Post-match: USA vs. Canada 6/3

No. But he WILL take a shot from distance if given some space. I think we need to find him space from 30 yards out as much as possible and tell him to have a go. Jones as well.

No. Torres is not Adu or even Johnson. Torres can handle the ball very well when crowed in tight spaces and can make a great pass out of tight spaces

As I knew. I guess it was just my nice way to say Bolivianfuego is being Bolivianfuego again. Jogo Bonito and all that you know.

Nope. What he has been, when at least playing (from what I saw when Manso was there) with Manso, your classic '10'. He was the 'link up' guy who was always looking to give the ball off to Manso.

His Job in pachuca was to be another holding midfielder, and bring the ball from the defense, pass it to the wingers, or do a incisive pass to Manso, their creative mid. Manso either took it in himself, shot it, or he woould be the guy setting up the forwards.

Torres.... was the defensive mid... but because of the more possession based way of play, he didnt need to be a destroyer for them (as we know, he isn't that style of player either. He's a good tackelr though).

True, but rarely he manages to score. 3 goals in 119 games for Pachuca. All 3 were mid- or long-distance shots, kept close to the ground. He's not the kind to score missiles aimed at the upper corners. Whenever he tries, he skies them.

Basically, he will try a long-range shot every other game, and score a goal in a whole season. Actually, it's been a couple of years since the last time he scored for Pachuca, no?

Then why do you think he should be going at defenses doing cuts and stepovers? It's not him.

I think you misunderstood my post. I was pointing out taht Torres was playing way too out of out of his comfort zone. When you play that high/wide, against a high pressing team, it's your job to make space for yourself, to earn fouls, make runs with the ball....so stuff happens.

That isn't torres though, and thats why I pointed that out. He played so well vs. Scotland because he had space... and he was pushed up high.

Take away his space with tight marking, and Torres will have problems. This is why he likes to work from a deeper space.... and bring the ball up to slot it wide to dangerous playerrs (like he does with Donovan or Dempsey in the past, turkey game for example), or played short and tight down the middle to the creator (Manso).

If you want to play him the most effective possible, you pair him with a defensive mid to cover him, and a offensive '10' player who can do the 'step overs' and create dangerous opportunities when running at defenses. That for me, would be dempsey.

He's not really a #10. You'd expect a lot more dribbling capabilities from a true #10. And a certain accuracy, too. I'd say he's more a #8. The guy who imposes rhythm. One could even call him a deep-lying playmaker, in the Xabi Alonso mold.

Yes, that is a good example.

Sounds to me you're saying he is an 8 and is being asked to attack too much. I think most have agreed they would like to see some combination of bradley, jones, and torres in CM. I think the problem is that JK wants more bite in the middle of the field, hence going with either edu, bradley, jones or bradley and jones with Dempsey coming back in a withdrawn way. Both methods achieve that bite...

I would like to see the Torres, Bradley, and Jones combo- but it may not fit what JK is trying to do.

Ideally, I'd love to see Bradley playing as a '10', with Torres slotting short, tight passes to him so he can create and shoot on goal himself. He has the tools for it... but I don't know yet if Bradley is up to play that role. Dempsey for sure is though....

Jones kind of can play this, but at times can be inconsistent at his creating from deep into 2/3rds of the field.

I truthfully, would like to see Dempsey playing more as a '10' creator, with a more true 'winger' playing on the right side.... Donovan maybe?

I'd push Johnson out left, Lichaj or at this point, Castillo out left, and see what happens. With enough fire power and people to play the ball to, so we don't get marked out of the game... Torres can shine.

But he lost his ability when canada and brasil were marking our guys so tight, not leaving much space for his slotting passes out to our wing players.

Ideally I just want to see 11 players playing together in harmony. That is the key. 11 players that work together to defend, attack and win.

Thats the way it is done in successful countries.

all the other crap is a waste of time.

Ultimately Torres is a superfluous player. He doesn't really add much, and is often more of a burden on the squad. At best he is our 5th best midfielder after Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley and Jones. He brings something however, but the ultimate question is whether his good outweighs his bad. I don't think it does, and I still haven't really seen him improve to where he should be.

With guys like Edu, Holden, Shea, Adu, Williams, Corona, and Zusi all clamoring for a chance, I really don't see Torres being on the actual 2014 WC squad. God forbid if Kljestan ever makes it onto and into a better team and league. JK likes Torres, but eventually JK will have to realize that Torres is a very limited player, and just not as good as other options.

I am a firm believer in simply putting your best 11 on the field, and I don't see Torres as our best 11. Right now he needs and deserves to be in the conversation, but this will change over the next two years.

Ok, let it go. Deep breaths. It's not like I'm saying Gatt should have replaced Parkhurst. Shouldn't have mentioned Parkhurst. Sheesh, are you Parkhurst's mom?

I stand by my point. Klinsman has had the opportunity to bring in and look at players who could be good wing midfielders for us: Beasley and Gatt. Yet, he's repeatedly played Williams and Torres rather than wings, he must favor playing with only one wing.

I stand by mine, he has seen DMB in camp for 5 friendlies and played ihim in 3. He saw Gatt in the U23s in 2 scrimmages v the senior January B team roster.

Clearly at this point Williams and Torres offer more.

It was a mystery to me as to why he brought in an injured Williams and did not invite DMB. I have not seen Gatt enough to comment. I am a little surprised as to why he did not bring in a few other players. It is a little weird that he seems to still be favoring the German (Williams) and Latino (Castillo) over players that could actually help us DMB, Lichaj. Certainly, something may be hidden from my view.

Yes, I did. Sorry.

Nothing hidden my friend, everything is on display, and you're right.

Not on the wing.

He is absolutely essential in several build up plays. Still counts. I'm one of those that consider him a linker through midfield, though he has occasionally played the killer final pass.

It's not Torres's fault he had no one in midfield to pass to. That's the fault of the formation. For the first 20 minutes Clint was too far upfield, and Bradley and Jones were deep. Hey, isolated. Then Clint wanted to get the ball, suddenly he's as far back as Michael Bradley. The formation was all over the place. Landon hugged the right, Bradley and Jones were too deep, and Clint was playing dmid at one point. None of that is Torres's fault. Again, not saying he had a great game. But to judge him as crap based on the game against Canada? Sorry, not buying it.

If Torres is a luxury player who else should be playing in midfield or on that left side?

We don't have anyone else. At least with Torres he helps us in possession, when the midfield is not a mess.

This is a key point, but way overstated. In central midfield, we have Bradley, Jones, Edu, Beckerman, Daniel Williams and maybe someday Stuart Holden. Torres doesn't have to play in center midfield unless his attributes are more valuable than a number of other guys who bring their own, though different strengths, to the party.

At left mid, I just don't think that Torres has the right attributes to be any good at that role. Our other options are weak, but guys who can play a wide role in Klinnsman's formation that I think are at least worth a look to see if they can do it better than Torres include Donovan, Dempsey, Gomez, Shea, Corona, Adu, Beasley, Fabian Johnson. It is true that JK may prefer Donovan, Dempsey and Johnson at other positions, but any of the others are at least, in my view, worth a look rather than settling for Torres at a position that he is not suited for.