The Official US Soccer thread

[Chaplin]

Impressive goal by us, but outside of that, we're getting dominated. We can't hold the ball at all. Did we learn nothing from playing against Spain and Brazil?

 

[Zeno]

Ching has done NOTHING aside from drawing one foul way outside of a dangerous area. If you aren't going to bring in Altidore how about adding another MF and bringing in Feilhaber?

Clark has been mostly invisible too but he has more positive plays than Ching.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Ching is a liability. It sounds to me that they are not confident in Altidores fitness.

I think he and Felhaber will be in with about 30 min to go.

 

[Zeno]

Well I had the score wrong but...

dives & crying from Mexico CHECK
classless Mexican fans CHECK

at least some things are easy calls.

Brian Ching should never start again for the US National team. I have no problem with him coming off the bench when we have a late lead and they want a forward who can hold the ball and track back on defense but he is ZERO threat to score against a quality opponent.

 

[Chaplin]

The score doesn't reflect it, but we were definitely killed by Mexico today. That first goal was definitely a fluke. I expected a loss, but still, it stings when you know we could be so much better with different preparation and player choices on the field.

 

[Zeno]

The score doesn't reflect it, but we were definitely killed by Mexico today. That first goal was definitely a fluke. I expected a loss, but still, it stings when you know we could be so much better with different preparation and player choices on the field.

Well you call it killed I call it a one goal loss. They had a handful of quality chances and scored twice, we had 1 quality chance and scored. Its not like Mexico filled up the nets or had their way with us (like the Gold Cup final). By your definition we were killed by Spain too since they had the better of the play even though we won 2-0.

The only player choice I really question is Ching starting over Altidore. I'd even rather have Dempsey up top with Davies and start Feilhaber in the MF if Altidore wasn't fit enough. Cherundolo & ***** played well...Bocanegra did not. Bradley & Clark were mostly invisible and that was what doomed us, the center of the MF could not maintain possesion and their first pass seemed to go to Mexico more often than not.

We are still better than them in the US and on a neutral field...they are just simply dominant in Azteca with only 1 WCQ loss in its history.

 

[Chaplin]

We are still better than them in the US and on a neutral field...they are just simply dominant in Azteca with only 1 WCQ loss in its history.

Yeah, and I said that before. Doesn't take away from the fact that they dominated us. Spain dominated us too as far as possession goes, but we got some goals, and you can't discount a little luck. Mexico had all the possession in today's game too, I'm surprised they only scored twice. They also were thugs and should have had at least a couple yellows in the 2nd half, if not at least one red.

At our best, we definitely are better than the current Mexico squad, but today in that stadium, Mexico looked like the better team. Even though we all know that pound-for-pound, they are not.

 

[azsouthendzone]

The score doesn't reflect it, but we were definitely killed by Mexico today. That first goal was definitely a fluke. I expected a loss, but still, it stings when you know we could be so much better with different preparation and player choices on the field.

Preparation wasn't an option as this was not a FIFA window. It is what it is. Player selection was a joke as usual, and Bradley played not to lose, again, after gaining a lead. He still sucks.

 

[Zeno]

Preparation wasn't an option as this was not a FIFA window. It is what it is. Player selection was a joke as usual, and Bradley played not to lose, again, after gaining a lead. He still sucks.

I question Bradleys tactics but what about his play selection could have been different? The only issue I can see is Ching..other than that his other selections make sense, heck even his substitutes surprised me(in a good way), he made 3 offensive subs and 2 earlier than I can ever remember him making.

The team has a bit of a break now, time for guys like Altidore, Davies & Feilhaber to get match fit. Next WCQ isn't until Sept 5th.

Also next month the U20 WC, it could be a strong team for the US, they got a tough draw though...Germany, Cameroon & S. Korea. Altidore & Adu are both age eligible to play again, it'll be interesting to see if they actually get called in (I'm thinking definitely not with Altidore but maybe with Adu).

U17 WC is in October--they got an easier group. Spain, Arab Emirates & Malawi

 

[Dr. Jones]

Why do I always feel like we are weak in our Mid-Field play? People always seem to pass the ball all over the field on us.

Too many open runs. Too many open players in the box. Too much time given to these open players without anyone closing in on them. I also really hate the counter-strike offense we employ.

Should have finished in a tie. We always seem to play not to lose. I hate that.

Oh.... And the officiating was pretty horrific. IMO.

 

[Dr. Jones]

How do people get open against us either in the box or right above the box with like 7 to 9 yards of clear space around them in every direction??? Man that is frustrating!!

 

[Chaplin]

We really are bad at ball clearance and receiving passes. Seems like Landon is the only guy that can actually get a pass without it bouncing off of him for 5 yards.

One another note, I was watching the Spanish language feed and the first play I noticed was #7 from Mexico manhandling Davies when he was on the ground, maybe trying to help him up, maybe not. Then that same player looked like he tried to tackle Onyewu 5 minutes later. Does anybody remember that sequence? Maybe it was nothing, but at the time, I couldn't believe that guy wasn't red carded, or at least given a yellow.

 

[Zeno]

We really are bad at ball clearance and receiving passes. Seems like Landon is the only guy that can actually get a pass without it bouncing off of him for 5 yards.

One another note, I was watching the Spanish language feed and the first play I noticed was #7 from Mexico manhandling Davies when he was on the ground, maybe trying to help him up, maybe not. Then that same player looked like he tried to tackle Onyewu 5 minutes later. Does anybody remember that sequence? Maybe it was nothing, but at the time, I couldn't believe that guy wasn't red carded, or at least given a yellow.

I've been saying it for awhile, while I really like Bocanegra overall his ball distribution is awful! His long balls always tend to go either 1) out of bounds or 2) to the other team.

