U.S. blow through Banana Republic, 8-0

No cool island breeze blowing over the Home Depot Center today, as the United States brought the gale force winds and blew through Barbados 8-0 in the home leg of their 2010 World Cup qualifier.

Brian Ching and Clint Dempsey each scored a brace. And Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan and Eddie Johnson each added a goal and a late own goal rounded out the scoring against the bearded island minnows.

Tim Howard, who had a spectacular match against Argentina a week ago, was a scratch due to a back strain sustained in training. Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan got the nod, but didn't need to make a single save.

Do they even have to play the second leg in Barbados? Sounds like the away match on June 22nd would be an excellent time to get a look at a few new players in the national team pool, Mr. Bradley. Please.

Dempsey's 55-second goals was the fastest-ever for the U.S. Men's National Team in FIFA World Cup qualifying. The 8-goal margin of victory is also the largest margin of victory for the MNT in FIFA World Cup qualifying, with the last 8-goal game coming in an 8-1 win on Nov. 14, 1993, against the Cayman Islands.

MATCH REPORT

TEAM	1st half	2nd half	Final
USA	3	5	8
BRB	0	0	0

Scoring:
USA – Dempsey (Bocanegra) 1.
USA – Bradley 12.
USA – Ching (Mastroeni) 20.
USA – Donovan 59.
USA – Dempsey 63.
USA – Johnson (Pearce)82.
USA – Own goal (Daryl Ferguson) 86.
USA – Ching (Cherundolo) 89.

Misconduct Summary:
BRB – Forde (caution) 18.
USA – Onyewu (caution) 18.
BRB – Neblett (caution) 59.
BRB – Marshall (caution) 79.

Lineups:
USA: 18-Brad Guzan; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 5-Oguchi Onyewu, 3-Carlos Bocanegra, 15-Heath Pearce; 10-Landon Donovan (9-Eddie Jonson, 81), 12-Michael Bradley, 4-Pablo Mastroeni (16-Freddy Adu, 26), 17-DaMarcus Beasley; 11-Brian Ching, 8-Clint Dempsey (7-Eddie Lewis, 72)

BRB: 1-Alvin Rouse; 2-Dyson James, 3-Daryl Ferguson, 4-Greg Belle, 5-Bryan Neblett; 8-Jonathan Forte (13-Riviere Williams, 69), 10-Norman Forde (Capt.) (12-Malcolm Marshall, 72), 11-Jonathon Nurse (17-John Parris, 76), 15-Rommelle Burgess; 7-Paul Ifill, 9-Mark McCammon.

STATS	USA	BRB
Shots	22	2
Shots(OG)	14	0
Saves	0	7
Corners	7	2
Fouls	15	12
Offside	5	4

TYH'S MLS BEST 11 (Week 12)

GOALKEEPER

B. Edwards (TFC)

DEFENDERS

A. Igwe (NE), D. O'Rourke (CLB), A. Jazic (LA) 

MIDFIELDERS

R. Ricketts (TFC), J. Moreno (DC), K. Beckerman (RSL), C. Simms (DC)

FORWARDS

A. Moreno (CLB), L. Emilio (DC), E. Buddle (LA)

MLS Round-Up (Week 12)

JUNE 15
Chicago 0-1 FC Dallas (Pizza Hut Park)
A lone goal by Nats-snubbed Kenny Cooper gave the Hoops the home win.
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JUNE 14
Colorado 1-3 Toronto (BMO Field)
Colorado couldn't find the cure for Ricketts, Rohan Ricketts, who scored a brace in the Reds rout of the Rapids. Danny Dichio opened the scoring with his fifth of the season. Christian Gomez was responsible for the consolation goal. Also, this was listed on the mlsnet matchtracker: TOR -- Jeff Cunningham (caution; Trickery) 85. "Trickery" gets a yellow? What the Puck?

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New York 1-4 DC United (RFK Stadium)
The lopsided wins continued as Luciano Emilio scored a hattrick and Clyde Simms added another, and DC demolished their east coast rivals. The starless Red Bulls are in for a long summer unless they can find help fast.

