On tap: USMNT v Honduras

After the Costa Rica debacle, someone - and I apologize for forgetting who and where - asked me if I thought USMNT coach Bob Bradley might be on the way out soon. It may even have been one of you super-fantastic regulars. Anyway... I replied with something to the effect of 'No, I don't think he's currently in danger of losing his job, but I would consider this defeat to be a proverbial first straw'.

With August's visit to Mexico next on the WCQ slate, tonight's tilt with heel nippers Honduras is big for everyone involved.

The USMNT have slipped out of first place and are in direct danger of slipping further in Chicago tonight. Several 'Nats are suffering crises of form (or just bouts with exhaustion at the end of long club seasons), and the resulting widespread questions about their place on the team. Meanwhile, Honduras are talented and motivated, having only reached the World Cup finals in 1982. They may also smell blood, with the hosts battered and wobbly.

As for Bradley, his job wobble would begin tonight if the U.S. lose. While no one likes his sudden willingness to be aggressive and come out of the bucket more than me, even I fully realize that the best thing to do right now is try to restore some semblence of a comfort level.

I would find it a hideous injustice to scrap working on a proper 4-3-3 and/or some of the players who struggled so mightily on Wednesday. That being said, I think tonight is a night to start in the familiar 4-4-2 and field as much of the following three player attributes as possible: experience, freshness and match fitness.

The latter two may seem to contradict... but not necessarily so. I also realize that some positions cannot be manned without sacrificing one or two of those attributes due to absences and positional requirements - for instance, we can't field two small forwards, someone has to be available as a target.

And this is one of the many tightropes a national team coach must walk as part of his duties. Bradley's team needs three points, and to a lesser extent, he needs to regain the air of command before the USSF gets all sweaty. What he doesn't need to do is move players out of position or force big tactical changes (that should have been floated during the numerous friendlies we've played over the last two-and-a-half years... but that's another rant).

With all that in mind, I propose the following line-up card: Howard, Spector, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Bornstein, Mastroeni, Clark, Donovan, Dempsey, Davies, Casey.

As you can see, three field players are not fresh and three are green in WCQ action. However, all of them are 90-minute match fit and all have shown at least good club form of late. The bench should have either Adu or Torres, Altidore, Beasley, DeMerit, Feilhaber and Pearce to be ready for any possible game event or tactical need.

Most importantly, every fundamental skill that was sorely lacking against Costa Rica has to re-emerge and it has to come back into play now. If the USMNT looks anything like it did performing basic tasks at Saprissa, my next answer to the question "Could Bob Bradley be fired?" will be dramatically different.

In the world of international coaching, there can be no doubt that the camel's back is weakest during a World Cup qualification gone nightmarish. I would highly suggest keeping his load as light as possible for the trek to Azteca.

Now, if you'll all don your slippers and smoking jacket, we shall adjourn to the reading room...

- USMNT match notes
- Conor Casey glad to be back
- NSC pal Dr. J. Freedman says the pressure's on
- Howard delights in new Everton deal
- NSC pal Clemente Lisi scouts Honduras
- Tom Davis puts DMB under the microscope
- WC dream spurs Pavon
- Japan, Australia, S. Korea first into WC10 finals

- Greg Seltzer

Irv! Broken duck, aisle three!

Ryan Guy, who had 10 league goals last season, has notched his first of 2009 in St. Patrick Athletic's 16th match. Tonight's contest was also notable because the home team schooled derby rivals and Eircom leaders Bohemians 3-1.

This clip give the American a suitable theme music for his crowd-buster, which opened the scoring.





- Greg Seltzer

A few things...

Lots of videos today. Yes, I'm being lazy...

#1 - It was really painful to write up my U.S. v Costa Rica player ratings. It felt just awful, but I had to do it.

