I was screaming for EJ to be put in with 10 minutes left to try and steal a goal in extra time, but obviously Bruce did not hear my wisdom. I think in his mind he has a plan... I think his plan all along was to use EJ up top against Ghana. I do not think EJ's speed will actually be a factor against Ghana, but his willingness to take players on off the dribble will. I think if we can finally get the roommates, EJ and Deuce, on the field together we might see something special.
It was a massive blunder not to bring on EJ today. I was also screaming at the TV along with -- I suspect -- tens of thousands of others. Unless he is hurt he has to play.
If we have any designs on scoring, he needs to start. Let's not forget that a US player has yet to score in this tournament with 2 games of McBride up top.
I thought Brian should have been subbed for EJ when Italy's midfield used his face as an elbow rest. Anybody bleeding that much should not come back into a soccer game! I didn't think we looked focused or organized while we were running around while Brian was having cut bound together for 2 or 3 minutes. I thought it was nuts! I think Bruce really wanted to have a long ball/target man option, and Ching and EJ can't do that. They can't hold off the pressure the way Brian can. But, this WC, I think our opponents have known well this about Brian, and I haven't seen any but a few sucessful second balls played from him, since he is often getting double covered when we play the long ball to him. I think EJ will get in, and he is better in the run of play, but not so much a target forward. I think we need EJ to see at least 30 minutes. I also think his speed is more of an asset late in the game, when our opponent is gassed. I can see why you were yelling at the TV!
I really hope to see Eddie's name on the starting roster come thursday...nothing against McBride, I just think that Eddie is due for a breakout game.
Maybe! I wonder if Bruce wants to hide GAM as much as possible, giving Ghana little scouting opportunities? I dunno...this group is too strange. Teams change their game completely over night.
I love to hear him addressed as Grown @$$ Man, lol. I think he is due. He is just starting to develop. Being down here in Dallas at the beginning of his career stunted his development somewhat because he wasn't seeing game time and there were no reserve matches as there are now. My old coach, Armando Pelaez, was on the coaching staff then and would work with him one-on-one. He would tell me about him all the time when we talked so when he finally got to play regular minutes I was not surprised he was producing. I think GAM and Deuce are the future players that US Soccer is trying to find. They don't come from that usual 'Soccer Mom' mold. You have one guy from the projects and another guy from the trailer park. Both skillfull, yet athletic like the players in the other Big 3 sports here in the US.
I was also one screaming for EJ from the hour mark on. I really believe that if EJ had come on for McBride, we would have won the game. McBride was too tired to finish; he had one clear chance and mishit it well wide, it was obvious he was just too tired to square up and hit it well on frame. I understand we needed someone up top to hold the ball, especially down two men, but I think McBride blew 2 chances to score because of fatigue, and EJ's fresh legs would have finished one and we would have taken 3 points. Anyone else agree, or am I totally off base? Either way, I think he HAS to start on Thursday, and he has to take people on and run off McBride for us to win and go through.
I was thinking this as well... I think that EJ would have had trouble as a target man in a 4-3-1... plus McBride was needed for defensive (set piece) plays, as we had 8 field players at the end, two of which were Cherundolo and Beasley... not the tallest in the mix. I think EJ will start, and Ching should get some minutes as well. It'll be an interesting lineup... I hope that Lewis gets some time in midfield, and that JOB starts or gets some time as well. Maybe rest Convey?
He kind of HAS TO. I mean the name of the game on Thursday will be "score as much as possible." Mcbride up top by him self is not going to do it.
I think we need to give up playing a style that has us use a target man. This may be fine for playing in CONCACAF where we usually outsize our opponents, but in the World Cup it does not work. Playing long balls in the air gets you nowhere. I know McBride is good in the air, but he lacks tremendously in skill with the ball at his feet. If we are to beat Ghana we need to perhaps go with EJ and Ching for a considerable number of minutes as this game will be won on the ground and not in the air.
count me among those who think McBride does a lot of good things that don't get noticed... but also count me among those screaming for Grown-Ass in the last 15-10 minutes. i don't feel certain he'd have scored a goal, but he'd have run wild on that wide-open pitch and relieved a lot of pressure. i also concur that McBride's shank looked like at least 50% fatigue, and it probably played a role in the offside as well. i still don't know if i like EJ to start against Ghana, because the end of the game is where i think he really has a chance to blow by people.
McBride is a good soccer player with his feet. He is considerably better with his feet than Ching. He's kind of like Peter Crouch in that people pay so much attention to his air game (Crouch just because of height) that they miss that he can play with his feet as well.
I have seen McBride play numerous times over the years and I do not remember one time where I have seen him take a player on and create a goal with his feet. He is an aerial player who has been marked out of this World Cup so far. We will not score with him in the lineup on Thursday.
BMB needs a rest. Some long balls that would have been tracked down by EJ, BMB just couldn't get to. BMB just couldn't get past Nesta...not even close. We are playing a very fast team. BMB has no fast....only slow, slower and stop.
Taking a player on is the only way to be an effective soccer player with your feet? Hm. I could have sworn there was this thing called "passing."
I never saw Alan Shearer take anyone on either. Van Nistelrooy almost never does either. Most center forwards make their moves without the ball.
I've met Alan Shearer, Alan Shearer was a friend of mine. and Brian McBride is no Alan Shearer! - Lloyd Bentsen
Van Nistelrooy has taken players off the dribble plenty of times. Taking players on does not mean moves. Van Nistlerooy and Sheare were excellent at getting their own shot off in the final third. Brian McBride has never been capable of that. He can hold the ball for you plenty, but he will never be able to turn on a player and get a shot off. He is strictly aerial.
