US vs. Venezuela Live
OK, the Gatorbob as he prefers to be known now is A.W.O.L. so I'll be watching and posting. It's on the Deuce. Won't you join me? Thankyouverymuch.
posted by gooner71 @ 7:11 PM
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
Friday, May 26, 2006
OK, the Gatorbob as he prefers to be known now is A.W.O.L. so I'll be watching and posting. It's on the Deuce. Won't you join me? Thankyouverymuch.
Lakenheath Old Boys
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
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64 Comments:
alright peoples, we already have a classic 'Cello-ism.
He reckons that right now is when you want to have the injuries. I think he's high
This is a very experimental US attack -- It's Ching and Johnson with Wolff in the hole coming from deep. Just for Davey, Man United favorite Timmy Howard is in goal.
The Mad Hatter's been filmed giving a inspirational speech -- "show me you want to play on June 12th" This means you Landon, you tosser!
Ooh, close for the US. Johnson just a step too far away from their keeper who spilled it invitingly.
And Wolff then negates good work getting into position for a shot with not quite a shot.
And then Convey dribbles through 3 but crosses it well behind first Ching and Johnson. That would have been the easiest of tap-ins for either player.
Good signs against a poor Venezuela so far.
We're all over them now. It's just the final ball that needs a little quality and we're in on these mugs.
Woah, having said that, Timmy Howard just ran out of his box and past a Venezualan forward who easily got by him. Onyewu with the goal-line clearance. Steady Timmy.
Albright puts a ball through to Convey again who delivers the definition of high-wide-and-horrible. Shame.
Dave O'Brien the commentator has just once again reminded us that Howard has Tourette's. I reckon he thinks it's a telethon. Please give generously.
Again, we're all over these guys. No problem getting into dangerous areas, but the final ball in or the control or the shot is terrible. This may be the moost popular show in Prague.
Venezuela are taking some comfort that they're not 4 down at this moment, and are starting to leave their end with more regularity. Onyewu again with a pretty crucial tackle.
And then Onyewu follows that with a mad run down the right flank and a cross in that misses Ching by inches. Yikes.
Dave O'Brien reckons that Gonzales for Venezuela is hot-s**t. I reckon that he's like any one of any of the various Central American players that have played for the Metrostars over the years.
Johnson down but getting up after a cruncher of an aerial battle. Free kick taken by Convey, and though it goes wide off Ching, the referee thinks his effort should be rewarded with a corner anyway. Ensuing corner comes to nothing much.
Tim Howard is going to Everton? When did that happen?
Someone needs to show Convey that his forwards shirts have a stripey bit on the front. That way he might play it in front of them. Must be half a dozen passes into the box behind first Johnson and Ching. Ching can't overrun a pass he's so slow, so it must be Bobby.
O'Brien the commentator reckons that the USA's fifth ranking in the FIFA standings may worry the Czechs.
Surprisingly, 'Cello sets him straight.
Jesus, they've just revealed that Arena's suffering with shingles. Wonder what effect that will have on his judgement if he's really uncomfortable like that?
Ching has lots of space after he does a Zidane spin, but his shot is woeful.
But Convey picks up the keeper's goal kick, drives it across the box for Ching to touch into the net. 1-O
Goal!
And Venezuela's response is to do a little surgery on Albright. Yellow to Venezuala and free kick to the US
Mad scramble after the keeper drops the free, but Venezuela clears and Ben Olsen snaps into the back of their midfielder.
Yellow for Ben. Inevitable if his displays for DCU are anything to go by.
All one-way traffic again after the goal.
3 chances come so quickly and back-to-back I lost track of who was involved.
Probably Dempsey, Convey or Wolff to either Ching and Johnson.
Albright should try to get forward more often now. Venezuela not very attack minded at the moment.
Jimmy Conrad and Onyewu seem to have a good understanding going. First choice for Center Back pairing maybe?
At the half it's the US on top.
A very experimental US is all over a very poor Venezuela.
Wolff is seriously short of ideas but he's running a lot. Ching was where he needed to be for the goal, but Johnson has looked less than impressive.
