BRIAN CHING once again proved why he is the prime target up front for the UNITED STATES at this moment in time. Take a look back at goal number three with his amazing piece of skill to bring down a long, direct ball. He then has the prescence of mind and awareness to find SACHA KLEJSTAN running off him for goal number three.
The best moment of the match and again a reminder that this is a striker that contributes in many ways other than scoring goals. Whether creating “time” for his teammates by holding the ball up or earning free kicks. Ching is a clear “axis” up front for the U.S. national team.
Go back and listen to the interview I did a few weeks ago on “DYNAMO ALL ACCESS with GLENN DAVIS” where I asked manager BOB BRADLEY about the want and desire to have more of an attacking threat from the center of midfield. It was a question that brought out a bit of fire but it was nice to see the experiment of playing KLEJSTAN in that postion and although this was a friendly ( I despise the word in the context of a soccer match) Klejstan was effective with creative ideas on another level than more balancing players like RICO CLARK, MICHAEL BRADLEY and PABLO MAESTROENI have provided in the past.
CLARK covered tremendous ground and had a solid game balancing off the midfield.
Other did not take as much advantage of their opportunity. ROBBIE RODGERS had flashes, striker CHARLIE DAVIES missed his opportunity to shine…..
What moments or players made an impression on you?
Danish Inspirations
Fiesta Mart
Houston Web Design
Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute
SportTalk 790
Zukowski, Bresenhan & Sinex, L.L.P.
I’m eating my words this morning. I was bemoaning Ching’s inclusion for this “friendly” as I was hoping to see some newer strikers get capped. Shows what I know. Bringing the ball out of the air and then threading it perfectly for an assist was a thing of pure beauty. I thought Ricardo Clark looked good last night… I really like his work rate for the national side.
Not so much any individual players but the fact that the USNT always plays the same regardless of the 11 players they have on the field is what left the biggest impression.
You can see quality differences when the team has a lot of the supposedly nonstarters but the team as a whole always plays the same.
This is good, teams that don´t know what the heck they are trying to do on the field lose more times than they win, the only problem is that this can be a virtue and a big problem.
It can be a big problem if you don´t make small changes to the game plan to adjust to the different teams you are playing, this in my mind was the problem in the last World Cup and in the 1998 WC, some think the 2002 WC was just a mirage, it is true that the 2002 results are sandwiched between horrendous World Cups but I still believe the problem is that this great virtue the team has is a big problem because they don´t adjust the game plan when playing against the supposedly powerful teams.
Last night’s winners in order of importance: Sacha, Rico, Wynne. Sacha looked so good that his MLS days are numbered. Pure class all-around. With Sacha orchestrating the attack, Rico looked very solid doing the dirty work in the middle of the field. Should be there against Mexico. Wynne had a good game. Not spectacular, but he should make the bench against Mexico. His closing speed is ridiculous and he has attacking prowess. He needs to master the subtleties of the game before he becomes a regular on the ‘Nats’.
I loved Ching. A solid target forward that can control the box with head and feet. Every team needs one guy like that.
Generally agree with comments above. Anybody else notice the less than 10,000 crowd at the Home Depot Center last night? They gotta stop playing friendlies exclusively in Los Angeles.
I was actually at the game, first row too! I have to say, yes Ching did do a great job on the turn to feed Sacha, but he was horrible all game falling down like a small school girl! He got much better at not letting the Sweedish D push him to the ground in the second half, but like always, shows no ability to SCORE!!!! Yes, it was a nice pass, but he didnt thread a defense, he didn\’t do a no look pass, he simply played his positioning, but you look at all the times he didn\\\’t do anything in the goal box, or how many times he fell to the grond in his lame attempts at \\
“holding the ball”, I cannot justify him being in there if he can’t score, I would of liked to see Cooper pair up with Davies, is not like he isn’t going to start Ching in as many games as possible, Davies & Cooper are more equal in speed and tempo! I really wanted to see Stuart Holden! Wynne was amazing, he constantly beat guys when he was 2 or 3 steps behind them, and he pushed forward as much as he was allowed by Thorrington’s inability to cross, btw, Thorrington was way too hyper
Jon, seriously, where else would you have them play and can accomodate them with the trainning facilties that they have here? Remember the HDC is designated for the National teams to train at. Colorado had as less fans for an official game, the lack of good names didn’t help,trust me, the weather might of hurt, but I don’t think there’s a singel place in the US that could gotte maybe more than 15K at this time a year and with this line up. The only places with a big enough fan base like NY, Maryland etc, they are way too cold!
