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!
Another day, another slate of World Cup warm-ups. And probably another two or three knocks. Fortunately, Don Fabio has decided to give the England boys the day off. But we still have the final US warm-up against Australia. Join me from 8:30 am onward on ESPN2 for all the action.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 8:00 AM
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!
88 Comments:
Not a lot of build-up for the match today. I'm still picking up angling tips on ESPN2, but I'm told that coverage of USA v. Australia will start next.
Hungary have taken a surprise lead against Holland in the 6th minutes. 0-1 there.
RVP has equalized in the 22nd minute for Holland.
Here we go! And it's Martin Tyler on the mic. Lovely jubbly!
A little trouble with the satellite feed here; the audio and video aren't quite synced up. I'm hoping that they are working out the kinks today.
The US side for today:
Howard, Bocanegra, Demerit, Goodson, Cherundolo, Demerit, Bradley, Clark, Donovan, Findley
So Gooch and Jozy rested but otherwise it would seem like the side we'll see in a week's time.
Good morning Blue Devil. I am joining you for the match against the Aussies.
Goodson and Demerit will be tested against the Aussie forwards.
As I had predicted, Bradley wisely seems to be preparing to go at England with two defensive mids in a 4-5-1 formation. They'll hope to soak up pressure and hit England on the break.
Morning, MUR! Good to have you on board.
The teams are out on the pitch listening to the anthems in what looks like a training facility.
I think the key match-up today is Cherundolo, in for Jonathan Spector, against Steven Pienaar, SA's best player.
In terms of next week, I expect Capello to set Lennon loose to run at speed against Carlos Bocanegra.
Bob Bradley has no choice, but to go with a 4-5-1 formation against England. I hope he attempts to go 4-4-2 against Algeria and Slovenia.
It's great to hear Martin Tyler on American airwaves. It would even sweeter if Andy Gray were alongside him, but perhaps we need an American voice as well. I like Harkesy.
I agree with you. Mix it up a bit and go with a more attacking formation against the lesser sides. Injuries might force his hand, though.
Sorry, it's early, so I made reference to Pienaar. He's not playing and nor are South Africa. It's the Aussies this morning. My apologies. Tim Cahill is the danger man for US today.
Good early running from Robbie Findley. That's nice to see. He made a dynamic difference in the second half against Turkey last week.
Good noise coming from Sam's Army, albeit with a robotic "USA, USA" chant. They've got to mix it up a bit. Fan culture is still in its infancy in this country.
Early headed chance for Donovan, but it's straight at Schwarzer.
GOAL! Buddle bursts through after a mistake in the midfield and hammers it past Schwarzer.
1-0 USA!
I missed the goal as I was at the dreaded lucky chair. A good result would be a great boost for morale.
I'm confused - the line-up that ESPN2 included a moment ago didn't have Buddle in it and suggested a 4-5-1. Is Buddle on rather than Dempsey?
It's particularly good news with the injury scare to Jozy. Buddle might make a suitable replacement.
Edson Buddle was flagged offside, but the free kick caused some trouble for the Aussies.
Australia seeming to cough up the ball with alarming alacrity right now.
More good running from Findley.
The U.S. team seems more lively than last week. I wonder if the weather is influencing their tactics.
Well, Dempsey is on, Donovan as well. Is Bradley playing? Or are we fielding 12?
The forward line looked really static last week. Findley does add a lot of dynamism. It puts the focus on speed and athleticism. He could cause England some problems next week, but I hope he doesn't. I hope Capello is watching this.
Free kick to the Aussies headed out for a corner. Josh Kennedy will be dangerous at set pieces. Kennedy's header high and straight at Howard. Does he play in the Bundesliga?
Awkward for Schwarzer there and he gave up the corner. More criticism of the lightweight ball. Did you see the China goal against France yesterday? The free kick moved all over the place.
Schwarzer bobbles a routine cross from Cherundelo , but Bradley heads the corner wide.
According to Wikipedia, Josh Kennedy plays in the J League for Nagoya Grampus.
The ball has a bizarre swerve. I wonder if we will see some weird goals during the tournament as a result. Call me old fashioned, but I prefer to see goals scored as a result of players' merits rather than as a result of the ball's design.
Oh dear - Findley did extremely well to beat the offside trap, round Schwarzer but then he put it wide.
Should have been two up.
That should have been 2-0 as Findley rounds Schwarzer and shoots wide from an open goal. It is better to miss these chances now rather than the tournament
I'm with you. I don't know why Adidas keeps on making its balls lighter and lighter despite the complaints from keepers. I heard Landycakes praising it the other day but he fancies swerving one by a keeper from a free kick. It definitely suggests that players like Frank Lampard should shoot on sight.
Capello's assistant alongside Golden Balls doing their homework on the US side today.
As expected England have their scouts watching the match. Beckham and Baldini are in attendance.
So if Becks is in the camp, does that mean that Posh is heading up the WAG contingent as well?
GOAL! Oh dear - that corner did swerve all over the place and Howard lost sight of it. Cahill came in at the back post and slotted home.
1-1.
No excuse for Cherundolo not picking up a dangerous player like Cahill at a corner. Still, with a normal ball, Howard might have come to collect.
GOAL !!! 1-1 A really simple goal as Cahill score off a corner that goes through the U.S. defense and he shoots past Howard( his Everton team-mate) at the far post.
I agree with you. Players like Landy , Lamps, Iniesta, Danny Alves, etc. will shoot on sight. will shoot on sight, especially at high altitude venues like Johnnesburg.
