Really? Jozy with no service at all. Sasha subbed in on the WING when the team needed speed. And hey, hate to break it to you but Cameron was worse than Gonzo today and he was at fault on the equalizer. Put the blame right where it belongs: under the umlaut
I supported the squad called and the line-up but as I stated in the Forward Analysis thread, subbing all 3 by 66' is a mind-blowing decision. Johnson should have been kept on. Kljestan playing out wide when you have Davis who plays with OBG? The Edu sub should have never happened because he should have started. That was my only real problem with the line-up. Zusi was probably the only somewhat proper sub but that cancels itself out because it was the 3rd sub and gave us no options late on.. *Sigh*
I was on board with Edu for Williams all the way. EJ was the only one making things dangerous and pulling him seemed an error, although I guess shoring up the midfield for the tie was the idea. And honestly, would have worked if not for our Keystone cops moment in the back.
I liked the line-up before the game began...then we got early signs that a lot was wrong. Then it seemed like we might have a clue - Deuce scored a great goal. He almost had a second and that would've changed things entirely (obviously). But But But...the disorganization on several defensive plays was the writing on the wall. I didn't understand why JK used all three subs so early...zero game management...and the score was still 1-1. Lack of pace at so many positions against Honduras spells trouble with a capital "T" and that rhymes with "P" which stands for "Pool." 76 trombones are now playing the death march on the plane ride back to the States.
This is the first time I can remember not having a coherent opinion on what happened. Sure I can point to all the individual errors made and say this player wouldn't have done that. Maybe that sub should have been this person. The problem I'm having is that the entire team looked bad. I swear every ball sent out to the wing was mishandled or picked off. Passing was poor everywhere. At times the gap between our back line and our supposed "DM" more closely resembled the Grand Canyon than any useable shape. The countless idiotic mistakes. Why was everyone so tired? I can't place all the blame on Klinsmann here, there is some truth that not enough players played to their potential. Obviously part of his job is to get the most out of the players but that alone can't account for such a horrific performance all over the pitch.
Sasha would have been a good sub for one Williams or Jones because he is more offensive minded, but not out wide and not in that situation. Other than that I agree with everything you said.
Yeah, Sacha isn't a winger. I suppose the idea was for him to be more pinched in but unfortunately, he kept getting the ball on the touchline.
It's early in the hex and its still possoble for things to improve and gel. However, the scenarios I'm imagining involve a team slowly and eventually "getting" a system that takes time to implement, but that sort of assumes that there is something clear and coherent. Maybe there is and the viewing public simply isn't privy to the details. But it seems like kinsmann is all over the place. I was an optimistic supporter who felt jj deserved a chance but that's fading fast. Like bob or not, we seemed to have a clear identity. Sure we were frustrating, but and prone to falling behind, but we were buoyant in the attack. Jk has more talent to work with than bob. It's not so much losing in Honduras that bothers me, but the way we lost.
At least SOMEONE was on the touchline! I think you bring him in when you want to slow down the game. He was bought in at the wrong time for the wrong role in the wrong game.
I agree. I think he tried to step out of his 'comfort' zone with his 11 this game. He got ballsy... and it bit him on his ass. EJ was a good question mark, Gonzo not so much. Why Altidore? Gomez would have been better to start....Williams I understand...but Edu would have been better also. These hurt us IMO.
Starting a CB tandem that never played together was a risky move that back-fired. I wouldn't have done that. Other then that the line-up, and tactics looked good on paper. Problem was, everyone, especially the Germans were gassed in like the 5th minute. I know it's always an issue, with the travel, weather, etc., but I've never seen it so apparent before. We've had guys coming back from Europe all the time, and it was never like this. JK needs to re-think given this game the value of the Germans. This handstrung JK, as Williams, Jones and Chandler really needed to come off. And JK handstrung himself with no creators to turn to once we went down, of course we were out of subs anyway.
