I don't fault Gooch on the 2nd goal. He was trying to make a defensive play but his momentum was going in the opposite direction, which is why I believe he kicked out with his right leg instead of his left. It was almost like a reflex with everything happening so fast. I think it would be different if he was set in place. However, the replays I saw showed him leaning/moving towards his right while the ball dipped to his left.
Good question. Don't know why Dempsey is still out there. I wouldn't mind seeing Adu take some time out there. Benny, other than that pass, was awful today, imo. He was constantly giving the ball away in dangerous positions. I thought the Gooch/Demerit pairing looked pretty good. Spector was great, and Bornstein was ok, if only because of the alternatives.
Both Gooch and Demerit had it tough in the second half. Once Italy changed personel and went to more attackers there was a large whole in front our Center Backs that we ceded to their attack which exposed our back four to too many penetrating runs and uncontested shots - but that's on the midfield. Seeing as we don't have any other servicable defending mids - thought Bob could have rolled the dice for the 1-0 win by starting the second half with another defender centrally in front of the CB. A few years back...Fulham used Boca in this role vs Arsenal under Coleman and it was very effective. Spector --- Gooch--- Demerit ----JB -----------------Califf(?)----------- Dempsey-----Bradley--------Donovan ----------------Jozy----------------- Spector got turned a couple times but did well seeing as neither Dempsey nor Donovan gave him much help on the overlaps. Currently he is our best RB IMO Bornstein was OK - his yellow was really soft.
Spector was outstanding. With defenders I often rate them by the following unscientific method: "How comfortable do I feel when Defender X has to make the play?" With Spector, I am always quite comfortable. He is a revelation at RB when healthy. Bornstein was mediocre... he is probably our best choice for now, unless we want to move Spector or Hejduk over there. But he's our best natural LB. Onyewu was very good. Especially in the first half, he had a look on his face that seemed to say "you are never going to beat me." In the second half he didn't block de Rossi's shot, though that was an odd play all around and I don't want to judge him too harshly for that. He was great in the air, didn't dive into tackles or do anything rash, etc. And, as I said in another thread, I like his passing skills out of the back. Boca is much more long ball happy than Gooch. Demerit was okay. I was pretty happy with him. On Rossi's first goal he probably should have closed him down, but if he did a player like Rossi might have dribbled right around him and scored a much easier goal. There was so much space after the turnover that the whole thing had disaster written all over it anyway. Surely Jay could have done better there but it wasn't a terrible performance for him.
Spector best US defender...should be automatic starter somewhere on backline from here on out. (eventually LB?) comedy gold when announcers said he is third best us rightback. Onyewu great athleticism, awesome at winning headers...really needs practice on clearing, though. Bornstein he is OBVIOUSLY NOT the answer. even if he could cross he wouldnt be the answer and the us desperately needs that skill from a LB. can Brad Davis play D? Demerrit id take him over califf (potential last defender off bench...in a pinch....with a lot of injuries to the starters)
Our four best defenders are Cherundolo, Onyewu, Bocanegra, and Spector. Whether we can field them all together is another matter, but I'm really hoping we can because I don't believe that Bornstein, Pearce, or any other natural LB option is international quality at this point.
Spot on about Spector Agree Onyewu can put us in trouble with some of his clearing, but good everywhere else Bornstein showed why his still in MLS today, btw as an avid dynamo fan trust me...you don't want Davis as a LB. He doesn't enjoy defending Demerit was physically better than Califf, but worse at positioning, depends on who he's paired with. Onyewu positioning isn't as important, where as Boca likes to try playing an off sides trap.
Spector had nothing to do with the cross on the 3rd goal. When Italy combined down the flank, Spector was on the player further up field and Demerit picked up Pirlo. Demerit's the one that got beat on a nice touch by Pirlo that allowed the cross. Prilo has made a career out of beating players with nice touches.
I'm watching it right now--Spector was smoked on the 3rd goal. Demerit is about parallel to the post as Rossi shoots. Overall, I thought Spector was rather weak, but not as weak as Bornstain. Spector has potential though, but this wasn't gonna be a great matchup for him. Best to worst: Demeritt, Gooch, Spector, Bornstain.
I thought Bornstein was awful, even if his gaffs didn't cost too dearly. There was a fairly routine ball where he misjudged the flight and he let it land inside the 6 in a critcal spot. He had the own goal that was disallowed due to an offside call. He had a whiffed clearance in the box. He had several shanks for clears. He had the whiffed attempt at a bicycle clear. He at least one mind-boggling misplay were he flubbed an easy ball out of bounds (around top of defensive third). And hey, I like the guy. But there were some hugely silly moments for him.
