The US National Team has shown twice over the past week and a half that it is still far from world class. It might be hard pressed to place in the top of the second tier of international soccer given its inability to score and troubles holding the ball in the central midfield.
Away results against England (2:0 loss) and Spain (1:0 loss) don't look so terrible in isolation. However, the a general impotence in the final third and epic battles to simply keep the scoreline low against top level competition are rather distressing.
If you're looking to get pretty hammered, just make a game where you have to drink:
- Every time a central midfielder commits a turnover
- Anytime Eddie Johnson either turns the ball back or wastes a goalscoring opportunity
- Whenever you think we only have ten men on the field because Josh Wolff can't be found
- Every time Gooch takes someone down with a forearm shiver
In any event... moving on to the moment at hand. This Sunday the USA caps off what amounts to an impressive array of opponents for any team with Argentina at 7:30 pm in Giants Stadium.
I've never been (although I hear it is misrepresented and in fact located in the lovely state of New Jersey) and this will be my first men's national team game that I can remember (although it's possible I attended one years ago).
Honestly, as defeatist as it may sound, I don't expect a result from this game. But boy would I like to see a game where we don't play like we've conceded, like we think we can score and where the same tired bodies are out there in the same tired positions.
Check here for the USA roster.
Will be on a bus at 7:45 in the morning from Arlington to hopefully catch the opening Euro games and try to update on the journey/game come Monday with pictures. May try to update Twitter during the trip.
Showing posts with label US Men's National Team. Show all posts
Showing posts with label US Men's National Team. Show all posts
Friday, June 6, 2008
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Reading on the 2nd half of the US game last night
I believe this was the general consensus on the game last night:
If anyone wants to read up on the 2nd half or just other opinions of the US - Guatemala game that ended 0-0 last night here are some links:
Soccer Insider
MLS Site
One of Several Big Soccer Message Boards
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
US vs. Guatemala - First Half
Little running discussion of the game:
- First off the field looks much better than Sunday.
- A new look backline makes things interesting after the disheveled performance against Ecuador... from left to right - Spector, Conrad, Demerit, Simek. We'll also get a nice look at Bradley and Feilhaber playing together again in the middle to see if they can repeat a nice 2nd half a couple days ago.
- Still can't believe that Eddie Johnson is getting another start when Bob Bradley is already giving so many fresh faces a chance. Already he showed the ability to hit a defender with a shot from six yards out. I wonder, why not Kenny Cooper?
- The whole room over here seems to agree that Feilhaber has some very Reyna-esque tendencies, already showing his ability to spread the ball around the field well. Slow start in the first 10 minutes, kind of expected by the 4-5-1 played by Guatemala.
- Like the attacking attitude from Mapp, pushing the ball whenever the opportunity presents.
- A nice ball played through in the 18th minute by Donovan but Johnson hits it right into the keeper's hands. At this point I don't think he has moved past a jog and right now it feels like the US is playing with ten guys. Simek really looks nice on that right side so far, very comfortable moving forward on the ball.
- Slow... slow... slow... 28 minutes... Guatemala putting lots of guys behind the ball. Apparently Twellman sends texts messages to Wynalda.
- Some nice movement between Feilhaber and Bradley results in a free kick about 35 yards out... they're looking very comfortable with each other. And yea, that is the only moment worth mentioning for the past ten minutes.
- Two more moments of brilliance from Wynalda: he first commented that maybe we'll just see Johnson in a couple years in Africa followed by him suggesting that premiership teams don't train in between games because it rains a lot in England.
- The first half was very uneventful and the crowd seems to be souring a little bit. Unfortunately my time is up because I have to go bartend. Good luck USA in getting a goal, and I hope Cooper sees some time.
- First off the field looks much better than Sunday.
- A new look backline makes things interesting after the disheveled performance against Ecuador... from left to right - Spector, Conrad, Demerit, Simek. We'll also get a nice look at Bradley and Feilhaber playing together again in the middle to see if they can repeat a nice 2nd half a couple days ago.
- Still can't believe that Eddie Johnson is getting another start when Bob Bradley is already giving so many fresh faces a chance. Already he showed the ability to hit a defender with a shot from six yards out. I wonder, why not Kenny Cooper?
- The whole room over here seems to agree that Feilhaber has some very Reyna-esque tendencies, already showing his ability to spread the ball around the field well. Slow start in the first 10 minutes, kind of expected by the 4-5-1 played by Guatemala.
