In case you missed it, the US Men’s National Team (or rather their B team) thrashed Norway (or rather their B team) 5-0, led by a Taylor Twellman hat-trick. I watched it and here are some random thoughts:

• I don’t know where ESPN2 play-by-play announcer Dave O’Brien came from but I’d be more than willing to pitch in for his return bus ticket. Guy was awful. From telling us a half-dozen times that the Norwegian team was quite tall (shocker, I know) to referring to “Jason” Wolff (instead of Josh) to saying Clint Dempsey’s rap video with brother was “surprisingly entertaining since most athletes aren’t talented in the music genre” the guy was an overall ‘mare. Never thought I’d be asking for Pelo Perfecto (aka Rob Stone) back.
• I have a theory: during their years at DC United, Ben Olsen and Santino Quaranta found pictures of Bruce Arena naked with two female chimps. There is no other explanation for how these guys get called up to the national team on a regular basis.
• They flashed a stat that left me absolutely speechless: Frankie Hejduk is the only US player to have played in World Cup ‘98 and ‘02 as well as the ‘96 and ‘00 Olympics. Didn’t anyone notice he sucks? He couldn’t hack it in the Swiss First Division, people. Or rather, he probably hacked it very well.
• Do I really need to be told that scoring three goals will help Taylor Twellman’s chances of making the World Cup team? If I do need to be told, do I need to be told a half-dozen times?
• Just because Todd Dunivant gets one assist does not mean he’s making a “strong case” for his spot on the team. He’s an outsider at best and he played a lot of sloppy balls that got picked off and for my money his stock went down after this game.

Okay, there aren’t many negatives to take from this game but there aren’t that many positives either. So we proved that our young players fighting for WC roster spots can roll over Norway’s young players who are half-assing it. I think the Norwegians had one or two shots on goal so it was a stroll for the defense. Clint Dempsey asserted himself but he needs to do that against better competition. Landon Donovan needs to stop reading his press clippings, or maybe he should start reading the ones slamming him for chickening out of playing in Europe. He’s got a big attitude and I hope that doesn’t result in a serious smack down come WC time. A number of guys (including Jason/Josh Wolff, Kerry Zavagnin, Pat Noonan) had relatively anonymous games. Personally, I can’t believe Wolff is still in the picture and the other two had a tough time today because the game never really came to them, although Noonan did well with his chances.

Friendlies against Japan, Guatemala, Poland, and Germany over the next two months. Should be fun to watch.

Current Mood - Sunday |
Currently Listening To - Wilco - “Summer Teeth”