Bob ought to really consider this point, and not just with Demerit, but with our centre backs in general. Both Boca and Onyewu are just fine man-marking up against relatively static forwards who depend on their size, strength and ability to win aerial balls. It may be obvious but the problem is that quality international sides don't really play this way anymore. IMHO, our two greatest defensive issues are: A) The inability of our first choice CBs to handle speedy, slashing runs into the box where balls are played into space or into the path of the attacking player. Why then do we have both Boca and Gooch or Gooch and Demerit or Boca and Califf or Demerit and Whitbred (not yet obviously) playing together on the backline? None of these CB combinations can handle these speedy, technical opponents. B) Quality opponents are often counter-attacking with our wing backs out of position and playing quick diagonals or forward lateral passes into space vacated by these players. Then our slow CBs get easily drawn out, and it falls on MFs to cover our now-lost defensive shape which sometimes works, but often times doesn't. Using wing backs to provide width and attacking options is all well and good but we just do not have the personnel to play this in the WC or against top 20 sides. Our first-choice wing back (Hejduk) can't even be relied on to put in a decent cross or cut in and attack on the dribble for FFS. As a possible solution to A, Spector ought to play his natural position as a CB with one of Gooch, Demerit , Califf or Whitbred. We should also consider someone like Parkhurst as another Spector-like player to pair with the aforementioned CBs. As a possible solution to B, we need to think about going old-school and playing a modified flat back four where the full backs are primarily stay at home but can support the attack by providing a passing option, switching the ball or finding an attacking player in the center of the pitch or up front. Boca would probably be decent at this on the left. Dolo would be servicable on the right. We need to start using the players we have correctly instead of trying to ape other sides' formations and tactics and putting inferior players on the pitch. Just sayin.
Spector was very good, and I'm probably more comfortable with him at the back than anyone else in our pool. Onyewu had a tremendous 1st half and a solid 2nd half. Overall a very good game from him. He put out a lot of fires with his physicality and positioning. DeMerit was solid...everything you can ask a #3 CB to be. I don't blame him at all for the 3rd goal, just as I didn't blame Parkhurst for Nigeria's last goal in the Olympics. It was the 90th minute, we had played a man down for 60 minutes and he was gassed, after giving a grade A effort the entire way. Can you blame him? Better players have been beat by Andrea Pirlo in situations like that. Disagree. Califf might have slightly better positioning sense than DeMerit, but since he's so immobile, Califf poses more of a liability. DeMerit isn't fleet of foot, but he can get around the field more quickly than Califf.
Tim Howard [8] – Howard was his normal self, coming with two big saves in the closing minutes to keep his team in the match. He also collected the ball well in the 16th minute to snuff out an Italian chance. He did a good job staying composed on the long range efforts from Italy, including one free kick in the 32nd minute. There was not much he could do on any of the goals, although the second goal form De Rossi was perhaps stoppable, had he not been screened. Jonathan Spector [8] – Spector turned in a solid performance. He set the tone early by shielding out a ball in the 2nd minute of play. He was composed in the defending third while on the ball and always giving his teammates a chance to maintain possession. He was very good in the air and stepped in bravely in the 42nd minute to clear a bicycle attempt. His offensive game was a bit of a letdown, as he muffed a chance in the box in the 17th minute. He did not push up as often as I would have liked him to. Jay DeMerit [7] – DeMerit was steady up until the very end, when fatigue allowed Andrea Pirlo to blow past him in stoppage time and setup the third goal. He made a good decision to clear a ball into touch in the 10th minute, when his back was turned and he unaware of where the striker was. He had one troubling touch in the 44th minute, that could have led to a chance for Italy. He even had a nifty bicycle clearance in the 78th minute for good measure. Oguchi Onyewu [8] – Gooch was well positioned the entire game and matched up well with the Italian strikers. He did commit some fouls, but they were up-field in non-dangerous situations. A player like Onyewu as to make his physical presence known and he did a great job imposing that today. He did well clear out a corner right before half time. I thought he could have done better to get a touch on the second goal. He got turned the wrong way and went with his right foot instead of his left. He also had one poor clearance, where he sent the ball over his own net. I am not sure why he took a free-kick in the 60th minute, but it was not threatening. Jonathan Bornstein [6] – Bornstein got caught out of his position several times that led to silly fouls, including one that drew an early cauti0on in the 20th minute. He was extremely lucky to have not scored an own goal in the 39th minute and was bailed out by an offside call. He also had a couple of iffy touches and poor crosses in the early portions of the match. However, he seemed to improve as the match went on. He had a good defensive sequence in the 75th minute and then launched a quality cross the next minute.
