Noonan hasn't done anything to earn these starts. How many starts does a forward get when he's never yet threatened anyone among the concacaf minnows. Twellman, perhaps rightly, hasn't gotten many chances and hasn't done much with them. This being said, what in the world has Noonan done to not only get chances, but the starts that Twellman hasn't gotten. I'm done with Noonan. What is it now, four or five starts against Concacaf squads and no goals. If he was doing all sorts of other things like DMB I could deal with that, but at this point I'm doine with him. Move Dempsey to forward, bench Noonan. Wolf is done as well. Same problems as Noonan, one difference is Wolf despite the knee operations still has the speed to open gaping holes in defenses and while he can't exploit them, if he can figure out how to pass like he used to, at least he could be a threat. I looked at the lineup before the game started and said we wouldn't score unless DMB or Donovan set up a goal or scored one after being subbed on. Bruce has really botched this unless he really learns from this how certain crummy vets, and "not good enough for world cup games" players don't belong anymore. He didnt test out the youth that might be able to help next summer, and he didnt bring a lineup that could be certain to win the tourney and get the confed cup games next time around (if the tournament is still around in a few years). I'm really disappointed. The only potential help this can provide, is again, if Arena can confront the reality that alot of these vets are done and plenty of other guys have no business playing serious US games ever again. ' Today's lineup looked like some nightmare put together by Sampson in 1995 or 1996. Ghastly, no truly gifted field players out there at all except for O'Brien and Dempsey when it comes to attacking defenses.
Soccer seems to be one of the few sports where, every once in a while, you are going to get one of these purposely boring 0-0 draws where everyone is playing conservative to save energy and keep the scoreline down. Also, will our next game be on Telefutura?
And it was a problem, too. How many times did the US pull off a nice combination, or someone made a nice dribble move to get behind his man, only to have the Costa Rican defense catch up? Ralston, in particular, just doesn't have the speed to play internationally. I like him, he's a feel-good story, but his only value is against total bunker. In a game with any flow, he has little value because of his lack of pace.
Anyone who thinks that Frankie is getting better is smoking some good-ass crack. He wouldn't start for my sunday league team.
Other than his stupid header towards his own goal, Sanneh shut them down. I don't know what the hell everybody's bagging on him for.
No, Mexico if 1) lose to Jamaica (given that Guatemala doesnt blow Mexico out or Guatemala do the same with SA) 2) they tie Jamaica and SA wins Most likely though its going to be either Jamaica or SA
Seriously... Armas, Sanneh, Olsen, Heydude, Davis and Casey should never see a US jersey again unless it involved them buying their OWN ticket to a game. Wolff isn't far behind these guys. We have too much young talent to bring along. Armas is a complete mistery to me. He must have some dirt on Brucey boy to keep getting called into camp. Speaking of "the Bruce", is it me, or is he losing that killer instinct that he used to push so effectively? If he keeps these types of call-ups going, then he may need to go. I can't believe that players like LD, DMB, or Mastro haven't already asked WTF to him? I'd be very surprised if some controversy doesn't come out of this CR tie BS.
Let's not forget that horrible back pass he made that Keller had to head out and when he lost his marker on that cross giving Costa Rica their only dangerous chance of the second half. He made a few good plays, but he has no consistency and his speed is completely gone. As a central defender, you have to be able to bring it every game and he just can't anymore.
That was a terrible match. Absolutely awful, at times looked like a high school game, very frantic, too many fouls, throw-ins and stoppages, too much macho bullcrap and not enough skill, composure and intelligence. If we have that much trouble playing soccer against Costa Rica, how are we going to do against Brazil, Argentina, Germany, Holland, etc?
Maybe I'm wrong, but yeah. I remember him chasing down alot of those potential counters. He had a couple of dangerous passes. I don't recall him committing any fouls in a dangerous area.
While it must be glorious for you to imagine your sunday league being so good I suspect that this wouldn't be true. I do appreciate these types of posts whenever I come across them they really make me giggle.
