How come Connor didn't make team today, play some? Even with full-game Friday, he couldn't play a 1/2? Why didn't they play him a 1/2 on Friday, so he could fresh today? Seems like opportunity wasted...he at least could've got Wolyniec's minutes... Razov? Huh??? Sounds like the grooming of replacement for McHead is off to slow start to me...
Conor's getting plenty of action, although it would be nice to see him get a look with the full team. As for your Razov comment, I fully agree. Why he even get's a look is beyond me. His pace (or lack thereof) is brutally obvious. Wolff should have gotten the start with Ante maybe getting on the last 15. One positive is that a group of MLSers out of season outplayed Denmarks domestic crew. I would hasten to say that Wolyniec and a few others aren't even our top MLS players. I truly hope our euro-based players are healthy for next months match in the Netherlands or we'll be crushed. We need in season and in form players desperately for that one. Kevin
Re: Re: Where was Connor? No we don't. We need to keep doing what we are doing to prepare for the upcoming qualys. If we get crushed it doesn't matter for poo. And personally I don't think we'd get crushed if we fielded the exact same lineup as we did against Denmark. Depends on your definition of crushed though, I supposse! Arena will obviously call in some more experienced people, but don't expect the best squad possible. These early games are still all about feeling out new players and not all about winning. I am currently advocating that Conor Casey get a start in the Holland match. He is improving all the time and it wouldn't be bad to see how he performs when surrounded by a bit more experienced squad all around then the one fielded against Denmark. Here's the lineup again: ..........................Howard....................... Russell.........Pope...........Boca............Gibbs Donovan.....'Roony........Convey..........Jitterbug ...................Wolff.........Casey................... At least for a half and then let the liberal subbing begin.
Re: Re: Re: Where was Connor? Playing Holand in Holland on an "official" friendly day? Bruce will do no experiemtning this day. He will play this game like a qualifier, partly so we don't get humiliated, partly because Holland brought a strong team to play us right before WC 2002. Only fair.Remember this is one of the official friendlies Holland will play before Euro 2004, so it would be very bad form for us NOT to bring as good a team as we can.
If you noticed, Bruce didn't call anybody in from Europe since they're in their season right now. The whole point of these friendlies is to see what people can do, young and old. He knows what McBride can do, he knows what his three keepers in England can do. Bruce is just experimenting with his side right now to see what is the right chemistry among the players before WC qualifying starts.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Where was Connor? Sure he will. Otherwise what is the point? He won't, and with one exception never has, field a team that simply isn't competitive. I refer you to the team he mistakenly put out there against Costa Rica in the HEX that got blanked badly as really the only time he got it all wrong. I think we will see Howard and Boca. After that is anyone's guess as to who Arena will actually call up. Maybe Lewis, maybe 'Dolo. And don't expect Holland to break out their absolute top side either. It'd be great if they did, but they most likely won't and for all the same reasons. This is still just a friendly.
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Where was Connor? Dunno bout that. Euro 2004 is just months away. I could see Holland wanting to get their starting line-up together for some quality time against a quality opponent.
(Bruce didn't call anyone from Europe) Yes, he did...he called in Gibbs and Casey...Gibbs went back because of his transfer....Connor's been training w/23s...
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Where was Connor? It'd be great if they do, and I would expect a very strong side. But these last friendlies are also some of their last opportunities to look at on the fringe players. Regardless I don't expect Arena to field an incompetent team no matter what side of the atlantic most of them are based on.