US vs. Egypt the attack (R)

[superdave]

They looked pretty good, didn't they? Davies' speed helped Landon.

[Via_Chicago]

4-4-2 made the difference.

[Fusion Logix]

4-4-2 made the difference.

100% Agree.

[MattZ1318]

We needed goals, and we got goals.

Should of been 5 to 0 with Landy's failure on the one on one and the handball...But who cares. We're advancing!!!!

[regulator]

4-4-2 made the difference.

this.

/end thread

[jamtime]

We had the advantage of a very tired Egypt

[Arid_Torpor]

this.

/end thread

Almost. 4-4-2 certainly made the difference. This was the best attack I've seen all year (including T&T in Nashville). However, there's something else we learned: we can play 4-4-2 without depending on Ching to play as the target forward. Now that we know Alti-Davies and Alti-Demps can have success, it gives much more tactical flexibility.

[cpwilson80]

We had the advantage of a very tired Egypt

Which team had players who played half of a tournament a man down?

[IKickAndIm50]

I think our main advantage was NO RED lol seriously, i do. Without the reds in our other matches WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD"VE HAPPENED

USA USA USA USA USA USA USA

[TrueCrew]

Having two forwards is a huge help to us.

Donovan was the best of the bunch, despite bungling the early chance.

Really, we could have easily had three more: LD non shot, Davies' non pass, and Altidore's shot/handball.

Davies added some bite, hustle, and danger with his speed.

I thought Dempsey was generally poor until the goal.

Altidore was OK, but unspectacular. His touch must improve.

[russ]

We had one.

Which was nice.

:)

[cpwilson80]

Almost. 4-4-2 certainly made the difference. This was the best attack I've seen all year (including T&T in Nashville). However, there's something else we learned: we can play 4-4-2 without depending on Ching to play as the target forward. Now that we know Alti-Davies and Alti-Demps can have success, it gives much more tactical flexibility.

Excellent point. The attacks came from our willingness to play the ball in to space as either a:

1) floated ball that switched fields (Dempsey's goal, Donovan's solo run started by Dempsey, Davies' shot the keeper saved)

2) a through ball on the ground (Dempsey to Bradley, Bradley and Donovan on the second goal, the build-up to Altidore's shot)

Look how poorly matched Casey looks for this type of attack. On the plus side, though, look how well Feilhaber, Adu, Torres, Dempsey, Davies, Donovan, and Altidore look for this type of attack.

Also, it's worth noting that Egypt showed TONS of the ball in midfield, and we initiated many a counter-attack through their carelessness.

[IKickAndIm50]

We bottled a whole bunch of chances lads.... again and again we were getting into final third and stuffing it..... BUT at least we KEPT ON MAKING MORE CHANCES, til finally 3 went in somehow

[The Soccerwiz]

It was a good day for the guys, Altidore was unlucky not to get a goal, Davies speeds really put alot of pressure on the very tired Egyptian's defense, and Donovan was just on different level today, he wsa unstopable. Great day for US soccer in general.

[jamtime]

Which team had players who played half of a tournament a man down?

Physical fitness is a strongpoint for US soccer.

[Grumpy in LA]

Physical fitness is a strongpoint for US soccer. So is not staying up late and getting robbed by hookers.

But maybe today's result suggests that physical fitness is important. Just sayin'.

[SixSeven]

Davies added some bite, hustle, and danger with his speed.



I agree that Davies made a difference for us today. I think that with the negative momentum of the previous games, somebody needed to get a goal, any-which-way, to get the team moving ahead again.

The Davies goal was the ultimate Bradley style coaching goal too, I thought. Meaning that Davie was centering the ball, and the goalie, who had just had his head accidentally hit by his own defender, had it bounce off his face and into the goal, from close distance. Not an attractive looking goal...but we really needed it to build off of.

What I was excited about was afterwards. Brazil had made it 3-0, so suddenly there was something to play for. We put them under lots of pressure then, with misses by Landy and Altidore, I believe, before Bradley's goal came.

The Bradley goal was something I've been waiting for a long time. An attractive goal, in the run of play, with a passing build up. Bradley brought it up, passed to Landy towards the wing...he held it...then made the return pass, and the defense was out of postion, so he had a somewhat unobstructed shot at the goal...created by the combination play.

Bradley detracters haven't givedn him enough credit for getting his team into this tournament to begin with. I think the only way you improve against top teams, is to play them frequently...to learn their techniques, and to counteract them.

The Specter goal was a technique goal, the pass to the far post being perfect, and Dempsey being smart enough to be where he needed to be. Again, the was attractive combination play...which is what I'm glad to be seeing, and hoping to see more of. For me, it was more fun to watch that goal, than it was to watch the similar play with Boca doing the diving header, where he could have had his head kicked off, in our recent qualifier game.

If coach Bradley is going to win more fans for himself and the USMNT, it will be because he gets more tactics into the game, more combination play, and has the players playing together in a more attractive way.

That would be great...because he and the team appear to be ontrack to qualify...but our bigger challenge is to try to be better/more attractive against the big boys.

Now...we'll get Spain...then probably South Africa in the 3rd place game?


(Unli

[gorilla]

Will be interesting to see how we do against a team with an organized midfield....

That said my favorite play was the handball...great step up and by Gooch, lay off to Clint, slotted through to Charlie who is exactly where he needs to be, great lay off to Altidore, finish cold have been better but it was great.

Davies also made a great run with Clint off the ball to help set up the Bradley goal. They created the space, Landon saw it, Bradley ran into it and slotted it...pure class.

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

Much more coherent, quicker ball and player movement, still some bad choices in front of goal.

[lmorin]

Putting Davies in the game with Altidore gave Donovan two people to work with up front. It was Davies per se, but the fact that a second player with skill (i.e., not Casey) was in the game, providing speed and width up front and getting the ball as an option from Donovan and Bradley.

Casey sucks. Anything positive he does is an accident. Clint needs more time as a forward; good coaching move to put him up front today.