I'll agree to that...but if that's the case... I rather have torres. Sacha for me is OUT! Good bye... don't want to see you on a roster again for a WHILE....or ever. Altidore shouldn't have started this game.... only at home games where we man essentially 2 forwards, probably Gomez and Jozy. Gonzo is too 'fresh'... and shouldn't have started. BAD call by JK. Really bad.....
Playing Kljestan out wide would've understandable if they were having him cut inside. Instead he was being used as more of a touchline flanker. Weird sub. Altidore. He wasn't bad, but he's the sort player looked upon as a difference maker. The service wasn't great but it wasn't great for Dempsey either. 2 out of the 3 goals scored in the match were highlight worthy, classy tallies. He's become a more consistent all-around player, but the lack of end product is palpable. In that respect his decline started during the previous regime.
Clueless roster, clueless subs. If we don't beat CR, Klinsmann may have to go. Sacrifice the game in Mexico, and start panicking. I'm not interested in playing Canada every other month for the next five years.
I got the Kljestian sub but it was the wrong player. Needed someone to shore up possession in the midfield and play a bit of defense. Only Edu fit that bill.
True, who I do not think has progressed as a player since going to Scotland, at least hustled and did well. He was probably the most successful of the subs. And it surprises me to say that
Me too as I'm not an Edu fanboy. As a Davis fanboy and homer, I would have liked to have seen him come in as he would have certainly created a bit more width that we were desperately lacking. I think it would have been ideal for him.
Look I don't think the jozy start was really a factor. If I had to compile a list of reasons why we lost, jozy versus herc would be way at the end of that list after most other personnel choices, tactics, subs, flavor of Gatorade and team bus seating chart, selection of enya songs on jurgens spotify list...
I agree. The main criticisms I'd level at Klinsmann here would be not bringing enough potential attacking sparks to Honduras (even if he believes we don't have any) and screwing up one or two of the subs. From a broader standpoint, you might criticize Klinsmann for everything that has happened prior to this camp (not integrating a new centerback pairing early enough, not identifying enough attacking threats for this level, not developing a stable system where players understand their roles clearly), but I would still withhold judgment on that until we are a bit further into the Hex.
Is it me or does it seem like these guys don’t want to play for Klinsmann? Again, the midfield featured THREE (3) guys that prefer to play centrally as “holding” midfielders plus Eddie Johnson on the left… did it seem like the organization of these pieces was an abject disaster? Not trying to overreact to one game, but can we all please chill with the man-crushes on Gonzales & Chandler? Does anyone have any idea what we were “trying” to do out there?… i mean, beyond the general fog that everyone seemed to be in, did anyone detect any trace of a plan?
I'll add... Maybe it was just that we were gassed from the get go and "couldn't" do it, but what happened to what JK was preaching at Camp Cupcake.... If dispossessed... put on immediate high pressure... Win the ball back and get it wide... We played exactly the opposite.
I agree with this except for Gonzo, who I thought was better than Cameroen today. (Chandler is young. I think he can grow into a contributor.) I would say that this wasn't the time to go without a veteran presence on defense or to put a back line out that had never played together before. Your points 1, 2 and 4 are so astoundingly self evident that I'm shocked at the number of people who disagree...
I agree with a lot of what you write... but this I have to disagree on. Jozy did a lot of what Gomez does... but missed some things that are CRUCIAL what he does do. Too many times I'd see Gomez trap, turn his back to an opponent, and just spread the field with a run as he blocks the ball, and earns a foul, or opens the field as he attracts defenders with his ground dribble, turns, passes it to the middle and makes danger. Altidore didn't do that tongiht. This is how we have generated opportunities in the past through gomez. That was there tonight... and that's why we looked so 'flat footed'. We lacked someone who could open space up which mostly is gomez with his runs. Without him we lacked chances like we seen in the past that leaves room for passes or chances for guys like Bradley, Dempsey, FJ, or even Jones to finish. He stretches defenses, earns FK's in dangerous positions (he's good at this thanks to mexico)... and we didn't look the same without him. SHould have came in for me, in the 60th... at least!