The Soccer Thread (Version 8)

Phil Jones must have the skull plate of a triceratops.

 

The roster for the USMNT's upcoming friendlies:

Goalkeepers (3): Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)

Defenders (7): DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Eric Lichaj (Nottingham Forest), Michael Orozco (Puebla)

Midfielders (7): Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Roma), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Brek Shea (Stoke City)

Forwards (6): Jozy Altidore (Sunderland), Terrence Boyd (Rapid Vienna), Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders FC), Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar), Eddie Johnson (Seattle Sounders FC), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)

This might sound like sacrilege, but should Johannsson be the first-choice striker? He's certainly in form.

 

Ahead of Jozy? Maybe.

I watched Jozy against Man City and he looked very sluggish, even in a limited sub role. He didn't hustle to force quick passes and didn't track back even when he clearly should have. His post up and pass game looked ok though.

 

I think he really needs to play well in these friendlies. Granted, he gets no service at Sunderland, but his job seems to be just to hold up the ball and pass to runners. And he's good at that, as you said, but we need more.

 

First leg in Amman, Jordan 0-5 Uruguay.

Someone remind me again why Asia needs more World Cup berths than Concacaf. A reason other than an empty suit desperately trying to buy votes, preferably.

 

Settling in for New Zealand-Mexico on ESPN. C'mon All Whites.

 

Mexico dominating possession so far. Both teams look terrible though.

 

El Tri garbage goal in the 32'

 

2-0 off corner '41...this will get ugly.

 

My goodness is New Zealand bad. This isn't even mildly competitive.

 

Maybe this is extreme, but having watched a lot of the CONCACAF hex, it seems to me that New Zealand would be seventh among that pecking order. I'm sure they miss Reid, but come on.

 

Well, to cleanse the palate there's this ...

http://deadspin.com/saudi-team-gives-two-great-displays-of-soccer-sportsman-1463948528