You know, I would hate to be Steve Cherundolo watching this stuff. His starting RB gig for the Nats isn't looking so good. If Wynne learns to cross....HOO BOY. Imagine Pearce and Wynne on the wings...Oh man. Summer, 2009. Upset. Azteca. I can smell it now.
Nowak now has his biggest challenge of the tournament: putting his players' heads back into the 90th minute of today's game, when the win was in their hands and the momentum was propelling them into the stratosphere of confidence. He's got to be able to psychologically erase that final minute and final goal, and put the team out there against Nigeria still riding that high. This is where great coaching is separated from good coaching. Let's see if he's got what it takes.
Quite frankly, I would rather have seen some more speed on the left. Pearce. Is what it is at this point.
Feilhaber is liability full stop. Did you see Adu's expression as he was taken off? Hopefully, they will slide Holden to the middle for the next match.
If Japan can get some better finishing perhaps they would tie the Dutch. If the Dutch continue to tire that may play into Japan's hands. They didn't seem to against the US at least. Anyone know a little more about their Defense, particularly now that two starters are out due to accumulation.
Yeah, Balboa is full of crap, the first thing I was taught as a little kid is NOT to jump in the wall. If someone can find the space between the wall and the crossbar, they've earned the goal. If walls always jumped, then shooters would simply blast shots on the ground like Sibon did today.
Ianni is an auto goal against. What are you thinking son? We have enough middies. Nowak brought a ton of them. Now they go prove themselves. Here it is. Time to step up. Don't mess with the back right now. Crazy talk!
My thoughts about the game... I'm sure everyone has touched on them already, but anyway... Obviously Altidore will be starting the next game, that's a given... I think we can muster a draw against Nigeria and can definitely win if the team plays the way they played today... I'm not a Sacha fan, but he played really well today imo... Holden had probably the two most decisive plays the whole game... Both decisions impacted the final result of this game... On the semi-breakaway, if he passes to Sacha, he's 1 v 1 and in a much much much better position to score and the game is essentially over at that point... And the foul he committed... But I like the kid and think he's a good player... Wynne has been the most consistent player and the main reason teams are going down the right flank... He dominated Drenthe both offensively and defensively and Drenthe is not a slow player by any stretch of the imagination... 2nd half, Drenthe went to the right side of the field... I can only imagine what he would be capable of if the technical side of his game improved as well as his positioning... Freddy changed the outcome of the game... His runs put the Dutch on notice that they were not about to runaway with the game... Before that point, they were attacking down the flanks really well, and keeping the midfield very involved... After that, no more attacks down the flanks from the backs... It was that significant... The Japanese kept a marker on him and it worked to their advantage... But he had a good game... As a team, the US fought hard and showed very good ball movement in the midfield... I was impressed... It was the type of movement that signified that the other team was not going to get the ball back until the US had made some type of charge towards goal... This is type of football the US has to play to compete and win the Olympics... Now that we know they are capable of it, let's hope it continues...
Missed the game, just read the match report. Whew! Even I'm wiping sweat off my brow. If you'd looked into your crystal ball and told me we'd come away with a 2-2 draw, I'd take it.
brazil brought ronaldinho, argentina brought riquelme, and we brought mcbride. i like mcbride just fine, but it sure is a shame we didn't bring donovan. especially considering donovan got the shaft in 2000.
No, Rogers most certainly was NOT still effective. He was toast from about minute 55, for the last five minutes or so until he came out he was a turnover machine.
Guess who earned himself a callup to the US national team? I'll give you a hint, Marvell W. No thats too obvious, lets go with M. Wynne. Great game from the US. We dominated most of the game. People forget that its really freaking cold almost all the year in Holland and their guys are not used to playing in extreme heat. Our guys grew up playing with it and know how to handle it. The Nigerians won't wilt. We also some players who contrary to the ignorant and ill-informed opinion of the Dutch coach are really freaking good... Adu, Bradley, Wynne, Altidore, etc. Where we showed our youth and inexperience was in the final minutes when we basically handed the game to the Dutch. We were sloppy and were giving away lot of balls when we didn't have to. Frankly it was a good learning experience for these guys, and I would rather have it happen at the Olympics then in the World Cup, which incidentally is where we will be seeing alot of these guys in the future.
Feilhaber is liability full stop. Did you see Adu's expression as he was taken off? Hopefully, they will slide Holden to the middle for the next match.
Let's hope so. I have lost a lot of faith in RoboBob since his hiring. Not the most flexible man out there. Is he?
I don't remember the exact quote, just that we don't have anyone special on our team. It appeared that he basically dismissed us before the game even started.
Bad: lost two starters (yellow cards accumulation) Good: we took 3 points from the weakest team, 1 point from one of the strongest Good: Nigeria lost two starters as well (yellow cards accumulation) We have pretty good chance to advance
Gotta say, as I have gotten farther away from the match this bothers me more and more. He had his 2nd yellow already (not playing next match), he can hold the ball confidently, he wants the ball at his feet, the Dutch were tired, and he takes Freddy off. This and the no sub at minute 88-90 are two very questionable decisions after all is said and done. That's why I say good coaching job. Not great.
That only works if the Dutch aren't winning by more than one. If they get a GD edge, then only one of the U.S. and Nigeria is going through.
Holden's clattering foul, inexperience. Worse was the two on the keeper when he could have laid off a tap in for Klestjan at the 88' mark. Instead he dragged a shot, not even on net. Those and a bundle of errors for sure in the last five minutes. All will help further down the line. Also, let's hope the Dutch coach mouths off about the Japanese!
No not at all. But we have to remember that this is basically a glorified youth team. There is alot of inexperience out there on the field and on the bench. He's putting his best 11 or 12 out there and trying to get them in the best spot to win. For alot of these guys this is their first dose of real pressure and they are doing pretty good. Its also clear that because of the qualifying games next week, that well this is not US Soccer's priority. I think they want to do well... but I think overall they see this as a vital step in several players development to get to the next level.