US vs Venezuala

[CaptTurbo]

1-0 so far end of 1st half. Good defensive effort. Our offense really scares me. I hope its just rust with playing with each other. Johnson just looks lazy on his runs. Ching scored but he had an open run and missed the goal.

Oghana(sp?) looks great on D.

 

[BigDavis75]

1-0 so far end of 1st half. Good defensive effort. Our offense really scares me. I hope its just rust with playing with each other. Johnson just looks lazy on his runs. Ching scored but he had an open run and missed the goal.

Oghana(sp?) looks great on D.

Onyewu, I've been pimping this guy for a while, I'll find my post(s) if I can.

What is with Arenas not playing Lewis but playing Olsen, oh yeah Olsen is his son I forgot.

 

[Zeno]

Onyewu, I've been pimping this guy for a while, I'll find my post(s) if I can.

What is with Arenas not playing Lewis but playing Olsen, oh yeah Olsen is his son I forgot.

Arena wants to get everyone some playing time which is why Howard started in goal, Conrad started and Donovan didn't start(among others). I think Lewis is a lock to start at least 2 of the 3 group games, he may sit against Czech Republic only because of the size of the Czech strikers.

I didn't watch the game and had to follow it on USSoccer.com...anyone in particular stand out?

 

[BigDavis75]

Arena wants to get everyone some playing time which is why Howard started in goal, Conrad started and Donovan didn't start(among others). I think Lewis is a lock to start at least 2 of the 3 group games, he may sit against Czech Republic only because of the size of the Czech strikers.

I didn't watch the game and had to follow it on USSoccer.com...anyone in particular stand out?

Albright looked really excellent and Cherundalo turned it on near the end of the game.

Olsen was.... well Olsen.

Dempsey played his regualer good game.

Convey played the best game I've ever seen him play. He is vastly improved from Reading, BTW they (I believe) were the fastest ever squad to qualify for the EPL from the Champions League. I can see Convey and Dempsey really pushing for a starting spot in that midfield.

My guess for the starters:

Strikers: EJ (although he has played lax of late) and McBride

MF: Donovan, Reyna, Beasley and O'Brien

I really like Dempsey though and if O'Brien or Reyna isn't 100% he or Convey could step in

Defense: Lewis (hopefully), Onyewu, Pope, and probably Bocanegra

GK: Keller

 

[Zeno]

Albright looked really excellent and Cherundalo turned it on near the end of the game.

Olsen was.... well Olsen.

Dempsey played his regualer good game.

Convey played the best game I've ever seen him play. He is vastly improved from Reading, BTW they (I believe) were the fastest ever squad to qualify for the EPL from the Champions League. I can see Convey and Dempsey really pushing for a starting spot in that midfield.

My guess for the starters:

Strikers: EJ (although he has played lax of late) and McBride

MF: Donovan, Reyna, Beasley and O'Brien

I really like Dempsey though and if O'Brien or Reyna isn't 100% he or Convey could step in

Defense: Lewis (hopefully), Onyewu, Pope, and probably Bocanegra

GK: Keller

I could see Bocanegra starting against the Czechs because of his size and strength in the air but I'd be shocked if Cherundolo doesn't start against Italy.

Reading some recent quotes from Arena, Wolff starts rather than Johnson(although I think Johnson will get playing time as a sub). Everything else I would guess you are dead on. My guess is O'Brien gets about 60 minutes and either Convey, Mastroeni or Dempsey replace him when he wears down(Mastroeni if we are playing with a lead--one of the other 2 if we are losing or tied).

 

[Zeno]

Next game against Latvia on Sunday. I look forward to that although I will only be able to watch the second half.

I'd like to see Reyna at least play as a second half sub--just to make sure he is fit.

 

[BigDavis75]

I could see Bocanegra starting against the Czechs because of his size and strength in the air but I'd be shocked if Cherundolo doesn't start against Italy.

Reading some recent quotes from Arena, Wolff starts rather than Johnson(although I think Johnson will get playing time as a sub). Everything else I would guess you are dead on. My guess is O'Brien gets about 60 minutes and either Convey, Mastroeni or Dempsey replace him when he wears down(Mastroeni if we are playing with a lead--one of the other 2 if we are losing or tied).

I just think Wolff is awful. I agree with you on O'Brien, but Reyna has turned into a defensive middy (watch him with Man. City) and Mastreoni plays pretty much the same position.

I really don't know what we are going to do to score. I would like to see McBride with Dempsey or Donovan (I know he is better as a MF, but we need goals). I think Dempsey is an extremely explosive player and is not being properly utilized so far. What do you think on our forwards?

 

[Zeno]

I just think Wolff is awful. I agree with you on O'Brien, but Reyna has turned into a defensive middy (watch him with Man. City) and Mastreoni plays pretty much the same position.

