US v. Honduras: Post Game Analysis

Discussion in 'USA Men: News & Analysis' started by uniteo, Jan 23, 2010.

  1. roadkit

    roadkit Greetings from the Fringe of Obscurity

    Jul 2, 2003
    Fornax Cluster
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Here's my "post-game analysis": WTF was that? :mad:
     
  2. Heathens '87

    Heathens '87 Member

    United States
    Mar 4, 2004
    Michigan
    Club:
    RSC Anderlecht
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I simply suggested that an evaluation of MLS-based players in a January camp has to take into account that it's been several months since they played a competitive match. That lends itself to a bit of rustiness, which was clearly on display last night for just about every MLS player not named Bornstein. In a larger sense, it goes back to the ongoing argument over the timing of the MLS season and what that means for international duty.

    And as you point out, Bob has to make a WC roster selection based on evaluation of MLS players that doesn't include current form to the degree that it should...
     
  3. Sachin

    Sachin New Member

    Jan 14, 2000
    La Norte
    Club:
    DC United
    Let me add one more sale: Camp Cupcake. It's time for Camp Cupcake to go. We're not getting much out of it anymore.
     
  4. YankatOxford

    YankatOxford Member+

    Oct 15, 2007

    I think it would have looked like Bob had chosen to start a keeper who has no chance of making it to the WC. Perkins was at least in (distant) contention for the # 3 keeper spot. But that's over now. If healthy It'll be Howard, Guzan, and Hahnemann, and Marcus is looking like a good bet to be #2.
     
  5. Susaeta

    Susaeta BigSoccer Supporter

    Apr 3, 2009
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Agreed. These two require other soccer players around them. When the team is stagnant, as it was last night, they look bad. I thought both looked to combine, but neither were given the options they needed.

    If anything disappoints me about having three weeks together to work out how you play as a team, it is this. The US still does not combine well. Honduras gave the US a lesson in it last night.
     
  6. Jr Galaxy

    Jr Galaxy New Member

    Sep 2, 2007
    Covina,CA
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If he is healthy and getting PT at pachuca,,he is a lock in my view. He has a quality we really lack on the team. His poise on the ball and passing is superb and I rather have him,rather than those that just launch the ball 35 yards foward whenever they are in trouble. He can help us keep possession.....we will see more in the next international friendly,,But BOB needs to play him.
     
  7. TrueCrew

    TrueCrew Member+

    Dec 22, 2003
    Columbus, OH
    Club:
    Columbus Crew
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    To continue on in this vein, I wasn't impressed with Benny at all last night. He needed to take this game by the scruff of the neck and by our leader out there. He didn't do that. I'm not sure there is room on the roster for Feilhaber & Torres, and Benny hasn't done much since 2007 to warrant inclusion, really.

    Like others, Bornstein is MOTM.

    No one else (except maybe Goodson) did much to really help their chances last night. Guys like McCarty, Davis, and Bedoya just don't have realistic shots, IMHO. But do deserve another shot/look vs. El Salvador. As do Alston and Cameron.

    We don't have much depth at all.

    Best news last night was for guys who didn't play: Holden, Torres, Hahnemann, Beasley. Even Ching and Cooper. Or, gasp, Hejduk.
     
  8. blue_wizard10

    blue_wizard10 New Member

    Mar 29, 2004
    Neverland
    Club:
    Hannover 96
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'd take Johnny B in Hannover in a heartbeat!!! Problem is...i'm not sure they can afford him :eek:
     
  9. MarioKempes

    MarioKempes Member+

    Real Madrid, DC United, anywhere Pulisic plays
    Aug 3, 2000
    Proxima Centauri
    Club:
    Real Madrid
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    When you step back and think about it, this was the expected result given the circumstances. Let's analyze.

