Highlights from 8-0 win over Barbados

Sometimes it's fun to beat up the little guy.

U.S. wins, but leaves hurricane home

The scorecard will read that the U.S. advanced 9-0 on aggregate goals, but this hides the fact that the U.S.'s Chicago-style line-up could only muster a lackluster 1-0 win over the island minnows of Barbados.

Sure, seven players broke their national team cherries, but with one (maybe two) exceptions, the U.S. shouldn't call them back for a second date. Plus, the lone goal came from the aged foot of Eddie Lewis, a player who should have been left home in 2006, forget about 2010. The single goal did highlight one of the bright spots of this team -- Freddy Adu. It was his run and through ball that allowed Eddie to clumsily knock it past Barbados' inept keeper Alvin Rouse.

A few other bright spots from today: Danny Szetela played, while Carlos Bocanegra and Oguchi Onyewu did not (why risk an injury to either in a meaningless game).

MATCH REPORT

TEAM	1st half	2nd half	Final
USA	1	0	1
BRB	0	0	0

Scoring:
USA – Lewis (Adu) 21.

Misconduct Summary:
none? (why don't you hit somebody?)

Lineups:
USA: 18-Brad Guzan; 6-Drew Moor, 15-Jay DeMerit, 2-Danny Califf, 11-Heath Pearce; 10-Sacha Kljestan, 12-Michael Bradley, 8-Danny Szetela (14-Chris Rolfe, 66), 7-Eddie Lewis (capt.); 16-Freddy Adu (13-Chad Barrett, 86), 17-DaMarcus Beasley (12-John Thorrington, 79)

BRB: 1-Alvin Rouse, 5-Bryan Neblett, 6-Jonathan Straker, 7-Paul Ifill (capt.), 9-Marc McCammon, 11-Jonathan Nurse (12-Malcolm Marshall, 81), 13-Riviere Williams (8-Rondell Vaughan, 68), 14-Ramuel Miller, 15-Emerson Boyce, 16-Barry Skeete, 17-John Parris

STATS	USA	BRB
Shots	9	3
Shots OG	1	0
Saves	0	0
Corners	2	3
Fouls	11	7
Offside	5	4

U.S.'s Chicago-style pie misses opportunity

U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley announced the roster for the second leg of the qualifier against island whipping boys Barbados, who will have an eight-goal deficit to make up when they host the Nats on Sunday, June 22, at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados.

After the first match, I suggested that B.S. Bradley might want to use the second leg to test out some players since the danger of the U.S. losing 9-0 is far fetched at best. I also suggested a few new names that he could call up, particularly some attacking players that the U.S. will need against the more experienced teams that lie ahead.

In more proof that B.S. Bradley is a TYH reader, he added No.7 on my list, Danny Szetela. It's a start, I guess, but it is disappointing to see that the only other new faces added are John Thorrington and the midget twins (Chad Barrett and Chris Rolfe). Now, don't get me wrong, Barrett is a decent player (a homeless man's Wayne Rooney) and Rolfe has had his moments, but Bradley's Chicago-style national team pie again misses an opportunity to run out players with 2010 potential. Eddie Lewis is still on this team (who did he service to keep his name on this roster?) Danny Califf is still on this team (no way is he going to make 2010).

Not to mention that some of the likely starters for 2010 should be sitting out this ridiculously one-sided contest. What if, god forbid, Carlos Bocanegra, DaMarcus Beasley, Freddy Adu, or even your son get injured in this match and have to miss subsequent, tougher qualifiers, Mr. Bradley? It is an unnecessary gamble. This roster could consist entirely of our C-team players and no one would bat an eye. But one reason I think of that Bradley might have for keeping a core of "veterans" is that he feels pressure to get results so that he can continue to make a case for why he should remain our national team coach when he is so woefully out of his league.

ROSTER FOR BARBADOS (by position)
GOALKEEPERS (3): Dominic Cervi (out of contract), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (6): Carlos Bocanegra (out of contract), Dan Califf (FC Midtjylland), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Drew Moor (FC Dallas) Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock)
MIDFIELDERS (6): DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Danny Szetela (Brescia), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)
FORWARDS (3): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), Chad Barrett (Chicago Fire), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire)

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

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