ESPN Article: U.S. Finishing a Concern

[dark knight]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=371831&root=worldcup&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos2&cc=3888

[Soccerdude redded]

It's all academic tomorrow at this time and we be moving on to the second round and facing Brazil. If our arch enemy Mexico could move on to the 2nd round why not the USA. Two goals from EJ and one from CD.:D :D :D

[Wasted]

Congratulations ESPN for making an article stating what was already blatantly obvious.

[USsupport]

yes it's time to unleash the goals. I hope they get a bagful ala ARG/S&M.

[Globalusation]

I'm not worried. Even though Ghana is a good team as we saw the other day we have to remember they are the weaker team out of our previous two opponents. I think it should be easier to score on them. It's not exactly a dissapointment to not score a goal on Italy especially with a man down the whole second half. And the Czech Republic they got an early goal just like Ghana did against them and we know how that changes a game. I'm not worried about the goals. I think they will come.

[Soccerdude redded]

yes it's time to unleash the goals. I hope they get a bagful ala ARG/S&M. I said 3 not 6 , leave some for the next game.

[Dr. Wankler]

Some pretty interesting stuff in there, eventually. Esp. re: Donovan.


Certainly, there were elements of both. The likes of Reyna, Dempsey and Pablo Mastroeni (when he was in the game) added a crispness to the U.S. attack. But the jury is still out on players such as Donovan. Throughout most of the first half, the Los Angeles Galaxy attacker found it difficult to make much of an impression on the game.

"I have to find ways to get the ball, but I don't want to take away from what [Reyna] does, and you don't want to drag yourself into the space where [Mastroeni] is," Donovan said. "At the same time you want to find spaces to get the ball in good areas and I think towards the end of the half, I found that comfort zone where I could get it and still be productive with the other two there."

But it's worth noting that Donovan's influence didn't begin until after the ejections of Italy's Daniele De Rossi and U.S. midfielder Mastroeni, which clearly helped Donovan found those elusive spaces. His challenge against Ghana will be to find those areas right away. The urgency of the Americans' situation demands it.

Good work. And I did not know this part...

Yet the immediate issue will be getting the U.S. to recover from a match that was exhausting on a number of levels. According to U.S. fitness trainer Pierre Barrieu, four players required intravenous fluids after the game.

"That [number] is unusual for a night match," Barrieu said. "But considering the amount of running and effort these guys put in, it's normal."

Good article.

[Tea Men Tom]

Congratulations ESPN for making an article stating what was already blatantly obvious.

Due to the lack of a world class striker. No shocking revelations there. But they surprised me coming back from a goal down vs. Italy.

At this point, just win baby.....whatever it takes....1-0, an own goal, a fluke, luck, whatever, just beat Ghana and get to round 2.

Style points don't count right now. We proved we belong back on Saturday.

[appoo]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=371831&root=worldcup&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab3pos2&cc=3888

duh

[Nermalthecat]

Combine this with the "Arena: Essien is Ghana's biggest threat" story and you have some real inside scoop ahead of the game.

[Ghost]

The thing that's wrong with the article is Carlisle's wish that we get Eddie Lewis out there. Our crossing has been subpar, he reasons, so let's get another crosser out there. What happened to our combination game around the box? That's what's been missing for months now.

Enter Lewis? Deck chairs. Titanic.

I also don't understand why everyoen sees Eddie Johnson's entry as primarily about him scoring goals. That may be the case. The other big factor is that it opens space for other players when his speed attracts multiple defenders. I don't think it's an aberration that McBride has scored his only goal in months while EJ was wreaking havoc on the Latvian backline.

[GaetjensGhost]

US finishing a Concern?

What a shocker!

[Rodan]

"[McBride's] position was not a striker over the last 40 minutes," Arena explained. "It was another player on the field helping us to get a point. It takes an experienced player to do that and that was one of the reasons."
Sigh.
Pretty silly statements when you consider:
a) That three points would have been an order of magnitude more valuable to the US than one.
b) That the players that got the team into the jam (Mastroeni and Johnson) were both veterans of the 2002 World Cup. And that the Bruce's reticence to sub one of them (Pope) after the his first yellow, was a contributing factor to the dilemma.

