Comments you probably don't care about.
I realize that no one cares about the US Men's National Soccer team except for me, but I thought I would use this platform in an educational manner. Well, we won yesterday over Ecuador 3 - 1. Now, this was only a friendly, so the game means nothing in the long run, but still Ecuador is not a crap soccer team; this team advanced one more round than we did in the World Cup last summer. This was a great win for the guys. Landon Donovan's hat trick was an accomplishment - I'm one of his detractor's normally, but I'll give him massive credit for his performance yesterday. He played like ass in the World Cup, but maybe the threat of Beckham coming to his club has made him step it up. Once Becks is here, the guy won't be the "Golden Boy" anymore - he may actually have to live up to his potential to be noticed.
Now, the back 4 need to start trusting each other. Nick had a good point about the defense yesterday; individually, they are very good - most of the tackles were clean - yet, when they try to work together, they looked a bit shaken. Hopefully, with time this will improve.
Also, the team needs to actually play a friendly outside of the US to see what a hostile environment is actually like. I don't understand why we can't play Ecuador in Ecuador or some European team in EUROPE. After all, the majority of our capped players are based in England or Germany anyway and the MLS guys are in off season. I'd like to see how the team handles a bit of adversary.
And, finally, before I step off my soap box, WTF at ESPN's coverage. Get Dave O'Brien off the games. He SUCKS at calling soccer - he has no idea what he's talking about here. Maybe he's good at baseball, but he is pants with this sport. I feel like he's reading off a teleprompter. Bruce Arena may know what he's talking about, he was the national coach and now he's the NY Red Bulls's coach, but his voice is terrible, he rambles, and he has the charisma of a flounder. Eric Wynalda is so negative, though I do find it somewhat amusing. Plus, they have that "on the pitch" guy Allen Hopkins. WHY DO WE NEED 4 COMMENTATORS? It's terribly distracting. *shakes my fist at ESPN* THEY NEED RAY HUDSON! Get him from GOLTv.
Now, the back 4 need to start trusting each other. Nick had a good point about the defense yesterday; individually, they are very good - most of the tackles were clean - yet, when they try to work together, they looked a bit shaken. Hopefully, with time this will improve.
Also, the team needs to actually play a friendly outside of the US to see what a hostile environment is actually like. I don't understand why we can't play Ecuador in Ecuador or some European team in EUROPE. After all, the majority of our capped players are based in England or Germany anyway and the MLS guys are in off season. I'd like to see how the team handles a bit of adversary.
And, finally, before I step off my soap box, WTF at ESPN's coverage. Get Dave O'Brien off the games. He SUCKS at calling soccer - he has no idea what he's talking about here. Maybe he's good at baseball, but he is pants with this sport. I feel like he's reading off a teleprompter. Bruce Arena may know what he's talking about, he was the national coach and now he's the NY Red Bulls's coach, but his voice is terrible, he rambles, and he has the charisma of a flounder. Eric Wynalda is so negative, though I do find it somewhat amusing. Plus, they have that "on the pitch" guy Allen Hopkins. WHY DO WE NEED 4 COMMENTATORS? It's terribly distracting. *shakes my fist at ESPN* THEY NEED RAY HUDSON! Get him from GOLTv.