US-Egypt, the midfield (R)

[superdave]

They scored two goals (as of this writing) and controlled the midfield. The wings could have defended more.

[FormerGermanGuy]

Davies was a revelation. Not a world-beater but he definitely should be in the mix.

Donovan showed some real attacking fire for the first time in awhile.

I hadn't seen the previous 2 matches but now I see the complaints people have about Dempsey. Competent in the attack but lazy tracking back. A little unmotivated, perhaps?

Overall a great job.

[IndividualEleven]

Solid job from the central midfield.

Think about team hasn't given up a goal with Clark on the field. It's not that Clark is such a pivatol player put they're playing with defensive midfielder.

Central midfield still needs to improve the spacing. Sometimes Clark and Bradley are both to high up. For some reason Bradley too often playing behind Clark.

I've posted several times that our best forward line is Dempsey-Altidore. I'd like to see that with Davies coming off the bench.

[phillyphan609]

Donovan played the best I've seen of him in so long. It's games like these that make bundesliga superclubs think that he's good enough. Dempsey, however, looked like a sore thumb trying to track back. He looked absolutely horrible. He looked much better when feilhaber came in and moved deuce up front. Clark was steady and reliable, as was Bradley. That tandem seemed to do really well against the Egyptian middies. Let's see how they look against the likes of Xavi and Silva.

[Arid_Torpor]

Donovan was MOTM (again). MB was one of our best players (for the second time in three games). Clark was servicable, Dempsey made a couple good plays, but didn't do terribly well until he was moved up top.

[TrueCrew]

Donovan was out of his mind, though he screwed up the goal opportunity early.

The run in the first half would have Maradonna or Messi proud if he could have finished (chip?). Nice unselfish pass to Bradley for the second.

Tireless worker and at speed.

Bradley was also excellent, and Clark good as well.

Wasn't too impressed with Dempsey, but he DID get the goal that got us through.

I like him up front better than out wide.

Feilhaber was OK in limited time.

[Kalur]

Bradley and Clark are a nice pairing. Dempsey...what is he doing out there??? Donovan is dangerous when he gathers the ball in deep positions and carries it forward.

[IKickAndIm50]

Dempsey was terrible whole game (in midfield), but egypt sucked too, so it evened out i thought, and we were indeed slightly better.... they kept getting dangerous counters though

[cpwilson80]

The mindless Dempsey bashing needs to stop.

First off, the guy scores the freaking goal that put us through to the next round.

Secondly, he created some excellent chances: Launched Donovan's run in the first half that he passed to Altidore (and missed), fed Bradley with a great through ball for a shot on goal, and hit Davies with a great through ball in the second half.

Sure, he could do some things better, particularly protecting the ball in his defensive third and playing simpler. That's fair criticism. But to say he played "terrible" or "What is he doing out there?" is blatantly ignoring the reason he is out there: to add to our attack.

He delivered today.

All that aside, Donovan gets my man of the match. Set up some golden opportunities, and orchestrated counter-attacks all game long.

Bradley and Clark did very well in making life difficult for the Egyptian midfield.

Feilhaber did fine in his limited minutes.

[Kalur]

Dempsey makes horrible mistakes in the midfield. He turns the ball over in bad positions and he doesn't hustle back on defense. This isn't mindless bashing...he's really that bad. Nonetheless, I like him as a striker on this team :)

[gorilla]

The mindless Dempsey bashing needs to stop.

First off, the guy scores the freaking goal that put us through to the next round.

Secondly, he created some excellent chances: Launched Donovan's run in the first half that he passed to Altidore (and missed), fed Bradley with a great through ball for a shot on goal, and hit Davies with a great through ball in the second half.

Sure, he could do some things better, particularly protecting the ball in his defensive third and playing simpler. That's fair criticism. But to say he played "terrible" or "What is he doing out there?" is blatantly ignoring the reason he is out there: to add to our attack.

