9/8 US vs. Brazil, Foxboro

Ye of little faith.

 

Of course the games where Wood struggles or the more typical game where he runs around and fails to finish point to other answers.

It is also impossible to struggle in an international game that one does not appear in.

 

Klinnsman, and whatever he does at practice, is hell on hammys.

 

Yup. This is going to be hard to argue.

 

They need to rethink the warmup routine.

 

I, too, would like to see us dominate and win against Brazil. I would also like to win the lottery and buy a small Caribbean archipelago where I could live the rest of my days hammocking in sun-drenched splendor while buxom island ladies bring me the beverages of my choice.

Neither of these is impossible. Neither is especially probable, either. So given reality, I will hope for something that approaches the first 45min of the Confeds Cup final '09, and hope against something that is like the various other pastings we've suffered at the hands of the Samba Boys. (But I'm still holding out for the lottery/island thing.)

 

Jones on his approach to Brazil: “I go into games saying they don’t know me before, I want them to know me after the game.” #USMNT

— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) September 7, 2015

 

Doug McIntyre ‏@DougMacESPN 4h4 hours ago
Klinsmann says Geoff Cameron is needed at right back, suggests he'll stay there and not move to the middle for the time being. #usmnt

Jeff Carlisle ‏@JeffreyCarlisle 4h4 hours ago
Klinsmann says Jozy Altidore is "physically on a different level" compared to the Gold Cup. #usmnt

Doug McIntyre ‏@DougMacESPN 4h4 hours ago
Klinsmann singing Ventura Alvarado's praises, calls him "a huge talent." Sounds like he's starting vs. Brazil. #usmnt

Doug McIntyre ‏@DougMacESPN 4h4 hours ago
Klinsmann says John Brooks, who sat out yesterday's training with muscle tightness, "should be alright" to play tomorrow. #usmnt

 

So we're still on Alvarado and Brooks against Brazil then? *breaks out the popcorn*

 

Alvarado will get toasted if he gets isolated against pretty much any of the attackers or even mid Brazil is bringing.

 

^Popcorn is right. Question is, if we get toasted, then what do we do about the CBs against Mexico? Consistency? What the hell is that?

 

Good point. We better start the CBs who will not be toasted if they get "isolated against pretty much any of the attackers or even mid Brazil is bringing".

Klinsmann and staff need those names immediately!

 

Look, Alvarado is particularly weak 1v1. I'm just stating a weakness he has in comparison to others in the pool. There is no need to argue about it.

I agree we are not favorites in this game, obviously.

 

Here is the line-up I’d like to see Jurgen Klinsmann start tomorrow against Brazil:


-------------------------------------Guzan---------------------------------------


Cameron------------Gonzales-------------------Brooks----------------Ream


---------------------------Bradley---------------Jones--------------------------


Yedlin---------------------------------------------------------------------Zardes


----------------------------Altidore------------Johannsson---------------------


1. Center-Back

Assuming John Brooks’ hamstring is 100 percent, I would start Omar Gonzales and Brooks at center-back against Brazil over Ventura Alvarado and Michael Orozco. If player X has a better chance than player Y of playing and starting against Mexico on October 10, then that should weigh in favor of X's starting over Y tomorrow. And Gonzales and Brooks are the center-backs who are available tomorrow that have the best chance of playing and starting against Mexico on October 10. First, Gonzales is more experienced than Ventura Alvarado and Michael Orozco. Gonzales has 29 caps, compared to Alvarado’s 11 and Orozco’s 18 appearances; and 4 of Orozco’s caps have come at right back. Moreover, Gonzales and Brooks are more athletic, physically stronger and much better in the air than Alvarado and Orozco. In addition, at Club America, Alvarado might have lost his starting position to Paolo Goltz. So, Alvarado might not get significant playing time between now and the U.S.’s playoff against Mexico on the 10th, which would make it problematic to start him against Mexico on the 10th.

Furthermore, Gonzales’ overall level of play at center-back for the U.S. has been higher than Alvarado’s and Orozco’s. Gonzales has been more physically dominant. He also was very good in the U.S.’s 0-0 draw against Mexico in the 2013 World Cup qualifier at the Azteca and good against Germany and Belgium in the World Cup. In comparison, Alvarado struggled in the 2015 Gold Cup. He was partly responsible for Honduras’ goal in the U.S.’s 2-1 win against them and was partly at fault for Panama’s goal in the U.S.’s 1-1 draw against them in Kansas City. Orozco -- though solid overall for the U.S. -- has been more quiet at center-back than Gonzales.

