10 Observations from The USA's 0-0 game with Argentina

1. No offense, but did Argentina look completely uninterested in this game?  Thank you.
2. If this is the best group of the USA's mostly European-based players, count me as unimpressed.  If this is what playing in Europe gets Clint Dempsey, Eddie Johnson and DaMarcus Beasley--they could be in MLS and do no worse.
3. Tim Howard was outstanding--he deserves credit for that performance.  BRAVO.  Now, who else can we say that about for the Yanks?
4. Not to harp on the forwards, but when was the last USA attack on the enemy goal that you thought to yourself--"wow, this looks promising....?"
5. USA opponents need only to apply consistent pressure on the ball and the US will make a poor pass, a mistake, or get pickpocketed by the defense.
6. Sacha Kljestan's opportunity late in the game summarizes for me the extent of the Americans' lack of seasoning on a world stage.  Sacha had a great chance that he just could not get off fast enough.  That millisecond of hesitation is what elite countries have in abundance and we lack in similar abundance.
7. I'm not always in favor of a coaching change in the middle of World Cup qualifying, but  I think it's time US Soccer realized its mistake and fires Bob Bradley.  I LIKE THE GUY--but the USA needs the training and pressure of Europe and South America. They could have had Juergen Klinsmann when he was available...
8. The officiating was atrocious.  CONCACAF is a joke.
9. Is the USA defense just letting the opposition have the ball on the wings unopposed?  Argentina did that all night long, and there was nary a US defender in sight when the ball was played in.
10. I don't mean to sound the alarm--but WC qualifying is in jeopardy with play like that.

All ball....Argentina had way to many of these last night

Of course, there is no US media attention given the World Hockey Championships north of the border, but that did not stop the USA from defeating IIHF-lightweight Slovenia 5-1 tonight in Halifax, Nova Scotia (for those of you who don't know--it's a Canadian Province east of Maine).

Phil Kessel of the Boston Bruins notched a hat trick, and eleven other players scored a point.  Kessel's fellow Bruin teammate Tim Thomas stopped 11 of 12 shots in goal for the Americans.

The US now  faces a Canadian squad playing on home ice without that yearly distraction called the Stanley Cup Finals to worry about after the Montreal Canadiens lost in five games to the Philadelphia Flyers.  Montreal was the last Canadian-based NHL franchise to win a Stanley Cup back in 1993, and The Habs lead all NHL teams with 24 Cups.

Looking Ahead to the Canucks: Canada always has an emotional edge when playing the Americans, and on their own ice with a crowd that expects no less than gold, the USA has its work cut out for them, even in a game that won't effect either team's entry to the second round.  I look for Tortorella to rest Thomas in this game.  How the USA responds to early adversity will tell the tale with this young team.

Most interesting Stat Line: Los Angeles Kings' Anze Kopitar, Slovenia's only NHL-er, scored a goal and was +1 for the game.  Not too bad for a player that must have played a lot of different roles on a team losing by four goals.

Photo credit: http://www.iihf.com/typo3temp/pics/2a35db9fb0.jpg

Selfish thoughts on Game 1 of the Western Conference Semis:

1.  The Spurs can run--those graybeards are fast.  Bowen had a great first quarter, but I don't think he should play 34 minutes if that means Parker or Manu have to sit.

2.  As advertised, Paul and West are the show.  If they are playing well, the Hornets will always be in the thick of it.  Horry, Oberto and Thomas looked like statues trying to guard West.

3.  Paul reminded me of Baron Davis the way he drove to the hole.  When his outside shot wasn't working, he drove and dished.

4.  Parker is unbelievably good.  Fast as lightning with a great outside shot.  Manu is a great shooter in traffic.

5.  Bowen should have been called for all the shoulders he put into Paul during the game.

6.  Bonzi is a Spurs killer.  If he can produce 10 points a game in twenty minutes, the Hornets will win.  I would start him instead of Mo Pete.  The fact that he can play both SG and SF gives Scott flexibility.

7.  DON'T BLAME HUGO!!  Blame the Hornets' organization and the New Orleans Arena staff.

8.  I expect a big game from Duncan in game 2.  I think he will be guarding West on the defensive end.

9.  Chandler's ability as an offensive-zone rebounder was a key factor last night.   

10.  I was surprised to see the Spurs doing less complaining after each foul called against them.

USA Hockey is replacing gray with green at the IIHF World Hockey Championships in Halifax and Quebec City.

The Americans, with a roster filled with NHL players 25 and younger, beat a spirited Latvian crowd and team 4-0 in Halifax, Nova Scotia in each team's first game of the tournament.  The annual World Championships are usually held in Europe, and this is the first time Canada has hosted the event.

Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks), Dustin Brown and Patrick O'Sullivan (Los Angeles Kings) and Zach Parise (New Jersey Devils) scored for the US.  Next up for the Americans is Slovenia, then a date with a Canada squad playing on home ice in the national sport.

The National Team Advisory Group of Don Waddell, David Poile, Ray Shero and Brian Burke went with a youth movement this time around, while American stars of the past like Keith Tkachuk (St. Louis Blues), Bill Guerin (New York Islanders), Mathieu Schneider and Doug Weight (Anaheim Ducks) all sat this one out. 

Now, the Green Team is hoping to come away with gold.  A medal is not out of the question, but gold may be.  Americans have never won a tournament without strong goaltending.  Can Tim Thomas be the difference?

Selfish thoughts and commentary:  It's about time USA Hockey gave John Tortorella his due.  I bet many NHL fans don't even realize he has more wins than any American-born coach in NHL history.  He's got the fire and confrontational style of a Herb Brooks.  I think he can coach like him as well.

In the midst of USA Hockey's necessary youth movement, it is great to see future Hall-of-Famers Mike Modano and Jeremy Roenick playing so well in the NHL playoffs.  Both of them were the standard-bearers for USA Hockey for 20 years, and I believe these two 500-goal scorers finally put to rest the appaling idea that Americans could not score in the NHL.

I've seen it before, but it props to USA Hockey for the National Team Development Program.  Most of the US roster has gone through the system and have trained and played together at various tournaments.  No more all-star teams!!

Head-scratchers: Where were Brian Gionta, Jack Johnson, Erik Johnson and Ryan Kesler in Team USA's plans?

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 Photo credit: http://www.iihf.com/typo3temp/pics/89601f0373.jpg