"I don't think we quit. I don't think we quit.... I'm sure, from a coaching standpoint, it looked like we quit."
Not such great news for the Yanks from tonight's friendly against Morocco in that great capital of world soccer, Nashville. Arena started the match with what was probably, in his opinion, his strongest XI. (TDH might have plugged Bocanegra into the defense, but otherwise it does seem pretty close to the best XI.)
Within a few blinks of an eye, Captain America was grabbing his right thigh and Maestro Mastroeni came on - solid player, but not half so influential. To make a long story short, Sam's Army couldn't score against a middling team on home soil. And after Arena took off Onyewu - perhaps our most talented defender - it didn't take long for the squad to concede a soft goal after some sloppy play by his replacement on the right, Clint "Make My" Dempsey.
There were a couple of bright spots. Johnny O seems to be dropping great balls in over the top, as he did in 2002. "Fast" Eddie Johnson came close with a header, which suggests the US could do well with a vintage Toon-style lineup of two big forwards. Brian "The Head" McBride may finally have found his partner.
But Arena puzzlingly said after the game that the US was "leg-weary" and "overtrained," which hardly bodes well for the next friendly... on Friday against Venezuela. That's a must-win for the US, if only because losing will lead to a decade's worth of chiding from this guy. What a nightmare.
---
Kuyt to Tyneside? Hey, sounds like Roeder's keeping his eyes open for hot young talent, and he's got some money to spend - both good signs. And any striker fancied by Van Basten has to be worth a bit of dosh. But let's wait until next month and see how the Dutchman stacks up to a certain equine compatriot who's also on the market. Now, if only someone would buy Luque....
Within a few blinks of an eye, Captain America was grabbing his right thigh and Maestro Mastroeni came on - solid player, but not half so influential. To make a long story short, Sam's Army couldn't score against a middling team on home soil. And after Arena took off Onyewu - perhaps our most talented defender - it didn't take long for the squad to concede a soft goal after some sloppy play by his replacement on the right, Clint "Make My" Dempsey.
There were a couple of bright spots. Johnny O seems to be dropping great balls in over the top, as he did in 2002. "Fast" Eddie Johnson came close with a header, which suggests the US could do well with a vintage Toon-style lineup of two big forwards. Brian "The Head" McBride may finally have found his partner.
But Arena puzzlingly said after the game that the US was "leg-weary" and "overtrained," which hardly bodes well for the next friendly... on Friday against Venezuela. That's a must-win for the US, if only because losing will lead to a decade's worth of chiding from this guy. What a nightmare.
---
Kuyt to Tyneside? Hey, sounds like Roeder's keeping his eyes open for hot young talent, and he's got some money to spend - both good signs. And any striker fancied by Van Basten has to be worth a bit of dosh. But let's wait until next month and see how the Dutchman stacks up to a certain equine compatriot who's also on the market. Now, if only someone would buy Luque....
posted by Daniel Altman at 5:01 AM
2 Comments:
If you try wait for Kuyt, you'll lose him. Not to be harsh, but if Liverpool made a competing bid, you don't have a hope in hell of getting him. You've got to strike quickly.
He's younger than Seabiscuit, too.
I liked your blog, thanks for sharing this.
Post a Comment
<< Home