I think Dolo is our captain. Hands down. No questions asked. I think he was outstanding against Italy and strong against Ghana. The entire team was crap against the Czechs, but i still think the early goal had A LOT to do with that. As for the mistake against Morrocco, I was at the game. Dolo was playing right wing/midfield and was forced to track back when our CBs got caught upfield. Pablo made the bigger mistake in the sequence and left dolo out to dry. Dolo was tentative - but he was also being played out of his comfort zone.
I really hated Arena taking him out of the Czech Rep. and Ghana games. He provides width in the attack, and there were many other people that could have been removed from the game instead of him, especially Beasley. Arena must have believed that he needed to have 5 in the midfield at all times.
I just watched the first half of the USA-CZE game today...wasn't NEARLY as bad as I remembered it. They got the early goal, the play evened out and we even had a few chances (Reyna's shot off the post wasn't just "close"...it was literally a matter of inches. gah!). Then Rosicky had a wonder strike and there was your ballgame. Also, Donovan was most definitely playing as a forward in that game, until the 2nd half when EJ came in and Donovan slid back. Anyway, Cherundolo got badly beaten by Nedved once on a play that easily could've been whistled. He had a few bad crosses but some nice ones as well. Beasley really had a nightmare. I was also surprised to see the Pope didn't play as badly as everyone remembers (in the first half, anyway) and Gooch played worse than everyone remembers. McBride also wasted some potential chances. I honestly think, with all the respect and admiration that is due to McBride, that as far as finishing goes he was pretty lousy in the cup. If he would've been up to his regular snuff we may have gone through. Yeah yeah, woulda coulda shoulda. But it's interesting to see how 8 months of perspective makes things look different.
Stevie occasionally plays in midfield for Hannover (and he did play there regularly in BuLi2 earlier in his career) and is one of the most skilled US players regardless of the position. Bruce should have just pushed him up and taken out ... eh, Donovan, for Ching or Wolff. As a side note, Lewis for Convey sub was also a pretty dumb one - you don't do a like-for-like late in the game and needing two goals to advance.
I think Stevie C. was pulled in the Czech game because we moved to a three man backline (didn't we?) and as a RWB, playing in a three-man defensive line really isn't Steve's strength. Still, I think he's one of the best players on the USMNT, and is as much of a lock at his position as anyone on the team. He's an excellent candidate for team captain, and I really hope he gets it!
I'll second that motion. All those in favor, say "aye" Great, that's done. Bob, you reading? Somehow, I doubt it.
Does anyone have a USA-Italy tape that they can copy and send to me? Will pay for all shipping costs. If anyone has the tape / time to copy / and is generous enough to do this favor for me, please contact me directly. Thank you very much, in advance.
I completely disagree. I thought his play in the first half was very poor and while he looked good in the second half I would like to see more consistancy. I can chalk some of it up to the mass confusion that seemed to exists in what Bruce wanted from his players, but I don't think he was one of the best US players in this game or at the 2006 WC. I'd put his performance solid in the middle. World Cup 2006 Top - Gooch, Dempsey & Conrad Middle - Reyna, Donovan, McBride, Chund, Convey, Mastro & Beasley Low - Lewis, Pope & Boca
Top : Keller (which ain't saying much), Cherundolo, Onyewu (see the point about Keller?), Dempsey, Bocanegra (with a cringe but he was actually solid) Middle : Reyna (would have been in the top group, if not for the giveaway), Lewis, Convey, Beasley (played as well as could be expected, being out of position), Olsen, Conrad, McBride Low : Donovan, Mastroeni (stupid red card), Pope (the worst), Johnson Incomplete : Wolff.
I completely forgot about that until you just mentioned it!!! That was brilliant. What a match to see live. It was the first day of my wife's and my arrival to Germany and the WC06... what a moment!
My turn: Glimpses of Potential: Dempsey Adequate: Keller, Cherundolo, Reyna, Convey, Boca, Conrad, Oneywu Underperformed: Donovan, Mastro, Pope, Beasley, Lewis, and Arena Incomplete: Johnson, Wolff, McBride (isolated role) Irrellevant: Everyone else.
These are my thoughts exactly. I was not impressed at all, but my expectations were higher. However, as you very wisely pointed out, I felt he was also victim of Arena's "boundaries"... for instance, the Czech Republic game he was just abominable... his services in particular (which his own doing), but it did seem like he was hesitant to go forward into space. I couldn't tell if this was due to his own pants wetting or if Arena had his leash on him. I think Steve recovered better, but still did not see the consistancy that was needed to convince me that he was our best outside back. (not sure we had one!) I think another player that was also in the "no man's land" of Arena's was Demarcus Beasley. I know his performance will speak for itself and YES, he did not do his best this cup nor was he in peak fitness; however, Arena plays him on the right against the Czech's when he is clearly comfortable playing with Lewis on the left; then against Italy, he is a none factor until we lose more players and space opens up for Beasley to slip in behind or in front of the Italian defense; and finally, Arena utilizes him in a role where he can be effective... as a second AM behind BMB. It took Arena however many friendlies and three matches to sort that all out, but I felt he finally found a way to use DMB. Perhaps that wasn't entirely BA doing, but I have to wonder in light of the confusion that seemed to come to the surface just prior to the Czech game from Beasley's interviews. I think there was some truth to that. DMB was just frustrated at the waffling of roles and just wanted things be diffinitive Top - Dempsey, Gooch, KELLER ------------------------------ Keller needs no introduction. Italy vs. USA is all I need to say. Dempsey I would agree was out most inspirational player... much like Donovan and Beasley were in 2002. I think Gooch was very convincing and inappropriately victimized by many for his invisible foul on the Ghana player (who, if you watch the replay from the ref's angle, "played" the official badly by looking back first to see his position and making a meal out of the situation. The official's angle could not necessarily distinguish the fact that the ball was completely behind both players, which should have been the explaination of the line judge). He showed some serious promise and strength.
There was no reason to switch to the three man back line, especially if it means taking out a player that can support the attack as well as Cherundolo.
Can someone post that moment (KK nearly hitting the Italian (Gattuso?) milking an injury on the sideline in the 2nd half to his right) on youtube? That was my favorite memory of Germany.
I think some of you guys are giving Keller too much credit. He was decent. But he was nothing like Friedel in 2002. Friedel was a HUGE factor in our performance at Korea. Keller was just okay.
I agree. In 2006 Keller made most of the saves he should have, and made one huge, costly distribution error (Czech Rep). In 2002 Friedel's performance single-handedly saved games. No comparison. I think if you look at the teams who go deep in the cup, in at least one or two games their keepers pull off saves that they have no business making. Granted Keller only had three games to work with in 2006, but he just didn't do that. And perhaps out of respect, I think some are being overly charitable to Pope. His was a whole different level of bad in 2006 (almost at an Agoos circa 2002 level).
on 2nd glance what will the italian federation do about serie a now... this weekends matches were cancelled due to thekilling of a policeman on sicily... we have the betting scandal... we have sicilian violence... just end the season and start it up next year...