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Columbus 3-0 Kansas City (CA Ballpark)
The blowouts continued as the normally stingy KC defense allowed Chad Marshall to get on the board just three minutes in and then Alejandro Moreno added a brace.

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Los Angeles 3-0 San Jose (McAfee Coliseum)
Sans LD, journeyman Edson Buddle seems to have found a home in Los Angeles. Buddle's hattrick gives him eight goals on the year. San Jose continues to look like an expansion side.

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Real Salt Lake 1-0 Chivas USA (HDC)
RSL's Robbie Findlay scored the lone goal, off a nice through ball from Kyle Beckerman, to steal the road win and snapping Chivas USA's three-game winning streak.

I second that emotion

Coach Bradley, you're a good American soccer coach. But I'm afraid that tactically you're way out of your league on this stage. Why not make way for someone who isn't? At least then we could end the debate about whether our team is lacking in skill or in tactical leadership.

This quote is from Yanks Abroad columnist Brent Lantham's letter to current U.S. national team soccer coach Bob Bradley asking him to fall on the sword for the good of the team. Spot on, Mr. Latham. Where do I sign?

Here's the link:AN OPEN LETTER TO BOB

U.S. Pool Party: 10 players who deserve a look

The following is a list of American players who have earned a call-up to U.S. national team camp and who have so far gotten the cold shoulder from B.S. Bradley. Some have been capped, others haven’t, but each player could contribute if given a chance.

10) Jorge Flores (Chivas USA – striker) Flores snuck onto this list with an impressive string of performances this season in MLS for the McGoats. He’s had very limited experience (a U.S. U20 call-up where he scored against Argentina’s U20), but he is smart around the ball, quick and opportunistic. Like a younger, shorter version of Ante Razov (ok, so maybe that’s not a huge compliment).



9) Pat Noonan (Aalesunds FK – midfielder/forward) Ok, so they’re not all spring chickens, but 27-year-old Pat Noonan was vastly underrated in MLS and now that he is playing in Norway he’s virtually forgotten. But like a well-adjusted toddler, he plays well with others (Twellman, Dorman, etc.). Injuries marred his first attempt with the national team, he deserves another in the twilight of his career.


8) Ned Grabavoy (San Jose – midfielder) Playing on an expansion team (or a resurrected franchise) can make it tough to win a spot with the Nats, but Grabavoy is as consistent a defensive midfielder as I’ve seen in MLS. Solid in defense, he can move forward and serve long balls into the box. With injuries in the midfield, he’d be a decent insurance policy.







7) Danny Szetela (Brescia Calcio – midfielder) After he shipped off the Santander, Szetela appears to have left the national team pool to relax in the Spanish sun. Time for a dip, Danny. A tough central midfielder with a never-say-die attitude. With Benny Feilhaber’s status in question, we need depth in the center of the pitch.



6) Corey Ashe (Houston – winger) A speedy wing player, Ashe would be a nice change of pace off the bench. He’s able to get behind players, and he is a decent crosser of the ball. Like many players on this list, he’s not very experienced but sometimes pace can make up for mistakes.



5) Robbie Rogers (Columbus – winger/forward) I have seen the future of American soccer and his name is alliterative. Rogers should be in camp. He should get minutes. He’s young, but look what the youngsters brought back in the 2002 World Cup. Sometimes you gotta go with the fearless youngster over the old timers (I’m looking at you Eddie Lewis).

4) Michael Parkhurst (New England - center back) The U.S. is set at center back, but depth is a nice problem to have. Parkhurst, MLS's defender of the year, has had nary a call-up since the 2007 Gold Cup a year ago, which doesn't make sense considering this guy's consistency and calm demeanor. He never seems to panic and he uses good technique to adjust when beaten when other guys would just hack a guy down.

3) Adam Cristman (New England – striker) Let’s face it. The U.S. is a bit soft up front these days. Cristman could provide a physical presence with a bit better touch than Brian Ching. He’s a inexperienced, a bit raw, but each MLS season he seems to be moving in the right direction. And the U.S. needs any offensive firepower they can muster.





