The Defenders Of The USA

I was reading Soccer By Ives and was looking at the probable list for the USMNT in Sout Africa next summer. For the first time I took a look at the list of the defenders and I have to say they don't exactly strike fear into any hearts do they?

This was the list by Ives. DEFENDERS- Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Spector, Steve Cherundolo, Chad Marshall, Clarence Goodson, Jonathan Bornstein

The mind wobbles, as Kelly Bundy was fond of saying. The only one that will be top quality come 2010 in my book is Spector. Gooch is going to see about zero playing time for A.C. Milan so will be useless. I don't even want to talk about the rest. Good guys who have their moments (Boca is finished) but above average is about the norm for them. We have more problems than left back folks. Wake up to this.

I want players like Demerit and Goodson to succeed. I especially want Demerit to become a top notch one step below World Class defender. Do you see it happening?

More Is Expected From The US Men's Team

Dear Bob & Co.

I am sorry of you feel the criticism of your performances is unjust. I am sorry if you feel the fans are being too hard on you. I am really sorry that you think we don't know what we are talking about. The days of you just skating by are done. It's no longer good enough to eke by inferior teams late in the game. That doesn't show character when you have to win late against opposition you should trounce. It shows lack of foucs, lack of motivation and lack of heart. Bob, you confuse gutty with gutless. The whole team needs to work on how to adjust to changing circumstances. Change comes to slowly and valuable time is lost while you pull your heads from your collective bottoms.

I haven't forgotten you finished 2-3 at the Confederations Cup and had an embarrassing collapse in the final. You were losers of that tournament, not winners. I was delighted you beat Spain. Can you beat Costa Rica? Honduras? What have you done lately? That is and will always be the question. Get used to it or quit.

USA versus T&T. Who's Worried?

If you are not worried about tonight's World Cup Qualifier then you have an iron stomach. This game is a disaster waiting to leap upon a U.S. team that has struggled to put teams away when they should. Last Saturday's game could have easily been a 6-0 USA rout instead of the 2-1 nail biting annoyance it turned into. I feel for Bornstein. His name is Mudd now. What was that overhead kick? Is a 5 year old on the minimus field? Yikes. But I digress.

This is another must win in Port of Spain. I would like to see the U.S. paste T&T like Mexico beat Costa Rica on the road. Who thinks it will happen? I don't have any nails to bite and no dog to kick so will our boys just do me the favor of getting this game in hand from the kickoff, please.

Just Do It

U.S. Faces Two Must Win Games

If you think these next two World Cup Qualifiers facing the U.S. Men's National Team are not must wins, think again. The U.S. has dropped from the top of the group to treading water. A loss at home to El Salvador is unthinkable. A loss on the road September 9th at T&T while possible, better not happen. The USMNT needs to relieve pressure on themselves and keep it squarely on Mexico and Honduras. The last thing the US of A needs is to go to Costa Rica on Oct. 14 needing a win.

The time to step up is now. Heard that before? Maybe they will actually step up at the proper time and for 90 minutes each game. One can hope.

On a side note. I have read many quotes from USMNT players praising Bob Bradley for his preparedness and game plans. I have never argued he doesn't have a good plan to START games. I think Bob gets a failing grade on altering his game plan when events arise that DICTATE a meaningful and authorative change.
Haven't seen any players commenting on that.....