Edwin,
So who is consistently scoring goals for the U.S.?
So are you prepared to start Eddie Johnson and Ken Cooper Jr. against Mexico? Or would you prefer Charlie Davies. Clint Dempsey could be the choice and Jozy Altidore is being hopefully fast tracked for South Africa.
This position remains a big question.
Chings experience will have him in the starting lineup against El Tri.
Yes, the U.S. national team is not making choices up front based on who is scoring goals because the team truly does not have a consistent goal scorer. Ching also as we know thrives off delivery but don’t downplay his sublime skill on the third goal.
It is in a search for one . In the meantime other intangibles are valued like ability to hold the ball which makes Ching more of a provider in the nat set-up. He earns free kicks , makes it difficult for defenses to build their attack out of the back etc.
This is where it is.
The ones that Ching has. He has the confidence of the coach as others don’t yet for lack of opportunity or form.
Ching did play a part in two of the three goals.
I am not sure Marvell Wynne was amazing. Amazing athlete for sure but it needs to translate into much more in the future. His athletic ability will get him lots of opportunity.
I am pulling for him.
Well what can you say. I was hoping to see a Cooper start over our own Brian Ching but man what a game Brian played. He has a “calmness” on the ball that at times we really need. This guy just does what he does exceptionally well. And don’t discount his presence in the air. Let’s not forget that Mexico hasn’t seen a set piece or good service, that they can defend. Cooper needs another couple of chances. He never saw the ball. Rico was a man and Sacha probably played his way right off of the CUSA squad roster. I was really hoping for more from Rogers. He looked like he had turned into a passing robot to me. A far cry from the guy who went at defenders in the Olympics. So did everybody get a chance to play besides Stuart? What did he do at camp? Show too much individual flair? Stuart is already better that Torrington, who although a real hustler, left that side of the field wide open at times for the counter. A good team will find that and kill us out there. Also, after watching the goals that we gave up, it is Heath Pearce’s position to lose at left back. Borenstein just forgot about his mark on the first goal and just doesn’t defend well. People complain about Pearce’s offense but he is solid on defense, which is the first and most important characteristic of a defender. We didn’t look bad, I just hope we look better against Mexico.
Marvell Wynne’s play, Ching’s play on the third goal, Sasha’s first goal…all phenominal. Un-impressed by Perkins, Thorrington, Bornstein, Davies & Rogers for most of the match. I would like to see Cooper in the mix on a national level a little more. I think Sasha cemented his European passport on this one, with Wynne not far behind.
Glenn, I believe you can phase out Ching, and put someone else who will allow Dempsey and Donovan to exploit their best weapon, SPEED, Ching can’t help those two in scoring, and if you look closely, Dempsey is tied with Ching for the US scoring lead, they both have 4, the Concacaf leaders have 6 or 7, but Dempsey didn’t even get called for the last 2 games. Another fact, look at Ching’s 4 goals, they are all “garbage” goals, tap ins from less than5 yards out, or a header when one foot is over the goal line after Gooch beats the golie senseless to the ball, almost any other guy can do what he does, fine start him vs Mexico, but when we go to El Salvador or Honduras, or play Costa Rica here, I don’t see a need to not start jozy or Cooper, and have the other coming off the bench, also Davies, Cooper & Altidore should be starting in Gold Cup, since Ching will start in Confeds Cup and Altidore will play alot too. Wynne played an opponnetn who didn’t stand a chance at beating him physically, but I saw him shield balls away from forwards feet and totally dominate, I would love to see him in Honduras or Costa Rica, maybe playing 30 minutes, for sure deserves a starting consideration @ El Salvador
I think Ricardo Clark played well, but unless he develops more consistancy, although I don’t see the inconsistancies really hurting vs CONCACAF teams, he needs to start ripping shots, he is just about the only guy who does shoot from outside the box, and maybe the only one who can score from there. He could also concentrate on passing and setting up forwards with good passes, the problem is he needs someone like Cooper or Davies to make a timely run or even Altidore, Ching wont benefit from a good pass cause he’ll stop hold the ball and who knows what happens with a once promising wrong. Rogers innability to cross showed greatly causing him to be out of place. Parkhurst just showed anyone can beat him for the 3rd goalie spot!
