2009 Confederations Cup

[Zeno]

What a great win!! Donovan was awesome, the defense played solid all around--throwing their bodies at everything and hustling for every ball.

The red card was BS. My guess is Feilhaber starts in Bradley's spot next game. I'm still not sold on Rico Clark starting but he did play OK today.

 

[Chaplin]

Stunned.

 

[Mulli]

What? Wawawhat? U mean I have to like USA "football" now?

 

[BirdMan21]

I am still shocked....this was like Appalachian State playing Michigan. Nowhere near the talent level, but just showed up and out worked Spain for 90 min. Would love if this team would just realize we are not gonna out talent people anytime soon, but we can at least try to out hustle and out work them every game. Cause a scrappy team that hustles would be a team I would be proud to root for every game regardless of outcome.

 

[CaptTurbo]

That red card todfay was just plain awful.

I am still speachless over the result!

 

[Dback Jon]

Awesome win!

Is there any appeal/review process on red cards?

 

[MigratingOsprey]

shocking win and makes their play leading up to the last 2 games even more madening


unfortunately the only feed I could find on xm/sirius was the spanish feed.........

 

[82CardsGrad]

Huh??

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Reminds me of our performances in the 2002 World cup...outstanding defense and goaltending, and opportunistic offense. These last two games have just looked much different, not sure if having Davies up front makes that big a difference, but I think you'll see him up top next game. In terms of effort as well, haven't seen this level of confidence or aggressiveness enough as of late.

While we'll probably lose to Brazil the experience and confidence of this group has to be higher than in many years.

 

[Stout]

OMFG, WE BEAT SPAIN!!! WOW! That was simply incredible. Some great defending, some great goal tending, some great emergency defending, taking advantage of a few offensive opportunities, and a WHOLE LOT OF LUCK! That's the kind of grit and spirit we need to win games at the top level, boys!

On a side note, our midfield needs attention DESPERATELY. I have a feeling that Clark is not the answer there, but sadly I don't think we really have a second central midfielder. Our defense was solid but our midfield simply had no idea what to do with Spain, and I think it was because of Clark. I lost count of the number of times that Bradley would step up like he's supposed to but, instead of slipping back and playing defensively like, you know, a DEFENSIVE midfielder is supposed to do, Clark would step up too and leave the midfield wide open. This puts far too much pressure on the defense. Clark doesn't get it, and I don't know if we have time to let him figure it out.

And, how about we start the game with Feilhaber (sp?) in midfield and Dempsey up front? Davies has done all right for a kid, but Dempsey really isn't a midfielder. Granted, Feilhaber will likely start for Bradley in the championship match anyway, but I'm talking WC qualifiers too.

Wow, I'm just stunned, delightfully stunned, with this result. Way to go, USA!

 

[azsouthendzone]

Great day....

 

[Zeno]

And, how about we start the game with Feilhaber (sp?) in midfield and Dempsey up front? Davies has done all right for a kid, but Dempsey really isn't a midfielder. Granted, Feilhaber will likely start for Bradley in the championship match anyway, but I'm talking WC qualifiers too.

Wow, I'm just stunned, delightfully stunned, with this result. Way to go, USA!

Dempsey has proven not to be a really effective as a 90 minute striker for the US. He is not a back to goal type of player nor does he have great speed...he is best in space where he gets the chance to use his skills not trying to fight through centerbacks and most of his better goal scoring chances are as a result of his positioning and poaching. Maybe as a withdrawn striker playing behind the guys up top but I really think he is at his best playing out wide in the MF (which he does for his club side).

As for Clark, I am no believer in him. Jermaine Jones should be our answer there next to Bradley, he could play for the US as soon as the game against Mexico in Azteca assuming his FIFA paperwork goes through without delay. Clark is a good late game sub or replacement for injury but not a guy we count on every game.

I am hoping Bradley keeps that defensive backline intact for awhile. DeMerit has earned his playing time as has Spector and Bocanegra played well at left back(although Bocanegras distribution is shockingly poor).

No matter the outcome of the final, the US finally found a heart. Hopefully that carries over to the other "fringe" players during the Gold Cup.

 

[CaptTurbo]

Davies really gives me hope for our forwards I think he will be excellent.

The unsung hero today was Spector they continually went to his side and was 1 on 1 and he shut it down every time.

 

[Stout]

Dempsey has proven not to be a really effective as a 90 minute striker for the US. He is not a back to goal type of player nor does he have great speed...he is best in space where he gets the chance to use his skills not trying to fight through centerbacks and most of his better goal scoring chances are as a result of his positioning and poaching. Maybe as a withdrawn striker playing behind the guys up top but I really think he is at his best playing out wide in the MF (which he does for his club side).

As for Clark, I am no believer in him. Jermaine Jones should be our answer there next to Bradley, he could play for the US as soon as the game against Mexico in Azteca assuming his FIFA paperwork goes through without delay. Clark is a good late game sub or replacement for injury but not a guy we count on every game.

I am hoping Bradley keeps that defensive backline intact for awhile. DeMerit has earned his playing time as has Spector and Bocanegra played well at left back(although Bocanegras distribution is shockingly poor).

No matter the outcome of the final, the US finally found a heart. Hopefully that carries over to the other "fringe" players during the Gold Cup.

