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getting back to the feeling

And all is right with the world. Ok, me and hyperbole aren’t exactly strangers, but having the US team back on the field, no matter interim tags and a near absence of foreign-club players, gave me a sense of home. It’s about time. Reis, Conrad, Boswell, Bornstein, Albright, Clark, Mastroeni, Rolfe, Donovan, Johnson, Jaqua (subs: Cooper, Pearce, Mapp, Beckerman, Califf, Namoff). Given the opponent, I was hoping for a few more new faces in the starting 11 – only Bornstein was truly CAP-less – but as sports announcer Bruce Arena pointed out, Bradley’s leash isn’t as loose as the former coach’s. Results will mean more to him. He had a blank slate, however, as did our historically ‘best’ players, who must have been itching to put an underachieving 2006 behind them… those that were at the Home Depot Center anyway.

It was a B team Demark brought to southern California to challenge the early legs of the out-of-season Americans. On a television, this translates to a need for good announcers, both play-by-play to highlight the new faces, and color to fill the inevitable lulls that come with such a game. And now I’m going to say something I never thought I’d say. I kind of enjoyed Bruce Arena. Say what you will about the man – I’m usually first in that line – I found his commentary interesting in that his first hand expertise with the team, not to mention his loose mouth, allowed for some solid critiques and criticism, even if I didn’t always agree with him (he’s still pushing his down-the-flank-cross-it-in strategy I wish we would move away from). Or maybe it was because he was sitting next to two worthless idiots. Either way, I think across the board, a coach almost always makes a better broadcaster than a player, who tend to be more worried about being a performer than a team player.

Coaching was on the minds of our crack team of journalists, who gave more face time to the word interim than any other subject, except maybe Jimmy Conrad who parlayed his captain arm band into pre game and halftime spotlights. Now Bob Bradley may not be your first choice of coach, may not even be your second, but he is saying all the right things, which at this point is really the only way we can judge him. Like any appointed official, who we should judge is the appointer, the decider, and during the broadcast it was obvious those who had the stage viewed Bradley’s situation as mishandled by USSF, if not outright unfair. That pointed finger worked in the advantage of Bradley and the game overall, considering it went pretty well. Every game from here on out – especially the Mexico game - will be another step, however, in which direction is yet to be determined.

Maybe its because the lack of experience allows for lower expectations, but I love watching the young guys get a shot. Their were glimpses of what we expected last year. Mapp’s Donovan-esque run. Mcbride-ish moments from our big men in the box. Landon getting back on the board (if not totally back in the game). Like the first time seeing an old friend, or getting the band back together, things don’t always go smooth, aren’t always well orchestrated. But no matter, it’s in those times, you’re just glad they are there. The coordination will come. For now, just enjoy being home again.

Jeff Carlisle has the in-depth game summary for those who happened to miss it, as well as thoughful grades for each player. No real surprises of who got what.