Those of us that watch Ching week in and week out in MLS know that Ching has the ability to run at people, and beat them. He can connect on the end of quality through balls and put them in the net. From all I’ve read, and heard Bradley wants Ching playing with his back to net, and his continued presence in the lineup tells me that he is fulfilling exactly the role his coach is demanding. The system probably dictates this as well.
Garbage goals are the result of hustle and alert play, and can’t be discounted. Too often balls that should be “garbage” goals don’t even become shots because no one is there to finish. Glenn, good point about Ching thriving on service, I honestly can’t remember a real quality cross in the air all game. I’m sure both Cooper and Ching were anxious to get a head on something. I remember commenting several times that Rogers needed to get his crosses up….Anyway it does look like Bradley will have plenty of choices.
oh…..and I did read that Holden had a slight injury that precluded him from playing. Not sure what it was though.
Edwin, Edwin, Edwin, for cryin out loud! I get the feeling you don’t like Ching and to each his own but a goal is a freakin’ goal and a gorgeous delivery is a gorgeous delivery. GIVE CHING SOME CREDIT BOYO!
You’re going on and on about what rubbish he is but frankly you lose credibility when the examples you cite involve these common characteristics. Brian Ching…Brian Ching on the pitch…Brian Ching on the pitch while goal is scored. Brother, give me that kind of ineffectiveness in a striker ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. And as far as “garbage” goals, when was the last time you someone like Van Nistelrooy or even Eto’o score from outside the box? More often than not, the most productive strikers are poachers, not ball wizards like Ronaldo or Messi. Those guys are from another planet so we must make do w/what we have. Ching may not be the quickest, or the best technically, but he is a tough physical target man (w/underrated finesse btw) who offers a legit aerial threat and makes those around him a little bit better.
Ching certainly has his detractors, particularly by the ubiquitous online USMNT grousers. Most of the complaints can be attributed to fans who only understand one type of role for each position. They comprehend only one style of play. In their mind, a forward must be a striker like a Messi or Rooney. The fact is, we don’t have a Messi or Rooney yet. We do have a guy who gets goals for our team: Ching. I don’t care if he scores them (which he does at times), if he provides the assist, or if he just creates the situation. I only care that he finds a way to help the ball get into the net. We don’t get any more points out of a goal from a forward than we do out of one from a middie. Ching gets it done and also helps out by winning the ball when we’re not in possession.
Expand your minds a bit: quality can be subtle. It doesn’t have to wow you.
And remember: in American football, the best player on the team in the fans’ eyes is the backup quarterback. He can do no wrong, but only because he hasn’t been in the crucible. Once he’s in the crucible, fans usually realize why he’s been sitting on the bench.
Cooper and Davies have the skills, but they have not shown themselves as being able to apply their skills when it matters for the USMNT. They may one day be the go-to-guy forward (particularly Davies who is still young), and Altidore probably will be that guy in 2010; but until they prove themselves, you go with the guy who HAS proven himself.
I recall Cooper scoring vs a really weak Guatemala team, Ching didn’t do a thing, Cooper scored vs El Salvador, he really hurt himself on the goal he missed, but Ching hurt himself more all he times he didn’t “win” the ball and fell to the ground, also the one time he actually did the whole maintain possesion and hold the ball up right, when he beat the guy at midfield with his spin move, he ran down the middle, and instead of ripping what could of been an amazing goal after a great run, he TOTALLY closed off Davie’s angle, had he had the presence of mind to look over his left shoulder he would of seen Rogers running from the left wing, I don’t think we need to have a great striker like Messi or Ronaldo, I just think Cooper deserves more of a chance to be the “target” striker, don’t get me wrong, I am giving him great props for doing what he did, but he better keep it up, cause I haven’t seen enough to justify sitting Cooper!