"Thanks for your support. Sorry we played like crap and imploded against Germany and embarrassed all of you who are from Portugal and those of you who only root for Portugal because you're a bandwagon jumper because I'm on the team. Things will be better in the next game (when we play the inferior USA team)* Thanks again for your support." MtMike paraphrase *implied no doubt in his statement, but not explicitly stated
With Brooks solid play and Beasley's questional performance, is there any reason there isn't more discussion of starting Brooks and Besler at CB, then moving Cameron to his more natural position of right back, and Fabian Johnson to left back? You have to imagine this could also screw up scouting, since it seems most teams will plan on attacking whoever our starting left back is since that's known as our defensive weak spot. This also frees up Fabian Johnson to make his runs out of the back more since he won't be so preoccupied with trying to contain Ronaldo. I know they supposedly want to start FJ against CR7, but I really think this would shore up a lot of our weaknesses in the back. G. Cameron --- M. Besler -- J. Brooks --- F. Johnson ------------K. Beckerman -------- G. Jones------------ ------------------------M. Bradley------------------------- ----C. Dempsey --------------- ----G. Zusi---------- --------------------------Wondo-------------------------------
Gotta go with this lineup... F. Johnson --- G. Cameron -- M. Besler--- D. Beasley ------------K. Beckerman -------- J. Jones------------ ----G. Zusi----------------------- ----A. Bedoya---------- ------------------------M. Bradley------------------------- --------------------------Dempsey-------------------------------
nobody has the speed to do it. it has to be team defending. we need to frustrate them as a group and hope that the conditions have more of an impact on them then they do on us. after the way our guys were grabbing hamstrings yesterday though I am not so sure that we can claim any kind of fitness advantage.
All three guys that came out last night had hammy issues of varying degrees. That is a major concern in general. Portugal having their own injury/suspension problems is helpful. But I think the XI has to change (beyond Altidore) more than just a little to prevent further injuries and to compensate for the ones we've got.
Playing them on match day 3 is actually an advantage. If they beat Ghana, it will invariably make it that much easier to get a draw as both teams could well advance with a draw - Germany securing first place with a draw. Doesn't mean it will happen, but anyone in our situation would very much prefer to play them on match day 3 then 2.
I'd take all the comments about the Portuguese being mentally weak more personal, but yesterday's match was such a fiasco there's no point. I will say that harping on about the mental strength/weakness/sensitivity of Portugal is an overreaction. For all the talk about Portugal folding, it has managed to grind out a lot of results in recent tournaments that point directly to mental toughness. But we're talking about here and now, so I agree wholeheartedly that we really won't know what this match holds until Sunday. The thing about the match is that while Portugal hopefully will come out aggressive and play like its collective ass is on fire, it doesn't need a bunch of goals; Portugal just needs to win. My biggest fears are the U.S. counterattack and set pieces. You just can't ignore the fact that Portugal's two best defenders are out, one of whom is also a terror in the attack. On set pieces, Pepe is the one who flies around looking to clear the ball whereas Alves has been know to plant his feet. If Portugal trots out a Moutinho-Meireles-Veloso midfield and plays it safe in the back I like the chances of the U.S. getting that point it wants. Meireles has done yeoman's work for Portugal over the years, but his usefulness is limited at this point at this level; William Carvalho needs to start. Veloso is so invisible, I'd rather he fill in at LB and give Rafa or Vieirinha a chance. The team just really needs a shot in the arm, and that's not going to miraculously come from the same 11 from the past four years that's collectively past its prime. Like I said, who knows what this game holds. Portugal can really struggle to break down teams that "bunker" (I use the quotes because there is obviously some disagreement on this board regarding the term; I just mean play an obviously defensive match and worry little about possession), and I have no idea what to expect from the defense in a real match without Pepe in the middle (hopefully Neto gets the start, though Costa has much more experience) and possibly Almeida at LB. Yesterday's performance was so perfect for the U.S. in the end that it is also difficult to read. A goal seconds into the match; Ghana taking more than 80 minutes to score despite so much possession and plenty of legit chances; an immediate response to a late equalizer on the team's first chance in a long time. It's not going to work out so well every match, and that's just a no-brainer rather than a critical assessment. Confidence goes a long way, and we all know which team is in a better place mentally going into Sunday.
