We continue to make and get punished for amateurish errors: Davis giveaway in MF, Gonzo and Cameron don't clear, Gonzo giveaway in own box, Boyd doesn't hold or clear. And we create no SOG from run of play that I can remember. Rubbish.
shots on goal from run of play/goals in 2013: vs. Canada 4/0 @ Honduras 2/1 vs. Costa Rica 1/1 @ Mexico 0/0 vs. Belgium 0/0
JK's high line leaves too much space behind the back 4. Goodson, maybe Gonzalez, Cameron as an outside back, Davis, Evans, Klestjen, Altidore... they are not good enough. We are in trouble.
Pretty awful stuff. Didnt see too many positives. But the goal is to win the 2 qualifiers and get some points vs Jamaica, Belgium looked like an All Star team that was going at half speed.
I have no problem with scheduling these types of games but after nearly 2 years there's been no improvement at all. The style of play is the same, the mistakes are the same and the excuses are the same. Belgium is better then us but to get embarrassed like this again at home is not cutting it this close to three important games.
What I took away from this...THE ONLY things I took away were EJ's good performance playing on the left wing; Good crosses, good passing, took guys on...did what you want out of your wing forwards. BEas' played well too out of the back when coming up offensively, had some close moments on defense but always had good recovery. Holden too, was a much better player over Kljestan...literally in his first 5 seconds in the game. Holden needs to recover, Kljestan needs to be off from getting called up. Another MAYBE postiive....Jones played well...but didn't show much offensively. Neat, tidy, hard tackles...still meh... Negatives? Don't know what to say. Gonzo' is still too fresh. Rather have Besler and Cam' as our CBs..or even call back Boca.
So much for Landon having a fight on his hands to win back his position. Dear lord is Zusi a terrible option. No speed, terrible service. He hustled, I'll give him that, but I think we all know that even an out of form Donovan would have bested him at in this department as well. We desperately need LD. We also desperately need Cherundolo or Chandler. Cameron offers nothing going forward and looks out of position.
He touched the ball like twice and played 2 square balls. What exactly did you see that made him better? I'm honestly asking. I thought Kljestan gave the ball away too much, but its not like Stu had enough time or touches to be able to form an opinion like yours.
I'm really hoping Bradley and Johnson's (Fabian) absences were a large part of the reason we looked like crap. I know that won't make up for the brain farts by the backline, but I'm looking for anything.
You can't play a high line against a fast team with a CB pairing of Goodson and Gonzales. A friendly is a friendly and all that, but that's exactly the sort of thing that you'd like to think that JK and MV would see coming from a mile away. Hint: While they're nowhere near as good, there's another team we'll be facing that features a heck of a lot of speed in the attack. I'd like to think the lesson has been learned. But I've given up assuming that this coaching staff learns its lessons a long time ago already.
Men against boys. Pros against amateurs. There are a few good players. Dempsey. How many times did he get the ball withing 30 yds of the goal? Who is the creator on this team? Zusi? Davis? Holden? The game was beyond him. LD, that's who. This team has no quality against any decent international side unless it has Bradley, Johnson and LD on the field.
Simple. I see his potential building if he keeps things up. I rather play a 70percent Holden than a 100ercent Kljestan. That long slicing pass he had to I forget who on the wing...although a little off but his quick decision to do so shows me the kid can get back to what he was before...just is still rusty.
The dead weight needs to be cut. Goodson, Kljestan, Davis, Evans and EJ are not good enough. These five were badly exposed as not good enough to play against a good National Team. Evans is an average MLS player. I get he has versatility, but he isn't even a good MLS player. Goodson is old, slow, has an awful first touch and can't diagnose movement off of the ball. Kljestan was just invisible and he has been given so many chances. Kljestan and Torres are in the same category right now, IMO. They seem good on paper, but its evident they aren't good enough for the USMNT once they see the field. Davis is good on set pieces, but the rest of his game isn't good enough outside of MLS. EJ has done absolutely nothing since those two goals against Antigua and Barbuda. How long is he going to get a free pass? He scored two crucial goals against a bad team, but at some point he has to do something on the field. Otherwise, we need Donovan. Its obvious. We don't have anyone that can create goal scoring chances. JK wants to be stubborn and it will eventually cost him his job.
Whoa whoa whoa...EJ was one of our best players tonight. Not sure why you're grouping him in there. By the way, I generally hate EJ.
Hope meng'...that's all I am running on at this point! LOL Holden was too damn good before all this injury mess. I know it's blasphemy at this point...but both at 100 percent...I rate Holden better to Bradley now....compared to Holden then.
I'll give you the last one, but crossing and passing? Missing a wide open Boyd in front of goal? EJ is fast, makes decent runs and can dribble. Unfortunately, he has sub-par control, can't shoot from distance that I've ever seen, is not good in the air, and is a mediocre to bad crosser and passer.... I don't see how that helps us.