Road to South Africa: 2010 WC Qualifiers

[mattybobviously]

Figured we needed a thread, I'll take responsibility for updating results and such.

Qualifying schedule for the United States

First Round
US had a bye

Second Round (aggregate series)
6/15 - United States 8-0 Barbados (http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=10466381#post10466 381)
6/22 - Barbados 0-1 United States (http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=11138121#post11138 121)
United States advance 9-0 on aggregate

(http://absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=11138121#post11138 121) Third Round
Three groups of four teams, double round-robin, top 2 teams advance to Final Round

Standings
00. Cuba
00. Guatemala
00. United States
00. Trinidad & Tobago/Bermuda

Final Round
Six team hex

[mattybobviously]

6/15 - United States 8 - 0 Barbados

Scorers
USA - Dempsey 1'
USA - Bradley 12'
USA - Ching 20'
USA - Donovan 59'
USA - Dempsey 63'
USA - Johnson 82'
USA - Bermuda Own Goal 86'
USA - Ching 89'

Lineup
Guzan
Bocanegra
Onyewu
Cherundolo
Pearce
Mastroeni (26 Adu)
Donovan (80 Johnson)
Bradley
Beasley
Dempsey (72 Lewis)
Ching

Bench
Reis
Hejduk
Adu (26 Mastroeni)
Lewis (72 Dempsey)
Johnson (80 Donovan)
Edu
Califf

[mattybobviously]

Though it's 3-0 at the half, I thought the US looked very mediocre so far. Pearce has been terrible, Beasley looks a bit scared, and Ching should never be allowed to put on a national team jersey. Disagree with a lot of Bradley's choices, but he'll never come under fire for them until it's too late.

[jbaseball44]

U.S. was winning 3 - 0 last time i checked

[jbaseball44]

Though it's 3-0 at the half, I thought the US looked very mediocre so far. Pearce has been terrible, Beasley looks a bit scared, and Ching should never be allowed to put on a national team jersey. Disagree with a lot of Bradley's choices, but he'll never come under fire for them until it's too late.

I have been flippin back and forth between that and the U.S. Open, even though the US is up 3-0 i agree that they have looked so-so, personally i have never liked Bradley as a coach.

[mattybobviously]

I have been flippin back and forth between that and the U.S. Open, even though the US is up 3-0 i agree that they have looked so-so, personally i have never liked Bradley as a coach.
Me neither, he is a great guy but just doesn't have the tactical ability we need out of a manager. There were a lot of qualities about Arena that were less than ideal, but he knew how to play counter-attacking football better than anyone. We have serious problems in the squad that aren't being addressed.

Landon Donovan is a shell of his former self, it's pretty sad. Just passed up another shot inside the 18.

[mattybobviously]

Hilarious free kick goal from Donovan

[tambo41187]

5 nil, dempsey just added another

[mattybobviously]

Very good match thus far from Dempsey, wish we had more of him out there. Ambitious strike from Donovan.

Naturally Ching was the one who blasted straight at the keeper when wide open inside the 18, he is so unbelievably poor, that's a completely squandered opportunity in any other region of the world.

[jbaseball44]

Ching needs to have a long stint on the bench and i don't even know what to say about Donovan. He would be a good to great player if he had confidence in himself, he just doesn't look like the leader we need out there.

[mat1419]

they look like they're dealing with the defense much better this half...much better opportunities.

[mattybobviously]

Very well done from Johnson, hope to see more of that over the next three years. He is a very good player, his time at Fulham is going to only make him better.

[TheBaroness]

Australia through to final stages of qualifying, yay!

[Zeran]

paraguay defeated brazil 2-0

argentina tied at home to ecuador

bermuda defeated trinidad and tobago 2-1

mexico barely defeated belize 2-0

[Zeran]

good to see the u.s. kick some ass, and the crowd didn't seem too bad for a pretty meaningless game

[mat1419]

good to see the u.s. kick some ass, and the crowd didn't seem too bad for a pretty meaningless game

i thought the opposite actually...i was kind of hoping in these MLS markets they'd be able to pack the place for a freaking National team game. I mean, we're not going to hit 78K every time like last week, but there looked like plenty of seats which was disappointing. Soccer over here is gaining a lot of momentum sort of under the radar...we need to get it going more publically though.

