6/9, USA v T&T -- the midfield {R}

[babytiger2001]

Thoughts on the USA's midfield play in the 2-0 win over Trinidad & Tobago...

[houstondynamofan]

Michael Bradley passed the ball more to the other team than his own team.

[Nutmeg]

Mapp: Very good on the left for about the middle 70 minutes. Started and ended quietly.

Feilhaber: Played 2 balls that should have sent an onside defender alone vs. the keeper, but the play was called offside. Needs to be more of a defensive presence.

Clark: Great game all around.

Ralston: Played the role he was given - a stopgap on the right.

Donovan: Looked good in the middle while partnered with Clark. The second goal was beautiful combination work starting with Donovan.

Bradley: Not a good appearance.

[The Big Ticket]

Trivia question:

Who had more backpasses in the second half - Justin Mapp or Michael Bradley?

I don't know the answer, but that was a lot of backpassin'.

[ulyssesr]

Michael Bradley passed the ball more to the other team than his own team.

I agree. I counted at least 4 errant passes.

[wrench]

Ricardo Clark!! The central midfield of TT was not even in the game for the first half.
Benny ran the show, but I think he ran out of gas. Still a top notch outing.
Mapp abused the defense. Period. Speed and a good amount of quality in his crossing.
Ralston is a known quantity. He had a good game.

Linesman?? The sun must have been in his eyes.

[dncm]

Clark and Mapp played well. I don't think Beasley is a guarantee anymore - Mapp is nipping at his heels.

Bradley looked awful in the short time he was in the game.

[superdave]

Clark right now, IMO, has shown HE should be starting beside Benny. Of course, he's several years older than Micheal, so it might be a different situation by next spring. But for now, let's go with Clark and Feilhaber or Clark and Donovan.

As for Mapp, *I* would consider him first choice against overmatched teams. I'd still favor Beasley and probably Convey against teams in our league.

But I'll bet Bradley still flatout prefers DMB and Convey in any and all situations.

[The Big Ticket]

Justin had a good game overall, but he really took his foot off the gas in the last half hour of the game (as did everyone not named Donovan, to be fair). Every time the ball came to him he would tap it back to a teammate. At least one of those times I would have liked to see him turn and go at the defenders. In fact, I don't think Justin Mapp should be allowed to pass the ball unless he's in the penalty box. Whenever he gets the ball he should be taking on defenders. He can do it, he's THAT good at it.

[DCFAN96]

Clark and Benny were dominating the midfield that first half. IMO this is the pairing we have to stick with for the future. Benny was spraying great through balls left and right, and Clark was covering lots of space winning balls and doing well to start up attacks. Great game by both.

Mapp showed flashed of brillance but also disappeared for long stretches. That being said the kid is a player, I'd like to see what he could do with our A team, he was by far the most dangerous player on the dribble.

Ralston...was Ralston, slow, uninspired, etc. Did he even hit one good cross all match? Seriously why was he even called up?

Bradley turned in his worst performance thus far, was dispossessed to easily on multiple occassions. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt since everyone else were just walking around by the time he got in just waiting for the final whistle.

[olephill2]

Justin Mapp was my Man of the Match. Great game for the better part of 70 minutes. He disappeared a bit toward the end, but a lot of that was his backpassing teammates not getting him the ball. His run for the assist was beautiful, and his crosses were for the most part very good. I was very impressed.

Benny Feilhaber looked good until he ran out of gas right right before he was subbed out. I liked the ability he showed to dribble out of traffic, and his vision was good. Few turnovers as well which I liked to see.

Ricardo Clark had a great match. IMO he should be first choice ahead of Mike Bradley. He's a good defensive mid, and has the ball control, athleticism and ability to get forward more as well. I hope we see more of him.

Steve Ralston showed tonight that he can still play at this level against CONCACAF opposition. He was solid at RM for most of the match, and I think it's pretty clear that at this point in time, he's our next best option at RM behind Clint Dempsey (unless you want to count Mapp as a RM). He had a much better first half than 2nd half though.

Michael Bradley did not have a good showing. Many many turnovers, didn't seeem to have much of a desire to push the ball forward at all and get a 3rd goal...I just wasn't impressed today.

[Nidal Baba Superstar]

Seriously why was he even called up?
I dunno, he's been a solid role player at New England, and we needed bodies. He has experience and he's no kind of headache for coaches. Makes sense, in theory.

[Tonerl]

If Mapp plays that way, then I like him. Kept it simple and allowed his skills to have the impact they should. I agree with superdave that I prefer Beasley in a more competitive game, but he's a nice option.

