by Roderick MacNeil
Nick Rimando watches yet another huge save steered wide of goal.
Let’s take a quick look at the most notable performances (or lack thereof) by USMNT players, both present and future, from the past weekend:
Major League Soccer
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) – Rimando was spectacular in RSL’s 1-0 season-opening win over the LA Galaxy. He made 9 saves, including a 93rd minute penalty kick stop off the foot of Robbie Keane. Rimando was named to the MLS Team of the Week, in addition to Week 1 Player of the Week honors. Here’s his top saves from this weekend, including the game-saving exclamation point:
Michael Parkhurst (Columbus Crew) – In Parkhurst’s MLS return he was instrumental in the Crew’s 3-0 win over D.C. United. He helped keep Eddie Johnson in check as Columbus held DC to one shot on goal.
Maurice Edu (Philadelphia Union) – Edu was named to MLS Team of the Week in central midfield in his Union debut. His flick-on header led to an assist on Jack McInerney’s goal as Philly earned a surprise point (and nearly three) in a 1-1 draw at Portland. Edu hopes to earn a USMNT call-up for the April 2 match vs. Mexico.
DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders) – The second year phenom was impressive in earning Man of the Match honors in Seattle’s 1-0 win over Sporting Kansas City. Yedlin completed two successful long through balls, equaling the number he had in all of 2013. He remains a long shot candidate for the USMNT World Cup roster.
Clint Dempsey (Seattle Sounders) – Dempsey looked sharp and played with a chip on his now-healthy shoulder in his first match back from Europe. The USMNT captain figured prominently and assisted on the winning goal. His smoothly fielded pass from Ozzie Alonso and distribution back wide to Sean Okoli set up the initial crossing opportunity. Dempsey then headed a rebound off the crossbar and scissor-kicked his own rebound ahead to Chad Barrett, who stabbed home a dramatic winner for the Sounders. It marked the fifth Seattle stoppage time victory over Kansas City since 2010.
Will Bruin (Houston Dynamo) – Bruin earned his first two national team caps in 2013, and got off to a big start in his effort to stay on Jurgen Klinsmann’s radar for the next cycle. Bruin notched two goals in the game’s first 13 minutes to jump start the Dynamo to a 4-0 rout over the New England Revolution.
Liga MX
Jose Torres (Tigres UANL) – “Gringo” Torres scored his first goal since joining Tigres of Liga MX. Torres’ 82nd minute tally capped a 3-0 victory over Cruz Azul. He hopes to make a late run to earn a spot on the World Cup roster, and may see an opening given the recent shortcomings of Sacha Kljestan and Brek Shea. Here’s a video clip of the goal (jump to 1:02 of the video):
Joe Corona (Tijuana) – Corona made an impressive return to Tijuana’s starting lineup, having not been featured since early January. It’s noteworthy that he also took all the Xolos’ set pieces. Corona is seeking to make the most of his playing time, hoping to earn a USMNT call-up next month and find his way onto the World Cup roster.
Alejandro Guido (Tijuana) – The 19-year-old United States U-20 player made his Liga MX debut for Tijuana, entering in the 84th minute of a 2-0 win over CD Guadalajara. Guido has excelled for the Xolos’ U-20 team with three goals in six starts.
Europe
Aron Johannsson (AZ Alkmaar) – Johannsson scored again. And again. Same old, same old. The USMNT striker now has 24 goals in all competitions and shows no signs of slowing down. He’ll be a dangerous weapon at the World Cup this summer.
Jozy Altidore (Sunderland) – Notable due to his absence, yet again. Altidore was not in the 18-man game day roster for Sunderland’s FA Cup quarterfinal loss to Hull City. Manager Gus Poyet later explained that Altidore had picked up an unspecified “knock” in training.
Brek Shea (Barnsley/Stoke City) – Shea’s loan spell at Barnsley came to a grinding halt Monday when he was sent back to parent club Stoke City. This came on the heels of a regrettable incident in which Shea made an obscene gesture ( involving a certain centrally located digit) toward Barnsley supporters. Couple with his underwhelming performances, Barnsley had seen enough. He has not been formally recalled by Stoke, so Barnsley will continue to pay Shea’s salary.
The Near Post 
Maybe I’m grasping at straws here… but, we know that JK will drop you like a rock if you’re not getting minutes at your club. If Jozy keeps picking up a knock during training and keeps spending his matches in the stands…
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It’s troubling. Especially with quotes like this from his manager:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2576012/Gus-Poyet-tells-Jozy-Altidore-prove-deserves-play.html
“‘It was hard to leave him out but I needed to make the bench something I was comfortable with. I have a responsibility for the team. It’s not nice, I don’t like doing it but he has to cope with it.
‘Let’s see how he reacts. I look forward to seeing what type of character he is. I’d like him to prove me wrong. He should take his frustration out on the pitch.
‘It’s up to him. We saw it with Lee Cattermole. He is playing on Sunday but is that because of me? No, it is because of him. It’s that simple. I would like Jozy to do the same – to show he deserves to play on Sunday and he will do well enough to play against Palace and Norwich. But because of him, not me. I’m not a charity.”
If Jozy keeps rotting on the sidelines for a while, there are still some outs. Could seek a loan… and of course, the MLS transfer window is open til early May…
But if he’s grasping for minutes for the next 10 weeks or so, that’s a concern. I don’t know what Klinsmann does. Maybe Jozy steps right into USMNT camp and plays like the USMNT Jozy b/c it’s a better fit. But if not, who’s a like-for-like replacement as a lone striker? Johannsson and EJ aren’t that player.
Hope Jozy figures it out soon.
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I don’t think is a like for like, but, maybe an adjustment of form would also benefit? I mean, everyone likes a good 4-4-2 (okay, hardly anyone seems to like a 4-4-2 and doing it against Jamaica we looked like crap)…
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