    Before the match, I expected a 2-1 result for the USA. The stupid 2nd yellow at 18' from Conrad did 3 things:

    (1) Gave up an immediate PK.
    (2) Denied the USA 1 goal on offense due to lack of possession.
    (3) Gave Honduras an additional goal due to being shorthanded and in disarray.

    USA 2 + (-1) Honduras 1 + (1 + 1) ==> USA 1 Honduras 3

    So Conrad's gaffe caused a 3 goal swing to the negative. In some ways he ruined the friendly experiment, but in another way he created a different kind of test -- a test to see who would best respond to adversity. Should Conrad be penalized for his blunder? Yes, I think so. Exclude him from the El Salvador and Netherlands matches, and give him a shot in the remaining friendlies. Even though nothing is scheduled after Netherlands, I expect we'll see at least one more friendly in April or May. Bear in mind that Conrad turns 33 next month, and was already on the bubble.

    So who were the winners and losers? Let's ignore Bornstein and Feilhaber, as they were already locks for SA.

    Winners: Perkins (nearly stopped the penalty, good positioning all night, a couple of nice saves), Goodson (goal), Brad Davis (assist, beautiful free kick, good passing), Bedoya (nice header and good passing)

    Losers: Cunningham (seemed lost up front), Kljestan (ball watching on 3rd goal, no impact), Beckerman (did not impress), Conrad

    Undecided: Wynne (good workrate, very fast, but no soccer brain or skills), Marshall, Findley (not much to do), Pearce (invisible), Casey (should have scored -- use right foot), McCarty (not enough time), Rogers (played left back, not his usual position)

    YMMV
     
  10. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    In a couple of hours (11:30 PST) Algeria will be playing Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations.

    A good chance to see a rival the USA must defeat in South Africa. They are a fast team, that counters on the sides and is particularly good at short passing.

    Like the USA, they lack good strikers and their defense is arguably weaker. A good chance to survey the field. Keep an eye on Mansouri (their Bradley, the guy who will be facing Clark) and Bezzaz (their Donovan, the guy who will be facing Spector or Dolo).
     
  11. luftmensch

    luftmensch Member+

    .
    United States
    May 4, 2006
    Petaluma
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    If we ever did. Most memorable thing I can come up with is that Frankie Hejduk is the master of the beep test, always wondered about that one.
     
  12. oldguyfc

    oldguyfc New Member

    Sep 26, 2006
    Chicago
    It's the little things that bothered me the most about this team last night.
    A thing like first touch, and why no one seems to have one, about one-touch soccer, and why the attempt to play that way is so woefully lacking from everyone, including Bornstein.
    Speed of play is determined by both of these factors, and a plodding, ineffective decision making group of players makes for a long evening no matter what the scenario.
    It's easy enough to say that "we're just not good enough", but for all the athleticism that the US seems to have, their ability to translate that ability on the field comes down to their inability to play a very simple style of soccer - I'm not sure who's feet one would lay that responsibility at, but surely that has to be an obvious situation in training.
     
  13. Suyuntuy

    Suyuntuy Member+

    Jul 16, 2007
    Vancouver, Canada
    I've pretty much had it with Beckerman.

    The guy was supposed to be the organizing force in the team. During the Gold Cup, he could do it against weak teams but failed brutally in the final. He's already 27, and he doesn't show the "football IQ" needed for the role.

    Time to stop beating that horse, BB.
     
  14. JeremyEritrea

    JeremyEritrea Member+

    Jun 29, 2006
    Takoma Park, MD
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Money.

    As in that's what USSF gets out of the games, not that your post is on the money :D
     
  15. Pass-n-Go

    Pass-n-Go Member+

    Jul 5, 2008
    Bradley would have added steel in the midfield. Bradley's offensive game is the biggest contribution to the team in my opinion. He would not be there due to his club and the importance of the game. This team was really missing Clark. With him moving abroad, Bob did not have a replacement for the game.
     
