Entertaining Isn't Always Good

Not when you're the USMNT playing a squad of amateurs and sixth division French players.  Sure, the US 3-2 win over Martinique held your attention but for the wrong reasons.  After a scoreless first half (not a good sign right there) the US did break through for a 2-0 lead.  But then they surrendered that lead and entered the 75th minute tied with a minnow (from the small CONCACAF pond no less).  Fortunately, one of the players who did have a good match, Jordan Morris, got his second goal of the night for the game winner in the 76th minute (this week's YouTubeableMoment).  Exciting when it shouldn't be.  Coming on the heels of a mediocre performance in a 1-1 draw with Panama on Saturday night, this was not a good few days for the team.

Bruce Arena, correctly IMHO, assessed his needs for the group stage play and chose a roster to give some players a chance to impress him.  The gamble will likely pay off in so far as the US looks to be in good position to advance to the knockout stage despite the mediocre performances.   But the news is bad in that Arena probably hasn't found a lot of prospects for the first team.  The depth of the US squad is quite suspect at this time.   Dom Dwyer and Jordan Morris have likely seen their stock rise.  I thought Eric Lichaj (pronounced "Smith" "Lehigh") showed pretty well at right back.  Kelyn Rowe did some nice work setting up the goal versus Panama but was also partially culpable on the Panama goal.  Was there anybody else you'd like to see get more playing time when the critical matches come up?  Maybe Gyasi Zardes?  Kellyn Acosta at this point is not playing like the heir apparent to anybody.

Mexico is employing the same strategy as the US - playing their second team to get through the knockout stage.  Their match with Jamaica was a bit of disappointment, a 0-0 draw that wasn't as freeflowing as I had expected.  Brad Friedel may be right; Jamaica gave the Mexicans too much respect and didn't attack like they could have.  I don't know Costa Rica's squad as well but Bryan Ruiz was playing; they only managed a draw with Canada.  With the rosters likely to change for the knockout rounds, handicapping the tournament is difficult.


Road Point

John McCarthy makes a big time save

to keep the Union in the match

I only saw the highlights of the Union draw against Sporting KC but they sure make it look like the home side ran rampant over our squad and only a fine performance by John McCarthy in goal kept us in the match.  The PK on Sapong that allow us to get a tie?  Close call but for me (biased of course), the fact that Sapong had gotten past the defender inside the box means that any contact is not likely to be accidental and certainly not shoulder-to-shoulder.  I'm okay with the call and very happy with a point in a place where most sides come home empty handed.  Good to have that be the final action before the Gold Cup break.



Dithering on the Tyne

Another week full of rumors and speculation but no signings for Newcastle.  For me they are walking a fine line.  Overpaying for transfer targets by 20% is not a good strategy.  But at some point they will likely have to compromise, at least a little on some of the transfer fees.  Maybe clubs will get nervous that they can't unload the players and prices will come down a little.  Then Newcastle look like geniuses.   I keep hearing about possible rifts between Ashley and Benitez but the issue to me looks like it's as much Rafa who's unwilling to grossly overpay as Ashley being a tightwad.

It's also not like this has been a hyperactive transfer window so far, with maybe Everton being the exception.  The Toffees have been busy this summer and just added Wayne Rooney.  Man United has acquired Romelu Lukaku to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic, at least in theory.  


Coming Up

Some of you may need to brush up on your Spanish for the US-Nicaragua match at 7 pm on Saturday.  TV coverage is FXX (691 on my Fios) - not sure how many get that channel.  Your alternative is Univision.  Quarterfinal matches are Wednesday and Thursday.  Wednesday's matches are at Lincoln Financial Field.

Wednesday will also see the Union traveling to Montreal.  The club could still be missing Bedoya, Pontius and Blake because of the Gold Cup action but that tournament won't have an, um, impact on Montreal.  I suppose a draw is acceptable but if the Union are going to be a play-off team, this is a club they must beat.