DISQUS

Brian · 11 months ago

Not suiting up Holden . . . Bad move by Bradley.

Brian · 11 months ago

Don't want to talk bad about Ching cause he's a local, but I think he gets that starting spot with the idea that he is a mentor to this squad.

eplnfl · 11 months ago

I really appreciated Ching once I saw him up close in Chicago last year. He maybe the strong striker we need until the younger players are ready to go.

Brian · 11 months ago

Guess the live chat software isn't working tonight.

kkfla737 · 11 months ago

Yeah, BC John is without internet tonight so we are doing it as a blog.

eplnfl · 11 months ago

Would this game draw more in Texas or Florida?

kkfla737 · 11 months ago

YES. Why is the national team drawing so poorly in LA lately?

Brian · 11 months ago

Unless your the Lakers or USC (in some cases) nobody draws well in L.A.

eplnfl · 11 months ago

LA is the only town that can't support a NFL team. Enough said.

kkfla737 · 11 months ago

Yup

eplnfl · 11 months ago

Could 2009 be the year Wynne makes an impact on the team? All I say is if he has the PT he will make his mark.

Soccer Guru · 11 months ago

Wynne is going to be our right back in the next World Cup. This will be his year.

LA is pathetic. Bring these winter camp games back to Florida where they used to be.

Soccer Guru · 11 months ago

WHAT A GREAT FREE KICK BY KLJESTAN.

eplnfl · 11 months ago

A classic!

eplnfl · 11 months ago

Sweden appears only to be in California to visit Disney!

Todd · 11 months ago

You ought to watch the game on Galavision if FSC annoys you. They annoy me and I'm enjoying the Spanish broadcast.

Soccer Guru · 11 months ago

Thorrington is playing very well.

kkfla737 · 11 months ago

Agreed.

Soccer Guru · 11 months ago

AGH Davies.

Soccer Guru · 11 months ago

I assume Cooper will come in for the 2nd half.

Phillip · 11 months ago

Holden isn't suiting up because he suffered an injury.

Brian · 11 months ago

Wow, that stadium is empty.

Brian · 11 months ago

Where have you one Billy Gonsalves . . .

Soccer Guru · 11 months ago

Lagerbeck probably went nuts at halftime.

Brian · 11 months ago

gone not one

kkfla737 · 11 months ago

The chat application for the WSW looked good...........we'll talk about using that one here going forward!

Soccer Guru · 11 months ago

Kartik..................why do we keep playing these games at the HDC?

kkfla737 · 11 months ago

Because the Jan camp is there. We won't play any more qualifiers there.

Joey Clams · 11 months ago

Although I was disappointed to see Ching start, I admit that his performance was outstanding. People, a low-key friendly followed a B camp. The crowd was skinnny. So, what? Did you expect 30,000 for that? Come on. They train for three weeks then drag their equipment bags to the stadium. It's perfect for them.

Johnny · 11 months ago

We gave two what should have been three soft goals late. I'm not sure I would be optimistuc after that.

henry5 · 11 months ago

I thought the game was really congested in the first half. Everything going through the middle. Rogers eventually made it to the outside, but felt that Thorrington couldn't capitalize on the right - but he isn't really a right wing is he? He is more of a field general. I don't see how he keeps his place when the likes of Dempsey at Donovan come back to the squad. Rogers because of his speed may have a shot at the bench depending on how Bradley wants to use Sascha and Beasley. I actually thought the game got wider when Carroll came on for Rogers and Sascha moved out to the left, but it obviously cost us a couple of goals as well.

Thought the commentating was horrific. I really don't like Bretos or Sullivan. The keys to the game are hardly insightful. Max was stammering his way through the downtime and at one point was completely reading something below him and not looking at the camera.

If FSC is going to make it they need to step it up.

kkfla737 · 11 months ago

FSC seems stuck in a time warp. When the network debuted on Super Sunday 2005 it appeared to be what we expected. A cable channel that was behind the networks and ESPN by a few years. But now in 2009 it seems they are almost a decade behind, in their set, production ,etc.

C Webb · 11 months ago

Kartik,

You know my feelings on the whole Ching issue. With that being said, he was exceptional on Saturday night. However, on the negative side, he didn't even come close to attempting a shot on goal and that is still a big issue with me and that rears it's ugly head too often for my tastes.

I feel Ching is a lock starter until someone can beat him out and while you, me and the lamp post all want that player to be Jozy, he just won't get the opportunity until he can get some consistent time in Spain, which he most likely won't get until after the World Cup. This isn't to say that he can't come off the bench for the US and score some goals but it's hard when you don't get regular minutes, even at age 19.

I am still very impressed with the rate at which the National Team scores on set pieces. While most people bitch and complain about our inability to score from open play, being able to score from set pieces is a HUGE part of international soccer. When you get bottled up by a good opponent, you can always rely on your set piece ability to score goals.

This is a good thing.

Mark · 11 months ago

I just do not understand why Bradley likes Ching so much.

He was a marginal figure under Arena, going to the World Cup largely to placate Donovan but never really a key figure.

Now under Bradley the offense revolves around him as a target man. Everything runs through him. We're taking a guy whose playing experience is in USL and MLS and forcing much higher caliber players who have played in top European and Latin leagues to play off of him. It can work in a friendly but will never work when the results matter.

Cooper needs to be integrated NOW! Same for Jozy and Davies.

kkfla737 · 11 months ago

Bradley uses Ching the same way Arena used McBride. Same tactics with a target man. If Arena had been retained it is entirely possible Ching would have filled the same role he is under Bradley. I'm not thrilled about it, but our coaches are comfortable with him and he always gives one heck of an effort.

Joey Clams · 11 months ago

Mark, I'm as eager to see us move beyond Ching as the next guy. But his link up work has been stellar. He was brilliant on Saturday.