USA 1, Chile 1 Looking Back

After having to re-watch the match twice because of shotty ESPN3.com streams, I finally have a general grip on how we should be viewing the inaugural match of the 2011 year.  Let's review your starters:

Starters:

--------------------Rimando

Franklin-----Gonzalez-----Ream-----Loyd

----------Larentowicz-----McCarty

Bedoya------------Diskerud---------Shea

-----------------Wondolowski

Finishers:


------------------Johnson

Franklin-----Wynne-----Ream-----Wallace

--------Larentowicz-----McCarty

-----Alexander-----------------Diskerud

----------Bunbury--------Agudelo

Quick notes:

*Chris Wondolowski is not a target forward and it showed.  He had one good moment from what I can recall with a clever control and shot on target.  It's not really his fault that he had a poor match.

*Dax McCarty had an excellent match.  It's too bad that the US has a surplus of central midfielders already.  He would make an excellent stand in however should someone pick up a knock.

*Gonzalez and Ream only get 45 minutes together.  Really??  Why Bob, Why???  Marvell Wynne, despite his renaissance at centerback for the Colorado Rapids this season, he simply will not do on the international stage.  Come now Bob.

*Zach Loyd from nowhere makes an instant name for himself in the left back pool.  Tough, hardy performance from the FC Dallas youngster.  Deserving of some further looks.

*Mikkel Diskerud, mehhhh.  I like that he is willing to try things, in fact, I love it.  But I felt like he tried too hard at times instead of keeping things simple.  He's gonna be a great player though, I feel it.

*Shea with his second uneventful match.  For all the potential, he's got a long way to go before he is a consistent contributor for the U.S.

*"I like da BOON-BER-RY!!"

Player Ratings

Nick Rimando - 6 - Didn't really have much to do, but made no mistakes.

Sean Franklin - 5.5 - An okay debut for the LA Galaxy man, but he's well down the U.S. depth chart there.

Omar Gonzalez - 6 - It's clear that the 6'4 man child can control the air and be a threat on set pieces, but to take that next step, he must work on his distribution.

Tim Ream - 7 - He had some shaky moments, but it's his passing and distribution out of the back that sets him apart.  Could sneak into the top 4-5 U.S. centerbacks by the end of the year.

Zach Loyd - 6.5 - As I said above, Loyd introduced and endeared himself to U.S. fans countrywide with a determined and gritty effort on the left flank.  More please.

Jeff Larentowicz - 6 - Won't break into the CM depth chart anytime soon, but his tackling was spot on and played well enough for continued second team call-ups.

Dax McCarty - 7.5 - The "Ginger Ninja" was the U.S.' most influential player on the night.  Could crack the depth chart if there are injuries to anyone.

Alejandro Bedoya - 6 - Influential with his play on the flank, but disappeared at times.  His well timed run nearly led to a goal, but lost his balance after the Chile 'keeper spilled the ball.

Brek Shea - 5 - Brilliant in the first 15 minutes, and toothless for the rest of his time on the pitch.

Mikkel Diskerud - 6 - Inventive, creative, incisive.  Kid will be a star, but needs to learn to harness that creativity and when to just play easy.

Chris Wondolowski - 5 - Playing out of position did him no favors, and actually crippled his entire outing.

SUBS

Sean Johnson - 6 -  Grabbed his first cap, wasn't at fault on the goal, and past that, didn't have much to do. Future star?  Big?  Check.  Bald?  Check.  I like it.

Marvell Wynne - 4.5 - Clearly just can't fit in any position for the national team.  His gymnastics led the Chile goal.

Teal Bunbury - 6 - For the first time in a long time, the U.S. actually has some unofficial depth at forward.  Eyes to stars and feet on the ground kids.  Well taken penalty.

Juan Agudelo - 6.5 - Still just 18 years old, and fearless.  Drew the penalty well and nearly snatched a late winner.

Eric Alexander - NA - Inaugural cap for the youngster. 

NP's USA vs. Chile Pregame Examination

I'll admit it, this one snuck up on me.  While I've been following the events in camp closely, I didn't realize that January 22 was so close.  So here we will have our customary game preview.  Here we go.

First we gotta figure out who the 5 players who won't be making the game day roster.  My best guesses are:

GK: Sean Johnson, GK Matt Pickens, DF A.J. DeLaGarza,  DF Zach Loyd, MF Sam Cronin (Quad strain)

I don't mean any disrespect to these guys, and I could be completely wrong here.  But there would be no point in having more than two game day goalkeepers and more than 6 game day defenders.  Sam Cronin picked up a slight quad knock during training and will be left out (reportedly).

So here are your game day 18:

GK: Nick Rimando, Dominic Cervi
DF: Sean Franklin, Ryan Miller, Marvell Wynne, Omar Gonzalez, Tim Ream, Anthony Wallace
MD: Eric Alexander, Alejandro Bedoya, Mikkel Diskerud, Jeff Larentowicz, Dax McCarty, Brek Shea
FW: Juan Agudelo, Teal Bunbury, Eugene Starikov, Chris Wondolowski

Based on Bob "Mad Scientist" Bradley's latest experimentation's, I would like to see the United States coming out in a 4-2-3-1, much like what we saw against Poland back in October.  Chile are sure to offer some flair moving forward, and controlling midfield through the essentially five midfielders will be key to keeping possession and pressure off the U.S. back four.

