On the 1v1 with the keeper where he went near post and got side net, you can tell he lacks confidence in his finishing a bit right now. If you are free and easy you'd go far post there where there is much more room. But I think he wasn't confident he's keep it on frame. With WC coming shortly, bad timing for a mini-slump.
The fact that Wondo has 2 goals in 3 games bodes well. He usually starts off slowly and heats up in late summer with multiple goal games. There was also a couple of outstanding saves on great shots by him against Toluca and RSL. As long as he works hard, he has a chance.
Glad he got a goal but he seems to be losing something. I hope he pulls out of whatever it is he is going through if he wants to go to Brazil.
All players are likely pressing right now. They know that every single miss takes away their chances to go. Wondo just needs to let muscle memory kick in and play instinctive. He doesn't need to try and place every shot perfectly or hammer the hell out of the ball. Good news is he's getting plenty of shots off. He has 13 in the first three games. That means he's getting into great areas and still reading the game well. I'd also say his passing and hold up play has been the best I've seen this early in the season. He's been doing well to bring his teammates into the play. I think Camp Cupcake really helped him improve in that area. Hopefully he'll get to play alongside Donovan against Mexico because they have very good chemistry up top.
Even if Wondo gets picked, I doubt he will make an impact with the national team. Maybe he might play mop up minutes but I doubt he will start and even even he does, I can't see him doing that well or even scoring at that level. Not sure why and I hope but I believe will get shut down especially against Portugal, Germany and Ghana.....
Aye, but there's the rub. "Just needs to let muscle memory kick in and play instinctive" - if it were only so easy :--). That's the problem with pressing. How do you "not press"? Just thinking about "not pressing", you are already pressing. Or, "come on, muscle memory, just kick in!". It's hard to break out of these things. Getting an easy or even lucky goal can help you relax and start to reverse the process, but it is very difficult to make the problem go away.
He's wasted too many chances to start the season. For his World Cup hope's sake and for the Quakes', he's got to dial it in a bit better this next month. At first he was making it too easy for the keeper, then lately he has REALLY made it too easy by not even putting it on target. I agree his hold up play and passing has been pretty good to start the season, and he's still got 2 goals in 3 league games so it's not awful. It's just got to be better if he wants to go to Brazil. At least all the Agudelo fanboys are shutting up for now since the kid has done nothing in Holland since his first 2 games.
Julian Green is probably going to Brazil so that's another spot less up front. EJ/Wondo/Agudelo fighting for the last spot.
Green looked a little green tonight... did play better as his shift went on. Some analysts seem to think he was at fault for Mexico's 2nd goal, though... Anyway, another Wondo goal for USA! Of course folks will say "all he does is score", but as is often the case he made a good run and reacted faster than the defender marking him. I still think he needs to up his game for the Quakes, though.
Sounded like Ian Darkes is on the Wondo bandwagon. Tillman and Moreno seemed to be pro-Wondo. As usual the only one who didn't want to give him the credit he deserved last night was Lalas. Up until last night I thought Wondo was out of the running for Brazil. Would love to see him go to the WC, but on the over hand concerned how Quakes would hold up with him and Goodson gone.
Wondo did what he does best score an instinctual finish. Bradley made the goal for him and Wondo did his job.
It was an incredible sequence, from Clint's through-ball to Beltran's cross to Bradley's flick to Wondo's diving volley -- a bona fide highlight-reel goal. If it were from the Quakes, it would be Goal of the Week material, and perhaps Goal of the Year.
I heard Wondo with Ted Ramey today on ticket 1050 talking about last nights game against Mexico, the Quakes and the his chances of making the World Cup roster.
Really good article. This pretty much sums it up in one long ending sentence: He personifies the American spirit of perseverance and persistence, which has taken him from Division II Chico State to 2012 MLS MVP, moved him among the all-time leading MLS scorers -- no one has scored more goals in four consecutive seasons than the 72 he notched from 2010 to 2013 -- and earned him at least a puncher’s chance to make the World Cup roster. And FWIW, Ridge Mahoney calls Wondo's goal against Mexico a "classic poacher's goal". Friendlies are what they are, but there’s no doubt coolly bagging a classic poacher’s goal against Mexico in front of a huge crowd has to erase a bit more of the stigma Wondo can’t score in important games.
Also could mean that potentially there is in fact some talented players playing college ball that MLS could utilize. I wish this country would work more closely with the NCAA/NAIA/NJCAA to somehow harness that talent into MLS as opposed to waiting until players are 23/24 years of age and the "Superdraft".
It's frustrating that we haven't been able to see him play yet. But gotta be patient and get his knee right and strong for the long haul I guess.