In Defense of Drew Moor

[PVancouver]

Many felt Drew Moor was one of the worst if not the worst player for the US. Few expect to see him in a national team uniform any time soon. Yes, Drew Moor twice looked dreadful on two Jonny Magallon goals. But I make a claim that Moor actually played very well, and, in fact, he was probably the best player on the field.

Several noticed that Moor left Carlos Vela wide open deep in the left corner on numerous plays, but Moor’s strategy of pinching in when Mexico possessed the ball on the opposite side of the field was probably not his decision to make. As it turned out, his pinching in never did allow Mexico to score, but I would agree that the strategy merits debate. Plays relating to the strategy are denoted with a question mark.

My view of the match was in standard definition, so those with HD might be able to name some of the Mexican players I left unnamed.

Drew Moor, play-by-play:
00:06 + Completed medium pass to Donovan along right touch line
00:09 + Pressured reciept of pass by Mexican, Mexico ultimately lost pass
00:17 Sent long ball ahead to Dempsey, headed clear by Mexico
00:46 Long throw-in up right touch line to Dempsey, next played by Bradley
00:52 + Contested header w/Mexican, US won possession
01:33 ++ Long pass to Dempsey on right side knocked out by Mexico
01:50 + Throw-in to Dempsey
02:43 Pressured Mexican winger upon receipt of ball
04:35 + Knocked Mexican pass up touch-line over touch
05:24 - On the back of Mexican who received pass from midfield, got beat on turn
05:50 Tightly marked Fernando Arce in the box
06:55 + Headed ball upfield, collected by Dempsey
07:08 ++ Headed ball at touch line to Clark
08:46 ++ Sent ball from top of center circle to Dempsey at 18, who flicked on to Donovan
09:02 + Defended strong run by Vela up middle of park, cleared by Corrales
11:09 Lateral pass to Clark
12:49 ++ Closed down Mex. winger, facing downfield kicked a long ball upfield, ball controlled by Dempsey
13:22 Reasonably defended long cross field pass to Mex. winger
13:29 + Deftly returned pass to Convey
14:20 ? Covered centrally while leaving Vela all alone along left touch line
16:28 + Headed clear a long ball from Mex. back line
20:25 + Quickly closed Mex. deep in Mex. territory
22:27 + Headed out long cross field pass from Rafael Marquez
22:43 “Gets beat” when clearance is headed back over his head, was unable to block cross from Vela (this was actually bad luck, not bad defending)
24:19 -- Boots ball over the touch line trying to hit Dempsey
25:46 + Vela attempted to knock ball forward past Moor, Moor knocked ball over touch
27:10 ++ Moor clearly traps a long pass from Mexico and clears with a long pass to Dempsey
30:48 ? Vela has space with the ball 5 yards ahead of Moor, but not enough is shown to know exactly why
32:07 + Short pass to Bradley
33:57 --- Pardo to Magallon, goal. Although even if Moor is in position to play the ball, it would have been difficult to keep it out of the net
35:47 + Trapped and cleared difficult long pass from Mexico
36:25 ++ Won header and knocked ball to Clark
37:05 + Short pass to Clark
38:30 ++ Strong clearance header from the 6
39:12 +++ Cross/long pass to Altidore, goal US
45:16 + Chest trapped high ball to Bradley
46:50 --- Beat by Magallon again—this time on a corner. He did not appear to track back at full speed, although had the ball not been deflected Moor probably would have been able to clear it
49:22 - Nearly lost control of the ball on dribble but Mexico knocked it into touch
50:11 ? Pinched inside leaving Vela wide open on the left, Vela receives ball
51:10 ? Pinched inside leaving Vela wide open on the left, Vela receives ball
54:53 ? Pinched inside leaving Vela wide open on the left, Vela does not receive ball
55:44 ++ Made special play to stop ball with trailing foot and completed short pass to Clark
57:10 + Held Vela slightly in the Mexican end almost allowing US to win possession of the ball
57:14 + Completed short pass to Bradley
59:50 ++ Moor had to pinch in as no US defender was goal side of Gerado Torrado. Torrado dished to Vela and Moor blocked his shot (Onyewu’s slow recovery and Corrales failure to pinch in were the real problems)
61:13 ? Moor pinched in to mark Antonio Di Nigris closely, a wide open Vela again received a cross from midfield
64:37 ++ Headed long pass from Mexico back to Donovan
65:31 + Headed long pass from across the back line back to Donovan
72:02 + Short pass to Donovan
75:10 + Short pass to Donovan
76:29 ? Moor again pinched in
81:19 + Short pass to Donovan
81:21 + Short pass to Edu
85:21 + Headed ball back to top of Mexico’s arc
86:01 + Short pass to Donovan
87:06 ++ Long pass to Adu (missed by Adu but that wasn’t Moor’s fault)


Obviously an important factor in the "rating" of Drew Moor is whether or not Bob Bradley was pleased or not pleased with his pinching in.

