In all honesty, I really wouldn't care if we lost 5-0 or won 5-0. Sure, I would probably be happy that day if we won 5-0 and would be upset that day if we lost 5-0, but its not something that really matters long term. If we lose to Russia in a competition that matters, then well it sucks, but a friendly doesn't matter. Just like the Mexico friendly didn't really matter. Sure, it was great to beat our rivals and at the Azteca, but a friendly is not a must win game. I was just researching our GK situation after posting, and realized that Howard didn't become the #1 until after the 2006 WC when he was 28. Guzan would be about 30 after the 2014 WC. Thats not too old, but Johnson, Hamid and some of the other younger guys might be a better option than a 30 year old who most likely would retire after 4 or 5 years. Is Guzan more of a stop gap type that can do a solid job in a transitioning period after Howard or is he the answer for the 2018 cycle? That is something that probably needs to be figured out sooner rather than later. I really don't want a situation to arise where Howard plays every game now until after the WC when he retires, and that leaves us with no GK's with International experience, and a question mark still looming about who will replace Howard.
If the guy changes his mind and ends up committing to the US, then he is welcome as far as I am concerned. We need an eventual replacement for 'Dolo and Parkhurst is a solid sub only. It's either Chandler or Lichaj and I'd like see to see either one called in. Yeah, I'm annoyed with the guy, but team needs are more important than emotion.
Some may even assert that Krasnodar is actually in Europe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krasnodar PS. Russia is ranked 12th by Elo. Anyone thinking of sending a B-/C squad there is off his rocker. This an A-level friendly.
Russia looks really Capitalist these days. I think the words you're looking for are "Autocratic Cheating Scumbags."
Should be a great matchup, depends on which Russia team shows up. The one that beat Portugal? or the one that barely beat Azerbaijan and has only made the knockout stages of a major tournament once post-USSR? If the good Russia shows up: 2-1 Russia If the bad Russia shows up: 2-0 USA
I would much rather have Howard in there especially if we have new players on the back line as people have suggested. I think Guzan should get his shot during the gold cup to start.
Yeah, 'if'. But that doesn't seem likely, unless his disaster of a season continues into the spring. Until then, there is little use in discussing him.
Agreed. First, I'm not so sure Howard will retire after the 2014 WC - I could see him being involved at least in the 2015 Gold Cup (with a confederations cup berth on the line). He'll only be 39 in 2018, which as Friedel demonstrates can still be a very productive age. Second, Guzan will have plenty of chances to prove himself at the club level if he continues to earn starts in the Premier League - I don't think there's a big difference between club level and international level for goalkeepers. You're either know how to make saves or you don't.
Way to miss the point. Chandler and Dolo have comparable club resumes over the past year and a half. They are both regulars for their respective clubs and have played in a similar number of matches. Their average kicker ratings for last season are similar. And Chandler actually offers something going forward, which might be helpful to the national team given the scoring difficulties thus far in the JK era. I don't think it is accurate to say that Chandler doesn't deserve a call based on merit. I understand not wanting him on the team because he bailed before the GC and the start of qualifying, but I don't understand saying he doesn't deserve the call because he isn't good enough, won't help the team, or hasn't done enough at the club level.
As a huge Dolo fan I was thrilled by the way he played in the last WC and has played since, but in fairness as the WC moved through the early stages he appeared to wear down and his level of play was not as strong towards the end as it was in the beginning. I think Dolo is someone that can play at a high level for one or two games but to have him as your primary starter going into 2014 I think is a mistake. I really hope we have a the combination of Chandler and Dolo next year.
russia has capello looking for his 2nd tiwr guys a team which beat portugal 1-0 and israel 4-0, and portugal 1-1 with northern ireland, so even if portugal beats russia un the return leg, rssia is ahead of them ddi the usa guys get their visas yet??? usually takes almost a month to get it so, check visa applications for who'ss going
if you visit russia go to st pete.. a cross between paris and venice everything is overpriced, so in 2018 world cup bw prepared for excessive prices, making germany prices look cheap
Where have you been? We now measure defenders by their offensive production, so goals against are irrelevant. Back to our match v Russia: Can we call long-range shots "Kuban Missiles?" Edit: That would make long-range shots scored against us a Kuban Missile Crisis.