US-Honduras, the attack (R)

[superdave]

Casey did his job well. We got two goals off of set pieces. A mixed bag.

[BoondockTodd]

I love Jozy but he needs to step his game up.

[dwsmith1972]

I think Jozy gave 90 minutes of effort and played well.

[FormerGermanGuy]

Dempsey was the best at getting into dangerous positions. He was also the worst at flubbing the chances he got once he was there.

Casey didn't do much more than take up space.

Altidore needs to show more. It's obvious there's potential there but we need performance.

[Grumpy in LA]

Altidore's touch was off at a few crucial times tonight. But I'm impressed with how hard he worked hassling Honduras. I can't count the number of times he forced them to hoof the ball out of the back rather than play with composure. And he did it for the full 90'. He might be rusty, but he's fit.

[Scotty]

Casey did his job well.

In the second half.

But in the first one he was a plank. Slow, had trouble controlling the ball and should have at least got that shot on target.

[FCmagic01]

Casey was nothing special, lazy feet.

Jozy tried, but you could tell he was fatigued. Good for him to play 2 90's before the Confed.

[Matrim55]

In the second half.

But in the first one he was a plank. Slow, had trouble controlling the ball and should have at least got that shot on target.
I think it was more the first 20 minutes, but I'd agree that overall he was better in the 2nd half.

BTW, watch the replay of the 2nd goal and watch Casey's run - he takes three guys with him. Exactly what you want from your center forward.

[DaMa]

Altidore's touch was off at a few crucial times tonight. But I'm impressed with how hard he worked hassling Honduras. I can't count the number of times he forced them to hoof the ball out of the back rather than play with composure. And he did it for the full 90'. He might be rusty, but he's fit.

It's funny. If Brian Ching had put in this kind of performance, people (notably some professional pundits) would be singing his praises as a hard working, foul winning cog of the offense. I too would have liked to see more from Jozy. He overhit a couple of his first touches. That being said, its nice to see that he has no intention to be one of those on/off switch forwards just because he has a wealth of talent. Some hard work out there on a night where he wasn't flashing the good stuff. First half was a throw away anyway with the Clark/Pablo pairing there just wasn't much offensive flow.

Casey I would say filled in admirably for Ching. In that he didn't really have a ton of impact on more than a couple of plays, but won some balls and played hard. Surprised he got the start over Davies, and wish he didn't.

Edit: also a bit troubling to see Jozy grab his foot a couple times.

[MrHobbles]

Benny really turned the game around when he came on. Or at least it seems that way. A goal in the run of play would of been nice, but a win is a win.

[SUDano]

Casey did his job well. We got two goals off of set pieces. A mixed bag.

Do we really call a Penalty Kick a set piece?

[The Soccerwiz]

As usual nothing special from a Bob Bradley attacking tactics, why do I miss the 2007 u20- world cup so much. I have forgotten what good us attacking football look like. Altidore pressured the Honduras Defense all game long which was surprising, but his first touch let him down too many times. Brain Ching needs to get well soon Casey is no replacement for him.

[cpwilson80]

Altidore busted his ass out there...he's made great strides already playing with his back to goal. He's doing those little things better, but still has the skill to play passes like that nice one-touch to Dempsey before his shot over the bar.

Casey seemed whatever. As I said elsewhere, he did not add nor detract much from the team.

Props to Bornstein for drawing a good foul as a makeshift striker late in the game.

Spector made a difference joining the attack from right back, and I like the combination of him and Dempsey.

Despite all this, though, one shot on goal from the run of play.

[ty webb]

As usual nothing special from a Bob Bradley attacking tactics, why do I miss the 2007 u20- world cup so much. I have forgotten what good us attacking football look like. Altidore pressured the Honduras Defense all game long which was surprising, but his first touch let him down too many times. Brain Ching needs to get well soon Casey is no replacement for him.

Exactly.

It is sad that our U-20's played MUCH better soccer than our full NT. Bob is clueless tactically.

[mutiger]

As a Rapids supporter I recognize an unintentional bias, but I think Conor Casey was just as productive as Jozy Altidore--if not more so. Still, that isn't saying much. Jozy, offensively, was a dissapointment. Heavy touch and not enough playmaking/creativity.

There were some positives to take from the match if you're Jozy-- the fact he went all 90 and worked hard the entire time. The two forwards did a nice job of pressuring the backline, and Honduras' center midfield at times.

I definitely see Casey as being an important part of our team going forward. He's big, powerful, and skilled-- and there is an aggression there that some of our other forwards seem to miss. Most importantly, he's scoring goals like crazy for Colorado right now. He blew his chance last night over the bar, but the guy has a knack for being at the right place at the right time. I would hate to see everyone give up on him.

It's incredible how much the team changed with the inclusion of Feilhaber in the second half. I'm a huge Pablo fan, but I agree his work with the national team from this point forward has to be as a utility player. Mastroeni is perfect as a second half sub when looking to shore up a lead-- he's versatile as a central midfield, and can also step into central defense if needed. But it's pointless and damaging to continue to start two destroyers in our most important positions. I don't even care who starts at center mid-- as long as it's one destroyer and one more creative attacking player. Destroyers-- Bradley, Edu, Clark, Mastro.... Creative attackers-- Benny, Freddy, Torres, Sacha (I'll even throw Landon in here-- I always wished he would work at that spot.)

[Dr.Phil]

Altidore worked hard but needs a lot more chances on goal

[Dr.Phil]

Do we really call a Penalty Kick a set piece?

Fine. Two goals off dead balls

[Scotty]

I definitely see Casey as being an important part of our team going forward. He's big, powerful, and skilled

I do not see Casey as a skillful forward. Not at the international level anyway.

He mis-controlled the ball on several occasions last night when his poor first touch gave it away, and he was often dispossessed on his runs with the ball at his feet.

[mutiger]

I do not see Casey as a skillful forward. Not at the international level anyway.

He mis-controlled the ball on several occasions last night when his poor first touch gave it away, and he was often dispossessed on his runs with the ball at his feet.

I disagree. He did have a couple poor first touches yesterday (especially early in the match) but when he was dispossessed going down the touch line, it was usually against two defenders and they would simply knock it out for a USA throw in.

I'm not saying he's Ibrahimovic (sp?) out there-- but compared to other American forwards, his skill set isn't that shabby. And then you throw in his size, pretty good vision, and (considerable) finishing skills. I'm just saying there are many players in the pool who receive many, many looks from the coaches--even when we at home are scratching our heads--and I think Conor Casey deserves to get some of those as well.

[dwsmith1972]

Altidore's touch was off at a few crucial times tonight. But I'm impressed with how hard he worked hassling Honduras. I can't count the number of times he forced them to hoof the ball out of the back rather than play with composure. And he did it for the full 90'. He might be rusty, but he's fit.

That was my impression as well.