As far as the two goals go, Moor probably played Magallon too tightly on both goals. He also did not appear to run back at full speed, it is not clear why. Certainly at some point you would expect your keeper to enter the picture, especially on the first goal. Both goals were very difficult to stop, even with the best positioning. Corrales should have supported Moor on the second goal.

I would not hesitate for a minute to play Moor in the next US-Mex match.

[zerkdave]

I think you could be on to something. I think Corrales was definitely the weaker link. I recall him losing possession and being a bit slow. I was at the game and have yet to see the game on TV, but I don't really recall Moor constantly flubbing. He got berated on BS though...

Looking at the highlights it seems as though Moor needs to be a bit more aggressive and cautious at the sametime on set pieces. Seemed to me he got beat by allowing Jonny to get a head of steam and beating him to the spot completely -- bad foot work. He kind of had that blank face when those plays were developing. I was never a defender, but as a forward looking on I hated seeing that kind of stuff. Was not sure if he was outgunned or if he was, like you say, pinching in and concerned about other plays developing and lost concentration on his primary mark.

I was more disappointed in Corrales and Convey. Convey does not fit on this team anymore. What the hell was Convey doing on the that cross where donovan just barely missed Altidore? He was ball watching. If he would have crashed the goal, we would have had a goal. I have no patience for that at this level. I think that Mullan, Alvarez, Holden, Rogers and a host of others are better plays at this point.

[Swami]

Only on bigsoccer...I cringe at reading the predictions of a semi-finals place in the first half of 2010 again.

How can you lose the same player (a defender) on set pieces twice for goals and "probably be the best player?"

[NoSix]

Many felt Drew Moor was one of the worst if not the worst player for the US. Few expect to see him in a national team uniform any time soon. Yes, Drew Moor twice looked dreadful on two Jonny Magallon goals. But I make a claim that Moor actually played very well, and, in fact, he was probably the best player on the field.


Can't agree with this assessment. Yes, other than the two goals, the quality of Moor's defense was good, but it is the classic "other than the shooting, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?" situation. His offensive quality was below average. On the other hand, Corrales's situation was the opposite, good offensive quality, but poor defensively.

[Crazy_Yank]

I'd say that Moor has a better upside than Corrales, but neither should be on the national team.

[green94]

I'd say that Moor has a better upside than Corrales, but neither should be on the national team.

Certainly. Moor is about 8 years younger than Corrales.

[PVancouver]

I was more disappointed in Corrales and Convey. Convey does not fit on this team anymore. What the hell was Convey doing on the that cross where donovan just barely missed Altidore? He was ball watching. If he would have crashed the goal, we would have had a goal. I have no patience for that at this level. I think that Mullan, Alvarez, Holden, Rogers and a host of others are better plays at this point.
Actually, I feel Convey is getting more blame than he deserves, too.

Convey was at the center stripe at 27:14 when Dempsey, also near the center stripe, turned and fired a long pass to Donovan who continued running hard on the dribble and crossed to Altidore. Altidore was 30 yards ahead of Convey when the play began. I don't really think you can fault his effort on the play, in fact he made a strong effort to get as close to the play as he did.

[PVancouver]

Can't agree with this assessment. Yes, other than the two goals, the quality of Moor's defense was good, but it is the classic "other than the shooting, how was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?" situation. His offensive quality was below average. On the other hand, Corrales's situation was the opposite, good offensive quality, but poor defensively.

Well, I laid every play out on the timeline. Are there some that you disagree with? Because I don't see how anyone could say his "offensive quality was below average" with a basis in reality.

[Heathens '87]

Actually, I feel Convey is getting more blame than he deserves, too.

Convey didn't play well. That said, when he plays poorly, it's rarely disastrous in terms of missed shots or letting in goals. Part of that is his role, part of that is his experience, and part of that is his ability. A bad game from Convey is him not doing anything to be of much use. He disappeared.

Drew Moor, for whatever sequences he had where he did his job (yes, he did come forward offensively well at times) also managed to bite twice on a set play that led to two goals for Mexico. His errors made himself quite noticeable and overall he looked a tad overwhelmed by the skill and speed of Vela. If he has to make a choice as a fullback, don't sacrifice defensive positioning for other objectives.

He's fairly young and has time to show that he's learning and advancing his game. I hope he does that and gets another shot. But you have a game like he did against Mexico at any level of play, right down to U-12, and your coach isn't sitting down with you to tell you how those goals are somehow misleading in terms of your overall play. In reality, it's quite indicative.........

[boomersooner027]

Seems to me that the mistakes Moor made are very coachable things rather than personal defensive flaws. Moor's distribution wasn't great, but it's a hell of a lot better to boot the ball up the field to the other team in a non-dangerous position when you've gotten pressured rather than losing the ball and then fouling the Mexican player in an advanced position.

