Howard: looks better post injury than he did pre-injury. He said he had never done serious pre-game stretching exercises before the injury. Deuce: a goal and an assist against a top regional foe. Otherwise, he did nothing. Nagbe: vision in the attacking third was pretty horrific. He makes a brilliant right-sided possession hub: that should be his role going forward. Besler: quite shaky at times. Tim Ream is looking better and better as the backup LCB.
We were really aggressive tonight. Sharp. Didn't give an inch. The starting midfield consisted of four ball circulators. Consequently, we couldn't deliver a final ball until Dempsey came on. I watch Howard and think, "he doesn't look like he's lost anything." Yet I know he has. I think. Costa Rica has gone from the Brazil of Central America to a dull, defensive, negative team. It's awful to see.
Nagbe has sort of a thing going where he hits the 18 and it's like there's a witch in there so he won't do anything but pass and thus avoids actually attacking the goal.
I have been saying for a solid year, post hamstring problems, that Jozy is no worse than the third name on any team sheet and a lock starter. People were suggesting they sub him when he was doing well. I feel like he still has Sunderland stink on him to too many USMNT fans.
First good performance of the Cup. Was afraid we were going to waste possession without creating chances,and get caught, but Dempsey took care of that... Loved Clint celebrating before the FK even went in. Best we've looked in defense, but still needed Timmay to be Timmay. Can we please get a Finals' moratorium on Stu Holden saying "the lines", "the gaps", and "the channels"??
On the positive, he holds the ball well and draws a lot of fouls. But your criticisms are well founded. He rarely delivers a good final ball, and his 1-2 combo play is non-existent.
If he's on the field with Pulisic, it opens a world of possibilities for us in attack. Yeah, go ahead and put 4 guys on young Christian, see what Nagbe can do then.
I said it in the PBP thread; Morris is the worst possible partner for Altidore since Jozy needs guys to combine with, and Morris is a counterattacking player who doesn't combine well.
Nagbe allows his teammates to recover and take up good, aggressive positions. It's critical. Dempsey is a lights-out super sub. The only question marks for me were arriola and Acosta. Acosta covers a lot of ground, but he doesn't make any impact. Similar for arriola. He works hard and has some skill, but he never actually does anything dangerous. Overall, very good game and well played.
I want to see Fiore squeezed out. If they want a soccer idiot who tries to be clever get Bob Uecker...
About Costa Rica- yes, they were missing quite a few quality players, and ultimately they lost, but they still showed their class. We tend to talk about CONCACAF being just Mexico and the U.S., but we disrespect the Ticos by not giving them their due. Our WCQ in September will be very tough. Our players know how good a full strength Costa Rican team is.
Dance on the ball, make a defender miss and then either square pass or lay it off to the guy in the corner for an unsuccessful cross?
No worse than third is a tad high. I can make a good case for Wood over him. Pulisic, Cameron, Howard, & Bradley are all ahead of him on my teamsheet. Brooks, FJ, & Yedlin are close. Dempsey if it is game you think he can start. Besler was very good tonight. Dempsey MOTM. Nagbe impressive in a exciting with no payoff kind of way. Villafana good save for that one error. Acosta improved. Bradley good. Timmy was himself. Gonzalez scares me.
Pretty good game outside of a few lackluster performances, but nothing to get worked up about imo. Morris was invisible and I still don't trust the Zusi/Gonzo combo.....this team should still win the tournament though.
I will say this, if we can get Nagbe to get better in the final third, lookout. He, Pulisic, & Duece on the pitch will he fun to watch.
There isn't another guy that does what he does for the team. Wood is not as good as a passer, hold up man or scorer. I can at least argue that we have a sub for all of the others besides CP.