Yup which was what? 7 games? Not a big deal. He has 30 goals in 88 US games, thats better then a goal every three games, name me another midfielder off the top of your head who has that kind of a strike rate.
Probly Ronaldinho, but any way let me get in this conversation now. I give props to USA u guys have won 3 strait against 3 good teams. But at the same time u guys were at home for all 3 games. Besides that u guys beat Ecuador for 2 reasons. 1. We played like sh*t in the 2nd half 2. Donovan But IMO i think the biggest reason we lost to u guys was not becuz u guys are better then us, but becuz we played like monkeys in the 2nd half. I garuntee u if we played like we did in the 1st half in the 2nd we either could have won or jus end up in a tie.Still i give u guys Props.
Ivan Hurtado was the best central defender in south america at one point but those days are over. Basic Futbol 101 on the first goal. NEVER EVER EVER clear a ball toward the center of the pitch. ULDC is old and done. Lucho fatass Caicedo?? These players are pushing 35 years old. I know it was just a friendly but getting beat by Landon is just horrible. I saw the highlights and the second goal Landon just out paced all of them. Time to retire. Its not even futbol skill at that point. its speed.
After watching the first 15 minutes of the game, I really thought the US would be lucky to escape with a tie(even after the US had scored a goal). I was pleasantly surprised by Ecuador's effort(pleasantly because it was giving the US a well-worthy test), playing with gusto and determination as if this was a game of importance to them. Hence my surprise at what had transpired in the second half. But was it a case of Ecuador playing in the 2nd half "like monkeys" as you so put it, or was it a shift in US's strategy: "I thought in the first half we were a little disjointed and got caught up in a back-and-forth game against a team that is probably better than us at that," Donovan said. "I think at halftime we figured it out." But either way, a good test for both countries.
Then there's something wrong with CONMEBOL if the 9th-ranked team(out of ten?) made it to the WC. Perhaps FIFA should remove 1 spot from CONMEBOL?
LoL. Have to love the Ecua board. In the USMNT board Argentine would have been account banned by now. But here? Meh. Too much effort. Although a tard, he is right on one thing, we need to start testing out younger defenders. I'm not saying the old guard should retire tomorrow... but its definitely well past time to phase them out. If we hope to qualify again relying on them as our main backline we might find our world cup ticket given to somebody else.
as sad as i am to say it...once lucho caicedo left the game, thats wen ecuador was sucking badly because nobody else was able to fit the position, we were left with a gap...thats where our liga players would have come in to play...we needed edwin tenorio, if he was there im sure we would have come out the victors..
I suppose the logical line of reasoning goes: If Donovan isn't all that amazing, what does it say about the side that conceded to him 3 times in one match? On topic: The game was a good one, and easily could have been 3-3 at halftime. Both defenses were absolutely terrible. However, the second half was one-way traffic, and not only did Donovan score twice, he had one stopped on a breakaway (which Ching fell asleep on) and it easily could have finished 5-1. That being said, damn the Ecuadorian forwards are fast. Conrad and Gooch got tormented the entire first 45 mins. Best of luck against El Tri.
the game could have ended in a 6-6 tie if we want to go in to if's and buts.....aside from that point, many of our players were super tired from their trips abroad, i spoke to them and that was one of their big complaints about the game....first half ecuador was playing a good game and thus we can say its a tale of two halves because the second does not parallel the caliber of our team...donovan had an inspired game, we'll see if he can keep it up....thats what all of the fuss is about, i don't see him making that kind of contribution to the team every game.....might have been the game of his life right there
Landon had a great game, but the reality is that the linkup play from the back (which was just getting torched and fortunate to not give up multiple goals) was much improved this game. Instead of using destroyers who have difficulty making a pass that actually moves the ball forward, we used young midfielders that actually have some vision (despite inexperience, some defensive lapses, etc.). Landon was involved because he saw the ball come his way...too often he doesn't see the ball and doesn't come to the ball...and that is when he doesn't have midfielders who can provide that link. he can't do that role. The US was successful in 2002, in part because we had two midfielders capable of getting that ball out of the back and creating something of a build up (John OBrien and Reyna). In 2006, Reyna didn't have an awful tournament, but was not capable of carrying that whole load himself. Bradley and Feilhaber were able to get the ball going and keep Landon involved. I think many Americans would agree that Landon has skills to be a VERY good player (not best in the world) but certainly an effective player. However, he needs more quality around him as he can't seem to keep himself motivated. Beyond that, many of us are disappointed that he does not seek out the top challenges to improve his game. Big fish in little pond mentality, I guess. Either way, I thought that while the US played well, it seemed to be more of a function of very poor play by Ecuador's back line? Anybody have a good read as to what tactically was so wrong with the approach? The first goal was a mistake, but there were a fair number of chances and US players seemed to have a lot of time to sit on the ball--when they seem to wither more under immediate pressure. I thought that odd. What was clear, however, is that your strikers were extremely fast with good technical skills. I wonder if a better pitch might have produced more results. Both teams had to play on that pitch, but I would think it makes it very hard on a striker who has just made a run through two players with the ball at his feet.
