BB and Pierre will need to assess their players and ability to recuperate and go strong Saturday. Does it create any need for changes/ sub strategy?
superior fitness .... train like you will fight ... I think the men will be just fine ... the question is how will Ghana play with the US the last 15 minutes on Saturday - cause that is when we really turn up the pressure.
And possibly extra time as well. That is one of the key elements our squad has that no other WC teams has. I've seen countless teams start to cramp up and slow down around the 70th minute mark, our boys do the opposite and put it in another gear. If we're tied with Ghana into the 70th minute, the Black Stars better watch out...
It doesn't because...the US team has Elvis in them: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7NWXJ8iPQw&feature=player_embedded"]YouTube- Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper - Elvis Is Everywhere / Music Video 1987[/ame]
Heck, we'll have more rest than Ghana will. The US has been able to bring the fire for 90+ minutes in each match where the opponents seem to be fading in the final 15. I have no doubt that with the previous training as well as the adrenaline that will be flowing, they'll be ready.
This brings up a good point. How does the team prepare physically between matches? Is it all just playing soccer, or is there some separate fitness work done to stay in shape? By now they are more than adjusted to the altitude. But are there specific exercises used for altitude training? I'd love to find out. Anyone know?
Physically, yes, the quick turn around will be a test but one that I think is/was easier to plan for on the front end w/ the pre-WC camps, the various run your @ss off January camps, etc. But psychologically the test is, imo, bigger. Bradley & the rest of the staff have to get the team to put yesterday's celebratory high behind them immediately and really focus on Ghana w/o being satisfied by advancing. Bradley's player management & creating the strong group will/fight has been amazing over the course of this cycle. He's got to do even better work now to get the guys to keep that same hunger. In some ways, I'd think having Ghana as the opponent helps. The guys who were on the 2006 team remember that defeat. No way they aren't out for revenge.
I bet Gooch starts. (remember the BS PK?) I bet Dempsey starts. (and greets Dickson with a smile at kickoff and Pantsil with a friendly handshake) replace McBride with Altidore and Lewis/Reyna with Edu/Bradley and you have some idea of the squad differences .... I like our chances and particularly if it is cold and the game goes into extra time.
It's actually 3 days between games, but the point is still the same. How does the quick turn-around impact the performance? I expect that the starters will go as long as possible. The good news is that Edu should be pretty fresh and probably can go the whole game. Don't know if Dempsey and Altidore will be able to last 90 min. They have a history of slowing late in games and that may show up against Ghana because of the short recovery interval. LD will be OK. I would have said last year that Bradley will have problems, but this year I'm not so sure. The good news is that there are decent subs available, all of whom should be well rested.
On the one hand, the coaches have to emphasize that it's a whole new tournament and it's time to put the past in the past. BUT. Momentum is literally a source of energy. Nerves and having the entire planet watching you and the stress that that creates... is a source of energy. The love of your family and friends... a source of energy. The entire nation behind you and cheering you on... All these things can shake a player, especially a young one, or they can be used as a vehicle to dig deeper, to that reserve tank that is so difficult to access.
Perhaps Holden will get a start, and in all honesty id rather him play wide with deuce up top then findley up top and deuce wide.
who are usa 5 best PK takers... they need to be out there if it goes to PKs.... donovan, dempsey, altidore, holden, gomez, feilhaber are SIX i trust... 5 need to be out there
Gooch will be rested and so will Findley. Holden, Torres, Edu, Benny have all been sparingly used. Another good thing about moving Boca to CB was possibly to save his legs a little for the short turn around. Probably not quite as much running in the middle vs. Algeria that he would have had on the left. Altidore and Bradley are in their early 20's. They don't know how to be tired. Little worried about Donovan and Dempsey. Dolo is probably my biggest concern, but he hasn't shown any signs of tiring too much yet. I imagine the team had pretty much a day off with some PT and stretching. May be traveling tonight. Tomorrow I imagine they'll have a walk-through and some meetings. Ghana and then SK/Uruguay to get to the semis. REally??? Don't want to count the chickens before they hatch, but this may be the best opportunity we ever get.
Based on the FIFA Castrol stats page, the USA is #4 in distance covered. Ghana is 15th. Bradley is 3rd in distance covered (35.56 km), followed by Donovan at 1tth (33.29), Dempsey (32.46), 'Dolo (30.1), and Boca (29.85). Boca was ahead of Dolo in distance covered b/f yesterday's game -- so maybe his legs are in slightly better shape. I'm a tad worried about 'Dolo/DeMerit getting a card tracking the fast wings for Ghana. I do think the potential for a quick turn around was known & planned for during the pre-WC camps. I'm more concerned about the recovery from the emotional exertion -- that can be more exhausting than physical exertion. How does the coaching staff get the guys emotionally & mentally ready for Sat? It can be done but the staff will need to be on top of their game, too.