The midfield Convey, Dempsey, and Olsen are supplying Ching and Johnson some good balls, but more quality would ensure a real pasting of these Venezuelan mugs.
Albright should get forward more often. Bocanegra should watch himself because he's been beaten for pace and is carrying a yellow. Conrad and Onyewu look very confident. Onyweu is just so much bigger than any of their forwards that it's not real. He's just done that thing that used to be called obstruction whenever the balls poked by him and the little Venezuelans cannot get by him.
Tim looks like a keeper that hasn't played a lot this season. Shame. That he is going to Everton can only be good for him as long as he doesn't get tonked every match.
In the second half, I would like to see if Eddie Lewis could continue what Convey was doing, but putting balls of more quality in front of Johnson and Ching. I don't think it's working with Wolff. I'd bring on O'Brien if it's not a risk or Landycakes and hope he pulls his finger out.
Arena has been criticized for the lack of quality opposition in these warm up games. It's time to at least put these mugs to the sword anyway.
I am here
I just went back to look at the goal.
Not much to talk about.
What about the rest.
No subs for the US yet as the second half starts.
Asst. Coach Myrnick says that he'll be looking for better quality in the final third. He reads "Lakenheath Old Boys!"
Do you guys watch Skysports new at seven everynight?
I watch it all the time. If I am not home I tape it with my DVR.
They are also showing another Skysports news at 5 which is live. It is a different studio and I think is all set for the World Cup. Give it a look
are you guys ignoring me
I just noticed it is only you Steve.
Where is Gatorbob?
did you get my email about Yeovil Arsenal tonight?
you have a lot of questions to answer stevie boy
Venezuela have started knocking everyone over. Time to bring on some scrubs before someone important gets hurt because there's no protection coming from the ref.
Christ, another one goes over. This time it's an assault on Dempsey. The culprit gets a ticket this time.
nice attempt by Ching
are you still ignoring me
apparently you are
Hiya Davey. Welcome aboard.
No, the Yeovil game's no classic.
Bob's been treed by the gators in his yard and is waiting for animal control to bring in the tranquilizer darts.
Yes, I watch the SkyNews at 7 until about 7.20 when they run out of things to say and start interviewing some no-neck rugby player.
No, but I'm germ phobic so I use a pencil to type so that I don't have to touch the keyboard,
These Venezuelans are just criminal
take a look at t the new one at 5(if you are home)
you don't type with a pencil, do you?
I agree, Venee's are viscious
5 pm? If it's on at 5 am I have a chance. My client's haven't finished taunting me by 5 pm.
Poor defensive coordination gives Venezuela a good chance there.
Frankie Haduk(sp?) is hurt. They said he was in the original squad. Who took his place?
It's actually a peacock quill but I don't like to appear posh.
That was unusual from Tim Howard there. Was he unsighted?
Greg Berhalter was called up in Frankie's place. Unfortunately Greg was at home when the call came and he's on the bench. He might come on at some point as he's a fav of the mad hatter's.
great save
OK, Venezuela with another chance. Albright clogs someone down before they could get into the box and from the ensuing free, Tim Howard earns his crust. Good work from Tim.
Albright gets a yellow.
Here comes Beasley for Convey and Landycakes for Wolff. Glad to see the end of Josh's night. Boy is that decision to omit Twellman looking good.
Must have been the shingles talking
So Davey, if you were caught offside and as you walked away, a defender clips you in the head, would you go to ground. To Johnson's credit he didn't when that just happened.
great goal. Great wide play is always so dangerous
As Henry said, I stay on my feet. I am not a woman!!!
GOAL for the US.
Dempsey after some beautiful approach. Venezuela get stretched by the Donovan ball wide to Johnson who crosses it into the middle where Dempsey just buries his header.
Great goal. Best thing the US has done in this or the last two games. 2-O
I just don't see how the ref can let that go. If Johnson falls over there, that f****r in the Maroon gets an early bath.
And richly deserved.
Bocanegra is miles offside, but he put the header where the goalkeeper had to work for it.
nature called and I can't tell you why the US is lining up a free but it's a worm-burning effort stopped easily by the Venezuelan wall.
