The friendlies against club sides have been resolved - at least they have a few games lined up now. With places for November at stake, I expect the players will take even these club friendlies quite intensely. News just through tonight:
http://nz.sports.yahoo.com/football/news/article/-/19302553/all-whites-schedule-still-uncertain/
..". their fixture against Mexican Liga MX club side Queretaro on Wednesday fell through.
Matches against Major League Soccer's Chivas USA on Saturday, and Trinidad and Tobago in Port of Spain on October 15 are confirmed.
There is now the possibility of a training run against Premier League Development club side Ventura County Fusion on Wednesday in Los Angeles.
Fusion are no strangers to taking on international teams, having recently drawn 1-1 with Canada."
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Video highlights (lowlights?) and review of Chivas USA's 5-0 thumping by LA Galaxy (Robbie Keane et al) on the weekend:
http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2013/10/06/carlos-bocanegra-chivas-usa-humiliation-%E2%80%9C-lose-we-did-embarrassing
110 cap US legend Carlos Bocanegra (ex-Fulham, Rennes, Saint Etienne, Rangers) returned from injury in the game.
Four experienced players on loan from parent club., top Mexican side Chivas Guadalajara, started.
21 of the 27 players on their roster are of Latin descent (mostly of Mexican descent, including Mexican Americans, Central Americans etc.)
Erick Torres, aged 20, on loan from Chivas Guadalajara, is their top goal-scorer (7 from 13 games) - only signed mid-season.
Manager Jose Luis Real was a successful coach of Chivas Guadalajara (second in Copa Libertadores 2010) and has only been in charge for just over four months, taking over 15 weeks into the season, as part of an overhaul of the struggling club by the new ownership group (Chivas Guadalajara took full control of the club last year). .