US March WCQ: vs. Honduras and Panama

Lots of USMNT shirts here at the airport. But every flight to the Bay Area is delayed. Hoping I actually make it there.

 

Ugh. 1030 pm start time. I need to move back to Colorado. At least it's Friday.

I hope everyone arrived and have a great time tonight.

Let's get these three points!

 

WOW! That is all.

 

I think we'll see #8 in Russia. And that makes me happy.

 

That was impressive - the US are better and they proved it on the pitch - the first goal by Lleget lit up Avaya like a firecracker and it never stopped. What's up on the injury front for the US?

We met up with Tim and Dtown and thoroughly enjoyed putting names with faces and it was a pleasure to hang out (if only briefly).

Another three points and things are coming up Milhouse.

 

Arriola called in, while Brooks, Lletget, Morris and Orozco were released (all injury-related).

So I guess Gonzalez-Ream will be the starting CB (unless Cameron starts at CB and Zusi starts at RB).

 

Fantastic meeting you Nev and Dtown, as well. We have a great community here at FUSA and it's always nice to finally share a beer and put a face to the name.

As for the game, it's exactly what we needed. Resounding from start to finish. Is it just a new manager bounce? I don't think so. It's fair to say JK had lost the squad and Bruce has given them their mojo back.

They'll be even more shorthanded Tuesday but hopefully can come away with a point. That will have us in a solid position.

I'm trying my best not to get too carried away when it comes to Pulisic. Let's just say I hope he keeps doing what he's doing.

And, oh yeah, apparently that Clint Dempsey guy can play.

 

Four players released to their clubs due to injury? That seems like a lot. If Morris and Orozco were hurt coming in, why were they called at all? And I think Brooks's sinus infection might have cleared in the equatorial sauna of Panama. We really need 6 points from this round, and I'm not sure about sending home one of your goal scorers from the last WC for a sinus infection. Doesn't pass the smell test (no pun intended).

 

Morris was injured after the callups and right before reporting so that is understandable. Orozco I have no idea about and Brooks looked like something more than dehydration was going on when they carried him off the field against Honduras.

 

Brooks was on the stretcher going down the tunnel in San Jose, with his hand over his face in what looked like discomfort - my boy and I saw this directly in front of us. He didn't look to have a "sinus infection" or dehydration - leg injury comes to mind, but I'm not an athletic trainer.

I think Ream and Gonzalez could do a job in Brooks' absence - keep Cameron at RB. Midfield becomes a bit tricky (Jozy and Dempsey will start up top) - do you put Jones / Bradley in the middle and move Pulisic and Nagbe to the wings? Do you start Bedoya or Costa in the middle? Good problems to have in the midfield, all things considered, but man, people better quit dropping like flies out of the squad.

 

Brooks had a nightmare in Costa Rica, so not too broken up he didn't make the trip. If Arena rolls out the Bradley-Jones combo I'll be disappointed, but not surprised.

 

Indeed, great meeting up in only for a couple of minutes. But what a performance that was. Amazing time. One disappointing observation. Nev/Tim might not have been able to see from their view point, but there was a section that was almost completely empty. Curious who those seats were held for. Enjoyed seeing the team banners in the airport though. Nice Job San Jose.

 

Upon further review, Clint was in the process of being pulled down for what would have almost certainly been a penalty when he scored the second goal. That he got it off at all is remarkable: that it flew into the goal well past the keeper is just, well, Dempsey-esque. A far more amazing strike than at first blush.

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/201...earns-resounding-6-0-victory-against-honduras

 

Here is a quiz on the US v Panama matchup. I made a big comeback to just get to 60% (Statistics class all over again )

http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/201...w-well-do-you-know-your-mnt-history-vs-panama

 

I managed a 70%

 

50% - batting .500, hey-hey!!!!!