Feilhaber had some highs and a couple lows, but his highs are so high that I keep getting more and more excited about his future. With a competent AR his contributions look even better, and he probably comes away with two assists.

Clark's best outing with the nats. He's just so athletic that his presence defensively is massive, and his skill was much in evidence. He had a few really impressive touches. Again, robbed at least once by the AR.

Ralston is pretty much Ralston.

Donovan showed pretty well in his limited time in the middle. Perfect game for his skillset, so his contribution is pretty much what should be expected from him.

Bradley had his first bad outing for the nats, in my eyes. I'm willing to let it slide due to the circumstances and the fact that he makes me feel, you know, old. :)

As I've said for what seems like ever, I'd be playing Clark and Feilhaber together now. I expect Bradley to be the man with Feilhaber soon, though.

[rgli13]

Trivia question:

Who had more backpasses in the second half - Justin Mapp or Michael Bradley?

I don't know the answer, but that was a lot of backpassin'.

this must be a trick question- the answer is obviously eddie johnson, yet this is the midfiedler thread...

clark and feilhaber were both pretty good- clark disappeared for stretches, but mostly pretty good. the linesman robbed benny of...well, nevermind, ching and johnson most likely would have blown both one-on-ones anyways. but still- horrible officiating on the lines today.

ralston and was ralston- someobody didnt get tired today because of him, i guess thats nice. decisions like having him on the roster make it impossible to tell that we have changed managers at all.

mapp is going to be a big help in qualifying- hes good for a couple of really nice runs/balls per match against weak teams. i still havent seen him play consistently for even one half at a time- but he is one of the very few players we have who will actually attack. so about par for the course for him, id say- a few really dangerous moments, one goal as a result of his play, long stretches of...well, nothing good or bad.

donovan did what he does- it was sweet of him to make eddie johnson look useful. came in, made it look easy, hopefully the kids learn from that.

i was roundly bashed for saying bradley has done less and less with each game for the nats- and ill repeat that here. in all fairness there wasnt much to do today, but hes about as- i wont even say offensively, lets go "neutral"- hes not giving us anything more than a roadblock in the midfield the last couple of games. the defense is ok, but hes not even holding the ball/backpassing worth a poo right now.

overall id have liked to have seen more of the patience we showed against guatmala to pick apart the defense- im all for the attacking mindset, but it was all a bit more reckless today, too often going for the one pass that leads to a goal. all things considered a decent performance.

[Deuteriumoxide]

Steve Ralston was the slowest player on the field.

Ricardo Clark man can he play his way out of danger, his first touch always takes him away from pressure in the direction of a safe pass.

[beergod]

I thought Clark was very good but needs to get more involved in build up play.

Feilhaber's vision and passing ability are a very welcome change from our options in the last cycle. I like how he looks to push the attack while making the smart decision most of the time.

[olephill2]

Feilhaber and Clark was definitely a good combination, with Feilhaber playing a little in front of Clark. Granted this wasn't the best match to evaluate because we were playing such weak opposition and our central midfield could really push up without having to defend too much in the 1st half, but I liked the pairing.

Feilhaber has good vision and good ball control and really is an engine who keeps attacking build-ups going.

Clark is a big CDM who covers acres of space and has the ball skills to also contribute offensively.

I'm really excited about this pairing, and I hope BB gives it another chance. Right now, Clark is ahead of Michael Bradley. Bob needs to respect that.

[Maximum Optimal]

Feilhaber and Clark was definitely a good combination, with Feilhaber playing a little in front of Clark.

Barring injuries, this is how the central midfield is likely to line up in all our important matches in this cycle. This pairing is part of the "Y" formation that Bradley has been building toward. The base is a pair of good two-way mids, but one slightly more defensive and one playing a little further up the field. In the front of them will be two attacking mids with the freedom to play wide or pinch toward the middle, who will not be asked to play much defense. T&T isn't stiff competition but I'm pleased with how this midfield played.

[bostonf4lyf]

clark=vieira.......maybe 3/4 of viera, but thats still damn good. i was impressed with his touches and overall sense of where to be.

feilhaber seems to be the man, his podcasts on ussoccer.com are hilarious, the kid has good looks, the kid can play...what else can you want, i wish i was a girl cause id do him.

sorry, that was kind of weird ;)

[Tonerl]

clark=vieira.......maybe 3/4 of viera, but thats still damn good. i was impressed with his touches and overall sense of where to be.

feilhaber seems to be the man, his podcasts on ussoccer.com are hilarious, the kid has good looks, the kid can play...what else can you want, i wish i was a girl cause id do him.

sorry, that was kind of weird ;)

Kind of?







:)