*England beat the U.S. comfortably at Wembley Stadium today 2-0 behind John Terry and Steven Gerrard goals.
David Beckham was impressive in the first half and was credited with the assist to Terry with a beautifully flighted ball.
Terry may have slightly dulled the pain of the missed pk in the Champions League final with this goal and a night he captained his country.
*DaMarcus Beasley returned to the U.S. squad after knee problems for the first time .
Landon Donovan missed out with groin injury suffered in LA win over KC this past weekend. If you saw the game on HDNET , Donovan came out of the KC game with the injury in the latter stages.
*U.S. had little possession and few chances. Eddie Johnson and Josh Wolff ineffective up front but lacked service.
Johnson continues to come back into midfield with most of his runs and plays it safe. Not enough runs trying to get behind defenses from him for my liking and he seems insecure turning and trying to take people on. His attitude for me to score goals does not show a hunger. NOT A SHOWING TO HANG OUR HAT ON…..We must measure ourselves by these games and not Concacaf teams.
*Biggest questions in squad for me: Striker position, creative element out of central midfield……..left back maybe also. Squad had few ideas………
*Dynamo midfielder Ricardo Clark got the opportunity to go for 78 minutes……
* Former Dynamo Nate Jacqua got a run for the U.S. National team? This might just show with all due respect how the U.S. are seeking answers out up front at the international level…
*Free Kick Masters skills competition has added David Bentley the heir apparent supposedly for David Beckham of England and Bayern Munich’s Lucas Podolski to go along with Ronaldinho, Rafa Marquez, Robinho, Luis Fabiano, Robert Pires, Jared Borgetti, Alessandro Del Piero, Brad Friedel, Oliver Kahn…….Amazing start quality at this event ! Get your tickets at ticketmaster.com
Dynamo at FC Dallas tonite with Dynamo fans making the run up 1-45 to Pizza Hut Park…big game for both of this teams.
Expect Craig Waibel to start at right back, Wade Barrett is a question while former FC Dallas member Richard Mulrooney moves into midfield. A great shot at turning one of the worst Dynamo performances in San Jose around and for FC Dallas the PERFECT moment to get a result over the defending Champions.
FC Dallas defender Drew Moor said on Dynamo All Access that he is sick of the color “orange”.
Sky Sports is reporting that Brian McBride has called it quits out at Fulham FC and heading back to the United States. McBride was quoted to say “This seems like the right moment in my career to move on.” McBride moved to Craven Cottage in 2004 and went on to make over 150 appearances for Fulham scoring 40 times for the London based club.
I’ll make the call right now - Eddie Johnson will not be on the 2010 World Cup roster for the US. Has any US player underimpressed as much as Johnson in recent memory? I don’t see what the rest of the world does in Johnson - great speed, reasonable touch, poor motor and motivation, lazy runs, disappears for entire segments of games (and seasons), questionable vision and combination play. He’s a jumbo version of Jeff Cunningham with a career trajection that could end up like Clint Mathis.
Comment by JJ — May 29, 2008 @ 12:26 am
I just relocated to England a month ago for two years and went to the game. I was quite embarassed to come into work today. We fielded what appeared to be a 2nd division team. I really can’t find anything positive to say about the US’s play whatsoever.
On the plus side, going to Wembley to see England play my team with a few Brits was an abosultely great experience. Pie and a pint(s) before, mingling with the crowd outside the stadium, etc… Great seats to boot. We should have sent over the Klein Bearkats Varsity Squad.
All in all, well worth the 60 quid paid to get in for the experience.
(JJ Hodgson, Fulham’s coach, figured out Johnson pretty quickly at Fulham)
Comment by M Sullivan — May 29, 2008 @ 7:16 am
I saw that Sky News was reporting Brian McBride was leaving Fulham to continue his career in the United States…..I think orange is his color.
I like the National Team playing teams beyond their skill level. Is there really any other way to improve? I would like to see them make a run in a World Cup…regardless of performance, these games can only help.
FC Dallas really appears to have a lack of support from the fans up there. Great facility, but look at the turn out….might be one big reason NOT to hit the burbs with a stadium. Both FCD goals were really nice. I don’t think there was much anyone could have done to stop those. That made it even sweeter when DeRo popped it in in the 93rd. Good point away in my estimation.
Comment by O — May 29, 2008 @ 9:03 am
We were definitely underwhelming last night. Even our goal tending was suspect. If I were a Prem or FL manager scoping out possible talent on the American side, I would have turned and fled. Freddy and Clint showed some spark, and Ricardo Clark held tough, but the passing and possesion in the midfield were horrible. We spent the whole night it seems on the back foot. Eddie Johnson embarrased himself. Very disappointing overall.
Comment by Kurtis — May 29, 2008 @ 11:10 am