[houstoncalls!]

European qualifiers don't start until August/September but England and Scotland should finish first or second in their groups.

[mat1419]

European qualifiers don't start until August/September but England and Scotland should finish first or second in their groups.

ha, well they should both be nice and rested...

[Burning Star IV]

Canada 3-0 St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Go Canada! 2010 is probably Canada's best chance to qualify since 1986.

[rcrook]

yeah and england should be in euro 08

[mat1419]

Canada 3-0 St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Go Canada! 2010 is probably Canada's best chance to qualify since 1986.

not gonna lie...i would LOVE to see Canada in there. i'm pulling for them. it's america's hat.

[rcrook]

http://www.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0/58/7/AAAAAiAEPcIAAAAAAFhzew.jpg

[Burning Star IV]

Darn skippy.

[houstoncalls!]

yeah and england should be in euro 08Ha, true. But Capello's a much better manager.

[Zeran]

i thought the opposite actually...i was kind of hoping in these MLS markets they'd be able to pack the place for a freaking National team game. I mean, we're not going to hit 78K every time like last week, but there looked like plenty of seats which was disappointing. Soccer over here is gaining a lot of momentum sort of under the radar...we need to get it going more publically though.

it was a national team game, but it was against barbados. the later games, against teams like costa rica and mexico and guatemal usually get like 30,000+.

[Zeran]

not gonna lie...i would LOVE to see Canada in there. i'm pulling for them. it's america's hat.

i don't think canada will make it. they're really inconsistent and the csa is in a shambles. it's too bad they don't care enough about it to really fix things the way it needs to be.

[mat1419]

it was a national team game, but it was against barbados. the later games, against teams like costa rica and mexico and guatemal usually get like 30,000+.

yeah, i get it and i know the bigger games will be huge, but i was just hoping to see that US soccer was as big as it seems to be at times. the national team is still the national team...it should be kind of a big deal. we'll get there, i was just a bit disappointed.

[mattybobviously]

I really hope we ruin Barbados on the road, I want to see a bunch of the kids out there too, and sure as HELL do I not want to have to watch Heath Pearce look clueless. I don't get why Bradley won't call in Spector and put him out there, he's excellent... even if he'd probably make a better holding midfielder than anything.

Pretty surprised that T&T did not manage a win Sunday, that's huge, they're going to really have to turn it around if they want to make a World Cup return... though I don't really see it in the cards.

Canada has a stockpile of talent this year (imagine what they'd have if some of their players didn't declare for other nations), I would be betting this be the year they go. Costa Rica is not as strong as they have been in the past (hell last cycle they relied on the ancient Wanchope), Canada should be able to steal 3rd in the hex, and even if they miss out on that, they could definitely win that last play-in.

[Zeran]

i think if honduras, canada, and guatemala can get their shit together, they can give costa rice a run for their money for that third spot. in any case, it's good to see concacaf getting stronger.

[jbaseball44]

I really hope we ruin Barbados on the road, I want to see a bunch of the kids out there too, and sure as HELL do I not want to have to watch Heath Pearce look clueless. I don't get why Bradley won't call in Spector and put him out there, he's excellent... even if he'd probably make a better holding midfielder than anything.

Pretty surprised that T&T did not manage a win Sunday, that's huge, they're going to really have to turn it around if they want to make a World Cup return... though I don't really see it in the cards.

Canada has a stockpile of talent this year (imagine what they'd have if some of their players didn't declare for other nations), I would be betting this be the year they go. Costa Rica is not as strong as they have been in the past (hell last cycle they relied on the ancient Wanchope), Canada should be able to steal 3rd in the hex, and even if they miss out on that, they could definitely win that last play-in.

I would bet my bottom dollar that Canada makes it in, they are too talented not to.

[StandMyBrothers]

I really hope we ruin Barbados on the road, I want to see a bunch of the kids out there too, and sure as HELL do I not want to have to watch Heath Pearce look clueless. I don't get why Bradley won't call in Spector and put him out there, he's excellent... even if he'd probably make a better holding midfielder than anything.

Pretty surprised that T&T did not manage a win Sunday, that's huge, they're going to really have to turn it around if they want to make a World Cup return... though I don't really see it in the cards.