2) Marc Burch (DC United – left back) Bornstein? Pearce? Could the answer really be a forward-turned-defender from the University of Maryland? Burch has the deep crossing ability and the defending acumen to be the possible answer at this troublesome spot.










1) Arturo Alvarez (FC Dallas – forward) If you haven’t heard of Arturo Alvarez than you haven’t watched FC Dallas this season. He was included in a few Olympic team camps, but he’s never been given a chance to play on the senior team. Dallas is struggling a bit this year, but it isn’t due to Alvarez who has three goals and four assists. He has excellent touch around the goal and would combine well with Landon Donovan (especially if the U.S. used LD as a withdrawn forward or midfielder). He's lightning quick and provides decent service from the corners. He could be a nice addition to the squad ... which is exactly why Bradley will overlook him.

Villa offer £2m for Simek

He might have fallen off Bob Bradley's radar, but somebody wants him. According to The Times in London, Aston Villa are after American right back Frank Simek, offering a reported £2m for the Sheffield Wednesday defender.

Simek joined Wednesday in 2005 and eventually winning a starting spot and the favor of the fans. Simek received his first cap for the national team last year and most recently played for in the U.S. team that one the 2007 Gold Cup a year ago.

Road warriors all Revved up

JUNE 12
New England 2-0 Houston (Robertson Stadium)
New England improved their road record to 5-1-1 by disposing of 2007 MLS Cup winners the Houston Dynamo on Thursday night at Robertson Stadium, as Steve Ralston and newboy Kheli Dube get on the scorer's sheet in the first half.

Ch-Ching added to U.S. qualifier roster

U.S. coach Bob Bradley named the 21 players that will begin qualification for the 2010 World Cup against Barbados on Sunday, June 15. This is a tricky situation because Barbados should be easy like Sunday morning. But you don't want to try a bunch of untested players and end up staggering out of the gate like Barbaro. I mean, a rag-tag collection of immigrants beat mighty England once upon a time, so anything can happen.

But this is why I have been so disappointed with B.S. Bradley's decisions for the series of friendlies against top competition. He had the choice to test the quality of a host of players and he blew it by calling up "veterans" who for the most part will be watching the 2010 World Cup from their nursing homes (You know I still love ya, Heydude). I will be coming out with a post shortly of players that I believe deserve a call-up to the Nats. Maybe not for a qualifier but certainly for any friendlies in between.

Bradley's roster for the qualifier is nearly identical to the Argentina roster and similar to the rosters against England and Spain. Carlos Bocanegra is back after missing Argentina. MLS Player of the Week Brian Ching has been added (BS Bradley must read my site -- first Cooper, than Ching). Drew Moor and Kenny Cooper, who didn't see the pitch against last Sunday, have been dropped. Moor's still too green, but I would have liked to have seen Cooper get on the pitch. He's a big, physical forward like Ching, but I think he has better touch and a better shot from distance. Ching is a bit of a one-trick pony, although so was McBride and he was pretty successful (when he wasn't breaking his face on elbows). I also like that Sacha Kljestan continues to be part of the mix. He is a talented player and definitely will be part of the 2010 squad. I'm not sold on Heath Pearce or Jay DeMerit, though.

I still do not understand the logic of keeping Jozy Altidore off this team. He is currently your best option up front. I like Dempsey out wide in the midfield, not as a striker and LD needs a partner or he's useless. But all in all, it is a fairly strong line-up that shouldn't have any trouble with the Bearded Boys from the Caribbean.

Here's your Father's Day line-up:
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (3): Dominic Cervi, Brad Guzan, Tim Howard
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra, Dan Califf, Steve Cherundolo, Jay DeMerit, Frankie Hejduk, Oguchi Onyewu, Heath Pearce
MIDFIELDERS (7): Freddy Adu, DaMarcus Beasley, Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Sacha Kljestan, Eddie Lewis, Pablo Mastroeni
FORWARDS (4): Brian Ching, Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson