South Africa vs USA
- I love the USA squad because it's an experimental team with youngsters, even a few teenagers, with many getting first caps. Coach Bob Bradley will not have the regulars convene until 2011 so we get to see current MLS stars and youngsters that play abroad. Guzan (Villa) will be in goal and the defense features Bornstein at LFB (Tigres), Spector and Goodson at centerback, solid MLS rookie Tim Ream, and Lichaj (Villa) who has played in a few EPL matches recently. The midfield is quite weak with Bedoya (Orebo) the only guy with recent caps. Several MLS veterans (Carroll, Rogers, Pause, Gaven) join Diskerud (first cap, played for u20) in the middle so a really poor group except for Bedoya. Up front you've got Robbie Findley, who was on world cup team, joined by two MLS rookies Agudelo and Bunbury both making first caps. I don't know enough about South African MNT to comment on their lineup except only a few non-local players were chosen and none of the names, except for Pienaar, stick out. You can read the list of chosen Bafana Bafana at http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/2010 ... o-play-usa
All in all this is about the most excited I could be to watch a friendly though cries of "USA to field C team" will cascade through the internet in the next 48 hours. In truth, Guzan/Spector/Goodson/Bornstein/Findley/Rogers/Gaven/Bedoya have all seen a lot of minutes on the USMNT but nobody on the roster, except Findley and Goodson, saw minutes in South Africa in June. Personally I'm interested in watching the young guys perform especially super-fast Agudelo up front, but this midfield is a wreck. Bedoya is very talented but the Columbus trio all had poor seasons. Agbossoumonde (Estoril) is just 18 years old and Logan Pause is bereft of much talent. If someone can comment on SA squad I can better make a prediction on this match but from what I can tell, they don't have their best here either. Definitely a match to watch but not bet unless you see some prop like "South Africa to score in first 30 minutes" which has become a trademark of a Bradley team, conceding early.
- I love the USA squad because it's an experimental team with youngsters, even a few teenagers, with many getting first caps. Coach Bob Bradley will not have the regulars convene until 2011 so we get to see current MLS stars and youngsters that play abroad. Guzan (Villa) will be in goal and the defense features Bornstein at LFB (Tigres), Spector and Goodson at centerback, solid MLS rookie Tim Ream, and Lichaj (Villa) who has played in a few EPL matches recently. The midfield is quite weak with Bedoya (Orebo) the only guy with recent caps. Several MLS veterans (Carroll, Rogers, Pause, Gaven) join Diskerud (first cap, played for u20) in the middle so a really poor group except for Bedoya. Up front you've got Robbie Findley, who was on world cup team, joined by two MLS rookies Agudelo and Bunbury both making first caps. I don't know enough about South African MNT to comment on their lineup except only a few non-local players were chosen and none of the names, except for Pienaar, stick out. You can read the list of chosen Bafana Bafana at http://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sport/2010 ... o-play-usa
All in all this is about the most excited I could be to watch a friendly though cries of "USA to field C team" will cascade through the internet in the next 48 hours. In truth, Guzan/Spector/Goodson/Bornstein/Findley/Rogers/Gaven/Bedoya have all seen a lot of minutes on the USMNT but nobody on the roster, except Findley and Goodson, saw minutes in South Africa in June. Personally I'm interested in watching the young guys perform especially super-fast Agudelo up front, but this midfield is a wreck. Bedoya is very talented but the Columbus trio all had poor seasons. Agbossoumonde (Estoril) is just 18 years old and Logan Pause is bereft of much talent. If someone can comment on SA squad I can better make a prediction on this match but from what I can tell, they don't have their best here either. Definitely a match to watch but not bet unless you see some prop like "South Africa to score in first 30 minutes" which has become a trademark of a Bradley team, conceding early.
