At "closed" practice match at the Nike Center, the USA National men's team beat Chicago 1-0 on a Brian McBride 41st minute goal assisted by Chris Klein. USA Keller (Howard 46) Cherundolo (Hejduk 46), Pope (Garcia 46), Bocanegra, Convey Klein, Mastroni (Stewart 46), O'Brien, Beasley Kirvorski, McBride (Buddle 46) Chicago Thornton (Backup 46) Brown, Curtin, Gray, Perez Whitfield, Armas (Capano 46), Marsh, Jacqua Faria (Wolynic 30), Ralph Faria took a knock in the 30th minute and left the game. Chicago showed little in the attack afterward and the loss of Faria obviously hurt; the Nats looked okay on offense, but not especially dangerous. Not a lot of offense from either side. Buddle showed some skills, McBride played well, but the rest of the Nats were pretty much held in check by a tight Chicago defense. The play was fast and tight for the most part. Both teams played a lot of long balls over the midfield. Neither had an attacking midfielder and Landon Donovan was missing. The Convey at left back experiment continutes. He looked better and some of his slashing runs and crosses added danger to the left side attack.
Re: Re: USA vs.Chicago practice match 3-26-03 [R] Did okay. He needs some time with his mates; I think he'll show us something come Saturday. The faster pace of the came doesn't seem to bother him much.
Re: Re: Re: USA vs.Chicago practice match 3-26-03 [R] Bother him? He plays in the EPL. Compared to Manchester United, Arsenal, Chealsea, Newcastle this is probably a slow down for him. BTW-Is there a reason why they didn't play Kiroviski as an A-Mid? By his own admission thats his prefered spot. With his crossing and finishing skills he'd make an interesting right mid
Does anybody think we will see the same line up come Saturday? Other than finding a spot for Landon, I doubt there would be many changes. Also, how did Armas look?
you might want to check the thread on this in the fire forum... but from all accounts, armas played very well for the fire him and beasley even had a pretty damn solid collision that armas was the winner of
Re: Re: Re: Re: USA vs.Chicago practice match 3-26-03 [R] Given his lack of defensive skills, I don't think he can play right mid effectively for the US. He did play some right mid for Dortmund, so maybe I'm wrong. But Arena expects a lot more defense out of his outside mids than I believe Kirovski has to give. I still think Kirovski can be a valuable reserve for the national team, but I see him more as a playmaker/a mid or forward.
I'm no Kirovski hater, but JK hasn't sniffed the pitch in over a month with the first team and struggles now to even make the subs list. For whatever the reason, Arena hasn't given up on him, but a 90-minute scrimmage runout doesn't mean anything one way or another.
i was lucky enough to attend yesterday, and had the following observations: first, i really wanted kirovski to do well. however, his few moments of brilliance were overshadowed by long stretches of ineffectiveness; i had higher expectations for someone who has scored in the EPL and played with the '94 USMNT as a teenager. unless he steps it up this saturday against venezuela, i doubt arena will keep him for the 2006 campaign, but i respect arena keeping his options open. armas was all over the place and looked really sharp and aggressive. at one point, had a very spirited challenge on mastroeni; that should be the most interesting competition for a starting slot over the next 4 years. DMB took some hard knocks from his own teammates. one person who didn't win a collision with beasley was craig capano, the only person on the field who made even cherundolo look big (both were playing in the middle!). capano wasn't bad for an 18-yr old, and even knocked down bocanegra going for a ball, but i swear, he looked 5'5" and 130 lbs. arena actually went with a 3-5-2 in the second half: hejduk, garcia, and bocanegra in back, cherundolo was a defensive center mid, and stewart and convey were attacking center mids. the fire still couldn't put anything together; not sure if they were playing poorly or if the US MNT defense was excellent. other observations: the US offense didn't put a lot of pressure on goal overall, but the defense was very solid. made me appreciate reyna, mathis, and donovan even more. JOB looked good in the middle. definitely one of the best field players for the US. cherundolo really impressed me; strong tackling, good positioning, great skill with the ball, good passing, great speed. his lack of size no longer scares me, and he's only 24??? bocanegra looked strong as a center back, winning most balls in the air. i definitely expect him to make the 2006 team. convey did OK as a left back but also allowed the only real shot on goal. he was more exciting as an attacking mid. buddle, like kirovski, was inconsistent. some potential but did not have an impressive showing. klein was a mixed bag; he actually put the most pressure on goal, particularly with some runs in the 2nd half, and just missed the upper corner on a great shot. he always seemed to make a successful move to get a cross or a shot off, but then usually followed with a mediocre cross or shot (reminded me of cobi).
Re: Re: Re: Re: USA vs.Chicago practice match 3-26-03 [R] Kivorski looked calm on the ball, looked to pass and make plays rather than to score. He doesn't fit the classic forward role I suppose. He's got skills, no doubt, but Arena had no strikers on the bench. Donovan was involved in Cup play, there were no other in reserve.
Great first post dchang - welcome to BigSoccer. Interesting comments about Cherundolo -- I'm still not sold on him, although I realize he's young and I've only seen him play a few times a long time ago.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: USA vs.Chicago practice match 3-26-03 [R] Don't you have better things to do?
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: USA vs.Chicago practice match 3-26-03 [R] Thanks Mike for your telling post, unfortunately my spell check doesn't cover names; I'll add it to the memory. I guess I should be relieved that I don't live in your neighborhood.