad and Tobago loses to Cuba. Actually the only real drama in CONCACAF is in Group Two, where Mexico, Honduras and Jamaica are all still alive. Even that's not a ton of drama, since for El Tri to be eliminated they'd have to lose to Honduras and have Jamaica make up seven goals in goal differential.
Where I want to see some guts from Bob Bradley's team is not to let the Guatemalans get away with their dirty tactics. Yes, beating them would be the ultimate answer, but it would be nice for the U.S. to show it's not soft.
Let's face it, despite owning CONCACAF this decade, are the U.S. truly feared? Sure the U.S. has talent and resources in spades compared to the minnows of the region, but are they that afraid to play against the Stars and Stripes? Maybe this is just me, but the Yanks seem a little too nice. Maybe that's a reflection of the team, and to a lesser extent a certain player who's not in the lineup and is currently trying to latch on with Bayern Munich.
At least Pablo Mastreoni and Ricardo Clark in in the squad and for once I wouldn't mind seeing them play and accrue their usual red cards. Guatemala, after all, has stopped just short of throwing salt into the eyes of the U.S. players, akin to one of the most evil men the world has ever seen -- Mr. Fuji.
We don't need fights or two-foot tackles (well, Frankie Hedjuk is playing in the MLS final on the weekend) either. Let's just not let our guys get pushed around and goaded into anti-soccer.
Laying the smackdown on Guatemala on both the scoreboard and the post-game training table would mean something in an otherwise meaningless game for everyone except for Conor Casey's mom.
Other stuff
* Please Bob, please, turn Freddy Adu loose for the full 90 and let him do his thing.
* Well, we finally get Kenny Cooper...in a meaningless game. Not to plead again, but please let him start over Brian Ching, who's legs are about to fall off after the Dynamo's marathon summer.
* Welcome back Johnny Bornstein...you've been, well let's see...missed isn't the word I'm searching for. To a lesser extent, it's good to see Corey Gibbs is still alive.
* Weird roster breakdown and it has to be seen as a reward or early Christmas present for Bradley. Only Adu, Jozy Altidore and Sean Franklin are under 24 years old. Of the rest, Chicago's John Thorington is the guy I'd like to see play, but at 29 he doesn't have much of a future.
* Let's not forget, the U.S. did lose its last match, 2-1, to Trinidad.
* I can't even get worked up about tactics, aside from Adu, Altidore and Cooper how many players on this roster are going to be actual factors in the final stage of 2010 qualification? I can't even fault Bradley, really, why bring in guys for a meaningless game when the opponent might kill you with a flying elbow.
* Again, let's just get rid of Guatemala while we have the chance. The way it plays is an affront to the game. Maybe I'm being prejudiced as it does have a new coach in BenjamÃn Monterroso. Perhaps things will change, but I tend to doubt it as long as Carlos Ruiz is in the fold.
Labels: Soccer, USMNT, world cup qualifying
Anyway the USMNT and the UFC could do a little cross promotion? I can't think of anything more satisfying than watching Brock Lesnar chase around carlos ruiz for 90 minutes.
Mike Francesa is now completely unlistenable. But I couldn't help hearing his head explode for two hours yesterday as he ranted on the Steelers game/fix.
I'm guessing he lost a boatload on that one.
This seems like the perfect chance to try a 4-3-1-2, Jozy and Cooper up top with Adu in the hole behind them. Then you can use three hard nosed midfielders behind them to hand out the necessary punishment.
I enjoy these meaningless games more than a lot of the ones that matter because not only is the result in doubt (as opposed to 90% of the other US qualifiers) but it's not just the same 11 guys that we've seen for years.
It will be a good day for US soccer when Freddy Adu gets more minutes than Landon Donovan.