US vs Latvia

[CaptTurbo]

Good - We got a lot of practice on offense. We had the ball 90% of the match. We won.

Bad - If we play like you say Zeno, and I agree we should, good defense with strikes on offense when the chances arise we had better convert. We had 12-15 high percentage scoring oppurtunities against a very bad team and got only 1 goal.

The Czech republics bench is much better than Lativia's starting lineup. If we only pick our spots for offense there is a very good chance we wont score a single goal unless we can start taking advantage of the scoring chances.

 

[Stout]

Good - We got a lot of practice on offense. We had the ball 90% of the match. We won.

Bad - If we play like you say Zeno, and I agree we should, good defense with strikes on offense when the chances arise we had better convert. We had 12-15 high percentage scoring oppurtunities against a very bad team and got only 1 goal.

The Czech republics bench is much better than Lativia's starting lineup. If we only pick our spots for offense there is a very good chance we wont score a single goal unless we can start taking advantage of the scoring chances.

Bingo. We don't have the necessary SKILL to play the layoff counterstrike strategy. We have to attack, attack, attack. Sneak Cherundelo up. Start Johnson. Targed McBride early and often. Play to our skills. On defense, play as tough as nails. Pope doesn't have his old speed. Onyewu is a big dude. Rough up opposing strikers. Make them be afraid to come into the box. Give up a few fouls, but not the big ones.

 

[Zeno]

Good - We got a lot of practice on offense. We had the ball 90% of the match. We won.

Bad - If we play like you say Zeno, and I agree we should, good defense with strikes on offense when the chances arise we had better convert. We had 12-15 high percentage scoring oppurtunities against a very bad team and got only 1 goal.

The finishing was atrocious and they need to take better care of the ball, I saw some of the worst passing in the offensive end I've ever seen...again I only watched the second half but Johnson gave the ball away to the other team like Cobi Jones used to--about 2 out of every 3 times he touched the ball.

The US defense was very lucky that Latvia may have the worst finishers in the world. They should have had 3 goals had their players put the ball on frame.

I'm honestly discouraged. A few bright spots--Lewis & Cherundolo supporting the attack and hitting good crosses, McBride in the air, O'Brien's passing & dribbling and Donovans tenacity winning back possesion in the MF. Other than that I didn't see too much to get excited about--I wish Ghana was our first game as I think we match up best against them compared to Italy and the Czechs.

 

[Stout]

The finishing was atrocious and they need to take better care of the ball, I saw some of the worst passing in the offensive end I've ever seen...again I only watched the second half but Johnson gave the ball away to the other team like Cobi Jones used to--about 2 out of every 3 times he touched the ball.

The US defense was very lucky that Latvia may have the worst finishers in the world. They should have had 3 goals had their players put the ball on frame.

I'm honestly discouraged. A few bright spots--Lewis & Cherundolo supporting the attack and hitting good crosses, McBride in the air, O'Brien's passing & dribbling and Donovans tenacity winning back possesion in the MF. Other than that I didn't see too much to get excited about--I wish Ghana was our first game as I think we match up best against them compared to Italy and the Czechs.

I never thought I'd tell someone else they're being reactionary (being a reactionary myself) but you're overreacting. We made Latvia our ******* in the first half, though I agree our finishing left a lot to be desired. In the second half we simply let up, which I agree we cannot let happen. The classic game where we were too good, so we slacked off. Trust me, if you didn't see the first half, you have no perspective for this game.

 

[Zeno]

Trust me, if you didn't see the first half, you have no perspective for this game.

Ok, I will take your word for it and very much hope thats the case. The second half just wasn't pretty.

I hope they can bring it together even more so while training in Hamburg. They need to be healthy and playing team soccer come June 12th(my day off so I won't miss a second of that match).

 

[CaptTurbo]

Yeah Z 1st half was a slaughter.

Think the boys were spent in the 2nd. Good workout for the cup.

 

[BigDavis75]

That match sucked. Cherundelo and O'Brien were the only bright spots. If we can't destroy teams like this, how do we expect to even challange the Czechs?

 

[Stout]

That match sucked. Cherundelo and O'Brien were the only bright spots. If we can't destroy teams like this, how do we expect to even challange the Czechs?

Did you even WATCH the 1st half? We destroyed them in almost every aspect of the match, but could not finish. Yes, we lack finishing ability, and that will be our achilles heel. Still, to say the match simply sucked is incredibly naive.

 

[BigDavis75]

Did you even WATCH the 1st half? We destroyed them in almost every aspect of the match, but could not finish. Yes, we lack finishing ability, and that will be our achilles heel. Still, to say the match simply sucked is incredibly naive.

I will repeat, the match sucked. We only scored once against a bottom-feeding team such as Latvia and you give props to the team for playign well in the first half. That's crap. We have to expect to crush these teams, if we play that same game against any of our group opponents we will get killed, so what is there to be proud of after that match?

 

[Stout]

I will repeat, the match sucked. We only scored once against a bottom-feeding team such as Latvia and you give props to the team for playign well in the first half. That's crap. We have to expect to crush these teams, if we play that same game against any of our group opponents we will get killed, so what is there to be proud of after that match?

Okay. Let's pack it in, US. We don't have a chance. Just move along. Hell, we won't even be able to beat out Ghana for 3rd in the group.

I'm trying to be a little positive here. A break or two goes our way in the 1st half, we're winning 3-0 against Latvia, which would have been about right. The breaks didn't. It's soccer, and the breaks don't always go your way. You're right about the 2nd half; it was crap. We let up because Latvia sucked. We shouldn't have done that, and I think it will teach us a good lesson.

Relax. I think we'll do well. We started off very rusty, and now we look far less rusty. I have hope going into the World Cup.

 

[BigDavis75]

Okay. Let's pack it in, US. We don't have a chance. Just move along. Hell, we won't even be able to beat out Ghana for 3rd in the group.

I'm trying to be a little positive here. A break or two goes our way in the 1st half, we're winning 3-0 against Latvia, which would have been about right. The breaks didn't. It's soccer, and the breaks don't always go your way. You're right about the 2nd half; it was crap. We let up because Latvia sucked. We shouldn't have done that, and I think it will teach us a good lesson.

Relax. I think we'll do well. We started off very rusty, and now we look far less rusty. I have hope going into the World Cup.

I'm trying to be realistic, maybe a bit critical, but to not crush a team like Latvia and play like we did in the second really troubles me. If Latvia had decent strikers they would have won the game.