USSoccer

I want to go, but I just can't figure out a way to make it work logistically. I'm holding out hope for a Hex game in Toyota Park.

I don't believe in Benny, as in I don't think he exists anymore. I think that was the smoke monster from Lost hitting that volley.

I did mine just off the top of my head, but Wolf nails it with some of the intriguing players here. I can't believe I forgot about Orozco, who will definitely help the backline depth. I like Movsisyan (is he cap tied or a citizen here?) and Ibrahim quite a bit. Ferrari is a guy who has some skill as well. Hejduk is probably in the pool, still, and maybe Eddie Lewis as well. Forgot about Simek. I think he's better than BB rates him. I actually rate Beckerman better than some of the other MLS'ers. Thorrington is one of those scrappy guys you can put on a World Cup squad and he'll push some other guys and get them ready. I suppose the ghost of Bobby Convey is also out there, somewhere. Lurking. Shanking shots with his left. The USSF also needs to be more aggressive scouting Texas and the Southwest. That could be a total gold mine.

That's the thing. Our depth is really going to be tested this summer. 2 tournaments, plus qualifying. We're going to need 3 full sides, probably. Our "A" Side (BB's, not mine): Ching/Donovan DMB/Bradley/Sacha/Deuce Dolo/Gooch/Boca/Pearce "B" Side: Jozy/Davies Torres/Clark/Mastro/Adu Bornstein/Spector/Califf/Wynne "C" Side Davies/Johnson Rogers/Holden/Edu/Szetela ??/DeMerit/Marshall/Franklin I am positive I'm missing some players (I didn't count the keepers since we know who the 1-2-3 are) but that's probably deeper than we've ever been. And it doesn't count fringe MLS guys or U-20's that could conceivably step in.

I think if Ching had played poorly tonight, you'd have a shot at Jozy starting. But between the 'experience' factor and his play tonight, he will almost certainly start. Although if BB were smart he'd start Jozy and bring on Ching late if we have a lead. Torres's fitness, I hope, gets him the nod. And our current besxt XI is better than any we've ever had.

If he was actually playing for his club, ?? could be Adu. But it won't be. Best case scenario is Torres. Worst case is Beasley. Honestly, DMB hasn't done anything for me in 4 years. He shouldn't be starting-certainly, if Freddy isn't, he shouldn't be. We're going to have some firepower on the bench, though, with Jozy, Freddy and Davies.

I think Ching unfortunately probably sealed his starting spot tonight, and I will have to say he did play well. It's probably him and Landon up front. Sacha K...what else can you say? 3 goals is a fantastic performance. The free kick was class, the PK was really a good move by Wynne and a calm finish and the third goal was well taken. He locks down the 2nd central mid spot next to Mikey B. I was happy with Marvelle until better players exposed him late in the game. Davies disappointed me. I expected better. Kenny Cooper didn't have much luck in this one. Rogers was poor as well. Actually, I was pretty down on the midfield performance tonight. Sacha was a step ahead of his team mates, no one was really making good runs. The two best players on the field were Sacha and Ching. Bornstein still pretty much looks like left footed Frankie Hejduk. So it's looking like: Ching Donovan ?? Sacha Deuce Mikey Bizzle Pearce Boca --Gooch--Dolo

Guardado was going to be a very tough matchup for whoever was on that side (Torres and Pearce?) so I'm very happy he's out. If Rafa is out as well, Jozy and Landon should tear that defense apart. And I love it when Real elects new club Presidents. They're always making ridiculous promises that never come about. It's high comedy.

You can't tell me you didn't see the Oompa Loompa screwing that up. how hard is it, really? just follow the exact method that the last one was ticketed. I've learned not to overestimate him. Or underestimate his ability to make what's simple exceedingly difficult.

You can't tell me you didn't see the Oompa Loompa screwing that up.

B3 is right. If we don't land Peavy, our offseason consisted of losing DeRosa, Wood, Marquis, Pie and Edmonds and gaining Gregg, Vizcaino, Miles, Gathright, and Bradley. We're worse off than we were on October 6th or whatever.