Might I suggest that coach Bradley consult with Thomas Rongen, or even DaMarcus Beasley to an extent, when constructing/installing a 4-3-3? Don't just throw it out with the garbage. It's not the kind of thing you can put together in two days and 45 minutes on a crap field in a hostile cage match.

ESPN's worldly crew talks about the Saprissa debacle...




#2 - On Saturday, the USMNT tilt against Honduras will only be competing with one MLS game. I suppose that's progress, anyway.

Here is today's Studio 90 update...




#3 - Having already made the pointless reversal of policy to allow international switches past the age of 21 on Wednesday, FIFA is now actually working on some Olympic squad limitation changes that I would find very welcome.

#4 - I wouldn't normally pimp someone else's Top 5 List (I mean, really! The gall!), but WV Hooligan nails this one. I have always said that Logan Pause is among the most underrated players in the league, and finally someone agrees.

#5 - MLSNet's Kyle Martino sits down with David Beckham (WMP link) to talk about returning to the Galaxy. As I said, I think L.A. supporters should just be mature, get over it all and treat him like he's a guy on their team who can help them win.

Naturally, all other MLS fans should feel wildly free to hold a gut-searing grudge.

#6 - The agent for Millwall defender Zak Whitbread has revealed contact with Belgian side Genk, who will participate in the Europa League in the fall.

#7 - Jose Romero blogs that Seattle has some major selection worries ahead of their away showdown part deux with Chivas USA.

#8 - During this nice bit about RSL keeper Nick Rimando's Philippine heritage, we learn that the San Jose Earthquakes are reaching out to the local community. I love it.




Speaking of the Quakes... could Darren Huckerby be ready in time to face FC Dallas? Jeff Carlisle reports he should be available for sub duty. I think it's very smart not to rush a muscle recovery, especially when the inclination for a struggling team could easily be to rush a spark-plug guy back.


#9 - Best I can tell, Prem risers Wolves won the all-league Crossbar Challenge on Soccer AM this season. I don't fancy them to stay up, but I will say this for the team: they have a lot of spirit and they hit an accurate long ball.





- Greg Seltzer

A lil sumpinsumpin

It's always fun, but also tough for me during the silly season. Sometimes I know stuff I can't say yet. Sometimes I can only verify parts of the info I'm chasing, so it's possible I can have it all right and not know that because there is no confirm.

Sometimes you get a bushel of info on unrelated subjects from one source and must figure out how to dispense the confirmed facts along with the accompanying scenario rundown and any possible truly educated propositions without making it seem like a one-ring circus single event. There are many situations and variables that test patience (not my strongest trait to begin with).

Sometimes, sometimes, sometimes... And sometimes, a Scottish tabloid stumbles onto a tidbit you're holding so you can fill out the story and now you just have to spill the half-cooked beans before you wanted.

With that completely unrelated example set aside, I can share that two or three Dutch clubs are busy (to varying degrees) with trying to bring Rangers attacker DaMarcus Beasley back to the Eredivisie. In fact, he is one of at least four USMNT players currently in contact with clubs in the Netherlands... but let's not get sidetracked.

The obvious suitor would be PSV Eindhoven, who have just hired former Guus Hiddink #2 Fred Rutten, who just happened to make a bid for Beasley while at Schalke last winter. Beyond that, there are several Dutch teams shopping for wingers, with vary degrees of need and cash on hand.

Factoring in these two variables - and to a lesser degree, known previous interest for the player - I would have to guess Twente, F-word and perhaps AZ Alkmaar could be involved, in that order. If he is indeed available for free, as has been suggested by Thursday Scottish reports, one could not count out the possibility of NAC Breda, Vitesse or even Ajax showing interest.

Beasley also has a La Liga club sniffing around, but my guess would be far less educated on that, so let's move on.

I have also reported at S365 that French battlers Sochaux are once again prowling around Hammarby forward Charlies Davies, along with a Bundesliga club that is being far more successfully secretive than Bundesliga clubs tend to be.

