Klinsmann, Defense Just Start of U.S. Soccer Problems

Honduras’ late goal put them in position for a deserving first WCQ win. (AP Photo)

The experiment that was Jurgen Klinsmann’s starting lineup for the United States failed to deliver Wednesday afternoon, conceding a 2-1 loss to Honduras in a pivotal first match for World Cup qualification. New England Revolution’s Jerry Bengtson would score the game-winning goal for his national team in the 79th minute, finishing a tricky pass from teammate Oscar Garcia in front of the net. The U.S. team looked gassed by the time Bengtson scored, perhaps not accustomed to the 90 plus degree heat and sweltering humidity at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.

More criticism will fall on Klinsmann from this loss, but not only for testing out defensive players who have not played together before a World Cup qualifying match. All three substitutions were used before Honduras’ goal,  giving Klinsmann no insight on who to throw into the game for a late offensive surge when the U.S. needed it the most. Perhaps Herculez Gomez could have been the spark the team needed to at least draw. However Jurgen’s roster changes and starting lineup tweaks are not the only problem with this team.

U.S. Soccer has been troubled by inconsistent play and lack of a star player since the departure of Landon Donovan. Where was Michael Bradley’s reliable midfield play? Why has Jozy Altidore lost his touch? Who besides Clint Dempsey can score on this team? These are the issues the team faces now, and could be facing after they miss Brasil 2014 if they do not get their act together. It pains Americans to see their team squeak by on 1-0 victories thanks to Tim Howard bailing out the defense for 90 minutes. It is not the formula to get to Brasil, and certainly not the formula to make it out of the group stage if they were to reach it. Performing to the highest level is critical to staying competitive on the world stage, as well as utilizing a forward on that forces the opposition to make significant changes. Who will be our Wayne Rooney? Our Lionel Messi? Our next Landon Donovan?

Taking a painful 0 points in the first match, the national team will host Costa Rica in March in the next qualifying match. As hard as Honduras fought, games will only get harder from here on out as Panama and Mexico look awfully dangerous at the right time. It is not to say the U.S. team can not turn things around in the next month, but it will not be easy. In nine more games, one can only hope team chemistry and an unsung hero will come about this team.

Matt Bloom

Twitter: @foxborofort

Tucson Will Test Revs

Courtesy of the New England Revolution

The preseason is rolling along in Foxboro, but the first important test for the New England Revolution will come on February 13th, the start of the 3^rd Annual FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup. The New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders will also be in attendance in the four day tournament, all whom finished 3rd or better in their MLS regular season conferences. New England head coach Jay Heaps could not be in a better position to train his squad against top league talent. The time spent in Arizona will help the club make roster observations of who is creating chemistry on the pitch as plenty of newcomers are fighting for a starting role. Although Jay’s rookie season as head coach was not terrible, he got the sense that late  additions such as Jerry Bengtson and Juan Toja found trouble performing with the team due to preseason absence. Thankfully, the only two injured players on the Revolution roster played the majority of regular season matches in 2012, and blended well with their teammates before their injury. Saer Sene and Lee Nguyen’s absence this preseason should not hurt the club’s game plan or quality of play a great deal come March. The next few weeks will be a critical time for the organization to asses the direction they intend to head in this MLS season, involving roster cuts, formation strategy, and who deserves to start. “I’m a big believer that formations come from your talent level and what you’re going to do on the pitch,” said Heaps. “Style of play is something we’ve ingrained from day one, but the actual formation is going to be [determined by] which players we have to choose from and finding our strengths and weaknesses. That’s a lot of what the next seven or eight days are going to be: long sessions derived toward looking for those relationships and starting to build our formation.” Desert Cup games will be played on February 13th, 16th, and 20th. The championship will commence on the 23rd, televised nationally on the NBC Sports Network.

Matt Bloom

Twitter: @foxborofort

USL Pro Gives MLS Bright Future

MLS Commissioner Don Garber (right) is not only attracting overseas talents like David Beckham to the MLS, but building a league he hopes can compete with the EPL and others one day.

When you look at the successful football clubs in Europe or even the sell out baseball games in America, you find that partnerships with minor leagues are just as valuable to winning as over spending for a top player. Major League Soccer’s decision to partner up with their own minor league USL Pro is a move that could potentially shift the quality of players in the MLS and popularity of the sport in America. The league has been vocal on their goal to become one of the best leagues in the world within the next ten years, and the proper construction of MLS and USL Pro team affiliations will certainly help them do so.

The beginning years of the partnership will be a testing phase as all 19 MLS clubs will have their choice on how to manage their reserve players with the USL Pro league. A club can either create an affiliation with an existing USL Pro team, join the USL Pro with a standalone team, or continue to participate in the MLS Reserve League while integrating matches against USL Pro teams to their schedule. If a club is to create an affiliation with an existing USL Pro team, a few more rules come in to play. First, the MLS team must send a minimum of four players on long-term loan to their USL Pro affiliate. Second, if a USL Pro member is to be called up to the MLS, another reserve must be sent back down in his place. Third, players can be moved up or down on a game by game basis, meaning some young emerging stars may get a shot to prove themselves earlier than usual.

Revolution, Rochester Rhinos Partnership Official

New England was one of the first clubs looking to partner up with a USL Pro team. News broke this morning that a partnership between the Revolution and Rochester Rhinos (N.Y.) is official. Management at New England explained how the move not only raises the competition level for their reserves, but allows them to stay more active and play more games. “We believe forming an affiliation with Rochester gives us the ability to get our players more competitive games on a regular basis. This option allows those players who would normally see most of their action in the Reserve League to get more consistent playing time, which we believe will benefit our first team in the long run,” GM Michael Burns said. Kudos to the Revs for acting so fast, but the MLS deserves all the credit for their attempt at building a wildly effective farm system in what they hope is a short amount of time.

Matt Bloom

Twitter: @foxborofort