So that was the Landon Donovan everybody would like to see on a more consistent basis.
Three goals of variety yesterday in a solid exhibition win over Ecuador who incidentally advanced in the last World Cup before elimination. Yes they were without Augustin Delgado and Ivan Kaviedes but this was a solid win for the United States and manager Bob Bradley.
Some random thoughts:
1. Introduction of new players: It was great to see some new players in the team like Benny Feilhaber (Hamburg) and Michael Bradley (Herenveen). Before we grant them star status let’s remember that they are 22 and 19 years of age and getting games in Germany and Holland at the club level. A good sign. Another good sign is the additionally depth at that holding role in midfield.
Competition is good for all.
2. Brian Ching: Do you want to know why he was picked by Bruce Arena over Taylor Twellman? Yesterday’s game gave you the answer. Ching in a hold-up role offers just that little bit more especially in combination with Landon Donovan. He keeps it simple but just has that little bit extra “soccer player’ in him. His hold up play was excellent with Donovan and his pass superb to on Donovan’s second goal. Ching is simple and is not a player stuck in between about what his strengths are. He is clear on his game and that is why he is effective.
60th minute he worked Donovan into a good goalscoring position to be denied and 6 minutes later Ching put Donovan through for goal number two.
Donovan mentioned to me a few weeks back on my radio show in Houston that Ching was his favorite striker to play with.
Some thought he said that because he was on a Houston talk radio show. Yesterday reminds us he was not being politically correct.
3. Center backs struggle: Oguchi Onyewu and Jimmy Conrad where less than stellar in the first half and without solid goalkeeping from Tim Howard might have been hit for another goal. Enough with the American football comparisons with the “Gooch”. Being big and strong is an asset but you also have to be a soccer player. That being said I am glad he is on the U.S. National team and look forward to watching him grow with his experience at Newcastle United. A reminder that Eddie Pope has retired.
4. Bob Bradley: 3-0 with wins over Denmark, Mexico and Ecuador. A good start for Bradley and it validates him as the top U.S. candidate to coach the team. More importantly yesterday it was impressive to see the focus that Landon Donovan is bringing currently. Bradley has to get his “star” player behind his bid to be the national team coach and it seems in the short term to be working. Deserves credit for the “group” mentality which is a necessity with the U.S. National team.
His weaving of a number of players into the victory only bodes well for harmony.
5. Landon Donovan: When he is on what a player to watch!
Three breath-taking goals ….Three goals of variety exemplifying power, pace, precision. How about the timing of the goals also. In the first minute and then two goals back to back that struck a body blow to Ecuador.
Fact is LD is the greatest attacking soccer player that the United States has ever produced even if he retired today. So how does Bob Bradley get the most out of this talent in the future and get delivered more consistent performance? That is the challenge. Keep him behind a forward or two and we will see the best of Donovan.
Give me your thoughts on the US win over Ecuador yesterday?
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I still think Ecuador is not the kind of team you need to play against to elevate your game, specially if you like to play all of your games in your country.
Yes, Ecuador had a good WC, but Ecuador usually doesnīt even qualify for the WC, they usually have horrible “Copa America”, exept for the ones they host.
They need to start playing more games in other countries, and they need to start mixing their rivals, play against Argentina, or Germany or Spain, or if you want someone from SA, donīt choose Ecuador, if you donīt want to go against Argentina or Brazil (or donīt want to pay their fee for going to your country) at least get Chile or Paraguay (although Chile has been very bad lately).
Winning is great, but these are preparation games, sometimes you will get more from tying or loosing against Germany or Spain or Brazil than winning against Ecuador, specially a starles Ecuador.
Donīt get me wrong, it was a good game, but they need to change their preparation game philosophy.
I like the idea of playing south american teams rather than centro america teams because of the playing skills that the south american players have.
another good team to play could be paraguay that just played mexico.
personally i think that even without the best players these two teams and mexico are a good match for usa. i rather have them playing southamerican and main european teams than playing an eastern european team or an asian team or a central america team who are still behind on skill and international pedigree.
a good match up for the states would be argentina or brazil who are both preparing themselves for the copa america.
I thought Ecuador played very well and we were lucky to get out of there with a win. Their starters just couldn\’t finish and for that we should be thankful. While Jimmy didn\’t have a stellar game in CB, he looked like he was the only defender who knew what he was doing. I don\’t know what\’s up with the backline, but I hope Coach knocks some sense into them.
The score line could have easily been 3-3 or 4-3 in Ecuador\’s favor.
I too would like to see the US play some quality teams. The 2-0 over Mexico was great for several reasons: 1) 2-0 over Mexico is great in and of itself 2) Mexico is a great team and hard to beat anywhere in the world 3) The rivalry. It means something, no matter what.
Brazil or Argentina might kick our butt, but I bet we\’d learn more playing them than anyone in CONCACAF (besides Mexico). Playing the Euros would be nice, and even some of the African teams are getting great (just look at the WC). Don\’t underestimate the Asian sides, as they are becoming fast learners. A Germany, England, Korea, Japan, Ghana, France, etc would work beautifully. I\’d take a tie or a loss to those guys if it helped prepare us for the real tourneys coming up over the next 1.5 years.
Considering that there is a new coach, I think it\’s ok to play teams like Ecuador and Guatamala at home. We\’re also prepping for the Gold Cup and Copa America, so we need some Latin American teams to warm up against right now – we\’ll see Argentina in Copa America so there is no need to rush into meeting them now.
A year from now, though – when MLS guys aren\’t in season and the Europe-based players are – the US should use a similar FIFA international window to take the show on the road and have a camp in Europe. A couple of friendlies against good teams prepping for Euro 2008 (maybe with a US home game in Kaiserslautern) would be good for the US. (Also, why subject our players in Europe to jet lag when they have a lot at stake this time of year in their domestic leagues and the MLS-based guys are still preseason?)
If the US has a good showing and a win against Guatamala I think US Soccer has to remove the interim tag for Bradley. That would be 4-0: what more would they want from him? I think waiting until after the Gold Cup and Copa America would be absurd. I also think a positive thing about Bradley is that it is really a team of Bradley and Nowak, with Nowak bringing a lot to the table, such as his professionalism, thoroughness, knowledge of the game, and experience playing in Europe for club and country.
I’m also tired of the American football comparisons for Gooch. I think it was the play-by-play guy (O’Brien?) who made the initial comment, and then Arena, who seemd very annoyed at the comment too, put him in his place.
If Donovan is so good, how come he did nothing at
the World Cup against Ghana??
How come your site isn’t saying anything about the
Guatemala game which ended in a tie?