Thread: Going to watch USMNT vs. Venezuela tonight!

Well after the women's team thrashed the Dominican Republic 14-0 in Olympic qualifying, I look forward to seeing more of a contest.

Going out to University of Phoenix Stadium (where the Cardinals play)

This is the shot for most of the MLS guys to make their case for a place on the squad.

GK: Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)

D: Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), A.J. DeLaGarza (LA Galaxy), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland/Denmark), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA), Jeff Parke (Seattle Sounders)

M: Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt/Germany), Benny Feilhaber (New England Revolution), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04/Germany), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders)

F: Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), C.J. Sapong (Sporting Kansas City), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)


Out if these options I would guess a 4-4-2 diamond.

Starting line-up (my guess)
-----------------------Sean Johnson-----------------------------
Parke----Cameron-------------------DeLaGarza---Pearce-----
----------------------Beckerman---------------------------------
-Zusi--------------------------------------------Shea------------
-----------------------Feilhaber----------------------------------
-----------Sapong---------------------Agudelo------------------

Have fun Greg...
Enjoy yourself.

Originally Posted by CutMeMick

Have fun Greg...
Enjoy yourself.

I'll be around where the 35 yard line would be 19 rows up, see if you can see me. It will be on Galavision and ESPN3.

Well we won 1-0 the MLS guys had some very creative play, but had a hard time finishing (nothing new for the USMNT). Very promising signs though, as we were owning posession and kept Venezuela on their heels for most of the game. Being a Conmebol team there was a lot of diving and milkin it. Just over 22,000 in attendance not too shabby. Agudelo was on a crutch, I have no idea what happened to him.

As a frame of reference previous friendlies in January
1/22/2011 - Chile (18,580 at Carson)
1/23/2010 - Honduras (18,626 at Carson)
1/24/2009 - Sweden (9,918 at Carson)
1/19/2008 - Sweden (14,878 at Carson)
1/20/2007 - Denmark (10,048 at Carson)
1/29/2006 - Norway (16,366 at Carson)
1/22/2006 - Canada (6,077 at San Diego)
1/18/2004 - Denmark (10,461 at Carson)
1/19/2003 - Canada (6,549 at Ft. Lauderdale)

Nice shots...

Thanks for sharing.

So what were the player ratings in your opinion?

Originally Posted by El Kabong

So what were the player ratings in your opinion?

The whole backline was fantastic the whole game, Cameron and de la Garza we superb in taking the ball forward Loyd was good as well. From the opening whistle is was clear the Venezuelans had placed a target on Shea's back, lots of hard challenges on him. Zusi on the other side had some very good ideas, but his first touch was letting him down, I think it was first cap jitters. Shea and Zusi switch up sides quite a few times throughout the match. Jones and Larenowitz were very aggresive in the mid-field. Larenowitz kinda vanished from the picture as the game went on and Jones became more prominent.
Both Bunbury and Sapong had a hard time finding their legs, timing was certainly evading them. Wondo was definitely the most threatening striker on the pitch, with the type of service Zusi and Shea can provide he is definitely the one that can do the most with it. I don't have a numbers system to rate these guys, but this should give you a general idea.

Wondo was unlucky not to have a brace and Shea was just barely wide on shot.

We had 19 shots which is way better than we usually do and more importantly we had 60% of possession. It was a really good showing, if not for an amazing GK we would have had a ridiculous scoreline.

If I was a MLS team I would really be looking at Jose Morales to put in goal.

How did Feilhaber play?

Originally Posted by El Kabong

How did Feilhaber play?

He didn't really show up in play all that much. Not enough to make judgement.

Originally Posted by killersheep

Originally Posted by El Kabong

How did Feilhaber play?

He didn't really show up in play all that much. Not enough to make judgement.

ESPN gave him a 7.5 and said he was a key creator.

I was hoping he came back into form. He could really be quality for us if he plays up to his potential.

Originally Posted by El Kabong

Originally Posted by killersheep

Originally Posted by El Kabong

How did Feilhaber play?

He didn't really show up in play all that much. Not enough to make judgement.

ESPN gave him a 7.5 and said he was a key creator.

I was hoping he came back into form. He could really be quality for us if he plays up to his potential.

He looked really like shining spot for the Revs, so I think it's a matter of getting back into the groove.

Good that Feilhaber is doing better for his club. I'm happy he's healthy and getting back into his groove.