USA vs. Malawi U17 World Cup pre/PBP/post game [R] 10/29/09 11am EST

Full time

USA wins 1-0

 

So do we owe their goalkeeper a college scholarship. (Just D-2 of course.) ;>)

 

I am very chill thank you. Notice I said a awful GAME. I haven't seen enough to warrant awful player. Jerome could bring pace and he is actually has some skill that could pay the bills.

However, what do I know, I labeled Tyler Polak as Toilet Paper and to me he seems to be playing the best out of every player on the team.

 

To watch the last 20 mins, we had so much useless midfield possession that if you squinted hard enough you'd swear we were wearing green.

 

I'm not impressed.

 

Wow.

Are our kids really this mediocre? This is the best we can find? What is going on?

 

Something must be terribly wrong with the youth program. I just cannot belive this is the best we have in our large vast population with so many kids playing soccer this days.
Very disappointing in all areas.

 

uh, did you watch jerome the first game? there is a reason he was on the bench

 

I don't know the rules, but why didn't we push for another goal? Do ONLY the top two teams advance or is it same as U-20s. IF not, we might have to beat UAE if Spain doesn't take them to the wood shed.

 

So they can't win against ten men and they need a huge amount of luck to slip by a team when they have the lions share of possession. Yeah, I'd say they'll be back in the States in time to finish up some left over Halloween candy.

 

Yep, this is it. Thank all the wonderful rec programs for the skill sets these kids have.

 

Uh, yes, uh I did watch. I have seen him in about 8 other games too. Very impressive.

I didn't think he had an awful game, uh.

 

Please don't tell me who we are missing, it really doesn't matter, unless you will say they left home 200 of them. I bet you there are 1000 kids out there with better soccer skill vision and awareness then this guys. I can find 11 kids here at the local youth level that will beat this guys hands down.

 

Stage fright? If they do happen to find their scoring touch they'd be able to light teams up....until then we'll be lucky to progress in the tournament.

 

KARMA..........I can't beleive that there isn't one congratulatory statement in here.. wether best game ever or worst game ever.. at this tournement - every win counts..

CONGRATULATIONS TO THIS WHOLE TEAM FOR GETTING THE JOB DONE.... GO USA>...

 

It was the ugly game. Thanks Mr. Cabrera for these great of players. you left most talent players behind.

I hope, he is fired for his job. Another Maradona wants to be..

Where are Guay, Lleget, Molano, Arjona, Shaq and others.

It was a beautiful goal, coach.

 

This is what everybody says........and then US soccer brings them in........and they blow.

These are kids. We won a game at a World Cup. No need to freak out.

 

This is a very, very good group of players, and a better than solid team - one of the best in the tournament.

We will see how the rest of the tournament pans out from here. Two very difficult and tricky matches - one for the opponent, the other for the conditions. The real one under test is the manager.

4 points should get us through to the next round pretty comfortably, perhaps even in second place depending on what happens in the Spain/UAE match. Management is key now.

McInerney MUST rest. As must Shinsky. Duran or Palodichuk needs rest as well and we may be without Watts altogether.

Also, Wilmer is going to have to make a decision on how the team will play. The current team style of play is in need of a forward playmaker, either a #10 midfielder or a playmaking second forward. Team play looked better with Gil in the CAM area, but he is not a line leading personality, just a very good soccer player. Jerome does well as a playmaking second forward, but of course that would mean you have to play him.

The test of this tournament is all about Wilmer. IF he makes the right decisions, the talent is strong enough to go all the way. If he makes the wrong ones, they could easily crash out in the next 1 or 2 matches.

 

The center mids and the forwards have just not been good enough these two games.

 

This just wasn't that bad. We got lucky with the goal we scored, but overall we dominated the game. We were not troubled defensively, mainly because we controlled the ball for such long periods. We have a few potential full teamers, and for once our team is trying to build an attack through the midfield. More positives than negatives in my eyes. Yeah it was dull, we were lacking in service, and in finishing, but this side is infinitely better than the last crop of U-17s,

 

ditto. this is what I wanted to say.

 

Cabrera seems like a mixed bag. His team is good at holding the ball and generally build from the back up to a certain point well. He has the keeper distribute solely from quick throws. They dominated possession in two games, so that is finally great to see from a USA side. However they are really poor at moving without the ball in the final third, finishing, crossing and defending. Cabrera's formation also seems a little odd. It essentially is a 442 except Gil drifts inside from the right leaving that entire side open. I thought this team used to play a straight 433 before, and with Gil's abilities a 433 would really seem to get the most out of what is obviously the best player on the team.

Is Cabrera an upgrade from Hackworth? I guess. It seems like a positive to finally see a more possession oriented team. After two games, I just don't think the positives outweigh the negatives. Then you throw in the controversy over Lletget, Gyau and Renken, and it just doesn't seem like Cabrera is a good long term option. But he's got a couple more games to really prove me wrong.

 

Don't let Julio draw you offside. He's been waiting for this for a long time now.