- Like the attacking attitude from Mapp, pushing the ball whenever the opportunity presents.
- A nice ball played through in the 18th minute by Donovan but Johnson hits it right into the keeper's hands. At this point I don't think he has moved past a jog and right now it feels like the US is playing with ten guys. Simek really looks nice on that right side so far, very comfortable moving forward on the ball.
- Slow... slow... slow... 28 minutes... Guatemala putting lots of guys behind the ball. Apparently Twellman sends texts messages to Wynalda.
The commentators don't even seem too worried about the game, having a fine little time in the booth - we're considering that they're drinking some of tonight's sponsor Jose Cuervo, and maybe Wynalda will run across the field with just his tie on and a number 34 painted on his back yelling, you'll never catch me Landon! - Mr. Fox
- Some nice movement between Feilhaber and Bradley results in a free kick about 35 yards out... they're looking very comfortable with each other. And yea, that is the only moment worth mentioning for the past ten minutes.
- Two more moments of brilliance from Wynalda: he first commented that maybe we'll just see Johnson in a couple years in Africa followed by him suggesting that premiership teams don't train in between games because it rains a lot in England.
- The first half was very uneventful and the crowd seems to be souring a little bit. Unfortunately my time is up because I have to go bartend. Good luck USA in getting a goal, and I hope Cooper sees some time.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Highlights from US vs. Ecuador
For those of you that didn't get to see the game, here are the goals and all three of Donovan's very un-Landon like finishes which I must say were all class.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
US vs. Ecuador
Computer malfunctions during the first half... but some thoughts:
- The jury is out in our house on the new uniforms. I personally think the pinstripes are nice.
- Great hit by Donovan off a bad clearance. Wynalda must cringe every time Donovan nets another one and has to note the statistic box.
- The defensive communication looks miserable. A couple miscues between Howard and his defenders. The defense, which is the same lineup we saw in the World Cup, looks leaky and it's supposed cornerstone Onyewu was exposed badly and beaten twice on Ecuador's goal.
- Movement up top is miserable, with Ching trying to play like a target forward without a complimentary player. Johnson is invisible and lazy; one wonders how many more chances he can really get.
- Benny Feilhaber looks good at times and like a first cap player at others. A nice through ball with the outside of his foot in between several bad giveaways.
- Donovan was by far the best player for the US in the first half. Hopefully he inspires more in the second half, and we'll see if Michael Bradley can come in and prove he belongs as a player and not just given the benefit of the doubt by his dad.
Second Half
- Wynalda is a trip in the commentator's booth. Him and Arena often take little jabs at each other and I'm sure Dave O'Brien has to give them a couple quick kicks under the desk.
- The movement to start the half is much better, Donovan looks to be an upgrade at least in terms of his movement and his commitment to the game.
- My roommate just farted and yawned at the same time.
- Donovan produces two brilliant goals after Dempsey whiffed on a sitter from inside six yards. The first off a nice turn and slotted through ball, and with the ball bouncing up and down on the turf Donovan calmly slowed down and placed the ball to the far post. His second came just two minutes later as the Ecuadorian defense looks in shambles and it's about as un-Donovan a finish as I've seen, blasting an unstoppable drive into the top corner from Beasley's well weighted pass.
- Looks like the DC United representative is going to be the lonely one on the bench with Kasey Keller not too get into this game. Maybe Carroll get his chance on Wednesday because as decent as Feilhaber played, and I think decent is the best description, he went unnoticed through most of the second half. Little correction, Carroll shows up in the 90th minute, turns out Kyle Beckerman is Keller's buddy over there.
- The defense never really seemed to mesh, hopefully that's sorted out before we start playing the likes of Argentina this summer. Pace proved to be a serious issue, especially for Gooch and Bocanegra on the left who was left chasing several times. Not a bad performance in the end, made a little bit better by the killer game that Donovan produced. Wouldn't the US be better off if he could produce this energy and determination every game, or maybe donate some to Eddie Johnson.
- A nice save from the Ecuadorian goalkeeper, a questionable call on what looked like a penalty and a bad miss from Dempsey kept the score from being more lopsided. Nice crowd for the victory, announced at 31,000.
Player of the Game - Obviously the hat trick man Donovan who provided inspiration to a team that otherwise looked sluggish; even typical firebrand Dempsey looked a step behind.