And then Venezuela charge down the field where they just miss getting on the end of a dangerous cross from their left.
Oooh, just wide from a Venezualan corner. It would be a crime to let these thugs get one back.
Oooh, just wide from a Venezualan corner. It would be a crime to let these thugs get one back.
Referee tickets Beasley for making scary "What me? Whattayoutalkin' 'bout ref" eyes at him. That and kicking the player.
he is starting to card the Yanks and now a RED
What about the animals in red.
And you just knew it, Bocanegra picks up his second yellow for elbowing a guy in the head.
If 'Cello is the ref, Carlos would have been awarded the kick apparently,maybe given a medal of freedom, but everyone who's not high could see that Carlos was dangerous there. US down to 10 men.
Now Johnson is replaced by Lewis.
I'm throwing this open to Davey who might be able to rule on whether that's a ban for Carlos that will extend into the WC?
I would absolutley say no.
I don't think these cards could possibly count.
There you have it. Davey has ruled, Carlos will still be available in the first round. Thanks.
Amazing that these chumps commentating talk about how unjust it is that Carlos gets a red on his birthday and not about whether he'll be available in the first round. So flippin' backward.
A non-squad player? Bradley from Herenveen? WTF? Was he in the squad?
Coasting into a deserved but unnecessarily labored win against 11 guys who define lack of hope. I wouldn't imagine that any of the Venezuelan's could keep up on an MLS squad.
It's over. Two weeks from today the real stuff begins.
I can't wait
I guess I posted that one twice. I must really be looking forward to it.
Have a good night.
Dave
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OK, that's the game. 2-Nil to the US.
Howard struggled because he's not playing consistantly. Let that be a lesson. If you can't start, don't just stay because you're on a top team. He should be Keller's understudy and he looks like Hahnemans.
Defensively, Bocanegra is a liability. He could have picked up his second yellow for a variety of infractions. Don't need that in Germany. Loved the Onyewu Conrad combo. Liked Albright, but I prefer Lewis.
If we can't throw Wolff back for Twellman, just reserve him a place on the bench. He hasn't looked likely. Convey and Dempsey need to combine quality with their strong running. Olsen did his best, but Maestroani is a better option.
Ching did fine against these guys, but you can't see him doing anything against the Czechs which is the stated reason for his inclusion over Twellmans. Johnson hasn't and doesn't look sharp. He had a moment in the second goal but was otherwise ordinary.
No-one else got enough of a look in to be rated.
Roll on Latvia. I hope that Steve-the -crocodile wrestler can help Bob get out of that tree soon. The skeeters must be doing a number on him.
Over and out.
Thanks for doing the honors tonight, lads. It's gratifying to see that if I abandon my post, another old boy or two is there to jump into the fold. There are so many friendlies coming thick and fast these days that KC is beginning to worry that I may start blogging the Antiques Roadshow if I don't get a grip soon. Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your comments as I was watching the tape delay. Good stuff - especially the comments on Howard's Tourette's and Arena's shingles. Much preferable to the egregious Dave O'Brien. I shall definitely be dialling up the Five Live commentary for the England matches.
As for the game, nothing much learned tonight. Venuezuela are the kind of side that is regularly thumped 8 or 9-0 by other South American sides. Hardly the kind of opposition that is going to replicate going up against the Czechs in two weeks time. And the side that we ran out tonight was distinctly B team. The only player I'd have in my starting eleven is Onyewu who impressed me again.
Honestly, I'm leaning more and more toward playing a 4-5-1 against the Czechs and Italy with just McBride upfront hoping for scraps. There's no point in playing Johnson. He wandered about tonight with the kind of shellshocked looked that you see on recent amputees at Walter Reed. Ching looks to be in good form but I'd still have him off the bench in the second half. Convey too. He could bring some fresh ideas in a second half when we've run out of them. It was good to see Dempsey get on the score sheet tonight. He's had a lacklustre start to the season for the Revs and that will do him some confidence. Again he's an option off the bench.
I'd really like to see the A side do the business on Sunday against Latvia. I especially want to see Eddie Lewis given a start. I'll be there at 7 p.m. Sunday - that is unless I'm treed again by the proverbial gators!
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