For Americans, soccer is just not a sport you play hooky for. What American boy hasn’t played sick to watch a World Series baseball game a few times in his life? I feigned many a flu to watch Juan Marichal of the San Francisco Giants pitch against Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth. But I can confidently predict that classrooms will be full, and workplace absenteeism will be at normal levels, when the United States plays its first round matches in South Africa this June.

via I.H.T. Op-Ed Contributor – The World minus the U.S. Cup – NYTimes.com.

I really hope the US puts in a good showing and captures the US attention, extending some of the headway made with the Confederations cup. I also hope something awesome happens, like Landon Donovan head butting Rooney in the chest. Though Rooney would probably proceed to kick his arse.

That is why the Beckham experiment and Landycakes matters. Before the “Beckham-bashing” begins, let’s just remember Goldenballs has the MLS on HuffPost. Ok. He and Donovan are the poster boys for the MLS, and this injury situation affects both of their place in our league:

With Donovan’s excellent play in the Premier League and now with Beckham’s injury, Donovan’s price just went up significantly. My guess is the league will now be hesitant to sell him unless an offer comes in that knocks their socks off. This will require a big spending club, such as Chelsea which is rumored to be interested, to make an offer.

There is however, another big mystery – does Landon have an out clause in his new contract?

via Max Bergmann on Huffington Post

For the future of the USMNT, because I’m also an Everton fan, but also because this is where I believe the MLS should go…Donovan needs to go back to the Premier League in the summer.

For weeks, the MLS Players Union has insisted that it was unified enough to initiate a work stoppage. On Thursday, the players moved a step closer to proving their point, with multiple sources indicating that they voted 383-2 to go on strike if a new collective bargaining agreement between the union and MLS has not been agreed upon by 12:01 a.m. ET on March 23.

Continue reading at: MLS players unified behind possibility of strike – MLS – ESPN Soccernet.

The banners said April 3rd, and we are all hoping that doesn’t turn out to be false prophecy.

Well done Rapids.

The team that played the last 5 minutes was lock your doors dangerous. If not beautiful, at least brutally effective.

Basics

For 85 minutes we never looked dangerous in the attack, save one shot. Torres made a nice turn and put a shot on goal that drew an “oooh” from the crow, the only time in the first 85′ our offense elicited such a response for the Dutch masses.

Beasley turned the tide with a glorious free kick that Bocanegra did not waste, putting it the back of the net. This unleashed some slightly crazy but very fun play by the US that saw them nearly equalize several times.

The US capitalized on uncharacteristic poor ball control by the Dutch defense in the 89th minute. Pedoya played an excellent give and go with Bradley and earned a penalty just outside the box. Beasley’s ensuing free kick left something to be desired.

To be fair, we are missing Dempsey and Davies, two key components of our attack. Altidore is not yet a player who can create all on his own. He needs to collaborate, and Findley was floundering before being replaced in the second half. Nonetheless some good play from our subs found us a goal and several good chances at equalizing, including another great effort by Altidore in the waning moments of the game.

Bummer

The refereeing was bizarre, especially in the first half. At times in the first half it seemed if the US came inside a 1 meter bubble of a Dutchman we were blown for disturbing personal space. Then we got the gift of a no-call for a blatant Bornstein handball in the box. Then a severe, late tackle that ended Stuart Holden’s night didn’t garner the much-deserved yellow card.

We can’t complain too much about the PK called on Bornstein with today’s football climate. However,  the brilliant Wesley Sneijder made the most of it and easily could’ve completed the play. I sure get tired of all the flopping in European Football.

Stock went down:

• MLS: not a great showing for our boys playing club ball in the US
• Bornstein. I’m sure he’s a great human being but geez he makes me nervous every time the ball is withing 5 yards of him
• Findley: looked out of his depth. He’s young, but he’s not ready

Bonus

Sans Bornstein we were solid in defense. His needless PK gave up the first goal, then he was unlucky to have the 2nd deflect off his torso and go past a wrong-footed Howard. If we can get Gooch back in the center, shift Spector to the left, and leave Bornstein on the bench where he belongs, we have a solid defense.

If Gooch doesn’t get better…I have visions of Bornstein pulling down Torres or Tevez in the box.

Beasley put out a good showing and in my opinion earned himself at least a spot on the World Cup side.

Stock went up:

• Maurice Edu showed good signs of composure on the ball
• Beasley played solid
• Pedoya showed signs of being dangerous
• Bradley was steady

Backtalk

1. What did the US show you today? Did their energy at the end indicate positive things to come, or was it the last gasp of a disjointed team?

2. Whose stock went up, and whose went down?