I am currently in NY for a trade show...why this sport in the US will not progress until exposure is given; ESPN was showing figure skating for Christ's sake!!!! Ok, so it's only a friendly...well the Eur QM are on and instead of Germany-Czech to see who would top the group...ESPN shows Poland-Azerbaijan. WTF!!?? I remember in the past looking for WC games and having to go to ESPN2 because the main station had hot dog eating contests... I hate ESPN - over 8 channels or so and their exposure to football is ridiculous, but I tell you what pisses me off even more. Why do they buy the rights if they don't show the games. I don't care if the show it on ESPN 8 (El Ocho) as long as I can watch the games somehow!! Anyways, congrats to the US...and to Mexico, this means nothing, just so you all know! ...but where are your balls??
Yeah,,so we all agreed that our ballers felt asleep in the 2nd half, the trip was long,,thats not an excuse.They played sh!ty,,this was the first time I've seen Hurtado taken out on a stretcher,,,maybe los anos ya le pesan.Take nothing away from the US,,they played great and deserved the W UDLC was weak,,this is where I say what happen to Jairo Montano,,Barcelona was is not playing en la copa.Tambien los goles que si hamo Tenorio,,cuando uno no los hace,los ven hacer.Klimowics was not playing copa,,what happen to him. Esto es para los que son enfermos del "dios" LFS, para los que le tienen confianza,,this is the begining of the wake up call,,,they better have a good performance against the mezzicans,, Anyways at least this did not count and nowadays everybody wants to have friendlies with our NT. The final score was Donavan 3,Ecuador 1.
oooh...ooohh...ooohh...can I play this game too???? If the US had played in the first half like they played in the second half we would have beaten Ecuador 7 Gazillion to zero.
There was nothing different in your game except for the huge spaces our back lines ended up giving to Donovan. I understand what you say, we cannot hide the defeat on what we played on one half, it is a two half game, but it did prove to us the importance of physical fitness. Keep in mind all our players flew in one or two days before, from playing continuous continental and local tournaments. You could easily see the lack of physique in the spaces that were given in the last half, in the lack o fpassing, very different from what we saw in the first half, and in the lack of speed. However we should be able to manage that performance, for God's sake, we had 6 changes available, and Suarez did not know how to move his players.
by physique I meant stamina. Basically, the team had no energy left on the second half. The players, were burned. Therefore they were giving crazy espacios a Donopan. Suarez, should've been able to see the fatige in the half time and make the correct changes. When he made them in the second half, they were two goals too late.... Is that understabdable now?
Why is it that every time the US beats a supposedly "better" team, everyone wants to make excuses? Look, Ecuador is my 2nd favorite national team and I give them props for being a very good team (much better than the US during the WC obviously). BUT: 1) It was hot for both teams 2) 7 of the US starting 11 also flew in from Europe 3) While the game was on US soil, certainly there were enough Ecuas in the crowd to even it out a bit. Yes, Ecuador needs to upgrade the backline. And no, LD is not the second coming and might not even be able to cut it in some Euro leagues (debatable), but he has the pace and skill to beat ALOT of high calibur international defenders on any given day. The US might not play "pretty" futbol, but they can be very, very effective when on. To my Ecua friends, stop the bellyaching and go out and beat the pants off of Mexico!
I am not making excuses, I am analyzing the game in the most objective way possible. We did get beat by you guys fair and square, that is true. But if i am pissed is because I know we play a lot better. Perhaps you take this as an excuse, its not, it's just not what I expect from our team and players. it is not an excuse either, that your players have more stamina than ours. It is a fact, and one that we paid with 2 goals. It is a fact that could have been fixed and maybe, just maybe, could have changed the result if Suarez played fresh new players the second half. It is a fact we were missing at least 4 key players from our squad, but not an excuse. You guys were able to control the second half and that is your own effort and I cannot deny that, but I dont agree that means you are better. In this game, we did not prove who we are.
As if the ESPN2 commentary wasn't boring enough, they decided to bring in Bruce Arena as well. That guy can put you to sleep faster than a tranquilizer. One guy mentioned that the Yankees were doing spring training nearby, Bruce said he was a Yankees fan.. blah blah blah. Two minutes of my life wasted listening to baseball talk during a soccer game. WTF!
"Suarez did not know how to move his players",,,,, recien te estas dando cuenta!!! But don't take it to the heart I know exactly what you mean.
Ecuador deserved better luck... Ivan Hurtado had a bad day... the middle backs were lost... UDLC was ok... Reascos could have played better.. Castillo looked jet lagged... I think we'll see a different team vs. Mexico... Ecuador 1 Mexico 1