Gooch was great i thought Demerit makes me MUCH more comfortable as #3 CB than Califf Spector is one of our top three outside backs and needs to be on the field wether its right or left back (left.....LEFT!!!! ) Bornstein, alright ive seen enough. Its time for the drastic, we need to see Wallace and/or Shea at left back for the Gold Cup. It's come to that (that or well, moving Spector to left back which makes beyond too much sense).
I see what you're talking about, smoked no, lack of concentration or wrong decision in the last minute of a game that's lost, possibly. Look at the replay immediately after the celebration. Spector didn't track Rossi's run. He was picking up a player in the right hand corner of the box and then comes across the box when he recognizes the danger from Rossi coming in at the top of the box directly in front of goal.
I'm sorry but giving up 3 goals is not a good job. I thought Spector was the only one that had a good game with Gooch maybe second. Demerit did not shut down shooters on various occasions and Bornstein was in over his head. He was lucky not to get tossed with yellow cards. Left back continues to be a problem and I'm all for trying something different (and I don't mean Beasley). Maybe trying Wynne or moving Spector over. The current left back pool is NFG
I also noticed DeMerit yelling "step" and it got me thinking. When Rossi picked up the ball there was a line of 6 players in front of him; 4 U.S. defenders and 2 Italian attackers. It seemed to me that DeMerit should have been the one to step to Rossi, however, since the defender he chose to stay with was already between him and the goal. He should have left that guy to the U.S. defender on the other side of the Italian he was marking and tried to close down Rossi himself. Any coaches out there know what was supposed to have been done in that situation?
Spector is a smart player. He reads the game well. From watching him play, he positions himself very well. I dont think it'll matter much if he plays either side of the field. I am confident Spector will be our left back when Stevie is back.
I think the US defense played up to their abilities. So even though they gave up 3 goals, I think this is about the best you can hope for from this group. Gooch did fine but someone said that he played scared. He did. It looked like he was nervous out there, as if he were trialing for a multi-million dollar contract. Look at his body language and facial expressions...he was not instilling confidence in his teammates. Spector did very well. I think he needs to be the first choice somewhere on the back line every time we play. Demerit did fine. Bornstein was the weak link although strangely enough, none of his gaffes resulted in any goals that actually counted. Someone said he is not the answer...maybe not...but if he isn't, who is ? Unfortunately, unless we move Spector to left back, he is the probably the best we have right now. Frankly, the lack of a decent left back is an argument to play 3-5-2.
Should have done exactly what he did. It was just an awesome goal. His fullbacks were not in position, both DMs went for the ball and screwed up, it was a 3-on-2 to start. Demerit and Gooch were falling back and preventing an easy through ball, waiting for fullbacks to get in position. Just as they do, he and Gooch are thinking/saying "step" and stop conceding space. But Rossi already has the shot lined up and they aren't close enough to do anything about it. Honestly, giving up a 30 yard shot in that situation is doing your job. Jay also gave a little head fake like he was going to step up earlier, but kept retreating because Spector wasn't far enough back. You could maybe make a case that both CBs should have been five yards higher to start, but I think that's harsh because they were both retreating from a moment earlier before Bradley denied a forward pass. The problem was Dempsey's hospital ball, Bradley's eagerness to move forward into attack (and whiffing on the ball), no recovery from Bradley, and Feilhaber totally blowing posession without even being able to foul. And Rossi is applying pressure at every point to win back possession - he'd only been on the field a minute.
Id like to see a few games (friendlies, or post qualifying hex matches) with Spector, Gooch, Demerit and Boca on the left.
The defense did not give up three goals, the team did. Defenders will always be the hardest judge of themselves, I could have got a foot in, should have gone there sooner, etc. but if they are faced with making a choice it is because a midfielder hasn't tracked back or has been beaten. Even on Rossi's goal, Altidore lost possession first up front. That is why it is a team game. If you consider Demerit's international experience, he played very, very well against the world champions. Gooch was specifically mentioned by Lippi as a strong US player and I think he has improved tremendously in his mobility around the box. When you are under that kind of sustained pressure you are going to mishit clearances--that is just part of the game. The dilemma at left back is that Bornstein can handle speedy players while Pearce would get roasted--although he is much better at playing the ball out.