Ther is always cause for concern if you want to be that way but, with all due respect, Mr.Chicken Little,the sky is not falling.

You might want to remember these guys had not played one real game together as a team before these two games. Yet they won both.

From the man himself, abridged quotes:

On the game against Panama:

“Our team had a very hard three weeks, and they had tired legs today and you could see that. After the red card, we couldn’t pressure enough anymore to create more chances. Overall, I think it really paid off doing this, not only playing a game in the U.S., but coming down here. A lot of the young players learned their lesson today.”

On the goal for the team during January camp and the two recent games:

“Our goal with these two games was very simple. We wanted to introduce the players to those difficult games in different environments, especially away from home outside of their comfort zone. We wanted them to come here and experience this atmosphere and a different way of doing things. I think they did very well with all that.”

On the call leading to Geoff Cameron’s red card:

“No matter what, you take it the way it is. You can’t change it anyway. The team did well after that. We had to switch to a 4-4-1, which didn’t give us enough power to get into their box and create chances for ourselves. The way they executed in the last half hour from a tactical perspective was very good. They calmed the game down and controlled possession. They deserved the win at the end of the day.”

On tonight’s lineup selection:

“The lineup for both games was based on what we have seen for the last three weeks. These players deserve a big compliment for all the energy and effort they put into these three weeks, which were not easy.”

On who stood out in camp:

“I don’t think it would be right at this point to name players. We had a very good look at all of them. Everyone came in from a different background and a different environment. What we did in these last three weeks was get a really good picture. The reason why we need these camps, scrimmages, and games is to get a sense of them so we can help them take the next steps. Overall, everyone in this camp gave everything they had, which was wonderful to see. Their willingness to learn, their willingness to suffer, and to come down to this environment after the Venezuela game was something we needed to see. We needed to see who could suffer. It was a good response, and when they went down a man they suffered even more. These are important things we want to see, and they gave us a lot of responses to our questions. Now we are trying to give everybody feedback on where we see them.”

“That score could have easily been 3-1 or 4-1 Panama with decent finishing”

So what?

Coulda, woulda, shoulda, This is not Olympic ice dancing where you get style points. This is soccer. You win by scoring one more goal than the other guy.

It is also the exact sort of game the US will probably have to get a result in during WC qualifying, so getting the result does matter. Style and pleasing the spectator does not matter.

Learning how to get a result in this sort of situation does matter.

Jk made it very clear going in that he wanted a difficult game so these guys could learn how to get a result in adverse circumstances.

He got his wish. I’ll bet he was glad for the red card.

him paired with Adu would be sweeeeet.

This is just how it goes in soccer. Early on, Klinsman lost a few games he maybe should have won. Last night, he won a game he maybe should have lost. It all levels out in the end.

Still holding out judgement till I see a true “A” squad (meaning LD and Deuce included) play a few meaningful games in this system.

I want to see Chris Rolfe again…

I’m usually an optimist. And I fully understand all the asterisks here ( fringe roster, meaningless game, etc.) But this is the two most worrying games I have seen the Nats play in perhaps 15 years.

Despite the fact that just about everyone sucked, what worries me is that after three weeks of work, the tactics on display were “turn and run”. There was no distribution (especially last night) and the degree to which guys over dribbled was horrifying.

I can’t imagine that this is a harbinger of the A team’s approach, but until I see something more sophisticated in the Italy game…I’m going to be losing sleep over this nightmare.

Granted it is our B/C team, but they performed much, much better against Venezuela. The passing and decision making last night was just despicable. There were so many open runs that were just ignored by passers. I think everyone was trying too much to do everything themselves and trying to make an impression rather than play good, team football.

He was pretty dangerous against Venezuela. Yes, he was bad last night, but he is a guy who makes great runs and plays great combination plays and the bottom line is that the US CMs were not distributing well, and missing Shea on the wing over and again when he was wide open and making good runs. Eventually you are going to stop making runs when it becomes obvious that you aren’t going to get the ball. Even so, he still shut down his wing defensively both games.

Did I hate one him? I simply said he looked gassed. He himself said he had a cold. So…there’s that.

It’s one game.

Get real, we all have a bad day every once in awhile.

Wow — which is the better save — Rimando 1v1 in the middle of the box or the Panama keeper denying Wondoloski on the rebound?

In the midst of some awful shooting, two brilliant saves – think I have to give it to the Panama keeper . . .

Shea is a baller. He plays HARD and is big and strong. Great work rate. He needs to work on his skills/touch but that will come in time. He is a little tired though, coming of the MLS season and then playing 90 min on both games. Bottom line is, I like him and I will not tolerate any haters.