Lessons learned for next two qualifiers

[DCFAN96]

Our makeshift backline did fine, as well as Marcus in the net (man was he composed out there), so I'd have no problems with Bruce continuing to experiment back there (maybe bring in Spector). But as far as the midfield and foward tandem goes, he can't just throw out the best prospects out there. Putting Dempsey in the middle was a HUGE mistake (this thread isn't meant to bash Clint) he had no idea how to run the midfield and it affected the performance of everyone else. I mean no one played off each other, no one made runs off the ball, and when they did get the ball they tried to do too much. When Landon came on the field we actually had more shape and created a couple of chances. Its great Bruce is giving these guys a shot but how are guys like Twellman going to impress if they get no service for 80 minutes of the game? One of Donovan, Reyna or even Convey need to start in the middle for the next two qualies to at least give the team shape and help connect the attack. Otherwise we'll continue seeing this disjointed play and no one will impress.

[cherno]

Our makeshift backline did fine, as well as Marcus in the net (man was he composed out there), so I'd have no problems with Bruce continuing to experiment back there (maybe bring in Spector). But as far as the midfield and foward tandem goes, he can't just throw out the best prospects out there. Putting Dempsey in the middle was a HUGE mistake (this thread isn't meant to bash Clint) he had no idea how to run the midfield and it affected the performance of everyone else. I mean no one played off each other, no one made runs off the ball, and when they did get the ball they tried to do too much. When Landon came on the field we actually had more shape and created a couple of chances. Its great Bruce is giving these guys a shot but how are guys like Twellman going to impress if they get no service for 80 minutes of the game? One of Donovan, Reyna or even Convey need to start in the middle for the next two qualies to at least give the team shape and help connect the attack. Otherwise we'll continue seeing this disjointed play and no one will impress.
I agree 100%. Bruce strayed from his usual tactics of playing about a 50-50 mix of established guys with the fringe players and youngblood that he usually sticks to. I think the result was to demonstrate why he usually does that. Hard to evaluate the guys when things are so disjointed out there. We don't need to find out if Dempsey, Twellman, Cunningham and Tino can produce as a unit. We need to know which if any of them can be integrated into in otherwise first choice team. It was very difficult to tell that last night.

Cherno

[bltleo]

Our makeshift backline did fine, as well as Marcus in the net (man was he composed out there), so I'd have no problems with Bruce continuing to experiment back there (maybe bring in Spector). But as far as the midfield and foward tandem goes, he can't just throw out the best prospects out there. Putting Dempsey in the middle was a HUGE mistake (this thread isn't meant to bash Clint) he had no idea how to run the midfield and it affected the performance of everyone else. I mean no one played off each other, no one made runs off the ball, and when they did get the ball they tried to do too much. When Landon came on the field we actually had more shape and created a couple of chances. Its great Bruce is giving these guys a shot but how are guys like Twellman going to impress if they get no service for 80 minutes of the game? One of Donovan, Reyna or even Convey need to start in the middle for the next two qualies to at least give the team shape and help connect the attack. Otherwise we'll continue seeing this disjointed play and no one will impress.

I think german and american soccer has something common "experimenting"
with young players and new tactics, stragies. This is what our Klinsmann
do as well. Well he is critized in Germany because of his many experiments.
Soccer experts like Beckenbauer or Netzer ask him when he will set
"his stable team" for the WC. But Klinsmann decided that for every
position should be competition between 2 or more players. Every player
is watched and Klinsmann will after few games decide about our WC team.
Even Kahn have to challenge himselfs against Lehman. Klinsmann decided
for Rotation principle - Kahn or Lehman? Still not decided.

Back to your soccer. I like Arena and I like Klinsmann because of
all these experiments and giving a chance young players. Look Podolski
from FC Cologne. He scored 3 goals yesterday. He did not play so
many international games and look at this young boy.

I like Arena´s attitude. And who knows maybe he will bring even Adu
to Germany. But this is another discussion.

It will very interesting to see how will play USA against Germany.
Hm. Just only not in the first stage....better later..semifinale or
finale..o.k?

P.S I typed super fast today. Sorry my english.
Bltleo
Germany

[Adam Zebrowski]

costa rica in saprissa will be a difficult match...

I suspect it'll be mls guys and any euro who isn't playing, so this almost ensures donovan at attacking mid.....

arena will go the best available 11 he has.....

now, when usa doubles back with panama, I do suspect to see a few really new faces...like garcia or even some one like mapp...

