Here's some of the things I saw: -Obviously getting the result and being on top of the group after two road games. -Dempsey back into the midfield looked like he may be on track to become what when know he is capable of, played much better, looked more active and took the chance he had. -Donovan was closer to goal, although he had a very quiet match which I feel was due to our poor overall team play and Ching's lack of quality it was nice to see him off of RM, now we need to push him up as a SS, not a CAM, we moved him forward one spot now go one more. Let Adu play the CAM, and Donovan play the SS next to either Altidore or Cooper and we will finally we have a legitimate attack. -People argue this but we have a world class goalie playing for us.
Haha pretty much agreed with, we played like crap. However, I think it is important to try and get some positives out of this, and I also made a negatives thread which I am sure will receive much more response.
Actually, there are more positives than that. 1. Overall, we played a mediocre game and found a way to win or at least to not give it away. 2. Maybe now we can move on from Beasley for a while. If he didn't do enough tonight to be removed from the rotation, we have little hope. 3. We didn't play the empty bucket. 4. We won with several of our better players not on the pitch (Adu, Altidore, Davies, Spector). custar
In regards to #2, if disappointing performances removed players from rotation, Eddie Johnson would have gone months ago. I guarantee you could ask Bob Bradley and he'd have little negative to say about DMB's play except that he wished he would have finished a little better. As for #4, I think you're pulling legs with that one.
Positives: - We won. - We are 5 points clear of third place Guatemala. - We didn't concede. - We didn't get hit by the hurricane.
Aside from the ones already mentioned, we actually showed that we actually know that it's legal to rip from outside of the box. Edu was just running riot as well.
Moving Dempsey to his best spot - right midfield - was a positive. The Empty Bucket was less empty but it wasn't very full either. Ching is a battler but I would prefer to see anyone at that spot after this. I didn't think Beasley was that bad. Cuba played for a draw, one of the reasons the defense held without giving up too many chances.
The few positives (that haven't been touched on yet)... -The defenders and goalkeepers still have yet to give up a goal in 4 WCQs. -Heath Pearce and Clint Dempsey bounced back with decent performances. -Brian Ching had himself a decent game as well.
You wanna see optimism? I got your stinkin' optimism: Maybe if we clinch advancing to the hex with a couple games left in this stage Bob will try something other than his precious empty bucket.
* 3 more points on the road. * another WCQ shutout. * Bradley+Edu did not play empty bucket, and Donovan also dropped back at times to fill the hole -- more or less what fans have been screaming for. * Dempsey was a bit better than prior game and did score. * Beasley was better than Lewis of prior game. * Pearce and Hejduk were OK outside vs Cherundolo+Pearce playing poor last game. * Onyewu was really quite solid. * Howard was good, again. * Donovan was a bit better than last game, and more useful in the SS/withdrawn-forward. * Ching worked hard again. * Less boot-ball from Boca. * No injuries.
-Points on the road in the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying 2002: 4 (1-1 draw in Guatemala, 2-1 loss in Costa Rica, 4-0 win in Barbados) The 2002 World Cup turned out alright -Points on the road in the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying 2006: 5 (1-1 draw in Jamaica, 1-1 draw in Panama, 2-0 win in El Salvador) WC 2006 didn't turn out alright. But since a couple people are worried about qualifying for the cup it should be noted that the US put together its best final round performance in the modern era of the program in the 2006 hex. -Points on the road in the semifinal round of World Cup qualifying 2010: 6 (after 2 games in case you're easily confused) Like most others I would have liked to see them at least get a 2nd goal last night. I also am not exactly thrilled with some of Bradley's selections and tactics and have some concerns about how the team may fair in 2010. But I feel it should be pointed out that getting two 1-0 wins in two games on the road is not the end of the world.
The defense looked much better than against Guatemala. But I do not know if that was due to them playing better or Cuba's offensive game plan of passing the ball to Gooch everytime. Seriously though, Goock did a good job of stepping up an intercepting a ton of passes. Cuba did not adjust and kept sending the balls in again and again.
Really. Lewis was total crap against Guatemala. Couldn't trap, couldn't dribble, couldn't pass, lost 1v1's constantly. Beasley was far from great and still below his peak, but he was very willing to attack, get behind the backs, came back to help Pearce, and could hold the ball and pass at least somewhat competantly. For example, sure he choked on that shot in the 2nd half, but he created it with a speedy run and worked himself past the keeper in tight space, something Lewis couldn't have done. Yes, Beasley was better than Lewis. No doubt.
This point is 100% accurate. However, it must be pointed out that this is akin to saying that a punch in the face that broke your nose is better than having your arm sawed off. No one looks good on the left side of midfield right now.
Agreed. I never said Beasley was "good", just better than a horrid Lewis. This is the "Positives" thread, afterall. The US has serious issues along the wings.
You should have watched Rogers in the Crew game last night then. He decimated NE. But, USMNT did okay, its very tough playing on a really crappy field in the rain and a win is a win.
I was only commenting on games in which the national side has partaken since that is the forum I am on. By the way, didn't The Trinidadian Coconut Palms Beach Club, Kayak Rentals and Football Team also decimate NE with a quartet of goals this past week?
Its tough playing on a crappy field in a third world country with crappy facilities where you can't drink the water... Seriously, also it is very hard to play well against crap teams that bunker the box and are playing for a draw. It doesn't open up space and allow for the US to use some of their quickness and speed and skill to create even more space and opportunities. Frankly, no matter how crappy your opponent is, it is always hard to win World Cup qualifiers on the road in CONCACAF. Always has always will, yet we have the gonads and skill enough to continue to win. Just wait till we get to the Hex, things will open up and Adu, Altidore, and Cooper will be more integrated into the team. We will look tons better and will continue to beat Mexico. Every first round of qualifying looks like this... lest we forget Cobi's last gasp desperation goal against Panama last time around.
Neither is, much to my dismay, Karel Brückner. BTW, the France-Austria game only proved Raymond Domenech's genius of leaving Philip Mexes at home for the last two major tournaments. Of course, a fairly mediocre T&T team still managed to put three goals past the same Cuba's defense.
Off topic, but if you think Cuba is a third world country then you've never actually been to a third world country.