  16. Clint Eastwood

    Clint Eastwood Member+

    Dec 23, 2003
    Somerville, MA
    Club:
    FC Dallas
    I don't agree.

    It does exactly what it's supposed to do. It gets a whole bunch of guys, including many newbies, into the USMNT fold. The game itself is just one part of the 3 week process. And part of the process is learning which guys aren't going to cut it.

    Plus, the guys get paid. Many of these MLS players don't make a hell of a lot of cash, and I'm sure they like the cash injection for being there.
     
  17. Plan B

    Plan B New Member

    Aug 9, 2004
    Chicago
    Hadn't thought about it like that, but if our best players are all in Europe that becomes true. The number of guys in this camp who will be in the WC is way down from this time four years ago and you'd assume that pattern will continue.
     
  18. Missionary

    Missionary Member

    Jul 13, 2003
    Mission Viejo
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    True, biggest problem from my position in the cheap seats last night was the center mids were not taking the control and getting others involved. That really hurt. Also as I said earlier, there were several times when Rogers was wide open and he could not get the ball from a teamate. Instead a pass would be lobbed over a forwards head or put directly into trouble. How difficult is it to put the ball into space? It was like the CMs were playing with blinders.
     
  19. deron

    deron New Member

    Jul 25, 2006
    Centennial, CO
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I was looking for a lot more from Benny than any other player on the field. Regular playing time in Denmark, reports of success there, and the fact that he's the one player that should expect to be in action sooner than the rest ...

    just thought we should, and could, expect.... more.

    I realize there on break in Denmark, but is that really equivalent to off-season?
     
  20. KZ Man

    KZ Man Member

    Jun 12, 2006
    NoVa
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Don't know about his right foot, but his right boot (and the left) are available on E-bay.
     
  21. SAMBA

    SAMBA Member

    Sep 3, 2004
    New Jersey
    Wynne speed is actually killing him. He joins in the attack (which is good) and when opposing teams counter (and hes caught out of position) he has the blazing pace to recover…..except that only worked at UCLA and occasionally in MLS. At this level once a player is by you, he's by you and that is all the chance he needs. He is a positional nightmare and until he learns how to play the position his speed is wasted on nothing.

    Didnt he have big Euro clubs looking to sign him in college or after the Olympics?
     
  22. SAMBA

    SAMBA Member

    Sep 3, 2004
    New Jersey
    Benny has touch, he showed that yesterday several times....you cant teach that. Its huge for an American soccer player to have.

    The passes will come with a better supporting cast. Keep him.....
     
  23. Missionary

    Missionary Member

    Jul 13, 2003
    Mission Viejo
    Club:
    Los Angeles Galaxy
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Benny's first half was terrible. He was not making passes to open players and was not taking control and getting the players involved.
     
  24. Heathens '87

    Heathens '87 Member

    United States
    Mar 4, 2004
    Michigan
    Club:
    RSC Anderlecht
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Someone mentioned a valid point earlier and it's that Benny is often as good as those around him. He lacked familiarity with the squad yesterday, especially with Beckerman as his center-midfield partner, the red-card robbed the midfield of runs by Rogers, Kljestan disappeared, and we had two new additions at striker. But with Donovan, Dempsey, Bradley, Clark, Davies, Altidore, etc., suddenly Benny looks and plays to a higher level.

    What I was hoping for Feilhaber was to show that he could bring more to the squad than the super-sub role he appears destined to play in SA. He wasn't able to take this second-unit and make them better with his play. It's not as if he had a game that threatens his standing, but he could've had a game that forces Bob into viewing him differently and he didn't.

    In fairness to Benny, we all might want him to be something he isn't, namely the next Harkes or O'Brien to solidify the midfield distribution role and make us much more dangerous against WC-level teams......
     
  25. USAin2006

    USAin2006 Member

    Sep 7, 2004
    NYC
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't agree with this at all. Davis strikes a dead ball better than anyone else in the Nats pool at the moment.
     

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