Re: Re: USSF Pushing Hard for England Friendly My guess, too. Hahnemann a fringe player?? When was he last called into camp, if ever? Dave
Note that planetfootball is Chris Bergin. He does have contacts, but is also obsessed with being "positive" about American soccer and is probably the person in the world most desirous of seeing a USA/England friendly.
Re: USSF Pushing Hard for England Friendly I think yes; Reyna said as much today in an interview on safc.com. He's not traveling to friendlies for the US unless they're big friendlies in Europe. Which this, obviously, would be.
If USA plays England right now, we will beat a hell out of them. The only weak spot in US lineup is left back. Donovan, Beasley, Reyna, O'Brien, Twellman, Mathis, and Olsen on the attack. Klein, Suarez and Boca in the defense. US will beat a lot of team in the world.
Not anymore. Joe Franchino has been called up! Believe me, Joe will not get pushed over like that softy Regis, and he has tons more skill then Hejduk. PS-Klein doesn't play in defense. Olsen is still recovering from injury.
Exactly what the announcer said after Beninho got upended by Keller infront of the Spur's goal. Benny just bounced back with a big grin. How many times did they say several EPL sides should be giving him a look? They said he looks stronger than before -- and more skilled. Now if only we could hear the same about Clint in a month or two!
Oh, Ben (I don't do Portuguese diminutives; if you grew up where I grew up, none of you would) is healthy and looking quite solid. Solid enough to start. Remember that we shoehorned at right midfield during the World Cup. And we'll finally have some left backs. Franchino, Barrett, even dudes like Denton. We'll be set at left back. Klein could be the next Sanneh so don't rule him out at right back. I'd also consider Heaps provided that we give him a shot of haldol. Remember that the MLS boys will not be in peak form for a February game.
Well, I hate to see Franchino wearing the US uniform just as much as Regis laboring on the left lane for the Nats. IMO, Franchino is way too slow and stiff at international level. A worse version of Agoos. And talking about the Goose, Japan/Korea still gives me nightmares.
For the past few years US Soccer has held a USNT training camp in Janaury, followed by two or so friendlies in late January and early February. The question should be...how can a run-down too many club matches played England side take on a fresh U.S. team led by MLS players?
Yes, Olsen is looking very good. His performances in the final MLS games and against the Tottenham Retirement XI were first rate. Klein is a much attacking player than Sanneh. Sanneh is a much better defender (at the time of his move to right back) than Klein. With players such as Cherundolo, Suarez, and Onweyu coming along, Klein is a right sided midfielder.
I heard that Argentina would be playing the U.S https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=20201
I'm not sure when they are going to get around to commenting on an "I wish" thread from bigsoccer. But I'm sure it's coming.
I am a rev's fan, but after being at the cup final, I dont think Franchino should suit up for the nat's. I was interested to see how he would match up with cobi, and cobi (who in my opinion is a past prime player as far as nat's go..) dominated him and drew fouls. Franchino couldnt handle his speed or his moves for the most part. If he cant do this, imagine him dealing with a higher class player...
Agree that it is hard to picture him playing for the Nats. I appreciate his work rate, but I think he could be a walking red card at the international level, given his propensity for just lashing out with his feet as attackers are zooming past him with the ball.
Will this be the "Full Volley" Franchino or "Close Line" Franchino? Will he use Cobi to practice his technique?
we should play england AT ENGLAND, after all england at home cant even beat a team ranked 90 something we should be able to beat them easily
England has everything to lose playing us right now, especially at home. I can think of nothing better than having a young MLS team having it's ass kicked across Europe for the next two years. We need many more games against EuroPowers on their soil prior to '06. The bar has been raised. Remember how sweet that victory over Argentina was in '99? Compare it to how you feel now after Portugal and Mexico. We need to bruise batter and bloody the current crop of younguns. I'm not saying that for a match at Old Trafford we would want to have Reyna on the bench or anything, but I do think that none of the Euro defenders should play, and the only Euro forward who should *even* be considered should be Stewart as a sub. Lewis doesn't need to play, neither does Casey. We can put together a passable team of 100% euro-based players, but why would we even think about not giving every possible taste of european soil to MLS players????? And the ultimate upside is, if it's an MLS side, losing at Old Trafford is no shame. Winning is a complete and utter travesty that could bring down Sven, and that'd be two England gaffers in 11 years, a nice tidy set of scalps. -bs