I just see arena wanting to explore how some new players react to the international game....

the object to win them isn't his #1 priority

[YankBastard]

now, when usa doubles back with panama, I do suspect to see a few really new faces...like garcia or even some one like mapp...

...maybe Bobby Boswell, too!!! :p

[YankBastard]

I'm really disappointed Arena didn't keep Boca around. He really needs some playing time.

[swedust]

Is Ching out for the remainder of the Hex?

[scaryice]

Is Ching out for the remainder of the Hex?

He just played this past weeked, so he might be ready for next month's qualifiers.

[ChelseaMatt]

I agree 100%. Bruce strayed from his usual tactics of playing about a 50-50 mix of established guys with the fringe players and youngblood that he usually sticks to. I think the result was to demonstrate why he usually does that. Hard to evaluate the guys when things are so disjointed out there. We don't need to find out if Dempsey, Twellman, Cunningham and Tino can produce as a unit. We need to know which if any of them can be integrated into in otherwise first choice team. It was very difficult to tell that last night.

Cherno
Amen, brother! You hit the nail right on the head (not "hit it right on the nail" -- maybe we could set up another thread about expressions people get wrong)

[monster]

Things I learned:

--The camera work sucked
--They wear these funny little helmets when they come out to tend to an injured player
--It's fun to watch games that don't really mean jack in fast forward mode on TiVo.
--The Behind the Scenes stuff at halftime was rockin.

That's about it.

[YankBastard]

The Behind the Scenes stuff at halftime was rockin. That's about it.

What was on in the Behind the Scenes? I, fortunately, didn't see the game last night.

[FakeFlopper]

I completely agree that BA didn't do the smartest thing with putting a new team together for a match it does justice to none of them to go out there and look sloppy. There was no chemistry. I hope BA brings in more experience in there to let the guys get a real feel of the pace. The game went how I expected except I really thought a few of those shots were going to be put away.

[Maximum Optimal]

With qualifying in hand, the Bruce needs to weigh the injury risks to playing Donovan, EJ, Mastroeni, etc versus the benefit that their presence confers in terms of being able to evaluate guys like Dempsey and Quaranta. I see the argument for this benefit but still think we can learn a lot from these relatively new players even without the first stringers being in there. So I would vote on not playing guys like Donovan, just to avoid risk of injury.

[Marko72]

When Landon came on the field we actually had more shape and created a couple of chances. Its great Bruce is giving these guys a shot but how are guys like Twellman going to impress if they get no service for 80 minutes of the game? One of Donovan, Reyna or even Convey need to start in the middle for the next two qualies to at least give the team shape and help connect the attack. Otherwise we'll continue seeing this disjointed play and no one will impress.

Yeah, when I saw Landon and EJ come on late and give our attack some purpose I laughed. I mean, I'm a big supporter of Landon on our nats (will forever hate him in MLS but that's another story), but Landon is not anybody's idea of a great midfield marshall. And yet what a difference between Landon running the attack and Clint. Night and day, and it only took a few minutes to manifest itself.

You're thinking along the same lines I was thinking before the match. 11 newbies, no matter how talented, are 11 newbies. A wheel without a hub is no wheel at all. Somebody with some experience needs to run this team so the talented newbies have a chance to play within the system and show what they can do for us. All results strictly aside, that game simply wasn't as meaningful to a lot of those kids as it could've been. What we learned? Hahnemann is a talented, composed keeper at this level, and Vanney has no business on this team anymore (like that shocked anybody). And Convey's become a pretty composed pro. And Twellman still hasn't learned to put away chances at this level. Um... that's about it. Even the performances which I felt were gawdawful (ie Dempsey, Quaranta, et al) didn't really prove all that much, did they?

[bltleo]

With qualifying in hand, the Bruce needs to weigh the injury risks to playing Donovan, EJ, Mastroeni, etc versus the benefit that their presence confers in terms of being able to evaluate guys like Dempsey and Quaranta. I see the argument for this benefit but still think we can learn a lot from these relatively new players even without the first stringers being in there. So I would vote on not playing guys like Donovan, just to avoid risk of injury.


Well injury is risk in this business. Soccer players know about this risk.
As a coach you have always difficult choise: to let to play your top
players like Donovan, but you might risk he will get injured and he will
be not available for next games. This is truth. But playing without these
guys you might risk to lose the game. It is difficult decision. I think
it depends on kind of game it is - for friendly you would probably
"test" another player and let your top players to start the game or finish - it
depends. In the WC you will probably send all your top starts. But
you will always riks that someone of your top players get injured.
I know very good player from Leverkusen. His name is Jens Nowotny.
He got so many injuries that he can not play soccer now anymore.
He told me that it was his riks that he took with pleasure.

