U.S.A. 3 – 1 Guatemala
Men.
I don’t have time to discuss the USMNT’s win over Guatemala at length today but I would like to share a few thoughts with you on what I think was a pretty significant match above and beyond the fact that it allowed the U.S. to progress to the next round of qualification for World Cup 2014. For those of you waiting for my comments on Scotland’s debacle against Belgium (and in general), you’re going to have to wait a few more days. I’m trying to follow some wisdom the Clash handed down many years ago, “Let fury have the hour, anger can be power- d’you know that you can use it?” I’m still at the anger “stage” right now. Before the weekend I will have harnessed it and turned it into something productive. I hope.
- Another shaky start for the USMNT, but this time they not only managed to get their act together, they also managed to keep it together by locking things down in the second half.
- Eddie Johnson please stay “on message.” When you do, you’re one of our best. When you don’t, you’re not good enough for MLS.
- A lot was made of the USMNT’s defensive problems last night, but one name you didn’t hear in that discussion was that of Michael Parkhurst. I rest my case.
- Clint Dempsey- best American player ever. Period.
- That being said… Clint: I don’t care what you do at Spurs, but if you ever dive while wearing our colors again I will refer to you as “Dive Dempsey” for the rest of your playing career. What makes me even more angry than the dive itself is that you did it when you didn’t “need” to and probably because you wanted your hat trick. You’re better than that- much better.
- Michael Bradley just keeps getting better. It’s rare when brattiness morphs into steely resolve, but it has in his case and I look forward to more an more improvement from him.
- Really? Nobody in MLS or elsewhere could have used Carlos Ruiz this year? Yes, he pretty much “plays when he wants to” and he probably has an ENORMOUSLY over-inflated estimation of his own worth at this point in his career, but the fact is that all he has ever done is score goals and he’s still doing it. Again, no struggling MLS side could have used a goal every other game this year? C’mon.
- I’ve resolved myself to the fact that he’s never going to get enough credit from the fans or media, but folks, Steve Cherundolo is a heck of a football player. He’s been a starter and a captain in the Bundesliga for over a decade (not counting Hannover 96′s time in the second division before that)- how many American players can claim that much success at that level, maybe ten? And yet, if you asked anyone to name the Top Ten U.S. players ever his name wouldn’t even come up.
My top 2 take aways from last nights game: 1- JK has done about as good a job finding new talent for the USMNT and trying to integrate it into his system and the team as one can expect. Williams, Parkhurst, Gomez, Shea, Cameron, Beckerman, Johnson have all had enough playing time to see who works, and who doesn’t, while still trying to win games and be experimental. For supporters of Italy, Spain, Brazil, Germany, this might not seem a big deal, but here it’s damn near re-inventing the wheel.
2- The new American fans know just enough about soccer to be dangerous to the game. Talking about the match an hour later with some friends at the tavern, and one of them says about Deuce “Yeah, he’s good, but he’s no Messi.” In a serious tone, as if he was truly comparing them in his head. I think that there are quite a few new fans who think it should be easy for us to produce a Messi, and are going to be very loud and uninformed in the next few years as we try and produce a Tier Two Level team for the USMNT.
Well, ok and my third takeaway. IF the USMNT can field a fully healthy squad, it could be a Top 12-15 Team, and realisticly have a shot at the Quarters in the WC.