You make good points on Dempsey and have convinced me he should not start at all. Keep him as an offensive sub, and I think he'd be just fine.

I really don't know Jones, but is he an offensive or defensive midfielder. I hope he's the latter, a holding midfielder but with the talent to push up a bit when needed. We MUST have our modern-day Reyna. I think that, while Bradley CAN play the midfield, he's a better offensive midfielder, stepping up to strike the ball.

DeMerit and Spector really stood out and played incredibly. Bocanegra was more than solid in defense, and I can forgive his distribution problems because that's not his MO and he had been out injured. I think we've found our defensive back four, and Bradley would be an idjit not to stick with them. Onyewu is now a rock in defense, and I wish he'd go back to my Newcastle United.

 

[Zeno]

I really don't know Jones, but is he an offensive or defensive midfielder. I hope he's the latter, a holding midfielder but with the talent to push up a bit when needed. We MUST have our modern-day Reyna. I think that, while Bradley CAN play the midfield, he's a better offensive midfielder, stepping up to strike the ball.

I honestly haven't watched much Bundesliga play so I haven't seen Jones play but from everything I've read(and been told) he is a tough, talented defensive midfielder.

 

[Stout]

I honestly haven't watched much Bundesliga play so I haven't seen Jones play but from everything I've read(and been told) he is a tough, talented defensive midfielder.

Perfect! If he's as good as you say, he should make a dynamite duo with Bradley. Get Dempsey out of the midfield and put in Feilhaber, and with Donovan on the opposite side, Altidore up top, and a solid defense and keeper, we're not looking too bad. Is there any reason Jones couldn't start playing in the next few qualifying matches?

 

[Zeno]

Perfect! If he's as good as you say, he should make a dynamite duo with Bradley. Get Dempsey out of the midfield and put in Feilhaber, and with Donovan on the opposite side, Altidore up top, and a solid defense and keeper, we're not looking too bad. Is there any reason Jones couldn't start playing in the next few qualifying matches?

He may be eligible for the game in Mexico City...at the latest he should be available for the 2 WCQs in September.

Here is his Wiki Page... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jermaine_Jones

Here is his personal page(its in German though)... http://www.jermaine-jones.de/

 

[Milgod]

I've never been convinced by Feilhaber. I would much prefer to see Dempsey play, but in a more forward role. He isn't an out and out striker, but surely that would make a good combination with Altidore.
Dempsey and Donovan switching flanks recently has worked pretty well.

 

[Stout]

I've never been convinced by Feilhaber. I would much prefer to see Dempsey play, but in a more forward role. He isn't an out and out striker, but surely that would make a good combination with Altidore.
Dempsey and Donovan switching flanks recently has worked pretty well.

Actually, Dempsey has had half of his goals only once pushed forward after a substitution this tourney. His first goal was when Feilhaber was put INTO the game in midfield and Dempsey was pushed to the forward position. Dempsey should never, ever see the field in the midfield, in my opinion. He has NO defensive acumen at all and leaves the midfield wide open on his side. I mean, he's an attacking flanker, so I don't expect him to be a world-beater on defense, but he brings NOTHING in that capacity. It hurts us too much, especially given our other defensive midfield woes.

 

[Zeno]

Ok well forget about Jones for the Mexico game. He has a hairline leg fracture.

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_...nes-sidelined-with-hairline-leg-fracture.html

 

[azsouthendzone]

I wish we had announcers like this....this gives me chills:

 

[Milgod]

Actually, Dempsey has had half of his goals only once pushed forward after a substitution this tourney. His first goal was when Feilhaber was put INTO the game in midfield and Dempsey was pushed to the forward position. Dempsey should never, ever see the field in the midfield, in my opinion. He has NO defensive acumen at all and leaves the midfield wide open on his side. I mean, he's an attacking flanker, so I don't expect him to be a world-beater on defense, but he brings NOTHING in that capacity. It hurts us too much, especially given our other defensive midfield woes.

So pretty much what I said then about Dempsey (we'll disagree about Feilhaber for the moment - hoping he proves me wrong). I would like to see Dempsey and Donovan be allowed a bit more freedom. Dempsey is great when running at defenders and Donovan has proven he can control the play when allowed to play his own game.

 

[CardEd]

On Michael Bradley's absence for the final and who will replace him:
“We've thought about it and we have a few candidates. I think if you look at what has taken place in this tournament, the lead candidate is Benny Feilhaber. When Ricardo [Clark] got red carded against Italy, Benny played in the middle with Michael. If you go back to the second half of our qualifier in Chicago, Benny and Ricardo played to together so I think that there is a good understanding there. As always you wait until the end and size up everything before making the final decision.”
----------------------------------------------------

Look for Feilhaber to replace Bradley in the final

 

[Wildcat05]

Look for Feilhaber to replace Bradley in the final

I'm fine with that. I, for one, and a Feilhaber fan. Even though he's seen limited time, what I've seen from him has been promising. He's calm under pressure and isn't afraid to take a rip from distance. Remember, it was a turnover by Bradley and failure to get back and defend that led to one of Italy's goal. I'm still a Bradley fan, but I think Feilhaber will take over nicely.

 

[CardEd]

Any one know if the Champion of the Confederations Cup gets an automatic bid to the World Cup?

Just wondering with a win tomorrow, would we clinch a berth for the WC 2010