Well, we're 0-2 on developing 5-tool CF's. I'm not happy about how he was handled, nor will I be happy if Olson isn't swung for Peavy.

Eh. It was a decent goal. Nothing super amazing, nice control, but the opposing keeper was way off his line for some reason. Nice strike and dip. What's between Gattuso and Ballack? Balluso? For realz though, Mikey has already netted more than Gennaro's entire career. Obviously different competitive levels, but not THAT different. Gattuso has 14 club goals and 1 international goal. M Beezy's got 16 and 3 and can only very recently start buying beer in the US. Pavel Pardo? Michael Carrick? That ilk? Carrick is a good once. Perrotta, yeah. I keep forgetting he's only 21.

Eh. It was a decent goal. Nothing super amazing, nice control, but the opposing keeper was way off his line for some reason. Nice strike and dip. What's between Gattuso and Ballack?

MB looks positively menacing with no hair, and I still like him as a player, even if I've downgraded his ceiling in my mind from 'Ballack' to 'Gattuso'. And I echo the sentiment that Kaka is wildly overrated. And last reports put the transfer fee at $200m. And the best part is that Citeh will still have to battle relegation with or without him, because it's still a collection of either overpriced crap, or mercenaries who just care about getting paid. They'll be Newcastle in about 3 years.

Some blog took the WC2010 seeding and pot formula and projected the groups. Group A: South Africa, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Chile Group B: Argentina, Israel, Korea Republic, Egypt Group C: France, Greece, Australia, Ghana Group D: Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Uruguay Group E: Brazil, Croatia, Iran, Cote d'Ivoire Group F: Italy, Czech Republic, USA, Paraguay Group G: England, Netherlands, Japan, Cameroon Group H: Germany, Turkey, Honduras, Nigeria Ours is nearly identical to 2006, Group A sucks, and D-G are ridiculous

Attractive CNN anchors better watch out.

This is awesome.

One can hope, because that means there's a spot for Torres. he's in form and in season. One of the few for us. Bob had better take advantage. It would go against his m/o, which is a very conservative, safe mindset in big qualifiers. but as you pointed out, he's in form and in season. That should mean more. Ditto Jozy over Ching. That's the one move that I think will be key.

One can hope, because that means there's a spot for Torres.

I think the biggest difference between the two is that Landon will occasionally score a goal or two... Well that's not entirely fair. Landon obviously has more caps, but Arshavin's rate at Zenit really isn't impressive at all. Arshavin benefited from a good run of form during the Euro's, but I don't see much to get excited about there, really.

We're now one month away from the opening Hex game. Here are my 5 key points: -Does Bradley go safe and start Beasley on the left, despite the fact he's been pretty much terrible for over 3 years now? Or, does he get crafty and put Torres (please) or Sacha out there? -Going hand in hand with the first, assuming Sacha K. isn't on the left, is he starting alongside MB in the middle, or do we see the Empty Bucket return with Rico Clark or Mo Edu? -Can Dempsey hold his form? -Will Bradley make the correct decision and start Jozy, or does he go with his safefy blankey in Brian Ching? -How will the Bayern loan help Landon? I'm a little wary of Mexico right now, actually. They've played so mediocre of late, but with so long to prepare for this game, will SGE have something planned other than the usual 'dominate possession but allow us to counter' thing that hasn't worked? Or will they make the clever and smart play, and allow us to hold possession and counter themselves? Remember, this is how the CR pantsed us in the WC opener. Personally, that's what I'd do. I'd make the US mids and forwards try and break us down all game long and use Guardado's speed to counter a defense that doesn't exactly defend speed well. Mexico will be without Magallon, Vela and one other guy due to accumulated yellow cards.

Citeh is about to overpay severely. I don't think there's too much of a difference between Arshavin and Donovan. And Dimitar Berbatov looks like he should be smoking a cigarette while on the field. Scolari is going to get sacked. Man U have at least one game in hand as far as I can remember, maybe two, and Chelsea look like they're in very poor form.

If thats on the table it needs gettin' done.

Basic media fellating of a guy who pilots a trick offense coupled with the guy's holier than though faux-humble self important personality Do you really think it's faux-humility?