As for first touch, Ching was again awful with this, which is one reason we could never maintain possesion on the attack, the minute he touched the ball it went right back to the opposing team or created a 50-50 ball Bradley or Clark had to fight for in the MF (a battle they lost more than won).

Did anyone notice Clint Dempsey today? Me either. Its a shame because he was huge during the last 3 games of the Confed Cup and has started out well for Fulham in their Europa League matches...I expected more but he was invisible.

Best player IMO was Onyewu and thats by a wide margin.

Oh and yeah the Mexican player that tried to pick up Davies by the head and the one who put his hands on Feilhaber's throat should have been tossed...not to mention Guardado should have received a yellow earlier as well but ultimately we didn't lose because of poor officiating.

 

[Zeno]

Landon Donovan has Swine Flu...ugh.

http://www.fannation.com/si_blogs/grant_wahl/posts/74041-landon-donovan-has-h1n1-flu-virus

 

[Stout]

I pin this one on Coach Bradley, our missing central midfield, and really shoddy defending in a few spots. Way to go, Bradley...come out with a great gameplan, snatch the lead...and totally pussify the team afterwards. Nothing like drawing back into a frickin' turtle shell like a scared little child wetting itself in front of an onrushing train. I just kept looking at the clock, trying to guess how soon they'd score. It was only a matter of time. After that, although Bradley tried to get us out of the funk he had created, we simply couldn't.

And, I've said before and I'll say it again, we need central midfield help DESPERATELY. If I see Ricardo 'I'm an offensive minded MORON' Clark race down the field as the defense attempts to distribute him the ball in the, you know, MIDFIELD, ONE MORE TIME, I'll explode! I mean, use your head, Clark! You can't go on a run until the ball is secure and, guess what, genius? THE DEFENSE KEEPS WANTING TO PASS YOU THE BALL!!! Bradley didn't have a good game either, but Clark was far worse.

Okay, a 2-1 loss away to Mexico is not a bad result. It is just disheartening to see our coach really choke after the Confed Cup we had.

 

[Zeno]

These are the problems as I saw it when it came to coach Bradley. 1) starting Ching (when Altidore/Davies worked so well together in the Confed Cup) and 2) bunkering down so early. We were seeing a huge hole in the MF because both central MF were playing what really amounted to advanced center backs, anytime we gained possession there was little in the way of a passing option in the center of the field unless Dempsey or Donovan pinched in or Ching dropped back, this led to leaving Bocanegra & Cherundolo vulnerable to Mexico’s speed on the flanks (esp Boca who was not very good) it also led to our struggles in maintaining possession and forced Davies to have to take on 3 defenders every time he received the ball (he had zero support).

It was also disappointing not to see the composure on the ball from our MF. Hopefully Jones replaces Clark and is a calming influence on the field and gives Michael Bradley the confidence to go forward knowing he has a partner he can count on more often to handle some of his defensive duties.

 

[Zeno]

Davies had 2 goals for his team in France. He came on as a second half sub and scored both goals for his team in a 3-2 loss. Good for him.

Howard was shelled today as Arsenal scored 6.

Altidore didn't play as he was held up over work permit issues.

 

[Chaplin]

I felt bad for Tim Howard, most of those goals were because the 4 defenders in front of him were TERRIBLE.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

Donovan might be headed to Paris St. Germain...

http://www.soccerbyives.net/soccer_...ovan-heading-to-paris-st-germain-on-loan.html

 

[Zeno]

Jozy with an assist on Hull's game winning and only goal today. That 30 minutes of play today should earn him a start in the next match.

 

[Zeno]

Game Saturday against El Salvador in Salt Lake City. It needs to be a statement game, the goal should be to win by 3 goals.

We are at home, the team will have had a solid week of practice and the only players missing will be Demerit(injury) and Onyewu (suspension)...will probably get Chad Marshall his first start in a meaningul US match (he deserves it too).

I will come unglued if Bradley starts Ching over Altidore this game.

 

[Zeno]

Well 2-1 win....Bornstein was awful, Bradley not very good but otherwise not bad. Could've/shouldv'e been 3 or 4-1, Altidore was robbed, Dempsey probably would have scored on that breakaway 9 out of 10 times and Torres' header would have been a goal without a great save by the keeper.

The US didn't play perfect but they deserved the win.

 

[Stout]

Well 2-1 win....Bornstein was awful, Bradley not very good but otherwise not bad. Could've/shouldv'e been 3 or 4-1, Altidore was robbed, Dempsey probably would have scored on that breakaway 9 out of 10 times and Torres' header would have been a goal without a great save by the keeper.

The US didn't play perfect but they deserved the win.

Dempsey proved both why he should never start and why he keeps getting chances. He missed a header that was labelled 'easier to make than miss' by the announcers, and he kicked that godawful shot right to the keeper. He also scored on a very nice header, however.

When he missed that first header, I thought here we go again! His problem is that he'll get hot for very short stretches, but he's so awful when he isn't hot that he is a major liability. The problem is, if he could track back and play decent defense when he wasn't hot, I'd have less problem with his cold streaks. Man, is Dempsey frustrating.

 

[Shzm13]

Watch out for Mexico

 

[Zeno]

Another win and the US now sits in first place followed by Mexico & then Honduras. Costa Rica is falling apart. 2 games left though and the US can still finish as low as fourth place if they fall apart in Honduras and home against Costa Rica.

The US didn't look good, played about as bad a first half as they have in a long time but thanks to Tim Howard's saves and Ricardo Clarks blast they got the 3 points.

Eventually Bradley is going to have to sit his son because he isn't looking sharp right now.