USA vs. Turkey postmatch discussion (R)

I just finished watching the Brazil - Cameroon match and I definitely think the US can defeat Brazil. Brazil was very unimpressive.

Sometimes I hate our idiotic fans. They just don't think

 

my bad I just doubted that we would have a Post Cameroon Brazil thread

 

Yup. This has nothing to do with politics. Turkish fans do that in every game their national, or club sides play in.

In their European Cup qualifier last week, they were throwing bottles, coins and anything they could get their hands on at the opposition.

Being in England, I had the luxury of watching the match live on Eurosport. It wasn't a great performance from the US - but they can play a lot better, as proven in the World Cup.

 

Tuncay Sanli brought the ball down with his left bicep muscle...handball?

 

Nicely parried...

 

I have a tough time taking any competition that seriously has JoKi and Vanney in the lineup. Also, not insult to Howard, but he's at best the #3 keeper.

 

First, I loved your "spackle" comment earlier. So true.

Second, I think the reporting on whistling is fair. There seemed to be a lot of it and given the lack of any real rivalry, it seems a bit extreme for this match. Combined with a report that Tim Howard was dodging bottles being thrown at him while he was in goal during the match. That's not an excuse mind you, only that a very fine Turkish team that has a lot of style, has some boorish fans.

 

As someone said, these are team tryouts under fire. The fact is that while our "first" team can, at times, be competitive with the best we don't have the depth to compete consistently at that level. That is changing. I think those in the pool now, on the whole, are better than those in the even recent past.

 

first: we have to deal, in the future wiht dad referees.
second: we cannot be "angels" in defense- the other team must not have the spaces that permit isolation of their forwards in front our goalkeeper. our midfied today was not properly distributed
third: we should not play with players too old, like ernie stewart, in spite their importance in the past.
fourth: we need more pounds and more inches in the national team.
now the good things: we played well against a strong adversary- and we could at least tied the match. we have very young and bright talents- convey, califf donovan-what a perfect assistence to DMB in our goal. i hope the team will improve in our last two games

 

Re: Re: Re: USA vs. Turkey postmatch discussion (R)

Yeah, but Califf was close to him. Why is Califf on this team?

 

I vividly remember the Yugoslav supporters booing our nat'l anthem before our WC '98 match with them. Not surprising, as their fans are as boorish (and racist, though that's another matter) as they come. Those who have already said that the Turkish fans boo everyone and everything are absolutely right...there was probably only a mild political component (at best) to what they did today. But I won't be surprised if we face more hostility around the world as a result of our current foreign policy.

 

Stewart played awesome in this game.

Turkey's U-21s are a strong team?

I can't wait until Convey plays in this tournament.

 

I was at the game; I am writing from a French keyboard...awful:
In my opinion, another digraceful example of how these games are not on the level.
Where do you start
The game was even until the last 15 minutes when the US dominated.
Security was incredible for the 42 US fans and 15,000 Turkish fans.
Some calls I did not have a good view but the 2 handballs and PK were outrageous.
US fans were divided 50 50 on whether our shot was in in the 88th minute. We had a perfect view of that and the PK preceded by the hand pass.
A disgrace. We played well though.
Just my opinions.

 

Nico is that a young Mishima as your avatar? Better Califf now than in qualifying. Bruce must see some potential. I really felt having berhalter and califf was asking for it though. Both seem slow when compared to Bocanegra.

 

Yes it is, although, he was never that old, I believe he was only 43 when he comitted seppeku.

Indeed...but it is hard for me to keep things in perspective.

I have no problem with Berhalter.

 

Review

Watched the game on Eurovision...a few thoughts

First, our defense was stretched all day and the midfield didn't cover too well. We looked dangerous on longball counters, not on too much else, and it was good that Howard is a great keeper, as he made several clutch saves.
Lewis and Beasley on the wings weren't in the match for the first half, and their 4-3-3 was overruning our defense.
Kirovski had a decent game (!)
Califf and Berhalter seemed individually OK, but not organized well. Hejduk was not always positioned well, but played solid. Vanney played well, but his corners sucked.
I was disappointed in Convey--some good runs forward, almost useful in an attacking way, but very little in terms of holding the ball, switching play, or other "midfield" tasks.
Donovan was quiet, although a great cross on the goal.
If we had made it to the half up by 1, it would be a different game. Although there was a handball on their penalty, they deserved the result, on balance, though a draw would also have been fair.

Finally, props to the Euronews commentators, who knew the ages of Convey, Beasley, and Donovan, the correct teams for all of the players, mentioned the prospect Adu, and also noted that the US was missing OBrien, Reyna, Friedel, Keller, and McBride. Clearly actually knew what they were talking about, rather than reading something written down. A pleasure.

 

i don´t say stewart is bad- he has a lot of talent...but he lost that speed and strenght that makes the difference. i think too that this turkish team, with a lot of players from great clubs like galatasaray, besiktas, trabzonspor, fenerbahce is a Very Good team- and we kept the ball´s posession much better than expected. What we need is a well distributed team in the field, covering the lines of pass and optimizing not only our defense but our ofense too. talented players are coming in greater numbers and then we will be
much more dangerous

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: USA vs. Turkey postmatch discussion (R)

Interesting question. I brought up the same one when BA selected Califf over Garcia. Watching both players on their respective MLS teams, I'd have to say that it is a wash as to who is better. Garcia is quicker than Califf but Danny at times has demonstrated better tatical awarness (just my opnion that may be totally worthless). In all fairness both are about at the same level which is to say very green and not promising.

Berhalter had a pretty poor game against NewZ and I was surpised to see him paired with Califf in the center. I was expecting something more akin to Bocanegra and Califf with Mastroeni in defensive mid.

Does anyone have post game interview links?

 

Who cares? That wasn't Turkey's U-21 team.

Donovan, Convey, and Beasley were still the three youngest players on the field for either team.

The average age of the 14 Turkey players that played today-26.

 

They didnt mention Pope though, the guy that probably would have made the biggest difference. Needed a rock like him back there, but oh well. Doesnt sound like we embarrassed ourselves, which considering the lineup I think we should count as a good thing.

And I said this before, but Ill say it again. Califf and Berhalter are serviceable guys, but neither one is capable of anchoring the back line. You really need a rock back there for them to play off of and simplify the game for them.

 

anyone got a lineup for the us? was vanney and berhalter playin again? i was not impressed with either of them last go around and berhalter's giveaways are absolute criminal on the world stage

 

An turkey was without Emre, Okan, and the rest of their stars...