Donovan should play in some friendly games, especially against Germany or
other european team. But I would not send him play for games that are
less important. You are right.

Anyway I think your american players might have some advantages.
German or english players play in top clubs and have to play many
games for their clubs, champions leagues, UEFA-cup. Everyone expect
from the the best performance. So the risk they will get injured is much
higher. As oyu know Champions League starts. The boys have to play
for Bundesliga, for Champions League, to prepare for the WC 06.
They have really lot of pressure.

You can not "safe" your best players on the bench only to protect
they will not get injured. It does not work. It belongs to this sport.
The game has 90 Minutes and players have to learn to manage
to play these 90 minutes - without injuries - if possible. Injury
is always the risk. This is the business.

Bltleo
GERMANY

[Peretz48]

I think german and american soccer has something common "experimenting"
with young players and new tactics, stragies. This is what our Klinsmann
do as well. Well he is critized in Germany because of his many experiments.
Soccer experts like Beckenbauer or Netzer ask him when he will set
"his stable team" for the WC. But Klinsmann decided that for every
position should be competition between 2 or more players. Every player
is watched and Klinsmann will after few games decide about our WC team.
Even Kahn have to challenge himselfs against Lehman. Klinsmann decided
for Rotation principle - Kahn or Lehman? Still not decided.

Back to your soccer. I like Arena and I like Klinsmann because of
all these experiments and giving a chance young players. Look Podolski
from FC Cologne. He scored 3 goals yesterday. He did not play so
many international games and look at this young boy.

I like Arena´s attitude. And who knows maybe he will bring even Adu
to Germany. But this is another discussion.

It will very interesting to see how will play USA against Germany.
Hm. Just only not in the first stage....better later..semifinale or
finale..o.k?

P.S I typed super fast today. Sorry my english.
Bltleo
Germany
I think Germany would handle the U.S. Besides being a stronger side, they now have the advantage of Klinsmann at the helm. He knows the American players, Arena and the U.S. mentality as well as anyone, so there will not be any surprises, and his players will be properly mentally prepared.

[mattjo]

I think Germany would handle the U.S. Besides being a stronger side, they now have the advantage of Klinsmann at the helm. He knows the American players, Arena and the U.S. mentality as well as anyone, so there will not be any surprises, and his players will be properly mentally prepared.

I believe she is alluding to the fact that Klinsmann has faced severe criticism in the German press for rotating players in and out of the lineup in their World Cup preparations. While doing so, Germany was fortunate to earn a draw against Holland and was defated by Slovenia. A comparison can be seen by some of the knee-jerk reactions here on BS following the 0-0 tie against Guatemala.

[bltleo]

I think Germany would handle the U.S. Besides being a stronger side, they now have the advantage of Klinsmann at the helm. He knows the American players, Arena and the U.S. mentality as well as anyone, so there will not be any surprises, and his players will be properly mentally prepared.


This is truth. The game USA-Germany will be the most interesting for me.
Well we have friendly in march next year. So we can test each other.
But you are right Klinsman is our biggest advantage, especially
when playing against USA:)

bltleo

[bltleo]

I believe she is alluding to the fact that Klinsmann has faced severe criticism in the German press for rotating players in and out of the lineup in their World Cup preparations. While doing so, Germany was fortunate to earn a draw against Holland and was defated by Slovenia. A comparison can be seen by some of the knee-jerk reactions here on BS following the 0-0 tie against Guatemala.


first: it was game against SLOVAKIA, not Slovenia..in which we lost 2:0
We already forgot that:)...We made many mistakes...it was like
day of open door - it means Slovaks had it easy with our horrible
defense and could score two goals..

Holland- hm? we played not good, but it was 2:2, so Holland could not
use his advantage and win even if they play better..

Klinsi is really critized in press because of his experiments and especially
because of his "rotation" of our goalkeepers - Kahn and Lehman. But I think
he has still time for experiments this year. I ´m sure next year he will
stop with big experiments. He know what he does!. It is his strategy.
German soccer need some experiments. So I like his strategy.

We will see how Klinsmann is succesfull nex year. If he dont win the WC,
maybe he will come back to USA and be your coach. I only hope
he will win this Cup. The USA can be second, since it is my favorite
team.

Bltleo

[Fajkus Rules]

I'm really disappointed Arena didn't keep Boca around. He really needs some playing time.

I can only think BA discussed it with CB and they decided together that he'd be better off to get back to Fulham, and maybe pick up a start or significant PT if any other Fulham back was off on International Duty on Wednesday.