US Wins against Latvia, 1-0.
I've read a couple of different accounts, and it all sounds like good news.
The US tried something I've been hoping they would, which was to slide DeMarcus Beasley over to the right side. One of the strongest positions the US has is left-midfielder, with Beasley, Eddie Lewis, John O'Brien and Bobby Convey all playing well there. But they are weakest on the right side of the offense (Steve Ralston, anyone? anyone?) so why not switch Beasley out there? It sounds like it worked well, with Beasley just missing a couple of opportunities, forcing some great saves from the Latvian netminder, etc.
According to the AP (which I think I linked to above twice) Eddie Johnson continues to look better, which is fantastic news.
The goal came from a cross made by Steve Cherundolo, after a nice overlapping run, placing the cross on the head of Brian McBride. Which is always, always a good thing to try to do. And that's exactly why I like Steve at the rightback spot, and Lewis on the left. They are both potentially dangerous match-up headaches for other teams. Defenses hate defenders who are dangerous in the attack, because forwards won't track back to mark them, and it overloads a defense. It is a great asset to have, and this team is going to need all offensive help it can get, because God help them, they don't finish particularly well. Apparently, Brian McBride finished the game with a huge welt on his head. He is contractually obligated to do that at least once a year. Can't find any good wounded McBride photos at the moment, but there have been times when he looked he should be in the hospital, not on the damn pitch. He's a warrior!
And speaking of warriors:
Oh, and Captain America was at the game, but Jesus Christ, has he let himself go. Now, I'm a close personal friend of Captain America, and I want to appeal directly to him:
Steve buddy, I know you have had some ups and downs in your life. It can't be easy to be frozen in ice and to come back to find the world so changed since you were fighting Nazis. I know losing Bucky weighs heavily upon your soul, and your concerns with the new laws the US government is proposing to track superheroes has you totally stressed out. But we've talked about this Steve. You can't eat your problems away. Get some help, get healthy. We need you, buddy.
3 comments:
The man isn't on the team and even he isn't pissed about it so how about you give the ultra-professional and occasionally useful Steve Ralston a break?
Or to put it another way, I guess you can call me Bueller (anyone?) - but you knew that I was a closet Ralston fan back from his mutinous days setting up Mamadou Diallo in Tampa. Arrrgh
It wasn't even all that closeted. And look, he served his function. The US qualified without a decent right midfielder. But now the US has to find ways to get anywhere from 8 to 11 quality soccer players on the pitch. And clearly, Convey/O'Brien on the left, Beasley on the right is a HUGE upgrade from the Ralston show, with O'Brien and Convey on the bench.
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