Sochaux, who barely scored more than goal a game this past season, are most likely going to need to exceed €2 million with their offer to land the forward.

Meanwhile, on the Oguchi Onyewu front, I had a light bulb about which La Liga club could have made an offer for him: Hugo Sánchez is the manager of Almeria. We know he wouldn't need to see video or read scouting reports. I'm just saying, throwing it out there for discussion.

And yes... I still have many more goodies to come. The silly season has only just begun.


- Greg Seltzer

US @ Costa Rica LIVE

I know most of you can watch, but there may be folks stuck at work and, well... let's just have some fun anyway. I will stick to the larger events and any amusing remark I can come up with at 4 AM in the morning.

Here is your U.S. line-up, which is very surprising on a few levels:

Howard; Wynne, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Beasley, Mastroeni, Bradley, Torres, Dempsey, Donovan, Altidore

My initial thought was concern over seeing DaMarcus Beasley, who has hardly played since his last USMNT outing, once again at left back. I am worried this will backfire in this particular match.

However, I'd feel funny fussing too much because, ladies and gentleman, what we appear to have on the card tonight is a real life, genuine 4-3-3 set not seen since Bob Bradley's very first match in charge.

If you recall back to January 2007, a halftime switch to the formation saw Jonathan Bornstein and Kenny Cooper net their first international goals to spark a 3-1 win over Denmark's in a battle of "B+" sides in Los Angeles.

I'm a bit stunned to see us break it out at Saprissa, but I also think the fun quotient for tonight's key World Cup qualifier just rose 16.8%. This is a very aggressive maneuver by the coach, who I have often blasted for playing things too safe. If it goes wrong, he could be unfairly vilified; let's face it, this contest will always be an upset trap regardless of tactics.

While this may not have been my first choice for the time to make the switch, I also may be the last person allowed to quibble seeing as how I've been arguing in print since 2002 that, based on our talent pool, Total Football is the best way to success for the U.S. Men's National Team.

As it pertains to tonight, we have a pair of speedy raiders at the fullback positions, a destroyer/traffic director/playmaker dynamic in midfield and three movable parts that could pop up anywhere along the front line.

Honestly, I can't recall the last time I was this fired up for a 'Nats game. This actually is topping Mexico's recent WCQ visit on my excitement meter.

Back in about 40 with the kickoff...

--

My goodness, I love Mexican announcers sometimes. First, they expressed concern that the U.S. would be without Frankie Hejduk, then they called Torres "el gringo".

1'

Game on...

3'

1-0 Costa Rica. The trouble started on the U.S. left. Saborio splits two and curls a left-footed beauty past Howard. Urgh,

13'

It's a fast-paced game thus far, albeit one with some sloppiness. Just as the USMNT starts to find the right spacing and move the ball, Costa Rica hits on the counter, Ruiz breaking loose to tee up Borges for an easy lash. 2-0 Costa Rica.

22'

The U.S. are a bit too frantic on the ball and too hasty in attack. They have clearly not settled into the game. It seems that asking Beasley to play left back tonight may have been too much. I also have to question the decision to make Donovan the cnetral forward - Jozy is the #9, Landon the playmaker.

27'

We've seen glimpses of what the U.S. could accomplish in a 4-3-3, but the touches are just not consistently crisp.

39'

U.S. ball movement is better to a point, but there is still nothing in the way of real chances and they still look shaky at the back.

HALFTIME

It's all been a bit exasperating so far, hasn't it? Touches are poor, passes are too risky when space to work is available and too slow to come when under pressure. And when the turnover comes, there are missed assignments all over the transition defense.

Guys... just because the formation is exotic, that doesn't mean your actions should be. Play the simple pass and move, there's no need to rush the attack. It would also help if the few restarts we're earning would come with a useful serve. Put Jozy at the #9 where he belongs and tell the players to relax, coach.

46'

Kljestan is on for Torres as we switch to the familiar 4-4-2 bucket.

