Wednesday, April 1, 2009

USA v. Trinidad & Tobago Open Thread

We're now returning you to your regularly scheduled programming after our little day of April Fools mirth. So what did you do today??

Tonight, the US Men's National team takes on Trinidad & Tobago in Nashville, TN, of all places. A win tonight will surely help wash away the bad taste of that draw in El Salvador over the weekend. Coverage begins on ESPN2 (the Deuce) at 7:30pm... Expect a pregame show featuring lots of in-depth analysis from Sideshow Bob et al.

Have your say in the comments, or feel free to chat about today's non-cricket, non-boobs events.

60 comments:

The NY Kid said...

There were non-cricket, non-boob events today?

Spectator said...

Heh.

Starting lineup: Howard, Beasley, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Hejduk, Lando, Mastroeni, Dempsey, Bradley, Ching, Jozy

And nice to see Shaka Hislop get the nod with some studio time. He's competent.

The NY Kid said...

JOZY! JOZY! JOZY!

The Haitian Sensation (TM by me) in the starting lineup!

machine gooner funk said...

good to see bradley benched kljestan he was pants against el tri and saturday night too

Spectator said...

Oh Pedro Gomez... It's called a "draw," not a "tie"

BackBergtt said...

So I was looking at the WC qualifying schedule for the summer, and it appears there are no games between now and the start of the EPL season. But there appear to be about four rounds of games during the first month of the season. How is this a good idea?

Spectator said...

@Georger: There really needs to be a movement to put all the WC/Euro qualifying matches at the end of the season. I hate these international breaks.

Bigus Dickus said...

@Georger and Spectator. Norwich fans don't care. Camon England!!!!!

The empty seats in Tenn is embarrassing.

jjf3 said...

Bo-fucking-livia 6-1 Argentina?? End times are near...

Ian said...

So I guess getting dominated in the midfield against El Salvador gets Mastro a start...

Ian said...

So I guess getting dominated in the midfield against El Salvador gets Mastro a start...

30f said...

America has loutish tattooed soccer fans in tank tops. We are so grown up now.

Go Jozy!

Spectator said...

Obama talking footy at halftime? Get in!

30f said...

Wow! Argentina really did lose 1-6.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=230052&cc=5901

EbullientFatalist said...

The field looks decent. This is actually big for the US.

Ian said...

Well, to be fair La Paz is at 12,000 feet and the Argentines were probably enjoying their time back home in BA for most of the weekend after the Venezuela game.

Also, Beasley at LB?

amy said...

Haven't started watching the game yet, but do you guys think Pearce sucked so bad in El Salvador that Bradley wouldn't even put him on the bench? I mean ouch.

jjf3 said...

JOZYYYYYY!!!

Goat said...

That was lovely

EbullientFatalist said...

Boom goes the dynamite for Altidore.

Spectator said...

Jozy!!!!

30f said...

AL
TI
DORE!!!!

amy said...

shit, I was hoping to see Argentine mop the floor with Bolivia. Boo. Good thing I signed up for GolTV and ESPN Deportes yesterday. Hope I didn't waste my $3.

EbullientFatalist said...

Ching did wonderfully directing his header to Dempsey, who provided good service. Nice.

machine gooner funk said...

JOZY!!!!!! GET IN

hernangeles said...

in the words of bretos...

yyyeeeeeaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!

wait. what?

30f said...

The Deuce-cycle kick is not our best offensive option.

EbullientFatalist said...

. . . but it is our most entertaining.

machine gooner funk said...

we better see paco torres tonight at some point

jjf3 said...

@amy: yes, Pearce has been that bad several games in a row now...I doubt its permanent, but he's played himself off the team for now...

jjf3 said...

a chip too far

30f said...

Maybe TNT will never get back into this game but right now I am getting the feeling that the US needs to 'cash in' another goal from this dominant stretch.

jjf3 said...

@30f: definitely. Especially with Jones' speed and aerial ability - 1 pass could find us back in a scary situation against the run of play...

jjf3 said...

jebus. we have to find a way to get that in...

jjf3 said...

or that one...

30f said...

Beasley seems to be really enjoying his time at 'left back.'

He must be seeing all that disorganization in the TNT defense and Beasley keeps pushing up and up ...

hernangeles said...

is it really a different game if T+T sneak one in? you don't say....

machine gooner funk said...

sooo close. we need to score another and salt this. then maybe we'll see freddy and paco

Jacob said...

Well, let's get Ching off first, the we will see how it goes.

/actually thought Ching was the key for the first goal

machine gooner funk said...

my bad freddy isnt even a sub tonight

Jacob said...

Dammit. Now that we are back, I guess I have to compile Backpasses.

jjf3 said...

dammit, umlaut, don't make me go all Chingy on you :)

Ching is the best 6'3" support/second striker in this hemisphere...and I like him pairing with the NYK TM, especially with Donovan and Deuce on the wings...

machine gooner funk said...

ive actually been quite impressed with demarcus at left back

Jacob said...

I think Ching does some things very well. He also louses up many more chances than he helps convert. He's not going to get any better at his age. He is, I think, Bradley's security blanket up top. Doesn't mean I have to like him.

jjf3 said...

Beasley has looked much better today, and he does add one hell of an attacking edge when he overlaps...

Jim Hendry said...

Brilliant finish by Altidore.

Jacob said...

Woo!!

jjf3 said...

I don't really disagree with you, umlaut. I just think he's better appreciated over time (as a Dynamo fan, I've seen more of him than most).

He actually tracks back on defense, he has set up some brilliant goals with his vision, passing, and intelligence, he runs his ass off, and he doesn't look for glory. And that last one is probably his failure as a striker. If he had McBride's sense for scoring, he'd be McBride v2.0. But he doesn't. Most people look at him and see a tall "target" striker, but he's really more like a tall Arshavin or Modric (and, NO, I am not saying that talent-wise, just position-wise). He needs someone to play off of, or his talents are minimized. And, yes, he is what he is at this point. But I like the idea of him aiming "target-pass" headers or passes in Jozy's direction...

JOZZZYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!

Jacob said...

Ching did a great job at staying out of the way (I kid).

machine gooner funk said...

JOZY GET IN!!!!!! kids got a brace

Jacob said...

I don't disagree that Ching would be good at those things, but that's not how he is used either by Bradley or by his teammates on the USMNT.

jjf3 said...

umlaut,
enjoying the dialogue. I guess what I meant to get across, but didn't, is that I like him burning up two defenders taking headers and through-balls, while looking to set up a charging Altidore behind/with him...essentially, he's the target man, but he's not the target for a goal-attempt, but the target who sets up the oncoming Jozy and/or wingers with the resulting header/pass...in a sense, he's too unselfish...

machine gooner funk said...

PACO!!!

machine gooner funk said...

hejduk's had a really strong game tonight

jjf3 said...

I really like Torres to be in the eventual 2010 midfield. The US seems to have too many potential over-filled spots, with too many potential holes also, in the lineup. Maybe Beasley at LB solves some of that...

machine gooner funk said...

get in!!!! hat trick for the phenom

jjf3 said...

I feel bad for the keeper...

phil said...

JOZY!!!!!!!!!!!!

phil said...

Classy move by Landycakes to lay it back for the kid.

phil said...

Maybe Beasley at LB solves some of that.

If Beasley at LB is the answer, I don't want to know the question. He was getting skinned by Edwards; I can only imagine what a world class winger would do to him. This was a nice performance, team-wise, but I hope it doesn't encourage Bradley to trot out Beasley at LB more often.