I'm just going to drop you a line-up that I would favor here:

---------------------Rimando

Wynne-----Gonzalez-----Ream-----Wallace

---------Larentowicz------McCarty

Bedoya------------Diskerud----------Shea

---------------------Bunbury

Avg. caps: 1.81
Avg. age: 23.09

Elder net-minder Nick Rimando likely takes the start, and perhaps youngster Dominic Cervi gets to show off a bit in the second half.  Simple enough for that spot.

For the back four, I've had my mind made up since the roster was announced that Tim Ream and Omar Gonzalez would be your starting centerback pairing against Chile, barring injuries.  They are the future for the U.S. in defense, and there is no better time to link them up than now.  Marvell Wynne returns to the U.S. fold, for I think the first time since the 2008 Costa Rica debacle.  He has all the speed in the world, but can he turn that into a dominant defensive performance?  Especially after playing most of his club season in central defense.  Left back options for the United States are few and very far between.  So Anthony Wallace, a veteran of the 2007 U-20 World Cup run to the quarterfinals for the U.S., steps in.  Can he impress enough to get future looks there?  He's sure to be tested.

Out of this formation, the triumvirate of Jeff Larentowicz, Dax McCarty, and Mikkel Diskerud will need to boss the central of midfield.  Larentowicz will need to play the enforcer role and shut down Chile's playmaker, whomever that may be.  McCarty will be your midfield quarterback and king of distribution and possession.  Diskerud, who assisted in his last game for the US, will once again be stuck in as the U.S. resident #10.  They'll likely be doing it alone, as I'm not sure if I expect the U.S. fullbacks Wynne and Wallace to be getting forward much, partly due to Chile's dangerous counterattacking play.  Deep offensive support from Larentowicz will be key as well, and the 27 year old does have a knack for ferocious long distance shots.

Wide support comes in the form of camp elder Alejandro Bedoya, and relative newcomer Brek Shea.  While Bedoya's skill set is pretty much now known, since he does have six caps to his name, Shea is a whole other animal.  He'll need to step up his game from his poor last outing with the United States, this past October against Columbia, where he got a surprise start, and was sympathetically axed at halftime.

Teal Bunbury is really the only forward in camp (now) who can play the lone striker role.  Agudelo and Starikov thrive in space when they're able to run at players, and Wondolowski plays much better as a withdrawn striker.  So Bunbury gets his first start with the U.S. after impressing mightily in his 45 minute cameo against South Africa two months ago.

So there you have it.  Am I the only one upset that this will not be on english-speaking television?? Blame Fox Soccer Channel apparently.  But it will be shown on TeleFutura and ESPN3.com at 7 p.m. pacific time.  See you on the flip side!!

US Soccer Finalizes March Dates with Argentina and Paraguay

How about this to start the year?  US Soccer is scheduling tougher and tough opponents, inevitably to prepare for this summers CONCACAF Gold Cup.  On January 22, the US will take on 15th ranked Chile for the conclusion of the Camp Cupcake festivities.  The current squad has been training since January 4, and includes many of the future prospects in the US system. 

Then two and a half weeks later on February 9, the US will take on 10th ranked Egypt in Cairo.  In what should be a reunification of all the US big guns, the US will renew acquaintances with the northern African country that the US beat 3-0 in the 2009 Confederations Cup to advance to the semi-finals.

For the two March international dates, the US has scheduled 5th ranked Argentina, who will bring their full side and talents to the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey on March 26.  Timmy "Stonewall" Howard shut down Argentina's attack and the US held on to a famous 0-0 draw in the Jersey rain in 2008.  Three days later, the US travels south to Nashville, TN for a date with 24th ranked Paraguay.  Ninety Plus will be in attendance for that one.

Rumors continue to circulate about a late May or early June re-match with the top ranked team from Spain. 

Well done to US Soccer. 

Jermaine Jones Set for Loan to Blackburn Rovers, and more...

Sky Sports is reporting that want-away Schalke and USA midfielder Jermaine Jones is set for a move across the English channel to EPL side Blackburn Rovers.  Ninety Plus understands that this is a loan with an option to buy for Blackburn, who currently sit 10th in the EPL table. 

After being tossed in the Felix Magath doghouse a couple months ago, this is a welcome relief for Jones, who is looking to secure first team minutes in the hopes of making the February US squad that will travel to Cairo for an international friendly against Egypt.

In other news, Robbie Findley's move to Nottingham Forest was finalized today as he was granted his work permit.  Prove us all wrong Robbie.

The US scheduling for this world cup cycle has been top notch...more coming on that later today.

Silly Season, Updated

Confirmed moves so far this season:

Oguchi Onyewu finalizes move to FC Twente for the remainder of the season, he is expected to compete for a starting job immediately.

Edson Buddle has signed a deal with 2 Bundesliga cellar dwellers FC Ingolstadt 04.  The same club has reportedly offered trialist Freddy Adu a contract, no word on if he will sign, but word to the wise.  DO IT!!!!!