PBP: 6/21 USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

Do we need to bunker down in the second half and wait for more goals from Brazil or we just keep attacking and attacking? Two obvious options...

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

The only time I yelled at Dempsey was when he made two turnovers in the about the span of a minute. But when Harkes wanted Dempsey to make a 70 yard run back and defend a counter, I laughed. That one left me scratching my head.

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

If Landon played like he is doing today say, 1/5 of his matches, he would be an absolutely acknowledged world class player with the like of Ferguson or Arsene looking at him with eager eyes.....
If

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

Yes, but we would pass on the goals scored tiebreaker.

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R]

We've had four great chances this half, mostly on the counter:
(1) Bradley running through from Dempsey's through ball on the ground
(2) Landon on the breakaway from Dempsey's long ball on a counter
(3) Landon running through on Bradley's great long ball on a counter
(4) Donovan not shooting and passing to Bradley on a counter at the end of the half (off of a ridiculous Egypt turnover)

Themes from this are:
-We need Donovan to finish his dangerous runs
-Egypt's midfield is in shambles and they are giving up tons of space for us to run at them. Given the Brazil score, I would expect them to consolidate space a lot more - this argues for Torres / Adu for the last 30 when we need to break them down with short passes in tight spaces.
-Dempsey and Bradley have put Donovan in great spaces to create / score
-Bradley and Donovan are very dangerous running from deep at the back four

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

Donovan is not playing the scoring role. That's the job of Jozy and Charlie.

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

No Egypt is in. We need to score at least two more.

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

Another goal for Brazil and the BS server will crash.

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

Yeah, Altidore has been pretty bad. Who do you sub on though? Casey in a 1 for 1? Or do you put Adu on?

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

If US gets an early goal, Egypt will park the bus.

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

I laughed.

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

it's pretty bad when we're getting the result we need in the other game, and we can't even help ourselves against an obviously fatigued team.

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

Yes. I agree with you there. But he's had 2 games now. It's time for someone else for this tournament. He needs to build experience with Villareal. He does have great potential, but he needs to be subbed if we are to advance to the 2nd round.

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

Yeah, I thought Dempsey had a decent half. Did a good job switching the field, and set up both of those great chances.

You can see when he's dribbling with the ball, he's either:

A) out of sync with teammates
B) or not getting support off the ball

There were three times he had a long 5 or 6-touch dribble across the field, and either didn't see or didn't get attacking options up top.

Davies and Donovan are working hard. I want Donovan to shoot the first chance he gets.

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

I've seen Clint out of position many times to give Clint a wash with two goods passes. Dempsey seems to try to play "smooth" but the reality is he lacks any defensive prowess which the US need all midfielders to own up on both responsibilities of O and D.

Demps needs to be benched and I think he is one of the guys that Lalas, Harkes and many others have implied there are US players who think they have a spot and don't think they are in jeopardy of not starting or feel like they are owe a spot - done enough.

 

Re: USA - Egypt PBP Thread, Confederations Cup[R to include Italy-Brazil]

You consider this to be "very, very good". He made one good pass to Bradley. Probably his first decent play of the tourney. The other pass out wide was the very definition of pedestrian: No pressure on him at all and a wide open Donovan. BFD.

The rest of the time he's been making back passes or doing what he normally does: losing possession.

A complete zero in terms of being any kind of attacking threat down the wing.

But who knows, maybe we'll see some more Blanco Hops to Nowhere.

 

Re: Davies complements Donovan

Couldn't even wait for the match to be over, could we?