WC -- USA v Ghana post-match thread {R}

...this just in:

"Leo Benhacker has started negociations and would likely be the new US coach"....

 

Agreed. Before the World Cup I thought he was overrated. He's proved me wrong. And that's the only positive I can take from these last 3 games. The effort against Italy was overshadowed by this loss.

And to all those blaming Arena - there's plenty of blame to go around. Besides, the worst coach in CONCACAF's name is not Bruce Arena, it's Lavolpe. Arena may be tactically challenged, but at least he didn't say that "there's no talent" in the United States like a certain coach said about his team.

 

Well that's what you get when you play uninspiring soccer for two games against any team, let alone two good ones. The US did not show up for this World Cup ready to play. I can't think of a single inspiring performance from any player in the first and last games, and frankly the second game only shows that the US can sometimes show up and play their hearts out.

The US team didn't show a great deal of skill, and I don't believe there was a lot of heart in their game today. I don't know why, and at this point, it doesn't really matter. America showed some interest after the Italy game, and this was a game that could have done so much for the game in America. That picture of Brian McBride would have been an image to ralley around for everyone, be it fans, or just countryman. Now it's just an image that will fade away; quite quickly I might add.

I don't know what else to say other than I'm dissapointed in our guys. If they left everything on the field in this last game I would have at least walked away from the Cup knowing they played hard and did their country and their fans proud, and I can't honestly say that it would be justified now.

I hope this result is seen as a turning point for US soccer. A win and a second round appearence could have done a lot, but this result will do something. The US has now been put back into their place after a great result in 2002. Was that Cup an abberation? No, they played fantastically, but it's true that you're only as good as your last game, and that doesn't speak highly of the US right now.

I hope that Gulati and the USSF shake things up a bit now. Arena is done. He was done before this tournament even started. Any results short of winning the Cup would not have done much to bring him back as coach. This winter his contract will not be renewed and US soccer will start a new, and hopefully exciting chapter. Right now I'm hoping that Germany crashes out of the Cup sooner rather than later, because I would love nothing more than to see Klinsmann at the helm of the US next spring.

I've got nothing but respect and admiration for the US fans, they did us all proud. A tear came to my eye as they sang the national anthem before today's match. Bravo ladies and gentlemen, you have nothing to be dissapointed about.

US soccer has come a long way from two decades ago, and it has a long way to go.

 

US - Play to win!!! Not - Not To Lose!!!!!

 

To be honest, getting out of this group was always going to be difficult and required US to play great games in each match. Look at the much touted Czech team - they're out as well.

I think you can say a lot against Arena's tactical decisions, using very conservative formation, and not going for broke against Ghana with a 4-4-2 or even 3-4-3. A lot of blame can be at the players, they just didn't play to their ability - Donovan, Beasley, Convey didn't have good games at all. Donovan - to be a attacking midfielder and not getting a single shot on goal is rediculous.

In this game, you can blame some bad calls but you make your own luck and Ghana are a better side, period. US was sluggish and out of ideas by the 2nd half.

There is a positive side though, time for rebuilding and a reality check. US is a good team, but not amoung the best. There will be more competition for spots in 2010 and I think a new coach and staff are needed for the next step in development.

 

One Forward?
One word. . .
Twellman

Nobody wins without a legitmate 4-4-2

Leaving Taylor here was Bruce's biggest and most lasting mistake.

For that, he should be fired, now.

 

I was just curious. Have Donovan and Beasley arrived in Germany yet?

 

Smyth just said Carlos Quieroz should come in!

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

at least Arena has done SOMETHING. Quieroz is just an overhyped failure.

 

How sad to put Donovan in real-world perspective. fellow competitor, Essien at that same U-17 WC, transfers to Chelsea for $41,000,000. Donovan, who wins the best player award at that tourney is perhaps the most wasted soccer talent this world has ever seen.

 

What's Thomas Rongen doing? He's won championships with Bruce's scraps in the past...



Thx,

Jay!

 

Tommy Smyth said that he doesn't think Arena wants to coach anymore. He just verbalized this tournament.

 

Who is Allen Hopkins and why is he on my television?

 

Please...

 

Who's the guy with him?

Thx,

Jay!

 

In 2002 the ball always seemed to bounce our way, and the calls too (except Frings' handball).

In 2006 we couln't catch a break.

But you notice how we never pressured the other team? Ever?

In 2002 the U.S. would run at the ball even if it looked like it was bouncing towards an opponent. We never gave up on any ball, 50 - 50, 25-75... they still ran at it and got alot of bounces they wouldn't otherwise have gotten.

In 2006 we let them trap the ball, pass the ball... do what they wanted with it. Excepting once or twice when Beaseley or 'dolo pressured and took the ball, we pretty much went from full-field pressure to zero-pressure.

It shouldn't matter that the refs made some bad (horrible) calls.. we came out from the get go looking to take it easy. We never pressured or chased the ball (the AMERICAN way of playing as defined in 2002)

We never attacked with urgency... even when we did have 2 attackers.

********. It will be two years before qualifying starts again.
********.

Fire Bruce. Hire Hiddink.

_ _ _ _ _

Positive notes: Dempsey looked good. Convey looked good. Landon and Bease are still young. Johnson is still young. Conrad and Olsen were passable, which speaks to the quality of MLS. Mastroeni ought to still be in shape for '10, and he ws ROCK ********ing solid. No more Reyna.

 

Dempsey was pretty impressive, but has to improve his defense if he's going to stay out wide. As soon as Cherundolo went off, Ghana was able to cruise down that side of the field at will.

 

NO! Whoever you are! Sigi stays in Columbus!

 

Hopkins is one of the few on ESPN that know anything about soccer.

 

AGREED! I've been saying that all along. Wolfe over Twellman? WTF

 

Arena blames the frickin ref!!!!!!!!

 

Arena blaming in on the ref. No surprise there.

 

Please what?

You are going to defend the line-up BA took to this WC?

Go ahead, make my day.

 

I agree...our problem wasn't the lack of Taylor Twellman. Our problem was the lack of faith by our coach to play a good game in midfield when we have two strikers in the game.

 

Landon won't because he is willing to settle for comfort instead of making the effort to raise his game to the next level. This was clearly demonstrated in his play this world cup from Golden Ball winner in 1999 to just another player in 2006.

DMB also a bad world cup. Silver Ball winner 1999.

 

Bruce, Donovan, Beasley, and everyone else who played with no heart let us all down. Shame on them. I want to gorge myself on double-stuff oreos, and forget this cup ever happened. Shameful.