He delivered today.

All that aside, Donovan gets my man of the match. Set up some golden opportunities, and orchestrated counter-attacks all game long.

Bradley and Clark did very well in making life difficult for the Egyptian midfield.

Feilhaber did fine in his limited minutes.

Exactly. Clint screwed up several times and wasn't our best player by any means, but also set up the dangerous chances mentioned above.

He also made the run, along with Davies, that cleared space for Bradley on the 2nd goal taking both center backs with him. Bradley doesn't get open from the 12 without those runs.

[Julio84]

Donovan was great, Bradley and Dempsey had good games, Clark pretty good.

[lmorin]

LD did his usual good job that looks particularly good when his teammates are having a good day. He is showing himself to be, along with an emerging refined Michael Bradley, to be the engine of the team.

Dempsey was fair to poor as a midfielder today.

Clark was pleasantly invisible, just doing the job he was supposed to do and doing it well.

MBradley had an excellent game offensively and defensively. The combinations with other players, particularly on the goal, were outstanding and fun to watch.

The BIG problem out of the midfield was the gigantic amount of space in front of Bornstein. That was both his creation and the left midfielder's creation. LD obviously made the decision to give away that space, leaving it to Bornstein, because there were many track backs by LD during which there were moments of great uncertainty before LD could close down one of the offensive players. If the US plays that way against a Spain team the presses fast down the right side, the result won't be pretty.

[SixSeven]

First off, the guy scores the freaking goal that put us through to the next round...Secondly, he created some excellent chances...He delivered today.

All that aside, Donovan gets my man of the match. Set up some golden opportunities, and orchestrated counter-attacks all game long.

Bradley and Clark did very well in making life difficult for the Egyptian midfield.

Feilhaber did fine in his limited minutes.

I agree with this assessment of the midfield. After being slightly outplayed in the Italy game, then strongly outplayed in the Brazil game, I thought the midfield finally was able to have a very strong game against Egypt.

I'd give the most credit to Donovan, because he made more runs, he made quicker passes, and he created lots of opportunities for other players to get goals. Some here have pointed out that he should have shot instead of passed on a couple of plays, but I think he is trying to fit into the role of playmaker when an attacking mid.

Bradley and Clark, as players who have missed recent games due to cards, both showed more composure. It seems silly to say...but the midfield looks oh so much better when we're not playing a man down half the game. :)

I think Bradley should use this bend but not break mentality more for the defensive midfielder(s). Don't get so obsessed with stopping a promissing attack for the other team, that you make a late challenge, and put yourself into a position to sitting out the rest of the game and next game.

As for the hotly debated Dempsey situation. I don't know. :confused: I think that Dempsey is an every game player for the USMNT. He is either a starter or a sub. He can play wing midfield, forward, or striker. As with Landy, I think that which spot he plays depends on what spots other players are performing well at.

I thought Davies and Altidore looked great as strikers, and I wouldn't have subbed Altidore...but guess what? That produced the winning goal, which shows you how much I know!

Whatever Bradley decides to do...I think that Spain is going to rip us up. But, I think that we are in South Africa for the experience, and we should be happy--amazed I'd say--that we're in the 2nd round now! Way to go USA!:D

[DaMa]

Should probably just comment on Dempsey as forward and Dempsey as midfielder separately. As a midfielder Clint tried to beat people in bad positions leading to a couple of very dangerous plays, didn't work very hard and seemed disinterested again. He had a couple of nice balls and the rest of it was a disaster. As a forward he obviously got us our 3rd goal. The lesson? Until Clint shows that he is willing to work as hard for the US as he does for Fulham maybe HE should be the one starting with Jozy. It's either that or the bench.

Bradley and Donovan were obviously very good.

I didn't see much from Clark that I liked. He's basically in there to control the defensive third and I didn't see him win too many of those battles.

Didn't see much from Benny as a sub but when do you ever when he plays wide?