Surprise - Aside from Donovan's work rate and decision to display all that he could be, the center midfield, especially in the second half with Bradley and Feilhaber was nice. While not flashy, they moved the ball and kept possession that was lacking in the first half, although again some of this might be attributed to getting a second player in front of them once Johnson was subbed.
Disappointment - Every game things seem to slip farther away from Eddie Johnson, who for a couple months was going to be the savior of US soccer and expected to score at feverish pace. Now he looks out of sorts, making bad runs, if he makes any, doing his best play going backwards and missing poorly on the chances presented to him such as the one that both Arena and Wynalda deemed a cross, but upon closer inspection was surely a shot.
Oh what to do with Mr. Bradley, who is now 3 and 0 as "interim" coach, and seems to be quietly showing that he may be capable of getting the job done. I wouldn't expect a worse performance against much weaker Guatemala on Wednesday.
- The jury is out in our house on the new uniforms. I personally think the pinstripes are nice.
- Great hit by Donovan off a bad clearance. Wynalda must cringe every time Donovan nets another one and has to note the statistic box.
- The defensive communication looks miserable. A couple miscues between Howard and his defenders. The defense, which is the same lineup we saw in the World Cup, looks leaky and it's supposed cornerstone Onyewu was exposed badly and beaten twice on Ecuador's goal.
- Movement up top is miserable, with Ching trying to play like a target forward without a complimentary player. Johnson is invisible and lazy; one wonders how many more chances he can really get.
- Benny Feilhaber looks good at times and like a first cap player at others. A nice through ball with the outside of his foot in between several bad giveaways.
- Donovan was by far the best player for the US in the first half. Hopefully he inspires more in the second half, and we'll see if Michael Bradley can come in and prove he belongs as a player and not just given the benefit of the doubt by his dad.
Second Half
- Wynalda is a trip in the commentator's booth. Him and Arena often take little jabs at each other and I'm sure Dave O'Brien has to give them a couple quick kicks under the desk.
- The movement to start the half is much better, Donovan looks to be an upgrade at least in terms of his movement and his commitment to the game.
- My roommate just farted and yawned at the same time.
- Donovan produces two brilliant goals after Dempsey whiffed on a sitter from inside six yards. The first off a nice turn and slotted through ball, and with the ball bouncing up and down on the turf Donovan calmly slowed down and placed the ball to the far post. His second came just two minutes later as the Ecuadorian defense looks in shambles and it's about as un-Donovan a finish as I've seen, blasting an unstoppable drive into the top corner from Beasley's well weighted pass.
- Looks like the DC United representative is going to be the lonely one on the bench with Kasey Keller not too get into this game. Maybe Carroll get his chance on Wednesday because as decent as Feilhaber played, and I think decent is the best description, he went unnoticed through most of the second half. Little correction, Carroll shows up in the 90th minute, turns out Kyle Beckerman is Keller's buddy over there.
- The defense never really seemed to mesh, hopefully that's sorted out before we start playing the likes of Argentina this summer. Pace proved to be a serious issue, especially for Gooch and Bocanegra on the left who was left chasing several times. Not a bad performance in the end, made a little bit better by the killer game that Donovan produced. Wouldn't the US be better off if he could produce this energy and determination every game, or maybe donate some to Eddie Johnson.
- A nice save from the Ecuadorian goalkeeper, a questionable call on what looked like a penalty and a bad miss from Dempsey kept the score from being more lopsided. Nice crowd for the victory, announced at 31,000.
Player of the Game - Obviously the hat trick man Donovan who provided inspiration to a team that otherwise looked sluggish; even typical firebrand Dempsey looked a step behind.
Surprise - Aside from Donovan's work rate and decision to display all that he could be, the center midfield, especially in the second half with Bradley and Feilhaber was nice. While not flashy, they moved the ball and kept possession that was lacking in the first half, although again some of this might be attributed to getting a second player in front of them once Johnson was subbed.
Disappointment - Every game things seem to slip farther away from Eddie Johnson, who for a couple months was going to be the savior of US soccer and expected to score at feverish pace. Now he looks out of sorts, making bad runs, if he makes any, doing his best play going backwards and missing poorly on the chances presented to him such as the one that both Arena and Wynalda deemed a cross, but upon closer inspection was surely a shot.
Oh what to do with Mr. Bradley, who is now 3 and 0 as "interim" coach, and seems to be quietly showing that he may be capable of getting the job done. I wouldn't expect a worse performance against much weaker Guatemala on Wednesday.
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