62'

Adu is on for a nicked Mastroeni. Time to play offense.

65'

A rash of chase in circles defending finally ends with Herrera rolling one into the net. Howard, I think, would have normally stopped that. 3-0 Costa Rica... again.

80'

Davies is on for Dempsey, and we seem to be back in the 4-3-3.

90+ 2

As four minutes of added time roll, Onyewu is bowled over in the area on a long throw from the corner. Donovan spots it and bags it easily. The U.S. have it back to 3-1.

FULL TIME 3-0 Costa Rica

My player ratings will not be kind tomorrow. I could lodge a great many complaints right now, but the sun is up already and I need some sleep. I can't imagine any dream I'd have would be as harrowing as that game.


The goals...




- Greg Seltzer

It's all over for Ancelotti - official

Carlo Ancelotti has been Chelsea messiah for one day, but has already been crucified.

England's press have passed a guilty verdict on the new man at Stamford Bridge before he has set down a single cone in a training session. Former Blues & Marseille striker Tony Cascarino even said he would be "amazed" if Ancelotti lasted a full season. Yesterday we were told, breathlessly, that:

*He is tactically unimaginative
*He guided Milan into finishing a humiliating ten points behind Inter
*He fell out with Ronaldinho and almost let Kaka go to Man City
*He forced Gianfranco Zola out of Parma when he made him play on the wing
*He took the Chelsea job on the advice of reject Andriy Shevchenko
*He smashed a bottle, punched a table and kicked in the dressing-room door after losing a game
*He cheated on his wife who then divorced him
*He eats a lot and is unashamed about it
*He doesn't shower in the morning

Ok, I made the last one up, but reading the rags you would think Chelsea have appointed a Serie D man and are about to do a Newcastle next season (Oh, if only.... ).

But seriously, Ancelotti has just got off the plane and bought his London A-Z. There is only one Guud Hiddink, but give this guy a chance would ya!

-Sean O'Conor

On tap: USMNT @ Costa Rica

Ohhhh, it's gonna be a late night for me. The Distracter hates it. "You need sleep!", she says. She makes a cute fuss.

In any event, tonight's scary World Cup qualifying visit to Saprissa to face Costa Rica constitutes what I would consider a close second to Azteca as the trickiest CONCACAF match. While that may be subjective, the Ticos do stand second in the hex, one point behind our fearless leaders.

Who do I think should start, and in what set? We won't get into that. Who do I expect to start? With what I'd consider a 50/50 choice at each wingback, I'll go with... Howard, Spector, Onyewu, Bocanegra, Bornstein, Bradley, Mastroeni, Dempsey, Beasley, Donovan, Ching.

Who do I think we need to be extra careful with? Easy - the trio of Gent's slippery Bryan Ruiz, in-form IK Start playmaker Cristian Bolanos and midfielder Carlos "oh dear sweet lord, do NOT let him have room to fire from the top of the area!" Hernandez. The U.S. will need to be cool and stay in front of these three guys. If they start running free and finding time on the ball...

What do I predict will be the result? a 2-2 draw. We have some weary legs on the back six and I never figured we'd shut out the Ticos unless Timmay enjoyed an absolute blinder AND got luck with the woodwork. So yeah, I believe this will be more fun for the fans than it is for the coaches.

As always, we adjourn to the media room:

- USMNT match notes
- FIFA's match preview
- Edu to miss Confederations Cup
- Tuesday press conference (mp3 link)
- Jack Bell recalls past Saprissa visits
- Ronald Blum features Clint Dempsey
- Run DMB on his busy summer
- Luis Bueno talks Ticos talent
- Michelle Kaufmann talks fake turf
- Jason Davis' 5 reasons we can win
- Ginge's rebuttal 5 reasons we can't
- Bradley confident over right backs
- Deuce all set to celebrate 50th cap

Today's Studio 90 report...




