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

Here we go again the excuses...resign you moron

 

Okay, I had just never heard of him before.

 

This is all so disappointing because of the lack of overall US progress.

1990 Crushed, but a great learning experience
1994 Needed the own goal from Colombia to advance
1998 Crushed
2002 Great, but needed help from Poland to advance
2006 Crushed in tough group, AND Needed own goal from Italy to advance

The most galling thing is the yesterday Arena said he was more worried about winning than goals. If the US has to lose, why can't it be 4-3, Especially if we needed goals? Why do we only get to see Eddie Johnson for 40 minutes in the whole ------- tournament?

 

Arena, grow a pair and take responsibility!

 

That May be a punishment but is it really punishment enough.

 

Maybe we should get Bob Bradley, at the very, very, least.

 

no to Quieroz.

The US lacked any imagination and I couldn't believe BA decided one striker today was a good game plan.

sobering thought that we played 3 games and only got one point. forget about the refs and all that we didn't deserve anything more than we got.

 

Well, glad I didn't stay in Germany for game #3... Quick conclusions I can draw as of 12pm EST time today.

1) Even on our best day, as 2006, we are still only a minor threat to major European powers.

2) Realistically, can we even say at this point that we are meaningfully better than the best teams in Africa?

3) We are extremely lucky to play in CONCACAF which is a very weak region. Maybe the weakest.

4) Landon and Beasley can't get it done when they are the focus. And I'm not sure we can count on them to get better.

5) He will get alot of flack for the giveaway today, but in my eyes, Claudio showed during this WC why he is the best American player ever. Bon voyage, Captain America. Thanks for the great run.

6) Bruce Arena is out of ideas.

Just my views.... when does qualifiying start?

 

is Arena morphing into Sampson?

it seemed he never gave us a chance to win because he feared Ghana's speed and didn't want them to 'find their rhythm'

so Ghana adjusted and won a dire contest aided by one of the worst calls in FIFA history

McBride worked HARD as always, Cherundolo and Lewis looked lively, Dempsey was pretty good, DMB had one moment of brilliance

LaDiDaDonovan was out of his element (i.e., in Europe) and does not deserve to wear the armband ahead of McBride or the other nine guys out there

Arena got so many things wrong, I don't know where to begin -- over-relying on LaDiDa was probably the most crucial error

 

Well, Ching still has more goals than your mancrush and has been away for a month. Twellman would have made no difference. You really think he would've ever seen the field?

 

It all depends on who you have in your system. A 4 5 1 with attacking middies is basically a 4 3 3. A 4 5 1 with speed and fitness, and a possession-oriented mentality, is the equivalent of a 4 4 2.

Arena's problem wasn't his formations, it was the players he had to work with, versus the teams that he faced.

He should still shoulder the blame, because he had picked his players. The downfall of the Americans came months before today.

1. Pick the players you want, to score goals and dominate possession.
2. Pick the strategies and counter strategies based on the group stage teams, and who is on your team.
3. Prepare for cards, injuries and substitutions.

Bruce Arena did none of these things correctly.

-cheers!

 

Oh hey, we need a new coach? Larry Brown is now available. :-D

 

I will defend the four strikers Arena brought with him. I will not defend his decision to only play one of them 90 minutes+ for three games while leaving the other three with what...a combined 40 minutes?

 

Haven't seen the game yet and sounds like I don't need to.

My hat goes off to all the U.S. bench warmers this cup. I can't imagine what each of them was feeling watching the tactics fail and just hoping for a chance to make a difference. Bruce failed them miserably also.

Well, it's now time to get back to MLS action, watching the transfer market, and starting to look for new players and coaches that might be able to do something in 2010. Providing we can qualify. Remember that there will likely be at least .5 fewer spots for CONCACAF.

 

Abysmal. Absolutely abysmal. Where were the leaders of this team? Where was the quality? Where were the coaching smarts? We can't blame the PK call, the team still meets to perform and the coach needs to make the right decisions. None of that happened.

 

OK, I'll coach the team. Or how about we approach US Soccer and propose the person with the most rep on Big Soccer get the coaching position.

 

Hey everyone, look on the bright side.




At least in 2010, everyone will most likely be underestimating us again.

 

Also - bon voyage to Keller and his distribution - which is awful for a supposedly world class keeper.

 

I really really really hate to say this, but the USA has to start taking some good acting classes. I know the general US sports fan hates that aspect of the game, but watching Ghana flop, flop, flop, and get calls, I think the US players need to enrole in the School of Football diving. Basically if a US player doesn't start bleeding, the cards stay in the pocket, and the whistle isn't blown. While they are getting killed with silly fouls, and the USA, with the opposition rolling around on the ground holding their knee, is considered a dirty team.

 

Wynalda is blaming the coach and not the players...typical Wynalda...How about the fact that the players played scared and had no guts when it came to going after the game...

 

I've been saying so since the lineup for Czech Republic. 4 - 4 - 2 my ass.
3 - 6 - 1 you idiot.

 

THe person with the most rep is likely either a professional photographer, or has a good sense of humor.

Although if I were mexican, I'd probably take Various Styles over Lavolpe anyway.

 

the coach set the tone by coaching scared by playing a 4-5-1 three straight games even though it has never worked for the US.

 

Pretty much sums up my feelings. Charlie Davies may be in the mix as well, Altidore and Arvizu may need call ups by '08. Donovan shoudn't wear the captains armband again. Horrid tournament and proved that you can't coast against weak competition every week and hope to actually be able to turn it on for two-three weeks once every four years. He simply has to be a warrior and he ISNT, period. We need someone with a Mathis personality but not a mathis work ethic as captain. Reyna was far too deferential to euros, and soft, Donovan is just plain soft.

We need to develop a younger, faster, hungrier side. Simple as that, oh yeah and a side with quality first touch, passing, and some freaking ball skills. Some of these guys couldnt even trap the ball effectively.

 

i'm glad someone is blaming Arena... he'll deflect all the blame on Bease otherwise.