Rustenburg - USA vs. Ghana - June 26

[Toffe3m4n]

Pretty gutted, but ultimately no big shock. Defensively the Americans are still so poor it's borderline cringeworthy. Donovan and Dempsey were the only two players capable of creating anything for them, whilst Bradley was largely inaffective and Altidore was just truly shocking.

Felt pretty bad for Landon, he looked heartbroken at the end and he really didn't deserve to be on the losing team.

 

[TX Bill]

A few observations:

1) We weren't unlucky. When you can't defend properly, you don't deserve to win. Both Ghana goals could and should have been easily cut out. We didn't and we paid the price.

2) Altidore has the touch of a brick wall. He better buck up his ideas in the next few years or he'll find himself on the outside looking it regarding the USMNT. He's supposed to be a scorer. If he can't score against England, Slovenia, Algeria, or Ghana, then time to look somewhere else for strikers.

3) Clark giving the ball up again and will be crucified for it but what the heck? Bradley gives him a ball when a Ghanaian is right next to him and then Howard should have done much much better on the angle.

4) Speaking of Howard. Love him. Love that he plays for Everton. That said, he didn't exactly inspire me this World Cup. I think a few of the goals he let in could have been stopped. They were just too easy.

5) Uruguay is gonna smash Ghana. And I mean smash them. 3-0, 4-0 kind of smash them.

6) We ran out of gas there at the end and our crossing suffered for it. We couldn't really get any dangerous balls into the box towards the end because of the tired legs.

Good luck, to the rest of the teams in the tournament and I guess I'll have to root for England and Uruguay now.

 

[TX Bill]

Think it may be a bit harsh ..but, anyone think Howard could have done better for both goals? 1st, beaten in the near post, the 2nd straight through his hands - i know it was a bit of a hit like..

No. Not harsh at all. I think he should have done better.

 

[Matt Damon]

UNLUCKY YANKS.

You've come along way and I'm positive we'll be seeing you again in World Cups.

I can remember feeling how you feel now 20 years ago at Italia 90. Its these moments the highs and lows - that makes it what it is.

Keep ya chins up Yanks.

 

[davek]

Yeah, Bradley was influential in the game only for the period after HT until the penalty.

 

[TX Bill]

Bradley didn't quite have as good a game as he did had in the group stages but he's still a heck of a player for us.

 

[Matt Damon]

Everyone on tv in the UK are saying it was a fantastic game tonight. It was good like. So chins up.

It's all a learning curve and its obvious you're coming along well.

 

[TX Bill]

I guess if you're a neutral, then it was probably fun to watch.

It wasn't fun for me to watch and that isn't due to the result either. Nail biter here.

 

[Matt Damon]

I guess if you're a neutral, then it was probably fun to watch.

It wasn't fun for me to watch and that isn't due to the result either. Nail biter here.

You got to remember that all that experience being gained is being taken back to the US and will make the MLS better and improve the game.

Its inevitable. So roll on Brazil 2014 lads! See you there Yanks! Let's see your samba beat.

 

[davek]

Bradley didn't quite have as good a game as he did had in the group stages but he's still a heck of a player for us.

That's what surprised me tonight. I thought he was very quiet in a game of such importance. Then again, I thought Dempsey and Donovan went missing a bit too.

 

[TX Chili Dog]

I'd love to see the Dutch play Argentina in the final. That would be my wish.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Step backward is the consensus here after a good Confederation Cup run. I had a house full for this one and you could see the tension at the start of the game. It shouldn't have been that way. If we do make it in four years Demerrit, Bocranegra & Cherunelo may be to old so a total makeover in the defense will be in order.

US needs a striker that can finish. Jozy is young but totally out of his element during this one. I hope we keep developing new talent we need someone with some bite.

 

[Matt Damon]

Step backward is the consensus here after a good Confederation Cup run. I had a house full for this one and you could see the tension at the start of the game. It shouldn't have been that way. If we do make it in four years Demerrit, Bocranegra & Cherunelo may be to old so a total makeover in the defense will be in order.

US needs a striker that can finish. Jozy is young but totally out of his element during this one. I hope we keep developing new talent we need someone with some bite.

You gotta remember Mike the confederations cup - is nowhere near the world cup.

Many teams can fluff it due to nerves and many teams don't even get there!

Yeah thats what I was saying on the Landon Donovan thread...

Its a constant theme of development...

Its coming along nicely. You definitely are maturing as a team on the world stage.

 

[jdeezy]

Gutted. Priceless opportunity completely wasted today. And we weren't robbed or unlucky. Just not good enough. I'd rather be robbed.

Best 2 out of 3 anyone?? Ahhh. For what? We'd just throw a 99 yard hail mary pass, alley oop slam dunk off the backboard, swing for the fences, strike out looking, hit a grand slam touchdown called back on account of flagrant foul & unecessary roughness, then ground into a double play on the game winning field goal w/ 2 ducks on a pond, only to have a fumble returned for a three point layup off a long broken bat rebound the other way. Get the cheerleaders on ffs.

Going dark. I'll be back when the hurt goes away. So sometime around never probably.

 

[Matt Damon]

Gutted. Priceless opportunity completely wasted today. And we weren't robbed or unlucky. Just not good enough. I'd rather be robbed.

Best 2 out of 3 anyone?? Ahhh. For what? We'd just throw a 99 yard hail mary pass, alley oop slam dunk off the backboard, swing for the fences, strike out looking, hit a grand slam touchdown called back on account of flagrant foul & unecessary roughness, then ground into a double play on the game winning field goal w/ 2 ducks on a pond, only to have a fumble returned for a three point layup off a long broken bat rebound the other way. Get the cheerleaders on ffs.

Going dark. I'll be back when the hurt goes away. So sometime around never probably.

Italia '90.

I feel your pain Yanks.