Yep, experience and conscientiousnous really saved the day.

[GaetjensGhost]

The thing that's wrong with the article is Carlisle's wish that we get Eddie Lewis out there. Our crossing has been subpar, he reasons, so let's get another crosser out there. What happened to our combination game around the box?

Landon had a nice reverse flick to Reyna at the edge of the Italian box...which Reyna flubbed....But there is a bit of combination play. The PROBLEM is that because our crossing sucks ass....the defenders collapse on anything near the middle. We need decent crosses from Lewis to pull defenders AWAY from the middle...and thus open up the inside combination attack....

Convey has two left feet and keeps sending in crosses at the knee...his runs at defenders beat the first guy and then he gets dispossessed. Convey can sub. I think that most people forget that Lewis can beat people on the dribble and create space for his own crosses. Lewis has a better stutter move...Convey tries the flat out "I'm Ryan Giggs" straight on runs and seldom buys us anything other than a cross to McBride's Knees.

[onefineesq]

Some pretty interesting stuff in there, eventually. Esp. re: Donovan.


[i]Certainly, there were elements of both. The likes of Reyna, Dempsey and Pablo Mastroeni (when he was in the game) added a crispness to the U.S. attack. But the jury is still out on players such as Donovan. Throughout most of the first half, the Los Angeles Galaxy attacker found it difficult to make much of an impression on the game.

"I have to find ways to get the ball, but I don't want to take away from what [Reyna] does, and you don't want to drag yourself into the space where [Mastroeni] is," Donovan said. "At the same time you want to find spaces to get the ball in good areas and I think towards the end of the half, I found that comfort zone where I could get it and still be productive with the other two there." (snip) And that my friends is the problem that we've all wondered about. Without meaning to say it, Donovan has confirmed the issue of the great debate here. What the hell does he mean by saying that he knows he has to get the ball, but he doesn't want to take away from what Reyna does? Does he not realize that's the problem? The attacking players are this team are too deferential to Reyna, and that's a big reason why we are struggling so much in the attack.

[mcontento]

Combine this with the "Arena: Essien is Ghana's biggest threat" story and you have some real inside scoop ahead of the game.

Its ESPN, what do you expect? ESPN is for Joe six-pack who doesn't go to Bigsoccer every 10 minutes to read the latest articles from around the globe.

[Knave]

Nevermind finishing. What about SHOOTING!?

:eek:

[appoo]

And that my friends is the problem that we've all wondered about. Without meaning to say it, Donovan has confirmed the issue of the great debate here. What the hell does he mean by saying that he knows he has to get the ball, but he doesn't want to take away from what Reyna does? Does he not realize that's the problem? The attacking players are this team are too deferential to Reyna, and that's a big reason why we are struggling so much in the attack.

that's Landon's fault

[QuakeAttack]

The thing that's wrong with the article is Carlisle's wish that we get Eddie Lewis out there. Our crossing has been subpar, he reasons, so let's get another crosser out there. What happened to our combination game around the box? That's what's been missing for months now.

Enter Lewis? Deck chairs. Titanic.

I also don't understand why everyoen sees Eddie Johnson's entry as primarily about him scoring goals. That may be the case. The other big factor is that it opens space for other players when his speed attracts multiple defenders. I don't think it's an aberration that McBride has scored his only goal in months while EJ was wreaking havoc on the Latvian backline.

When had Johnson been involved with combination play around the box? Dempsey. Yes. Johnson. No.

Johnson speed won't make as much difference against Ghana. If you saw the earlier Ghana games, you would have noticed his poor handling of crosses. Guess what Lewis can do?

I will agree that Johnson ability in the air could be very helpful...

[onefineesq]

that's Landon's fault It's apparently EVERYONE'S fault, because the games of the entire frontline and attacking wingers (including Landon) suddenly go to hell when they decide that they must defer to Reyna. There is obviously a reason it happens, and I dare to posit that it isn't simply because they are in awe of Claudio Reyna.