I'm still counting heads. It appears that the mistake that ESPN2 made with their line-up is that Clark isn't playing. Instead it's a traditional 4-4-2 with Bradley in the holding position and Buddle and Findley as the striking partnership. That'll work against Algeria and Slovenia but I'd go with one striker - perhaps Findley - alone up front against England.
DeMerit again gets blown up for a foul. He seems to be a liability in that way. I could see him picking up some cards and giving away some tricky free kicks against England.
The U.S. struggle with a corner yet again. They do manage to clear the corner.
Oh - great running from Dempsey and he produces a terrific save from Schwarzer. Corner US.
Ronney and Dafoe will be trickier opponents than Kennedy. Almost 2-1 as Schwarzer tips Dempsey's shot wide of the post. They are team-mates at Fulham.
Couldn't have Findley slid in there at the backpost?
Would you go with Defoe rather than Crouch alongside Roon next week?
Wilkshire has a pop and Howard handles well.
Wilkshire tries a long range shot that bobbles straight to Tim Howard. That was a routine save when all is said and done.
GOAL! Great cross in from Cherundolo and Buddle nods home at the backpost. He's really making a case for himself.
2-1!
GOAL !!! 2-1 USA AS Buddle heads after a great run and cross by Cherudulo. He must start ahead of Spector next Saturday against England.
Garcia nearly got onto that cross. Just a bit high for him. This has been a really entertaining free flowing match.
Richard Garcia( Jozy's Hull teammate) heads well wide after a great cross by Bresciano.
It's only the first half of the first warm-up I've watched from SA and the vuvuzuela's are already doing my head in. I'm gonna have to get the earplugs out.
In response to your question I would start Crouch along Rooney.He will create many more problems for the U.S. defense than Kennedy. Crouch would have put that chance away.
I agree. His scoring record speaks for itself.
The volume will be much higher during the tournament. Imagine how it will sound when there are 50,000 plus fans at a match.
Goodson lost his man Kennedy in the box but Josh put the header wide. What a sitter!
Dempsey loses his head after a nasty foul from Moore. Yellow cards all round.
Handbags as Dempsey and Moore get yellows for an altercation. Some referees would have given a pair of reds for a similar offense. Dempsey will need to show control during the tournament.
Those horns are going to be a problem, particularly during the SA matches.
Will you be in the lucky chair next weekend? I'll be in Chez UWS enjoying their hospitality and apparently a brand new 42" telly. Can't wait!
I agree - Clint can't react that way next week. But I have a feeling that he was particularly incensed about that kind of challenge in a friendly.
Good early chemistry between Tyler and Harkes. I'm really enjoying them.
Tyler sums up the main issue for the US. With the ball, pretty good. Without the ball, not so good. Baldini and Becks will be noting that.
Adding to the injury list, I heard that Italy's Andrea Pirlo picked up a thigh strain in a friendly the other day. He's now at risk. Bad news for them - I'd say that he's key.
Hopefully, I will be at my computer the entire match. I will try to iron out the kincks and make sure to use the lucky chair before the matches and during intervals.
Clash of heads there and Moore got the worse of it.
Craig Moore injured just minutes after his clash with Dempsey.
I will have to leave at halftime as I need to go to work to help set up for Freshman orientation. I will work Monday through Thursday the next two weeks , earning An extra $1000 per week.
Landy's free kick creates problems for the Aussies, but is eventually shot wide. It is now halftime. I will have to leave, but will record the rest of the match. Take care Blue Devil.
Half-time: Quite an enjoyable match there. 2-1 at the half. Lots of good news for Bradley but the back four is still going to give him sleepless nights. You'd have to think that Rooney and Crouch would have scored from about three or four of those opportunities.
Good for you, mate. Enjoy the orientation. I'll catch up with you during the week. Don't forget to send your picks for the Prediction Game, eh? Catch up with you, later!
Take care. During the excitement I did not have a chance to comment on the LHS album. I noticed you took advantage of Dunkin Donuts' free offer. My wife and I were not able to because we do not have a Dunkin Donuts in our area.
I will send you my predictions as our teacher work day was yesterday. I will not have any papers to grade. I will join you next Friday for the opening match. Take care.
Hey Guys
I am around but not in front of the TV or computer. I have the game on in the background.
I am busy cleaning the house for some guest coming!
Hey, Dave!
The US have it in the goal but it's called back for offside.
I come in the room and Gomez scores USA's third goal in injury time!
Well done US
GOAL! Hercules Gomez sticks in the third goal in stoppage time.
Clark has come off with an injury... looks like a hammy... hope he is okay
That's it!!
USA 3 Australia 1
Well done
Next up... THE WORLD CUP!!!
See ya Thursday Bob
Not good - Ricardo Clark hobbles off with what looks like a hammy. That's a real problem for us.
Full-time: 3-1 US
In the end, a decent result is overshadowed by a poor defensive performance and that injury at the death to Clark. I can't see him making it back now for the England match next weekend. That's a big blow. I'd have Sasha Klejstan on the next flight to SA. Now, it's likely to be Mo Edu lining up alongside Bradley.
Cheers, Dave! See you Thursday evening!
Arjen Robben hurt himself after coming off the bench in the second half and scored two goals against Hungary. He is a doubt for the Cup
They're dropping like flies!!
I still think that relatively speaking, England have been fortunate with the injuries, knock on wood. Rio is a blow but we've got a lot of cover at center back and you could argue that there are other players (King, e.g.) who are in better form. I'm not as concerned with that as I would be with others. The starting XI is still really strong. And of course, after today, Ricardo Clark is probably out with Mo Edu having to replace him. Gooch is marginal, Jozy is wobbly. It's definitely a battle scarred US squad that will face us next week at this time.
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