And here is a reminder to anyone feeling overconfident of what happened the last time we went to Costa Rica for a WCQ back in 2005...




- Greg Seltzer

A few things...

Sorry it's taken me so long to get to this, I meant to do it while you were all sleeping in the States. You'll be happy to know, however, that I have been busy on the horn collecting lots of little goodies for you - which you will start enjoying once the stupid S365 publisher decides to resume working...

#1 - I've posted both the new MLS Club Ladder (only two draws! lots of movement!) and an update on the transfer situation of U.S. defender Oguchi Onyewu (who, by the way, will be filing suit against Anderlecht defender Jelle Van Damme).

Until then, here's a sneak preview: I have learned that free agent Gooch now has four offers to weigh, with more expected before he makes a decision in a couple of weeks or so. The players at the table are Fenerbahçe, a Prem club we all believe is Birmingham, a Bundesliga club (that is definitely not the very fussy 'Gladbach) and a La Liga club.

I have some hunches/leads on the unknowns and possible late bidders, but I think I will drop all that in the seasonal transfer situation room column some of you have been asking about lately. I'm starting it tonight, so it's coming soon.

UPDATE: I'm being told that holding so much back is mean. Fine. I'll give a little more.

As you may know, Sal Zizzo has been told by Hannover 96 that he is free to leave. This should not be construed as a failure on his part, though it could be a setback. The turning point clearly came with the change of technical director, and this sort of thing happens.

The good news is Zizzo has been receiving calls from clubs in the top flights of Belgium, the Netherlands and Scandinavia, as well as from Serie B. Man, I sure would love to see him get a shot in the Eredivisie, which is obviously the league where a natural winger is most likely to fit in quickly.

Okay, that's all you get for now.

#2 - Meanwhile, the first monster move of the summer has been completed, with Gareth Barry heading from Aston Villa to Manchester City.

Does this mean Steven Defour will now go from Standard to Villa? And could his pal Gooch be far behind? Hmmm.

#3 - Conor Casey is PotW again. With him and free kick lasher Kenny Cooper left out of USMNT camp, can we really say we don't have capable forward depth anymore? I still insist our attack woes are based in the tactical contruction of midfield.

#4 - Goal polled some fans about the impending return of David Beckham, and most don't seem the least bit interested in seeing his stupid metrosexual face (or something) around the HDC.

Thing is, folks, he's back. You have a team to support, he's part of it and he can help. My advice? Get over it, already.

Besides, is it just me or did Carlo Ancelotti's departure from AC Milan give anyone the idea that the Spice Boy may not actually end up leaving this winter?

#5 - The Terminator has joined USSF efforts to bring a World Cup to America.

#6 - A couple more MLS teams have found fun ways to be civic leaders: San Jose recently tried to give a couple of local homeless families a little boost, while the Seattle Sounders are taking their helping hands to serve at a nice restaurant benefit next week.

#7 - I forgot to mention this in the last edition: Adam Spangler gives the 411 on a soccer film festival in NYC. Deluxe. What fun it would be to put one together, too.

#8 - Before non-roster invitee Luis Robles left to get married, he had a chat with the USMNT blog.

#9 - From yesterday: Danish-American handyman Jamil Fearrington is auditioning with Real Salt Lake. I know he'd love to catch the eye of U.S. boss Bob Bradley, but I find myself wondering where RSL would propose to use him - as competition at right back and right midfield?

#10 - With one day to go before a very scary WCQ at Costa Rica, Ricardo Clark has been called to replace Mo Edu and Frankie Hejduk has also been ruled out.

UPDATE: Edu has gotten the second opinion on his knee and is now slated for a Wednesday operation in London.

Studio 90 reports once again...




- Greg Seltzer

Diskerud Crackers Inc.

[Photo: Budstikka]

Yep, U.S. U-20 World Cup hopeful Mikkel Diskerud has scored again, this time with a nasty volley to the far corner (play starts at 4:35 mark of clip) to cap a 2-0 Stabæk victory over Tromsø on Monday night. Mix needed only seven minutes on the pitch to bag his third league goal of the young season in only 236 minutes of action.

