Look for McBride to revert to his usual role.. if he scores, it will be a "clean-up" goal. I'm thinking Wolff, Donovan.. at least one of them a McBride assist. Here's a 'telling' article on Brian in today's Sun-Times: Career revival continues for McBride vs. England There is a subtle message there... Arena would PROBABLY play McBride, even if he were sitting pine if it werent that he also had to deal with other players who arent getting time. - Like Conor Casey, who must like sitting the bench in Germany.. rather than take a chance he might do the same in MLS. Anyone who's watched Mcb since WC 98 knows he NEVER loses confidence in his ability to make something happen..IF he can get the ball! And Arena knows that, too. In McBride's case, Bruce played McBride even when he wasnt getting goals at Columbus because he knew this was because of the Crew's difficulties.. not Brian's. - - - - - -- - - - Interesting side-note: McBride seems quite sure and content that he's gonna be a big factor with Fulham next season. But I have to wonder what would have happened, IF CC hadnt finally wised up and played the team on its skills rather than to his 'vision'. I believe I would have been correct in thinking Brian would be heading back, only this time to the Fire.
Petty, I made the same 2-1 predicition to my girlfriend last night! I think the US will definitely win this.
Re: RE: Out on a limb: USA 2-1 Eng Well, we got the 2-1 part right! But we have caveat/excuses, galore! 1. Ooops, I thought Ed Johnson was playing! 2. Brad Friedel can read a curl on the ball.. he would have moved right immediately 3. We had no holding mid; Reyna rest, Mastroeni out.. I mean, Zavagnin?!!! 4. James must'a took his meds 5. Damn the luck! Campbell injured and Zat in! -- - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - Seriously, I thought the second half (all I saw) was very entertaining. Fast pace, and good passing..the US gave England all it could handle. I saw how the game SHOULD be played! I have to think that much of the derision by fans and press about this game was motivated by fear of losing again. Afraid that the US would get lucky as in Boston (1950 has nothing to do with it.) HEY!!!! We really ARE ranked #10... and that means we are at least top 15! And didnt England lose to some Duchy a couple years ago, Liechtenstein, Moldova or sump'n? Get over it!
The difference in the match was simply that England had someone who could finish their chances, and we didn't, period. Donovan couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat. Time and time again, our guys pussy-footed around the box, dribbling like they were Conor from that lame-ass commerical, instead of firing it home. I don't know why, but we just seemed to lack that guy or guys who have a knack for putting the ball in the back of the net. We dominated the whole match in terms of creating chances, and we dominated the second half entirely. England, though, had quality finishes -- we seemed to think the goal was 5 rows up. On a good note, the Premiership sure has worked wonders for McBride, hasn't it? He was EVERYWHERE before he was subbed late -- winning headers, running a gear higher than anyone else on the squad, and just generally showing his class. I particularly remember one sweet little back-heel flip near the sideline which beat Alan Smith (punk) and Joe Cole, and McBride then looked for the give-and-go -- only to see a teammate flick the ball neatly and weakly right to another England player instead. McBride just seems to have gotten so much quicker over the last couple of years, no? I don't recall a header that McBride didn't win -- unfortunately, while we did create a lot of good chances, far too often, our entire attack seemed to consist of a longball that we expected McBride to win in the air, and then create chances with little or no help. Time and again, the ball was flicked or played into danger, but there never seemed to be a US player waiting to pounce on it. England pounced on their chance -- we didn't. Hope the rest of the A-squad makes the difference. Entertaining day, though. My personal highlight was a large group of England fans singing nearby and razzing the US fans with "Are you Scotland, are you Scotland, in disguise?" :lol: The only good song back at them was a small group wearing US flags who started yelling "Who's the colony now? Who's the colony now?" :lol:
