USA v Turkey

[Hellerad]

Keep Bornstein and Clark on the bench; the only reason they should ever see a world cup pitch is with a ticket in hand.
Good game for Torres (I still like Edu too). Work rate and distribution from Torres and M. Bradley were outstanding in the second half.
Good work rate from Findley, but he needs to make earlier passes when he gets a yard on the defenders instead of dribbling out of bounds.
Aside from Bornstein, great subs today. Cherundelo proved he needs to be on the field.

I think Dempsey got it right in his after match comments: a pacy striker like Findley opens up lots of space for Dempsey and Donovan to pincer in from the wings. I think that is why Davies helped make the team so successful last summer. Also, if Jozy is going to play as a holding forward (like he did for Hull and like he did today), he has to have that pacy partner to give him either room to make a play, or an option to make a pass.

 

[TX Bill]

We play against England like we did against Turkey in the first half and we'll be down 3-0 at halftime.

We play against England like we did against Turkey in the 2nd half, and we'll give them all they want.

Torres I think just grabbed the other starting CM spot along side Bradley. Findley showed everyone a little something although he needs to know when to pull it back and give to his supporting midfielder. Holden played well while he was in. Bornstein is bad but he isn't near the equivalent of Hibbert.

Let's see how we do against Australia next weekend.

 

[Tennessee Blue Mike]

Carlos Clark & Jonathon Spector who looked more like Phil were absolute rubbish. The change in the second half bringing on Finlay and Torres were huge bright spots. The defense of the US against both the Czechs & Turkey will be a immense problem in the WC for Uncle Sam. Donavon looked his usual self and Bradley has the nose to get into the right places. Moyes needs to keep tabs on this Torres boy he has great composure and has Arteta like silky skills.

68k fans for a friendly was very impressive.

 

[mezzrow]

Carlos Clark & Jonathon Spector who looked more like Phil were absolute rubbish. The change in the second half bringing on Finlay and Torres were huge bright spots. The defense of the US against both the Czechs & Turkey will be a immense problem in the WC for Uncle Sam. Donavon looked his usual self and Bradley has the nose to get into the right places. Moyes needs to keep tabs on this Torres boy he has great composure and has Arteta like silky skills.

68k fans for a friendly was very impressive.

68K? Really? I heard 55, but it really looked pretty filled up by the end of the match. Great to hear. I had sound off for much of the match.

 

[Rook]

We play against England like we did against Turkey in the first half and we'll be down 3-0 at halftime.

We play against England like we did against Turkey in the 2nd half, and we'll give them all they want.

Torres I think just grabbed the other starting CM spot along side Bradley. Findley showed everyone a little something although he needs to know when to pull it back and give to his supporting midfielder. Holden played well while he was in. Bornstein is bad but he isn't near the equivalent of Hibbert.

Let's see how we do against Australia next weekend.

-The 1st half we had no width, so Spector has to go forward with turned out to be disaster on the counterattack, thanks to the fact that we have no pace whatsoever in the back. If we try to keep everything in the middle we will play ourselves right out of the group.

-Lets hope Torres starts against the Aussies and shows that its not a one time thing. That would be a good test to see how he does against a more physical side.

-I liked seeing Landon on the right side with permission to roam. Landon's 3 best skills are his 1st touch (which is just beyond ridiciluous now), his pace and his final unlocking pass. Being in the central midfield he was getting shut down too much, couldn't use his pace and no one is fast enough or smart enough to get on his final ball. At least on the wing he had room to work.

-Torres in the central mid was able to free up Bradley for what he does best and that's making smart runs in the box. Too often Bradley had to control the midfield with his passing with Clark/Edu in the back. That being said its only one match for Torres but it does look promising.

-Defense is still shaky. DeMerit was OK despite some mistakes and was better than I thought he'd be today.

-Thank god Turan was platooned on the left side of the attack, he would have broken both of Bornstein's legs.

 

[Rook]

68K? Really? I heard 55, but it really looked pretty filled up by the end of the match. Great to hear. I had sound off for much of the match.

It was 55K. I think LF Field only seats 60K.

 

[Maverick]

Bornstein and Spector were terrible. Findley's pace is great, loved that pass to LD.

 

[Rook]

Seriously though he's coached at a very low level. You need to know the European game to compete these days. That is where the best football is, and it's where the best coaches learn their trade.

I agree the best national team coaches learn their trade in Europe. AND WE LET SVEN SLIP THOUGH OUR FINGERS!!!!!

