Spain vs. USA, or "Generalissimo Francisco Franco is Still Dead, and so are we" [R]

[Run DMB]

Spain vs. USA
June 4th, 2008
Live on ESPN360 (4 pm ET), tape-delayed on ESPN2 (5:30 pm ET) and Galavision (7 pm ET/PT)

Let's get those bastards back for sinking the USS Maine.

US squad:

GOALKEEPERS (3): Dominic Cervi (out of contract), Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Tim Howard (Everton FC)
DEFENDERS (7): Carlos Bocanegra (out of contract), Shifty Califf (FC Midtjylland), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Jay DeMerit (Watford FC), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Oguchi Onyewu (Standard de Liege), Heath Pearce (Hansa Rostock)
MIDFIELDERS : Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), DaMarcus Beasley (Glasgow Rangers), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Eddie Lewis (Derby County), Pablo Mastroeni (Colorado Rapids)
FORWARDS (4): Clint Dempsey (Fulham FC), Nate Jaqua (out of contract), Eddie Johnson (Fulham FC), Josh Wolff (out of contract)

My prediction: Spain wins 3-1.

 

[Bobby]

What the hell? 4 unattached players?

 

[Run DMB]

What the hell? 4 unattached players?

Bocanegra has reportedly attracted interest from PSV and Osasuna. Cervi walked out on a contract offer from Chicago Fire to try his luck in Europe, but hasn't found a club yet. Wolff should probably head back to MLS after an unspectacular season-and-a-half at 1860 Munich.

As for Jaqua, his Austrian club wants to re-sign him, as he's done well for them (5 goals in 10 games in half a season). However, he's weighing his options and looking to move up to a better club.

 

[Run DMB]

OK, I guess I should pay more attention to the rosters I post - both Spector and Donovan are out. This could get ugly.

My suggestion for the line-up:

-----------------Howard------------------


----------Onyewu------Bocanegra---------
--Cherundolo--------------------Pearce---


-----------Clark---------Bradley-----------
------Dempsey----Adu------Beasley-------


------------------Jaqua-------------------


Yes, things have gotten so bad that I'm advocating giving Nate Jaqua the start. I would even seriously consider putting Bradley up top and inserting Edu in his place in the midfield. Bradley's scored more goals this season in the Eredivisie than Wolff, Johnson, Jaqua and Dempsey have scored for their respective clubs combined. Sad, but true.

 

[rhizome17]

Come on Spain!!!

 

[jimorrizon]

 

[MaestroZidane]

I never say die... COME ON U.S.. Lets pull an upset... or at least a draw. :sKIp_E:

 

[Glorious]

prediction:
Spain 4
USA 1

 

[Run DMB]

Spain 1, USA 0 FT

Pretty good first half by the US. The less said about the second half, the better. Freddy Adu probably accounted for 90% of that difference, going off injured at halftime. I really think he needs to start from now on, even when Donovan is healthy.

Edu was an improvement over Clark. Beasley and Hejduk were rather poor in this game, and Dempsey didn't do much. Once again Bradley was promising early on, but lost his composure towards the end of the game.

 

[Bobby]

Well, Beasley's been injured for a loooooooong time. It's only a friendly, but was it the wisest decision to play him?

 

[shadowofanubis6]

Out of curiosity has anyone ever told Beasley to bulk up in the past 10 years? Because it seems the only ones saying this are us on the forums.

 

[Run DMB]

Out of curiosity has anyone ever told Beasley to bulk up in the past 10 years? Because it seems the only ones saying this are us on the forums.

He would if he could. They showed a shot of his parents during a TV broadcast some years ago, and they were both skin and bones. It's just genetics. Although it's curious that the same two people produced Jamar Beasley, who has a much more imposing physique.

 

[Bobby]

He would if he could. They showed a shot of his parents during a TV broadcast some years ago, and they were both skin and bones. It's just genetics. Although it's curious that the same two people produced Jamar Beasley, who has a much more imposing physique.

Jamar drinks, a lot.

 

[Run DMB]

Jamar drinks, a lot.

Haha, true.

 

[MaestroZidane]

I know is odd but i must say that i was happy with the result, only because it shows us that Adu must be with us for all the 90 minutes.. These games are friendlies and is allowing Bradley to look for our best squad.. I am confident he nows what he is doing.. Its on to Argentina now... Now that is one game were i will be praying before kickoff

It is argentina... right??

 

[$teauA]

I've been wondering about something. It's great to get these three friendlies against world class oponents but at the end of the day, what if you go through all three and they're all losses and even worse you don't even score a goal (a good possibility), how will that help your confidence going into a match against freaking Barbados? I'm a little confused.

PS: Adu needs to start from now on, period.

 

[Bobby]

My fear is that there will be bad weather, Barbados' cricket oval will turn into a off road race track, they'll score a header and win 1-0.

Remember, Grenada almost did that to us.

 

[Arnau]

what a hell with franco?

 

[MaestroZidane]

nada contra el General, solo quizo decir "El general esta muerto, I nosotros tambien".. Hablando de la calidad que en estos dias, los estados unidos tienen, comparado contra los espanoles. I cualquier otro equipo de Europa. Aveces no hay que tomar las cosas tan personales Arnau..

 

[Run DMB]

What he said.