Plus the fact that this is USA-Mexico, Moor hasn't played a meaningful game in 3 months and this was what? his 3rd USA game?

[Heathens '87]

Seems to me that the mistakes Moor made are very coachable things rather than personal defensive flaws.

National teams really aren't the place for addressing such fundamental skills though. You get brought to a USMNT camp to work on playing together as a unit, not to work on individual weaknesses. If Moor isn't capable of marking a defender of Magallon's ability, then that's something he needs to work on with FC Dallas.

It's not as if he just found out that marking his man at the backpost on set pieces was kind of important. Perhaps he's used to being the better athlete in those situations and not having to worry about positioning. He got beat fair and square against a high-quality opponent. The work he needs to do now is at the club level though. Let's hope he responds to the challenge.........

[england66]

Drew Moor's best position is as a defensive m/f player....unfortunately for him he has been "shoehorned" into a central or wide right defensive position and has NEVER been played at his best position at the pro level.

[Nutmeg]

I hope you missed this touch unintentionally, but at 46:17 Moor played a crap pass to Bradley which was intercepted and resulted in the corner kick that led to Mexico's 2nd goal.

So, his crappy pass led to a turnover, which led to a corner kick. And his crappy marking led to a goal.

I find it hard to defend anything about Drew Moor's play in this game.

[KennyWoo]

I was shocked that Moor created that goal for Jozy w/ that great cross because I was at the Sweden game and his touch was horrible. I thought from an attacking standpoint he was complete garbage in the Sweden game. I recall being surprised by that because I was kind of high on him before that game. Then he put in such a howler defensively against Mexico, so he's pretty much a disaster in my book.

That's not to say he can't improve considerably, as he is young. But I'm pretty sure we win the Mexico game if we call up Frankie Hejduk. (Assuming Frankie was fit.)

[Marko72]

In three appearances for the Nats, I have never been remotely impressed with his play. In fact, from his first appearance in the Copa, he struck me as the least impressive of the younger players in the player pool. Nothing has changed that since. His whole game against Sweden was weak, and his entire game against Mexico (yes, he served up an excellent cross; he had plenty of time and space to do so... full credit for that) was best forgotten. Most of all by him, for his confidence's sake.

England66's remark is noted, and... that's unfortunate, isn't it? He'll have a hard time fighting his way into that group at the international level, though, even if a club manager somewhere does let him switch to a DM role.

[PVancouver]

I hope you missed this touch unintentionally, but at 46:17 Moor played a crap pass to Bradley which was intercepted and resulted in the corner kick that led to Mexico's 2nd goal.

So, his crappy pass led to a turnover, which led to a corner kick. And his crappy marking led to a goal.

I find it hard to defend anything about Drew Moor's play in this game.
Yes, it was a crap pass. I had caught it before but missed it for this review.

[zerkdave]

Convey didn't play well. That said, when he plays poorly, it's rarely disastrous in terms of missed shots or letting in goals. Part of that is his role, part of that is his experience, and part of that is his ability. A bad game from Convey is him not doing anything to be of much use. He disappeared.

Drew Moor, for whatever sequences he had where he did his job (yes, he did come forward offensively well at times) also managed to bite twice on a set play that led to two goals for Mexico. His errors made himself quite noticeable and overall he looked a tad overwhelmed by the skill and speed of Vela. If he has to make a choice as a fullback, don't sacrifice defensive positioning for other objectives.

He's fairly young and has time to show that he's learning and advancing his game. I hope he does that and gets another shot. But you have a game like he did against Mexico at any level of play, right down to U-12, and your coach isn't sitting down with you to tell you how those goals are somehow misleading in terms of your overall play. In reality, it's quite indicative.........

Yeah, Convey is rarely disastrous. He is just transparent. I would rather him be disastrous actually -- so we can move on. I can't remember any time he has changed a game other than the beautiful strike against Costa to win it. I want to say he got hurt shortly thereafter and was never made the same marks in the USMNT. I remember being really sold on him as the answer back then -- now not so much. In my opine, we have better options/experiments we can play.

It also seems to be he has lost a step -- or perhaps that is confidence merely.

[Lloyd Heilbrunn]

So "the best player on the field" is the guy who missed the stay goalside lesson in the U10s?

I hope others hold our Nats to higher standards than this, I know I try to.....

[Jay510]

David Regis and Jeff Agoos think Moor and Corrales suck.

[NoSix]

Well, I laid every play out on the timeline. Are there some that you disagree with? Because I don't see how anyone could say his "offensive quality was below average" with a basis in reality.

Well, it is open to debate who is seeing reality and who is wearing rose-colored glasses.

I count 8 passes to Mexico, the touches you list at 0:17, 0:46, 1:33, 9:02, 24:19, 35:47, 87:06, and the one at 46:11 that you missed, as well as a lost ball off the dribble at 49:22. Among US players, only Donovan and Howard had more unsuccessful passes.