USA-Argentina

[Rook]

Observation #1:

Jesus Christ!! The children are being led out onto the pitch not in a US kit but with McDonalds T-shirts on.

 

[Rook]

Timmy f-in rules. It looks like Bradley is actually going to have some room to work with today. It the US can get posession.

 

[Icarus]

Tim Howard's first half was absolutely brilliant. Denied Cruz 1 on 1 twice and made some other great plays. The question is how many Americans does it take to stop Messi. 3? 4?

 

[Maverick]

Timmy had one of the greatest first half goalie performances I have ever seen

USA came on strong the final 15 or so minutes, started gaining some confidence

 

[Rook]

Mascherano is writhering on the ground. I think Eddie Johnson just grabbed his balls.

Timmy just got away with a penalty.

 

[Rook]

In a case of mistaken ID. A US player just picked up his 2nd yellow.

 

[Maverick]

Mascherano gets his second yellow, 10 on 10 now, 86th

 

[Icarus]

For a moment I was concerned Mascherano injuried Donovan on that tackle. Call me crazy, but it seemed like the U.S. was a serious threat to score in the 2nd half.

 

[Rook]

Here's pretty much my assessment of the US squad. When teams play direct football like in the prem; go right up the middle after them with pace and give the midfield players no time on the ball. The players get nervous, lose possession, pass and tackle poorly and get caught out of position, the US stinks.

However when teams play South American football, lay off the players in the midfield, the US is comfortable and can at times, even against the good teams mount a decent attack. Also on defence when teams pass it around the box in triangles and s#$@, the defence gets back and into position and looks very competent. Even when teams as good as Argentina free up a man,Timmy has always been great at stopping one-on-ones (its the corners and headers off crosses that he at times have trouble with).

Other things:

Bradley didn't do much in attack in the 1st half and was subbed out. He just looks tired.

Dempsey and Beasley looked good on the wing.

I'm getting a feeling that a better position for Gooch is centre forward. Right now he's prob the US best goal threat, I don't think that is a good thing.

Donovan's 1st touch is world class. Its a shame he never really tried to get better and just gets by on his talent (though admittedly the past year he seems like he's at least trying a little). He should be one of the best players in the world by now.

If you think about it, if Gordon and Carson are worth 8M, Timmy maybe worth on the open market than any other player on Everton. EDIT: forgot about Lescott.

 

[Icarus]

Here's pretty much my assessment of the US squad. When teams play direct football like in the prem; go right up the middle after them with pace and give the midfield players no time on the ball. The players get nervous, lose possession, pass and tackle poorly and get caught out of position, the US stinks.

However when teams play South American football, lay off the players in the midfield, the US is comfortable and can at times, even against the good teams mount a decent attack. Also on defence when teams pass it around the box in triangles and s#$@, the defence gets back and into position and looks very competent. Even when teams as good as Argentina free up a man,Timmy has always been great at stopping one-on-ones (its the corners and headers off crosses that he at times have trouble with).

Other things:

Bradley didn't do much in attack in the 1st half and was subbed out. He just looks tired.

Dempsey and Beasley looked good on the wing.

I'm getting a feeling that a better position for Gooch is centre forward. Right now he's prob the US best goal threat, I don't think that is a good thing.

Donovan's 1st touch is world class. Its a shame he never really tried to get better and just gets by on his talent (though admittedly the past year he seems like he's at least trying a little). He should be one of the best players in the world by now.

If you think about it, if Gordon and Carson are worth 8M, Timmy maybe worth on the open market than any other player on Everton. EDIT: forgot about Lescott.

I think that's kinda over-analyzing the US team there. They just don't have central midfielders who have the composure and technique to maintain possession and make any meaningful passes. That's really the big thing people never appreciated about Claudio Reyna when he played for the US. After the England game, they looked much better because they had Adu or Donovan who could receive simple passes and create something offensively.

 

[Rook]

I think that's kinda over-analyzing the US team there. They just don't have central midfielders who have the composure and technique to maintain possession and make any meaningful passes. That's really the big thing people never appreciated about Claudio Reyna when he played for the US. After the England game, they looked much better because they had Adu or Donovan who could receive simple passes and create something offensively.

I kinda think the way I do becasue almost all US players never play prem ie English style football growing up until they go to England to play. Usually American players work their way up through college or the MLS. In the MLS almost all the teams play a free flowing offensive game (to put buts in the seats) and the players have tons of space to work with. The US still has to get comfortable with one-touch and pass football under pressure (in attack and defence). The Chechs came right up the middle at them in 06 and the US didn't know what hit 'em. The Germans also used their quick passing football in a friendly and tore the US up. However against the world champs in the WC the Italians played a slower game and the US was arguably the better team and drew with them 1-1.

I also think one other problem is that Bradley (the coach) does not want his central mids (Bradley and Edu/Clark etc) to attack. They are both used as holding midfielders. So there is no attack up the middle. Bradley's job for the US is much different than it is in Dutch land. As a US national he's a defender on Heeveereen he's an attacker.

Did I mention that I hate it when Adu cuts inside?? Its maddening. Stay on the wing mother$%^&%$.

 

[Maverick]

Adu looked really confident... real promising game for the USMNT

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Can't believe you guys didn't say anything about Pierce he was one of the best players on the pitch last night.

Bradley again was a non start. Lost the ball alot tonight I thought.

Howard was exempliery. What he did against the #1 team in the world was pure class. Him and Heinze spoke for a long time after the match. Old buds at Utd.

Mascherano a dirty player whom I dislike immensely got what he deserved.

 

[Icarus]

I kinda think the way I do becasue almost all US players never play prem ie English style football growing up until they go to England to play. Usually American players work their way up through college or the MLS. In the MLS almost all the teams play a free flowing offensive game (to put buts in the seats) and the players have tons of space to work with. The US still has to get comfortable with one-touch and pass football under pressure (in attack and defence). The Chechs came right up the middle at them in 06 and the US didn't know what hit 'em. The Germans also used their quick passing football in a friendly and tore the US up. However against the world champs in the WC the Italians played a slower game and the US was arguably the better team and drew with them 1-1.

I also think one other problem is that Bradley (the coach) does not want his central mids (Bradley and Edu/Clark etc) to attack. They are both used as holding midfielders. So there is no attack up the middle. Bradley's job for the US is much different than it is in Dutch land. As a US national he's a defender on Heeveereen he's an attacker.

Did I mention that I hate it when Adu cuts inside?? Its maddening. Stay on the wing mother$%^&%$.

I actually think his central mid's have some freedom to go foward, it's just that their way too wasteful with possession and are always on the backfoot defending. You could see in the Argentina game Edu and Kljestan had chances to move forward since Donovan could make smart runs into the final third and get others involved. Bradley even had a chance outside the box, he just didn't fall and cry after he was blatantly fouled.

I know people prefer to see Adu out on the wings because he's so small, but he's always played his best in the center as a forward/attacking mid where he has freedom to roam. He's always looked average playing as a strict winger in MLS, while he's looked like a real talent for the youth teams and Benfica playing with somewhat more freedom. Part of that is he just doesn't have the pace to blow by people, although he's deceptively fast. That's my two cents anyway.

I really need to start shortening my posts

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Andy Gray seems to have a thing for Julie Foudy doesn't he.