 

[Rook]

Here's what Grant Wahl wrote about Timmy and Landon (From SI.com)

As for Donovan, he played almost the entire game on the right side of midfield, a switch from his usual left-sided position for the U.S. but very much in line with the role he had on the right flank for Everton in the spring. Perhaps the biggest highlight of Donovan's 10-week stint at Everton was the day he outplayed England left back Ashley Cole in a victory over Chelsea, and now that match-up seems like a possibility again with Donovan moving to the right.
"When he's on the right, I speak to him now in terms of Everton," said U.S. (and Everton) goalkeeper Tim Howard. "Like today we walked out, I said, 'Remember how we do it at Everton. Track the runner, or go heavy inside and let Jonathan [Spector] take the runner.' Today his touches were really good. He skinned a few guys down the right side. He was running at people making them backpedal, and it was really fun to watch."


Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/20...s.turkey.analysis.ap/index.html#ixzz0pNhbblvZ
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[spikeman]

We play against England like we did against Turkey in the first half and we'll be down 3-0 at halftime.

We play against England like we did against Turkey in the 2nd half, and we'll give them all they want.

Torres I think just grabbed the other starting CM spot along side Bradley. Findley showed everyone a little something although he needs to know when to pull it back and give to his supporting midfielder. Holden played well while he was in. Bornstein is bad but he isn't near the equivalent of Hibbert.

Let's see how we do against Australia next weekend.

He was for Honduras. They rioted when he scored

 

[Grogtank]

TX Bill How do we get your boy Holden into the mix? We obviously need Torres, he not only distributed well but was surprisingly good on defense. Dempsey, Donovan and Bradley are fixed starters. Altidore is likely a fixed starter as well. I just can't work Holden into a lineup that maintains speed up top with Findley.

After the Turkey match this is our most likely starting XI. Is it reasonable for Holden to come off the bench?
------------Altidore----Findley------------
-Dempsey---Torres----Bradley---Donovan-
-Bocanegra--Gooch--Demerit--Cherundolo-


I want to see this in the friendly against Australia in SA. Donovan with complete freedom.
-------------Findley or Altidore-------------
-----------------Donovan------------------
-Dempsey---Torres-----Bradley-----Holden--
-Bocanegra--Gooch----Demerit--Cherundolo-

Would this be a problem match up on the right for Holden vs England? Would we be losing too much without Donovan on the wing? What about Holden's more central role with Bolton? I just want our best guys on the pitch!

 

[Toffees_USA]

agree. but isnt bradley thinking that pacey forward will be donovan? i disagree, but it might work. i think findley would let donovan play where he wants to play, but he has been successful up front.

 

[Toffees_USA]

-------------------Altidore-----------------
-----------------Donovan------------------
-Dempsey---Torres-----Bradley-----Holden--
-Bocanegra--Gooch----Demerit--Cherundolo-

grogtank: i think this would work best. because if we need more pace, slide donovan to the wing and insert findley. but this would open up a lot of options, with a solid midfield, speed up front, and stability in back. i like it

 

[NHRevs]

TX Bill How do we get your boy Holden into the mix? We obviously need Torres, he not only distributed well but was surprisingly good on defense. Dempsey, Donovan and Bradley are fixed starters. Altidore is likely a fixed starter as well. I just can't work Holden into a lineup that maintains speed up top with Findley.

After the Turkey match this is our most likely starting XI. Is it reasonable for Holden to come off the bench?
------------Altidore----Findley------------
-Dempsey---Torres----Bradley---Donovan-
-Bocanegra--Gooch--Demerit--Cherundolo-


I want to see this in the friendly against Australia in SA. Donovan with complete freedom.
-------------Findley or Altidore-------------
-----------------Donovan------------------
-Dempsey---Torres-----Bradley-----Holden--
-Bocanegra--Gooch----Demerit--Cherundolo-

Would this be a problem match up on the right for Holden vs England? Would we be losing too much without Donovan on the wing? What about Holden's more central role with Bolton? I just want our best guys on the pitch!

I think this is the more logical starting lineup, given Bradley's tendencies. It's a little more conservative, Edu has a little more bite defensively than Torres, and that may be what Bradley wants to open the match with (hey, it's Bradley).

------------Altidore----Findley------------
-Dempsey----Edu-----Bradley---Donovan-
-Bocanegra--Gooch--Demerit--Cherundolo-

This leaves Holden and Torres and Clark as the primary subs. Clark for Edu when we are going into a shell and need a pure destroyer d-mid -- THAT Clark can do. Holden for Findley, rotating Dempsey up top (Donovan switches left) when we need to kill a match. Torres for Edu straight up when we need to chase.

 

[ToxtethBlue]

Is Torres a playmaker?