Both are hard to stomach. Klinsmanns baffling rosters and failures to call replacements lead him to play people where they should be played, causing us these issues. Honestly, I wouldn't hate the guys coaching so much if he'd fix that one issue. Why not call in Lichaj to cover rb and lb? Sure hes gonna suck going forward left, but he's not going to get undressed on tv like poor Boca. He might turn it over, but I guarantee he beats that guy back. And Dwill at RW...don't get me started. Trying to calm down for bed. Pontius would look so good there along with others. But he just wont do it. Very, very frustrating coach to have to pull for. 4 or 5 guys out and not a single body called in.
There was a moment in this game where I think Williams had the ball in the middle with the left side wide open and he had multiple touches before a run is made into that space. A quick run would have exploited that space and created a favorable situation for the US in the offensive third.
superdave Outside of his 3 chances, please cite something positive EJ provided. Note on all three chances, he is quite literally standing (stationary) In the box when the ball is played and only on the first one is there Even token defense once the cross is in the air (excepting the keeper). Compare this with MB's chance off the corner kick, MB actually makes A run. You are free to rate him due to his brace (near hat trick if the second header Is on frame), but i choose not to ignore the glaring lack defense that contributed To those chances.
glad to see you back GAM, may your CONCACAF goal scoring ways continue you guys are gonna love you some Alan Gordon, thats the guy you want starting against Guatemala right there. Dempsey was invisible tonight, and Herculez was woeful.
it hurts peoples feelings for some reason bringing up San Jose players. Youd think a team that is leading the league with a goal differential of the gods might have useful players for the senior team. i love love LOVE the idea of Lenhart for CONCACAF. they would hate him soooo much, but alas with klinsmann's playing posture and style he is the exact opposite that klinnsy wants. not fancy, bullys the defenders right back, not very quick, but ruthless in the air and a great hold up player. This is why Gordon is useful, hes got more skill on the ball for a big guy, can play those one touch passes on the ground and has good footwork for a big guy. not as good as say Coopers for instance, but Gordon plays like the big man that he is. and Wondo......god a match like this is begging for him. how you dont have the league leading goalscorer by a hell of a margin even on your bench is beyond me. and the Morrow criticism.......really guys......you would rather have Bocanegra at left back than Justin Morrow??? that is flat out lunacy. Morrow has made every convincing stride and effort this MLS season to be number two in the left back depth chart behind Fabian this year.
This. When our two best players (Demp and Bradley) are literally world class at pouncing on loose balls and running onto balls and scoring those ugly "garbage" goals it is astonishing we didn't play directly with two target forwards knocking balls down for Bradley and Dempsey. Unless you are Spain/Brazil/Germany there are certain opponents and fields that you just have to play different for. The scary part for me is that when klinsi called in EJ and Gordon you figured he realized that tactically we were going to have to play route one on a bowling lane of a pitch, which makes a lot of sense. But then he doesn't. He tries to play possession with that roster. frightening.
As parched for goals as we have been, but it's like goalscoring doesn't count anymore. Bizarre, even for this place. But I guess if we give EJ credit, then Klinsi gets some for calling him up.....
You may be new to qualifying, but goal scoring is always very hard to come by, even against the minnows. Somehow the whole forum has collectively forgotten how ugly away games are and how important it is to just get a result. Eddie could have been taking a nap on the sideline for the rest of the time as far as I'm concerned - he may have been "literally standing (stationary)" but he took those chances very well and buried them. And just a friendly reminder to the SJ and Seattle fans, this is a National team forum, we all leave our club colors at home here.
It was a combination of the size of the pitch, the quality of the pitch, the weather and the opposition knowing all of the above.
I have the feeling that Lenhart wouldn't last 30 minutes vs a lot of CONCACAF referees. (A point I hope he learns before he plays in the Concachamps next season.)
I remember a few years ago, when Steve McLaren was in charge of the Three Lions, one of the Fleet Street rags had the late Bobby Robson doing the post-game analysis. (I think it was a 0-0 tie at Israel, March, 24, 2007) and Bobby said, "You see, the team was designed to play for a cross into the box but we only had Andy Johnson in there and Andy Johnson, by himself, isn't going to win you many headers". And this was the same situation tonight. Poor fit with the players not capable of executing the tasks given to them. Which is, of course, on the coaching staff.
Yea, I love Zusi - like full on Zusi love here... but Bradley is better than Zusi. Of course they play two completely different roles for the most part, and who knows if Zusi will continue on his trajectory... But yea - I'm glad he's getting his chance and he's got the confidence to do something with it. I've enjoyed watching him play since '09 when I would go to (then) KCW practices. He's always read the game really well and is now both capable of putting the right pass down and confident enough to try it. In my opinion, confidence has always been a huge factor in his performance, as if he isn't playing with confidence then it negates his ability to read the game as he second-guesses himself long enough that what he saw is no longer available. As such, I'm not sure he's really all that dependable just yet - which is to say that I'm happy when he's selected, but if he isn't then I figure that is because he's just not 'up' for it.
True to an extant, but it depends on what question your asking. If you know you want heading, then yes, Eddie definitely helped his case and did a great job. However, if you want a more complete performance, Eddie didn't have that. Very 1 dimensional performance. Thats not a bad thing exactly, but it is what it is.
He did not play Altidore's spot, so I'm not sure how you get that. One game against Antigua & Barbuda proves what now?
Do we know for sure that this field's dimensions were actually illegal? Or did they draw them out to the bare minimum width & length requirements? While watching last night I was reminded of SJ Clash games I used to go to at Spartan Stadium back in the mid-late 90s, although technically I think that field's dimensions were illegal (and FIFA allowed the exception, as they often tended to do for MLS in its early days). Anyway, if last night's field was indeed an illegal dimension then the USSF need to make a formal complaint to FIFA or CONCACAF. The more sneaky gamesmanship we can eliminate in this region the better.
Let's be honest- EJ and Gordon should be the best players in the USL. Antigua plays in the USL (poorly, I might add). So there should be no trouble for us to beat them with EJ and Gordon (no offense guys, I think you played well last night). We aren't going to beat Mexico with EJ and Gordon. Period. I'm relieved that we got a 2-1 win, but we are still vastly under-performing to expectations.
international games, min-max: length: 110 - 120 yds width: 70-80 yds Formal complaints about the playing field must be filed before kick off.
Good point. Which is why Donovan was sorely missed out there. The only times we were dangerous was when we played quickly, decisively, with one-touch passing. Donovan is the king of the one-touch pass for our team. He is the king at moving the ball quickly through midfield to forward. He is the king at being decisive and providing that final pass for our team.
This is true, of course. Which is why I'm not freaking out too badly. But there still is the matter of not really threatening going forward while playing against a significantly weaker team. Qualifying often is hard. Goals often are hard to come by. But when playing a much weaker opponent, a team with a good game plan usually won't have to eke out a one-goal win by scoring in the 90th minute. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19922447
The BeinSport commentator mentioned that we had them measure the dimensions- and it was the minimum 110x70
Note to Ireland: When hosting a stronger, technically superior opponent at home, don't bring them to your beautifully manicured and expansive pitch. Take them to a unevenly cut, muddy, short and narrow pitch somewhere out in the hinterlands.
superdave Beacuse you can't. I'm not new to qualifying, and yes, scoring still counts. If you think future Opponents will allow him to stand around in the box unmarked, by all Means start him every match. Otherwise we need to find a way to actually Create chances and not depend on being gifted scoring opportunities.