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

[dark knight]

Discuss

[Aaryque]

Discuss

Not bad at all.

Gooch and Boca are redundant but didn't play poorly aside from the unlucky own-goal.

Cherundolo looked a little shakey at times but showed his quality going forward.

As for Pearce, with that performance against that team I now think he should be the first choice LB. Much more complete and solid game than what we've seen out of Bornstein so far.

[MLSNHTOWN]

The more I see of Gooch the less I want to see him. The yellow for the dive looked like a penalty. He was marking the goalscorer on the corner.

I think we can only have one of Boca/Gooch and IMHO, Boca at least offers the ability on set pieces. As a result, we should go with him. Try Parkhurst, try Conrad, try whomever.

I thought Pearce was ok...moments when he was shaky, but he did fairly well. Dolo was solid with the exception of that one play where he got owned in the corner that caused the alleged penalty.

So a mixed bag as always.

[roykeanes_safc]

The more i watch onyeuw the more he reminds me of titus bramble, suffers badly from lapses in concentration

[russ]

Apparently Heath pearce wasn't lying-he is the best American left back.

It ain't braggin' if it's true.

[Maitreya]

Two goals conceded on set pieces shows bad defensive organization. Our defenders were worse collectively than individually imo.

Pearce had a solid game. He pulled himself level with Bornstein in my mind. I liked the power of his shooting, but I need to see him more defensively before I say he's better than Bornstein. He doesn't seem to have Jonathan's agility when it comes to one on one defending.

Howard continues to show well, but deserves some blame for the lack of defensive coordination on set pieces.

[m vann]

An own goal, a goal scored off a corner (in which the shadows and sun played a part), a Ronaldinho signature freekick, and a penalty. I'm shaking my head because on paper this would not indicate a sound defensive match but it was. We slowed Brazil down. They never quite got their Samba style going but did show flashes. And even those flashes are enough to put most teams away. Brazil showed what a team they are despite not quite being on top of their game. I thought Boca and Gooch were solid in their middle. Gooch moved his feet well (minus the Robinho dive), limited his touches on the ball, and commanded his area. Very solid effort from him. I was neverous coming into the match because I thought Brazil would exploit his size. No fouls by Gooch in dangerous spots either. Boca popped up everywhere blocking shots, disrupting passing options, was solid on the ball and never gave an inch for an attacker to blow by him. Unlucky on the Ronaldinho freekick. It was not a foul and was an extremely late whistle. Ronaldinho sold it well. Pearce was solid as well. Positionally sound, solid on the ball, throw a shoulder in there when he needed, and seemed to work well with the rest of the backline. I was disappointed in his movement forward and his inability to throw in a decent cross but he mission today was to defend, not attack and he passed the test. Very shot and once again unlucky for Wolff not to earn a penalty. Dolo likewise was sold positionally, good on the ball, and was decent moving forward. Was so-so on the crossing but did very well to cut the ball back for Dempsey to finish. All in all the score is deceptive; we played fairly well defensively.

[superdave]

Pearce looked very good, and so this friendly was worth something.

Howard's positioning on Ronaldinho's free kick was amateur. Dude, if you were worried about the far side, set up the wall there.

[Richmond Kickers]

Gooch should never set foot on the field for the US again. If for no other reason that bad luck seems to follow him. Someone needs to put a big fat "cut Gooch" sign on B. Bradley's front lawn.

[DaPrince84]

An own goal, a goal scored off a corner (in which the shadows and sun played a part), a Ronaldinho signature freekick, and a penalty. I'm shaking my head because on paper this would not indicate a sound defensive match but it was. We slowed Brazil down. They never quite got their Samba style going but did show flashes. And even those flashes are enough to put most teams away. Brazil showed what a team they are despite not quite being on top of their game. I thought Boca and Gooch were solid in their middle. Gooch moved his feet well (minus the Robinho dive), limited his touches on the ball, and commanded his area. Very solid effort from him. I was neverous coming into the match because I thought Brazil would exploit his size. No fouls by Gooch in dangerous spots either. Boca popped up everywhere blocking shots, disrupting passing options, was solid on the ball and never gave an inch for an attacker to blow by him. Unlucky on the Ronaldinho freekick. It was not a foul and was an extremely late whistle. Ronaldinho sold it well. Pearce was solid as well. Positionally sound, solid on the ball, throw a shoulder in there when he needed, and seemed to work well with the rest of the backline. I was disappointed in his movement forward and his inability to throw in a decent cross but he mission today was to defend, not attack and he passed the test. Very shot and once again unlucky for Wolff not to earn a penalty. Dolo likewise was sold positionally, good on the ball, and was decent moving forward. Was so-so on the crossing but did very well to cut the ball back for Dempsey to finish. All in all the score is deceptive; we played fairly well defensively.
I think we were poor defensively to be honest... whenever Kaka wanted to bulldoze through our midfield and defense he was allowed too...

the Gooch/Boca pairing needs to stop... and I think Boca needs to go...