I really don't know what we are going to do to score. I would like to see McBride with Dempsey or Donovan (I know he is better as a MF, but we need goals). I think Dempsey is an extremely explosive player and is not being properly utilized so far. What do you think on our forwards?

I'm not a big Wolff fan either but Arena has been raving about him in their training camp. He has speed and plays good in spurts but he is way too inconsistent--nowhere near World class.

McBride doesn't have the skills or speed to beat anyone with the dribble but he is still very good in the air and as a target player.

Johnson is inconsistent as well and has problems staying healthy.

I'm not fan of Ching and would rather have had Twellman on the roster.

I'd rather have an extra MF play than Johnson, Ching or Wolff and let McBride operate alone up top. You might be able to do the 4-4-2 with Donovan as a withdrawn striker--playing more of a MF role anyway and be able to play with our best players on the field at the same time. (a MF of Reyna, Beasley, O'Brien and take your pick of Convey or Dempsey). Reyna was Arena's boy at Virginia and they remain very close he'll start for Arena and be the captain like it or not--until the inevitable injury happens.

I'd seriously consider taking a page from the Greeks from the last Euros and play stingy defense, apply intense pressure on the ball in midfield and make the most of restarts and counters. Its not the most entertaining soccer but if played properly its very effective. 2 Draws(Czech & Italy) and a win(Ghana) will send us through to the second round, which will probably end the WC run with a loss to Brazil.

 

[Stout]

I'm not a big Wolff fan either but Arena has been raving about him in their training camp. He has speed and plays good in spurts but he is way too inconsistent--nowhere near World class.

McBride doesn't have the skills or speed to beat anyone with the dribble but he is still very good in the air and as a target player.

Johnson is inconsistent as well and has problems staying healthy.

I'm not fan of Ching and would rather have had Twellman on the roster.

I'd rather have an extra MF play than Johnson, Ching or Wolff and let McBride operate alone up top. You might be able to do the 4-4-2 with Donovan as a withdrawn striker--playing more of a MF role anyway and be able to play with our best players on the field at the same time. (a MF of Reyna, Beasley, O'Brien and take your pick of Convey or Dempsey). Reyna was Arena's boy at Virginia and they remain very close he'll start for Arena and be the captain like it or not--until the inevitable injury happens.

I'd seriously consider taking a page from the Greeks from the last Euros and play stingy defense, apply intense pressure on the ball in midfield and make the most of restarts and counters. Its not the most entertaining soccer but if played properly its very effective. 2 Draws(Czech & Italy) and a win(Ghana) will send us through to the second round, which will probably end the WC run with a loss to Brazil.

That's the exact strategy that will get us an early exit. If we go in and play soft, we will lose. Period. Personnel, schmersonal. You HAVE to have an alignment that poses enough of a scoring threat, or these potent world powers will simply overwhelm our defense. Greece is certainly the exception, not the rule. And oh, where was that tourney played? Mmm hmm.

 

[Stout]

I just think Wolff is awful. I agree with you on O'Brien, but Reyna has turned into a defensive middy (watch him with Man. City) and Mastreoni plays pretty much the same position.

I really don't know what we are going to do to score. I would like to see McBride with Dempsey or Donovan (I know he is better as a MF, but we need goals). I think Dempsey is an extremely explosive player and is not being properly utilized so far. What do you think on our forwards?

Yeah, he was pretty explosive before his big knee injury, but hasn't recaptured it yet.

 

[Zeno]

That's the exact strategy that will get us an early exit. If we go in and play soft, we will lose. Period. Personnel, schmersonal. You HAVE to have an alignment that poses enough of a scoring threat, or these potent world powers will simply overwhelm our defense. Greece is certainly the exception, not the rule. And oh, where was that tourney played? Mmm hmm.

I completely disagree--especially if you think playing high pressure in the midfield and a stout defense is "soft". You have to play to your teams strengths which in the US is Goalkeeping, Defense and Midfielders...not Strikers. The US has to put their best 11 on the field and if that means only 1 striker and 5 MFs so be it. I'd much rather have Dempsey, Convey or Mastroeni on the field than Wolff, Johnson or Ching. Most of the scoring will come from the MF anyway.

That Tourney was played in Portugal, they(Greece) beat the host team in the final...whats your point there?

 

[Stout]

I completely disagree--especially if you think playing high pressure in the midfield and a stout defense is "soft". You have to play to your teams strengths which in the US is Goalkeeping, Defense and Midfielders...not Strikers. The US has to put their best 11 on the field and if that means only 1 striker and 5 MFs so be it. I'd much rather have Dempsey, Convey or Mastroeni on the field than Wolff, Johnson or Ching. Most of the scoring will come from the MF anyway.

