Of our current available CM options, Bradley and Beckerman are probably the best two. Edu just doesn't bring anything that stands out to me. Offensively limited, not a great passer, gives up the ball too often. Torres isn't strong or quick enough to play in the center as a playmaker against good teams. I think he's a good option to quarterback the offense a la El Salvador away/Costa Rica home last cycle, but he's going to have to be a situational guy. I honestly can't believe I'm rating Beckerman. 2 years ago, I though there wasn't a chance in hell that he would ever be useful at the international level. He's a consistently good outlet for an attacker needing a safe pass to restart/redirect. He's impressed me, perhaps low expectations, but impressed nontheless. Michael Bradley is probably the overall best healthy CM. I have no earthly idea how Edu brings more in anyone's eyes
I like Torres but being the best player for the last 3 games is more than a stretch. He was poor against Mexico, very good against Costa Rica, and no worse than anyone else against Belgium. Klinsi is a fan though and I suspect he put Beckerman in as a close substitute.
Beasley did good but physically he is just not international material, he gets pushed around way too easy, he did better back in WC 2002 but back then he had insane speed.
Thought Dempsey of MOTM good. Should have had two, and was so calm on the ball is was sick. Not flawless, but VERY good. I'm convinced he's the better choice for the #10 shirt. Sometimes he goes too much for trickery and low percentage stuff, but aside from ignoring Williams once, he struck a good balance tonight. He's a better goal scorer than LD, better in the air, and tidier on the ball. I though Shea was good, but was far less impressed than others. I thought Chandler did most of the heavy lifting/more incisive passing/better crossing, though Shea's did result in the goal, and I did think he had a good game overall. In CM, I didn't think Edu or Beckerman were bad, but neither were they outstanding. I'm not a fan of the double-d-mid, and that's what we had out there tonight. Heck, and Williams was playing RM. Bradley was his usual hustling self, but got himself out of position a couple times as well. Still think it is criminal we didn't have Kljestan, Bedoya, Feilhaber, or Diskerud on this roster. We need a more offensively skilled CM option to pair with one of MB, Edu, or Beckerman. JK thinks is KB, I disagree. Williams was surprisingly good playing a bit out of position, but you could see he wasn't a threat to beat anyone one on one. Still, he displayed a lot of nice touches on the ball, and got himself into a lot of good positions. He almost scored twice. Merits further looks, and I'd also like to see what he can do in DM/CM or on defense. DMB was good coming on. He's still lively and showed his usual tenacity despite is lack of size. Between he and Shea, I think LM should be locked down, allowing Clint to move to WF/CAM and LD to stay wide.
These were my thoughts during the match as well. Edu got caught in possession too much (from behind even!). Beckerman was a pest and I love the way he chooses the right moment to get stuck in. He knows when to drop into the back line to support. Keeps it simple. When Holden is healthy and regains his form we must try a Holden/Beckerman pairing.
Shea a bit underwhelming. Works hard and doesn't get lost in the game but the end product vs the opportunities is lacking with him. Beckerman did rather well in his deep-lying role but I wonder about him getting exposed athletically on counters. Edu played well overall but for a player occupying an advanced position was a bit lacking. Miscast really. Needs to be played in Beckerman's spot in a 4132. Would rather have seen Spector in the advanced role. Love Michael Bradley off the bench. Not trying to be the hero. Not cast as the main man in central midfield. Just get in there in and settle things down, which he did magnificently. Beasley. Excellent coming off the bench as well. Added more incisiveness to the attack. Very smart player. Knows how to play the game. The technical skills have improved nicely. Williams. Not a bad first outing. Not his best position.
I rated Shea a little higher than you did, but otherwise this is pretty much how I rated this game. Bradley did settle things down and reduced the effects of their pressure, and Beasley kept them honest running at tired legs.
Torres has been good at times... and not so at other times. We haven't really see what he can do when he is in the field with Bradley and also Holden. His problem is that he tends to slow up the play when in fact things need to move forward faster, he is also too easily disposessed, and he is very small, but not that speedy. He is skilled and makes some good passes and can move the ball around quickly, but these seem to be mainly lateral passes. The bigger question is there really a place in the lineup for a skilled but average Mexican league player versus starters in the Bundesliga, Serie A, and Preimership. When everyone is healthy and starting, he has to fit into the log jam that is the midfield consisting of Holden, Bradley, Jones, Edu, and several others, who may be better than Torres, generally. I realize Klinsmann seems married to a system that seems to fit Torres, but eventually he has to win consistently, and I think he will abandon it for the reality of putting your best 11 out there. I don't think Torres is really one of our best midfielders. I would also point out, that the first game that we won, did not have Torres in the lineup. For me, Torres is a great guy off the bench, who can come in when we are down a goal, to help maintain possession and open up spaces late in the game. I just don't see him as being an effective 90 minute player.
