Thoughts from the bar: USA-Honduras

Mind you, these observations come after beers & watching the game without sound. I'm not going to get into the obvious hoopla about the red card, I want to talk about what I saw in the US team.

• For the rest of the first half, there wasn't much to see. The US looked like pouting children who didn't get their way. Not much heart, just guys playing out the time.
• Marshall's defense on the 2nd Honduras goal was pathetic. Concentration has to be total when the team's a man down, especially among the defenders.
• Was Sacha Kljestan actively trying to get dropped from the roster? Horrible...
• Cunningham & Findley didn't work at all, too similar in their game. Starting Casey with one of them would've been a better move. I think it shows the need for a target forward, and it shows why Ching has remained in Bradley's plans throughout his tenure.
• The 3rd Honduras goal was sloppy defending all the way around, with no communication among the players on the field. No leadership. Goodson was spinning around like a top and ended up not making a play on anybody.
• The massive subs finally brought some life into the team. I especially liked Bedoya's play. He didn't look afraid, played smart, and moved well off the ball. I'd like to see more of him.

When you go a man down that early, it's time to step up. It separates the men from the boys. Last night, the US looked like a bunch of little boys. That has to change, even among the B squad.

DCU wheeling & dealing at the draft

No time for much, but quick thoughts on the DC-Philly trade:

• I wasn't really in favor of bringing back Fred. His production has declined, and was never worth his salary to begin with.
• Welcome back to DC Mr. Perkins. He was one of the tops in MLS before leaving, and should be better with his additional experience.
• Was this big of a move really necessary? Most say yes after last season. I wouldn't have minded seeing Wicks get a full season and the resources used elsewhere. I'm hoping Onalfo & Co. are happy with the roster as is, because there's less room to work with now.

Not a bad move overall, I just wonder if it was needed.

CAF, have a heart

The CAF, Africa's governing body for soccer, is putting up one of the most ridiculous PR campaigns I've ever seen in regards to the Togo national team situation. The CAF, instead of being proactive and postponing Togo's matches or working out a schedule with them in light of members of its delegation being murdered, is talking trash in the media about the situation.

Saying publicly that Togo will be disqualified from the tournament if they don't show up for their first game is one of the most insensitive things I've ever seen from a sport governing body.

Someone in a much higher position that a Cupcake maker should be blasting the CAF for this stance. Members of the Togo delegation were MURDERED, you can't give them a little time to grieve and handle the situation. Is the value of life for the CAF that low?

Going to the trouble of saying that Ghana was told to act like the game was going ahead, and that the referee would declare the match a forfeit if Togo doesn't take the field is absolutely ridiculous. The CAF seriously wants to embarrass Togo in that way.

Horrible decisions being made by the CAF in light of this tragedy. Seems like they don't think it's that big of a deal...

DC United has a new coach, I yawn

Curt Onalfo is the new head coach at DC United. He'll be officially introduced tomorrow. I wonder what the general reaction in DC will be. I'm on the side of, "meh".

He has a solid resume, highlighted by assisting Bruce Arena at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. When he was announced as the head coach in Kansas City, Onalfo promised an attacking style for the Wizards. Did he deliver? Will he deliver in DC?

In 2007, Eddie Johnson scored 15 goals to pace the Wizards and help them finish 5th in the league in goals scored. Once he left, so did the offence. 37 goals in 2008 was good enough for 11th out of 14, and everyone but the woeful Red Bulls scored more than Kansas City in 2009. The decrease from 45 goals scored in '07 to 37 in '08 to 33 in '09 concerns me.

Kansas City had talent during Onalfo's run there. Hartman has been one of the better keepers in MLS history. Jimmy Conrad, Davy Arnaud, Josh Wolff and Jack Jewsbury are all players to build around. They've had Claudio Lopez for the last two seasons, an exceptionally skilled player. Yet, the Wizards always seemed to be very average. They had a decent record, never too good but never too bad.

At least he won't have to deal with the CONCACAF Champions League in his first year in DC, that should help him. The crowded schedule was ultimately Soehn's downfall, he never learned how to manage his roster over a whole season.

It isn't a very exciting hire. After the last 2 years of Soehn, I think DC fans were looking for some excitement. Onalfo seems no different than Soehn. Time will tell, I hope I'm wrong on this one, but I just can't get too enthused over this.