you go with the one who has been practicing them for the past 6 months, every day, just like the Germans do....and have been doing for 40 fcuking years....
sorry if this has been stated but on the video of training highlights on ussoccer.com ( the first video small sided games) did anyone notcie the first real highlight of freddy almost all communication stopped between players
http://www.ussoccer.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=293937&itype=113&iCategoryID=0 Pablo out with a muscle tear - Zavagnin in.
I think we'll be able to tell 1st team vs 2nd team (or 1st offense and 1st defense) when the same team plays together for a couple of days in a row.
how did he do with his pk in the last men's international match??? btw, I think your post is a choke in itself.
That's what happens with midfielders. They work both ways - they get targeted more than defenders and in seeing the ball more they get into more scrapes. Fortunately none of our midfielders who we count on have had to deal with ACLs and when you think about Landon - thank goodness that he hasn't been injured for any real amount of time - speaks well to his ability to his prospects for a long and healthy career. Reyna has always had groin/muscle pull issues - Ramos had head/knee problems - McBride has had strange voodoo bad luck with his aliments - and on the backline I think Pope had back issues. That's really about it - good news is that if all goes well - Arena will have more options in March/April than he does now. Armas is projected to be back then - Reyna will be back before then as will Mastroeni - and hopefully with some luck O'Brien will be ready to go as well. Considering that Olsen is playing well maybe he will be a surprise - and if we get desperate why not call up someone like Vagenas and Mulrooney - worst thing they have done in MLS is be captains for their Cup winning squads. BTW - what gives? Are those two players injured?
always wondered what these phone calls must sounds like.... "ya, kerry...hi, ya its bruce...ya i JUSt found your number, wed love to have you come down to camp...what? dont buy that huh? damn. ok well see the thing is...oh? you already know about pablo? .....yes. could you please come in. ya we could use you now." as bruce hangs up with his tail between his legs. forza inter
I seriously doubt Bruce Arena ever has his tail between his legs. Do you think that anyone on the US team has a reason to question what he does? Maybe if he had Sampson's record and demeanor, but not with Bruce's. james
More like: "Hello, is Kerry there?" "Bruce, Bruce, is that you? I was really hoping you'd call." "Yeah, Kerry calm down." "I heard Pablo got hurt are you calling to invite me to camp?" "No, actually Freddy needs someone to kick around with in his spare time, thought you'd be perfect." "But Bruce... I... I... thought I might be in your plans." "Just kidding Kerry, we need you, you're country needs you. Not for the world cup, mind you, but right now...because frankly we're short on bodies."
It's more like: "Kerry, there's a ticket at the airport for you. Get on the plane." Because everyone of these guys know: Refuse Il Bruce and kiss anymore call-ups goodbye.
in the case of rossi, true. but I remember heydude saying "no dude, I need a break," prior to the last world cup and he didn't seem to hurt his long term standing with the team.
10x More Likely than the Nonsense Above November: Arena -- "KZ, we really appreciate everything you've done during the last couple years, but I won't be calling you into camp in Jan -- we see at least four or five guys in front of you on the depth chart. But with injuries you never know what might happen, so stay sharp." KZ -- "Sure Bruce, thanks for playing it straight with me."
Adu's pass from the scrimmage video reminded me a whole lot of the JOB to Mathis pass that led to the goal vs. South Korea at the 2002WC.
Judging by the few short video clips on USSOCCER.COM. Freddy seems to have put himself right in the mix, the few passes I have seen have been spot on. I think he is doing everything on his part. A few other people must be pleased based on the reaction of the people watching the scrimmages. You can hear them oohing and ahhing on the video.
We've got to see him making those passes in the second half of a match where he's been getting hacked at for 70 minutes already. Now that would be exciting. But regardless of all that, it's cool to see a 16-yr old out there holding his own with the big boys. Grats to Freddy.
My questions re: Freddy aren't about his creative play. I've not watched Adu a ton, but he seems to see the pass that opens up a defense better than most. But I really don't think he is ready to provide the 2-way ball pressure that Arena will demand of him. That's what I would like to see in a live international game.
Was Boswell called in as a CB, or is there a chance Bruce is considering him for DMid? If as a CB, what does that say about the three guys already in camp? As an aside, if I'm on Bruce's alternate list (e.g., Gomez), I'm working out hard right about now.
I highly doubt Boswell is being called in as a DMid. He was a former forward and is good with the ball (couple runs he made for DC out of central Def were nice) but I don't think he is agile or fast enough to excel in a D-Mid role. Maybe Bruce heard Arsenal were interested in the Boz and decided to give him a call up.
And he is, after all, one of the few players who have scored against Chelsea recently. Maybe Bruce figures he's got Cech's number