Canada has a stockpile of talent this year (imagine what they'd have if some of their players didn't declare for other nations), I would be betting this be the year they go. Costa Rica is not as strong as they have been in the past (hell last cycle they relied on the ancient Wanchope), Canada should be able to steal 3rd in the hex, and even if they miss out on that, they could definitely win that last play-in.
Spector is still injured. Also I hate that Mexico outnumbers U.S. fans basically in almost every game.

[xbrokendownx]

didnt they say that Steve Nash was invited to play on the Canadian team

[Broken Parachute]

Hahaha, that would be insane.

[StandMyBrothers]

All I know is Steve Nash's bro plays for the Vancouver Whitecaps in the USL, and is lobbying to bring the Vancouver team to the MLS. Nash trained with the NYRB. And he wants to be a part-time owner of Tottenham one day.

[Zeran]

Spector is still injured. Also I hate that Mexico outnumbers U.S. fans basically in almost every game.

me too

[mattybobviously]

Spector is still injured. Also I hate that Mexico outnumbers U.S. fans basically in almost every game.

COMPLETELY forgot about that injury, haha.
Minus Bradley and I guess Dempsey to an extent, the yanks did not have a great season in Europe.

[StandMyBrothers]

Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Steve Cherundulo (Hannover 96), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids) and Matt Reis (New England Revolution).

All got releases from the U.S. Squad today. Danny Szetela and Chris Seitz got called up. I wonder who the other 8 are.

[mattybobviously]

Random line-up (unsure of the availability on some of these players, but why not):
-------------------------Seitz-----------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
Simek--------DeMerit----------Califf---------Bornstein
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------Szetela----------------------------
J. White------------------------------------------Beasley
------------------------Adu-------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
--------------Altidore---------Johnson-------------------



Well, that was my line-up, though I've now found out some of the other call-ups:
Drew Moor - does not deserve to wear the kit, embarrassing defensively every time he's stepped on the field, there is no purpose in this callup
Chicago Fire trio of Chad Barret, John Thorrington, Chris Rolfe - oh look! Three players who've already proven themselves incapable on this level, or haven't put in the performances that would merit such a look in comparison to others.

Bradley has been a disaster.
EDIT: Bob Bradley that is, Michael is phenomenal.

[mcfly21]

Random line-up (unsure of the availability on some of these players, but why not):
-------------------------Seitz-----------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
Simek--------DeMerit----------Califf---------Bornstein
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------Szetela----------------------------
J. White------------------------------------------Beasley
------------------------Adu-------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
--------------Altidore---------Johnson-------------------



Well, that was my line-up, though I've now found out some of the other call-ups:
Drew Moor - does not deserve to wear the kit, embarrassing defensively every time he's stepped on the field, there is no purpose in this callup
Chicago Fire trio of Chad Barret, John Thorrington, Chris Rolfe - oh look! Three players who've already proven themselves incapable on this level, or haven't put in the performances that would merit such a look in comparison to others.

Bradley has been a disaster.
EDIT: Bob Bradley that is, Michael is phenomenal.


its the second leg on an agregate 8-0 i think letting these guys show their stuff is a great idea

[Bigalan2004]

colombia will be the sleeper in the world cup 2010!

[Zeran]

brazil 0-0 argentina

bolivia 4-2 paraguay

ecuador 0-0 colombia


surprisingly slow starts for brazil and argentina. south american qualifying is interesting so far this year.

[StandMyBrothers]

Random line-up (unsure of the availability on some of these players, but why not):
-------------------------Seitz-----------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
Simek--------DeMerit----------Califf---------Bornstein
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------Szetela----------------------------
J. White------------------------------------------Beasley
------------------------Adu-------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
--------------Altidore---------Johnson-------------------



Well, that was my line-up, though I've now found out some of the other call-ups:
Drew Moor - does not deserve to wear the kit, embarrassing defensively every time he's stepped on the field, there is no purpose in this callup
Chicago Fire trio of Chad Barret, John Thorrington, Chris Rolfe - oh look! Three players who've already proven themselves incapable on this level, or haven't put in the performances that would merit such a look in comparison to others.

Bradley has been a disaster.
EDIT: Bob Bradley that is, Michael is phenomenal.
he needs to call Subonic god dammit. Does anyone know how much more caps Guzan needs before he can go to England?

