Nats blow up TnT

On Wednesday evening in Nashville the US Men's National Team once again looked like the CONCACAF regional giants that we are beginning to become accustom too. Jozy Altidore became the youngest American to ever record a hat trick in a World Cup qualifier. Landon Donovan once again proved that he is one of the best, if not the best player in the region. He assisted beautifully on all three goals and truly out classed the Trinidad and Tobago defense all night long. Special props also go out to Brian Ching was undoubtedly played the best international game of his life. He was strong on the ball and made crisp passes through to Donovan all night long.

With the victory the US (2-0-1) remain a top the hexagonal group with seven points, followed closely by Costa Rica (2-1-0) with six, Honduras (1-1-1) with 4, Mexico (1-2-0) with 3, El Salvador and Trinidad and Tobago (both 0-1-2) with 2 points. The next qualifying matches will take place the first week in June. The US will face it's toughest challenge this year when they travel to Costa Rica on the 3rd and then come home to face Honduras on the 6th. If they win both matches as they should it could all but guarantee that they will indeed qualify for South Africa 2010.

The Nats and Colorado

The USMNT lost an opportunity to put a strangle hold on the hexagonal round of world cup qualifying. In what most pundits have referred to as a sub-par outing, the Nats were forced to claw their way to a tie with undoubtedly the worst team remaining in the CONCACAF region. With no Tim Howard in goal or Oguchi Onyewa in the central defense the team allowed two goals before finally realizing they were in a World Cup qualifier. Two goals in the final 13 minutes saved what could have been and still may be the biggest embarrassment of the Bob Bradley era as National team manager. The team looked completely unprepared as the Salvadorian wingers exploited the clearly out of form U.S. midfield. Bradley’s choice to start Brian Ching, Demarcus Beasly and Sacha Kjlestian smells of old club and country team loyalties as opposed to proper coaching decisions. It was not until the insertion of J.F. Torres and Jozy Altidore that the offense took off and scored twice as the match came to a close. It makes one wonder what would happen if Bradley would field a team based on who was playing well at the time of the match.

Maybe it is time to look at how National teams are selected in other sports. With the exception of soccer most teams are run with the same model as a professional franchise, meaning there is a coach who coaches (novel concept) and a management team that decides who will be on the team. This has worked well for other sports in international competitions such as ice hockey and the Olympics. Seven years ago Wayne Gretzky was charged with putting together a team that was coached by Pat Quin that led Canada back to the top of the ice hockey world. It has also worked for Basketball as we have recently seen similar results with team USA following the model to win the gold in Beijing. Perhaps if we made coaches coach and left player selection up to a national team GM we could eliminate or at the very least cut down on foolish loyalties that weaken the team. And perhaps that would not only bring out the best in the player knowing that they must impress more than one man to remain on the team, but also bring out the best in the head coach knowing that he must produce because he has the best his nation has to offer.

On Saturday the Galaxy host Colorado in the first of three meetings between the two sides in April, and the first of two matches in four days as they also play in Open Cup competition on Tuesday the 7th. The Rapids are led out of the back with a strong combo at central defense of Corey Gibbs and former Galaxy stud who was traded by the idiot Lalas, Ugo Ihemelu. The midfield is solid with former National team player Pablo Mastroeni and free kick specialist Terry Cooke. Omar Cummings leads the strike force with two goals, one in each match this season. The Galaxy are still without left back Todd Dunivant, and goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts is questionable as are Eddie Lewis and Edson Buddle. Basically the entire left side of the field for the Galaxy will once again be a huge question mark. And once again as goes Landon Donovan so will go the fate of the Galaxy, should he be able to out pace the defense and put a few quality shots on Matt Pickens the home side will celebrate it’s first victory of the new campaign. But remember he will be coming off two tough World Cup qualifiers. My take is that I just hope Gordon doesn’t suck!!!!!

Game Recap and Looking Forward

On Sunday the Galaxy once again proved the old saying, “As goes Landon Donovan, so goes the LA Galaxy.” His brace lifted the hopes of a city from the depths of darkness that most thought would be a bleak and trophy-less year for the Galaxy. While the season may indeed prove to be trophy-less, this once proud soccer mecca now has the hope it has been longing for after the dramatic comeback finish on a blustery early spring afternoon. The tie almost felt like a win, and judging by the reaction of the 18 thousand or so in attendance, I was not alone in feeling that way. Donovan was clearly heads and shoulders above all competition on the field, from out pacing the D.C. United defenders at will to toying with players on runs with the ball at his feet. He beat multiple defenders at a time on a few different occasions. I think it is safe to assume that Donovan is playing with a chip on his shoulder, like he has something to prove to the continent where soccer is king.

Possession is key in soccer and the rest of the Galaxy team played like they were afraid to give it up, passing backwards as if Pete Vagenas were their lord and master. They managed to hold the ball and mount very little offense through the buildup. The left flank consisting of AJ DeLaGarza and Mike Magee was so terrible that United didn’t even bother to send the defensive midfielder to that side for large chunks of the first half. The bulk of the first half chances came off of crosses sent in by Chris Klein or Sean Franklin, who despite still learning to play together were more than serviceable on the right side. Neither Dema Kovalenko nor Josh Tudela got enough touches on the ball to make a difference. And Omar Gonzales lived up to the hype as he very nearly put away a corner kick served in by Donovan. Tony Sennah is no Troy Roberts but at least he is not as bad as Abel Xavier.

The bottom line is that the Galaxy didn’t lose. The lineup that opened the new season is wrought with reserve players, from Steve Saunders in goal to both DeLaGarza and Magee on the left. There was no question the home side was sorely missing the veteran presence of Eddie Lewis and Todd Dunivant. The team played timid at times and it was clear that there was a void of leadership on the defensive end of the pitch. With two weeks between games the Galaxy should be fully fit in time for Colorado on April 4th. Meanwhile you can catch Landon and the U.S. Men’s National Team take on El Salvador on March 28th in the final round of World Cup qualifying. The match airs on ESPN2 at 8pm (PDT).