The U.S. men's national team begins the new year tonight by taking on South American side Chile at Home Depot Center (10pm, Telefutura/ESPN3.com).
Bob Bradley will be fielding a very young squad against a Chile team that also has plenty of new faces. Neither team will feature it's best players, but the chance to impress their coaches should have both teams in attack mode.
SBI will be providing live commentary throughout the night so please feel free to join us. As always, you are welcome to share your own thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
Enjoy the action (Commentary is after the jump):
This game was just a glorified scrimmage so for what it was I saw a lot of good things the combination play was good at times. But I feel for a lot of guys like Jeff L. he gets better through the season same with Wondo they aren’t the type of players that can just come in and play that imo is what holds them back. Its not as dire as some on here are making it out to be,but the most evident thing to me is speed of play some can handle it and some cant Dax did exceptionally well tonight, I thought Mix was good but he held the ball too long, this to me reflects the speed of play in Norway he needs more time to adjust but when he does he will be very good.
This was a much better showing then last years January game with more experienced players.So there is no reason to start the fire bb crap. I do hope Gonzalez works on his distibution and ream works on attacking the ball in the air, major flaws in both of their games.
Marvell is not an international CB I think this is it for him because of the guys coming up Kitchen and Gale will push Marvelle out of the pool. The person who I was expecting more from was Bedoya he was non existent in the first half and crashed hard in the second half.
I do have to say I hope we stick with either the 4-2-3-1 or the 4-4-1-1 I think it plays to our strengths, just replace Jeff with the other Geoff cameron and we boss the midfield and win this game
That game gave me a huge headache!
So, this was a friendly after a few weeks of training for young talent–the rest of the players included were there to provide bodies for training. That’s all. To look at this as anything else is laughable. Making judgements on the coach or complaining about players is absurd. The purpose of this camp was to get an extended look at young guys like Agudelo, Teal, Mix and Johnson. Everyone else, I hate to say, was there so these guys could play against them in practice. Sorry, but McCarty’ll never see the field when everyone is available. He’s only, what, the fifth option at his position…?
My point is, viewing this game as anything other than a “game situation” to look at the young guys in roles they might be able to fill (young forwards–spark off the bench) is a waste of time. Bedoua is the only player close to contributing to the full team on a regular basis and the only reason he’s here is because he’s not in season. Complaining about substitutions, formations, tactics, etc. is the height of stupidity.
Wow, racism. His name is Sunil Gulati.
Funny stuff
Ream is known for his first touch and ability to pass, so throw him in with those three
Bunbury’s got some skills.
Dude I will say I am not a fan of Bob’s, however I agree with everything you said.
agreed, i understand why he may have been a little nervous the first time, but he has been training with these guys for weeks now and should at least lose the nerves from his first cap. he backpasses it every time he gets it and looks scared to take people on and pass it forwards or do anything productive with the ball
I optimistically agree…. And I would throw in the word “hopefully”
This is a pretty funny comment.
Although I don’t think Shea and Wynne were as bad as some folks here think they were.
Are you serious?? Mix, Teal and Agudelo have exceptional first touches. I think you’re revering to Larentowicz and the backline.
Yeah Wynne is not national team quality however damn is his speed impressive obviously though you need more than that positional wise he needs work but you gotta remember he’s only been playing CB for a little over a year…………Larentowitz nice to know ya, in a crowded centre midfield he’s got no chance, however Dax i Hope he can stay healthy I liked what I saw from him, other than that Bunbury and Agudelo’s speed immediatley opened things up right away you could see Bedoya coming inside more and having more room to operate as CHiles CB’s backed off.
The BB haters need to come down I like that he has time to groom some of these youngsters the most important aspect of these youngings continuing success with the National team has nothing to do with BB but rather everything to do with their club careers hopefully guys like Agudelo and Bunbury continue to blossom.
And explain the other 9 people in the field…. Lol all youth players LOL
However I agree your first two paragraphs 100%
Bunbury, Ream, Agudelo: all good first touch. But Brek Shea: holy crap that guy is weak on the ball! But it’s always entertaining to see where his random headers will land.
Embarrassing? Not really. Just sloppy play, for the most part from a bunch of guys that won’t sniff important caps going forward.
After this game Wando did not play himself onto the team IMO. Agudelo did, but that’s me.
I’d bet Shea and WYnne actually shook the wrong hands after the game
They seem like they’re buds.
Did anyone else like how Bunbury took the penalty from Aguedelo? Took some confidence and the finish was stellar.
All in all, an embarrassing game.
Bright spots? Loyd, Mix, Agudelo, and Bunbury.
They are, and you can quote me on this, the most skilled forwards in our pool right now.
There’s not a single US player out there with a decent first touch. Not one.
+1
Bob won’t play them. He will think it is a aberration…
Bunbury and Agudelo are the truth.
Larentowicz and Wynne are by far the worst players on the pitch.
In certain aspects, however the game turned around once Bunbury and Agedelo came in. It is like night and day.
Wynne gets toasted again!!!!!!!
If they had any speed up front we would be losing 3 or 4 to 1.
Anyone else disappointed with Mixx? Is he playing out of position? And Wynne almost beat again…
Laurentowicz is terrible. And he turns 28 this summer. Why Bob, why???
I definitely wouldn’t say far, far more skilled. I think they might be better with the ball, but their decision making and passing isn’t all that.
Ya, I noticed his whole generation is ultra-critical of the current players. I think they’re honestly a little jealous of the players now and think they were the golden age of U.S. soccer.
Far, far more skilled.
Yea he is from Michigan! From my club team baby!
Disgusting dive. Bravo to the official for going right for the card.
What I’m taking from this game: we are bigger and more athletic. Chile is more skilled and better coached
And he nearly put that Chilean player who headed the ball, on sides….Lol
Damn chile is teaching the us youth a lesson in midfield
Wynne’s clearance header is 10 feet to a wide open Chilean player in front of goal.
FML
marvell looking bad again w/ a first touch pass to chile. would’ve preferred a whole game of omar & tim to this.
also larentowicz has not been very good…
Such a low blow but I’ll take it. +1
I LIKE THE BOON-BOON-REE! I LIKE THE BOON-BOON-REE!!
LMAO…
I wish they would of let him take the free kick.
Teal has really grown up. To think just a couple of months ago he was Canadian.
John Harkes is the absolute worst (nothing new). He is so conservative in his opinions about US Soccer and how players should be playing. Mixx, Bunberry and Angedelo are a breath of fresh air.
Because I did not feel like looking his name up. He is worthless for hiring back BB….
Agudelo is a stud, incredible.
The hype machine is rolling baby, everyone get on!
not sure if that really deserved to be a penalty, but we’ll take it