[StandMyBrothers]

makes it more of a world game? then a european-exclusive game.

[MyWorldEntire]

The whole system is such a joke. There should be no grouping by region. The reallly shit countries should play off to qualify to qualify and then the winners put in a huge pot with every one else who is decent and we draw groups from there.

It's a complete scam that the United States, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Australia get a complete free ride into the finals when genuinely good teams like Russia, Ukraine, Denmark etc.. fail to make it because they end up in the same group as France and Italy when there's only two spaces.

True, but of course they want to have equal representation from each area of the world, even if it brings down the level of play.

[Zeran]

It's like affirmative action in sport. I still think the USA would qualify as would Japan and South Korea etc.. (unless they got unlucky with groups or did shitty) but it would get rid the WC of teams like Saudi Arabia, Iran, Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica who are not good enough to be there ahead of many good Europeans and African sides.

Plus it's not equal now. I think it's 16 from Europe, 4 from Africa, 4 from South America, 4 from North America, 3 from Asia and 1 from Oceania.

Plus this would make the qualifiers more interesting instead of just a formality.

the thing with saudi arabia and iran and such is that they look amazing in qualifying and then just suck a lot of dick once they get to the finals, kinda like poland. not all their games are against shit teams either, just like not all european teams play only elite european teams in qualifying.

[Zeran]

Well the two best nations are Brazil and Argentina but I mean other than that it's Europe heavy, but the Africans are getting a lot better and so are the Asians. I think this would actually make the rest of the world better. Playing tough opposition on a regular basis is how to improve, I mean the USA plays only Mexico in a competitive match except for every four years, that surely isn't the way to improve? But put them in a qualifying group with say Italy, Ivory Coast, Scotland, Ecuador and a few others with them having to finish top three and that is the route to getting better.

part of it is geography. the u.s. and mexico play in a region with small, poor countries. you're not going to have 5-10 big, rich countries with loads of talent to play against like in europe. i wouldn't call playing against teams like costa rice and guatemala easy per se. maybe they're not like playing italy, but it's more like playing scotland in hampden or ukraine in kiev. i think you have a good idea with the more competitive schedule, but i think it'd have trouble working logistically.

[pshh]

glad to see more involved in soccer in AP

[MyWorldEntire]

I would like to see Scotland make the World Cup, since pretty much my whole family is Scottish. I don't know how strong they are as a team though.

[jusscali]

The 80 teams are split into 8 groups of ten. Each team plays twice that's 14 games over two years. We elimnate friendlies to make room for this.

Using this system one group would be:

Argentina
England
Scotland
Ivory Coast
Denmark
Republic of Ireland
Belgium
Belarus
Peru
Latvia.

With only the top four qualifying. That is a really competitive exciting group. All those teams have good players and no game would be a walk over.
That's why Ireland always gets fucked - they need to man up and knock out the Africans.

[Zeran]

I would like to see Scotland make the World Cup, since pretty much my whole family is Scottish. I don't know how strong they are as a team though.

me too. my family is part scottish and it was really disappointing to see them come so close. if they hadn't sucked so much dick against georgia, it would have happened.

[StandMyBrothers]

word up US called up Brek Shea, the guy ManU is scouting.

[mattybobviously]

6/22 - Barbados 0 - 1 United States (United States advances 0-9 on aggregate)

Scorers
USA - Lewis 21'

Lineup
Guzan
Moor
DeMerit
Califf
Pearce
Klejstan
Szetela (Rolfe 66)
Bradley
Lewis
Adu (Barrett 86)
Beasley (Thorrington 79)

Bench
Rolfe (Szetela 66)
Barrett (Adu 86)
Thorrington (Beasley 79)
Seitz
Bocanegra
Onyewu
Shea

Player Pool:
GK: Cervi, Guzan, Seitz
DF: Bocanegra (C), Califf, DeMerit, Moor, Onyweu, Pearce
MF: Beasley, Bradley, Klejstan, Lewis, Szetela, Thorrington
FW: Adu, Barrett, Rolfe, Shea

[mattybobviously]

I had forgotten about Guzan trying to meet English passport requirements, that makes it important that he get these minutes. It also means that if we have that in mind, Bocanegra and Onyewu are probably going to start as well. We have a gaping hole at RB on this roster, so this is what I'll come up with