That Tourney was played in Portugal, they(Greece) beat the host team in the final...whats your point there?

Oh, I thought it was played in Greece. Damn it, SOMETHING soccer related was played in Greece that year, wasn't it? Or am I just getting old? Lol

Well, the problem with the philosophy you're describing is this. Technically, yes, it could be a viable strategy. IF we would keep up a high-pressure midfield for a full 90 minutes, then fine. The problem is, we would not even come close to that. As soon as Italy and the Czech Republic started to apply heavy pressure to our defense (and they would, without question) our midfield would be forced into a more holding and defensive posture. We would have to. From there, it's a short step to the bunker defense, and you know how I feel about that. I feel that if we don't try to step onto the field and at least tell ourselves we have the confidence and ability to go out and score on both of them, we won't do it. We have to line up to attack and defend, not attack and kinda wait around to counterattack. We can't go into this thing halfway timid, or we're going to get rocked, plain and simple.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Have to go with Zeno on this one, you have to play your best players, and we can get excellent counters with our mids, with both Lando and Beasley excellent at it. If Casey does his best Friedel 2002 impression, we can get out of our group.

 

[Zeno]

Even though I think the US should go with 5 MFs, I know they won't I can't think of any Arena team that played that way.

It might be more likely Donovan moves up to striker with McBride...although I do believe in that role he will be a little more withdrawn and play like a MF. Convey and Dempsey's play might make that decision easy for Arena.

You have to remember Lewis and Cherundolo provide pretty good crosses and work well on overlaps. They will be a part of the attack too. Onyewu and Pope will likely come up to be targets on set pieces near the opponents goal as well. Just because a player lines up in the back 4 doesn't mean they can't contribute on the attack.

It will be interesting tonight to see what comes out to play versus Latvia. Reyna and O'Brien will sit unfortunately--both need to be match fit and this is the last tune-up. If Reyna and O'Brien aren't ready for the first game I have no idea what the lineup would look like.

 

[Stout]

I'm loving what I'm seeing out of Eddie Johnson tonight, and I think Arena plans on using him as the 2nd striker...which is brilliant. Before his injury, Johnson was dynamite, and had to regain form and confidence after the injury. He did not play well on Friday night, and was called out for it by Coach Arena, on ESPN no less. He certainly heeded the advice to be more aggressive. I like pairing him forward with McBride. Then you have Ching, who can play in the air and spell McBride if necessary, and Wolff to step in for Johnson if necessary. Cherundelo (sp?) is really turning it on, as is O'Brien. If Reyna is healthy and our defense holds up, and we keep up the form from the last two games, we have a true shot. Thankfully, it looks like Friday was pure rust.

 

[Zeno]

I'm loving what I'm seeing out of Eddie Johnson tonight, and I think Arena plans on using him as the 2nd striker...which is brilliant. Before his injury, Johnson was dynamite, and had to regain form and confidence after the injury. He did not play well on Friday night, and was called out for it by Coach Arena, on ESPN no less. He certainly heeded the advice to be more aggressive. I like pairing him forward with McBride. Then you have Ching, who can play in the air and spell McBride if necessary, and Wolff to step in for Johnson if necessary. Cherundelo (sp?) is really turning it on, as is O'Brien. If Reyna is healthy and our defense holds up, and we keep up the form from the last two games, we have a true shot. Thankfully, it looks like Friday was pure rust.

I only saw the second half but Eddie Johnson was the king of giveaways, not impressive at all.

Beasley looked ordinary. Pope was solid and Cherundulo is awesome his crosses are right on and he plays very smart defense.

O'Brien is still my favorite player and his health and fitness is key to how well the US does--even more so than Reyna.

 

[Stout]

I only saw the second half but Eddie Johnson was the king of giveaways, not impressive at all.

Beasley looked ordinary. Pope was solid and Cherundulo is awesome his crosses are right on and he plays very smart defense.

O'Brien is still my favorite player and his health and fitness is key to how well the US does--even more so than Reyna.

Well, the whole team let up in the 2nd half, and IMO played like caca-poopoo. Johnson was asked to be more aggressive, and even to get more fouls and offsides. He played very aggressive tonight and had some good looks, including a smoking header. I like the kid, and he'll only get better. He's probably going to start.

Beasley did look ordinary, but as was pointed out by the announcer, he was trying to push inside to open up the outside for Cherundelo. I don't fully buy that...I agree with you.

Pope showed nothing because he wasn't tested. He's going to basically be serviceable and little else. He's past his prime but he has good instincts.

Cherundelo is indeed awesome. I think O'Brien is a big key, but we need Reyna far, far more than O'Brien at this point.