Also a lot of dangerous fouls outside the box...

[Ghosting]

Pearce looked very good, and so this friendly was worth something.

Howard's positioning on Ronaldinho's free kick was amateur. Dude, if you were worried about the far side, set up the wall there.

Agreed. I'm not sure what he was thinking.

[Dirt McGirt]

All in all the score is deceptive; we played fairly well defensively.Your kidding right?

Gooch with the own goal.
Gooch loses his mark for the go ahead goal for Brazil.
Gooch with a decent shout for penalty against him.

[fscat]

I was at the game. My opionions on the defense are as such (from what I saw I left 10 minutes early to beat the traffic):

Pearce: at first I thought he looked shaky, but was much more solid as time went on
Bocanegra: Does a good job of cleaning other people's messes and covering others, but if he has to stand up someone else himself, there's a good chance he'll get burned. Plus he's good for one stupid foul in front of the box per game.
Onyewu: I was pretty down on him after the Gold Cup, but I thought he has looked much better these past few games.
Cherundolo: I thought he looked very good, I think this is the type of team he needs to play against, a faster more technical team, as opposed to the larger more overpowering Swedes.

[m vann]

Your kidding right?

Gooch with the own goal.
Gooch loses his mark for the go ahead goal for Brazil.
Gooch with a decent shout for penalty against him.

No, I'm not. Was Gooch a standout? No but was he wasn't a liability either. The own goal he could do nothing about. Howard made the save Gooch and Boca were coming back to sweep it away, the ball took an akward bounce and hit Gooch. Shit happens on that play. As to the marking on the corner, it was poor but let's not forget the were two or three that were unmarked. Not entirely his fault but there is blame. Shadows and the sun played a part as well. Howard got sucked out, too. As to the penalty, it was a dive. He stuck his leg out there but Robinho was diving at the moment his leg went out. Smart try on his part but it didn't work. Gooch didn't move his feet well in that instance but i thought his foot work and his positioning (minus the times mentioned) were sound in my opinion. I thought it was one of his better games in the last few months in a Nats shirt.

[Right Foot Planted]

I think we were poor defensively to be honest... whenever Kaka wanted to bulldoze through our midfield and defense he was allowed too...

the Gooch/Boca pairing needs to stop... and I think Boca needs to go...

Also a lot of dangerous fouls outside the box...

OMG... :confused::(

Did you actually watch Bocanegra today?

And you're talking about Friggin Kaka... he does that at every level, to every single team he plays against.

[Right Foot Planted]

No, I'm not. Was Gooch a standout? No but was he wasn't a liability either. The own goal he could do nothing about. Howard made the save Gooch and Boca were coming back to sweep it away, the ball took an akward bounce and hit Gooch. Shit happens on that play. As to the marking on the corner, it was poor but let's not forget the were two or three that were unmarked. Not entirely his fault but there is blame. Shadows and the sun played a part as well. Howard got sucked out, too. As to the penalty, it was a dive. He stuck his leg out there but Robinho was diving at the moment his leg went out. Smart try on his part but it didn't work. Gooch didn't move his feet well in that instance but i thought his foot work and his positioning (minus the times mentioned) were sound in my opinion. I thought it was one of his better games in the last few months in a Nats shirt.

finally, intelligence. :)

[Dirt McGirt]

Seriously you guys stop the hero worship. Gooch was poor and contributed to two goals and almost gave up a penalty. Honestly it's neither surprising or anything out of the ordinary. He needs to sit.

[Cannons]

I thought defense was the weak point of the game. Did anybody mark the far side on the corner kick goal? Gooch is just a jinx.

[YankHibee]

Gooch looked alright, and I assign little blame for the OG. Boca did pretty well, solid defending and moved into the attack appropriately, adding the goal on the corner. I'd like either Gooch or Boca on the field, but I'm not sure about the partnership. Cherundolo did pretty well, but I'd like to see him improve his crossing (but we've been saying that for a long time now). I was especially happy with the way the ball moved out of the back on the right side. Pearce has to be the starting LB now. Pearce overlapping with Beasley looks like it will provide goals and grit.

[m vann]

Seriously you guys stop the hero worship. Gooch was poor and contributed to two goals and almost gave up a penalty. Honestly it's neither surprising or anything out of the ordinary. He needs to sit.

Who is hero worshipping? No one that I can tell. I'm not saying Gooch was a standout by any means but i don't think he was a liability. He was solid, aka meaning he didn't hurt us. You have every right to interpret Gooch's game the way you see it. I saw something else. You may or may not agree and that's fine. I'm planning to watching the game again and I might see something different but until then what I stated is what I saw.