And suddenly, the Norwegian press are making a big deal out of his international status...

- Greg Seltzer

Who likes goals?

This will be the last Monday WLG? until the Euro-seasons kick back up in late August, but I do plan to have some WCQ-day and international tourney editions through the summer...

We start off with Rangers' Scottish Cup hero Nacho Novo, who needed all of about 20 seconds to decide the match with this insane winner.


Nacho Novo Goal - Scottish Cup Final Vs Falkirk - 30th May 2009 - For more funny movies, click here

Fouad Idabdelhay helped Earnie Stewart's NAC Breda secure a Europa League invite with this resourceful last gasp leg one equalizer.



Atlético Madrid ace Sergio Aguero opens their weekend win in style.



Seattle's Freddie Ljungberg makes up for missing a penalty by teeing Nate Jaqua up for this doozy of an equalizer (the play starts around the 3:20 mark).



Osasuna's Juanfran not only puts a nasty lash on a poor Real Madrid clearance to win the game, he clinched their La Liga survival with this laser volley.



And finally, the WLG? Show-off of the Year, Zlatan Ibrahimovic caps a seven-goal thriller - and the season - with this bit of invention.




- Greg Seltzer

Maldini the Great bids football farewell

"When I think of the current generation, Lionel Messi is top-level. And although he has never taken my breath away, Kaka has impressed. Zinedine Zidane was brilliant but without a doubt, Paolo Maldini has been my favorite." - Alex Ferguson

As most European leagues wind up, it is time to raise a glass to Paolo Maldini, who finally hung up his AC Milan cleats today at the age of 40, after a stunning quarter century at the top.

As long as I can remember, the high-cheekboned face has been a fixture at left-back for the Italian giants, and until a few years ago, his national team. 'When is he going to retire?' became the refrain as season after season there he was in the red and black. 'He's been around for ages!' Until just short of his 41st birthday was the final answer, his perennially boyish looks betraying a seasoned veteran.

What a career to tell the grandkids about: Debuting for the rossoneri aged 16 back in 1985, he went on to bag five European Cups, seven Serie A titles and the appearance records for Serie A and Italy, for whom he played 126 times. Maldini wore the azzurro in four World Cup finals though was unfortunate not to be picked for Italy's victorious campaign in 2006 -the following year he was voted best defender in the UEFA Champions League.

In the middle of a dynasty, Paolo took on the baton for club and country from father Cesare, and has passed it on to his 12-year old son Christian, now in the Milan youth system.

One sad note was the unfurling of antagonistic banners at his farewell game at the San Siro last week, referring to his criticism of Milan fans earlier this season.

"On the pitch you have been an infinite champion but you have lacked the respect of those that have made you rich", said one; "Our deepest thanks from those you defined as mercenaries", proclaimed another, while a large banner deliberately honored his predecessor Franco Baresi. But their carping will not tarnish Maldini's long-earned reputation as a model professional on and off the field.

Being a man at the back, he was never likely to win the Ballon d'Or or FIFA World Player of the Year crown, but World Soccer magazine did elect him their World Player of the Year in 1994.

He left the soccer field for the last time today as one of the greatest defenders of all time. Only a true great could spend a quarter of a century racking up over 900 appearances for one of the world's best teams. Just imagine entering your fifth decade and still playing at the top of the tree.

Milan waved Paolo goodbye with a 2-0 win away at Fiorentina. Farewell to an amazing career.

-Sean O'Conor

Califf scores in road upset

Before flying off to join USMNT camp, FC Midtjylland defender Danny Califf scored his team's last goal of the game and season in a stunning 4-2 cruise past hosts Brøndby.

Somewhere in Malta, Poul-Henrik Worm is smiling...


- Greg Seltzer