-------------------------Guzan--------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
DeMerit--------Onyewu------Bocanegra (C)----Pearce
----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------Szetela------Klejstan------------------
------------------------Bradley--------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
--------Adu-------------------------------Beasley------
--------------------------Shea--------------------------

DeMerit has swung outside for Watford before, no reason why he can't do it here, plus I think he is legitimately one of our best 3 centrebacks, and it should not be a foregone conclusion that Onyewu and Bocanegra are better defenders than him just because they have the history with the side. I think this isn't that unrealistic of a suggestion, other than maybe that it would be quick to give Shea a start, but then again that's how we SHOULD be capping players, instead of our 5 minute trot-outs after a no-name like Rolfe has floundered around for 85 minutes. Most of these guys are Bradley regulars, and why not try to play some attacking football when we've got nothing to lose? We can see how well Pearce gets up on the left, see just how good Bradley is in the attack (this is his position with Heerenveen), and see if Beasley still has the will to run at defenders, because he appears to lose that ability in spots throughout the past 5 years.


Knowing Bradley, we'll come out in a terrible defensive formation that teaches us nothing and starts Drew Moor.

[mcfly21]

i'm really happy that szetela is getting a chance, i liked watching him play when he was with the crew.

[StandMyBrothers]

lol 1-0 win over Barbados and we almost let them tie it up twice. GG

[mattybobviously]

Absolutely pathetic... so no big surprise from Bradley. Terrible coaching, terrible effort, terrible result. Yet no one in the USSF will bat an eye.

[mattybobviously]

On another note however... how awesome is it that we're traveling to Cuba?

[Zeran]

i'm really happy that szetela is getting a chance, i liked watching him play when he was with the crew.

he looked really good at the youth world cup. i hope he can achieve his potential.

[Zeran]

lol 1-0 win over Barbados and we almost let them tie it up twice. GG

wow.

[xbrokendownx]

i mean, they won 8-0 in the first game so its not like they had to exert an overwhelming effort in this game

[StandMyBrothers]

On another note however... how awesome is it that we're traveling to Cuba?
hopefully some of our team defects to Cuba, I mean they've got computers and cellphones now!



I heard they didn't wanna run up the score in Barbados, maybe we should've put some insurance goals in though.

[Zeran]

i mean, they won 8-0 in the first game so its not like they had to exert an overwhelming effort in this game

true

[jbaseball44]

They played awful yesterday and Bradley is an awful coach.

[mattybobviously]

I don't care if they didn't want to run up the store in front of Barbados' crowd... no one was even trying, and then Bradley used his first sub to get rid of the player who was playing best... great work Bob!

Also the 4-6-0 NEVER HAS WORKED. We've ran out plenty of stupid formations thanks to Bruce Arena, but we were always on the same page when it came to the 4-6-0

[jbaseball44]

I don't care if they didn't want to run up the store in front of Barbados' crowd... no one was even trying, and then Bradley used his first sub to get rid of the player who was playing best... great work Bob!

Also the 4-6-0 NEVER HAS WORKED. We've ran out plenty of stupid formations thanks to Bruce Arena, but we were always on the same page when it came to the 4-6-0

i am laughing about the Bruce Arena formations comment

[mattybobviously]

i am laughing about the Bruce Arena formations comment
My club was on a two-week training trip, and somehow we landed copies of pretty much every competitive game Arena coached the US in. What an absolute disaster it was to watch.

Still, he did magic with what he had in 2002, that was the perfect team for him.

[jbaseball44]

My club was on a two-week training trip, and somehow we landed copies of pretty much every competitive game Arena coached the US in. What an absolute disaster it was to watch.

Still, he did magic with what he had in 2002, that was the perfect team for him.

i think the team that they have right now can be pretty good but they have to be used the right way and Bradley isn't doing that (Landin Donovan also needs to step his game up, we really need him to be really good).

[mattybobviously]

Bradley is a good club-level MLS coach and nothing more. He simply doesn't know how to create a system that works to the best of the players individual abilities, and so he keeps throwing people in absolute shit positions.

Meanwhile, Buddle, Cooper, and Rogers have all been standouts in MLS play, yet we've heard no word of potential callups.

Pekerman's available...