Now I know! And knowing is half the BATTLE! If Dempsey wasn't the other striker then who was? We were in a 4-5-1? And if we were, who put the bright idea than Pat Noonan can play the Lone Striker in a 4-5-1.
How you lumped Davis into this group I have no idea. He showed some promise in his limited time. He certainly played better against Cuba than JOB did today against Costa Rica.
Draw! No surprise with this line-up. Why are we experimenting with guys like Olsen, Sanneh, Conrad, and Armas? OK, maybe Sanneh. Maybe! This game's result should show Arena why these guys are not enough! All right, maybe Arena is doing the right thing just to double and triple confirm his decision not to bring some of these players to WC06. I just hope he moves on now.
See my post about Richie in Saprissa. It has all the elements. 1. We all know he's really not good enough. 2. He's one of Bruce's boys from way back, so everyone is looking at favoritism. 3. He did, in fact, suck in his last match. Ergo, people are gonna remember every bad play he makes because that's what they're anticipating. And they forget every good play.
Armas is a complete attack killer...for us. While he does do pretty well defensively, he always seems to start the opposing counter with one of his patented WTF passes.
What I take from the match: Frankie - There is a real drop off in his passing ability when he is asked to play left fullback instead of right fullback. There were several times when his passing let him down. Sanneh - Too slow. Badly positioned. Awkward decisions. Most of what was good from CR came at the expense of Tony. CR was clearly attacking him as our weakest link. I feel that if we go back in time and replace Sanneh with Gooch, then this is a much more comfortable draw, and perhaps a win. Conrad - How old is Conrad? If he's young, he's a good prospect for 2010. Cherundelo - He is a classy player and a lock for 06 JOB -Rusty is the best word for him. His speed of thought was slower then usual but I think that is normal when you've been out as long as he has. Ralston -I think his crossing let him down. He got some good positions but his crossing was poor. Armas - Still can not pass at the international level. We must be better then this now a days. We simply can't aford to put out a defensive midfield specialist that has very little ability going forward. Olsen - I felt he was only a step up from Armas. Noonan - I like this kid. I felt he ws let down by his teamates tonight. Dempsy -I like his desire and his spunk. He created a few things for himself that he should have done better with. Da Bruce - The fact that Bruce kept Armas and Olsen on until the very end shows that Bruce cared more about not losing then he did about winning the game. considering that we won the group with a tie, I guess that makes sense. All and all, I think after 3 mathces, I think we've answered at least the following: Sanneh is not worthy anymore. Armas is not worthy anymore Frankie is an asset on our 2006 team due to his versatitlity Job will help us if he gets back into match shape and plays regularly anywhere. That's all I got.
??? Late in the game, they showed that the US had committed 9 fouls, CR 10. This was, IIRC, after the 80th minute.
...............and why sub Dempsey?? The clear best player for the US. When I saw he was going off I put on closed caption so my TV could translate what the spanish guys were saying and they were suprised that our best players was taken off. We need some forwards. Next camp Tewllman better get a call. Noonan is a midfielder and Dempsey play better when he is right behind the forward(s).
Okay more to follow but I'll get the sacrilege out of the way... I'm not impressed with how Dempsey has played so far...not at all. He's playing too much like the other Clint. Does he have skill? Undoubtedly. He is a very dangerous player. But he glides around waiting for someone else to make the play that will spring him. Maybe he can do that for the Nats against a quality team when DMB and Donovan are in the midfield, or if McBride is trying to set him up. But when he's surrounded by Noonan, Armas, Olsen...dudes gotta get off his ass and try to create some opportunities for himself AND OTHERS. Horrible shot on the breakaway (remember the bit about changing speeds Clint, a cutback in the box woulda had you staring at a vacant goal). All the talent he has but he could be another Mathis (in a bad way).
I didn't see the last match. I agree that he has no place in our starting lineup. He just came in as fill-in body for the Gold Cup and aquitted himself admirably tonight. I guess I'm so protective because he was one of the top 5 defenders in the entire tournament at WC 2002. I'll never forget what he did for us.