Pre-match: USA vs Portugal, June 22nd

Actually what will happen is the Midfielders will fall back to defend, with 2 forwards one can move to midfield line where Defender wingback has vacated- pushing forward and it causes all kinds of problems, which leads to wingback staying home and not pushing into attack.

Nothing keeps a wingback planted (thus not joining the attack) then a forward standing in his vacated spot.

 

I don't think Portugal is that much worse off than we are for this game. The recent losses kind of cancel out--they lost two major defenders, but we also lost our best forward option who could have given them trouble. And they will be without their iconic and most famous attacking player, but ours didn't make the roster at all.

As for the in/consistency issue and how Portugal will respond to getting drubbed by Germany, it's a tough call. Portugal has certainly shown inconsistency in some respects--they crapped out of the WC entirely as we all know, but that was fully 12 years ago. Since then they've qualified for the elimination rounds of every single Euro and WC tournament, getting to the semis or finals on three separate occasions. That's pretty effing consistent. Their major failures have happened in European qualifying, when they've farted up the joint against some really weak teams--bad results against the likes of Malta, Israel, and Liechtenstein IIRC. But even then they've gotten it together and qualified.

And in terms of us, let's not forget the last time we had a huge win to open a WC and then were brimming with confidence against a highly touted European side that had been embarrassed in the tournament so far. That was 02, and Poland beat the snot out of us. So all I'm saying is that previous results tell us little about how future games will go.

All that said, I think points on Sunday are totally plausible and I'll be rooting like crazy for that outcome. And I am reassured that while fans may take Portugal lightly in the afterglow of the big Ghana win, JK and the players certainly will not.

 

The problem with playing a 4-4-2 against a 4-3-3- is that you can be outnumbered in central midfield (2 CM's vs 3 CM's). The shinguardian article addresses it by suggesting an asymmetrical 4-4-2 with Jones pinched in at LM essentially conceding the flank on Beasley's side (vs the right or side CR usually lines up).

 

Good point...

maybe this instead.

--------- Wondow ----------
-- Dempsey ------ Bedoya --
-- Jones --- Becks --- MB --
---------- Back 4 ------------

Actually, against the Nigeria match (or was it the Turkey match) the US defended in a Xmas tree and in a 433 as well.

 

Besler over Brooks if at all possible. Brooks rose to the equation but had two flubs that could have cost the game. Besler is a much better option.

Dempsey can play the 1 striker. He did it for Fullham. Even with Jozy up there, they often switched out the role.

 

Does Portugal play in a 433? In the game vs Germany they were mostly in a 442.

 

Besides the one where he mis-hit the ball which unluckily went into a Ghana player's chest, what was the other mistake? Besler had a few as well - one in which he played a pass directly to a Ghana player about 5 yards outside the box. With that said, both played well and I agree, for this WC you probably stick with Besler.

 

A win at the midfield battle and quick pass to the upfront create chances .
Play as a team unity(help eac other) ,act and react as a smooth transitions at the defense and offensive bridge . Never give up till the final whistle.

score 2-1

 

Wow that is a lot of cards. Jones better be careful...

 

The USA needs to come out and play good. Really all I'm concerned about.

I'm not watching another 90 minutes of defense and bad passing.

 

The goal. FJ got caught looking but Brooks was slow to read the play and close the gap. I tend to think Besler closes that gap and that goal doesn't happen. He's just consistently better right now. Brooks is more athletic but has more head mistakes.

 

That's all you're concerned about?

I'm concerned about winning.

 

Every defender had a few bad moments in that game. I don't think anyone should be judging who you start on what happened in that game.

Besler has been the best defender for the USMNT for the past 15 months. That is why you stick with him, not because of anything that happened against Ghana.

 

I surely hope that JK has a sub already in his mind should it be necessary to replace Dempsey. I'm guessing Mix would come in. Also, Bedoya and Zusi are both comfortable playing centrally.

 

You are a hard marker, there was a bunch of distance to cross. Brooks was there in time t force a near post shot, Howard just gave up the near post, unbelievable I know, but who would think that Timmy would give up a near post goal. If Tim does not move the ball probably hits him square in the chest.

If you want to start Besler fine, but that is a poor poor reason and looks like somebody reaching ti justify it. They are close enough performance wise and Besler has been our guy for a year, I don't mind starting him, but if JAB stays healthy, Besler's days as a starter are limited.

 

If JK goes 5:4:1 or 4:5:1 who can he call to compose a 5 man defense but still spring a fast counter? Portugal is desperate for a win so counter is the way to go IMO (I imagine JK is pragmatic so I doubt US will open that's why I ask)

 

Chart is misleading because Nani (17) didn't play where the circle is...he played wide right, then he played wide left and it just balancing in the middle.

 

You should have been there at the start of the game and kept watching after Ghana scored then.

 

That's being very harsh imo. To be able to slide from his man all the way across to Fab's after a backheel nonetheless - I'm not sure many elite CB's get to that the majority of the time nonetheless Matt Besler - very hard to read out and honestly a very nice goal from the Ghanians. As much as I love Fab - that's primarily his fault - he got beat by his man. If we're going to knock Brooks for that goal (which coincidentally pretty much no one from American media did - or at least none I've come across) then we should probably blame Zusi for not getting in the grill of his man on his entry pass into the box in the first place. All in all, I think Brooks and Besler did great and really should be the least of our worries after what both showed vs. Ghana.

Yes as I said in my post, Besler should be given the nod for this WC.

 

Wasn't criticizing your post. I'm just responding about the subject in general because I have seen a lot of reactionary posts that want Klinsmann to bench our best defender just because Brooks scored the winning goal.

 

Here it broken down by 15 minutes intervals...


It looks like Nani mostly played on the right, and in the center... he wasn't that far forward.

 

That makes more sense although I had thought he played wider when he was shifted left. That's why we have data tracking.

 

BINGO!!!

 

If he didn't come out with a broken nose, he's not going to come out of this one.

 

Almost every player rating and break down on that goal puts Brooks at slight fault. No doubt its mostly on FJ. But that is what Brooks does and its what you get when you trade off experienced vet for athletic youth. You get more mental mistakes. Besler is superior. He was the starter going in and I think he is still the starter.

Its not a slam against Brooks to say Besler is better right now.