9/9 US vs. Brazil - the Midfield - Post Game Discussion [R]

[dark knight]

Discuss.

[GringoTex]

Bradley shuts up everybody until the next game.

Feilhaber and Donovan invisible.

Beasley being Beasley.

[ill quixote]

I don't know if Bradley "shut everyone up." He did lots of little things well, as usual. Well, not as usual. Much much better than usual. But, once again, he makes a very costly boneheaded play. How you rate his day will depend on how you add those up.

[Maitreya]

Bradley played one of his better games, certainly. He kept up with the pace of the game well. But he's still a card waiting to happen and a habitual frustration tackler. He showed that he belongs on the team, not that he should be an automatic starter.

Beasley and Donovan were both okay. The gap between Beasley and our next left mid is massive at the moment. Right mid remains a quandry. Perhaps the best option is to play Dolo at r-mid and Donovan centrally with Dempsey.

Feilhaber was a bit overwhelmed by the pace and didn't get the ball very often.

[Aaryque]

I don't know if Bradley "shut everyone up." He did lots of little things well, as usual. Well, not as usual. Much much better than usual. But, once again, he makes a very costly boneheaded play. How you rate his day will depend on how you add those up.

Bradley, in my opinion, was the best US field player out there until the PK. And that mistake is exactly the kind of thing that is usually cured with experience. So, I'm very please with what I saw today.

[The Soccerwiz]

Feihalber was invisible today, Bradley did good but he is too tackle happy. Once he learns the different situations of tackling he will be a good asset to the national team.

[MLSNHTOWN]

Bradley played well. I still believe Clark is better. Regardless, I am more and more convinced that Donovan at Forward and Dempsey at right mid, just doesn't work. As a result, I think that one of Feilhaber or Bradley/Clark should be selected. Not two.

[MLSNHTOWN]

Bradley, in my opinion, was the best US field player out there until the PK. And that mistake is exactly the kind of thing that is usually cured with experience. So, I'm very please with what I saw today.


Except he keeps making the same mistakes over and over and over. Wish he would learn soon.

[IndividualEleven]

Thought Beez and Bocanegra were the best US field players. Bradley as actually better than Feilhaber for once and not the worst midfielder out there...

...until the penalty.

[IndividualEleven]

Feilhaber seems to play better with Clark and midfield is more fluid that way.

[charlie15]

Benny F. was invisible today! He hasn't played a competitive game in months., he hasn't played once for Derby yet. But Bradley started him today...
I do not get it...

[Maitreya]

Bradley played well. I still believe Clark is better. Regardless, I am more and more convinced that Donovan at Forward and Dempsey at right mid, just doesn't work. As a result, I think that one of Feilhaber or Bradley/Clark should be selected. Not two.

That's a bold offensive strategy and one that requires someone with the speed to cover a lot of ground defensively. Clark is the obvious choice as the sole d-mid if Donovan is playing center attacking mid ahead of him.

[Ombak]

Donovan was hardly invisible. I thought the whole US midfield play was their strong point and they very effectively shut down Kaká early (3 guys closing in on him whenever he had the ball).

I would've prefered it if Brazil had played with more versatile midfielders, thus allowing Kaká and RG better outlets when double or triple-teamed, but that's on our side.

On the US side, Howard, Dempsey and frankly most of the team looked solid, with the midfield combativeness and buildup being the highlight.

[Aaryque]

Except he keeps making the same mistakes over and over and over. Wish he would learn soon.

Agreed, I'm just going to let him get more than a couple months into his twenties before I stop being excited about a match where he only makes one notable mistake (albeit a big one) while doing a very good job of destroying plays, relieving pressure, playing in tight spaces, and distributing up the field. Not to mention getting off a couple good shots from the top of the box. At this point I think starting for a full season in the eredivisie might push him well beyond Clark. (At the moment I believe, on my depth chart at least, he sits just behind Clark.)

[Maitreya]

Agreed, I'm just going to let him get more than a couple months into his twenties before I stop being excited about a match where he only makes one notable mistake (albeit a big one) while doing a very good job of destroying plays, relieving pressure, playing in tight spaces, and distributing up the field. Not to mention getting off a couple good shots from the top of the box. At this point I think starting for a full season in the eredivisie might push him well beyond Clark. (At the moment I believe, on my depth chart at least, he sits just behind Clark.)

If he does improve by this time next year, he better prove it in the USA uniform. I don't care one iota how well he plays for Heerenveen if he doesn't show any improvement in the Red, White, and Blue shirt. As for Clark, I really am afraid that he is not going to get a fair chance this cycle.

[Aaryque]

Oh, I also think that Donovan has found his position out at RM where his greatest skills can be put to good use. I wouldn't be surprised if, were he to move to Europe (big 'if,' I know.), they immediately turned him into a right winger. I know he wasn't at his best today, but I think that he has a chance to be more dangerous from the wing in general where he has more space.

[MLSNHTOWN]

Agreed, I'm just going to let him get more than a couple months into his twenties before I stop being excited about a match where he only makes one notable mistake (albeit a big one) while doing a very good job of destroying plays, relieving pressure, playing in tight spaces, and distributing up the field. Not to mention getting off a couple good shots from the top of the box. At this point I think starting for a full season in the eredivisie might push him well beyond Clark. (At the moment I believe, on my depth chart at least, he sits just behind Clark.)

Agreed but if qualifying starts tomorrow in Central America, you want Bradley in there? I don't. If Califf grows an arm out of the center of his head, I would hate to see what happens to Bradley.

[The Big Ticket]

I thought Bradley was having the best game of his young international career up until the penalty.

Donovan should have been more aggressive, but he was involved in both US goals, so you can't say he didn't show up.

Beasley and Feilhaber both failed to impress today IMO, but weren't terrible.

[Aaryque]

I thought Bradley was having the best game of his young international career up until the penalty.

Donovan should have been more aggressive, but he was involved in both US goals, so you can't say he didn't show up.

Beasley and Feilhaber both failed to impress today IMO, but weren't terrible.

Sounds about right.

[fscat]

Just came back from the game, my opinions:

Donovan: for the most part, looked good on the right side, thought he passed up one to many chances to be aggressive, could of had some better crosses, but for the most part, I liked him on the right with 'Dolo.
Beasley: another solid performance by Beas on the left. Looks like he has rounded into form with the Nats again.
Bradley: all the haters can shut up until the next friendly, thought he was solid broke up alot of attacks.
Feilhaber: distributed alright, some turnovers, helped out well on defense, but took some poor chances on goal.
Convey: I don't know what happened to him in between that Sweden friendly and today, but I thought he looked much better. Actually looked semi-dangerous.