Finally, Brooks played well against Peru. I would give him a 6 for the match. His passing was quite good. He also didn’t make any egregious mistakes, though he was out of position on Peru’s goal, which might have contributed to Gonzales back-peddling initially. I think Gonzales thought that the runner to Gonzales’ left (Advincula) was in a dangerous position. Brooks should have been marking Advincula. However, Gonzales should have stepped up rather than retreating. The Peru shooter was close to the goal, and Tim Ream eventually had Advincula. Here is a link to the highlights of the match:



Peru's goal-sequence starts at minute :11.

Incidentally, if Matt Besler were still with the team for tomorrow’s game, I would start Gonzales and Besler at center-back tomorrow. I think they are center-back combination that likely would give the U.S. the best chance of defeating Mexico on October 10 in the CONCACAF Cup. Gonzales and Besler are more experienced than Brooks. Gonzales has 29 caps, Besler 26 and Brooks 18.

Moreover, Gonzales and Besler have good experience playing together. They have started together for the U.S. 12 times and played together 13 times. And when they have started together, the U.S. has almost always played at least solidly. Their record is 6 wins, 3 losses and 3 draws. The wins include the U.S.’s 4-3 win against Germany at RFK Stadium and three important World Cup qualifiers in a row in 2013, namely the U.S.’s 2-1 win against Jamaica at The Office (the U.S.’s only win ever at The Office), the U.S.’s impressive 2-0 win against Panama in Seattle, and the U.S.’s 1-0 win against Honduras in Utah. The only matches the U.S. has lost when Gonzales and Besler have started together were against Germany and Belgium in the World Cup and, in 2013, against Costa Rica in San Jose, Costa Rica for a World Cup qualifier. As for the latter match, the U.S.’s all-time record in games against Costa Rica in Costa Rica is 0 wins, 8 losses and 1 draw. Moreover, the U.S.’s draws when Gonzales and Besler have started together at center-back came in the following games:

1. The U.S.’s 0-0 draw against Canada in January of 2013, Gonzales’ and Besler’s very first caps for the U.S.;
2. The U.S.’s 0-0 draw against Mexico at the Azteca in an important World Cup qualifier in March of 2013;
3. The U.S.’s 2-2 draw against Mexico in Arizona in April of 2014, and Mexico scored the game-tying goal after Besler had been taken out.

In contrast, Gonzales and Brooks have played together at center-back only twice – against Austria in Vienna in 2013 (1-0 U.S. loss) and in the first half against Peru on Friday night. Meanwhile, Besler and Brooks have never played together.


2. 4-4-2?

Against Peru, the U.S. started in a 4-4-2 and played quite well. And the 4-4-2 has been the U.S.’s best formation since Bora Milutinovich was the coach and especially during Bruce Arena’s and Bob Bradley’s tenures. Moreover, when the U.S. plays elite times (for instance, Brazil), the U.S. usually doesn’t have the majority of possession, and sometimes the U.S. has far less possession than their opponent. The 4-4-2 does enable the U.S. to be dangerous offensively even when we don’t have the majority of possession. The two forwards can create danger by themselves, or with only a couple midfielders to help. That is what occurred during the 2009 Confederations Cup, when the U.S. beat Egypt 3-0, Spain 2-0 and lost to Brazil 3-2 in extra time. Altidore, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan and Charlie Davies were able to generate significant offense even when we didn’t have the majority of possession.

Although the 4-4-2 makes the U.S. vulnerable to getting significantly outplaying in midfield, the team did alright in the midfield against Peru on Friday night. And Michael Bradley will be available tomorrow, which will help the midfield. However, if the U.S. starts in a 4-4-2 tomorrow and is getting dominated in midfield, perhaps Aron Johannsson should drop deeper into midfield. That would give the U.S. another player to help try to compete in midfield.

Also, if the U.S. is struggling in midfield tomorrow, Klinsmann could bring in Mix Diskerud in at the half, remove one of the forwards and play a 4-2-3-1, with Diskerud playing underneath the forward. So, the line-up would be this:

-------------------------------------Guzan---------------------------------------


Cameron------------Gonzales-------------------Brooks----------------Ream


---------------------------Bradley---------------Jones--------------------------


Yedlin--------------------------------Diskerud--------------------------Zardes


-----------------------------------------Altidore---------------------------------

Diskerud played well against Peru. He helped link the midfield to the forwards with his passes and dribbling. He also brought energy and possession. In hindsight, it was a good decision by Klinsmann to have Diskerud on the roster for these two friendlies. Although Diskerud hasn’t stood out for New York City FC this season, he hasn’t played badly for them, and he usually has played well for the U.S. He also can play a role that the U.S. struggles to fill. Other than Michael Bradley, we don’t have many obvious candidates to help connect the central midfield to the forwards. Diskerud can do that.