If Portugal want to go all out during the first 30 minutes in the heat and humidity, that's fine by me. If we go into the half level or ahead, I'd rate us being able to get a result at that point.
I do see Portugal kinda losing their ish if we go ahead in the first half. Not Marquez v Cobi circa 2002 level of losing their mind. But not able to sustain a strong comeback & snipping at each other.
Actually, Cameron's natural position is CB (or DMF), but you make a valid point about shuffling the deck to improve the LB side. Can Johnson refamiliarize himself with the LB position in time, is the question.
Losing Pepe and Coentrao is huge. Pepe is one of the top centrebacks in the world and before his retarded mistake he was actually cleaning house at the back, huge loss. Coentrao is maybe the best leftback in the tournament, and a huge part of portugals attacking play in supporting Ronaldo, while also being very secure defensively...losing him was worse than losing 4-0. Portugal is ******** in my opinion because they will need to win, and they lost their 2 best defenders, and 2 of their top 5 players.
Most of the weaknesses we saw against Ghana were in the midfield, not the defense, so I would be reluctant to make significant positional changes now when the back line seems to have finally settled over the past two or three matches. Ghana tried to attack the left side of the field all game and didn't really get anything substantial out of it, and Klinsmann seems to think there is an advantage to having one right-footed and one left-footed centerback, so pushing Cameron out right and swapping Johnson to the left might weaken our central defense and come back to hurt us against Portugal.
I agree. Really Bradley needs to play better and we need to figure out what to do about Jozy. Those are our two biggest concerns. I am a bit worried about Ronaldo attacking the left side of our defense. He tends to roam around and he might find he likes running at Beasley. In that case we'll need Jones and Beckerman to help out a lot over there as they did in the second half against Ghana. I suggested moving Johnson to the left myself, but I'm not sure we should mess with our backline. Cameron on the right and Johnson on the left with Brooks replacing Beasley could shore things up, though it could also downgrade everyone if they are moved out of the positions they've been training for for weeks.
To say Portugal is screwed due to the personnel losses is one thing, but I think it's a benefit for the team to know it needs six points. No playing for a draw, no trying to hold onto a one-goal lead for 60 minutes, just going all out for three points.
Hopefully the pitch in Manaus is softer than the one last night in Natal. That thing was hard as hell and played way too fast for a world cup match.
Yes, but considering how vulnerable our backline will now be, makes it quite more difficult to 'go all out for the win'.
To play devil's advocate, it also puts immense pressure on them knowing they have to win. There is no margin for error, and what happens when something goes wrong? What happens if the US scores first? Or Portugal gets another red and goes a man down? Or Portugal doesn't score in the first 60 minutes? We both can play this game and go back and forth, but the reality is, no one knows how Portugal will respond.
As I said in my previous message about pre_Ghana game thread, US will gonna win this one aswell hopefully… Same team unity, same team transitions, same concentrade, same hunger. result=3 golden point. This was at the Ghana game about… vs Portugal hopefully will gonna be same,just like mirror.
But I'm confident that if Portugal scores before halftime it will go for that second goal rather than sit back and defend. Pressure to win is okay. I'd rather the team have to win than be in that place where it's thinking, "We're tied, let's just hold on." Maybe it's just personal preference, but I prefer a team playing to win than playing not to lose.
Coentrao out of the World Cup, confirmed. We are screwed, just lost potentially the best leftback in the world and a vital piece of our attack, and a fullback he has proven to stop world class attackers.
Coentrao and Pepe out will be a big test for Portugal, and a huge chance for us...However I would like to start this match conservatively and re-shape if needed according to the flow. Christmas tree for me... ---------------------------Howard---------------------------- Johnson-------Cameron------Besler/Brooks--------Beasley --------Bedoya------------Jones------------Bradley--------- --------------------Mix-------------Dempsey----------------- ----------------------AJ/Wondo/Miracle-------------------- Beckerman can come in later to hold a win/tie, Zusi if we need to score.
For me you have to play Beckerman from the get go. He lets Jones and Bradley, even tho he played like crap last night, do so much all over the field. I want Jones out there running people down and Bradley able to get into the offense. Those things don't get to happen near as much if Beckerman isn't in there.
I think it's going to be a very, very tough game against Portugal. They still have the best player in the World right now, and he can beat us on his own.