Quick, what’s worse; living in a world in which the Cubs have recently won a World Series, or a world where Cleveland has won the last 2 major professional sports championships? Well, they both sound like garbage possibilities to me, but it’s shaping up to be one or the other right now. Regardless, either option is better than having to live through another FIFA international date like we had last weekend. Just when the EPL and Bundesliga seasons start to get into full swing, we have an unnecessary break in the action where all the top players fly all around the world so Ukraine can play Moldova and Germany can beat Liechtenstein 6-0. Seriously, I enjoy international soccer as much as anybody, but the UEFA World Cup qualifiers are super boring until all the second place teams from the group stage play head to head for the final spots. What made this edition of mediocre/jet lagged soccer matches even worse was the fact that the US national team didn’t even play a meaningful game during the break since CONCACAF hasn’t yet begun the final round of World Cup qualifying. A 2-0 win against Cuba on the worst soccer field ever (the stadium didn’t even have running water) and a 1-1 tie against New Zealand were not even worth the hassle of organizing the 2 games and all the travel. But…
1) How exciting has the US player pool become!?! Within the last year or so, several players have either emerged from the youth ranks to become potential contributors or matured and developed to into regular starting roles at top clubs. Our first choice backline is most likely Fabian Johnson (regular starter and important player at a variety of positions for Monchengladbach), Geoff Cameron (starter for Stoke City), John Brooks (starter for Hertha Berlin) and Deandre “first touch” Yedlin (sometimes starter for Newcastle). That’s awesome. Just as exciting is the depth we have at defense; we could field another entire backline of top quality defenders. Timothy Chandler (starter at Frankfurt and playing much better over the past few months), Omar Gonzalez, Michael Orozco (both starting in Mexico) and Matt Besler of Sporting KC make up a pretty solid backline, much less a second unit.
Up top, Jozy is finally injury free and consistently playing like everyone always hoped he would. Bobby Wood is starting and playing well for Hamburg and has the only 2 goals that his team has scored all season. Aron Johannsson has been battling injury and a stupid suspension but when in form, can challenge for a starting striker position. Jordan Morris is having a great rookie season for Seattle. Options!
Midfield is perhaps just as exciting. We’ve already covered how Christian Pulisic is arguably our best player and only just turned 18, but how great would it be to have him on one wing with Julian Green on the other? I thought Green was destined to spend is career loaded out to second division clubs, but apparently he’s been impressing at Bayern Munich and is set to make his Bundesliga debut within the next few weeks. Plus, he was our best player in these two recent friendlies, with 2 goals scored and more or less creating the only other goal. In the middle of midfield, Michael Bradley is Michael Bradley, but Sacha Kljestan has taken over creative duties and has looked good doing it (facial hair excluded). A creative attacking midfielder has long been the missing link in the US lineup, yet (despite my constant recommendations) Klinsmann has refused to try successful MLS players in that role. Benny Feilhaber was playing amazing soccer in that role a couple of years ago and if not for the arrival of Sebastian Giovinco would have been MLS MVP. Yet, Klinsmann would not select him for the national team no matter how obvious it was that his skill set was what was missing from the team. Even once Kljestan returned to MLS and was playing wonderfully, it took months before Klinsmann finally gave him an opportunity. Better late than never, I guess. Anyway, with added depth from guys like Alejandro Bedoya, Perry Kitchen, Danny Williams, and Lynden Gooch, and versatility from guys like Yedlin, Johnson, Chandler, and Cameron, this is probably the best the player pool has ever looked.
2) Thank God for Conmebol – While the rest of the world was playing in dull blowouts, South American World Cup qualifying was as exciting as ever. Uruguay is looking super tough and Suarez was back to being the beautiful shithead that he is. No biting this time, but he was diving, arguing, scoring, assisting, and running, running, running. He may make over $20M a year, but he always plays like his life depends on it. Chile, the two-time defending Copa America champs, are currently in trouble. And with qualifying more than half over, they will be looking to get into the 5th spot and the play-in round against the 5th African team (I think). But the most notable Conmebol development from the international break has been the improved play of Brazil. With 2 wins over last weekend, they moved to the top of the table and look like the team everyone expects them to be. They did face some weaker competition in these games, but ball movement, penetrating runs, and general positive play made the games enjoyable to watch. What was somewhat odd though was the asshattery of Neymar. It’s one thing to play like you’re the best player on the field, but it’s another to rub it in and try to embarrass your opponents. I kind of expect this immaturity from 18 year old Brazilian starlets, but Neymar is now 24, has been playing at the best club in the world for the last 3 seasons, and still feels like he has to toy with inferior competition? Don’t get me wrong, I love it and find the shenanigans entertaining. But he shouldn’t be surprised when some Bolivian midfielder who literally makes less than 1% of his salary starts throwing elbows after he has nutmegged him for the 4th time. Good for viewers like me, but bad for Neymar’s ankles, knees, back, and forehead. When in Rome.
3) Let’s go Liverpool! Needless to say, tomorrow’s match against United is a big one. With City and Tottenham both dropping points this week, the league is wide open. A win over United will propel the Reds into the thick of the title race and send expectations sky high (only to inevitably come crashing back down before Christmas, but we’ll worry about that later). Can’t wait to give Mourinho a big shitburger.
4) Sporting KC - Arrrrrgghhh
5) Mixed results from Mug Club FC and the Scousers – Enough said for now, season recaps to come in the near future.
Check ya later
Cheech