3. Jermaine Jones

Assuming Jermaine Jones can get through tomorrow’s game without an injury, Klinsmann made a good decision to play Jones in these two friendlies. Given how long Jones had been out because of injury, it would have been hard for him to start – or even play – against Mexico on October 10 if he hadn’t played in one or both of these friendlies. He wouldn’t have been up to speed with the team. Moreover, if Jones is healthy and playing well prior to the playoff against Mexico, I think he probably should start in the match. He adds a lot to the U.S. team. He covers a lot of ground, plays good defense, and can made good passes, especially when he is playing within himself. He also can make great plays that change a game, like the wonderful goal that he scored against Portugal in the World Cup and the near-goal that he had at the end of the first half against Peru. Those plays can lift the team.


4. Jozy Altidore

Jozy Altidore played well against Peru. But I’m very concerned that he is lifting weights too frequently -- and weights that are too heavy -- with his upper body. He looks less agile and mobile than he did before he bulked up so much. He looks slower now, and not as nimble. I built up my upper body too much with weightlifting. It really hurt my soccer. I wish I knew then what I know now. Look at Klinsmann. He scored 56 goals for West Germany and Germany and scored many goals for some of the best clubs in the world, and he had a very slim upper body. Of course, it is good for Altidore to strengthen his core -- his abdominal muscles. But I think he has overdone it with respect to his shoulders, chest, biceps, triceps and lats. I hope he will be more careful.

There are some great pro soccer players with fairly muscular upper bodies, for instance, Didier Drogba and Cristiano Ronaldo. But they are the exception rather than the rule. Also, they don’t seem to me to be as bulky as Altidore is right now.

 

I disagree that Alvarado is particularly weak 1v1 in comparison to the rest of our pool. Cameron is our best 1v1 CB but Alvarado and Brooks are not far behind particularly the further outside the box they have to defend. Gonzales is clearly our weakest on the ground 1v1 defender.

All of them are likely toast if they are left isolated against Brazil for any lenght of time.

Here is Boca and Gooch v Brazil in 2012.

 

Goal 1. PK against Gooch for a handball
Goal 2. "Criminal defending" on a set piece from Jones.
Goal 3. US counters, Donovan plays a flick into Jones' stride, evading Marcelo closing him down. Jones loses a 1v1 duel because his touch is too central, and Edu can't cleanup and play it forward. Marcelo takes it the other way, gets the cutback. Mike left him, Boca didn't step off the line, Jones is trailing. Howard guesses far post.
Goal 4. Gooch doesn't come out enough, Pato cherry picks at the back post.

 

Already suggested that Alvarado is starting against Mexico. So Besler would have to play over one of Jurgen's German boys in Brooks. Get your flip-flopping and blind rationalizations ready, Jurgen apologist crew.

Before, Jurgen didn't need to see anymore of Besler because he played so well against Peru. Then comes the mysterious injury for Besler, subjective claim about a dip in club form, or justification he was "a little behind" Brooks/Alvarado in camp when he beasted in the first friendly but was removed before the second.

 

If goal #2 is "Criminal Defending" even though Gooch was supposed to mark Silva then Goal 3 is "Criminal defending" by the #6 who decided to not try to stop any Brazil player on their transition attack.

In any case there was no CB isolated 1v1 against Brazilian attackers.

 

I can't get behind a suggestion to start Johannsson or Wood over Morris against Brazil. If we are pragmatic, the lion's share of our chances are going to come on the counter-attack, where Johannsson's lack of footspeed gets exposed. He can't run onto a long ball or thru ball very proficiently. He needs the ball played into his feet. Even then when he starts far away from goal he's pretty useless without help. That Altidore flick against Peru, Morris is 1 v. 1 with the gk there with little doubt. You can launch balls to the corner of the box (where the fb's vacated) to him and he can beat defenders to them. Greenness or not, he has a better chance to have success in this situation. And if he does, then plays in the Olympic qualifiers, he gets a special talent exception to join Southampton or some other mid-table Premier League club.

Otherwise, we could play one CF in Jozy, with Mix in behind, and Zardes plus Yedlin joining the attack on the wings. Also a superior option to starting Johannsson, which is just the unimaginative, settling thing to do which will probably end up backfiring. That and starting Ream at LB means little attack and getting abused by Douglas Costa.

 

By the time of the Brazil match, Gooch and Boca were nearing the end of their international careers.

Ventura is weak in the air. Let's also not forget his getting spun like a top, by old man Blas Perez on the latter's group stage match goal.

 

Just curious, does anyone have a list of Alvarado's gaffes that have resulted in goals?

 

That was a goodie. Oh, and btw, could we please revive that fkin home kit? Thanks.

 

Oh, here we go again.

Anyone want to provide proof for this claim or is getting a red-card enough proof that someone had a bad start to the season?

 

So, considering World Cup Goal Difference vs Germany, we should win by 5, right?

 

That never happened, you just made that up.

Are you confusing Alvarado with Gonzo letting Cooper run right by him in the box only to have Ream clear the shot off the line?