Bradley needs to start, it is that simple. With him in we are a much, much better team. Hopefully, Klinsmann sees this.
Poor against Mexico because he was playing LM with Castillo behind him and the whole team was shit the first half remember? Everyone was questioning the formation because Buddle was alone up top with Bradley as the attacking mid which just failed so everyone looked poor. It wasn't until Torres was moved centrally in the 2nd half when we started playing well and everyone started seeing the potential of Torres. Then against Costa Rica he was great and against Belgium on a cold rainy night, he did look poor which also had to do with the fact he had to play more defensive because his CM partner was dempsey... As for the user who said Torres is too small to play on the international level I say really? Come on there are plenty of small mids out there who do so well. Spain is run by small mids. Torres reminds me so much of Tomas Rosicky right before Rosicky had his break through at Dortmund. Such great vision and so composed on the ball, plus he possesses that killer pass. We should really utilize Torres because he can be that linking player we so desperately have needed for the last few years.
I said he is too small to play with out true speed. Messi is tiny, but he has blazing speed, as do most small guys. Most small players you will find, have amazing speed, or wicked sick skills, like Iniesta. Torres is skilled, but he is no Iniesta. Torres is not fast, so he has nothing to compensate for his size.
Torres' lack of lungs is a bigger problem than his size. He seems to struggle with the level of activity needed to man central midfield at international level. Whether it's exhortations from teammates and staff to move forward or getting subbed out early and exhausted he doesn't look like a 90 minute baller. Holden, Kljestan, Edu, Williams, Johnson, Jones, and Bradley[without even mentioning MLSers like Feilhaber] are or will be at Klinsmann's disposal. Don't really see Torres being better than these guys and the negatives outweigh the positives of his unique attributes.
I don't see a lot of Williams love in here.I liked him a lot,given it was his first cap w/ guys he's not that familiar with. At some point,JK's going to realize our backline is so mediocre that he'll have to play with a double screen of two physical players in CM.
Lionel Messi: Height: 1'69 = 5.545 ft Weight: 67 = 147.7 lb Jose Torres Height: 5-7 = 170.2 cm Weight: 135 = 61.23 kg from: fcbarcelona.com & ussoccer.com That's about 6 kg more muscle on Messi. I'm pretty sure it's not body fat
Hopefully, if Holden can round back into form, he can provide the energy and tackling needed as one of the "physical players" without sacrificing the technical skills. Holden/Edu or Holden/Bradley would IMO be a solid defensive platform with enough skills and composure to keep the attack moving at high speed. But that's several months away, and Beckerman is reliable, certainly for CONCACAF level.
We have many options in central midfield, but that's been apparent for some time. Finding the right balance will simply be dependent on health, fitness, form, opponent, and Klinsmann's judgment. What is clear is that he seems to favor lining up with 1 defensive midfielder and 1 linking midfielder in the center, as opposed to two side-by-side central mids (whether defensive or two-way). I can certainly see Torres starting in the linking midfield role, and his skill set is somewhat unique in the player pool. Against tougher opponents, perhaps we wouldn't be able to afford to field a true linking mid and would need more of a two-way mid to add defensive bite. In that scenario, Bradley or Holden would seem better choices. I guess my overall point is, we've got lots of options in central midfield, and many attractive iterations to best match up with opponents and maintain our own style of play and control of the match.
I agree. With our depth at CM we will be able to adjust game by game to our opponents. CONCACAF teams who bunker? Would love to see Holden/Torres to unlock some goals. European power? Holden/Bradley or Holden/Jones etc.
Many options in mid-field! Ah, the benefits of a coaching change. A fresh look. I sure don't know what the 14WC combo will be but I am very glad to see new options. Lots can happen in the next year. I am very pleased to see the movement through the middle as opposed to over it.
I guess I like Edu better than most here. When Bradely came in, the wheels came off a bit in terms of defensive positioning, recovery and dominance in winning the ball back. I understand Honduras was pressuring higher looking for the equalizer, but thought Bradley for Edu switch was partly responsible for the increased chances that Honduras had between 60' and 80' marks, along with Gooch/Boca being a shambles and Chandler fading in the second half until Spector came on. I personnally think Edu is going to get better and better. My issues with him are (a) consistent high level of motivation and (b) needs to be able to play quicker and contribute more offensively. I see improvement in both of these. A pairing with Torres would work well. A pairing with Bradley can possibly work well, provided Bradley keeps a proper spacing with everyone else on the field and isn't a defensive liability if/when Edu finds himself forward.
Seriously, wondering if I watched the same game. Here are Honduras chances after 66 minutes. http://www.mlssoccer.com/matchcenter/2011-10-08-usa-vs-honduras/commentary 73. Mario Roberto Martinez (Honduras) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Roger Espinoza. 75. Maynor Figueroa (Honduras) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. 79. Carlos Costly (Honduras) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. 90. Carlos Costly (Honduras) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Four shots from outside the box. One save for Howard.