After yet another unfulfilling 90 minutes of 5 year-old "chase the soccer ball" against our arch-rivals to the North, the 51th State, the US starts their "quest" for World Cup glory at that powerhouse of international soccer, the country that makes the Samba dancers quake in their dresses, Antigua and Barbuda. Ergo, what springs to mind when you say "Antigua"? Beaches, beaches and yet more sun-drenched beaches full of overweight, pasty-white tourists the very sight of which would make Captain Ahab go into orgasmic spasms! Anyway, other than beaches and ocean, Antigua is known for, wait for it, cricket. Yes, they are part of the West Indian, or Windies cricket team. Ergo, their soccer line-up should reflect that: ---------------------Brian Lara----------------- ---Sir Garfield Sorbers----Lance Gibbs---Gordon Greenridge---George Headley--- ---Clive Lloyd--Malcolm Marshall---Andy Roberts-----Frank Worrell----------- ------Curtly Ambrose------Sir Viv Richards---------------------------------- I happened to be in a certain muslim country during the 2007 Cricket World Cup where there were lots of Pakistani and Indians and the games were on in every restaurant I went to which gave me time to try and figure out the basics of the game. I found it more interesting than baseball (which isn't saying much since the only thing that baseball is more interseting than is golf) and matches can last for days. Ergo, lets see if the US can pull their heads out for this game and come away with a European-style 10-0 drubbing San Marino or Faroe Islands.
If we don't flat out murder this "team" then its a shame. The XI I think we'll likely see, even though I don't really like it --------------------Timmy -Dolo---Goodson--------Boca---Johnson* -------------------Edu --------Jones-------------Bradley --Donovan------------------------Dempsey ------------------Gomez If Altidore or Torres start I'll be pissed. Neither deserve to be on the pitch. I like the 3 center mid combo if KB was in place of Edu. I think Klinny has made his depth chart obvious, though, for that position. I don't agree... but whatever. If Johnson can't go, crazy ass Castillo will take his place. Anybody else feel Castillo is just a slightly more polished version of Bornstein?
Sad fact with the USMNT is that we tend to play to our opponent. So expect us to look like utter crap against a team we should dominate.
Actually Antigua is basically made up of the USL Pro (D3) club Barracuda FC. Here was their last line-up (lost to Orlando City SC) Smith, Stefan Alexander, Kimoi Thomas, Tamorley Thomas, Akeem Robinson, Lawson Griffith, Quinton Burton, Randolph Mitchum, Orlando Mack, Karanja Dublin, George DeCastro, Keita
Technically, RSL lost to a D2 team, the defending champ D2 team. Barracuda FC is arguably the worse D3 team. So the USMNT losing to them would be far, far worse.
It blows my mind that a country of 81,000 people could field a team that could somewhat compete in a competition like this. 81,000 people! That's like taking an all star team from just Ogden to take on the US team.
Hopefully this becomes a walk in the park. It will be crucial to score the first goal, otherwise it would be safe to expect a tank fest by the caribbean side.
Did not expect to see Beckerman disappear so quickly from the mix, but if he does not get in this match I hope Klinsmann sends him home where we will be able to use his services.
seriously give some young player a chance. What this does mean (at least I think so) is that once Holden is healthy, Beckerman isn't on the squad. Hard to argue that, really.
I think you could argue Kyle is a better fit for the US in the fact he isn't made of glass like Stuart. With Bolton being relegated does that mean he could be available for an MLS team to pick up if he wanted to come back?
He is the latest victim of "US player successful in Europe, looks to be our next big thing, gets hurt". So many US players fall victim to this, it's really sad. He could easily be one of, if not the, best player on the US squad. Yes, even better than Dempsey. He was that good for Bolton I would LOVE to have him back on our (RSL) squad. I'd imagine Houston would have first right to him, though, and he still loves them (and his mom) so that aint happening unless we trade them something very valuable.
I loved them at first, but then I came out of my "fan mind" and entered my "educated mind" and realized that the tiny little swoosh logo ruins it. Not because it's Nike (Love Nike), but because... well, because it's Nike. In two years, they'll be something completely different. Hell, they may be purple and orange with checkers all over the kit. The only thing that will stay the same is the stupid USSF logo.
even dallas doesn't have kits as bad. the thing is, they are so bad, they're actually kind of good. know what I mean?
If you wanted to go all out in the bad dept, the stripes should've been vertical and the shorts should have stars in the corner to look just like the flag.